I love this girl!

All day long I notice little toddler things that NHV does ... and it breaks my heart to know that these toddler days are fleeting.

the way she picks up her Little People.  I am fairly certain she is trying to set a world record for number of Little People in her hands-under-her-arm-tucked-under-her-chin-clumped-against-her-belly.  Guessing her motto is "Leave no Little People behind."

the way she has asked about a bazillion times, "Mommy, what's your favorite part of that dinosaur movie?"  Since watching Ice Age 3 with our friends Missy and Emmett, Natalie cannot stop talking about it ... and quizzing each of us (daddy, mommy, baby sister, and Louie) about our favorite parts.

the way she requests (ever-so-politely) to "be nakey for one minute" whenever she gets the chance

the way a sink full of water and soap bubbles can keep her busy for at least 20 minutes!  (She's standing at the kitchen sink right now helping me clean the play food.)

the way she asks so many darn questions, "What's she dooo-ing?"  What's that guy say-ing?"

the way she requests, "a saaa-nack, a geenk, and some TV," when she wakes up from her nap, and is thrilled when I suggest having a picnic

the way she sits with her legs forming a W beneath her ...

I love this little girl!

5 Days to 2

We took an impromptu (and one-night) camping trip last night. More details about that in another post. But I have to tell you that my sweet almost-2-year-old was fairly easy to entertain at the campsite. A container of Little People, a handful of books, and a baggie of crayons did the trick ... well, almost.

While we made dinner, Natalie decided she wanted - more than anything - to be in the back of the car. She was in there for at least 20 minutes. She sat in the cargo area and read books and then climbed into the backseat to chat with her baby doll (wish I had a photo of that). I kept checking with her to see if she wanted to get out ... you know, to play in the great outdoors.

Once she did decide to get out - just as I was about to take the first bite of my roasted hot dog. Within about 30 seconds, Chad and I were wishing she would go back in!

She did take advantage of the opportunity to play in the great outdoors ...

climbing on every unsafe surface she could find,

getting closer to the fire than the 15-foot radius we established,

falling off the picnic table bench, running around with sticks,

and putting rocks in her mouth ...

to which Chad proclaimed, "This child won't put a bite of fruit in her mouth, but rocks - sure, why not?"

Marveling

Today is one of those days in the NW when the reason(s) for living here are so very apparent. It is gorgeous. The sun was shining when we woke up, and it has continued to shine all day. Temperatures started out around 50 but climbed to around 80. The sky is an amazing shade of blue. The air is so fresh. And that's probably enough reason for me to be marveling. What has me really marveling is the learning that is taking place in Natalie's little brain on a daily (heck, hourly) basis. I just can't help but marvel at the observations she makes and her ability to communicate what she's thinking. Almost-two is a fun, fun age! (Someone remind me of this when the terrible twos set in.)

A few of Natalie's observations from today ...

• Natalie was hanging out with me in the bathroom as I got ready this morning. While blow-drying my hair, I could tell she was pointing at the handles on the drawers and saying something. I switch off the dryer to hear Natalie say, "White circle." Yep, the drawer pulls are, indeed, white circles.

• After grocery shopping this evening, the fetus was craving a Jamba Juice (RazzMaTaz is my current favorite), and who am I to argue. The Jamba girl poured my juice into an original size cup and then asked if I would like her to pour the extra into a kid's cup ... guess she thought I'd like to share with my offspring. Sure, why not :) As I handed Natalie her mini-cup, she said, "Little." Then she pointed to my cup and said, "Big." Sure enough!

• And, finally, Natalie counts to 14, which is fabulous in-and-of-itself (that's a weird expression btw). While at the park - after the grocery story and the Jamba Juice - three young girls were playing hide-and-seek. The one that was "it" stood nearest us, and Natalie noticed that she was counting. She said, "Girl counting."

Reasons to Smile

I can't just dump a bunch of complaints without thinking of and sharing a few reasons to smile.

1. While rocking Natalie tonight, she reached out and wrapped her little fingers around my index finger. Like she did as a tiny newborn. Such a sweet gesture.
2. My friend, Tammy, has decided to give this whole blogging thing a try ... again. I am really looking forward to reading her next post :)
3. I talked to my mom on the phone this morning. She told me about my family's Easter celebration, the latest with each of my nuggets, beginning plans for a visit to the NW this summer, ... She always makes me smile!