and the winner is...

So, this is how I spent my New Year's Eve...I cleaned out my baby's closet--reorganized her clothes, made a box of stuff for yard sale & one for give away (I know, it starts already!!), & rehung her clothes with the new hangers I bought that came by Fed-Ex today (I bought ones with the clippies for pants/skirts...hey, it's the little things in life!).
While I was in my cleaning mode (this would be impulse cleaning, Andrea...I originally just planned on rehanging the clothes), I found the guess sheets that many of you filled out at my family/friends baby shower. You know the ones...where you had to guess the date, weight, length, etc., of my baby. WHAT A HOOT! I've been looking through them and thought you might be interested to know who was close. Nobody, of course, got it all right, so I decided (since it's New Year's Eve and I have nothing better to do) that I'd piece them apart for you and tell you who got close with what...hope your name's there...good luck!!

Date of Arrival--December 9
Emily R. Brown
Bree Shaw

Time of Arrival--3:24 a.m.
Bree Shaw--3:33 a.m. (that's pretty close!!)
Tania March--3:21 a.m. (that's even closer!)

Weight--8 lb. 12 1/2 oz.
Karen Shirk (8 lb. 12 oz.)
Breanna Brummer (8 lb. 12 oz.)

Length--20 1/2 in.
Cathy Wiewel
Nicole Pantaleo
Twila Anderson
*all 3 of you were right on the money*

Gender--baby girl
**This looks like a lot but it's suprisingly few compared to the number that guessed.**
Vena Tallman
Martha Duley
Nancy Whitlow
Sara Aeschliman
Carla Tallman
Julie Cook
Beth Haley
Makayla Tallman
Brooke Tallman
Cathy Watt
Johnna Pantaleo
Erin Tallman
Emily Brown
Twila Anderson
Nicole Pantaleo
Andrea...who knew all along that it was a girl!

I'm not going to do hair and eyes because we had sooo many that were right...those are pretty general anyways. No one guessed she'd be named Natalee...probably because we didn't have a girl name picked out (I wasn't really expecting a little lady, but man do I love her!).

Good job, winners...your prize is a cyberhug from Miss Natalee!!

all your little parts...

Oh, Little Elle Girl...

how we love every little piece of you.

Your tiny, perfectly formed ears...

Mommy's button nose...

Daddy's oh so blue eyes...

Your sweet fingers...ready for the piano any day now...

All the way down to your tiny little tootsies!
Thank you for letting us snuggle you up, kiss you all over, and love you everyday!
You are all the best pieces of Daddy & Mommy...
we love looking at you knowing that God gave you to us!

little bear suit

I had to blog about this real quick because of Corin's comment on the stroller ride post. Corin, you mentioned how you like the hat with the ears...oh, it's soooo much cuter than that. It's a little bear snowsuit. It's great because it's not really heavy and thick like a lot of snowsuits...it's just the right weight and it's so snuggly and darling. Mike's Aunt Donna bought it for my baby shower and we have been using it quite a bit since it's been below 0! Just thought I'd share the cuteness...enjoy the pictures.PS I've seen these at Herberger's if you are looking for something similar...they are Carter's brand. Oh, and take note of the little paws on the feet!

first stroller ride!

We all needed some fresh air & to get up and out for awhile so we took a short stroller ride/walk this afternoon. It was windy but we bundled Natalee all up and snuggled her in...she didn't feel a thing & slept like an angel in the stroller! Thanks Papa Curtis & Grandma Cindy for the baby limo...it steers like a dream!

changing table transformation...

It's never good when Daddy goes to the nursery to change Natalee and I hear "uh, oh" float through the air, followed by something like, "ew, gross" and "she soaked through everything!"

So...it started like this...1 white onesie, 1 flowered shirt, and 1 pair of pink pants all covered:

Then it moved to the tub...because how do you get those shirts off without smearing poo in the hair?
And it ended with a clean, sweet-smelling little lady, who was all ready for a snack and a nap after all that work!Happy 3 weeks, little angel face! We love you even when you're stinky!

Grandma Betty update

My mistake...they transferred Betty to Boone hospital in Columbia, not University.
It's my understanding that they looked for the bleed today and it's not in the upper GI...they'll look in the lower tomorrow. They also looked at her foot/ankle, but decided that they aren't doing anything with it until the bleeding is found and controlled.

**in this and all further updates please excuse me if my *medical lingo* isn't exactly right...it always makes sense in my head!**

be in prayer...

Please be in prayer tonight & in the days following for Mike's Grandma Betty. She had been hospitalized recently for MRSA (staph infection) that she got because of a sore on her leg...she's been home a couple of weeks and started feeling poorly again. She's been bleeding and feeling very weak, so yesterday after the family Christmas get together her kids took her back to the hospital. She was directly admitted and found to have an upper GI bleed...she's currently on her 6th unit of blood...the praise is that when she was admitted her hemoglobin was at a 6...it's currently at 8.6 (we're aiming for 11)...so at least it's moving in a positive direction. However, while getting in the car to go to the hospital yesterday, she also fell on the ice and broke her foot/ankle in 2 places.

She was hospitalized last night & tonight in the ICU in Kirksville. Tomorrow morning the kids (her kids) are taking her on to Columbia to the University hospital where a GI doctor will see her as well as an ankle/foot doctor . This puts my mind very much at ease as the resources are just two-fold because of the connection to the University and the larger size.

Please pray for Betty's health, but also for her mental status as she works on dealing with these setbacks. Pray she is able to come home soon and be comfortable in her own home.

Betty & Miss Natalee

Four Generations...Mike~Natalee~Mike's dad, Phil~Betty

our best Christmas present!

Our Christmas Letter

I typed up a Christmas letter to send to relatives far away. I didn't send it to most of our friends and family who live close because I thought why would they want to read about what they already know? Then, Andrea gave me her Christmas card and the letter she'd typed of their 2008 adventures and I realized that even though I'd lived right beside her 'moments' I truly enjoyed reading it--it brought tears to my eyes to re-read the journey of their blessings through the year. So, for those of you who didn't get our letter, and who care...here it is.
Enjoy & thanks for living beside our moments as we've journeyed through them!

Hello Dear Friends and Family~

Well, I’m not really the Christmas newsletter type of gal, but we’ve had so many growths & changes to our lives this year, that I felt like I had to update everyone…God has been so good to us & our lives are expanding in leaps and bounds!

January dawned the beginning of a very long 4 months of student teaching for me. These were growing months for our marriage as we learned to live off of solely Mike’s income, humbly accept help from family, and truly put our trust in God with not only our finances but all aspects of life.

Then, three days before Mike’s 27^th birthday in April, when sanity was just beginning to set back in, I found out that I was expecting our first baby! I tried to hold in the news until his birthday, but that lasted all of 30 seconds!! Very exciting for us & the beginning of a brand new journey (& a lot of baby sickness that only 2% milk & Nesquik could cure)!

In May, I finished my Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a certification in K-6 Special Education. I was expecting a job with my home school at Schuyler, but some administrative changes & God’s hand prevented that from happening. After lots of prayer & tears, I interviewed at a neighboring district (Scotland County in Memphis, MO) & accepted a K-3 Special Education position. While I was interviewing, I learned that the school was also hiring a new Technology Coordinator. The superintendent asked me to have Mike call for an interview and very quickly it became clear to us that God had a plan for us all along. Mike accepted a job with the same school district & we began our new jobs in August. Now, we ride to work together everyday & get to see each other throughout the day! How blessed we are! We were also guided to a wonderful daycare provider—a woman who used to work with my mom at Headstart—& our little one will be a mere 3 blocks away when I start back to work.

When we found out we were going to be working in Memphis, the decision to move home was easy. We’ve wanted to be in Lancaster since we got married 3 years ago, and 4 moves & rentals later we were coming back! We began looking for houses to buy & started the looooong process of paperwork to get our very first homebuyer’s loan. We were blessed with a wonderful loan agent who held my hand every step of the way & we now own a sweet little house on what is often called the “old high school road” in Lancaster (many of you will know the house as the old Lena Hall house). We moved in the week after school started for us in August on a hot summer Saturday (thanks to a lot of family). The house has all of its beautiful original woodwork & we are loving being homeowners!

Fall seemed to go quickly for us as we worked to get settled in & get the nursery & house just right. On December 9^th God brought us our biggest blessing of the year yet—our sweet daughter, Natalee Cynthia. We are thankful for not only the company of my mom and sister, Andrea, in the delivery room, but also for God’s apparent presence. After a couple of setbacks that seemed bigger at the time than they do now, we welcomed Miss Natalee to our world at 3:24 a.m. She weighed in at 8 lbs., 12 ½ oz. and was 20 ½ in. in length. A mere 8 days later she was already up to 9 lbs., 9 oz. and she continues to grow and thrive. We love her more everyday and thank God for our Christmas Gift (Natalee means gift at Christmas).

Here’s hoping that you all have been blessed as we have this year. We’d love to hear from all of you, so keep in touch!

Christ’s Blessings to You All~
Mike, Jenn & Natalee Cynthia

Why God Made Little Girls

Okay, I know I'm a little post happy, but you have to amuse yourself with something while you're sitting in your chair holding a sickly baby (and you can only nap so much!). Anyways, I was looking for a little quote or something to put beside a picture Mike took of Natalee and I came across this poem. It's too sweet...I'm blogging about it so that when I get ready to scrapbook Natalee's first year I'll be able to find it.

God made the world with

towering trees,

majestic mountains,

and restless seas.

Then paused and said,

"It needs one more thing....

Someone to laugh and

dance and sing...

to walk in the woods

and gather flowers....

to commune with

nature in quiet hours."

So...God made little girls

with laughing eyes

and bouncing curls,

with joyful hearts,

and infectious smiles,

enchanting ways

and feminine wiles.

And when He'd completed

the task He'd begun,

He was pleased and proud

of the job He'd done.

For the world,

when seen through a little girl's eyes

greatly resembled Paradise.

Christmas at Grandma & Papa's

We had a great day at my folks' house on Christmas. Miss Natalee was a little fussy...I couldn't figure out why but come 1 o'clock in the morning my shirt and sheets would soon be the wiser. Anyhow, she did lots of sleeping and took a nice warm bath yesterday evening, which seemed to help her settle down.

She slept right through the present opening, but made out like a bandit despite that fact. Grandma Cindy got her her first ever baby doll, a right of passage that Grandma has had for both of her granddaughters now! Grandma always searches for a soft dolly that's easy for little ones to love. She also got some books that I love (touchy, feeling, smelly books) and Aunt Lorn Lorn's favorite book (& grandma's most hated!). Nannie, Vance, Emma & Colby got her the Little People's Little Mover's SUV (complete with fold-down backhatch for the baby's stroller) & Aunt Lorn Lorn found her the bestest lullaby CD...I love it! Natalee also got some of the cutest clothes!..her first hippy outfit from...who else?...Aunt Lorn Lorn & a darling dress & sweater from Nannie.
Everyone else had a great Christmas, too. Colby & Emma both got MP3 players, which Emma was very excited about and alarm clocks (that their players hook into), which Colby thought was awesome (funny boy), among many other gifts that they loved. I won't tell you all the highlights of their Christmas...I'll let their mom share those details over at A Box of Chocolates...

Emma's crazy excited face about her MP3 player from Grandma & Papa...Lauren put songs on it for her...I think she's getting all worked up about the song "Shook Me All Night Long." Oh, Emma!

Colby & Grandma winding down the evening with a good game of Old Maid. Grandma lost!

Mike got 'man tools' (shovel, rake & holder) so he doesn't have to borrow his dad's every whipstitch and a Pampered Chef man knife for the kitchen. I got a couple of seasons of Reba (YAY!), new shirts that are casually dressy and just right for work, a picture collage frame (for pics of my new favorite gal), and a gift certificate to get my hair done by my favorite hair stylist, Tiffany. We both also got a year's supply of beef & pork, which my folks have done for us for the last 2 or 3 years. It is such a blessing to us to know where our meat comes from...the beef is grown right on the farm and my folks have it butchered. We just take out of their freezer whenever we need meat...the only meat we ever really buy is the occassional chicken that we eat. Sometimes I think we forget how lucky we are to have this type of love and care at our fingertips...so in case we forget to tell you...thanks Mom & Dad!

All in all we had a wonderful day. It was great to just sit back, play games, eat, share stories, and love one another. Here's hoping you all had a day as fulfilling as ours!

Natalee's First Christmas!

For Christmas morning, Miss Natalee slept until 9 o'clock! Merry Christmas, Mommy! She's a good sleeper anyways but the extra couple of hours was superb. We quickly opened her stocking and her presents...she was hungry so we worked quickly! We had a hard time deciding what to buy a two week old and decided to go light with the knowledge that we'd want & need to buy her age appropriate toys & clothes as she grows this year. She got her Tommy Turtle, of course, whom she actually kinda likes (lights are about all she's into right now!), a pop-up toy (you know the one...you pull the levers or push the buttons and the animal pops up), & a touch and feel Bible story book. She also got her first jewelry, a cross necklace, in her stocking, as well as socks and other 'baby necessities'.After her breakfast, we packed up and headed to my folks' house and spent the day. More about that in a post coming soon...!

poor baby...

my poor lamb chop finished out the night of her first Christmas with a tummy ache. she ate around 1 o'clock this morning and promptly lost everything she took in. poor dolly...i sat up in the rocking chair with her for several hours. she got sick again, but was finally able to keep down a couple of feedings early this morning. daddy took her downstairs and rocked her for a few hours while i got some zzz's...we're camped out in our chair for the rest of today and maybe tomorrow...we'll be missing two christmases, which stinks, but i have to put her and her comfort first, and if that means rocking in our chair for a couple of days until she gets to feeling back up to par then that's what we'll do.

if you're family and we're missing seeing you at a christmas celebration, please understand. we love you, but you wouldn't want to go somewhere if you were sick and even though she can't talk i know she doesn't either. love to you all...

Christmas pictures and more to come at a later time...

Merry Christmas Eve, Everyone!...from Natalee

Dear Everybody,

Merry Christmas Eve! Tonight my mommy dressed me all up in my Christmas tights and we went to Christmas Eve service at the church. This was the first time I've ever heard mommy play the piano for church (from the outside, anyways) and I got to go up on stage while mommy and daddy read the scripture of baby Jesus' birth...kinda symbolic if you ask me! What a night...(I slept through it all).
Then, as is the Christmas Eve tradition at our house, I got to open a present from mommy and daddy. His name is Tommy Turtle and he shines stars on my ceiling and walls at nighttime. I love him, I really do...don't let my indifferent looking face lead you to believe otherwise. I was tired when we opened him up.
I warmed up to him and gave him love and kisses
(or I was hungry and took it out on him).
Anyhow, just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas Eve. We're off to Papa and Grandma's tomorrow to celebrate with everyone there. I have to get off to bed now...waiting for Santa is hard work, especially when you're little!

Love to you and your families!
Natalee Cynthia

dreamin'

I've told you what a noisy sleeper Natalee is, but I thought I'd prove it. Tonight she wailed out real loud, so I went and got her from her bed...turns out she was still sleepy and fell back asleep while I was holding her. She musta started dreamin' because she was a grunting and squeaking and raising her eyebrows like crazy. Of course, by the time daddy got the camera she settled down a little but you get the jest of what her sleeping life is like. Do you think she sleeps soundly?...she never seems able to relax. Poor lady...



Happy 2 weeks, baby girl! I love you!

who do you look like?

Who do you look like, little Angel Face?
God made you a crafty combination of mommy and daddy...

Mommy's round cheeks and tiny nose...

Daddy's chin and eyes...
And as your hair grows longer you're getting Daddy's widow's peak up top.

We love you pumpkin britches...and we're glad you're every bit of us!

2 weeks!

In celebration of her two week birthday Miss Natalee lost her yucky umbilical cord! Yay! Now she just has a little belly button...happy two weeks Little Miss...it's been the best of my life!

my baby's daddy...

My Natalee has the bestest daddy in the whole wide world. He just loves his little lady soooo much. I can tell because he gets up in the middle of the night to change diapers and he never grumbles...he even talks sweet words to his baby even though it's 3 a.m. He's never sullen like I sometimes am.
He also makes sure her little umbilical cord is clean...a job Mommy hates. He makes sure she gets her tummy time, and gets down on the floor with her so she doesn't have to go it alone. He talks to her all the time...gives her lots of kisses and tells her several times a day how much he loves her.
Not only does he do all these things for his daughter, he takes good care of her mommy, too...He makes sure I remember to eat & drink enough...gets me things when I'm settled in my chair...he's a wonderful husband! Oh, Natalee Cynthia...I hope you know how lucky you are to have such a hands-on daddy. Never ever take him for granted...he loves you so very much!

my daughter...

has 5, count them 5, jean jumpers in size 3-6 months! whew! we do NOT need anymore! they are all adorable, i only hope we get to wear them all!

brrrr....

Thoughtful...

Although our heat bill will be HORRENDOUS, I am thankful today that we have heat and that we can afford to pay that bill.
I am thankful that I don't have to be out in this weather.
I am thankful that my snuggly baby has a warm bed to lay her sweet head.

I am prayerful for the road crews, as we are supposed to get hit again with another storm.
I am prayerful for the electric workers as they gear up for more ice.
I am prayerful for those who do have to get out in these conditions...Lord, protect their bodies as they walk over the icy terrains, protect their vehicles as they travel over the still unclean roads.

Stay warm, dear friends, & stay safe!

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY...

AUNT LORN LORN! This is a little late but I needed a good picture to go with it! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

whirlwind weekend

Oofta! What a whirlwind weekend we've had, but a fulfilling one full of love and family and friends...

Yesterday, several of the gals that I went to elementary & high school with came over and we caught up on our lives. Four of us have babies now and the little ones had a great time getting to know one another (or we believe they did)! I think it's wonderful that, even though we are all in different places in our lives, we still enjoy getting together and visiting with each other. When I woke up yesterday, I thought only 3 gals were going to get to come for lunch, but as the morning wore on, calls came in, plans had changed & 4 more were able to come! Despite the cold & ice (& a couple of stuck vehicles) we had a great time. We just cranked up the heat and kept on catching up! My little house was full--we had 8 gals & 4 babies crammed in here at once & that's before my sis came! Toys, carseats, burp cloths, blankies, coats, shoes...
What fun!

After that, Natalee and I took a quick snooze in the chair and then we got ready to head to Mike's folks for Christmas at their house. Car trouble set us back a little but Aunt Penny's car saved the day (ours was running fine but wouldn't back out of the icy drive). We had a great supper there after I checked my attitude and all 3 of us were very spoiled with presents. I got new cuddly flannel sheets for our bed (I LOVE new sheets), a new toaster (no more rotating my toast b/c the coils only work on one side!), jewelry from the Dominican...Mike got a table saw & router, a shelf built especially for our DVD's (I'm more excited about that than him--sick of the boxes in the corner!), a knife from the Dominican....oh, yeah & tied up with our birthdays, we both got a new TV! I don't think we've probably really been all that good but the love shown to us was very appreciated. More so than the gifts it was wonderful to relax and visit with family and give Natalee the chance to get better acquainted with her Grandpa, Grammy, Aunt Kea, Great Aunt Penny & Uncle Denny, & Great-Grandma Betty.

Today was Natalee's first day at church. I'll admit, I was very nervous about taking her around so many people but we had to go wish the Ulrich's a happy farewell, as this was their last Sunday with us. Natalee did fine...slept through everything including lunch after church. People were very respectful...lots of lookers and happy congratulations for us, but very few people asked to hold her which helped her nervous mommy relax a great deal.

sacked out all during church & lunch...my big girl thinks she doesn't need to be swaddled up anymore...she sleeps best laying down all sprawled out just like mommy!

After church & lunch we came home and had a good snuggle in the chair & Natalee had her lunch. She snoozed while I made Aunt Lorn Lorn's birthday cake & Daddy got the car out of the iced shut garage...then we packed up again and went out to my folks' for Lauren's birthday supper. We had a yummy meal, that will hopefully set well with Miss Natalee, and a good visit with the folks. Natalee got to see her Papa...she'd seen everyone else at church this morning, but hadn't gotten to snuggle with Papa for a week. I just relaxed & hung out...there's just something about the smells and sounds of my folks' house that makes me feel at peace...it was a wonderful way to end a crazy busy (& COLD) weekend.

Tomorrow's agenda? Absolutely nothing!!! Mikey is off for 2 whole weeks (woo hoo to working at a school) and we are going to stay home and enjoy life as a family. Maybe a little laundry, maybe a little baking, maybe a little cleaning....or maybe nothing but snuggling and loving all day! YOU have a great day, too...stay warm & God bless!

Andrea...

I think I need to dedicate my previous post to Andrea, who seemed to have a kinda stressful day. Every time I talked to her she seemed a little exasperated...kids, weather, sewer issues (sorry to spread your 'issues' around), etc...
So, here's to you, sis...hope your evening went well and your weekend looks up. Don't let the ice get you down! Love you.

for the ladies:

Dear God:

The lady reading this

is beautiful, classy and

strong and I love her.

Help her live her life to the fullest.

Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations.

Help her shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love.

Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs you the most

and let her know when she walks with you she will always be safe.

maybe tomorrow?

Well, the baking is not done, the cleaning got dismissed, but we did do our best to kick back...
We had good intentions, but instead of doing our holiday list we visited with family...oh, well...maybe tomorrow? Who says you have to conquer the world in one day?
We were blessed with a yummy supper, courtesy of Bree Shaw...thanks Bree! It hit the spot and was delicious.
Daddy gets to stay home tomorrow because it's an ice day at work, so i think we'll pop in the lasagna that was brought to us earlier this week (thanks Breanna!) so we'll have a hot lunch that I didn't have to cook and then we are truly going to get some baking, cleaning, and wrapping done.
I'm looking forward to spending a day together as a little family...it's just what we need! It'll be so fun to have Mike home...I can't wait. If the roads get clear at all we might see if we can hook up with Aunt Lorn Lorn...she's turning 18 tomorrow! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT LORN LORN...WE LOVE YOU!
I do have a little soire at Andrea's tomorrow...we'll see how the roads get and how long this ice keeps up...the forecast isn't too promising and she has a killer hill that might cancel our plans.

I know it's been said and said...but don't forget to pray for the folks working tonight and tomorrow to keep you safe and warm. The road crews and electric company work long hard hours in dangerous conditions...say a prayer for their safety and for their families who keep the home fires burning while they're out. Keep in mind that while the men are at work the women, especially those farm girls like my mom and sisters, have to keep the livestock fed & safe, the water thawed, etc. Pray for them, too...it's hard work especially in bad weather.

Stay home where it's warm & be safe if you have to get out!

i am ready...

...for a nice, quiet day at home. we did waaay too much yesterday and natalee needs to kick back and relax (and i'll admit...i'm feeling it, too--perhaps i wasn't as strong as i thought).

we did go for our wellness check-up yesterday and my chunker weighed in at 9 lb, 9 oz! thata girl...even though she doesn't like to eat very often she's obviously filling up when she does eat. we got all of our christmas shopping done yesterday (hopefully)...if it's not done, it's not getting done! today, we're just kicking back, relaxing, cleaning a little house, wrapping presents, and maybe doing some holiday baking. daddy's coming home early on account of the weather so we're looking forward to some family time.

here's hoping you all have a wonderful day, too. start praying now for the teachers, students, & buses who will be traveling home soon, as well as for the electricity workers and road crews who will be out all night.

One Week Old & Lots to Say

This is how Miss Natalee spends her day...awake and asleep. She grunts, grunts, grunts, and always has something to say. I simply don't know where she gets that. So, I know the videos aren't Grammy winners but if you're bored don't watch...we think she's precious!

1 week old

Miss Natalee is one week old today and in celebration she has her first tummyache. Mommy is more heartbroken than Natalee. She's sleeping well still, but she's been spitting up so I'm just sure something I ate for my birthday supper last night didn't agree with her. Poor lambchop. The good news is that Scotland is getting out of school early on account of the weather so her daddy is coming home early. Not that she's being bad and I need back-up, but sometimes he can get her to burp better than I can and maybe that will help her little tummy. She's sleeping now on my shoulder...I'm going to go lay her down and see if she can sleep...she never sleeps soundly when we are holding her--she prefers her bed. Hopefully she'll feel better this afternoon and we'll get some 1 week pictures taken. We were supposed to go to Replogle Studios tonight and get some done, but the weather has nixed that idea, too. We'll be staying in where it is warm and cozy.
Hopefully I'll get you some pictures up later...I took some darling pictures yesterday for her Christmas cards but I'm not going to post them b/c then they won't be any fun when you get them in the mail!

Stay warm, drive safely...

eskimo baby

Dear Natalee...

This post has been rolling in my head since this morning while I held you and cried as you looked at me with your sweet blue eyes...

I was not prepared, sweet baby, for how much I would love you.
I was not prepared for my overwhelmingly possessive need to protect you from all things, even those you don't need protected from.
I was not prepared for the urge I would get to want to hold you tight all day and all night, or the feeling in my stomach that makes me want to go pick you up even though you are sleeping soundly in your bed.
I was not prepared for the emotions that go with motherhood...the constant worry that you are okay...the wonder of what tomorrow with you will bring...and the anxiety of what your future holds.

I love you, sweet Natalee...more than I ever thought I could love another human being. When I look at you and see my face and Daddy's eyes I know the full extent of God's goodness and grace. What a gift you are to us this Christmas and always. You are everything I prayed for and so much more. I can't imagine anything better, a life more full, or a heart more overflowing.

Forever yours, baby girl...
Love, Mommy

we are blessed...

...with truly the best behaved baby on earth. Miss Natalee rarely cries...she lets me know when she's hungry by whimpering a little and then waiting patiently for me to come get her. She got a little mad this morning with her first bath at home, but again...it was short-lived. How lucky (and spoiled) are we to have a child this well mannered? Last night she ate at 10, slept until 2, ate and got changed, and then slept again until 6:30! What a sweetheart. I love her more and more everyday!!!

she's telling Mommy all about life...

start your day out right...

...with pictures of the sweetest baby on earth! her grandparents are obviously in love!

Grandma Sara finally got rid of her cold and came over and cuddled with Natalee last night! Natalee was awake and ready to meet her.

Papa George (or Grandpa Phil) was anxious to meet his first grandchild.
She gave him a hearty welcome!

Natalee settled right down when Papa Curtis snuggled her.
Oh, Natalee...don't you know you're going to inflate his ego?

Grandma Cindy hung with Mommy for the whole experience...
Mommy& Daddy couldn't have done it without her & Nannie.

Miss Natalee

I don't even know where to start with my posting. I think, since it is getting late tonight and I still want to run through the shower, that I'll just share some pictures with you and call it a night. I have lots I want to say, but we'll save all that for another day. I'll try not to upload pictures that Andrea has already shown you...not like I don't have plenty of new ones to share!

Enjoy the pictures...we are sure enjoying our girl!
Natalee Cynthia
December 9, 2008
8 pounds 12 1/2 ounces
20 1/2 inches long
3:24 a.m.

She really wants to suck her fingers and thumbs. She's figured out how to roll her hand around in her swaddle and get her little mitten off so she can get her fingers in her mouth (or so we think--could be coincidence but just let us believe she's the smartest baby ever, okay?)!
No way, girlfriend...no thumb sucking allowed!

She's talking to her daddy...Aunt Lauren fixed her up with the headband.
Daddy is nicer when he takes pictures because he doesn't use the flash and mommy does (but mommy's pictures are better!).

Daddy has a new hobby...watching Miss Natalee sleep!
He thought he wanted a boy, but I think he has decided his baby girl is quite the keeper!

See?...Daddy's all wrapped up already!

and last, but not least...Grandma Cindy went shopping tonight and found some of the cutest clothes! YAY!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's pictures...pictures of Natalee with her grandma's and grandpa's! We're so glad Grandma Sara was feeling better today and got to hold Natalee for the first time! Natalee had to wait a long time to really meet her! She has four very proud grandparents that all think she's pretty special, not to mention the aunties and cousins......lots more pics to come!