Choo Choo; Mt. Hood Railroad

It has been my plan all along to wait patiently to ride the Mt. Hood Railroad once we had a child. Ha! Okay, not all true. But it was worth the wait. Grandpa Jim is a little bit of a train nut so we shared Natalie's first train ride with Grandpa. He thought it was great. She didn't have to ride in a car seat and she was the center of attention...again. Shocking!

It was a few hour ride, with one hour of a stop in Parkdale. Luckily we found a great little brewery in Parkdale. Natalie slept for 3/4 of the train ride. Right up until the trains whistle blew as we were taking pictures right in front of the engine. I have a feeling that guy gets a kick out of blowing the horn to scare old folks and little kids alike.

We are spending the week up in Hood River with the family. Lots of road riding, kiting and food consuming. The best of what's to do in Hood River.

Natalie is sleeping quite well here at the house. She really likes her blanket that cousin Christy Reaney made her. We are using it as a sheet and she likes the minky softness. :)

Car Seats, Carrots & Crayons

Car seats. Why was it that while prego I only focused on newborn junk? What about when she grows? Nahhhh. She will be little forever. Nope. Wrong! She is already growing out of her newborn car seat. 

So we bit the bullet a little soon, and upgraded to a convertible seat. She can use it for many more years. 

She likes it. Check out those cheeks!

Carrots. She loves them. She even loves them in her eyebrows. Doesn't she look like the Lorax? 

Baby food pics are gross. Sorry.

Crayons. Bath time immediately follows this chaos called eating. I let her really get into it! Food doesn't spend long on the floor due to two chihuahuas ready to slurp up any and all that is dropped. However, Miss Natalie has it caked in her ears, nose and throat, oh, I guess that's the idea. After a nice soak in the tub, it's lotion time. We are a little hippy, so she is slathered in coconut oil from head to toe. Why is this titled crayons? For some reason, she smells like a crayon an hour later. :) So funny!

Pictures tell our story today

Warning: baby pics with messy food all over her face. I dislike sharing these, but its a must.

I'm a little slow on the blogging. I was diagnosed with trigger thumb today. All due to thumb typing on my iPhone. I am going to see an OT for a custom functional brace. Functional with a 6mo old?! We shall see. I will be typing a little less for a bit. I will shower you with photos instead with captions! Also, she had her first food this week...avocado. She enjoyed the messy goodness. It was hard on Ryan to let her get into it at first. The gagging when she would swallow it was funny. 

Still loving the feet!

Goofy kiddo!

Bubble blowing...chatting...tooting...BABIES!

This is how we make dinner. No, that's not my tummy hanging over the strap. Darn balloony shirt.

Showing off by pretending to like the van ride for Great Grandma.

Reading is improving. Whew. Thought she'd be like me. 

Grandma and Great Aunt Bonnie did this sweet number on her. :)

This is her first selfie shot

Found her tongue today

It's rough stuff being a baby

Bob's Red Mill and More

Today we had a great trip to Bob's Red Mill. Natalie was the highlight of the store. I had oodles of strangers saying hi and she was putting on her mega happy face for everyone to see. 

We met up with RiKa and Mateo. Mateo was very entertaining to her also. I think she has his energy, but not his loud voice yet. 

We made out with some yummy treats. I've already made Ryan some granola and I'm ready to start some bread. I love that place!

We are very excited for RiKa, Travis and Mateo. They are expecting a little girl to join their family in Mid December. Mateo has been praying hard for a baby sister.

I have to add a couple other pics of the day. Enjoy & thanks for reading!

More Backyard Picture Fun

Such a big girl sitting in the grass

She is nearly sitting up without help. Occasionally she falls over, but today she has more 

neck control when falling. It is more of a gentle thump. 

We hit the yard in a custom handwoven basket. 

When she started eating the basket, I had to call it quits. :)

If GiGi would just stay still...

Lilo tolerates her kindly

 I'm just not sure if Black and White is cuter or Color???

Hi Everyone!