Nat's First Rice Cereal

Well....I thought I was going to wait until Natalie turned 4 months to give her rice cereal....but I thought the Friday before wouldn't make that much of a difference. We were at Ashlyn's and I decided to see what she would do....it was an interesting experience. At first she screamed....I think it was that I put her down before she was good and ready...so we tried again after a few minutes and it actually went quite well. She ate it pretty well but didn't eat very much! She actually opened up her mouth a couple of times. She mostly spit it out but I don't think it was on purpose. She really doesn't have the whole eating off a spoon thing down yet. We have been practicing every night and maybe by the time she is actually supposed to be eating it she will have it down! She is very close to rolling over...she just can't get her big Becnel butt over the hump! She is going to the Dr. on Friday so I will have an update of "stats". That is....if I make it through Achievement Day on Wednesday!

We also put in our new floors this weekend! Yay for no more disgusting carpet! I hope we increased the value of our house and not decreased it by doing it ourselves! No it really looks great! I am super excited! I can't wait to show it off!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from the Becnels! We had a pretty exciting weekend! Mama, Daddy, and Carly (Nanna, Papa, and Caca) came for the weekend and Natalie didn't touch her swing the whole time! It was a record I think. We finally bought our floor and I am super excited! I slightly stroked when the man told me the total for everything but other than that I think I am liking the floor more than I am missing the money! I only have to wait two more weeks before it actually gets installed by my hopefully proficient father in law and step father in law!

Papa helping Natty make his classic picture pose...the peace sign

We went shopping for a dress for Natalie for my cousin's wedding in a couple of weeks. She has lots of cute stuff but nothing really weddingey. We found a really cute cotton dress in a pretty green that looks fantastic!

Nanna with the cutest little Easter Bunny in Louisiana

Today we ate an early lunch with everyone and headed over to Steven's mom's house. Thank goodness we had already eaten because when the oven beeped that their ham was ready Steven went to take it out and realized the oven was off! So finally they ate at about 4. We bought all of the girls bunny ears and they all loved them....Ava only loved hers for about 30 seconds but hey...I take what I can get. We got Nat an Easter basket which I am sure was lost on her but I got some good pictures of her with it and the huge lamb that Nanna brought with her! It amazes me daily how fast this child is growing!

Natalie checking out her Easter Basket

I can't believe she is coming up on 4 months in a couple of weeks! Judging from her legs I still think she is going to be tall! I told Ashlyn today that hopefully if she grows up to have her daddy's body at least she will have a pretty face! She is reaching milestones like crazy and her personality is shining! I was getting ready to go this morning and I had already strapped her into hear seat...hoping she would fall asleep before we left and when I came back around the corner I heard her laughing...I walked in the living room and she was watching Madagascar.....intently....and laughing at the Zebra! She loves TV and I know you aren't supposed to let them watch TV until they are 15 or whatever but its all she wants to do! It warmed her daddy's heart that she loves cartoons. I have had to tell him more than once that she is too young to buy movies for but now there is no stopping him!!

Now Natalie is pooped and sleeping in my lap. Its pretty hard to keep up the charm all day! All in all it was a great weekend without being super tired at the end! Until next time!

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!!!"