Happy New Year!!

Today is New Year's Eve and we are getting ready for a quiet evening at home...thank goodness! You went on your first SUPER DUPER long road trip. We left early Saturday morning (very early...like 6am!) and headed to Oklahoma to visit Daddy's side of the family. You did well on that day, I think because you were still sleepy! I fed you your breakfast in the car and we were on our way! We stopped in Norman (boomer sooner!) for some lunch then headed north to Daddy's home town, Tulsa. We stayed with cousins and you had lots of visitors! No one wanted to put you down....and why should they want to?? You were just too precious for words. The next day we visited more friends and family and headed to Henryetta which is where your Grandma and Grandpa Yandle were born and raised...before "high tailin it" to the big city of Tulsa! That part of the trip was low key and we spent lots of time with Uncle Bob (your grandmother's brother) and Aunt Bobbie. Everyone just absolutely loved you and can't wait for you to come back to visit! The trip back home was a lot longer because we ran into a lot of traffic. :( We were/are still exhausted but are glad to have made the voyage to Okie land!
My sweet Nattie, you will be 6 months next week and I can't believe it. We saw one of your cousins who is almost 3 months and I still can't believe you were ever that little!! You are making more noises, starting to sit up on your own and just doing so much to show your personality. I love every moment I spend with you and I hope the new year brings us nothing but more happiness and tons of fun!!!
I love you more every day so you never have to worry about it ever running out!
xxoo,
Mom

Happy 5 month birthday!

I woke up today at 3:30am to you squirming and trying to tell me that you were hungry. I made you wait, just thinking that maybe you would fall back asleep, but no dice. You kept going and I finally got up to go feed you. You were so happy to see me, even that early in the morning. :) Too hard to be mad at you. After you finished your bottle I put you back to bed and tried to go back to sleep myself. All I did was watch you on the monitor. You flipped over on your belly then pushed yourself up (in the Yoga cobra position----will explain to you latere :) then you proceeded to flip over on your back as if you had been doing that for years. Now I know I was meant to lose some sleep so I could watch my baby girl make her next move. I sat there watching you thinking...."how is it possible that THAT is the tiny baby who I gave birth to 5 months ago?" Seems like time was going nice and slow for me for a while, but now it seems to be going at lightening speed and I can't slow it down. I enjoy all our moments together and the older you get the more fun you get. I love watching you grow, but I can't help but be a little sad that you aren't that little 6lb baby I brought home 5 months ago today. My favorite onesie that you wear (spagetti strapped, red and white striped with a blue partridge decal sewn onto it) no longer fits and that really hit me hard yesterday. :( You are the most special thing (next to your dad) to come into my life and I just want to savor every second.
You are whining in your discovery play center right now, so I better go get you out of there before you get really mad! :) Our family christmas cards are ready and daddy is going to pick them up today and I canNOT wait to see them! You did so good during your "photo shoot" last night. :) You are a natural and hope you continue to love the camera!! :)
I love, love, love you.....always and forever.
XO,
Mom

Baby hugs

Baby hugs are the cure for what ails you....no doubt about it!
My sweet girl, you have started hugging and daddy and I just can't get enough! It's the best feeling in the world. Those tiny arms wrapping around me is so amazing....even if it comes with a slobbery bite on the cheek! :)
It's so incredible to watch you learning things every second. You are so determined! If only adults put forth that much effort in things....this world would be a better place. Every second I spend with you is better than the one before. You always turn a bad day good. All I have to do is look at you and happiness fills my heart. :)
One thing I have to note that I think is so hillarious and kinda sad is that you will just sit in a poopy diaper and never even say a word. Again, this morning, I went to get you up and your diaper was filled!! How could anyone not scream to be cleaned up! You are so easy going and I hope that will continue throughout your life.
I love, love, love you, my monkeys.
XO,
Mom

Woops!

I'm standing here in the kitchen about to make some banana bread and watching you swing, and I realized that I hadn't posted here in a long time! SO sorry! A 4/5 month old is much more demanding on time. You are doing so much more now! Like grabbing things (including hot cups and plates that mommy has in her "general direction"). You are so cute! Just so into discovering ANYthing with your hands AND your mouth! :) Your new noise is the Raaazzzzzberry...and oh my, do you love it! You raaazzzzzz all day long and you are so proud of yourself. You are enjoying your discovery center a lot more now that you can really grab. Bouncing is still one of your favorite past times so I'm very excited to get you a jumpy for Christmas, well, it will be either mom and dad or Santa :) I'm equally as excited about having your first christmas!! You don't understand but you love the pretty lights and sparkly decorations. :)

I'm having so much fun with you....life just gets better and better. You love biting my face and will wrap your arms around my neck...and I feel like I'm in heaven. My heart just melts with each baby snuggle. :) And it makes me feel so awesome to see your big, "HI DADDY!" smile. :) You love him so much and that is amazing...

I love you my, monkey....always and forever!
XO
Mom

History has been made!

While you were sleeping, Americans elected the 44th president of the United States! You were born the year that history was made because finally race was not a factor in choosing the leader of our country. The first African American president is Barack Obama.
One thing I want you to know is that I was raised a republican and never really thought that would ever change. Daddy is very knowledgeable about politics but has never pushed Mommy to choose one side or the other, in fact, we never really talked about it much. Daddy respects Mommy to make her own decisions. After feeling disappointed with my previous choice for president, I started to become more interested in the candidates who wanted their chance to take a hold of the reigns. I didn't like either nominee at first, and sadly, I thought I couldn't vote for someone with the name Obama. I knew nothing about him really, and I was being shamefully judgemental. As the months went on I read a little more and learned more about both candidates and I became mesmerized by Obama and his hope for change. What really pushed me over the fence was hearing his wife speak and seeing how he interacts with her and his children. I wanted a family man as president. A calm spirit who would make decisions based on facts and consequences, not emotion. I realized, as you will, that growing up means having your own thoughts and opinions about everything that happens in the world. The bonus is that you figure out who you are in the process. It's taken me a long time to realize who I am as an individual. You don't have to follow the mainstream to be a good person, or to be someone's friend. You just have to be you. If you have goodness and honesty in your heart, that is all that matters. I once read a quote that stated, "To succeed in life you must have a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone." I will do my best to make sure you always remember that. :)
Daddy and I voted for change. We are betting on a better life for you and your generation. That one day, life for you and your family and friends is one that you can call peaceful.
What we do in our lifetime is a reflection on what we want for your lifetime.

We love you and want you to know that with our love and support, you can be whatever your heart desires.
XO
Mom (and Dad) :)

Happy Halloween!

It's your first Halloween! Unfortunately, I couldn't find a costume that I thought you would be comfortable in. All of them are plush and hot and you are too warm a baby to be happy in those! You are rockin' a "snack-o-lantern" onesie and a pair of black and orange striped pants....see? Not an embarrassing outfit at all! :) I got your back, girl. ;)

Tonight we are handing out candy to the kiddies that come knocking on our door. If you haven't noticed, Mommy loves Halloween! I'm hoping that you will be as into it as I am as you get older.

So lately you are really liking being bounced and "flying" (what daddy calls it when he suspends you in air)...you LOVE that! You giggle and drool all over us! I'm guessing you are getting ready to sprout teeth cause of the drool and all the chewing you do on your hands. You are definitely coming into your own looks these days too. Hair is getting longer and your face has changed a lot! I love that gummy little smile!

I started writing this earlier and just now came back. You got sick riding around in the Bjorn carrier, I think, and threw up a few times! I saw your little head sway a little back and forth and out it came! Awww..I felt so bad. You are sleeping peacefully now....but what a morning! I hope you feel better when you wake up. Nothing worse than seeing your baby hurting.

Update! We had an awesome Halloween! We handed out candy and enjoyed the spooky night. :) The trick or treaters were diggin' Mom's decorations! You will soon understand. :)
(FYI---mom was a "disheveled housewife." It was a last minute idea and I thought it was funny. :)

I love you, my girl.
XO....Mom

Happy 3 month birthday my little monkey! :)

Today you are three months old! I still can't believe it! Although it kind of seems like time has flown by, I still feel like I'm soaking up every minute as if it were moving slowly. You've really started to sleep well through the night. A few times I've had to go in and wake YOU up! You are so happy when you open your eyes and see me. I love that gummy smile of yours more than anything in the world! :) You have such a great temperament. You only get mad when you're hungry and lately I think you are going through a growth spurt cause all you want to do is eat.
One thing you love to do is stand up on Daddy's or my lap. Your legs are so stiff and straight and I can tell by the look on your face that you love to be up high so you can see the world!

I enjoy every minute I spend with you. Even when I have a bad day, you always seem to know how to cheer me up. Sometimes you will just stare at my face and just by the look in your eyes, I know you and I are going to know each other so well. We will know exactly what to say to each other in good times and bad. I feel such a wonderful connection to you. I want you to have your own opinions of things and to be your own person. Whomever you turn out to be, I know I will be proud to call you my daughter.

I love you more every day.
~Mom
PS....we call you monkey because you look like a spider monkey! those big eyes!! :)