The many faces of Natalie Ann

Erin has been traveling for work this week and come home tonight. We are both VERY excited. It’s been pretty smooth sailing, other than yesterday morning when I locked us out of the house (note: kicking a door down is not easy like you see in the movies!)

Nat and I have had a fun time together. We have sent pics to mama throughout the week, and I usually try to have them show as much expression as possible – as long as its not sad. Below are some of the many faces if Natalie Ann that we’ve worked on this week!

More Dance Party face!

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Ignoring Dad face

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Open Wide face

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Blowfish face

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Laughing face

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Serious face

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And tonight when we see Mama, it will be a very, very Happy face!!!!!! As well as a big Kissy face, like the one below.  Love you, Mama!

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Missing Natalie

I am in Pittsburgh for work and missing these two like crazy!! I am so lucky that Jordan takes such good care of her but am relieved that I will be home in less than 48 hours (knock on wood) and won’t have to travel without Natalie for about 6 months.

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Who wouldn’t want to cuddle with me?

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While mom is away, dada and I will play. Dance party!

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Wisconsin Winter Fun

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It’s never to cold for bubbles!

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Fun at Preschool

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Natalie and her classmates “driving” along with the story. Her teachers told me that her preferred seat is always the front chair by the teachers. Maybe so she can see all of her friends well?

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Slumber party!

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Welcome to My zoo! We are having a mid-day slumber party! have you met Moo Moo and his mama?

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Happy Halloween!

A fun thing about being a parent of a young child is that Halloween turns into a week-long affair.

On Sunday, we went to “Henry’s Halloween”. I don’t have a picture of Henry (a little monkey) and Natalie (who refused to wear a costume other than a Minnie t-shirt), but we do have some family shots (a rarity, so thanks, Heather!)

Cheese! Okay, now can I have one of those delicious peanut butter crackers, Mom? Before Henry gets another one!

Mom, if you mix it all together, you get purple!

Then, on Tuesday, Natalie invited me to a Halloween party at preschool. Her teacher, Ms. Saba, actually got her to wear her cow costume, no hood of course.

Just because I like milk and cow poo, doesn't mean I actually want to be a cow!

With a few tables of crafts to eat, Natalie soon forgot about her cow costume. Ms. Saba’s table had little graham cracker pies, which you filled with half yogurt, half pumpkin filling. A healthy Halloween treat (much healthier than the table with 90 calorie marshmellows, frosting, M&Ms and candy corn, which was nearly impossible to drag her away from).

Then, on Halloween, Natalie surprised us by choosing the Monkey costume! She may have been influenced by the fact that the monkey had a banana in his pocket, and she and I had just made banana cupcakes.

Our neighbor Katie clued us into the hot street for trick-or-treating… not only was it great to see all the kids, but some houses passed out full-size Kit Kats and giant pixie stix. Just what an almost-2-year-old needs!

Cheese. Okay, Mom, where is the candy corn that you bribed me with to smile for this picture?

The only downside of Halloween is that someone rang our doorbell… living on the 3rd floor and being on an “unpopular” trick-or-treating street, we didn’t expect any trick-or-treaters. I asked Jordan to go down and figured that we could share a couple pieces of Nat’s candy. Unfortunately, instead of just 2 little kids (what I was expecting), Natalie’s pumpkin was ransacked by about 15 middle school kids. Whoops. Less chocolate for Mom and Dad, I suppose. Thankfully, Nana promised to bring over more of the whole grain bunny grahams that Natalie likes.

And, Natalie learned to say “trick-or-treat” and “Happy Halloween!,” so that’s the message she’s leaving you with. I am also proud that she said Thank you a lot! 🙂

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Addendum: Natalie is tall enough to snatch food from the counter. I told her she couldn’t have another banana muffin. Jordan then walked in the door, so she snatched one without me knowing to “share” with Daddy (maybe because I had said he could have one). She did share with Daddy, but expected him to share a lot in return. She really is a little monkey!

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Happy Halloween (practice)

Natalie made a decoration for Nana

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Cheese! Come on Mom. Hurry up with the pic!! I want to see the front side of my artwork!!

More fun photos from the weekend to come (from Jordan)!

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A surprise visit from “Kay”

Natalie’s BFF stopped by tonight. She ran to the door with open arms. In hopes of influencing Natalie’s willingness to wear her Halloween consume, I asked kaila to put on giraffe ears too!

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Don’t be mistaken. My adorable smile is due to Kaila – not this costume!

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Lunch with Daddy

After a quick jaunt to the Disney store, we met Dado for lunch!

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Wee!!! I hope my lunch stays down!

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My salt. Mama’s pepper. Repeat. (80 times)

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A future astronaut

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To infinity and beyond!!!

Please note Edmond in the back. When I asked Natalie her favorite part of the day, she said “Edmond”. He seems like a nice boy but hasn’t passed the Daddy test yet.

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