Playing at Grandma Gerry's

Natali loved playing outside on my mom's back patio. The first morning we were there, Natali ran to the glass slider and looked outside and said, "Snow?" She loved being outside in the sun. There is a citrus tree right on the edge of the patio that produces what looks like mini oranges. Natali would take her little bucket and pick them up off the ground and eventually started to pick them off the tree. They are edible (not very good) but edible. Natali tried to eat some. She would bite into them and then throw them on the ground. She kept doing this and pretty soon she had a red rash all around her mouth from the acid. She didn't seem to mind but we quickly put a stop to that. These are just a few snap shots of her in action.

Sunday Photos
We took a few pictures outside my mom's church building. Here's our little family followed by one of Natali with her Grandma!

Mission Beach & The Boardwalk
We finally made it to the beach this trip. We went with Grandpa and walked along the boardwalk for awhile. We tried to take Natali down by the water but she made it really apparent that she was not into the sand and especially not the waves rolling up. The pictures are kind of light but hopefully you get the idea.

POOL TIME!
We took Natali to the pool near my moms house. The kiddie pool wasn't heated and it was still a little too cold, but the big pool was heated and we made the best of it. She was a little nervous at first, but pretty soon she started splashing and she loved it. Here a few pictures in her Little Mermaid bathing suit and cover up.

San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park
Recently our family went back to San Diego for a visit. Natali and I flew out about a week and a half before Ben and then he joined us over his spring break. It was wonderful to warmth and sunshine. We were able to go the Zoo twice. Once with cousins and then when Ben came. We also went to the Wild Animal Park and rode the tram out around the animals. We thought Natali would think the tram was pretty cool, but it turned out to be a 30 min struggle. Here are some pictures of our outing.

Natali with cousins (Alli, Amber , & Courtney)

Natali & Dad on the TramNatali & Mom

Natali and Grandma Gerry (my mom)

Around the House

Yes, that is a sock on Natali's hand in the last photo. That has been her big thing lately. She will take any sock (hopefully clean) and wears it on her hand like a glove. When she is crying sometimes I will ask, "Do you want a sock?" Instantly the tears usually stop. Anything that works!

Story Time

I was in the other room and I could hear Natali in her room talking to herself (which isn't unusual). I peeked in to make sure she was being safe. She was sitting on the big rocking chair with her baby doll "reading" her a book. I got my camera and tried to capture the moment, but once I entered the room and got one shot it was all over. She loves her baby doll, and lately loves sitting in the big rocker rocking her doll. Should I be at all worried that when she is done she tosses the baby across the room?

POOH BEAR CAR

Natali got a riding car over Christmas. She loves it. Her most favorite thing to do is lift up the seat and then either stand inside of it, or sit down on the car with the seat up. We love it if it keeps her happy!

Grandma Fluhman
On Christmas day we went up and visited Natali's Great Grandma Fluhman. Grandma has lots of knick knacks in the house that Natali loved. Her favorite was this snow globe that blew the snow around and had an optical tree inside. It entertained her for quite awhile. We took a picture to document four generations of Fluhmans Great Grandma, Grandpa, Dad, and Natali.

Christmas in Bountiful
Christmas morning was a lot of fun in Bountiful. We got up around 8am and went downstairs. The Lindsey and Wright families came over and joined us in the morning, and the rest of the cousins came in the afternoon. Natali loved having so many cousins to play with. Her are a few photos of her with them & the Christmas tree.

Natali & Mary

Natali & Mom

Natali & Oliver (with Jack in the background)

Christmas in Iowa
Since we were not going to be at our house on Christmas we decided to have a mock Christmas at home on the 23rd. We got up and opened gifts and had our own Christmas morning with Natali. With help from a friend I made Natali some Christmas fleece pj bottoms, a tradition I would like to start. But, I guess I should learn how to sew first. They were a little on the big side but Natali wore them all the same. She had fun playing with her mega blocks and doodler that we got her. Natali does great with the fire place. We don't usually have it lit while she is awake, but she will walk up to it and go, "hot hot!" And, you might be able to tell on our little Christmas tree that the bottom foot of the tree has no decorations on it. The decorations start right were Natali's little hand could not reach. One of Natali's favorite things to do with the blocks is to have Ben build a tower and then she comes over and destroys it.

Pre Christmas

As Christmas approached we got a few packages in the mail. We got permission and opened some of our gifts early. Natali loved it and it got her primed and ready for the big day. She had lots of fun tearing off the paper and playing with the ribbons and bows. I added a picture of her in her Christmas dress which she wore early since we would be flying on Christmas Eve Sunday.

New Game!

Natali has recently discovered that she can move her rocking chair anywhere she wants to. Then she likes to climb up and stand on it. I know it's not the safest thing in the world but she stays very entertained by it. Usually I am in the kitchen so I can see her in her room doing this. So I will say, "Natali sit down." And she will, but then when I am not looking again she stands up until I tell her to sit down. This will go on for at least a half an hour. Or until Dad gets home because then he puts the rocker up on the table where she can't reach it to stand on. And I added a back of the head shot to show that she still has her curls. They sure make doing her hair easy for me.

Coloring
Awhile ago Natali got a coloring book and some markers. She was more interested then on just sucking on the tip of the markers and tearing the pages in the book. About a week ago I thought I would get it out and try it again and see how she responded. She liked it! We are still working on coloring technique (as you can see from one of the pictures). But it's fun to watch her get excited (although in the last picture she looks very somber) and try coloring!