Never too Young

Today when Natali awoke and asked what we were doing today I was prepared with an answer, CLEANING. And to my surprise she was not only okay with this answer she was EXCITED. She helped me clean up after breakfast and then she was in charge of vacuuming her room and the front room. It was AWESOME!!! Isaac followed her around with is mini vacuum and they kept themselves busy/entertained for at least 30 min's. She was so proud of herself when she was done, and I wondered why I had never done this before!?!?!

"NASTICS"

Ever since watching the Olympics Natali has loved anything to do with the "nastic girls." She found her bathing suit in her drawer the other day and but it on, announcing she was a "nastic" girl. I went ahead and enrolled Natali in a Tumble Tots class at our local YMCA. This last Thursday was her first day of class. I waited till after dinner to tell her about it, and boy am I glad I did! I think that with in 20 minutes I was asked over 100 times when it was time to go to class. She insisted on wearing her bathing suit and that was fine with me. I think she really enjoyed it, and man did she look cute out there running around!

You Scream, I Scream...

(click to enlarge collage)

Last Saturday was one of those lovely Spring days we have been waiting for. Ben was home with us and we made a full day of it. We loaded up the kids and went to the Zoo, again. But this was a first with Dad joining us this year. After wards we stopped by Sonic and picked up .99 cent ice cream cones. Natali though she had died and gone to heaven! She thought she was such a big kid having her VERY OWN ice cream cone. Isaac on the other hand wasn't so sure and it took a lot of coaching and helping to get him to eat it. I was happy to help him!!!

Zoo Fun

For about a week the weather tricked us into to thinking that Spring was really here. We took full advantage by going on walks, spending afternoons at the park, and going to the Zoo. This day was one such day. We packed lunches, meet friends, and enjoyed a morning out in the sunny fresh air! We even got to bring a friend along, Zoe. She was a great sport taking all of Natali's questions and Natali trying to hold her hand.

Natali, Isaac, & Zoe

Natali getting ready to cross the "old wooden bridge" in the rain forest.

The kids watching the otters.

Natali enjoying some fish.

Our Natali

My how we love our little Natali. She is growing so fast and is so ready to become a big sister again. She is constantly talking about "baby Spencer Chase" and can't wait till he joins our family. I think she is a little more excited at the prospect of Grandma coming and getting her all to herself. Natali is a true three year old and has AWESOME days and AWESOMELY bad days. She is a girl who know what she wants when she wants it! And the volume of her voice is something we are still on a quest to control. Man the girl can be LOUD...she must of got it from her dad:) !!! Natali loves to change her clothes MULITPLE times a day (hello laundry), and adores anything dress up and princess. She thrives on knowing what we are doing that day. Each night she says as I tuck her in, "Mom, what are we doing after night time?" Apparenlty another inhertied trait from her father (just kidding), always wanting to be on the go & doing something. She loves to sing in the car and is currently entertaining us when she sings along to ABBA, Super Trooper, and does the mens part! It is GREAT!!! She adores going to preschool, and loves to say to her dad, "Look Dad, I'm going to school like you!." The other day we were doing a little touch up painting inside the house and Natali came up to Ben and expressed, "Dad, when I grow up I want to be like you...a painter!" We can only hope, right!? She reminds us who is boss on a daily bases and is still in love with her TV friends The Backyardigans. She gives great hugs and kisses and at times can be the biggest help with her little brother. I don't want to forget all these cute and precious stages. Everyone always says, "Enjoy it, they grow up so fast." In between the tantrums and freak outs, I promise I'm trying to! Love you Natali!

Don't Be Fooled

That sweet face can be deceiving. Oh how I love it, and the sweet snuggles and kisses that come with it, but there is another side that is emerging! That side that says "no, no" and swats his chubby little hand at you. The side that has discovered how to climb, and virtually nothing is safe in the house. The side that runs out the door and instead of standing by you on the porch, runs straight for street. The side that pushes his chair up to the computer desk and starts playing with the laptop. Today I came downstairs and found Isaac standing up to the laptop and some how he had opened the Pandora Radio link, and had some Nelly playing! (please don't let this be a sign of things to come) The second I go into the room he is in, he bolts for the next room where he can destroy as he pleases! Help...I truly have a little BOY...and another is coming! Hmmm, where can I buy one of the those kid approved leashes? :) Thankfully he still has that sweet little face that just melts my heart.

I Heart Craigslist

Thanks to Craigslist Saturday night I was heading to Ankeny at 9:15pm. Why? I hit the jack pot. With baby #3 on the way I decided that I needed a dresser to store more baby clothes in. Especially since Isaac's clothes are currently in a plastic multiple drawer bin. I have been stocking Craigslist, daily, hourly even...looking for a dresser that would work as a changing table too. Something along the lines of low, 6 drawers (that don't squeak), smoke free, in my budget, and not needing to much TLC (none at all would be ideal). The few that I have seen needed MUCH TLC, and by the time I responded to the ad they were already sold. Anyway...Saturday night at 7:45pm I saw it...exactly what I wanted! I responded to the ad, and the nice lady replied with in 10 minutes. The ad had been posted less than 30 min's and already she had had 8 emails, and 3 people had appointments to see it the next day. Well I knew with it being Sunday I wouldn't be able to get there until Monday, so I decided to see if that night worked (it was now like 8:45 ish). She said YES! I got the address and within 20 mintues picked up a late night driving buddy (hello I was not about to go by myself to some strangers house in Ankey alone at night) and was off. The lady was super nice, it was perfect! No TLC needed, and the drawers open and close oh so smooth! Her and her son loaded it into my car for me and by 9:45 pm I was the proud owner of a "new" dresser! A small part of me felt bad for the people who thought they had a chance of seeing it, but then the bigger part of me squealed in delight and glowed in pride. I hunted...I found it...and I got it! New dresser for $50, a place to start putting cleaned and ready baby clothes, a happy prego mommy/wife...equals priceless (even ask Ben)! Seriously though...how awesome is Craigslist...within two hours this lady posted, sold, and had her furniture picked up and out of her house. I HEART Craigslist!

Baby

Today was another of the many ultrasound appointments. Baby is big, 85%, but looking very healthy. Today we could see him doing his practice breathing (go baby go) and a lot of shaking and moving. I know the 3D picture looks creepy, but for journal purposes I wanted to include it. He kept his little mouth wide open the whole time. He looked like he was taking a nap and snoring away peacefully. I have another ultrasound in two weeks, and then the week after that we start the weekly BPP/NST testing. His little heart looks good, but then again we didn't see any problems with Isaac's until the very last ultrasound before he was yanked out. Out of curiosity I had my AMAZING nurse look up what Isaac's stats were around this time of pregnancy, and he was running a little bigger than this baby. So with fingers crossed (and lots of prayers) I am hoping this chunky monkey won't be quiet as chunky as his older brother (10.9). We have selected our name of choice for this baby, Spencer Chase. I love it! I have always adored the name Spencer, Chase is my maiden name, and Ben promised that I could use it with this little boy. Oh...today during the ultrasound the tech got a great shot of his hair! She said there was TONS! What color is it???? We'll have to see, just a few more weeks.

Science Center

This year I took the plunge and bought a Zoo and Science Center pass. It has come in real handy on those days where we need to get out of the house and release some energy. It's perfect. It's been a little cold for the Zoo so far, but we have made it out to the Science Center a few times already. We go in the morning for a few hours, pack and eat lunch there (why mess up my kitchen), and come home for nap time. Perfect!