So much love :)

This may be a quicker post then I'd like but I'm sleepy! Tomorrow is a big day for us here in the Tatge house (hopefully). Our new babysitter is coming over for her first visit with Natalie. Hopefully everything goes well and she will be ready to start watching Bean Monday's and Wednesdays while I'm at work. I'm a little nervous with her being a college student. I know how tough it is when you are making class schedules trying to work around a job. I just hope it all works out. I'm tired of this process. It has actually made me consider school a lot earlier then I wanted to. I was hoping to hold out until 2, but I might give in this fall if I'm still struggling to find a good sitter. FINGERS CROSSED PLEASE :)

Natalie is awesome. She understands so much of what we say now - it's crazy. My favorite is when you ask her if she needs a new diaper she shakes her head yes and walks to the changing table lol. She listens to everything, and is really amazing us with her ability to figure out what we are saying. Still not speaking. She is a silent genius lol. We aren't worried though. She knows her animals and can point them out if you ask which is which. She knows all her body parts when you ask where they are. If you ask her how old she is she puts up the number 1. Can hand you all her toys by name, we are getting there. She is quietly taking it all in.

Although she was not so quietly taking in the Museum of Natural History last weekend in NYC. She had such a blast. She was going crazy for the stuffed animal exhibits. Laughing, pointing, leg kicking, OOOOO-ing, at everything. It was so cute, we were cracking up. People were stopping just to watch her run around and enjoy it all. My cousin Britt meet us there also, the museum was way more awesome then what I had expected!!

We had a great time staying in NJ with Jo and Wally. His parents are so nice, and were so helpful with Nat, such a fun filled weekend. My favorite part was visiting the venue where Jo and Wally want to get married, and the Bikram Yoga Jo dragged me too. I set up my mat right under the heat vent - I didnt know any better, but I DO NOW! It was hell, but fantastic all at once.

I'm excited to have a date night with Nick tomorrow night. He has a very busy travel schedule this month. I'm scared lol. I might be crashing at moms in between work days a few times. He did the math the other day and figured out he will only be home 10 nights the whole month. Poopy. It's ok though, because we are heading up to WISCO the end of June! I'm so stoked to see everyone. And for everyone to see Bean!!

A few quick updates on the bean:
-She is eating much better. Pasta and sauce is her new favorite dinner - just like mommy.
-We are down to only a night time bottle. Getting rid of the morning bottle only took two tough mornings.
-She still eats lots of fruit and carbs. I'm limiting her pouches as much as possible.
-I found a play kitchen on Craigslist for $10.00. SHE LOVES IT!
-She still loves the pool, Mickey Mouse, animals, her daddy, touch and feel flashcards, her owl "hoot", and her pink car.
-Recently a bit shy with strangers, needs a solid 15 minutes of clinging then breaks out all her tricks.
-Oddest thing she does: picks up her wooden puzzle pieces, licks them, and puts them back. lol
-Daddy's favorite bean moments: When they play chase each other around the house. She cracks up and gets so excited! And when she gets cuddly at bedtime. Also when he asks her "where's the bellybutton" she lifts up his shirt and puts her thumb into his bellybutton - she laughs so hard.
-Best noises: She is a gremlin, and also has an awesome evil laugh.

Thats all for now. Good night :)

 Excitement at the Museum!!

picking flowers in the garden

Hanging with Aunt Jo

Coloring! Kinda! 

Checking out the view

Best place to be in the summer!

Reading in her tent :)

TODDLER-HOOD (13 Months)!!

Natalie and Maizy having a pool day :)

Daddy's favorite soccer team won the championship!!!!

Look at that belly!!!!

Fun tent from Chalie and Michelle!

This is by far my most favorite age!!! I say that just about every other month but seriously this time....so much fun. Miss Natalie is fast approaching 13 months!! She is a walking machine. The last month watching her go from a few steps to frankenstein walking to a pro has been amazing. Something about your little one walking by themselves makes my eyes well up. The best is when we get out of the car and my hands are full she just follows me inside (with a little pep talk along the way). It may take us 9 minutes to get from the car to the door but it's worth it!!

We had a fabulous time at Liz and Adam Rama's B-E-A-UTIFUL wedding over the weekend. I love seeing all my old girl friends, I miss everyone so much being way down here in SOFLA! They are amazing, its just like old times when we all get together. I love catching up with everyone!

How Nick, myself and bean managed to begin to outgrow our house is beyond me. But it's happening!! There is stuff everywhere...and no we aren't moving. How do you build an addition on a zero lot line property that backs up to the 13th hole???....any suggestion???

I still miss my dogs...I'm not going to elaborate at all, but it's tough being home alone when Nick is gone without puppies to keep me company. We are all still sad...but getting better.

On a happy note Nick will be home all next week!!! Then Friday we are off to NJ/NYC for some memorial day fun with the soon-to-be "Serafyn's!" Our next family trip will be up to WISCO for some family fun! I'm so excited for everyone to see Natalie cruising around like a champ. It would be awesome if she could work out a few good words before then too! Right now we have "mama", "dada", "hi" and "NAH-NAH!! " and a point when she wants something. She is understanding more and more each day, it's unbelievable how fast they catch on.

SIDE NOTE: Tooth number 7 is making it's entrance.

Her eating is still a comedy show lol. She does awesome with breakfast, and usually lunch, but dinner not so much. A few nights a week she will shock me and eat a full meal. She is still anti-meat, even when I disguise it. I'll take suggestions on that too, thanks! She loves PB&J on whole wheat, yogurt, any and all fruit, some veggies especially peas, sweet potatoes, and more peas, granola bars too. What kid doesn't like chicken nuggets?? Oh miss Natalie lol She is a trip. Such a picky stinker. Hand her a pouch of anything and she will suck it down in 30 seconds!! Good things there are some nutritious options to choose from. Kale, Quinoa, Barley, Spinach, she loves it!! Thank goodness for Plum pouches!! We will get there. She loves her milk so that's been great. And we are now weaning her morning bottle. It should be eliminated in the next week or so and then we will only have the night bottle left...oh boy.

I should be cleaning my "office" right now. It's really a playroom, with a desk in it, that I sit at maybe once every other week. But it's "Happy Mommy Beer Thursday" today, so me and my Blue Moon summer wheat brew will take our time. For those of  you who need a description of my made up weekly holiday here it is. After the usually Monday-Thursday without my handsome hubby at home to help me with our favorite little girl, lets be honest, I need a beer. So every Thursday night, after I put Bean to sleep and clean up, I have ONE new beer I haven't tried yet. You're jealous...I know.

It's storming outside, and Nat's out cold with her mouth wide open, ignoring all the thunder and lightening. I love my good little sleeper. She goes to bed on her own btwn 7:30-8:00 every night and 85% of the time I don't hear from her till 6:30-7 every morning. Not sure how long she is going to keep this up but I'm so thankful for my sleep. Now I just have to work on getting myself to sleep before 11:00!

Our every other Friday night sitter might not be able to watch Natalie sleep tomorrow night. Date night may have to be rescheduled. We are very lucky we found such a nice girl to let us go be adults every other week. We are still looking for a during the week sitter though. I have a few weeks covered but it's really getting down to the wire. I have two interviews set up for next week so fingers crossed :)

Natalie makes a new funny face that I must share. She does it all day long and I crack up! She may look like her daddy, but she is funny like her mommy :)

FUN NEWS vs SAD NEWS

FUN NEWS FIRST!!

Miss natalie has decided her crawling days have come to an end!! She has been taking a few steps here and there for weeks. But last Monday she was taking about 5 or 6 steps at a time, and by Saturday she was officially walking like a big girl! It is the cutest thing ever, she is so proud of herself, and insists on carrying things with her while she walks. The remote, elmo, her purse, her milk cup etc. She look like a little mini frankenstein when she walks too. This is sooooo much fun! It also makes me well up with proud-ness and love :)

SOME MORE UPDATES!!

She loves her car. She sits in there
with her baby and her milk and watches Mickey.

We played in our pool from Uncle
Richy over the weekend!

She is also eating a bit better as well, sometimes. Much more big girl food. Still loves her pouches. Only two REAL milk bottles a day, morning and night. No more formula, and we will start weening the morning bottle in another few weeks. She does well with the cup, only water still and milk of course. She is eating 3 meals a day and usually 2 snacks.

We also just planned two summer trips. NJ/NYC for memorial day weekend, and WISCO in late June early July. A little airplane prep before the big IRELAND trip should be fun :)

Natalie is really doing well with shaking her head yes. Still not any meaningful words. She says "Na-Na" and points when she wants something. Babbles lots of mama's, dada's, and makes lots of crazy noises. Uncle Richy is convinced she makes snake noises, and can point out several Animals. If you ask her where mommy, daddy, doggie, elmo, mickey and a few others she also points. Getting better with working on "Hi". Loves to dance, loves music, and sings in the car. She loves brushing her teeth, and her hair (still not much lol). I feel like I'm forgetting lots.

Still no luck with finding a sitter while I'm at work. I only need two days a week. The other day is covered by Mimi! I'm going to miss having Jamie, she is AMAZING with bean! Fingers crossed I find someone soon :)

SAD NEWS :(

Ok...Just over a week ago Nick and I thanked God that our little girl was ok. Our dog Winston (our first child) bit Natalie. We were hanging in the living room on a Sunday afternoon and Natalie was playing on the floor with the dogs (typical activity). Natalie always picks up their toys and hands them to them. She thinks its funny, both dogs play along. Unfortunately Winston lost his patience with Nat and bit her on the wrist. It was extremely scary, we rushed her to after hours pediatrics. He broke the skin in several places. One cut was a bit deeper than the others. The doctor recommended not doing stitches due to the infection risk. He said she would heal just fine, and not to worry. We are soooo sooo grateful she is ok. It could have been much worse. I just keep looking at her feeling so lucky this wasn't a much scarer story.

Once we knew she was ok, and playing fine, using her hand wrist and smiling away a few hours later the reality set in. Winston had to go. He has snapped at her once before, but no damage was done. We said then if it happened one more time, that was it. Saying it has been a very rough week is an understatement. I can't stop crying. Thank goodness my dad offered to take winston last Monday morning until we found him a good home. Nick and I are both devastated. We know we are doing the right thing, but we miss him so much. To top it off our little Mia is so sad, and cries when we are gone. I feel bad for her.

There is, however, a happy ending. My dad came over a few days ago after we had told him we found a potential home for Winston and said he wants to keep him. That way we can still see him, my dad can have a handsome, well trained, smart, fun dog (he has been wanting one lately) and this won't seem so sad. On another good note our friends Lindsey and Adam, who live in our neighborhood, are going to give Mia a new home (maybe)! They are keeping her for a few days to see how she gets along with their other two girls. So far so good. Meanwhile I've been staying at my moms. When Nick is gone and Winston isn't there to protect me and Mia isn't there to cuddle it's way to lonely. I'll get over it. Lots of people have told me their similar stories. It's very comforting. Lots of people said to get a Lab. lol ::sigh::

Ok, I'm sleepy, and my cousin just made some sick awesome cookie brownie...Mmmm!!