Little Washing Machine

It's cute how toddlers want to do all the things that later on in their childhood they will surely put up a fight when asked to do. I know, because I remember not wanting to wash the dishes, scoop the cat box, vacuum the carpet or mop the floor as a kid. But right now, those are all the things Natalie BEGS to do. The only practical chore for someone of her age and size is the dish washing.

I pull up a chair to the sink, make sure only plastics are within her reach, turn the cold water on a trickle and let her have at it. When she grows tired of the task, she says, "I done, Mommy...I get down." There are usually a few kitchen puddles on any flat surface surrounding her, but that is a small price to pay for 20 minutes of toddler bliss.


The other day after she was finished, I noticed that she'd created a tower of "clean" dishes on the counter.

Now, if only they made miniature vacuums that actually inhaled!

Nigh Night

Natalie's sleeping habits are superb...and we are grateful because we know how rare that is. She sleeps 11 to 12 hours every night and rarely makes a peep. And she still is a pretty good napper and nods off for a couple of hours every afternoon.

Well, in addition to being a great little sleeper herself, she's become somewhat obsessed with putting other things to bed. She tucks everything in that she feels looks like it could use a rest. This includes the obvious, of course, like her toys. However, she's also been known to put the candles on the kitchen table, canned food that she plays with while shopping with her new grocery cart, greeting cards, pine cones she finds at the park and my hairbrush down for a nap as well.

She really loves it when Corey or I lie down on her floor in her bedroom. She quickly covers us up with any available blanket (she's "covered" me with her doll blanket before that is smaller than a piece of binder paper), turns on the white noise machine that she sleeps with and tiptoes out of the room (I'm totally not kidding about the tip toeing...it's quite a sight) and closes the door as she whispers, "nigh night". Then she opens the door about every 30 seconds to check on us, repeating the "nigh night" a little louder each time. She gets very irritable when we try to get up.

When Papa C and Grandma Lala were here a few weekends ago, mom and I listed to Natalie try to put Papa to sleep in her room. He kept saying, "but I'm not tired...do I have to take a nap?" and Natalie would reply "yes, Papa, nigh night" and close him in her bedroom as she escaped to the hallway.

What a dream she is...literally.

This is how I often find Natalie in the morning. She's wide awake and she's put every toy in her crib to sleep. She sometimes "shooshes" me if I'm too loud.

Recently, while staying at our house, Ashley rested her eyes for a second while laying on the floor. Natalie saw to it that within seconds she had a blanket on top of her and was properly but to sleep.

Three Blind Mice

On a recent trip to the pet store to pick up cat food, Natalie spotted these little catnip mice and had to have them. I made her promise that as soon as we got home the mice were to be surrendered to the family felines. She promised. I believed her. I'm so gullible.

Of course she had no intention of surrendering the mice. She loves them. She dines with them on her tray, she sleeps with them. She brought them to our toddler tumbling class today and held them in her hand while we sang songs. When the instructor saw her clutching the little rodents she decided we need to sing "Three Blind Mice" to really make them feel welcome. Natalie loved it!


I must say, this is the first day in many days that Natalie hasn't had a meltdown about something. She's been a peaceful, happy toddler all day...very agreeable, decent appetite...an all around delight. Normally there's a big fight when I tell her it's time to drain the water and get out of the tub. Tonight when I mentioned it, she actually pulled the plug herself and said, "bye bye water".

I've determined it must be the catnip!! I may be on to something here...

Tuptates!

A few weekends ago was not only Natalie's second birthday celebration, but it was the day she enjoyed her second cupcake! I know, I know...I'm stingy with sweets...2 years old and only on her second cupcake? But I figure I'm going to take advantage of the fact that she really doesn't have any idea that delicious desserts exist yet. Soon she'll learn and I won't be able to get away with making cupcakes only once a year!

Well, she's now crazy for cupcakes! She calls them "tuptates" and she begs for them at least a dozen times a day. We had quite a few left over after her birthday party and so I gave her one a day for at least 3 or 4 days until I was pretty sure they shouldn't be used for anything other than a paperweight. She didn't even seem to mind a stale cupcake...she just dug in and loved every minute of it.



When I had to break it to her that the cupcakes were gone, she was so upset. I promised I'd make them again soon. She stopped crying and said, "otay, Mommy"...but then she asked for one again 5 minutes later...and a half an hour after that...and at least three times a day since.

For those of you who joined the party and tasted the cupcakes, you know that they weren't even that tasty. I bought a nut free, dairy free, gluten free, everything free mix (shortly after we found out Natalie is allergic to peanuts...ughh) and the results were as odd as you'd expect missing all those things. I thought they were good, but we all know I'm NOT the best judge of desserts!! Just wait until Natalie tastes a REAL cupcake...we'll have a desperate dessert situation on our hands!

Oh...and to further complicate my cupcake case...Auntie Ashley ran with the cupcake theme for Natalie's birthday this year and gave her this outfit with matching hair accessories. We'll have cupcakes on the brain around here until she outgrows it!!


Pardon the crooked part...I'm still learning how to do pigtales on a child that doesn't sit still!

Cousins!

This is another belated post. My apologies...life's been a bit on the crazy side here lately!

For Ashley's birthday weekend, Aimee and Emma came to town and stayed with us. We had such a great time. Natalie and Emma are absolutely adorable together. Natalie just wants to do everything that Emma does and Emma does her very sweet best to find it amusing! Emma spends most of her time here with bare feet because Natalie HAS to be wearing her shoes at all times. Emma has become a very good little reader and loves to read bedtime stories to Natalie...that is until Natalie has to take over the "reading" aloud.

The cutest part about their friendship is that they are both totally obsessed with baby dolls. This strikes a particularly sentimental chord with me because I myself was crazy for baby dolls when I was little. I just have to laugh because Aimee was NOT and I was forever begging her to play dolls with me. I think she's making up for lost time now as Emma's doll travels with them everywhere!

We went to the park one afternoon while they were here and both girls had to bring their baby dolls. Emma put her baby in the swing at the park, so, of course, Natalie (who usually has to be in the swing herself within minutes of arriving at the park) had to give the swing to her baby as well.


At one point, while Emma and Natalie tackled the slides, Aimee and I were both holding the baby dolls and I looked at her and squealed, "Aim...look!...we're finally playing dollies together!"

picture courtesy of Emma!

Happy Heart Day!

Natalie has been in heaven this Valentine's Day...with her "flohws".

She and Corey picked these flowers out this morning after they went out to breakfast and as soon as they arrived home, the tender, loving and constant flower care began. She read to them, she moved them around, and she read to them some more. Then she put them to bed in the bathroom on top of the toilet, kissed them, said, "night night" and shut the door as she left them in well deserved peace and quiet...for 30 seconds... when, apparently, they were ready to start the whole process over again.


Tonight, she put them in her shopping cart and took them on a tour of the condo. She takes plant and flower care VERY seriously in case any of you are interested in a house-sitter.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Belated Birthday Post

As many of you know, Natalie shares a birthday with her Aunt Ashley. This was a big birthday for Auntie Ashley...the big 30, which made her big sister feel really old.

She had a beautiful party and spent her birthday surrounded by good friends and family. And she looked just gorgeous, I might add, and not a day older than 29 1/2! I feel so lucky that I was able to be there to help her celebrate!

Here are some pictures from the party.

A bonus to the birthday weekend is that Ryan (and wife, Jamie, and adorable baby, Reese) and Aimee (and beautiful daughter, Emma) were in Phoenix for the weekend!

Ashley and Ryan...all grown up!

Ashley's how old????

Matt, Ashley and me.
Ash and the little beauties... big cousin, Emma and sweet baby, Reese.

Me and Aim.

The 4 Cousins!! Funny...now I'm the palest one! I used to be a dark and tan little kid amongst sunburned blondies!

So, in addition to Ashley turning 30, Ryan is a new dad! Did I mention I feel old?

Ryan, his wife, Jamie, and their little peanut, Reese!

I love you, Ash! Happy Birthday. I think you'll like the land of the thirties...I've been very happy here!

Happy Birthday, Natalie!

We celebrated Natalie's birthday on Sunday at the park and had such a good time...but it wasn't without a little bit of weather worry. We've had 80 degree temps for weeks but sure enough, the day of the outdoor birthday bash started out cold, windy, and rainy. Great. We had no way of bringing the party to our house and no other interior venue option. So, we optimistically made lots and lots of cupcakes and crossed our frosting covered fingers that it would clear up in time for the party. And it did!! As soon as it stopped raining (only an hour or so before the party) Corey and I headed to the park with beach towels to dry off the slides and swings. By the time everyone showed up, it was blue sky...just a little windy and chilly. Thanks to all of you who joined us to help celebrate!

Natalie having a moment with her cupcake!

This was the bubble gun that Natalie refused to share with any of her little guests...repeating, "mine, mine, mine" when anyone came near it.

Oh, 2...such fun and such frustration all at the same time!

Our good friends Natalie and Patty!

A cupcake AND a juice cup...I was feeling a wee bit guilty that we were celebrating a week late and Natalie enjoyed every gram of sugar that resulted!

Nicole and Brett, Gerry and Kay and little Naomi (family friends of Corey's since he was a little boy). So happy you could join us!

Natalie not looking at the camera.

Again, Natalie not looking at the camera with Grandma La La and Papa.

Papa and Uncle Matt

Patty and Me

To help you visualzie the amount of rain we received prior to this event...there is not a lake at this park. This is usually just a little sandy ravine that separates the park from the neighborhood behind it. Never does it contain a puddle. But on Sunday, it looked as though we had reserved a lakefront table at the park!

Aunt Ashley was kind enough to take all the pictures throughout the day with a variety of cameras. Consequently, she ended up in none of them. So, this is the only picture I have of the birthday twins! Happy Birthday to both of you!

In pure childhood post-birthday fashion, the most played with birthday goodie today was....the balloons that decorated the park yesterday! Isn't that just the way it goes? Natalie carried her balloon bundle in one fist and her special Elmo balloon in the other fist ALL day. Up the stairs they went, down the stairs they went, next to the crib for nap time and even into the bathroom so they could join her during bath time. When these balloons start to droop, we're in trouble.

Sing, Sing, Sing Hello...

This one is for you, Christina!

Natalie and I go to a little toddler gym class twice a week and at the beginning of each class we sit in a circle and sing, "sing, sing, sing hello, sing hello to (fill in the toddler's name here)". We go around the circle until each toddler has been greeted. When it's time to leave the class, we sing the goodbye version to each child, "sing, sing, sing goodbye"...you get the idea. Well, Natalie is very into this song lately and she sings it all the time. Which is ironic because she rarely wants to sit in the circle at the appropriate times during the class and do any hello or goodbye singing...lately she's usually standing across the room on the trampoline screaming for me to help her jump while (most of) the other little ones are sweetly singing goodbye to her.

Well, today when she woke up from her nap I heard her singing this song over the baby monitor. I went into her room and I found her sitting in a circle she'd created with all of her stuffed animals propped up, apparently singing hello to all of them individually. She had most of them sitting on books, acting as little cushions. It brought tears to my eyes...it was the cutest thing! I assure you, there was not an ounce of mommy staging for these photos...this is all her. I think we have a future teacher in our midst!