On our way

We are on our way to Disneyland for 5 days.  And yes, we are driving down.  I know.  But with 5 people, it just makes sense.  I just hope there is a lot of this:

And this:

And not too much of this:

Yes...she clearly loves the feel of gooey stuff on her face

Singing

She was taking a bath with her baby

 Natalia is obsessed with babies.  There is always a baby in her arms, a baby in her tummy, a baby sleeping, and often a baby pooping.  (Why do her babies poop so much?  I think she likes changing their diapers and cloths.  Clearly she has not encountered real baby poop.) 

Not only does she love to be the mommy of her own baby dolls, but she enjoys, from time to time, pretending to be a baby herself.  (She has, in fact, started asking me if she can go back in my tummy).  Sometimes this Baby Natalia is adorable and sweet.  More frequently though, Baby Natalia communicates with a whiny, high pitched cry that makes my skin crawl.  A couple weeks ago I was about ready to explode, so I took a deep breath and told her that when Baby Natalia cries it makes my heart hurt.  She looked very upset, so I quickly added that when she used her big girl voice it made my heart sing.  The idea of making Mommy's heart sing seems to have made quite an impression because now, when she does something that she thinks is good, she asks me if my heart is singing. 

After I ask her to do something:  "Look Mommy. I listened.  Did I make your heart sing?"

Upon waking up:  "Good morning Mommy.  I'm happy.  Does that make your heart sing?"

After a melt down:  "I calmed down Mommy.  Is your heart singing?"

Yesterday she asked if she could put her ear on my chest. She held it there for a moment, looked up at me with those big eyes of hers, and smiled.  "I heard your heart singing Mommy."

Yup baby girl, you did. 

She Asked Me To Take Her Picture

"Mommy take my picture and send it to Ama." 

That is how we started our morning yesterday.  



I know I should probably always work with Natalia on having good manners, but sometimes she is just too cute and has so much fun experiencing her food. 

How many more years will she be able to get away with this kind of eating.  And really, how different is this from a facial at a spa?  It's all natural and organic.  Look how supple her skin is.

 

We Have Done So Much




Natalia climbing the Great Wall of China

 

I cannot believe how much we have done this year.  The first six months were a whirlwind of travel.  Missouri, Tahoe, Connecticut, Portland, and CHINA.  Yup...the baby girl and I went to China with Nana, Opa, Ama, Sissi and Tia.  It was amazing (though I definitely want to go back again when the Bug is a bit older).  The people were wonderful and were totally in awe of Natalia.  They were obsessed.  Crowds would gather.  People would take pictures.  Many times a hand would shoot out from the crowd to try and caress her face or feel her hair.  I kind of felt like a movie star (even though they were only interested in my daughter) and then I became very protective of her.  She did sooooo well.  I think I would have snapped after the first day, but Natalia didn't throw a fit until day 9. After than she would start to cry and run to me if someone began to get close.  But even so, it was amazing!!! 


 

Ama, Natalia and I on the Yangtze River Cruise

 


Natalia got really good at the squat potties and came to prefer them








Pensive at a Temple



Making friends





Practicing Tai Chi in a Tea Garden



Pensive at a Temple



The people on the street of Shanghai thought this was hilarious.  Natalia was sitting on this little stool thumbing through Mao's Little Red Book.  She really looked like she was reading it.  At least 10 people stopped and took pictures.

 



Time

This photo has nothing to do with the post, but it cracks me up...she was "helping" me make brownies

I have made a new school year resolution to try and get Natalia to school on time (or at least within 5 minutes of the "start"). Yesterday we weren't doing so well. We got up late and I was frazzled. As I am trying to get Natalia to eat a granola bar, put on her shoes, brush her teeth, let me do her hair, and walk to the car (I know...too much stuff at one time) we had this conversation:

"Come one Natalia, we have to hurry. We are late!" (I must admit, that was not said in the nicest of tones. Sorry baby girl)

"It's ok Mommy. I have time."

I'm sorry. What!?!? I take a deep breath and close my eyes. We are going to be late for school. "You do?" I respond.

"Yes. It is right here in my pocket. Here take it," and she puts her hand into her pocket, pulls it out, and reaches towards me. "Take it Mommy. Take it."

"Ok. Thanks baby girl."

"No Mommy. You have to put it in your heart. Take the time from my pocket and put it in your heart. Then you will be happy again. Like this," and she places her hand over her heart.

I do the same and smile down at her as she says, "See Mommy...didn't that make your heart happy."

What a sweet girl I have. I am so lucky that she has these wise moments, reminding me to slow down and enjoy the time I have with her.

Mistakes

Natalia LOVES her Opa. She calls him "MY Opa" and constantly wants to be around him. He responds in like, reading to her every night, teaching her about the world, and generally spoiling her. They really have a connection and he can really bring out the best in her. This is one of the conversations they had tonight before bed. She was telling him about a book that she bent earlier today.

"I broke a book Opa!"

"Really?" he said, "How did you do that?"

"I did this," she said, moving her hands back and forth, pantomiming breaking the spine of a book.

Pause...

"Sometimes I make mistakes."

Seriously!?!? She isn't even 2 1/2 yet. I'm totally blown away by this little one. Can't even imagine what a full command of the English (or Spanish) language is going to bring.

What Dogs Say

This photo has nothing to do with the post, but it makes me crack up, so I thought I would share.

Natalia and I were feeding Odin this afternoon. As she was filling up his bowl Natalia stated, "When Odin eats it then he will burp."

"Does he say excuse me," I asked.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because he doesn't have words." Pause. A thoughtful wrinkle of the nose. Then she looked up at me. "But Opa has words."

"And what does he say when he burps?"

"Whoa...That was a BIG one!!!"

Got to love him.

My Little Pulpo

Halloween 2008

Last year Natalia was an octopus for Halloween. This year, she said that she wanted to be a princess. But the day of her school's Halloween party, she found the costume from last year and would not take it off. So she was, once again, an octopus (or pulpo when she was at school).

(Notice anything besides the costume that is similar? Yup - the child is obsessed with lollipops - not that she gets them very often. She wouldn't even take this one out for the photo.)

The school party was a lot of fun. They had all kinds of stations and activities. Face painting, photo booth, popcorn, cookie decorating, and a pinata. Natalia espically liked the cooking decorating and the pinata.

She is such a careful decorator

And such a delicate and proper eater.

No way she is my kid...I don't know anyone who would attack a cookie like that.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Dreams

I love trying to see the world with Natalia's eyes. Through her I get to re-experience snippets of my own childhood, relive the wonder and excitement of learning something cool every day. I get to let my imagination run wild.

One of my new favorite memories occurred a couple days ago in the shower. I was just getting ready to squeegee the glass door (we don't want the glass door to be etched with soap scum now do we) when Natalia looked up, with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes and yelled, "Look Mommy...look at all those dreams."

"Do you mean drops?"

"No, they're DREAMS!"

She really can believe things very forcefully. Don't even try to tell her differently, if she things water drops are called dreams, THEY ARE DREAMS. Sometimes I try and gently correct her. Other times, it is nice to think of things her way. In this case I chose her way. How beautiful to think of all the droplets of water on the shower door as dreams.

So we left them on the door. One day of dreams doesn't a ruined shower door make.

Happy Halloween PJ's

Aunt Sarah is the best!!!! She is always sending the CUTEST cloths. I never have to worry about Natalia missing out on the latest holiday because right around the time I start thinking about buying her something a shoebox of surprises arrives in the mail.

This time it contained two sets of Halloween pj's and the cutest outfit ever. It has been a struggle to get the little one out of them ever since. The pj pants are the biggest hit because they glow in the dark. This once unknown phenomena now totally preoccupies Natalia - she'll walk right up to you, get real close to your pants, cup her hands around her eyes, and lean in. Why don't all pants glow in the dark? It is a questions I will have to answer for a while...