If This is Nesting, Count me In!

Sorry, no pictures today, and just a quick story about how suddenly I am feeling really pressed to organize and get things in order.  This isn't really a shocking discovery since that's pretty much how I wake up every day.  Except that suddenly I feel even more like I don't have enough time to get done all the projects and things I want to get done, and need to get done, in the next (eek!) 11.5 weeks.

It has been my goal all along to transition Natalie into her big girl room well before the baby gets here, and circumstances being what they have been, I've been off my timeline a bit this month.  But, with the help of my wonderful WONDERFUL sister yesterday, I was baby-free for a few hours, which allowed me to get every single item I needed to finish Natalie's new room, including the second gallon of paint, fabric to make curtains, curtain rods, dresser, bookshelf, bed, mattress, sheets, decorations for the walls, etc.  It was a whole day out by myself.  Wow.  I couldn't have accomplished half of that with Nat in and out of the car, plus it is still so hot, and her attention span is short (blink and you'll miss it kind of short).  But, now I'm ready to hunker down and finish it this weekend, and be right back on schedule with that.

So, the point of this post is to let you know (1) don't expect any new posts or pictures this weekend, and (2) check back early next week for pictures of Nat's completed big kid room!

A Little Ditty 'bout Jack and Natalie

Destined to become best friends (or mortal enemies if Natalie continues her, um, nurturing ways around him)...

Three weeks ago, Nat's Aunt Beth went back to work, which means that two days a week, Jack gets to come hang out with us!  Because circumstances have been a little weird (day 2: I skipped out for a vacation up north, days 3 & 4: Natalie was sick, so Jack went to Grandma's), we've only had Jack's company for half the days we should've by now.  But, we love having him, and are really starting to figure out how to manage a needy newborn and a needy toddler.

Natalie is a BIG helper (mostly) with Jack, always trying to hug him, kiss him, shove his pacifier in his mouth, put the diaper rash cream on while I change his diaper (sheesh...), point out if he's spit up ("uh oh" with a little finger pointed accusingly in his direction).  You get the point.

We've also had a few tests of my patience, when Miss Thang feels she needs attention immediately.  Like, for instance, yesterday, while I was giving Jack a bottle, and Natalie was standing on the kitchen table.  That got my attention alright, with a hand right to the hiney.  After that episode, she was on much better behavior.

Here are some photos from today.  It's overcast enough that we were able to be outside for 20 minutes before melting into the pavement!

wagon ride time!

I asked her if she wanted the back or the front.  Instead of answering that question, she pointed at Jack and pointed at the front of the wagon.  Bossy much?  

While Natalie napped, I taught Jack how to do the dishes.  No excuses for the men raised around here (you're welcome in advance future daughter-in-laws!).

Also, I love this picture because I sent it to Beth and she said Jack looked 

like a pack of Lifesavers in that shirt.

hahaha!

Fun with Floss

The girl loves personal hygiene...what else can I say?

Notice the 3 feet already pulled out on the floor?

she's so proud of herself

She thinks it's super funny to climb onto the bed and mess up all the pillows.

Me, not so much, but I do love her laugh more than pretty much anything else.

Lake Retreat

Nat and I took a bit of an impromptu vacation this past week....all the way to the Chain of Lakes in Waupaca, WI with Aunt Emily, Grandma and Grandpa K, and Great Aunt Theresa and Great Uncle John.

catching some shade on the pontoon boat

Captain Natalie

sporting Aunt Em's shades

sunset off the back deck

Enjoying a sherbet from Scooper's.....a girl after my own heart!

We had a great time, and are so happy we decided at the last minute to make the trip without Eric.  Nat was just as good as she could be, too.

Unfortunately, Eric and I came home from our weekend away in Nashville (did I mention Nat and I got home at 4:30am Friday, and Eric and I were on the road again by 11:00am?) to find her sick.  Hoping it's a short-lived virus, but we may be headed to the doctor tomorrow morning just in case.

Also, I forgot to mention the details of Nat's 18-month check up earlier this month....

35.25 inches (99th percentile, and growth of 4 inches since March)

24 lbs 15 oz (50th percentile)

She's been doing some serious growing, wouldn't you say?!

Hot Day Activities

Even our outside girl hasn't been able to stand the heat wave we've been having.  Honestly, who can blame her?  So, we've been trying our hardest to come up with fun indoor activities...

A day last week we decided to do some baking!

We made a whole day of it...

First, we needed to borrow some cookie cutters (I have a collection of only 4 and they are all Christmas shapes, so we headed to Aunt Beth's house to borrow a few more fun shapes from her).

Then, we headed to Uncle Ronnie's house to collect a few eggs from the chickens.

Nat was so excited to help with each phase: mixing, rolling, cutting, 

transferring to the cookie sheet, and decorating!

What better toddler activity than one intended to be messy?

The heart shape was her favorite

This was also the day that Natalie discovered sprinkles.  

I'm fairly certain that she spent almost as much time eating sprinkles as she did on all the other parts of baking, which is okay in my book.

here's a pan of our finished product

up close of some of Nat's decorated cookies...isn't she an artist?

Mom!!!!  Sprinkles!!!!!

Girls' Trip 2012

For the past ten or more years we've been scheduling a Girls' Trip every summer or early fall.  It's become a tradition that myself, my mom, and my sister all look forward to.  We've been to a lot of great places, and each year we rotate who gets to choose our destination.  This year was my sister's pick...Pigeon Forge, TN!

We packed up the van with our gear and the babies, and hit the road for a week...

Nat just loves vacation (and Minnie got to come, too!)

One afternoon we visited Smoky Mountain National Park and picnicked in Cades Cove

Cades Cove scenery

Natalie hated her infant seat, but she sure does love Jack's!

taking a much-needed break from shopping one afternoon

Me and Nat before heading to the aquarium (Tennessee got the same heat wave we've been having at home, so we took advantage of the air conditioning!)

We went to dinner at the Dixie Stampede one night...

to say that Natalie loved the dinner show, with all the fancy costumes and horses, might be an understatement!

she was even all hopped up on this sugary drink before-hand!

Grandma with both her grandbabies

the day Natalie discovered cheese puffs!

Here are some things I learned about being on vacation with a toddler:

1. It is MUCH easier than being on vacation with an infant.  (No bottles, no baby food, less equipment, etc)
2. Vacation will probably never be "fun" with kids until they learn to sleep better somewhere that isn't their own bed.
3. Road trips with a car sick kid are down right rotten.  (I'm hoping this improves once Natalie is able to face forward in the car.  I'd puke if I had to ride backwards, too.)
4. Just like at home, doing anything at the last minute is pretty much out of the question, as is planning anything too tightly.  Everything is up in the air when a little mind is concerned.
5. Always ask ahead of time when food allergies are involved.  (HUGE thanks to the Dixie Stampede staff for making us an entire new plate on the spot!!)

Who's the Fairest of them All

Two weeks ago, back when the weather was just hot (as opposed to now when it feels as though we reside on the surface of the sun), we packed up and headed to the county fair.  Nat was totally into the animals, we caught up with some old friends, and had a great evening with both sides of our family.

Did I mention that Natalie got to sport her cowboy boots from Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Jessica?  She rocked them with her shorts, of course.

Nat and "Mimi" at the auction

The best way to cool down on a hot night is with an Icee popsicle...

her mouth was blue the next morning!