Things I Don't Want to Forget

Natalie makes up the funniest songs. A few days ago, for example, we were in the car and saw a few 18-wheelers, so she made up a song about "big trucks". I can't remember how it went, but she had me laughing!
She's also made up songs about stickers, chocolate, Nemo.

Natalie likes to be a helper. Tonight she helped me unload the dishwasher. She also likes to help stir the NesQuik into her milk, put cookie dough on a cookie sheet, and move laundry from the washer to the dryer.

Nathan has been such a great dad. He has a few extra stressors right now, but he still makes time to play with Natalie when she wants to do Ring Around the Rosies or "ride the horsey", and he doesn't leave all the work for me to do. He pulls his weight, too.

Two of Natalie's favorite songs to sing (other than her own compositions) are "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Jesus Loves Me". She always does the motions to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (the song's not the same without the motions, right?), and in the car she often asks to listen to a "Jesus song". That's my cue to turn it to the local contemporary Christian station, if it's not already there.

Being that it's the start of spring, one of the classrooms at Natalie's daycare has eight baby chicks that hatched the night before last. This morning, Natalie woke up asking to "see da baby chickens". That was a blessing, because we were running behind this morning, and the baby chicks distracted her enough to make it easy to drop her off.

Speaking of the daycare, we are so incredibly blessed! We moved here when Natalie was five months old, and we searched all over for a daycare. We looked at several, and the one she is enrolled in was the nicest one we saw, and reasonably priced too. Enrolling Natalie in this daycare has provided us with so much joy and so many opportunities that we otherwise wouldn't have been exposed to. It's a church-based daycare, though not the church that we attend. From time to time, I have considered attending services there in addition to our home parish. I'm so thankful that their motto is "Loving God, Loving Kids". That's how all of the newsletters are signed off.

This is such a fun time in Natalie's life. We are thoroughly enjoying the "two's"!

Where Did Spring Go?

Spring officially started last weekend, but we had been lucky enough to have spring-like temperatures prior to that. Early this week it was nice out, but yesterday there was snow and sleet, and today it's raining and in the upper 30s. I've been ready for this weather to go away since December; spring weather can return any time. Although, since it is a nasty day out, I won't feel guilty for putting in a movie for Natalie while I veg out on the couch, drink hot chocolate, and catch up on some blogs.

Natty and I met my mom at the mall this morning. Mom needed to make a few stops, and I wanted to go to Bath & Body Works to use my coupon for a free 2oz bottle of Country Chic lotion. It smells great! We got some great deals at Macy's Gymboree, and Victoria's Secret. I lucked out, because my mom had lots of coupons, so she did most of the paying. She's so good to us!

I think tomorrow is supposed to be another dreary day. The in-laws are coming by to visit; it's been two weeks since they've seen Natalie, and they're having withdrawls. Nathan and I will take the opportunity while we have free babysitters to run to the grocery store without having to haul Natalie along. Hopefully tomorrow will be a productive, yet relaxing, day.

A bowl full of lemons.: Silhouette GIVEAWAY!!!!

I follow an awesome blog called "A Bowl Full of Lemons" and she's giving away a Silhouette this week. Read on to learn more about it:

A bowl full of lemons.: Silhouette GIVEAWAY!!!!: "My new Silhouette SD machine finally arrived and I'm dedicating this week to my Silhouette creations. I'm also giving away a Silhouett..."

Night Terrors

I guess Natalie's hitting that age where night terrors typically begin. She's had some sleeping issues lately, and it's not uncommon for her to wake up once during the night, but we usually let her cry herself back to sleep. If she wakes up after 4:00am and cries for more than 5-10 minutes, then we will sometimes bring her into our room, since I get up around 5:00 anyway, and Nathan not too long after that. Last night Natalie woke up around 1:30 and was screaming like she was hurt. I got up and checked on her, because sometimes she gets her leg stuck in the baby gate; she hadn't, but I picked her up anyway, and she continued to scream and was quiverring. I assumed it was a night terror, so I brought her into our room. I know, I know, probably a huge mistake. She seemed to be wide awake and was very restless for about an hour but finally fell asleep until about 7:30. She's been in a great mood this morning, and I think today will be another great day. It's supposed to be in the 70s- maybe a good day for a little photo shoot with Natalie in her new MudPie outfit.

Sweet, Sweet Saturday

Today was such a great day. We didn't do anything special (I think that's what made it so great). I started my day off by going to the tanning salon (I'm already feeling better after just a week of tanning), then the three of us spent the day at home. The house was in decent shape, thanks to Nathan being off work most of the day yesterday, so I didn't feel too stressed about getting the house clean. It was a nice day to turn on the Scentsy, open the windows, and play with Natalie. She was pretty good today and so anxious to see her grandparents. My mother-in-law stopped by after hosting a bridal shower, and she brought "party cakes" as Natalie calls any cake or cupcake. Then my parents stopped by on their way through town, and they brought Natalie a pink Cardinals jacket and a Finding Nemo DVD (thank goodness, because Natalie's been asking to watch Nemo for a few days). I had planned to buy it for her Easter basket, but now I will find her another movie. I love watching Natalie show out in front of her grandparents. She's such a ham! Since we had visitors during naptime, there was no nap today. Thankfully Natalie was ready for bed much earlier than usual. I think Nathan and I will have an at-home date night watching Date Night...after March Madess games are over for the night.

When I started this blog, I intended to keep up with it faithfully. Obviously I haven't been doing so. It's been rainy here for the last several daysl we've been stuck inside, so I have zero excuses. Today was gorgeous outside- sunny and a high in the low 60s; tomorrow will be even more beautiful- sunny with a high in the mid-70s (with some wind), and high 70s on Friday. I'm loving it! After work today, Nathan went fishing behind the house, and Natalie and I played in the yard and watched Nathan fish for awhile. He didn't catch anything today, but he and our neighbor went fishing over the weekend and fileted what they caught. Every year our subdivision does a community fish-fry, so Nathan and our neighbor do most of the fishing to stock up for it.
I'm looking forward to more pretty days to spend outside, and I'm hoping to do a couple of photo shoots with Natalie soon.

I love animals, and I would never intentionally hurt one, but I'm about thisclose to beating our cat. Since shortly after we moved into our house about two years ago, she has been pooping on the basement floor. Our basement is finished, and the carpet is very thin and rough. I'm guessing maybe it feels like kitty litter beneath her paws; she goes all around her litter box, but not in it. She pees in the litter box, but makes stinky messes on the floor. I'm tired of it. Last time I bought her food, I accidentally grabbed the wrong bag. Do you know what happens when a cat's food is changed abruptly? Not.Pretty. My basement looks like Poop- and Pukapalooza. So gross! The carpet is brown, but stains are definitely visible. I used Resolve, but we may have to rent a Rug Doctor or something to clean the carpets. If Natalie and the cat hadn't recently taken such a liking to each other, kitty would be out the door.

I'm really working on organizing and decluttering our house and our lives. We are on the right track to organizing our finances (if I ever get on top of things, I will link to the blog/challenge that I'm using), which is a big deal now, but wll be an even bigger deal when we drop to one income so Nathan can start PA School. Another annual event in our subdivision is a subdivision yard sale. This year it will take place April 29th and 30th. We have only ever participated on Saturday due to both of us working full time, but the neighbors who set up a sale both days say they always do better on Friday. I've requested off for the 29th and am really looking forward to getting a lot of junk out of the house, and making some money in the process.

Sweet Gestures

Short and sweet, quickly before I head to bed. Nathan surprised me today with a one-month tanning package at the tanning salon down the road from our house. I've really been in a funk lately, and I think it's because I haven't had any "light therapy" in quite some time, so now I'm extremely pale, and I've sort of let myself go, digging into sweets (who can pass up girl scout cookies?) and not exercising  like I used to. When I tanned in the past, I'd be lucky to go once or twice a week, because I always do Natalie's bath, cook, clean up from dinner, etc. Nathan has really been helping out...we've been an awesome team lately! Anyway, before I even had a chance to think about when I might go tan, Nathan says, "I was thinking you could make your appointments during Natalie's bathtime, and I'll take care of it." WHAT?? Who are you, and what did you do with my husband? This is amazing! I think this may be my first step toward getting ready for bikini season and our Gulf Shores vacation (more on that later).