Three

Three years ago today I was getting ready to step into my wedding gown and walk down the aisle to marry Phil. I count my blessings every day that we found each other and have made such a happy life together.

I never thought I could love Phil more than the day I married him; wow was I wrong. Every day my love has grown, especially watching him with Natalie. He is such a great dad and we are both lucky to have him in our lives.

Tonight we are leaving Natalie home with Grandpa and Grandma and going to dinner. Looking forward to the one-on-one time and yummy food.

PIS – I love you

I got my first, “Where are you, you haven’t written on your blog” comment a few days ago. Here I thought I was writing for my own posterity, but people actually do read this thing! I’m so excited. I started this blog as a sort of journal, so that I could remember big events, like Natalie’s first tooth, or when she started to crawl…do you remember that? Because if you are reading this you have probably read my other posts, right?

Well, any who – this whole post was going to be about my new breast pump, because yes, I have a baby that I breastfeed! Shocking that breasts aren’t just for staring at – they actually feed human beings. Well, any way, when I decided that I was going to go back to work I realized that I would need a breast pump. The thing I didn’t realize is I would need a double breast pump – lingo that you might not know about if you haven’t had the pleasure of actually “milking” yourself! So, for the past 10 months (yes, Natalie is a little over 10 months old), I’ve been suffering with pumping with a puny little single pump. Well, suffer no more! Enter EBay, oh glorious EBay! Did you know you can buy never been used, in the box, sealed, high quality pumps on EBay? Well, you can! And so I did! Oh, Medela Pump In Style Advanced (referred to as the “PIS” by those in the know) how I love you! Let me count the ways…you take half the time as my old pump, you come with many accessories including a wonderful shoulder bag that can be used as a diaper bag!, two at once, two at once, the JOY!

Now, back to the other subject for this post, the idea that other people read this blog. I’m a confirmed ‘blog stalker’. Many a day I have spent reading blogs of people I don’t know, who don’t know me and who the hell knows how I found them. Generally I click on one link that leads me to a list of other link, and so on and so on. I’ve actually caught myself, on more than one occasion, starting a sentence with, “Well, I was reading this blog and, blah, blah”. Well, my blog stalking got me thinking about this blog and then I saw that movie Julie/Julia and it is all about this woman who writes a blog and becomes famous and is probably still living off the ad space on her blog, which got me thinking even more. Could my blog actually be a blog that is stalked? I guess, yes, but who knows? I don’t know how to track that.

When I first started this blog I debated making it password protected, only because my dad hates the ideas of blogs and putting your personal information out there for everyone to know and see. You know why I didn’t? Two reasons, first was that I like to stalk blogs and hate when I find a blog that is protected, so I didn’t want to do that to others, and TWO, because I often think someone might read this, someone with power and clout, contact me and offer me money to write stories for them (like Kramer and Mr. Peterman in Seinfeld) or they will put me in a reality series, which would be totally awesome to watch…I know, a girl can dream.

Well, anyway, I guess my point is that I actually hope that people are reading my blog. I know I love reading about other people, knowing what they are going through, finding common ground, whether it is babies, work, marriage, etc we all have something in common.

Back to stalking!

I haven't "Dug my fun grave" yet

A little known (well, maybe not little known - because I talk about it all the time) fact about me is that I L O V E reality TV - most reality TV, that is. Survivor? I can do without thank you very much. But the high quality stuff, you know, "Say Yes to the Dress", "The Rachel Zoe Project", "Flipping Out", I love.

Currently, I'm watching "Giuliana & Bill" and I love it. I don't know what convinced me to start recording it, but I'm so happy I did. I love them and think the show is so funny. This show is similar to the reality show I envision for my family. Except, with a baby, no fancy brownstone in Chicago and no fancy apartment in LA...so you know, small changes.

No One

Not one single person has noticed that I chopped over three inches off my hair...

I give Phil a pass, because he was with me when it happened.

auf wiedersehen

Yes, Tim and Heidi are back for another season of Runway, finally a reason to watch Lifetime TV. I just finished the first episode and was happy that Ari was kicked off. I actually like some of the contestants this season and I’m excited to watch this week!

Ugg..seafood pasta was a bad decision

I've been up most of the night dealing with food poisoning - what a nightmare!

While, I'm out of commission, please enjoy a wonderful You Tube video of my baby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj6lSgf3Xv0. Her dada posted these, tech wizard that he is.

Food, Farm, Concert Fun

Tuesday night I whipped up a tasty dinner using gifts from my garden and a few gifts from the store. Behold, pasta with fresh tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, onion, & garlic. And, for added flavor, fresh basil, parsley and oregano!

Phil thought it was strange I didn't add any meat, but really...it didn't need it.

Wednesday afternoon, Natalie traveled to Wheeler Farm to see the animals and spend the day outside. She loved seeing the animals - especially the cows and pigs. She has a "farm animal friend" book that makes noises when you push on the animals. Well, when the cow says "Moo" Natalie moo's along with the book. So, when she saw the cow in real life she was very excited.

I love how she leans forward in the stroller to see things

Wednesday night we traveled to Deer Valley to enjoy a free concert. My brother was playing with his band and we couldn't miss the show. Natalie enjoyed every minute of the concert, all the people, the endless supply of fruit to munch on and family to hold her. She started to bounce up and down and kick her legs to the music...which everyone thought was "so cute".

Plus, I was able to use my picnic basket again. We had little roast beef and pastrami sandwiches, garden tomatoes and mozzarella cheese in balsamic vinaigrette, feta cheese with olive oil and oregano, farm fresh peaches, blueberries and apples and wine! Yum

One little tooth

I've thought Natalie was getting a tooth since she was about 4 months old and started chewing on her hands and anything else she could get into her mouth. Every night I'd wash her gums with a washcloth and find no teeth...

Then around the 8 month mark, she started drooling more and more while chewing on everything. I said, "She is getting a tooth". But again, I was wrong. Which, because I'm still nursing, was just fine with me.

At the 9 month visit with the doctor, we asked if it was "OK" that she didn't have any teeth, and the doctor confirmed what we had read on the Internet, it is okay that she doesn't have teeth, the longer she goes without them, the better, and not to worry. (See everything on the Internet is true.)

Phil even had people say things like, "Natalie doesn't have any teeth yet?" followed by "Well, she needs teeth soon or she won't ever learn how to chew". Generally said with a disapproving tone - like it is something we control. Flip a switch and your kid will get teeth?

Well, disapproving people, Natalie got her first tooth. Most of her first tooth, that is - it is still working its way out.

True to form, there was no fussing, no crying, no real sign she was teething - except the aforementioned drooling and chewing that has been going on for five months.

This is going to be a long post

Natalie had her first visit to Tracy Aviary, which she loved! She particularly liked the "weird" looking birds - the vulchers were most interesting to her. After the aviary she spent some time at the park. She was able to sit by the pond and watch the ducks. Natalie loves watching birds and it isn't surprising to me that she would like the vulchers best.

The same week Natalie visited the aviary, she went to Hogle Zoo. She was very interested in the animals and the giraffe was one of her favorites. In fact after seeing the giraffe in real life, she saw a stuffed animal in a gift shop and with her cat like reflexes, had it in the stroller, in essence forcing her nanny to buy it for her.

How could you say no to that face?

Sunday afternoon, my mom, Natalie and I travelled up to Stein Eriksen lodge for Brunch. It was very nice and I ate TOO much! Even though Natalie hadn't had more than a 20 minute nap, she cooperated and had a great time crawling all over the lobby of the lodge.

She was exhausted by the end of brunch and fell asleep before we got to the car, and stayed asleep while I belted her in!

We have been having wonderfully cool weather, which means I don't burst into flames while playing with Natalie in the back yard. She doesn't really like to crawl on the grass, but she likes to pick at it - and hold the grass in her hands.

Last Friday we took Natalie in for her 9 month (gasp!) check up! She had to get one shot while we were there, but she didn't even cry! The nurse said that she hasn't ever had a baby not cry when she gave them a shot. She is such a trooper!

We were very surprised when Natalie was put on the scale. Our little string bean is still a string bean! She weighs in at 16 pounds 4 ounces (11%) and 27.5 inches long (50%). For her length she should weigh 2 more pounds! I guess it is a good thing, because it makes carrying her around a lot easier.

Even though she is a string bean, she is meeting and exceeding her developmental goals. The doctor said, "You sure do make it easy on me". The best thing is that Natalie hasn't ever been sick. (knock on wood) Hopefully we can keep her healthy for a while longer. It seems a lot easier to deal with a sick baby, who can say, "Mom, my belly hurts" rather than just cry.

She is starting to walk more and more while holding on to things. On Saturday afternoon I was folding laundry and she grabbed the laundry basket, stood up, and started to push it around the room. It won't be long before she is taking those first steps and I'll be chasing her even more! Who needs exercise? I have a baby to chase after.

Where did the time go?

Natalie has been outside of me almost as long and she was cooking inside of me. I just received my "Your Baby is 40 weeks old" email. We have her 9 month check up on Friday, so I'll update with weight/length information then.

Natalie is such a happy and healthy baby (knocking on wood as I type). She is growing and developing and changing every day. We can't wait for what is ahead.