Amazing make-over

Can you believe we got to this...

From this...?
(Click on the pic to enlarge to see the details, not-so-computer literate fam)

Letting Natalie feed herself has been fun...and messy! Confession: being the neat-freak that I am, I would keep a wash cloth near by to wipe Natalie's hands periodically throughout the meal to avoid getting too messy. I finally decided I needed to just let her have fun, explore, get messy, and simply be a kid (this extends to the outdoor realm as well). God is stretching me so much in the obsessive, clean freak, germ-a-phobe, perfection nature of my heart. It is good to trust Him with safety, health, stains, my perceived perception of what others think of my not-so-tidy house, nutrition, parenting, salvation, provisions...everything! Jesus was born in a mucky, grimy stall with animals all around (oh, what a brave mother you were, Mary!) and He was perfect. : ) I pray that each time Natalie has dirty feet or hands I would be reminded of Jesus' example when He washed the feet of the disciples and I would be a loving servant to her, Dusty, and others.

Lunch at the Flower Garden

On Sunday, we rode our bikes to church and decided to pack a picnic lunch to eat at the CSU flower garden afterward. I've missed riding my bike so much. I had to quit riding in the middle of my pregnancy (per the doctor for safety reasons), then it was winter when I finally wasn't pregnant anymore, and then Spring finally came but I had to wait until Natalie could support herself well to safely ride in the bike trailer. So finally we have been able to ride a couple of times and Fall is a wonderful time to do it. I love riding over the leafy paths and I feel like I'm in a Fall snow--rather leaf--globe as the leaves fall around me. Natalie seems to enjoy the ride and babbles along the way. This is how she usually arrives home after church (picture taken from a different Sunday bike ride).

Mmm, mmm good!

I want to put her on a Campbell's Soup label!

Happy First Day of Fall!

I love the Fall! The weather here has been glorious! A perfect mixture of cool breeze with warm sun. We have been frequenting the playground daily. We can set Natalie down anywhere and she loves to feel, shake, bang, and discover.

Video:

She loves to find little rocks and whatnot in crevices,

and longs to climb like the big kids,

and of course freak her mama out by putting her mouth on stuff (we are working on this though!--both Natalie not putting her mouth on things and Mama not getting so freaked out)

Some days we just like to hang out in the backyard. Natalie especially loves the wood chips and rocks.

Or just playing with a fallen Cottonwood branch. : )

We hope you have a wonderful Fall day! It's one of the best times to visit Colorado so come see us!

We have a 9 mo. old!

I can't believe that Natalie is only three months from being a one year old! She is getting so big! She is quick on all fours and has access to everything now. Most of the house is baby-proofed but she is very good at finding places and things that are off limits to her anyway.

Once she could get around, it didn't take long for her to attack stair climbing. She gets better and better at it every day. We call her Evel Knievel because she is such a dare devil--always trying new, exciting, and dangerous feats.

Video:

She still loves to be on her feet way better than on her knees. We bought her the Toddler Wobbler push cart today to help her practice taking steps on her own in the open. Will she be walking by Halloween? We'll see. She is working on balance and coordination. Dusty says that it is difficult because she has a small foundation (small feet) and is top heavy (big head). Haha! : )

Videos:

The last couple of weeks have been interesting. You know that song, "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth?" I've been thinking about that song a lot! Definitely by Christmas, but pleeease before Halloween! There were days when Natalie was completely out of sorts and unlike herself and the only thing we can say is "She's teething, right?" At least we hope that it's teething and we will get our sweet girl back again one day when it's all over. Teething tablets and gnawing on large frozen carrots and teethers seem to help sometimes.


Her gums are definitely swollen and you can see the teeth beneath them, but the teeth are refusing to pop up yet. There were many nights that Dusty and I were going in to help her get back to sleep multiple times. Thankfully she has been better and is sleeping through the night again--as are we! Yay!

That's most of the news here: the saber toothless tiger and Evel Knievel.

Dusty is busy working hard for us at Ayres and has started teaching Bible Doctrine on Tuesday nights again. Moms 4 Moms has started up for Natalie and I on Tuesday mornings. I'm also taking Dusty's class but I get private study lessons at home from the Bible Doctrine teacher. : ) I meet monthly with the moms that were in my aqua natal swim class during my pregnancy. It has been so fun to watch all the babes grow up. I'm hosting this month's get-together tomorrow night. We are not leading a small group this year so that Dusty can focus entirely on his class. Now you are caught up. ; )

Pics from the last month

Land ho! Pamy and Steve left their sailboat to visit the Fort in August. Pamy's helping Natalie get excited about squash.

What a look!

Relaxing in Buena Vista

Hanging out with Grandma and Howdy Doody

Going to church

Groovy Natalie! According to Marney, the 70's are very in : )

Leopard print boots from Auntie (Marney)

Eloise and Naomi with their parents Willie and Melody came to stay with us in early September. Natalie loved watching what the "big girls" were doing.

I love her expression here!

Natalie likes to feed herself

Peas facial

Still loves her Johnny Jumper

Side Steppin'

Natalie is making laps around the crib, along the coffee table, and anywhere else you put her. She is getting braver, too, about lunging free-handed for the next available object to hold on to. It seems like walking "Look, Mama, no hands!" style will be here soon.

Natty's Top Five Fav Reads

This was given to me in 1988 from my Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Dick!

P.S. Okay, you blogger Moms. You might have noticed that I had to take pics of all the books because I haven't figured out how to load links of pics off the internet. If any of you geniuses want to email me step by step instructions that would be great. Otherwise, you'll have to bear with my archaic ways.