Natalie has started doing this thing where she stacks everything in sight- whether it's her toys or our shoes. Sometimes she moves it from one place to another and makes piles but her favorite is stacking everything on Daddy! Once she has it all piled high she loves to get on Nathan's lap and look at all the toys. We really aren't sure why she started doing it, but she loves it!
Handing Daddy all of her toys.
Moving everything from her toy basket to the coffee table.
Natalie is also into climbing. If it is tall and dangerous, she loves it! She is so strong and can use her arm muscles to pull herself up on just about anything. The thing about Natalie is she can't keep quiet when she does something naughty. It usually only takes a second before we figure out she is up high on something she shouldn't be. She loves to chirp as if to say "Hey guys, look what I can do!" I'm certain it doesn't help that it's always a photographic moment!
The last couple of days have been gorgeous but very hot! Natalie would spend every minute outside if we let her. In the mornings, Natalie and I go out on the back porch while Mr. Sleephead sleeps in. Once he wakes up we play outside throughout the day. On Friday, we hooked up the sprinkler so Gabriel and Natalie could cool off! Natalie was a little surprised at first but ended up having a good time.
Natalie screaming "Duck"!
Natalie loves to watch, chase, touch, and feed the ducks. She likes to get as close as possible to them, but they think they are getting chased so they run down to the water. We gave Natalie the food, and the ducks came right up to her. Of course she ended up being more concerned with the duck food than the actual ducks!
Feeding the ducks.
Helping fill up the basketball hoop.
A little surprised by the sprinkler.
Gabriel playing in the water. And yes, we do feed him!
Natalie was invited to Hadley's first birthday party at Gymboree. It was for little kids only so this was something that I did with Natalie. Hadley is Natalie's second cousin (or is it first cousin twice removed?), her Dad and Natalie's Dad are first cousins. Natalie had a great time. She was able to try out Gymboree for the first time. At first she was a little shy, but once she got going there was no holding her back! She loved crawling through the tunnels, being aloud to climb on everything in sight, and playing basketball in the small hoop. There were birthday activities and songs, and we had cupcakes at the end. It was a great way to do a birthday!
Natalie loved the tunnels.
She just couldn't figure out how to climb out. Instead of putting her hands out, she pushed her legs through.
Although this looks like Natalie had a difficult time, the cool part was she kept trying. It was interesting to watch Natalie play. She normally gets frustrated easily because she wants to be a master from the beginning, but she just kept trying her hardest until she excelled.
My Aunt Louise and cousin Erin arrived from West Virginia on the 18th. Kristy and the kids also came up the first week to visit with everyone. We had a full week with pool days, grilling out, homemade ice cream, and a trip to the zoo. Kristy and Sarah even came over to our house for a girls night complete with a walk, cookie cups, and a late night movie. Natalie had a wonderful time getting reacquainted with everyone throughout the week and loved the pool as usual. Unfortunately, my camera broke so I got very few pictures of the visit. :( What few I did get were taken on my phone. On the plus side, I got a brand new camera! I am still trying to learn how to use it but hopefully some very good pictures are to come!
Natalie catching some rays with Aunt Kristy.
Zoo Day
The cheetah yawning.
Gabriel with the giraffes.
Gabriel and Natalie sitting on the komodo dragon. Natalie is saying "hot"!
My new camera!
The last night I was able to get a few pictures with my new camera!
Natalie loving on Daddy.
Natalie and GG
Natalie was the only one who did NOT think this was funny!
Here we are at fourteen months. It feels like I just posted about Natalie being thirteen months, partly because I continue to be so far behind! Natalie is growing up into a playful, loving, inquisitive toddler. She has discovered climbing and LOVES it. She has learned to climb Gabriel's bunk bed ladder and anything else that poses a threat to her health. We can't turn our back for a second or she will be standing up on the coffee table!
Natalie also continues to love reading. She has a basket of books downstairs and will sit beside it and read through her books for a long time. She loves to bring a book to us and climb on our lap to hear it. There are times where she will sit and listen to 10 books, depending on her mood at the moment. Natalie has a couple of favorite books and is so familiar with the books that she can pick the book based on us singing or reciting the words!
Since Natalie was a teeny weeny baby, we have been singing "Sweet Caroline" only we sing Sweet Natalie. We would sing it over and over, and at some point Natalie started to sing along too! We sing "Sweet Natalie" and she says "oh oh oh" and we finish with "you are the sweetest Natalie to me". Nathan can be across the house whistling the tune and Natalie will chime in "oh oh oh". She is pretty talented! However, we are not...so just ignore us :)
This was a pretty high strung version of Natalie singing. Perhaps being on the counter was a little too much for her to handle!
Natalie still continues to be a sweetheart and loves to give night night kisses. Thanks to Nathan she has learned to step on bugs and headbutt- things that all good Daddies teach their daughters. He also taught her how to gasp in surprise. She sucks in a deep breath and her little mouth makes a circle. It is precious!
She still loves to smell everything. A couple of weeks ago we had parsley in the refrigerator and everytime she saw it she would crinkle up her nose to sniff it! Naturally, I let her! She also knows to sniff her nose when I ask if she's poopy. TMI I know :)
Here are some pictures and videos from the past month. Be prepared, there are a ton!
Natalie visiting the ducks across from my classroom.
Our little lady in pig tails.
Daddy helping Kitty be sweet to Natalie.
Natalie figured out how to use the whistle.
Wait for the princess pose at the end. She sure knows how to make you say "Awwww"!
Natalie figuring out how to open fruit snacks on her own.
Our dancing queen jamming out to the Backyardigans and knowing she is being naughty on the counter.
Our inquisitive daughter trying to figure out how to close the box.
Natalie taking a dip in the pool- fully clothed and with shoes! She loved it because she wasn't slipping!
Almost forgot, her official 14 month pictures!
When Natalie completes a difficult task (climbing usually) or is doing something naughty she always starts chirping and yelling for attention, like "Hey, look at me!"
Her big thing- "Hi" and waving to everyone- Kitty included!
We had a very relaxing Father's Day. We woke up and made breakfast like we do every Sunday. The morning was spent opening some gifts and just hanging out. That afternoon we went to my parent's house to enjoy a dip in the pool and homemade lasagna. It was a beautiful day outside, and both Nathan and my dad fully enjoyed it.
Nathan's card from Gabriel.
Nathan's card from Natalie.
Natalie excited about her gift for Daddy- Sid the Science Kid DVD- Nathan's fave.
The book we made Nathan.
Natalie getting ready for the pool, while carrying around the syrup.
Grandma and Natalie
Natalie fell asleep while in the pool with Poppa.
Me and my Dad
Smelling the flowers.
Being a nut!
Gabriel retrieving the snake skin from the top of the roof.
