Grandparent Pit Stop

This weekend Grandma Betty and Grandpa Franc came back through Asheville on their way back home to Michigan. The weather was so nice on Monday that we were able to play outside for a little while. Natalie loved a larger audience as she showed off her new walk and all her new sounds! No words yet (at least ones we can understand) but she seems to know very well what she's talking about!

Her Favorite Show

Natalie loves the video camera....it's hard to get video of her doing anything but trying to touch the camera. Once we bring it out she usually can't concentrate on much else. The other night Corey was playing back videos and she was captivated watching herself! Just like her reflection in a mirror is her favorite wall hanging, it appears that "the daily adventures of Natalie" is her favorite show!

Our Serious Little Reader

Natalie loves books so much....hers, ours....it doesn't matter. She'll flip through a magazine, a board book, a novel, even a brochure from the days mail. It's really cute to watch her study the pages and turn them one by one. Yesterday she got a hold of a few books from our bedroom bookshelf. She walked to the entry hall with one in each hand, plopped down and started flipping through them....ever so studiously.

That Pout....

We are blessed with a very happy little girl....most of the time. She has started doing this unbelievably dramatic pout lately, however, when something doesn't go her way....or if she just feels the urge and has no clear reason whatsoever. It's so funny. And the best part is she usually turns it into a huge grin seconds later.
It's been a tough expression to catch on camera but yesterday she was holding the pout long enough for me to snap these pouty pics.

The Bathrobe

Natalie is finally able to wear this adorable bathrobe that I received as a shower gift....it's a little short because she's so tall and it's really for younger babies. But before she could walk it wasn't as much fun to put her in it. Now, after her bath, we put her in her robe so she can lounge around until we can get her clothes or jammies ready. Except she doesn't really lounge....she wobbles around like a wild woman excited to be diaper free for a few minutes!

A New View

Natalie is finally able to face forward in her carseat.....she's been at the weight requirement for some time now but she's finally, officially, ONE so we could turn her around. It's so nice to be able to look back and see her.

She seems interested in everything she sees in front of her while we drive down the road. We have her in the middle of the back seat and sitting much more upright than she's been before so she really has a great view.

Today it was raining when we left the grocery store and everytime the windshield wipers would move she would flinch. After a few minutes she thought it was the funniest thing and kept giggling every time they moved.....like they were playing peek-a-boo with her. It occurred to me that she's never seen windshield wipers before!

Playing Outside

It is so cute to watch Natalie walk in the grass! She watched Corey paint outside for a while today and loved crawling and walking around the yard. We had beautiful spring-like weather this afternoon. Of course she sticks everything in her mouth....leaves, grass, pine needles, bark, you name it, so we need to watch her every single second!

She was wearing her new big girl shoes and she looked like a full fledged toddler.....what happened to our little baby girl?

A Baby Doll Girl

Natalie does take after me....not only does she love the phone but she loves dolls! Her two favorites are a little doll she received for Christmas from her Great Grandma Elizabeth and Great Grandpa Charlie and a Raggedy Ann doll that I had when I was little.

She holds them so sweetly and when we say, "rock the baby" she clutches the doll (often upside down) against her chest, puts her cheek against the baby's head and sways back and forth. I promise to get it on video soon. It's just the sweetest thing.

Of course after she rocks them she promptly drops them to their death over her crib railing and laughs....so she's not quite ready to babysit!

We Have a Walker

Drumroll please.....Natalie is walking! She took a few steps on her own last week and then practiced a little here and there over the weekend. Now she is all over HERE and all over THERE all the time. She is so proud of herself (she often squeals the entire time) and it's so cute to watch her little wobbly, wiggly walk!

In case you're confused why a "she's walking" post has a picture of a crawling kid...today I was actually enticing her with Cheerios to get her to walk across the room on camera. The video setting on the point and shoot camera. Therefore, I have no actual pictures to post, only video. But, believe me, she's WALKING!

Little Helper

Natalie was nice enough to help Corey with his work this afternoon. She loves plans, pens and scales....I think we have a future designer in our midst. As far as design assistants go, though, she's a bit distracting and not the best for productivity.....but she's pretty cute!

Baby in Bamboo!

We went to the Biltmore Estate last weekend and had fun taking some pictures of Natalie in the bamboo forest....we also put her down in some baby pines and she loved playing with the leaves. She loves exploring any outside stuff she can get her hands on and will hold on to a leaf in her fist until it is just dust hours later!

Party Princess!

Natalie had such a great time at her first birthday party on Saturday. We had so many wonderful friends join us as well as Grandma Betty and Grandpa Franc. This house was a crazy cupcake circus of mommies, daddies, kids and babies.....and our very special birthday girl enjoyed it all! She received so many wonderful birthday gifts....what a lucky little peanut! Not to mention all the presents that arrived by mail throughout the week. Thank you, everyone!

It worries us a little that she was perfectly comfortable in a crown for the last couple hours of the day and never tried to take it off! She approached her first cupcake a little cautiously at first but as soon as she realized how good the frosting was (and that she probably wouldn't get another cupcake until next February 2nd) she gobbled it right up....from the bottom....saving the frosting for last....smart girl!

Happy first, Natalie Ann!