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!

Mardi Gras is over

Yes...that fun time of year is finally over! We took Natalie to a couple of parades and I think the whole experience was lost on her!! As soon as that first dang fire trunk blasted its horn she was awake....and screaming! So we tried one more time...this time with Daddy in tow so he could help....nope still didn't like it. Plus the fact that when I tried to feed her the bottle was too cold so she was just a regular grouch the whole time! We decided to skip our annual trip on Mardi Gras Day to Metairie and stay home. So we went shopping in Slidell and I bought her ANOTHER christening gown because I didn't like the first one! I know! But she has to be as beautiful...as the others! So the old one will be her Easter/3 month picture dress!

Natalie started "talking" a few days ago! It is so cute! She mostly talks to the fan or the lamb hanging on her bed (her best friend), but thats ok I am sure one day she will talk to me so much that I will be kindly asking her to go tell her Daddy :)

She is getting so big I can't even believe it! She is really filling out her 0-3 months clothes! Mama had bought her some outfits and I told her she better mail them or they might not fit by the time she comes back for a visit!

We go to the Dr. on Tuesday so I will post an update on how big she really is! Just a warning....she is growing some major thighs!

Sitting around...decided to start a blog

I created this blog a few months ago but never really did anything with it. I decided that since I send out so many email with Natalie updates I should probably do a blog...just to keep everyone updated at their own convenience. Plus I like reading other peoples to see what they are up to so I thought maybe other people would want to read about us! Natalie has been here for 5 and a half weeks now and I think I have finally adjusted. She isn't quite sleeping throught the night but it is coming soon...I can feel it! Its just a matter of feeding her late enough so she sleeps until 6 which has actually happened a couple of times. She is snoring in my lap right now which is probably a mistake since I am going to want her to go back to sleep after I feed her in a little while...but we will see! We went to the dr. yesterday and she weighs 9 pounds! I almost fell over when I saw that! Steven said that he thought she weighed that much but I thought he was full of it!! Speaking of Steven...she looks more like him every day! His family doesn't think so but sometimes I look and her and am just amazed at how much she looks like him!!!! I think she looks like me too sometimes but hey...like Steven says...she looks like Natalie.

Ok I guess I am done with my first blog....we will see if I actually keep it up before I send out the news that I am doing this! Hopefully I will remember to put pictures and such up here! Stay tuned!!!