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!! :)

Talk to Momma!

Over the last couple of days you'e really been trying to get your point across! :) You make all kinds of noises...but your favorite is "ooooh....Ohhhhh......oooooh" you make the cutest little "O" shape with your mouth like you are about to sing. It's so cute and you especially love it when I mimmick you. You are so impressed by that and I'm sure it makes you feel super important :) That "O" mouth makes my heart melt...I love it so much I could cry!! It's so hard for me to do it back to you because it makes me smile and laugh so much :) You are definitely going to be a talker! I hope that we are always able to talk to each other the way we have the last few days. Speaking each other's language and finishing each other's sentences.
You are also starting to see up close which is exciting. When you hear Daddy's voice you look around and then when you spot him you give him a huge gummy smile! It's so sweet. :)
You did such a great job in your room last night. Only crying for a couple of little spurts, only to fall asleep soon after you started. You finally woke up at almost 7am! Mom is having a hard time with you sleeping in your own room still...but I'm getting a little more used to it. I would rather have you by me all the time, but I realize I have to let go a little and let you get into your routine. It's SO hard, but I'm trying! You are doing all these independent things...like straightening your legs when I hold you up and you try to stand on my belly and holding your head up so well it barely bobbles anymore. You love to be facing forward so you can see what's going on. you are just growing up so quickly but I love watching you learn all these new things. :)

love you!
Mom

Thanks to you.....

.....I won't sit and cry my eyes out today....for being another year older.
Today Mom is 32 and oh how I wish I could reverse those numbers! There is only one catch....I would want to be the person I am today rather than the one I was at 23! It wasn't bad at 23, I had just gotten my first apartment, I was driving a Camero convertible [that your dad would have thought wasn't cool enough ;)] and was making a decent living for a young single girl. I found my independence and was loving it. It's crazy looking back on how different my life was way back then. I did enjoy my partying, free-living days, but I wouldn't trade my life now for my life then. I wouldn't trade anything, but the age! ;) I do miss being younger, cause I do feel much younger than I am.....but being 32 means having you!! And that is the best gift I could receive. You make me not so sad to be a little older. I love you, punkys! :)
Oh yeah, you slept in your own room by yourself allll night for the first time!!! You are getting so big.....and you too have begun to find your independence. (sigh)...my little girl is growing up.

XXXOO,
Mom

Sometimes you are SO me! :)

I recently took some pics of you with my phone that you will find hillarious some day. :) You were tired and very hungry one evening this week and, you were very into your bottle. You had one of your hands covering your face and you didn't move it until the bottle was nearly empty. It is just so me coming through....the dramatic...the love for food....and the wish that eating and sleeping could co-exist without any risk of choking or digestive problems. :)


Love you!
Mom

Happy 2-month birthday, Punks! (you too, Aunt Lynda :)

Natalie had her 2 month birthday today! She unfortunatly spent the morning at the doctor getting her immunization shots.... :( I stared at her before we went thinking how pristine she was and how unaware of what was about to happen to her....it made me so sad. I pleaded with her to forgive me as we walked in the door. She screamed, but it was over so fast, and she calmed down almost as quickly.
We got home and she slept until it was time for her next feeding. As soon as she was done eating she started screaming and crying.....and I figured it had something to do with her shots. :( She had no fever, but her little injection areas were kinda puffy and red and the slightest touch set her off. I spent the better part of the afternoon holding my screaming little girl and walking her around the house while she attempted to sleep it off. It was breaking my heart and making me cry! I've never in her life heard her cry like that....it was so upsetting for us both. I think she just feels sore and it is completely foreign to her. Poor hunny! I'm so sorry!!! :(
Today, Punky, you weighed in at 11.5lbs and measured at 23" long!! wow! What a growth spurt! You are long and lean and gorgeous! :)
I can't believe that you are two months old...that two months ago today we were in the hospital getting to know each other. We make a great team and I'm so happy that I get to spend every single day with you!
(FYI...everyone's feeling much better now! ) :)

Mommy loves you, Natty! :)

It's finally September!

I'm so glad that summer is coming to a close...it's been so hot and I've been aching for fall weather. Natalie is such a warm baby that it seems like wherever I take her she gets sweaty :( so I'm ready to take her out in the cool, crisp air of the new season....whenever that comes!

My little Natty, you just started noticing your fur-brothers and sisters! :) It's so cute to watch you wide-eyed and hear you giggle at them. :) You are changing so rapidly that it makes me almost sad. I want you to grow and continue to get cuter ;) but it reminds me of the day when you won't be a baby anymore. :( Being with you every day makes me want to try for your brother or sister! It's so much more wonderful and fun than I had imagined. I get tired at the end of the day and I could really use a solid night of sleep, but you being you makes it all worth it! :) I get sad if you are tired all day and don't smile very much, but you usually make up for it the next day and smile constantly at me and your buddy the ceiling fan. :) Now I'm so glad Daddy and I made the decision to put one in your room!

You had your first OU football game experience that you were awake for, well for part of the game. You wore one of your many OU onesies and you were equiped with an OU pacy and burp cloth thanks to Aunt Madi! :) Nothing makes your Daddy happier than seeing you in the crimson and cream!

I'm hoping it starts to get cool soon so we can really start concentrating on your first Halloween that I am so excited about! Mommy loves her some Halloween!! :) Still not sure what you will be yet....it just has to be comfortable for my little hot pocket! ;)

I love you tons!!!
Mom

A new edition is coming to our family!!!

Uncle Jason is going to be a daddy! He's already a step dad, but he and Aunt Lynda are having a baby! It is going to be soo cool to have a cousin for you to play with, Natalie! I can't believe I'm going to be an Aunty!!! It's Daddy's first time as an uncle so I think he's pretty excited too. The baby is due on April 1st and we can't wait to hear if it's a boy or girl. :)

Oh, Punky...how is it possible that you are already almost 6 weeks old!! Time has totally flown by....and so far it's been such a blast! Every day is a little bit different...you sure keep me on my toes. Today you laid in the bed with us before we got up and you fell asleep. Then I noticed a wet spot on the sheet....your diaper leaked! Ewwww!! :( Oh well, life will be full of those little accidents...it was worth it to cuddle with you! Of course I may not always be this sweet about it. ;)

I can't believe how much you've grown and changed...it's just crazy how much happens in the first 6 weeks. You are starting to smile a lot more now and you are definitley recognizing Daddy and me. We are still working on you pulling up from your belly, which you don't like very much....but you are using your neck and head a lot more and it's fairly steady....just a little bit of bobble head left in you ;) I can't wait for more smiling (at me :)) and giggling.
My favorite thing right now is when you sneeze....immediately after it you say "Ah-goo" in relief. :) LOVE it! and love you, punkys!
~Mom