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Grandma brought Natalie a belated Valentines Day present last weekend.  This was our view of Natalie for much of Saturday….

Dry, Dry… Dora Dry.  Boots dry too.  (Her little Dora and Boots figurines are under the umbrella with her)

As you may know, we live near a college campus.  Even 20-year-old guys cannot help but smile when they see a cute 2-year-old walking down the sidewalk in an umbrella.  I don’t mind that now, but they better watch out when she’s 16…..

Come on, Gpa.  Come on, Gpa.  Let’s go to the park!

We heard a lot of “Come on, Gpa” over the weekend.  Natalie always is sure to include Grandpa, even if he preferred to take a break in the living room.  Luckily, she usually has a ton of energy so can run the tea cup or whatever else over to him. And, luckily, Grandma is usually within a foot of Natalie so she has plenty of adult attention.  We’re ready for G&G to come back shortly after Pinto is born to provide more of that 1-on-1 (or 4-on-1, as was the case this weekend) attention to the Big Sister!  13 days until my due date!

Natalie and I decided we should visit Daddy downtown at work before the official arrival of Pinto.  She was very excited to leave school early to take bus 22 (her favorite # – twice!) downtown to Daddy’s really tall building.  She asked him nicely, “Will you buy us lunch Daddy?”  He was only too happy to take us out!

Daddy also walked us to the train station – well, rather, he held Natalie’s hand, as the two of them asked me to chase them!  With a stroller and an extra 35 lbs holding me back, it wasn’t much of a contest.

Right before nap, Natalie asked me, “Sing Mommy” (a standard).  But, then she went on to tell me all sorts of things, like “look” and my eyes being opened.  At one point, I asked her, “Natalie, are you listening?”  And she said, “No.”  I love the unadulterated honesty of a 2-year-old.  She proceeded to listen after that though!

Thanks for a great lunch date, Daddy!

A really fun and silly morning!!!

Natalie LOVES the Clifford Valentine’s Day book that her Grandma got her last year.  In the book, Clifford is a little puppy who makes messy valentines and accidentally goes down the mail chute at the post office.  (Natalie can read about 1/3 of the book herself, we’ve read it so much.)  This morning, and I asked Natalie if it was her first valentine’s day, like Clifford’s.  She said ‘yes’!  I’m glad that this one is memorable for her – though all 3 with Natalie have been memorable for me!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Last night, during tubby time, Jordan asked Natalie: “Who is your Valentine?”  Natalie responded “Mommy!”  Then, he asked if he could be my Valentine too… Natalie didn’t want to share, but I think they finally agreed that I could have 2 valentines (maybe 2.5 – meaning Pinto, not Baby Ellie who is in the picture below)!  I feel very lucky to have these 2 as my valentines!

Hope your Valentine’s Day is equally sweet!

The Children’s Museum at Navy Pier provided a lot of great fun for us in January – I think we were there 3 weekends in a row.  Once with Grandma, Grandpa and Daddy (unf, Mommy was home sick with a 24-hr bug – thank goodness for extra adults on hand!)

Grandma and Grandpa, isn't this place stupendous?!?! (A word from Fancy Nancy!)

Grandma, I've been learning about fireman at school. They are our friends and here to help us! Don't be afraid of their big masks!

Another time with cousin Trevor and Aunt Becky (who made the trip just the two of them – something I haven’t been brave enough to do on my own!)

See, Mom... even with a 5 a.m. wake-up, I'm still super fun to play with all day and have a ton of energy! Let's go grocery shopping!

And another time on our own…

Aren't I the cutest snowman ever?

Natalie has been very into snowman lately – even though we haven’t had snow that really can be packed.  My grandmother gave Natalie a book, “Bear’s Very Snow Day,” before she passed away and Natalie LOVES to read it.  She calls it her snowman book.  She also knows that snowmen are “stuck” in the ground and likes to pretend to get “stuck” on sidewalk cracks too.  (She wiggles her hips from side to side and then jumps to get out – its adorable.)

Hey Little Couz... after this pic, let's be sure to jump in my crib!

Thanks for visiting Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Becky and Trevor!  We’re excited to have you come again soon!

Pinto’s 34-week appointment was very good.  Her/his head is in the right position and I’m measuring exactly where I should be (though, I’ve put on more weight already than I did my entire pregnancy with Natalie).  His/her heartbeat is 120 beats/min (a little on the low end of the range of 115-160).  We’re excited to meet him/her, though its amazing how unprepared we are.  I cannot find our baby car seat and we only have one gender neutral outfit.  If this kid is a boy, I hope he likes pink as much as Natalie likes blue!

Can you tell by the second post that I have been waiting almost an hour at the doc’s office? (Why is this one of the only times I didn’t bring my laptop?)

This book about Chicago is fascinating!

Natalie made this set up herself. I especially like how she pulled the little stool over, just like I have near the rocker in her room. Her greater interest in independent play is fun to watch and listen in on.

On MLK day, the coldest day of the year, Natalie and I went to see Bella the Baby beluga whale at the Shedd with her friend from preschool. We spent nearly an hour with Bella, who Natalie “knows” from her ZooBorns book about baby zoo animals (written by the husband of a business school friend).

Natalie took this pic!

Look Mom! I can turn like Bella!

Happy to share this moment with such a good friend!

Whoa. Penguins have it tough. This slide is slippery!

See a video of Natalie and 2 classmates singing/performing “I’m a little tea pot” to the rest of the class!

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