Final moments.......

This week will wrap up my 3 months that I was able to stay home with Natalie. I am blessed and thankful beyond belief for this time, and wouldn't trade it for the world! Things I have come to love about her:
*the way she looks at me when eating
*the way she crains her head back to see me when holding her in my lap
*the way she sucks in air to make a noise when she is excited
*her constant kicking (unless I'm changing her!)
*her beauty
*her gummy smile that melts my heart every time
*her content personality, and the way she goes to others with ease
*that she is mine!

Yesterday was her 5 month birthday and she got her first taste of rice cereal! Great gift, right?!  She opened up nicely, but wasn't quite sure what to think about it. She did a pretty good job of using her tongue to push it back with only a few messes.

 She started getting really hungry at this point, and the rice wasn't cutting it. We just weren't fast enough!

 Her Poppi got her this bowl so I was showing it off!

We got this dinosaur toy from the Just Between Friends sale in Mesquite last week. Looks brand new and we got it for $12! This is the first time she has experienced it, and she seemed intrigued. Did you notice how well she is sitting up by herself?! Out of nowhere she has done this, and is getting better and better

She is really studying those flashing lights in this shot.

 And, or course, the dogs can't be overlooked. They were ready to play, and she loves watching them!

Those two really are the best of buds. Sad day when one of them goes=(

Lodge Day 2

Sorry for the delay......here's how day 2 went down.
We slept in until about 8 and took our time getting around. Evan had woken up in the wee hours of the morning with an earache and it took us all awhile to get back to sleep. Thankfully, Natalie slept right through the crying/wailing.  We weren't sure whether or not he should go back to the water park so we took the opportunity to check out the place a little more and went to play in the Arcade.

There was one spin the wheel game like on Price is Right where you COULD win 1000 tickets. Well, of course no one actually lands on that.....right?!  WRONG! We hadn't been in that place more than 20 or 30 minutes when two separate people hit the jackpot. That is when Brian decided it was time to play a little arcade himself.  Four or five tries later and the biggest he hit was 25 tickets=(

After loitering around for a bit, we decided it was time for lunch so back to the room we went ( it was too expensive to eat in the lodge!).  We soon decided Evan was fine and we could go to the park for a little bit.

After playing around a bit with the kiddos (and finally convincing Audrey to go somewhere besides the kiddie area!), Mimi and Poppi took the grandkids so Brian and I could ride all the slides. Unfortunately I didn't get any pics of those. I'm hoping mom and dad did. There was 5 of them. Two of them had a big drop and then shot you into a swirling tube that then spit you out in a smaller tube, and into the water hole to get out. Yes, I screamed like a 5 year old on those! Actually on one of them we rode with a 3rd grader and her dad, and I am near 100 percent certain that I screamed louder than she did.  I did warn them that I would!!

That evening we were off to dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe. 

 The kids enjoyed the atmosphere with the sounds and animals, and the food was pretty good

 Our waitress was not. My dad asked her a question about the free appetizer we were getting and she didn't hear him. Her response was the rudest most annoyed "What?!" I have ever heard from a server. My dad and I looked at each other wide eyed and made faces like "excuse us for asking a question." After my dad repeated his question she answered very shortly and with an attitude. I don't know what her deal was but I can assure you she didn't get much of a tip at all. She's lucky she got what she did!

 Evan and Audrey couldn't tear themselves away from the crocodile. Evan got his own digital camera from Mimi and Poppi so he had to document EVERYTHING. He said his mommy wouldn't know what the place looked like if he didn't take a picture!

I got Audrey a shirt to match Natalie's so we had to document that. Audrey was trying to get Natalie to look at the camera! Too funny.

What a fun trip we had. Thanks Mimi and Poppi for the trip, and thanks to Josh and Ashley for giving up the kids for a bit. 

Going to the Loooodge

Saturday evening my folks came down with my niece and nephew in tow for a mini Springbreak vacation. Unfortunately my sister and her husband stayed back home (for some needed 'no kid' time!).  We left Sunday afternoon for the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX. I have seen the commercials, and have been dying to go so I was glad they wanted to take a trip!  We arrived around 2 pm and unloaded our junk (and we had a lot of it) in our rooms, and quickly suited up for the Water Park.
*for those who don't know, this place has an indoor water park with heated water, and it is amazing!

 Natalie and I stayed behind so she could take a good nap and be rested and ready for her first trip to the pool! It also gave Mimi, Poppi, and Uncle Brian time with the older kids.
 We met up with the crew a couple hours later, and Evan and Audrey were having a blast!  Natalie didn't seem to mind the water either

Audrey and Evan both did a great job taking care of Natalie and playing with her. They are so funny to watch and listen to as they talk in their 'baby' voice to her!

Snuggled up after her afternoon at the Water Park.

After a few hours at the park we returned to the room for showers, pizza and pajamas!  8 pm was story time at the Great Clock Tower and fireplace.

They had the cutest little show before a lady read Miss Nelson is Missing.  Their microphone system was terrible so it was hard to understand the reader, and she was reading from a normal sized book! Hellooooo! Have you ever heard of a BIG book?! Duh. 

 The characters talked and moved around. It was really too cute!

 The story managed to keep Evan's interest, but as you can see above, not Audrey's.

 Natalie was just being cute as usual!

We ended the night with story time for Evan and Poppi, and

 a little snuggle play time with Audrey, Natalie and Mimi.

New things

Natalie has learned two new things, and she enjoys doing them often! We are going through bib after bib after bib with all that slobber!

The screams were really funny the first few times. Now they are just shrill and ear piercing. Sometimes it is just to hear her own voice, but other times are when she is mad. Gotta break that habit!

Count down

6 more days until I get to see my folks and niece and nephew! My mom and dad are bringing Evan and Audrey down with them on Saturday, and I couldn't be more excited. Seems like forever since we have seen them.  Sunday we will be off to Great Wolf Lodge! Whoo hoo! I have watched these commercials for a long time and wished I had a kid I could take to this place because it looks so fun. Now I finally get to go with the best 3 kids in the world=) I'm just sad my sister and brother-in-law can't join us. However, I know it will be a nice break for them with no kids for a few days.
Happy Springbreak!

Play Day

This morning was our weekly Baby Bounce class at the library, but with a fun little twist! We got to meet our friends Maria and Jori at Chiloso for breakfast before the class. Jori is a fellow adopted friend, and these pictures will definitely be added to our wall. This girl is just beautiful and has the best personality! This is the first time the girls have met, and the first time Maria has met Natalie too. I got to meet Miss Jori when she was about 6 months old (now she is almost 1)! We had so much fun together, and learned a few more songs to sing and dance to this time around. I sure will miss this class when I go back to work=(

How cute is this little outfit? She is always dressed to the nine! Maria is sending me more of these two beauties together.

This is a rare photo of Natalie smiling while on her tummy. Embrace it.....you may never see it again!

and it's gone.....

Thanks for a great day, Maria and Jori!

4 month Update

Natalie turned 4 months on the 27th of February and had her checkup the next morning. She did great as usual. This time she received 3 shots in her leg and only cried out for a few seconds. I must say I was proud of myself and looking for a lollipop because I did not cry this time! She is still a healthy growing girl. Only she keeps growing up and not out! She is 25 1/2 inches long (all legs), weighs 13 lbs, and has a 16 inch head. Since her two month visit that means she has grown 2 inches, 2 lbs, and 1 inch in the head. Of course that put her in the 90% again for height, 40% for weight, and 45% for her head. I thought her weight would have put her in the 25% because she is so much tinier than others her age. Anyway, the doctor says  she is gaining weight in all the right places and doing just fine. BUT, she did say more tummy time is needed. Oh dear! I asked Natalie if she was listening several times. As you well know these are not our favorite times. She has actually done a little better at tolerating it for longer periods, but then the screams and leg fits come.
Because she is so long and skinny she is currently still wearing her 0-3 month stock of clothing. The problem with that is the weather is getting warmer and all those sizes were for fall/winter. I had to buy size 3-6 month footy pjs because she needs the length for her arms and legs (for her feet, too)! It just swallows her up everywhere else. Not that she doesn't still look completely adorable because she DOES! So now I am in a quandry (sp?) as to what clothes to buy her. I hate to buy a bunch of 0-3 months if it only lasts another month before she finally busts out of them. However, the 3-6 month pants currently fall right off, and the onesies/shirts really swallow her up! What to do, what to do.......

Moving on

I've decided to start a collage of some sorts of pictures of Natalie with other adopted children we know and love. I would like to put it somewhere in her room where she can always view it.  Plus, I really feel it will be a great way to encourage conversation about adoption and her story.  Actually it will be great for all of our adopted children (when that time comes).
 I currently have 3 pictures and will get the 4th next week. How exciting is that? I think it will be very important for Natalie to grow up surrounded by others that are adopted like her. I think it is also important for her to be around families that "look" different (i.e. not all Caucasian members), and know that it is ok and completely normal!  Right now we have friends with a mix of Asian, Caucasian, and African American in their families. What a blessing!

Side note: Love to watch this girl stretching; especially first thing in the mornings=)

To Die For

I love this precious little thing......... This is a series of pictures taken during our tummy time venture. She did really well then screamed for awhile. We repositioned and then she was doing great, but she had worn herself out! But first a glimpse of her beautiful face (slobber and all).

 OH

 SO

 TIRED

 ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sweet dreams sweet girl!