Easter and the upcoming event!!

I cannot believe Natalie's birthday is already here. We are down to 9 days on the countdown people. BIG. DEAL!!! She had a great 2nd Easter. She was only 1 day old on her first Easter and wore a ducky outfit leaving the hospital to be festive! Nick and I raved about how much better our Easter dinner feast was this year. Last year we were in the hospital and my mom brought us whopper jrs and chocolate milk shakes (not bad, but homemade mac takes the cake). We had a nice day, nick made french toast for breakfast. Natalie climbed in and out of her Easter                 

basket all morning. We went to my moms for the afternoon and hung outside until dinner time. 

Nick and I used our new weekend babysitter last friday! She was great, Natalie slept the whole time we were out. And Keri did a good job of keeping me posted. I was a hot mess. 3 beers later, I was less of a hot mess but still talking about it lol. I'll get better, I promise. We went around the corner and had dinner and drinks with some friends. It was definitely nice to get out with the hubby :)

We had an extra busy week this week. Our Monday babysitter Miss Jamie couldn't work, and Nat came to work with me for a few hours. It was fun, she was a good girl, and played with Maria and the girls while I got some work done. We are currently looking for a new babysitter mondays and tuesdays during the week. Jamie is tied up with her other family all summer. I have two potentials lined up, waiting on some references and an interview or two. Fingers crossed. 

This morning we were supposed to do a "1st birthday" photo shoot with my cousin (who is a photographer) at 7:30. Bean had other plans consisting of teething, and being up from 5:00AM until she napped at 8:30! Needless to say I changed things up and we went at 10:00. It wasn't her best day, thats for sure, but Britt is amazing with a camera and managed to get some great shots! We are going to do a few more tomorrow at the playground just because! 

This whole 1st birthday thing has me all over the place. I'm so excited, so amazed, and so want to stop the clock all at once. SIDE NOTE: I really want another baby all the sudden....badly. We will be waiting another year though...dammit....patience V :)

This week coming up should be a blast. Nama arrives from WI on wednesday, daddy also gets home Wednesday this week, and Aunt Jo gets in late thursday night!! My mom is being a huge help as usual! And I know having Peggy and Jo here will

make things nice and easy as the party approaches. I can't wait. We went over board, way too many people lol. But it's ok, just for this birthday, it's very special :)

On another good note, we are doing much better with food the last week. And drinking one bottle a day out of the cup. We have her straw cup with water every meal for the last two months. Trying to get her used to it now. Daddy gave her regular milk and a peanut butter sandwich when I went to the gym yesterday. Hooray for daddies making mommy panic!! However, glad he did it (and not me) and everything was fine!! CAN'T WAIT TO STOP BUYING FORMULA!! lol. 

I'm failing at this...

So I realize it's been almost a month since my last post. I have no excuse. I really need to make time for this weekly, I feel like I suck lol.

Enough about me though, my little bean is growing up way to fast. She has such a personalty, she is so funny (ahem..gets it from me). She laughs at everything, and makes such silly faces. Now when we are talking if we start cracking up she does too like she is in the convo. She puts the phone to her ear now and is pretty close to squeaking out a "hi". At least we think so, it's probably not even close lol. She throws balls, nick thinks she is lefty and is all excited. But clearly she throws with whichever hand is closer to the ball. duh. She loves the pool, loves the doggies, hugs all her stuffed animals and says "awwww". Getting much better with waving,  and says "na na na" when she wants to be picked up.

She is doing a bit better with eating, more finger foods, still putting up a bit of a stink. She is a little picky, but I'm learning to not stress out about it. I'm pretty sure she would eat fruit, mashed beans, and toast every meal if she had it her way. She loves my fruit/veggie drink (Naked-Green Machine) in the AM which is great. So good for her. Also likes Earth's best french toast sticks, hummus still, sweet potato fries, peas, EVERY fruit you put in fruit of her and anything in a pouch. I've given in a bit in that department. She loves the fruit veggie mixes with quinoa, brown rice, all good stuff!! Lets not forget the breakfast yogurts smoothies with elmo on them! I'm sure I'm screwing something up by letting her eat them herself but she is eating...and eating healthy. I'm not going to fight her...yet :)

I'm a little nervous about the bottle weening and the whole milk switch over we are creeping up on this month. She is having one (of four) bottles in her straw cup. Baby steps. In my head real milk probably tastes way better than formula, so fingers crossed. 

She is standing by herself and walking when we hold one hand pretty well. Maybe by her birthday, but she is a fast as heck crawler so I'm sure she isn't in a rush (I know I not pushing it). The stairs are her addiction, she loves to climb them (with me right behind her of course). I tell her No-No when she starts heading towards them she has no interest and listening to me. She puts one hand on the first step and I say No-No again and she turns around and laughs....it's awesome. 

The 1st birthday celebration is approaching! I'm not sure if I want to throw up or get excited. I can't believe she is going to be ONE!! Holy Cow! She is so amazing, best year of my life :)

We found a new babysitter!! She is going to start watching Natalie on tuesdays while I work and every other friday night so Nick and I can have a night out. His travel schedule is crazy these last few weeks, and the next month also. I'm so proud of him though. He is doing really well with the new position. And he always remembers to tell me how much he appreciates me being home with Nat by myself all the time. I def need to hear it sometimes! She is quiet active lol. I have him home for 4 days in a row this week, he comes home tmrw night! Hooray. 

My little Mia is a hot mess. I'm to tired to fill in all the blanks there, but we love her, she is a sweetheart :)

Such a big girl :)

Hooray! I have time to post today. Bean is napping and I should be napping too. I have Bronchitis. GROSS!! I'm tough though, a bit tired and sick of coughing but I just really don't want to get Nick or bean sick. Nick has been home this week, thank goodness. He has a bit of a sore throat, but my fingers are still crossed. 

We went to Tampa last weekend to visit our friends Tiff and Jonathan. Nat was great on the plane, quick flight, no biggie. I had a ton of anxiety driving to the airport. First time flying with bean by myself. And visiting friends who don't have kids requires a lot of packing!! We had a great time though, went to the beach, and the zoo! Fun filled weekend, and I'm sure the Patch family is happy to have silence back in their house lol. 

This last two weeks she really tests her ability to balance. She will stand up and hold things, shake her hands in excitement, and is becoming pretty good with her push toy. She is such a fast crawler however I think she might take her time on the walking. 

She can full on climb all the stairs...fast. It's scary and obviously she is only aloud when nick or I are with her...she has to learn sometime I guess. She points to everything like she wants it, or wants to show us that it's there. It's so cute. If she really wants something she will yell "dat!" while she points. I'm confined sometimes she is really singing a song. Or at least she thinks she is.

We are doing a little bit better with eating. She will let me spoon feed her a little bit now in-between her feeding herself. I think I'm going to let her try some cheese next week. She really likes the Earth's best teething cookies. And Hylands teething tablets are our best friend. She now has 3 teeth...slowly but surely lol. And the four is looking like it's going to break through any day now. This morning she fell crawling and smacked her chin on the tile. There was some blood...her bottom tooth cut her top gum...that just sounds painful :( I called the pediatrician cause I'm a crazy first-time mom and she said she is fine...duh. I asked about me having Bronchitis as well, and there isn't much else we can do. I've been wearing a mask, and washing my hands like crazy.  

The weather has been stinky her this week, I'm hoping it clears up for the wknd. That way we can open the house up again and get the sick out! Jo is coming to visit next week. I'm stoked to maybe help her do some wedding dress shopping, and celebrate her b-day with her! I miss my BFF...lots. Then we have Liz's bachlorette weekend in Ft. Lauderdale on the 17th! I'm very excited to get some sun on the beach, have some girl time, and celebrate Liz's last whooo-raw! We also may get to see Nick's Aunt Teri and Uncle Bill on sunday! 

On a mushy Natalie note, I really don't have words anymore to describe how awesome she is. I'm positive every mom feels this way, but she is incredible. She makes me so happy, she has such an dynamic little personality already. I feel so blessed that I get to watch her grow up everyday. I wish it would slow down a bit, but I'm happy to have a front row seat for the show :)

Nat with Tiff and J-man!

Checking out the monkeys with Daddy.

Cutest peguin ever!

Excited on the Merry-go-round!

Daddy got her a Third Man Record shirt!

10 Months!!

Well Miss Natalie is 10 months old today! I can't believe how big she is. The crawling is out of control. After 3 months of crawling she is a pro, and sooo fast! I'm hoping she holds off a few more months on the walking. She can walk with her push toy and stands on her own for a few seconds here and there, but so far no steps.

Not much new since last post. She does make a cool new sound with her tongue and she thinks she is so funny (side note: of course she is funny....she is my kid). She can give a high-five. The puppy eats all her toys, they both steal them out of each others mouths haha...ewww. When bean doesn't want any more kisses she waves her hands at Mia to make her go away. I've been doing well with the gym, it's hard dropping bean off in the baby room, but it will get easier. She never cries and when I walk by the window to check on her she is always smiling and playing.

We have been going to a little kinder-music class at the JCC around the corner. It's cute, only 8 or 9 kids. most babies are 8, 9, 10 months and a few over a year. Natalie dances and claps up a storm, and most of the instruments in class she has at home so she is familiar with a lot of them. She has so much fun, even though it throws off our schedule all day. I wake her up early and then her naps are a fight, but honestly, its worth it. She gets to socialize a bit and listen to mommy's horrible singing voice.

On a stinky note we are struggling with food. She has been doing well with her bottles, not great, but better than a few weeks ago. However, she refuses to let me feed her...ANYTHING. She wants to do it all herself but has no idea how to use a spoon so meals are a complete mess and she barely gets anything down. I've started to give her more finger food the last week to help resolve the problem but she pretty much just plays 90% of the time. It's a fight, I reluctantly lose at her game, frustrating. I know it's just a phase but man oh man I miss my good eater!! My moms been a huge help this week. She made homemade minestrone soup for her to eat, cut up fruit, made eggs etc. For lunch today I actually made toast and spread her stage 3 meal on it, and cut it up. She might have consumed a fifth of the bread....sigh.

I did start planning her birthday party last week! I can't wait, it should be lots of fun. She'll have no idea obviously, but we will have a blast watching our little girl at her 1st BIRTHDAY! Where did the time go!

 

She has yet to nap more than 15 minutes twice today, so I'm going to go attempt dinner while she plays. Nick comes home tonight from CA! Horray for daddy! And hooray for his two helping hands! I can't wait till tmrw! My favorite day of the week. We are going out for my birthday this weekend with some friends. I CANT WAIT! Thanks                  
                                                 mom for babysitting! You're the bestest!

GO GIANTS!

I started this post Monday after the Super Bowl, but we added some more chaos to our family and I got distracted lol. We got another dog....a puppy to be more specific. We named her Mia (after Mia Hamm of course). She is a King Charles Cavalier. I've been looking to get another dog for Winston. He needs a friend and some one else to play. Nick and I no longer have the time to expel is endless energy playing catch 9,000 times. I was contemplating rescuing. I have always wanted a big dog, but we don't have the yard for it. So when miss Mia unexpectedly came into our lives, I just went with it! It's been working out really well. She is adorable, lovable, and her and winston get along great. They play and play, and she puts him right in his place, steals all his toys, and licks Natalie constantly. We love her, what a great match. Potty training and getting her to listen as well as winston will be our biggest challenges. 

THE GIANTS WON THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!! So, so excited :):):):) We had a few friends over for a "wing -off" it was impressive on many levels....none of which I experienced cause I have "animal bone issues". It looked fun. I won some cash in the football pool. Natalie played with Michael and Alice (our friends 6 and 1 year old). It was cute. The dogs were everywhere, fun times were had, good beer was consumed, madonna was conceded yet entertaining...oh and did the I mention the GIANTS won?!?!?! 

Natalie is getting so grown up. the last few weeks we learned how to high-fve, climb the stairs, can walk with a push toy, stands unsupported for a good 7 seconds, loves mickey mouse club and octonauts on disney channel, mumbles in an old man voice, says dada on command, has a wicked diaper rash (sad face), made out with Mia, throws her hands up like an Italian, missed her daddy...lots, started stage 3 foods and is loving it, eats toast, bagels, edamame, eggs, and Brussels sprouts....I'm forgetting something. 

I told my mom all I want for my birthday is a night out lol. She is going to keep bean for us on feb 25. I'm very excited :) I cherish my weekend with my hubby now that he travels so much. Getting to go out with friends will just make a saturday night that much more fun! Happy Birthday to me! Nick has been working so hard on the road lately. I really stoked to have him home with us next week. We are going to have a nice relaxing wknd! It's been a rainy week, so hopefully we should have some cooler weather coming up. 

I booked the pavilion for Natalie's first birthday!!! I can't believe I've started planning already, she will be 10 months next week. holy cow. I love her so much, it's unreal how fast she is growing up. She is most defiantly the light of my life :)

Nick and I joined the YMCA! I'm so excited, I can't wait to get back in shape. I went twice this week, I'm very sore lol. Plan on going again tomorrow. I've gotten way too skinny, and I'm sick of hearing about it from everyone and their moms. I need to put some weight back on. No cardio, just strength training and lots of weights! They have a great babysitting area, and they do mommy errand mornings during the week were I can drop bean off for an hour to play and go grocery shopping if needed. Such a nice perk! 

Bean looks more and more like Nick everyday. It's so amazing to see such a resemblance, from her facial expressions to her feet and toes, it's all him!! So cute. We are starting to see some hair come in, finally lol, a little bit. And her eyes are so pretty, light brown with maybe a bit of hazel.

We are going to start a little mommy and me class next week on thursdays. I'm excited for it, I think she is old enough now to really get something out of a structured class and interacting with other kiddos (besides her few little buddies). I'm not excited for the mommy competition garbage...that's half the reason I'm so anti-mommy social lol. Maybe ill be pleasantly surprised, and everyone will just be nice, and un-judging. The joys of south florida.

Ok I'm done posting. Nick and I are watching a crazy awesome Irish movie right now. I just tried a new (to me) beer from sierra nevada called ritual something lol. It's fantastic!! Really hoppy, love it :)

WOOOHOOOO GIANTS!!

9 Months!

We had Natalie's 9 month checkup today! I can't believe she is 9 months already. When they told me today they needed to make her 1 year appointment I wanted to cry. It's incredible how much they grow and change in the first year. It's been a while (way too long) since I was able to post last, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Ok, so today her stats were 50 percentile for height and weight and 80 percentile for her head (thank you Tatge family lol). 18 pounds 9 ounces and 27 1/2 inches long. She is growing perfectly symmetrical according to Dr. Gina. I'm not quite sure what she means by that, but sounded good lol.

Dr. Gina was thrilled with her expansive diet. Bean literally eats EVERYTHING I put on a spoon. I hope it lasts. However, lately she has really been pushing away her bottles. I think she just much rather eat food. Most days she does fine with formula, others it's a fight. But her pediatrician said she is growing perfect and not to worry. Similac has a "Go & Grow" formula for 9 months+ that I think I'm going to switch her too. Lots of vitamins and minerals in less formula so it will help fill the gaps. Bean uses a sippy cup and a cup with a straw now. I still haven't done juice. She gets plenty of fruit in a day and I rather her be a big water drinker like her mommy. I drink Green Machine from the brand Naked in the AM with my vitamins and she will have some of that out of my cup. I'm rather surprised she likes it, but it's good stuff.

New foods she has conquered: quinoa, beets, spinach, broccoli, hummus, cauliflower, white and black beans, all berries, corn, purple carrot (whatever that is), yogurt (yoyo baby), and toast.
She has had ground beef, turkey and chicken for animal protein so far. Whole grain oatmeal for breakfast, she eats all fruits (except citrus). I'm going to try eggs, pasta and cut up chicken this week.

We are working on "no-no" the last 2 months. She usually will stop what she is doing, look at me, smile, and go right back to doing it when I say it to her. It's comical...for now. We are having such a hard time finding a baby gate that work for the bottom of the stairs. Whoever designed our staircase didn't have babies. If I stand behind her she will climb the stairs like a champ so right now I block them off with a rigged gate. It's frustrating. If anyone has any suggestion please help.

She is not walking as of yet, thank god! I'm so not ready for that. She crawls all over the house, and pulls herself up on EVERYTHING. We have no coffee tables in our house for this reason. She will walk if you hold her hands, and will take steps holding on to the couch or her toys.

She dances when music is played (it's adorable)! And she figured out how to clap last month. First it was mini fist pounds, now it's full on palm to palm clapping :)

She says "ma-ma" and "da-da" but she has not put a purpose to any of it yet. If you ask her to say dada she says mama lol. It's so funny. When she is mad she yells "ya-ya-ya-ya". She has a heck of a temper, but 99% of the time she is a happy, smiley little girl.

She likes Sesame Street, Elmo's World, and Mickey Mouse Club. I've yet to see her sit for more than 5 minutes watching anything. She rather play with her toys. She will sit for her Mimi and watch Sesame Street at her house, but not at home. She still loves books, and the Fisher Price apps on my cell phone are life savers. She cracks up at animal noises, and we are just starting to work on body parts now. She loves her musically instruments she got for Christmas from Santa, especially the drums! So much fun, I am so in love, and this age is amazing!!

We had the Tatge Christmas and Natalie's Baptism two weekends ago. It was fantastic having family and friends in town! My best friend Jo and Nick's oldest brother Ryan are Natalie's God Parents. The ceremony was wonderful and bean laughed and made space ship noises through the whole thing lol. We had a great time, but the visits were way to short. Uncle Ryan and Aunt Dana stayed in town for a extra week. They were a huge help and Natalie had a blast playing with them all week. She got tons of toys and cute clothes, books, and photo frames for Christmas and her baptism. A cabbage patch baby was my favorite of her new toys from Grandpa Dennis.

She was a little off with her sleep schedule last month but we are getting back on track. 6/7 nights she goes to sleep by herself at around 8:00 and doesn't wake up till 6 or 7. When she has a bad night and daddy isn't traveling he usually sneaks in and rocks her to sleep. I can't tell him no, it's so sweet :)

She is definitely a daddy's girl. When he gets home from his work trips she is all his! She criess when he puts her down, has no interest in mommy and just wants nothing but him. I love it, its makes my heart warm. And I know after a long week on the road he couldn't be happier with her clingy-ness :)

I'm a horrible blogger....someone should fire me.