FFF: Then ... and Now :)

This week's Favorite Foto Friday theme is Then ...

and I took the liberty of adding the Now part.

The top photos were taken ... then ... last March.

And these were taken this month ... now.

Amazing how much she's changed.

But the ridiculous amount of pink in her wardrobe,

that has stayed the same :)

Sleeping Beauty

After a visit to the doctor's office - I've been assured that it's viral and the rash will go away (big help that was) - and a strawberry milkshake - 'cause that's what my mommy did to make me feel better when I was a sick little one - and this is what Natalie has been doing for the past FOUR hours!

Doesn't she look so sweet and peaceful? I hope she wakes up the same way, and I hope she sleeps tonight ... something tells me it may be another late one! But I just can't bear to wake her ...

... of course, that didn't stop me from taking photos of her while she's sleeping ... but I did turn off the "beep" function.

Fever, Grouchies, & a Late Night Party

Poor little NHV started running a high fever just before naptime on Monday; at least that's when daddy noticed :) No other symptoms, just a high fever. So we dosed her with "fever reducer," made sure she drank plenty of fluids, and did lots and lots of cuddling.

This is my sweet NHV on Tuesday evening. Running a fever of about 104 and feeling pretty miserable. We stripped her down to her diaper, armed her with binky, kitty, and blanky, and left it up to Elmo to entertain/soothe her for a few minutes while we ate a meager dinner. If you flashback to about 15 minutes earlier, it was a big cuddle-fest, and my little darling only wanted her mommy. I was happy to provide some comfort and wished I could be sick instead of her :(

This is my not-so-sweet NHV on Wednesday afternoon. The fever was down to about 100, but the grouchies were at an all-time-high! No exaggeration, she had at least four code "red" meltdowns between waking up and going back down for a nap. It was a very trying day, and my patience was spread pretty thin. The insatiable need to cuddle was interrupted with fits of tears, writhing on the floor, and the likes. And then we'd cuddle again, and the cycle continued; now that I think about it, it was like spending the day with a miniature Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! This photo totally captures her sour mood. Once again, she's sitting in front of the TV watching Elmo because that's the only thing that was making her happy. And I was all about the "happy" ...

Speaking of happy, this is Natalie at 10:23 pm tonight ... check the clock :) Yes, she was awake. And, much more importantly, she was her usual happy, energetic, silly self. Such a relief! So why was she awake at that crazy hour? We did our usual bedtime routine, and NHV was in her crib by 8:30. Hubby and I raced for the couch to watch an episode of Friday Night Lights, Season 1 on Netflix. Seriously, peeps, it's an addiction. We just can't stop. We've been watching an average of 2 episodes per evening for the past 5 nights! But I digress ... and I'll save that for another post. Through the monitor, I could hear Natalie in her crib chatting, singing, just hanging out ... content but obviously not tired. I went up three times to "remind her" it was bedtime and even rocked her again. But just as the Panthers were taking the field, I could just tell it wasn't going to happen; she wasn't going to fall asleep. So went back up. Found her standing in her crib. Greeted by a huge smile and an enthusiastic, "Up!" I was completely bamboozled (not sure if that's the right word, but I like it) and brought her back downstairs to catch the final minutes of the show. She sat quietly and read books. For the next hour and a half, we stacked blocks, sang songs, colored pictures, and read books ... and enjoyed each other's company. Daddy didn't hang out with us the entire time - he does have to get up early to bring home the bacon, but he read a few stories and I snapped a few shots ... precious :)

I especially like this shot of CPV yawning as he reads!

Favorite Foto Friday

I've been a fan of FFF since I stumbled upon Life in the Woods. The photos she posts of her little guy - about the same age as NHV - just make me smile :) Anyway, I found my way to the FFF through her blog, and I've been perusing some of the FFF links for several months now, but I've yet to jump on board with this weekly challenge. But, hey, it's Fun, it involves Fotos, which I have bazillions of, and what else do I have to do on a Friday?

As the report card procrastination continues, I decided this would be the week, and guess what, there wasn't really a theme this week. Just pick a favorite photo from February, and maybe post it in black and white. Well, I upped the challenge for myself. I took a photo - from February - that I wasn't especially crazy about and used Picasa to crop and tune it until it was one of my favorites :) From the moment I snapped it, I loved Natalie's expression in this photo, but it was taken from a distance and had a lot of background (white walls, toys, shelves) to take away from her cute little face.

I really love that it was a totally random shot of her playing - so contentedly - outside her bedroom. And that drool-covered chin is evidence of the four bottom teeth she is trying desperately to break through ... poor thing ... my poor, happy, smiling-through-the pain little lovebug!

Animals on Parade

The craftiness continues here in the NW. Obviously inspired by my own craft success, CPV bought a book about making wooden toys and set out to make this adorable set of wooden animals. There's a Hippo, Giraffe, Bear, Elephant, Lion, and Camel; NHV can name them all. Each painted a different color, my contribution to the project - Natalie can name all those, too. Each with wooden wheels and tiny hooks, so they can be pushed or pulled individually or connected in a little parade. My favorite is the Elephant. But, honestly, I love them all because they were made with love :)

P.S. Yes, I know these would make wonderful gifts, but I can't make any promises; CPV is very talented but not exactly speedy :)

Elmo will have to wait!

As I hurried down the hall to relieve my much neglected bladder, NHV chanted, "Elmo? Elmo? Elmo?" Notice the punctuation. This was not a chant of glee; it was a repeated question. NHV wanted to watch Elmo on YouTube, a recent addition to our nightly entertainment regime. The realization that I was heading to the powder room and not for the laptop, caused some aggravation and invigorated repetition.

To her frustrated request, I replied, "Honey, mommy has to go potty, and when mommy has to go potty, Elmo will have to wait."

Definitely words I never thought I'd utter :)


Anyway, here are two of our favorite Elmo YouTube videos.

Elmo's Potty Time


Andrea Bocelli's sings Elmo to sleep

What's in your diaper bag?

I was in the mood to organize today. That's really not unusual. I like to organize. I especially like to organize as a productive way to procrastinate, and well, it's report card time again, so ... I emptied the contents of Natalie's diaper bag, and this is what I found:

1. 3 NutriGrain bars, one of each flavor (strawberry, apple/cinnamon, and blueberry) - I buy these things at Costco, in the variety pack, obviously. It's fruit. It's grain. It's somewhat nutritious when compared to say ... a Snickers bar. One problem: they are no longer bars; I think I just invented NutriGrain crumbles :)
2. 2 diapers, also from Costco ... what can I say, we are a buy-in-bulk kind-of-family!
3. 1/2 of a package of wipes without a lid, which explains why they are "conveniently" engulfed in a gallon size ziploc baggie.
4. Another baggie - this one sandwich size - with folded sheets of paper and 4 chunky, triangular crayons. This is NHV's latest form of restaurant distraction/entertainment, and I am loving it ... except I desperately need a super cute, super clever crayon roll, like this one.
5. Beneath the crayon baggie is a little book that NHV adores. It's a Mary Engelbreit called, What Kids Do. I find the illustrations precious; Natalie finds them hilarious ... go figure!
6. A Bumpkin bib - the purple garden design - and it smells a little funky. Probably time to toss it in the laundry ... ewww, gross!
7. A tiny container of band-aids and some kind of ointment. Feeling-oh-so-prepared for just about any emergency.
8. A tube-thingy of spray anti-biotic hand sanitizer.
9. Plastic keys and a tiny hot pink bracelets - things no grown woman should ever leave the house without ...
10. A sippy cup leash - to keep the sippy cup from running away. Beside the leash laws here in the NW are really strict :)
11. In case of a rare meltdown, a Soothie, stored ever-so-germ-free (yeah, right) in a take-and-toss container.
12. And just as I am walking out the door, I throw in my cell phone, wallet, and keys!

Now, my loyal blog reading audience, what's in your diaper bag?