Ready set crawl!!!!

So we were in Walmart the other day shopping and they had like a baby week going on this week. We saw that on Friday (today) there would be a crawling contest put on by Huggies and Walmart. I thought it would be a fun adventure to do this, so today we went. :) There were only 3 contestants including Natali. I'm pretty sure the other 2 girls were 9 months old. What was funny is one of the other girls had almost the same outfit on as Natali - same pants, different shirt. It is a really cute set from Carter's. The other mom and I agreed it is one of our favorites. So each contestant go a sticker for the front on their shirt and a number sticker for the back. (I just had no idea what to expect - so cute! )

Then they all got lined up and the lady said "go"! It was pretty funny - we were all cheering on these 3 babies trying to get them to crawl like maybe 10 feet? Some of the Walmart employees came to watch too. Well, Natali stayed put and looked around at everyone like What is going on here?. The one girl took off and she finished really quick before Natali ever even moved. :) But we cheered the other 2 on, and let them both finish. Natali was second! We didn't get anything for participating but the winner got a $25 gift certificate. Oh well. We tried and had some fun and a story to tell about.

Afterwards, we let the 2 girls play for just a minute and sat them next to each other to try to get a picture of them. The other little girl whose name I just can't remember. It was the name of a famouse person- a unique one -Ahhh!!!...... Well, here are the 2 girls. The other girl took Natali's sticker off her shirt. :)

Natali and her self found "toys"

She loves to play with any kind of shoes.

I looked away for a minute one day and turned back around and found Natali playing with the dog brush and nail clippers! She is a fast mover let me tell you!

Yes, she is playing with a dish detergent jug. :) It makes a great drum!

So a baby not wanting to play with store bought toys is kind of like my cats. They don't like to play with the little toy mice and balls you get from the store. They would rather a wadded up piece of paper, a hair scrunchie, or a shoe string! Natali would rather go around the house looking for things to play with than play with the MANY baby toys she could choose. Oh well.

New toy

So Natali got a new toy for Christmas from my grandma and grandpa - this Fisher Price table thing. It is really neat. I decided to get it out I think last week. Here are the happenings as described in the following photos:

Then I actually got the toy out. :) As I have heard - sometimes the boxes are the best toys!

She figured it out

This is Natali playing in her Exersaucer. She loves to play with the apple. Enjoy!

9 month checkup and standing

I am behind on blogging. Josh took Natali to her 9 month check up on Tuesday because I was working. No shots this time, just a good look over and a thumbs up from the doctor.

Stats:

19 lbs 3 oz

28 1/4 inches long

18 inches head circ.

The doctor said Natali looked good. She said we can feed Natali any solid food that "you can squish between 2 fingers". We have given Natali a little bit of bread, ice cream, peas, peaches, and Cherrios. She was funny with the Cherrios - I guess she wasn't quite sure what to do with them. The doctor also said Natali may be behind developmentally since she wasn't standing or pulling up. But she is jumping in the jumper, babbling, and crawling well. So Josh decided to try Natali at standing when they got back from the doctor. Natali can stand while holding onto something! We just hadn't really tried yet I guess. She has since pulled up to standing but with a little bit of help. Here is the proof.

The "O" face

Natali has a new face - we don't really know what started it, but she does it all the time now. (I wonder if it has anything to do with us telling her "no" a lot now since she crawls around and tries to get into things she shouldn't) She just looks at you and does it. Sometimes she actually makes the noise of "o" and other times she just makes the face. Anyways - it is the funniest thing ever! Here are a few pictures of this hilarious newfound face.

(by the way, this purple outfit/long john thing was only $1 at Goodwill!!)

Bye-bye

So Natali waved bye bye today! At least I'm pretty sure she meant it. Josh was leaving to go to work today and Natali and I went outside like we always do to say "bye" to daddy. Josh was in his truck and I said "bye bye daddy" and waved, then Natali put her arm out and moved it up and down! As Josh was pulling out of the driveway, I said "bye bye" again and she did the same thing - arm up and out and moved it up and down. This is very cool, now we just have to teach her how to do it with just her hand. :) Fun fun. It is the small things in life that make you happy sometimes.

Natali's "pig face"

Yes, she loves to do this face when she gets excited about something. I don't know what got her started on it though.

Natali is so good at crawling now! She is so cute - when Josh or I come home, she crawls over to us! She also has learned how to go to sitting from laying down. I came in to her after she woke up from a nap one day, and she was sitting up in her crib. :) She really doesn't show much interest still in pulling up or standing. We are okay with this.

Natali also has learned how to turn pages in a book. Mostly she tries to close the book, but if you give her a page, she will turn in right away. Also, Natali is mimiking (sp?) us and others when we cough, make a little screaming noise "Ahh!", and the pig face. It is really fun with her now - she also is getting worse about us changing her - she keeps wanting to turn over. Eventually you can get the job done though.

We are all doing well. Enjoying the fireplace as I write. Natali is sleeping and it's bedtime.

"snow"

So we don't really get snow here in Texas like snow is in other parts of the US, but we did get some white stuff on Friday. It snowed for about an hour and a half I guess and of course none stuck to the ground. Natali was sleeping when it started but she woke up before it was over. So I HAD to take her outside in it. :) We got this really thick cover-up thing from Christian and Jenny so this was the perfect time to use it. I laid it on the floor, put her in it, then zipped it up. Her arms were straight out and she wouldn't move! She started to laugh and still didn't move for a couple minutes. It was so funny! I guess it was stiff feeling to her or something but I had to capture this moment.

Then we went outside and I think she noticed the snow. I went inside and got her chair and put Natali in it outside. The snow would fall on her eyelashes and she would blink and kind of jump. :) Here are a couple pics of Natali in the "snow". Actually you really can't see the snow at all but it really was cold and there really was snow! And I finally got a picture of her front teeth, so you will notice that in one of the pics. It is hard to see though. Oh well.

Fun pics

This is one of my favorite outfits. :)
This is a commonly seen Natali. Crawlin, crawlin, crawlin.

The new Natali

Jumping

Announcement

No, we are not pregnant. :) But yes, little Natali crawled a little this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She moved both hands forward with the knees and then did it again. I know it's now much, but it is a start!! She looked so cute doing it. I may not be saying that when I can't catch her, but it is cute for now. Horray for Natali! Also, I think maybe she is working on a top tooth, but it is so hard to tell until the teeth are peeking through the gums. I thought maybe I saw a little bit of white under the gums last night. So, we will keep you updated on the teeth. Happy weekend to everyone!

A little back tracking..

Here is Natali in her dress for the Sunday before Christmas.

More Christmas

Now it was time to have Christmas with my family.
Natali was worn out from all the excitment and fell asleep in Grandpa's arms.
Uncle Michael
Natali got this jumper thing from my mom and dad. She loves it - she goes to town jumping. We love to watch her!