Thanksgiving 2009

It has been a super long time since I have posted! I fully intended on lovingly documenting Natalie's first year with witty and entertaining entries like the famous mommy blog dooce.com. However life happened and I didn't do that....plus I am lazy...so there you go! Anyway.....I am going to try to catch up in the next couple of blogs and then maybe in 2010 I will due better. However I have a bad habit of reading other people's blogs more than I write my own so....we shall see! Anyway on with the blog!

We decided since Steven was going on a hunting trip to Tennesee we would go with my parents to St. Louis to visit my family. This was a good idea in many ways however it was also scary...1. Because we would be making a 12 hour trip with a baby and 2. We would be stuffing 4 full sized adults and 1 infant seat in a Chevrolet Impala....it was a tight fit but we made it! Plus I got to sit in the front seat due to my HORRIBLE car sickness.

Thanks to the evil virus you can read about HERE my sister was sick so our first day of the trip was only 4 hours. Silver lining.....that long ride was broken up a little bit. When we finally made it to my uncle's house Natalie was totally over the car!

My cousin Adrian, her husband Nick and their daughter Charlotte (who I like to call in a loud obnoxious voice "Charli Bohn" were able to come that evening and we had a great time catching up and watching the girls play. Charli did a great job with Natalie...which is a good thing since she is going to be a big sister soon. This kid is hilarious and I hope that Natalie is that funny when she gets to be that age. She kept looking back at Natalie says "COME ON" expecting her to follow...but since Natalie could only crawl it was a slow going process. Another favorite Charli moment was when Charlie kept tellin Phil the dog to "EAT IT" trying to force feed him a stuffed bone! I am glad Charli I get to see Charli videos and pictures because I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a glimpse into my not so distant future!

ANYWAY...Thanksgiving Day was full of lots of food and lots of Provelle Cheese (a St. Louis cheese that is just about my favorite). We were also quite entertained by the Gillett Trio that afternoon. The next day was a relax/shopping day and then Saturday we headed home. We miraculously made it all the way in one day...even though Natalie "quit" right around Delhi. I was so glad we made the trip and I can't wait to go back to visit my Gillett roots!

Natalie and Me on Thanksgiving Day!

CHARLI BOHN
Charli, GheeGhee (Aunt Dana) and Natalie reading a book!

Sick Week

Well its day 3 of sick week here at the Becnel household. Monday - I took Natalie to the dr. to see what was up with her lingering cold/cough. She got an antibiotic shot, 2nd dose of seasonal flu shot and first dose of H1N1 shot. Two hours later she threw up all in the car....and then again when we got home, and then again! I thought it was the shots but it turned out she must have had a virus because on Tuesday I started throwing up...ALL DAY it was horrible! Natalie was fine and ate all day with no problems. We woke up Wednesday morning (today) I felt better, Natalie had "exploded" all over her diaper so then we took a bath. She ate her bottle during the bath and was fine...all of a sudden she threw up again!!!! She is still acting fine...playing, being her crazy self! I am hoping that this last throw up was because she coughed too hard and her tummy is still a little sensative! HOPE HOPE HOPE! I know that this is just one of many sick weeks that we will have and this is not the last time I will catch something from Natalie. Sigh....here's hoping we all get well soon!

Caterpillar

This is kind of corny but I heard this on the Hannah Montana Movie and it really made me think of Natalie (apparently things like this happen a lot when you have children!)

Caterpillar in the tree

How you wonder who you'll be

Can't go far but you can always dream

Wish you may and wish you might

Don't you worry, hold on tight

I promise you there will come a day

Butterfly fly away

Our trip to the "quarium"

Last weekend we went "across the lake" to the aquarium...or "quarium" as the kids call it. We never go over there for much other than to go visit Steven's dad but it was fun trip all around! We went with Ava and Katelynn and Donnie and Lisa came along with us! We also went with Steven's Dad, Stepmom, and step-nephew Ty. I was very excited because I knew the girls would LOVE IT! Especially Ava. We had Ava in the car with us and it was almost like a glimpse into the future when we have another child. I kept asking her if Natalie was sleeping and she would say "noooo" One time she said "nnooo...yea"! and then proceeded to tell me "Natty sleepin!! NATTY SLEEPIN!!! NANNY NATTY SLEEPIN" All I could do was laugh because if she was sleeping she probably wasn't anymore. Ava and I also had a discussion about the dolphins in the lake. I asked her if she could see them and she said no. I told her they must be taking a nap. All of a sudden she starts yelling! Nanny I see dolphins! I see them sleeping! Man I wish I had the imagination of a 2 year old! She also busted out with "I see a boat!" I leaned over to Steven and said...do you see a boat? There was no boat...but whatever! She is my Ava Lou and you just have to accept the craziness!

Anyway, once we got there I kept telling Steven....don't be disappointed if Natalie doesn't "get" this whole experience....this whole trip was his idea so Natalie could see the Aquarium....at 8 month old...but ok whatever! Apparently all he wanted her to see was the glass tunnel in the beginning...$18 a piece for the tunnel in the beginning.....sigh....thats my husband! We had a great time though and Natalie seemed to be paying attention somewhat! The only issue we had was the gift shop....kids and gift shops don't mix when there is no plan to buy $12-5 inch around- glitter balls! Sorry KK! We made it out alive and were no worse for the wear! I would have pictures but they are on my camera....in my purse....at home...and I am at work! I do have one that I will steal from Ashlyn...who stole it from me.....

Lisa, Ava, KK, Ty, and Natalie in the middle....chillaxing!

Dang it!

I was gonna write a blog but I ran out of time....maybe tomrrow *sigh*

7 Months

Oh My Natty!

It seems like every time I turn around I am writing another blog entry because you are another month older! I call you a big girl at least once a day.....even though I know you are still a baby! You are sitting up by yourself, pulling up on your bed and anything/anyone else that will let you! I am just going to go ahead and say you are crawling because I think you move faster on your belly! You look like a little lizard but thats ok because you can get ANYWHERE you set your mind to.....and you usually do it with gusto and determination. You keep trying to stand up....I don't know if you are trying to copy Delaney who just stands up in the middle of the floor or what but its cute to see you make a teepee with your little butt! You are officially in the big bathtub now. You love the little rubber ducky who you try to consume each time you get a hold of him! You are constantly smiling and "talking" and smiling some more! You do really well in your pack and play or on the floor playing. You can even put yourself to sleep...which I thought would never happen!!!! I am starting to miss tiny baby days a little bit....not the sleeplessness and the screaming...but the little times when it was just you and me and you wanted me to hold you! I know that its all about independance and I don't want you hanging on my leg for the rest of your life BUT I know you will want me to hold you sometimes and I will just savor those moments then! OH and the cutest thing is that you are reaching for people! Even though I know its just so someone will lift you up so you can see....its still cute. Except at dinner the other night when I was trying to hurry up and finish and you kept holding your arms up to me with the pitiful little face :( . It broke my heart but it was ok because you lived!!!!Anyway I know things are just going to get better as you understand more and more. Hurry and grow up but stay little forever!

Love,

Mama Sitting like a big girl!

Crawling by the river


Finally fell asleep by herself!

Loves this toy!

Loving her some Pita Bread

Sneak Peak

A sneak peak at Nat's pictures