Our Second Anniversary

Dear Steven,

We have been married for 2 years today! Its hard to believe it has been that long! This past year has been the best! It seems like that first year was so long and difficult and I thought we would never make it, but on April 1st 2008 it seemed like something clicked and we were in our 2nd year and things were automatically better. This year we have settled into our lives, our home, and our jobs. You also helped me create the most beautiful girl on this earth and for that I will love you forever (even when you eat the garlic from the crawfish). Here's to many more great years with you and Natalie! I love you!

Love

Emily

One of our first pictures together

Engagement Picture

Our wedding

Our first Anniversary

Our Natalie

Us Now

Natalie - 3 Months

Dear Natalie

You turned 3 months old yesterday. I can't believe it! You are so big that it kills me! In the past month you have turned into a little person and not a lump (even though I really loved that lump). You wake me up every morning talking on the monitor and even though I am so tired I love going in your room and seeing you smile up at me. You are always so excited that its morning. I hope you stay like that and don't hate to wake up like your daddy! I am so proud of all you can do! You hold your head up so well! You can also sit up with very little assistance. We are still working on the rolling over part but that will come I am sure! You continue to grow out of diapers and clothes and it amazes me daily how fast it all is going! You are also slowly wrapping your daddy tigher around that little finger. Last night we were playing in our bed and you looked him and just smiled and laughed so big! I though he was going to just melt right there. The smile on his face was so happy and bright....a lot different from his usual smiles! I can't wait until you can call him daddy and then he will be completely a mess! You have so many people that love you that its incredible! I go through the list sometimes with you and the list gets pretty long! You are a lucky little girl and I can't wait to see whats next!

Love

Mama

New Orleans Lady

We took Natalie to the French Quarter on Sunday and she loved it! Well I guess as much as a 3 month old baby can love something. She was so alert and looking all around...it was probably the pee/puke smell and the loud noise, but hey....she liked it! Anyway we went to the French Market and up and down the streets. We spent way too much on a way too small lunch and then walked around Jackson Square. I took some pictures but they are on my camera that is currently lost somewhere in my house! Jessamy took some really good pictures of our little family that I am excited about. I changed Natalie's diaper under a tree in Jackson Square...sorry little one but you can never say you flashed in the French Quarter....well at least it wasn't for beads! It was kind of cool to take her to the same place that we took our engagement pictures. I am sentimentally dumb like that though. She turns three months on Sunday so you can look forward to my post for that!

My talented child

Well we had an eventful few days this week! We got back from Mama and Daddy's yesterday. I had a meeting in Alexandria on Wednesday and its closer to drive from their house than mine. Mama watched her while I was at the meeting and I think it just reinforced her need to retire and come watch Natalie full time! I really enjoyed my time up there. I didn't feel stressed and it was like a mini-vacation. Also, Natalie slept about 9.5 hours both nights we were there! She didn't do that last night because I had to wake her up at 6 so we could get going, but I think she would have kept on because she was sound asleep and didn't want to wake up!

Last night Natalie was on her tummy time mat...which she DISPISES! I was cleaning up the kitchen and cooking supper and I turned around and she had manuevered herself 90 degrees and was laying on her side watching me. Since she had started out on her tummy facing away from me I was pretty impressed! I now consider her talented because she can turn circles! Daddy said its because her left arm is limp....a HILARIOUS comment made to make fun of me for being such a worrier! She layed the for a while talking to me and then proceeded to get really mad because I wouldn't come pick her up...like normal...and I swear she was going to roll over! Of course her arm was in the way and she didn't! BUT she was going from her back to her side with no effort so I think we are on our way!

Later she was sitting in my lap with her back leaned on my legs and she started flinging herself forward trying to sit up! Again I was impressed! She can sit up for a few seconds and then she falls backwards!

I can't believe how big my girl is getting! She will be walking by next week!

We are going to Steven's mom's tonight to eat crawfish for the first time and I can hardly wait!!! I am sure it will be blast trying to eat crawfish with Natalie screaming bloody murder...I can only assume she will be screaming because every other time I have tried to eat something like that (crabs, chicken wings) she thinks its funny to pick that moment to be fussy....lets hope she is good tonight!

Old Picture...but still applicable!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Becnels! Including "she who will not look at the camera for anything!!!"

I need another weekend to recover from my weekend!

It was a LONG weekend full of wonderous activities...mainly shopping! We started out Saturday at the Kid's Expo....not really for Natalie but I did find out about Zumba which is like a dancing workout thing and the first class is free and after that they are only 7.50 each....I love that! I will probably go twice and quit because I hate to exercise but I gotta do something! I still look pregnant....its only been two months but still...gross! Anyway!

I am ready to go shopping Mommy!

We next headed to Gulf Port to the Outlet mall! Whoohoo! I promptly spent all of Natalie $50 budget at Carters in about 10 minutes but it is SUPER cute stuff this season. She is fitting in most 0-3 stuff and only some of it is loose so probably by April sometime she will be in 3-6 and so I bought her lots of cute summer stuff. I also got her a super cute purple and gold (geaux tigers) diaper bag. Its really a huge purse but the other diaper bags weren't cutting it! This I can just throw everything in and go...no strategic packing and unpacking! We spent about 30 hours in the Disney store I watched the little ones and Ava was all drooley and crazy....like normal but finally we headed home with the trunk packed to the hilt!

To pooped to even eat!

Natalie has slept in her crib the last 3 night....most of the night. I guess she is just a good sleeper! She woke up a couple of times and I had to go shove the pacifier back in but she went right back to sleep. The problem really was that we got home really late Saturday and Sunday so she was too tired to eat and so the 8 hours she slept started at 7PM meaning at 4 she was hungry! Thats ok though thats why I did it over the weekend! I am so gald she is in her bed! Not that I didn't love having her with me but I HATED having to climb out of the end of the bed because of the bassinet! Anyway! I am still tired and have a long week of work but at least we have our room back!

After my first night in my baby bed!

The only one in my house not Catholic!

I am now the only one in my house that is not Catholic! Natalie had her christening on Sunday and she was beautiful and well behaved! I was like magic! I really liked the way the deacon did the service. He included the grandparents and the other children in the family. My parents were really quite impressed with the whole thing! We took a lot of pictures after. I only have a few from Aunt Carly (or Caca as Daddy and I have decided that she will be called). Jessamy (god mother in law) and Meme took pictures too but I haven't gotten copies of those yet! Her Parrain actually held her for a few shots! I was amazing! Afterward we went to Steven's dads house for a small party that turned into a slightly larger party! It was fun though and Natalie made some money that will go towards her new summer wardrobe to be purchased at the outlet mall this weekend! It was a great day and I am glad that we made the decision to do it...now I just have to get Steven to go to Mass every once in a while.....

Papa giving you his blessing

Me giving you my blessing

In the process...being such a good girl!

My little angel!

The whole family!

Papa getting one last sugar before we head home from the party

Natalie the Big Girl

Its been a few days...but we went to the Dr. yesterday and had Natalie's 2 month checkup...she weighs 10.5 pounds and is 23 inches long! I sure didn't think it would be that much! I am happy though because it means the formula thing is really agreeing with her! Her christening is this weekend so I will have even more pictures from that next week. I am glad that mama and daddy (nanna and papa) are coming this weekend. I think mama is about to die because its been a month since they have seen the baby! I can't believe she stood it that long. The child has so many clothes its rediculous! Between what I buy, Nanna buys, and what Ashlyn gives me from Delaney(by way of Lisa, Katelynn, and Ava) she can't possibly wear it all! She really fits in her 0-3 month...we may be moving to 3-6 sooner than I thought! I have been buying her summer stuff in 3-6 but I need to quit until I see how big she is....well I need to quit anyway! Steven bought her a tummy time mat with his detail money (she is slowly wrapping him tighter and tighter around that little finger) We haven't tried it out yet but the other thing we have just won't work for tummy time. She is starting to get a bald spot so we need to amp up the tummy time...even though its an ordeal everytime! She is really smiling and "talking" a lot more...of course I can't get a picture because of the delay on the camera...but one day! We have been practicing so she can talk for nanna this weekend...probably won't happen just because! Sorry for the boring blog! Maybe I will have a better one next week! Enjoy the pictures!

You know you are tired when the pacie is crooked and you don't even care!

Tummy Time....not very comfortable...but super cute :)

Natalie's Christening gown....isn't it beautiful....3...2...1

And we had a melt down...I think it was the bonnet

Chilling in the swing!