Paci update!

Well it has been just a bit over a week since our sweet girl gave her precious paci to the doctor.  And in true Natalie - never ceases to amaze me - form she has been incredible about it.  She definitely has her moments where she will talk about it or ask for it, but then, even before I can remind her, she will remember and say "That's silly!  Natalie give paci to doctor.  All done, paci!".  We just laugh and agree it is silly and that Natalie is a BIG GIRL now.

 

Amazing.

 

In other news we have a BIG prayer request for you all.  Natalie is having to get tubes put in her ears next Tuesday.  We are assured that this will be a quick 15 minute procedure and within 2 hours we won't even know it happened - except that all the antibiotics and ear infections of the past will be just that - in the past.  Please pray it really is that simple and she will come through it with flying colors.

 

And as usual, here's a fun picture of Natalie playing in Mommy's car (safely turned off and parked in the driveway).

 

Hollywood!

 

Snow!! And a lot of cold

We've been suffering through some very cold temperatures around here lately - in fact we went over 100 hours without getting above 28 degrees.  So poor Natalie has been sick with a cold and hasn't been able to be outside for more than about 5 minutes since last weekend.

So when we got a little (very little) bit of snow and the temps got up to 33 today we ventured out to see the neighborhood.  We still had to wear our warmest coat (thanks Grandma & Grandpa!) and hat, but we had a nice walk around.

Going on a walk

She loved eating the snow

She was very interested in our "tracks"

Run! Run! Run!

SNOW!

Full Speed Ahead!

My little snow bunny :)

A close up...

More tracks...what could it be!

 We are hopeful for a lot more snow before the Winter is over but we enjoyed it while we could.  Because by the time Natalie woke up from her nap most of the snow was gone.

A giant step towards being a big kid!

We've been dealing with several bouts of ear infections and bad colds around here since mid-December but recently we've been hanging close to the house and trying to get well.   We have also been thinking - for some time - about how to get rid of the pacifier.  Well when Natalie got her most recent cold, and I could see we were headed for another trip to the doctor's office, I had an idea about how to possibly get rid of the paci for good.

Natalie LOVES the doctor.  Shots and all she always loves to go to the doctor.  She loves the fish tank in the waiting room, she loves the nurses and all the attention.  When I tell her we are going to the doctor she says "Nice Doctor Lady!  Check your ears!"  Poor thing has had more than her fair share of ear infections - to say the least.  I asked Natalie yesterday if she wanted to give her paci to the doctor.  She seemed cool with the idea and even told Jon that we were going to the doctor and she was going to give her the paci.  We talked it up big time and even shared our plan with Mamaw, Papaw, Leslie and Katherine.  We took two pacifiers with us to the office and when the doctor came in (one we'd never seen before) Natalie proclaimed that she had something to give the doctor.  Sure enough she grabbed both pacis and handed them to Dr. Edwards.  When the doc asked her if she was sure and if she wanted to say one last goodbye it looked as if Natalie was swallowing hard but she gave her a big smile and said "Natalie big girl, all done paci".

Believe it or not she went to sleep without a peep last night and didn't ask for the paci at all!  I'm sure this is far from over but our sweet girl made a big step in the right direction and we are so proud of her!

Such a big girl!

Happy (slightly belated) Birthday to Grandma!

Natalie and I made a short trip to NC this past week for a very special celebration.  Grandma Thomas turned 80 years young!  

It was such a fun day!  We had beautiful weather and delicious food.  I am so glad we were able to join everyone to celebrate Grandma!

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera, but Mamaw Wanda got lots of pictures.  I'll ask her to share and definitely get them up here for everyone to enjoy.

But here's just one more birthday wish for Grandma.  Happy Birthday!

Birthday parties!

We were on the road a bit this Christmas season so Natalie had a couple smaller, family birthday parties this year.  And judging from the smiles - I don't think she minded, one bit!

The first party was a Mamaw and Papaw's house.  We had a snowman theme, cupcakes, bubbles and singing.

But first, once Natalie realized there was cake decorating involved, she wanted to try her hand.  So we have her a cupcake, sprinkles and let her have at it.   This might be a new, go-to project at our house!

Such focus and concentration

You can never have too many sprinkles

This is serious business

The finished product!

 This is my version of a snowman cake - there were no cake pans to be found so this is a makeshift cake out of three cookie cutters and decorated with M&Ms. :)

Well, it tasted delicious! :)

Other snowman cakes

Hello!

 Before the party started, Papaw took Katherine and Natalie outside to blow some bubbles by the Christmas lights.  They LOVED it.

She LOVES bubbles

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

 Shortly after we got down to the REAL fun part - opening presents.  Katherine, Leslie, Josh and G got Natalie this awesome baby and stroller.  Natalie pushed it around all over the house. 

 Aunt Crystal was kind enough to drive all the way to Winston to join us for Natalie's birthday part and she made this ADORABLE dress for Natalie for Valentine's Day.  It is SO cute!

My Aunt Crystal is VERY talented

She got lots of other fun presents - a LeapFrog reader from Aunt Shanny that she LOVES and some books and another pretty dress from Mamaw and Papaw.

Then we decided it was time for CAKE!  We sat Natalie down with her snowman cake and started singing.  I just wish EVERYONE could have seen the way she reacted.  She just BEAMED!  She absolutely LOVED all the attention and asked to blow out the candle another 5 times.

Just look at that smile!

She wanted to hold Papaw's hand while we were singing

Happy Birthday indeed!

Time to dig into the cake!  Face first!

Yum!

 

 

After Christmas we went up to Hendersonville to see Nana, Pops, Auntie Erin and Uncle Ryan.  We had a wonderful time visiting and enjoyed another short but sweet birthday celebration.  Natalie had a special party dress just for the occasion!

Ribbons and bows!

Opening presents!

An awesome book from Uncle Ryan

And a great shot of the two of them.

 

When we got home on January 1st there was nothing else to do but clear out a room to put all of Natalie's new toys!  We're working on finishing up her new playroom!  Pictures to come soon.

Again, Happy Birthday sweet girl.  You are very loved!

She's two!

I know Natalie's birthday was January 1st, but we had a lot of pictures to cover from Christmas first - so here are the photo shoot pictures from today.  

Its tough to get a 2 year old to stand still and smile for the camera but we got a few good ones.  Enjoy!

See what I mean - On the move!

That's my sweet girl!

and her pretty smile

At the request of the photographer. ;)

She's TWO!

Yay!

I can't believe how grown up she looks in this picture.

And then as a tradition - we have the birthday shirt and tutu.  She didn't get to wear these for the party but at least we got some great pictures of her in it.

She loved twirling in her birthday outfit

The outfit was just about too much...

But she was having a great time!

That's my beautiful, happy girl!

Sitting down, for just a second!

She loved playing in the tutu.  She didn't want to take it off!

I hope this is a foreshadowing of interests to come.

(for Mamaw)  She's so sweet!

Winding down now...

I can hardly believe two years has gone by so fast!

Christmas Morning!

Well, as to be expected Santa came to visit Natalie - since she was SUCH a good girl this year!

Santa delivered a little pink tree, bubbles, a few wrapped presents and a BIKE!

Instead of taking treats when he came, he decided to leave a few - and Natalie was thrilled.  Candy for breakfast!

Here Shanny and I are leading her out to see what Santa brought...

Going straight for the candy that Santa left!

Just look at that expression.  Candy before breakfast!?!  This is a special day!

This picture MAKES MY HEART HAPPY.  She LOVED her bike!

Daddy did a GREAT job picking out the present this year.  She was THRILLED.

Mamaw and Papaw bought Natalie a table and chairs with some art supplies to go with it.  We had to sit down right away and do some coloring...

That's a happy little girl!

Shortly after Josh, Leslie Garrett and Katherine joined and we had the whole family together!

Katherine got a wagon and after breakfast and a LOT more presents, we all went outside to enjoy the toys!

Katherine was just relaxing in her new wheels.  She LOVED it!

Mommy got a short turn pushing the bike, but Natalie really preferred Daddy to do the driving.

That's more like it!  She kept telling him to "go fast"!

The Dads taking their girls out for a spin

Such a happy face!

 It was a wonderful morning and we are so very blessed!

 

Here's a candid picture of the lovely ladies in their matching Christmas outfits.  Thanks Mamaw!

I'm so thankful for my wonderful family!