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The Linville household is in a bit of chaos.  I’m typing from the floor of Natalie’s room, as she takes her nap and movers pack up our house.  I accepted a new job with Chicago Public Schools, which requires us to live within the City of Chicago, even though our condo in Evanston is only 2 miles north of the City.  Nevertheless, we are excited for this fun adventure.

Our move is coming on the tail of an extremely busy week, where I had 16+ hr days of training (a HUGE thanks to Nana and Pop for watching Natalie all week – and coming down to my hotel!), and we had a wedding in South Bend (a second thanks to Grandma and Aunt Lisa who came down to watch Natalie for her first night away from both parents).  Finally, a thanks to Jordan who played Mr. Mom as much as he could all week too.

Aw, Pop... you're a great walking buddy!

SWIM CLASS!!!!!

Grandma and Aunt Lisa, you're a HOOT!

The highlight of my week was when Pop, Nana, Natalie and Jordan stayed the night at the hotel.  Natalie and I had a morning work-out.

I feel so light!

On Sunday, our good friend Derek and his lovely girlfriend Erica (who is from Brazil), (also known as Dereca – think Brangelina) came up to Evanston to visit.  They were in from Washington DC.  Natalie had so much fun playing and bouncing.  It took about 10 tries to get this shot b/c Natalie was a blur of bounce on the Iphone!

Dancing yeah! Erica, can you show me some of your Brazilian dance moves?!?

In short, we are so lucky to have such a wondeful, supportive family.  THANK YOU!

Natalie was the star of her Auntie Leah’s “Up Nort'” photo album on facebook – my personal fav:

I'm a beach babe!

To see more photos, visit https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10100672655794277.2991612.8615481&type=1.

Look closely - not only, am I here with two awesome aunties, but my little cousin RJ (in utero) and best bath buds, Spike and Blue, are here too!

Natalie is lucky to have Auntie Becky and Auntie Leah – now, if we could only figure out a way to get Auntie Leah back from Canadia….

We just got home from a wonderful trip to northern Wisconsin! 

I needed a vacation!

Growing up, my family always went to Echo Lake in Sugar Camp, WI (near Eagle River), courtesy of my amazing great Uncle Bruce and Aunt Sherrill, who have been so generous in sharing their cabin with us. 

Grandpa, the mosquitos are biting me. Can we go inside?

I feel extremely fortunate that my immediate family was able to spend a day up there on our own – especially my sister, Leah, who hasn’t seen Natalie since she was 1.5 weeks old!  (She traveled over 24 hours from Canada to spend the week with us – thank you, Auntie Leah!)And, Jordan, Bill, Kathy, Issy (the dog!), Rob (Becky’s hubby), Aunt Lisa and Rachel joined us for the weekend too.

Nana, you own an ice cream shoppe??? Why didn't you ever tell me THIS? Oh wait, Cathy with a C. Darn. You'll just have to make me some homemade yellow squash instead! 🙂

The weekend was filled with good ol’ Wisconsin food (brats, cheese curds, ice cream and beer), swimming, boating (Natalie didn’t like her “boat coat” though) and games (my Scrabble streak is still alive, though my cribbage skills are lacking). 

MOM!!!! I told you that I didn't like the cute purple boat coat and I definitely do not like this. Its squeezing me. Can I please just play in the shallow end? WAAA!!!!

I wish I could write more, but after nearly 7 hours in the car and an extremely busy week ahead, this is the best I could do.  In short, what a wonderful way to ring in my 30th year!

I love WISCONSIN!!! When can we come back?

Natalie is 7 months!  I’m writing as she’s already down for her first nap of the day (reliably, 2 hours after she’s woken up – without so much as a yawn.)  I’ve been resisting saying it, but time really does fly by.  She continues to turn into a little girl, instead of a baby.  She is the best, and we are so fortunate to have her in our lives!

Sitting up in this chair is a piece of cake. Hey, cake - when do I get to try that stuff?

Weight/Height: No update here, but definitely above 20 lbs.  I call her “dense”.  She’s hard to hold for long periods of time!  She usually wears 12 mo clothes, though she can fit in 9 mo and her swimsuit is an 18-month one.

Developmental Milestones:  This girl is nearly on the move!  She started sitting up nearly a month ago, which makes things so much easier.  On Thurs 7/14, she had her first rollover – from her tummy, over her left shoulder and onto her back.  No other directions yet, unless assisted.  (Nana, Pop, Mammaw and Pappaw saw this first – they were watching her while I was downtown for the day.) 

Shh - I'm concentrating

Almost there!

She also got in her bottom front two teeth just in late June.  She can also push down the toys on the pop-up toy, which is cool! 

Foods: As the pictures show, this girl likes to eat!  She has been very good about trying new foods.  Even if a new food makes her shudder, she eagerly goes back for another bit.  In (approximate order), we’ve tried: rice cereal, sweet potatoes, oat cereal, barley cereal, green beans, prunes (we were going to wait on fruits, but she was extremely constipated), green peas, yellow squash (HOMEMADE – yes, finally!).  I’ve also let her munch on a big chunk of lettuce, but its only b/c its not going anywhere and she sees me eating that alot.

Favorite Activities:  Bath time (splish splash!). Playing in the water or sand.  Swinging at the park. 

Mammaw, am I wearing you out?!? May I recommend 3 naps a day? It really helps keep you full of energy for all these play times!

Her bouncey gym.  Walking (with assistance). 

Nana's got my back!

Bouncing (with assistance).  Smiling.  Brushing teeth.

Practicing good oral hygiene is delicious! My toothpaste is fruit-flavored! Have you brushed and flossed your teeth yet today?

Watching other people, esp. older kids and pretty girls.  Playing silly games with Daddy and laughing hysterically. 

(Giggle, giggle, giggle... way more giggles with Daddy than with Mommy!)

Singing silly songs, esp. Pumpkin, Pumpkin.  Hanging out with Friends – especially with her shirt off. (Jordan’s hypothesis is that she gets so excited, that she gets too warm.)

Molly, aren't daddy's the best?!?! I hear these dads are really good at "Cups" too!

For the record, that is (flip) cups the drinking game, not the stacking cups that Molly and Natalie each have.  (Jordan, Jeff, Megan and I all went to ND together.)

Unique Traits: She is totally into crinkling up her nose, which is so adorable.  I’ve also neglected to blog about her strawberry patch on her wrist.  Although its been slightly increasing in size and color intensity since birth, it should disappear by the time she is 2 or 5 (the docs have told me both).

I love staring at my colorful strawberry mark - its an accessory, like my arm bracelets!

Happy 7 Months, Natalie!  We love you so much and are so thankful for the joy you bring to so many people – us most of all!

Yeah - 7 mo! I hope my 7th month is just as fun as the first six!

How else would she keep in touch with all her peeps?  Most importantly, the grandmothers…

Hey Dad, its Nana. She's going to come over tonight to play tonight, while you and Mom go out for your anniversary dinner!

Mom, Grandma just texted me - she got a life jacket for me for up nort' next week! Yeah!

Little Natalie is definitely not as little as she used to be.  Not only are her 20 lbs. testing the durability of her favorite swing, but her squirmy curiousity has led us to pack up her swing.  (And, the fact that we’re showing the condo, as we’re trying to sell, and Jordan really wants it packed up).  Here are comparisons…

Hehe... its time to play!

Here I am at approx. 2 mo! This used to be one of my fav places to sleep!

Its 7:15 p.m. and my mom says I'm supposed to be sleeping right now! Yeah right, Mom.

This swing is heaven – I highly recommend it to any new moms (Graco Sweet Peace Soother Swing, Cuddly Bear).  Natalie spent many hours sleeping, being soothed, looking outside the window, playing “I’ve got your (fill in the body part), singing and listening to music in this swing.  Thanks again to the Coders (Dina’s cousins) for loaning it to us!

On Wednesday, Natalie and I ventured downtown to see Daddy for lunch.  Not only did we get to see Daddy mid-day (HUGE bonus, as Jordan has been working a lot lately!), but it was Natalie’s first train ride and first time in downtown Chicago. 

We made many friends along the way – some young girls who were headed to Navy Pier with their Daddy, a mom whose kids were grown, some pretty tough looking guys at the gyro store who were all smiles and helped us navigate the crowded store.   However, surprisingly, not everyone is that helpful to a mom and a baby in a stroller, which is pretty sad.

Yeah, Daddy, give me that french fry!!! (Note, he didn't really)

Door-to-door, the trip was 3.5 hours.  Natalie was EXHAUSTED and didn’t sleep at any point during the outing.  When we got home, she crashed for nearly 2 hours – only to wake up to eat (b/c, of course, she was starving – I never feed that kid!) and then fall asleep while eating.  She was ready to go back to bed for the night, about 1.5 hours later (only 5:30!)… but I tried to keep her up for 2 hours (at least until 6 p.m.!)   I made the mistake of trying to feed her (barley and oat cereal – yum) during this tired period… she was trying so hard to eat (opening up her mouth wide), but everything was just spit back out.  Too much energy to swallow.  Sweet girl.

Natalie has been really moving her arms a lot lately…kind of like Bam Bam Flintstone. Quite vigorously. And this evolved into the really cute game where she pulls a blanket off her head.

Footage below

The best way to beat this summer heat is to swim – A LOT!

Last week, Molly kindly invited us over for a swim date in her super cool mushroom-shaped swimming pool….

Mom, I LOVE Molly's pool. Can we get one?

Natalie had such a good time, splashing the water, chewing on the plastic mushrooms and laughing with Molly.  Even though we don’t have any outdoor space at our condo, I considered how we could possibly get a pool.  I came up with: 1) Use the hose outside our condo and play on the sidewalk, 2) Fill it up in our kitchen (many of you know a story where I did just that when baby-sitting my younger cousins, Rachel and Brett – and finally told my Aunt Lisa about it 10+ years later!!), or 3) Use it up north on vaca!  I’m not sure about #1 and #2, but #3 is certain – thanks, Grandma!

This weekend, Natalie and I hit up the beach -twice (once joined by Dad).

Mom, why is this sand so different from the sand at the park? Good thing I'm wearing a diaper - otherwise, it would hurt my bum?

Finally, on Monday, our friends let us use their pool – Natalie had a great time being tossed in the air, playing peek-a-boo under the water (don’t worry – Jordan or I are the ones who went under the water), and floating around.  (After all, its a lot of work to carry around 20+ lbs!)

Ah! A kids pool, a lake and now this!?! Being a kid is AWESOME!

Hi, this is Grandma Julie, I am the guest blogger this week. My daughter, Becky, is helping me write this because I am not that tech savvy. Last week Dave and I met Jordan, Natalie and Erin in Knoxville, TN. We spent 2 days at the Buckberry Lodge in the Smokey Mountains where Erin and Jordan honeymooned almost six years ago.

Here is a picture of us hiking in the Smokey Mountains, it was not only our first time, but Natalie’s as well.

I'm in the stroller! Its hard to see me in this picture, but I made the hike, just like everyone else. I'm a big girl!

Natalie also loved playing a game on the swing, where I would cover her up with a blanket and say, “Where’s Natalie?”  She has just started flailing her arms, so she was able to pull down the blanket and then have a huge grin on her face.  This game seems to be an off-shoot of the laundry game Erin wrote about a few posts ago.

Why wouldn't a girl have 2 dresses to wear to a wedding? I liked my first one, but this halter dress is so breathable and colorful. Thanks, Nana! We are going to be shopping buds!

Dave and I were in charge of Natalie during the wedding. We went inside Nana and Pop’s house during Mammaw’s speech because Natalie was trying to talk too. Inside was cousin Carlie. Carlie tried to hide the rattle from Natalie but Natalie didn’t even notice.  

On Saturday evening, Dave, Natalie and I watched from “our” front porch as wedding guests hopped on the trolley for the reception.  We also had tubby time, read her new book from Nana, ate a little and sang a few familiar songs.  Natalie didn’t want to be left alone when it was time to go to bed because she was not used to her parents not being there, so I held her until she fell asleep.  She’s sooo cuddly.  Grandpa Dave was a little busy too keeping an eyeout for the trolley to return because it had scrapped cousin Ali’s van a few hours before.  (Hopefully, everything works out with this – so sorry Ali!!!)

What a wonderful time we had.  It was very nice as well to get to know Jordan’s family and friends better too.  And, congratulations to Jira and Alex!  Thanks for inviting us to celebrate with you.  I told (Great) Grandpa and Grandma Linville when we left….  “see you at the next wedding”!!!

*This is Erin – here are two pics from Alex and Jira’s weddings – one in Thailand in March 2010 (which Jordan and I were able to attend!) and the last one in Asheville in June 2011.  (Earlier this year, I asked Alex which anniversary Jira wanted to celebrate and he said all of them – including the one last Dec., which was just at the courthouse, since you have to be married within so many days of arriving to the States!  Smart lady!  Good luck w/ 3 anniversaries, Alex!)

Alex & Jira's first wedding in Thailand - March 2010

The Western Wedding! Congrats, Alex and Jira!