Quirkey Little Toddler

It's time to catch you up on great pictures before I empty my camera again. December was a fun and busy month. And I must admit to you all that very often Natalie makes me want to pull my hair out. But looking back at all these pictures, I remember how fun and crazy she can be.

Most of her newest tricks involve talking. People always told me that once she started we'd never get her to shut up, and it seems to be true. She can count up to 13, but usually only does it when she's playing and not really paying attention. She also got to Q by herself on the alphabet today (just chattering away to herself in the backseat), but I couldn't get her to reproduce it without prompting, (she would just say "A B C D Next time won't you sing with me"). She plays tea party and cooks, and takes care of her dolls, all with a non-stop stream of chatter. And her new favorite joke is to ask me if I made things. She points to an afghan or or picture, or anything now, and says "Made This?" Occasionally I can say "yes", but more and more I have to say I got it at the store. She thinks this is so funny.

So anyway, what you all came for - the pictures. Here is the Boulder Court House on Pearl Street last month.
We were stopped in front of it to watch a band from CU playing Christmas songs.
Natalie eating with chopsticks that same night.
Not too shabby.
But it didn't last too long and she resorted to her hands.
The Erie Fire Department drove through the neighborhood one night shouting on a bullhorn that "Santa Clause was Coming - Come Out Come Out!" So we did. They were driving through with two big fire engines, and Santa was walking with some firemen and women talking to all the kids. It was pretty cool.
Natalie liked this box almost as much as I enjoyed what was in it.
Playgroup secret Santa. We (moms) had fun snapping this shot.
Just looking cute.
Checking out the new watch she got at playgroup. When you ask her what time it is she always says "eight".
Natalie munched a bite of corn chip and then told us "horsie". And boy was she right! Before that she found a turtle, but it wasn't quite as good, and we didn't get a picture of it. Now she always checks her chips for horsies.
Being silly with Chewy.
Christmas Eve with Aanya at Benihana.
Riding on her cool new Retro Rocket!
And sitting back to sip a smoothie at Starbucks!
So that's that. Natalie is working both herself and me very hard every day. By bedtime she's ready to drop, (as am I!) Hopefully this new year will bring more fun adventures and fewer time outs. But I'm not counting on that last part.

That time of year again

The holidays are coming so darn fast, I can't believe it. It's going to be so much fun this year since Natalie actually knows what's going on a bit more. Last year at this time she was just learning to crawl.... boy how times have changed.

She enjoyed looking through the ornaments and putting them on the tree. (Chewy is always a fan of the Christmas tree as well.)

And some things never change - the beads were a hit this year as well!

And Nat has added some seasonal words to her vocabulary as well. She knows "Christmas Tree" and "Christmas Lights", as well as "Santa", "Reindeer", and "Rudolph". She is going to tell Santa that she wants a "Kitchen" for Christmas, (if we ever get close enough to talk to him - I'm very disillusioned with this whole Santa process, let me just tell you!)

But don't let all of that make you think we are neglecting her Jewish heritage completely. Natalie helped light the Hanukkah candles this year and even said some of the first night prayer with us. She piped in with the last word of each line or so, though she stumbled on the word "Hanukkah" pretty badly. Not bad for a first try.

Her own little chair

Natalie has been finding cute little places to sit lately... I guess it goes along with standing - she just needs to get off her feet every once in a while!  One of her favorite places at the cabin was on a case of water bottles in the mud room that was just the right height. 

She was also pretty entertained by this little ledge in the closet.  

Well, we remembered seeing some cute little baby sized chairs, so the other day Natalie and I took them for a test drive and ended up coming home with one... 

Now she's got her own little chair... what a big girl!!  I think she might need a little end table now to keep her books handy since it's a bit hard to get into it with a book in hand.  

And in some non-chair-related news, Natalie has FOUR teeth breaking through on the top in the center!!  She's been very cheerful, so I was surprised to feel them coming in when I checked to see why she had her fingers in her mouth so often!!  When you hold her upside-down she smiles nice and big and you can see the white ridges all lined up.  One of these days she'll have a mouthful!

Seems like someone else likes the new chair too!  

A True Sign of Spring

Maybe there is still snow on the ground, and you haven't seen a robin or a tulip, but you can really be sure spring is here when you see this.  

Yes, Chewy got his annual "lion cut".  We couldn't bear his mats and shedding any longer.  The tumbleweed tufts of hair were getting out of control, and a person can only handle finding cat hair in their mouths so often.  

Here's the 'before' shot so you know just what we were dealing with.  

We might not have to go to such lengths if he would actually let us brush him, but since he doesn't, well... you get the idea.  

It does seem like we always end up getting around to his haircut when it's unusually cold out, but it's sure to heat up soon, and he doesn't have to go out unless he wants to.  

And everyone asks if he minds his haircut, and we really don't think so.  We stay with him while he is getting it, and I truly think the most traumatic part of the experience (for all of us) is the car ride to and from the barber.  He'll be out walking the fences showing off his new 'do just as soon as the weather permits - maybe tomorrow.  

I think he likes being able to feel being pet and loved on so much better.  

Here he is enjoying a nice stretch.  

And he probably will be cuddled under a blanket, (and my arm) most of the night.  

I thought he was my cat!!

Supposedly, when we got Chewy, my DH wasn't a cat person.  I really wanted one, so he relented.  

Turns out, the cat seems to prefer my husband... isn't that how it always is?  Well, he sits down, and not ten seconds later has a cat on his lap!  

I had to snap this pic... I wish I could get as comfy as this cat does! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It was a very Christmasy weekend.

Yesterday, though the weather was beautiful, it really started to feel like Christmas is on its way.

We started out the day with one of my favorite Holiday traditions: Waiting in line for our KBCO Studio C cd. We got there at 10:00am and found line was moving pretty quick - even though the line was wrapped around the building. We got out of there by 11:30 with our discs in hand. This year was the 20th Anniversary of KBCO's studio C so, it was a special 2 disc volume. I'm only missing 5 or 6 discs out of the 20. I think SweetPea enjoyed their time in line, people watching and getting some fresh air. We did miss Berlin, as he was our usual company for the event.

Last night we continued in the Christmas spirit by getting out all of our decorations and putting up our tree. SweetPea likes the tree, but not as much as Chewy, who is glad to have another comfy spot to lay.

Sweetpea did enjoy the beads. Check out her military crawl.

This morning, I volunteered with the Humane Society for their annual Photos with Santa. I loved seeing everyone dressed up for their Holiday card pictures.

SweetPea and her dad met me for lunch at our favorite burger joint, The Mountain Sun, on Pearl Street. We enjoyed the very unseasonable weather walking on the mall and got coffees from the bookstore coffee shop. Unfortunately, we forgot our camera.

It was an all together perfect weekend except on our way home from Pearl St., something happened to the clutch of our care. Luckily, we were close enough to my car to get that, and get the other car to the Subaru dealership. We'll find out what's wrong with in tomorrow.

For those of you who were persistant enough to read this post till the end, here's another video of Sweetpea chasing after her favorite would-be toy: Chewy! When she can really crawl, he's going to be in trouble... or maybe she will!

Wave Bye-Bye

Well, I don't have a picture, but Sweetpea waved goodbye for the first time today!

I know, it doesn't seem like much, but it was such a perfect little wave, with her hand up, and her little hand opening and closing... it just couldn't be mistaken for anything else!

We were visiting our neighbors who have a new baby, and when we went to leave, I told her to wave bye-bye to the baby, (who she'd been watching since we arrived). So I waved, and then Sweetpea's little hand went up and she did too!

Well, anyway, I just couldn't be prouder!

And since I don't have a picture, I'll just post one of the cat, in the "outfit" I got him off the Halloween clearance rack at Target. Why else does one have a blog if not to share pictures like this!?

Kitty Friend

Sweetpea really likes Chewy.

She is fascinated by him.

When she's crawling, he's going to have to watch out.

Right now he's just aloof... most of the time. Sometimes he just can't stay away.

And he's just not one to turn down a cuddle-buddy.

It was really cute when she started to wake up... she reached down and scatched his head, just like he likes it.

Just luck, I know, but I think she's starting to grow on him.

Laughing at Chewy

Sweetpea has been interested in Chewy for a while now, but this is the first time she's laughed at him!! It started last night when we tossed a candy corn across the floor for chewy to chase... he slid and ran, and Sweetpea thought it was hilarious!! So we got out the feather, and a bit belatedly, the camera, and took this short video before the cat got sick of playing.