Halloween Was a Blast

Today was fun. We swam. Had lunch with Ryan. Went to The Springs to see all my old work buddies and then ran home for a long nap. I didn't intend to wear a costume, but last minute I realized I had a beautiful Yukata to wear. It was a little long so I took advantage of Nattie's nap and hemmed it, pressed it, grabbed Ryan's traditional garb and we set out to trick or treat with Zola. So fun!

Hood River with the Bare's

Thanks to Beth and her crazy awesome love for running, we all met up for our second annual trip to HR for her half marathon. 

The kids all had a blast together and Nattie grabbed her first pumpkin. 

Here are some highlights.

Fall Fun

Natalie is eating everything. Leaves, crumbs that the chihuahua's missed, lint, you name it...it all goes in her mouth. Nat is sporting three new teeth on the top. Forget trying to take a look. There is no way we get a snag a peek at them. She is very tight lipped about the whole situation.

She also enjoys most foods still. Although if given a preference, she enjoys her bread and sweet fruits. I know I have not been quite as good about posting, but that is all her fault. She is moving all around, taking fewer and shorter naps and blogging is on the back burner.

Here are a few pics we snapped outside today.

Gotta love the cheezy grins

"If I don't look, Mom might go away"

"stupid hat"

"Hey there!"

Mom's favorite

Wave and say Hello

We have been working on waving. For weeks at story time at the library, we sing "we wave and say hello, we wave and say hello, we wave our hands to all our friends, we wave and say hello." She loves it. 

This weekend, although unsure if it was real, we saw her wave. It's a roll of her wrist, but at the right moment. 

I'm sure I'll get a photo today!

Oh! And she has been babbling Dada. All around the house!

Blessed Hood River

70 degrees. Beautiful sunshine. Cool evenings. Fun Harvest Fest. Hood River was fantastic this weekend. 

Pumpkin painting at the harvest fest

Dads and girls kind of morning

Headed to the community pool

The pool poops this kiddo out!

Hello shadow! 

Weird panorama shot of the commune

Here Kitty Kitty Kitty

Just to silly to pass up

Baby Led Weaning

This weekend I was enlighted a bit about Baby Led Weaning. Immediately I thought after hearing it from another mother, that her baby was weaning itself from breastfeeding. Nope. I had to pretend I knew what she was talking about and nod and say, "uh, huh." Aparently Baby Led Weaning is when the baby no longer wants that mushed up food and wants to feed themself. Whew!!! That explains Natalie. 

Natalie has decided many meals in a row that she prefers what we are eating and will do it herself. She will open up for a yummy spoon full of homemade apple sauce, but not mashed veggies!

Now I am having to be even more creative. You shouldn't give babies food that have added sugar or salt. A little more difficult, so I guess we may be eating as a family a little more bland foods. 

Off to the market I go! Gotta plan for more appropriate Nattie meals. 

Thanks for checking in,

Kate

Wrecking ball

Here is the wrecking ball at her best.

And sleeping beauty...

All the nooks and crannie's

I thought our house was fairly clean. That was untill Miss Natalie started busting a move. Crawling here and there, she has managed to point out not only the few areas of concern for her safety, but the dingy -dirty-yucky-forgotten areas. She has enjoyed her recent take over of the former dining room. The windows go down to the floor and the drapes are a hoot! 

Yesterday she was checking out the yard through the glass and licking the window. If you have had an older home, you may have enjoyed the luxury of storm windows with metal frames. They ever so nicely collect pools of water at the seams. Those damp seams become mildew. For nearly 7 years, we have been plannign to get rid of the windows so why would I scrub them? Oh, well, if I knew it would take us this long, I would have done so a long time ago. However, Natalie has pushed me over the ledge and I am now on hands and knees scrubbing, scraping, wiping and drying as fast as I can as she creeps behind me putting imaginary things in her mouth. Seriously?! This kiddo grabs lint (as all babies do I'm sure) and hair that I can't even see and puts them in her mouth constantly. 

She loves to pull my hair and eat it. Natalie goes for the short hairs by my ear, rips a sticky finger full of them and eats them. Silly baby!

On a different note, yet still along the lines of messy, she has been enjoying her food. She loves carbs, as does her mom and dad, and she loves to feed herself finger foods. She is not as excited to let us feed her unless it is homemade honey crisp applesauce. She is a little spoiled. I usually have to dish her up 2 times the amount that she will eat because it is sure to end up in Ryan's or my mouth too! It is yummy. Last time in Hood River, the apple orchards were just being picked. We were a little too early for apples so next trip, we will grab a case to do some serious applesauce. So far, I have been making it weekly. Not as efficient, but that is all the time Natalie will allow for too. She is a needy baby.

Teeth update: currently she has her cute two bottom teeth. She is also cutting three or four on the top. One is through, two are trying as of yesterday. It isn't often I get to take a peek. She is pretty tight lipped about it. I grabbed a pic while she was sleeping on my lap. Kind of gross looking, but I don't date put my find her in there to feel. She will chomp down with those razors on the bottom. 

Coffee Fest in Seattle

Lots of coffee classes, oodles of vendors and NO coffee to drink. Really?? Yes! We both needed coffee and there wasn't any. Kind of funny. We learned lots about the trade and are digesting it thoroughly. 

Thanks to G-ma Starnes, Nattie had a fun time checking out the city and strolling around the expo center.