Friends, bathing suits, and doctor......oh my!

Last week we had the opportunity to meet a fellow adoptive family through Generations. This family spoke at our orientation a year ago, and I have followed that family's blog ever since. Such a neat family, and I was so glad Natalie and I had the chance to hang out with them for a few hours (ah the joys of a stay at home mom)! They have 3 beautiful children through adoption, but we only met 2 as the oldest was in school. Unfortunately we only got a picture with the youngest one=(   Precious memories, and good friendships. It's nice to swap stories with other families about our adoption experiences and sometimes struggles. It is nice to talk about our children without worrying about the subject of breast feeding, the pangs of pregnancy, or the woes of delivery coming up (because then I have nothing to contribute).

This morning we had the joy of seeing two adoptees together in church! This is our friend, Brynn, who just came home from China only a couple of months ago! She has adapted so well, and just lights up a room when she walks in. Sorry they are sideways. I'm not sure how to rotate!

So our new friend we got to meet last week was so sweet to have a gift for Miss Natalie when we got there. And it is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen! Now I really can't wait until summer!

Isn't the ruffle one the rear the cutest?!

And this one is from some friends back home. I mean this girl will be too adorable this summer=) Thanks Josh and Tiffany!

Tomorrow morning we will have her 4 month checkup. I am so excited to see how much she has grown! Not so excited about the shots. I thought Brian was getting to go with us but he can't=( I guess mommy better take some Kleenex.

Sometimes I want to scream

Wow, didn't realize how long it has been since my last post. Not much excitement around here apparently.
So I appreciate the fact that my husband wants to stay fit, and that he loves to run. However, when it cuts in to the time we actually get to see each other or Natalie, then I get frustrated. When he doesn't get home until 5 or 530, then takes an hour to run, then a 20 minute shower and bathroom break, he really isn't home until around 7pm. By then I am past the point of being hungry, but don't want to eat without him (I've done it all day). I'm ready to have a sidekick to help with NJ. He poops out around 9 pm and is worthless. So sometimes I want to scream! Then I get mad at myself for being selfish. So that is the battle I fight many days of the week.  Now let me say that Brian is the best daddy and a great husband. I am fully aware that he does more than most men. I guess I am spoiled! So stop complaining, right?!?!

Here she is at her first visit to the park with friends. We were outside for 2 1/2 hours and it was lovely! The dogs were annoying as usual, but we had fun!

Milestone reached

This morning Natalie and I went to our first Baby Bounce class at our local library. It consisted of about 7 mothers with their children ages 3-12 months. Natalie was the youngest! We had so much fun! The lady who led the class sang finger play songs and rhymes, read a book, sang songs and bounced away. Natalie was intrigued for a bit, but I had a blast. Sure wish I could continue this all the time and not just a few more weeks. I think she would learn a lot! I was telling some of the other mothers there how much she hates being on her tummy and showed them how she cries the whole time and buries her face in the ground throwing a fit. They laughed, but I was really wondering if she would ever roll over!

Tonight I took her in her room for some tummy time (and to do some cleaning while she cried). Brian came with us and got on the floor with her while I put stuff away. I grabbed some way cool bath time finger paints (thanks Mary and Caleb!) to take to the bathroom and turned my back for a second! I hear Brian shout she rolled over, she rolled over! Then he says, "I didn't even touch her!" I couldn't believe I missed it! So, we had to torture her again so I could prove Brian was making things up. After I saw her do it for a second time, we had to get her to do it ONE more time for the camera. Here she is! And she's NOT happy! I will be happy to report to the Pediatrician in 2 weeks that she can, in fact, roll over! Whew!

Tomorrow I have a challenge. I am helping a friend with her kids while she is at a meeting at work. I will have a 2 year old, and two 3 month olds! My friend's little boy is 2 days older than Natalie so this should be fun! I get my first taste of twins! Ahhh! So glad I get to help her out. =)

And now for other random cute photos....

She likes her Exersaucer

Sacked out at Mimi and Poppi's house

This is my favorite. We have a picture of my niece and nephew staring out of the window with Murphy and Higgins next to them so I couldn't resist setting this up!

Just for kicks

So I decided to surprise my kids at school with a little visit on the 100th day of school.  Natalie of course tagged along. The love Baby Natalie, as they call her.  I gave them a challenge of creating something out of  100 mini marshmallows and 100 toothpicks. I put them in groups and some were very creative. One group created a campground with roasting sticks and a car! Another group created a jungle gym, and another an ice cream shop! Sometimes I just like to see where their creative minds can go.
On to the good stuff......the night before, I was preparing by separating the marshmallows and toothpicks into little baggies for each group. I asked Brian if he could help so it wouldn't take me forever to count. See if you can figure out which was my way of counting toothpicks, and which was the "engineer" way to count.

And the answer is..........

HAHAHA! This gave us (well mainly ME) a good laugh!

Bath time

It has been awhile since we have taken bath time pictures so I thought why not now?!  (they were all starting to look the same after awhile!)

Natalie is showing off her guns for daddy!

Natalie has the best daddy in the world. He helps me bathe her every time, and he is always the one to change her and lotion her up for the night. Doesn't get any sweeter!

I think we are getting some curls when that hair grows out!

 Mommy is ready to put some bows in those curls!

ready for bed! Good night!

Natalie's first snow

Snow Day #4

Snug as a bug!  I can't believe this weather. 

After two days of being cooped up, Natalie and I finally got out yesterday and took a trip to Kroger and Target for much needed COKE and formula. And thank goodness we did because today we are snowed in! What was supposed to be a dusting turned out to actually be 6 inches! It is beautiful and at least we can play in it (unlike the ice) but seriously?! 4 days out of school. Has this EVER happened?

A view from my front door. Can't even see the steps.

Our neighborhood

Natalie loves to sit in her Bumbo and has recently helped me with dinner several nights. This has saved me! At around 5pm every night she gets fussy and nothing pacifies her except me holding her. Well, I can't do this and dinner and Brian gets home too late for me to wait on him to help me. Therefore, the Bumbo saves the day. She absolutely loves to sit up! Too bad she can't do it on her own yet.

And just to prove to those who think she never gets fussy. We captured some pitiful faces last night when she was cranky!

And I leave you with this one!

Sleety Days

From one extreme to the next! This is what snow days are made of.....daddy staying home for awhile!

Unfortunately we don't get to keep him all day, but a few more hours in the morning is good enough for me! And, it wouldn't be a snow day without a warm fire to snuggle up with! The temperature is currently 19 degrees with a windchill a whole lot colder!