It has been a while since I've updated the blog. We've had a very busy October! In my previous entries, I've focused a lot on Caden and what we do on Fridays. In true second-child fashion, I haven't focused as much on Natalie. Today is all about her.


Natalie is such an adorable little girl. She is a cacophony of girly interests and tomboy activities. She is easily scared by loud noises, but is fearless on the playground. She loves shoes and bows, but will dig in the sandbox with her bare hands. She insists on cleaning up any dirt visible on the floor or couch.  Yet, she will eat yogurt with her hands, then use her hands to move her hair out of her face.  She takes a lot of impromptu baths in the kitchen sink.

If Natalie has one distinguishing trait, it is that she is very, very observant. A recent example is that she has noticed Caden eating his oatmeal out of a ceramic bowl with an adult spoon. Do not try to feed her oatmeal out of a plastic bowl with a child spoon. She will unleash all her toddler anger upon you and the oatmeal.

October has brought about many changes in Natalie. She's taken up a pacifier but doesn't quite get the concept. She takes it in and out of her mouth. I'm sure her sudden interest is because all of her little friends seem to really enjoy their pacifiers (as observed by the startled looks and intense crying when Natalie removes it from their content mouths).  Natalie's copy-cat nature does not bode well for the crucial teenage peer pressure years.

Secondly, Natalie said her first sentence this month. One morning she looked up at me and sweetly asked, "Where Daddy?" She has also added, "Where go?" and "MINE!" to her vocabulary.

Natalie loves to dance and play hide-and-seek. She can do the hand movements to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and requests the ballad at least 50 times a day. She's even started cuddling a little bit. Or she's learned how to manipulate me with her snuggles.  Whatever the motivation, I'll take it.  Natalie is still solidly in the 50 percentile for height and weight. I think she will always be the petite girl with the big personality.

Lastly, if there's one thing she loves, it is babies. Marshall Quin is one of her favorites. He visited us at home recently and Natalie insisted on holding him in her lap. Obviously, that is a terrible idea.  Laying him on the floor in front of her made her and us happy. She couldn't get enough of patting and hugging on the sweet boy. Here are a few photos....
 
 
 
 
 

I captured this photo of Caden and Natalie recently.  They were having such a good time laughing in the backseat that I couldn't resist taking the photo of them in the rear view mirror. 

Hmmmm, maybe this will become a series.  Snapshots From A Rear View Mirror.