Julsie's big day

Here is my baby on her first birthday. We had a great time at her party...although the Toby made fun of the cake I made. "Is that the real cake?" "Where is the rest of it?" Aunt Sue, Uncle Matt, Ryan, Max, Aunt Jess, Uncle J, Nana and Papa were all there.

Jules ate her dinner well and knew EXACTLY what to do with her cake. She had it in her mouth in less than a second. She actually ate TWO cupcakes. We figured it was her day =)

After cake, I stripped her down to open her presents. She was pretty coated in icing. She got a lot of help from her sister and cousins.

To see the entire album of adorable pics from her birthday, check out the new section of the right called “my albums.”

Here she is on her actual b-day. Go to the new section on the right to see more. Please note, you'll see sunscreen slathered in her hair making it look crazy.

Daddy Diego

So, the other night I'm just zipping Nat's pj's when I hear a knock at the door. It's Toby. He was working. "Is Nat still awake?" I say, "Yeah, I was just putting her to bed, just a second." I bring her out and what does he have? A big toad! Apparently, he rescued about 8 large toads and frogs from the roadways that dark and rainy night. This particular friend was perilously positioned on the center line ready to devour a worm when John moved him to safety...and decided to bring him home to the family. While Nat wasn't courageous enough to touch him, she was very interested in him while he was hopping on our living room floor. Yeah, John let him hop around the joint. Finally he put him in a safe place outside, cleaned up the car and headed back to work. While talking about it the next day, Nat asked "why did daddy have a toad?" I said, "Well Nat, he rescued the toad, kind of like Go Diego Go." So now, as if he needed something else to make him totally cool in her eyes, he's an animal rescuer too! Go Daddy Go!

"At the Car Wash"

So, this is how John gets things accomplished while I'm gone. He just restrains the kids! That's Nat in her car seat reading to her animals. She also apparently "helped" John by cleaning right behind him. Jules is in her booster seat on a dinning room chair outside our building. That's spf 30 styling her hair.

Julsie is climbing!

Here goes Julsie, climbing into everything. She has leaned in the cupboard before, but never gotten fully in it. Daddy came to get her out and said, "oooh, you pooed in there!" Nat looks in the cupboard and says, "no she didn't." Again, Natty trying to flex her independence...right? Not quite. Daddy says, "Yeah, she pooed while she was in there." Nat searches the cupboard and finally says, "No, I don't see any poo in there!"

What John comes home to:

Every so often, John comes home to something that strikes him funny. Here is what he came home to the other night. We were ALL in bed....everything in the house.

Prepared by our little mother.

Tool for Torture

Someone call Guantanamo. Tell them all to forget the water-boarding. I have a proven torture technique that is sure to fly under the radar of international scrutiny. My kids will do anything no to see it used. It's called a bulb syringe. According to John, its a sure form of torture. Ask him. I know he'd rather see me in labor than see me suck out my kids' noses! It could be "coupled with the fact" (hahaJIR) that I have to hold down their arms and legs with my hands, legs, ...whatever I can use. For Nat, its worse than a spanking! She even begs me not to do it to Julsie...and that's saying something. Oh well, no one ever said a mom's job was always pleasant. And when you see what comes out of one of those things, its surely not pleasant.

Always Loyal, Never Forgotten

is the inscription on Tudor's memorial stone. It still sits in our china closet. Its so nice we haven't set it at his gravesite yet. Although Mr. Tudor has been gone for 6 months now, we still miss him very much. We've thought about getting another dog, but I'm just not ready. We saw some lab pups just before Easter. I just didn't feel any love for them. They were adorable, but they just aren't my dog. Si (Tudor) is my dog.

As time goes on, it seems that Nat brings him up more and more. She often asks me, "can I tell (whoever) about Tudor?" She has told many people the story and has told some people the story many times. "My family,... they cried." She is always picking up rocks and sticks "for Tudor." We pray at meals and say "amen." She says, "and for Tudor?"

After PBS Sprout talked about magic. She told her dad that she was going to perform a magic trick to bring Tudor back. She even sleeps with a giant stuffed black lab every night. And whenever she talks about our family, she includes Tudor. He'll always be a part of our family.

Here is a picture she drew of Tudor. I asked her if she wanted to practice writing her name and she said no, she wanted to practice writing Tudor. She really meant drawing him I guess. See his 2 eyes, nose, tail, 2 feet with claws? The blue in the middle is a lion bone for him.

Too cute NOT to post

This pic of Jules is just too cute NOT to post. There really isn't a story to go along with it, but I just can't help putting it up. Daddy took the pic when I was at work. Apparently she picked up the hat and put it right on her head. We have a couple pics of her waving with it on and a final pic where she had had enough and ripped it off her head. Jules is just too cute. She is such a sweet and nice girl. We love her.

Wait.... does she look like a long-haul truck driver?????

Bounce U

Today our preschool class went on a field trip! A group of about 30 kids we're acquainted with (and their parent(s) and lots of baby siblings) went to "Bounce U." Remember those big blow-up jump rooms you used to see at fairs when you were a kid? Well, this is a huge building with 2 rooms filled with 4 or 5 giant bouncy things in each. There were slides and basketball and a boxing ring and obstacle courses. We got 45 minutes in each room and then a pizza party. She had a blast...once she got started.

In typical Natalie fashion, she was completely overwhelmed when we walked in. I had to go into each bouncer with her and still she wasn't too sure of the place. After about 20 minutes in the first room, she put her shoes back on we went back to the lobby. "Let's go out there, it's fun out there." She ended up sitting on one of those cars that shake when you put a quarter in it. ..and no, I did not put a quarter in it. We went into the second room and she did MUCH better. Jules and I went through a big obstacle course with her ending with a giant slide. She whined, but once she slid down, she was hooked. I went into the other bouncers with her, but she did her own thing. Finally she just went off and bounced herself. All night long she asked if she could go back. Thanks Mandy!

"You've got me swing-in"

These conversations occurred while at the swing sets yesterday:

Daddy: We'll have to go to Hershey park this year and take you on some roller coasters! They go up and down and all around.
Natty: Will it be chocolatey?! (the girl is obsessed with chocolate!)

Daddy: Come on let's go. Its time to go home
Nat: No, I want to stay.
Daddy: We're leaving. Then you'll have to come home all by yourself. Do you want to do that?
Nat: Yes
Daddy: Do you think that's a good idea? It could be dangerous. What are some things you may run into along the way that could be dangerous?
Nat: ....(long pause) ... a big monkey!
Daddy: How about a car? or a stranger?
(we don't know why, but she's been all about monkeys lately)

De ja vu

This week has been a little bit crazy. It felt like the old days. John and I have been working opposite shifts for the last 4 days. The day prior to that, he worked a double and got only 3 hours sleep. We have seen each other only to exchange the kids. Today is finally his day off. Phew. I still go in to work tonight, but at least we have the day together. Last night he said that he was ready for this day off but that this little scenario we've been playing out happened every day of every week for most of the time we were in Pgh. Its true. We were working 6am until at least 6pm every week night. He would go to the gym from 8-10pm and work at least 1/2 days on Saturdays. Church on Sunday was really our only time to see one another. Although I am working part-time now, we still see each other and the kids so much more now that I'm home. We are soooo grateful.
As a side note on gratefulness, I see sooo many fragmented families (single moms/non-married parents/open marriages) where I work. It makes me realize just how different and blessed we are....and lets give credit where credit is due.... Thank you God. Hopefully I can be some kind of blessing to these new people in my world.

Update on Jules

Jules is fast approaching her first birthday. She is pulling up and "scooting" along some furniture. We practice walking while we hold her hands, but it doesn't look like she'll hit that milestone by 1. She is babbling, but not really talking yet.

Right now she is pretty miserable. She is getting her top two front teeth and they are really giving her trouble. She has had a very stuffy and runny nose for almost 2 weeks and the gums are very swollen. I feel so bad for the little stinker. She actually got me up 2 times during the night last night; something she hasn't done since she was a few weeks old. She is really not her super-happy self lately. Poor baby. Keep her in your thoughts.

I Survived

Well, I survived my thirtieth birthday. .... It was touch-and-go for John.
Although I was cranky the entire day, I managed to only tear-up once. It's not that 30 is bad or necessarily old. I mean really, if I happen to be blessed with my grandmothers' genes, I'm still only in the 2nd quarter of the game!
I think hitting 30 just symbolized the end of an era for me. John was having a hard time understanding why I was so disturbed. I was, in fact, "just the same as (I was) yesterday." I do have a great husband, wonderful babies and good health. Then, instead of being cranky at him, I was feeling really upset with myself for being so self-indulgent. What is wrong with me?
Then tonight, as I'm drafting this post, it hit me. He's totally right. I AM fundamentally the same person I was yesterday, 2 weeks ago, ... and 15 years ago. Although I've grown soooo much as a person in soooo many ways, part of me is still that same little girl. Looking back, all of my big developmental milestones (driving, development, etc.) were hilarious catastrophes (some of you know what I'm talking about =) Why should turning thirty be any different for me? I mean, that's what I do! I'm a little bit goofy and mal-adjusted .... and that, strange as it may be, that has brought me peace with the whole turning 30 thing =) (well, pretty much =)

PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS!

Wild Imaginations

We participate in a pre-school co-op. Today was my day to teach. I taught about "imagination" and used the story "Where the Wild Things Are." It's one of my favorites. We made wild-thing puppets and ate wild-thing pizza bagels =) Dad said Nat talked about imagination all night long =)

So what about the girls?

As you can see from the picture, Nat is pretty much fine on her own. I just leave her a peanut butter sandwich for herself and a bottle for Jules.

No, daddy stays home with them. They have a good time. He gives them baths, snuggles, reads stories, and disciplines ("with an iron fist" adds Tob... psh). Nat LOVES feeding Jules the bottle and I cook for them before I leave. I'd just feel guilty if I totally let them fend for themselves. (reading over my shoulder, John says "I just don't know WHAT I'd do hun." I know =)

So all has been pretty uneventful for them thus far.... well, except for the night Jules bawled her head off and tonight when the Heimlich maneuver was employed. Apparently Jules thought she was a piggy bank. All is fine. Don't call CYS. John is a trained professional. He did save an old lady's life one day after all =) hahaha

As it was with Nat (Nat both waved and walked for the first time on occasions when mommy was gone) , Jules is doing all of her "new" stuff when daddy is home alone with them. Apparently she said, "bird, dog, cat" and other words tonight. It's either they love him more .... or he's full of pooh =) You make the call.

Well, It's Official

and I guess I'm telling the world... I'm working as a waitress at Red Robin... a "Gourmet" burger joint. Tonight was my first night on my own. I had 5 days of training and stayed late each night memorizing all kinds of junk (and got 100% on all my tests.) Then I heard another girl taking her tests the other day and she had no clue...and she still got hired. Why am I so crazy and obsessive? ...its not like any of this is ever going to be a Jeopardy question!

So, I'm standing by the kitchen and think, "It's like I'm working with the same people (from the last restaurant I worked at) just with different faces." Every restaurant is the same... the ex-cons, the women who always make the wrong choices in men, the "alternative life-style" folks, the shaggy-haired bus boys, and the people who eat, sleep and find their mate at the restaurant.... de ja vu.

So tonight, I figured I'd get one of the "remedial" sections, but I didn't. I was a little nervous...and I could tell some of the other servers were nervous about me being there too =) . Besides spilling two Hi-C fruit punches down my apron, I had no major mis-haps! I did good! Now, when I got worked over by a few people while doing my clean-up and I saw my tips, (after tipping the shaggy-haired bus kids and 21 yr old bar tenders) I was a little disappointed. Oh well, my first night is OVER, I didn't lose any money or my ID card and I'll be more ready for battle tomorrow.

Natalie's SECOND hair cut.

Does it seem like you just read about Nat's first hair cut? Well, you did. She already needs a second one? Well, one of us thought so.
I'm in the kitchen and I hear "Hun, come in here." I head back to the big bathroom and there, sitting on the sink top is Nat with Daddy right in front of her...with scissors in his hand. He says, "What...what...WHAT? louder and louder. Apparently I gave him a look that could kill. I thought I was being pretty calm. I said, "Its ok, its ok, just don't make her upset, its fine."
"What? I just cut it a little bit. There is hardly anything gone."
It's true, there wasn't much gone. He just took the first little strip of hair across her forehead and cut it to about 2 inches long. Two inches long! Much shorter and it wouldn't have laid down! The rest of what would be her bangs were still long and hung in her face.
Although he said I flipped out, I never flipped. I didn't yell and didn't raise my voice. I was actually surprised at how well I handled it.
About 15 minutes after "the incident" he tells me how bad he feels that she has to wipe the hair out of her face constantly. He starts getting me to feel bad about it and I say, "come on Nat, let's go cut your hair." So we all went back to the bathroom and I cut the rest of her bangs to a more appropriate length, trying to mask the sprigs he cut. I am Terrible at cutting hair. Terrible. But, she's 3. It is better that she no longer has her hair in her eyes, and it will grow out. This will all just be a silly memory.
After it's all said and done, and thinking we were on the same page, I said, "let's make a pact never to do this again." He says, "What? Of course we're doing it again; the next time she needs her bangs cut. "
Oh Toby.

Who needs a boy?

So, I'm reading a story to Nat in bed the other night. It was a counting book. On the "4" page, there were 4 deer. A buck, two doe and a fawn. Nat points to the fawn and says, "a little deer! I'm going to shoot it."
"You are?" I asked.
She points to the buck and says, "Daddy can shoot that one." To the doe "and you can shoot that one, and Jules can shoot that one."
I asked, "oh, and Jules can shoot that one?"
Nat says, "when she's grown up."
"When she's grown up?"
"Yeah, when she's grown up. She's growing up. We're both growing."
(as I wipe the tear from my eye)

Easter

Does anyone know how hard it is to get both kids to look cute in the same picture? It's nearly impossible (especially with me taking the pics). It doesn't help that I'm indecisive, so you know there will be a lot of single pics of the kids. Oh well.
We got dressed up in our new Easter outfits from Nana and Papa. Nat had a beautiful little hat, which she actually wore and a matching purse. Dad was working so it was just us girls.
On the way home from church we get something close to this:

Mom: "Nat, did you have fun in your Sunday school class today?"

Nat: "I wanted you to come watch me."

M: "You wanted me to come back to your class? Oh. I was upstairs in MY class."

N: "Why?"

M: "Well, because there's a class for big kids and one for little kids and I went to the big class."

N: "Did you have fun?"

M: "Yeah, I had fun."

N: "Did you have a little bit of fun?"

M: "Yeah, I had a little bit of fun."

N: "Did you miss me a little bit?"

M: "Yes, I did miss you a little bit. I had a little bit of fun and I missed you a little bit. "

I know this won't last forever, so I'm immortalizing it here.

Hippety-Hoppety ...Does this stuff stain?

On the Friday before Easter, we colored our eggs. (Ghetto mommy did not get the girls official "Easter" baskets. I just emptied baskets we typically use around the house and used those. I know!) So, back to the coloring. We had a good time. This was Natty's second year for coloring and her first year she was really in-command. She did a great job and wanted to color eggs again every day for about 3 days. Gramma and Grandpa watched via webcam. We just started gently dropping the eggs in the color cups, but she really was doing her best to use the little wand to pull the eggs out. Tob and I were talking to Gma and Gpa when we looked over and the wand frustration had reached its peak. Nat just reached her whole hand right into the color cup and pulled out the egg. Man, that was easier!

Baby Boy Brigade!

We know about 10 people who are pregnant and ALL of them are having boys!!!! (Just to spite John I think...at least this one was!) Well, on March 13, 2008, one of the first of the baby boy brigade, and the newest member of our family, was born: baby Garrett Alan. And boy, were we glad he arrived! Despite complications throughout the pregnancy, Mom did a great job holding on through the pain and discomfort and wasn't induced until he was full-term. Yeah Amie! Apparently I was really empathizing with her as I called Gramma's cell phone right as the baby was crowning. Thanks to me, he was welcomed into the world with a rousing jazz ring-tone of "When the Saints Go Marching In." (Well, almost=)