My Personal Hurricane

Hurricane Natalie: Category 5

This is one of Natalie's very favorite past times. I don't know how I let it get so bad this time, at least she helped me tidy up.



I've been on a mission to bake the perfect first birthday cake for Natalie. Originally, I had planned on getting her a gourmet cake from one of our local bakeries, but I figured it's a whole lot more special for Mommy to make her cake... and fancy cakes are just a wee bit expensive. Last week I produced "Prototype A", it was OK but needed some improvement. To save what's left of my waistline I gave it to Chase to take to work, he said it was like soldier chum. Now I have the image of a platoon of famished soldiers circling my cake like sharks stuck in my head. Anyway, today I made "Prototype B". Can you tell I'm taking this very seriously? It was an epic failure. I won't go into details, but let's just say it tastes a whole lot better than it looks. As I was struggling with a cake that was crumbling, Natalie was "organizing" my cabinets. Whatever, it made her happy. I'd love to share photos of my cake attempts, but then it would ruin the surprise.

Random photo: Chase and Me on one of our very rare date nights.

Doesn't this look like the quintessential prom photo? That's kind of what I was going for.

Finally...A picture!

I'll bet many of you have forgotten what Natalie looks like! Sorry it's taken me so long to post a new picture. I have turned the photo taking responsibilities over to Mom and Chase, and getting a hold of their memory chips is a little difficult. I promise to resume picture taking very soon.

Chase had the day off yesterday and took Natalie to the park while I was at work. She loves going to the park, and will even cry if we pass it without stopping while on a walk or run. She is growing and changing so much every day. She's taken up to 9 consecutive steps, and can walk just fine, but loses concentration or courage and ultimately ends up crawling. I can't believe that I'll officially have a one-year-old in just 13 days!

On her own two feet

Well, Natalie is almost walking. Today she took another four steps! She's been taking one or two steps here and there, but I'm almost certain she's going to be a biped by her birthday! Doesn't seem real, it can't be. It was just yesterday that I had an immobile little baby that was perfectly content to lay in my arms all day (and all night). Not sure I'm ready for this yet, although it will be a relief to have her steady on her feet. I'm so anxious all the time, worried she's going to fall.

I swear a photo update is coming soon. I've been a little camera lazy lately, but Mom took some gems the other day. Also, Natalie had her christening portraits done at Kim's last Thursday, and they're beautiful. Visit www.kimcrenshaw.com and click on the "blanton leigh" link (it should be the last one on the far left scroll menu), the password is "blanton". Enjoy!

11 months

Dear Father Time,
I am writing to you on behalf of my entire family. We are asking you to please take a vacation. Slow things down a bit, take your time... what's all the rush about?
Eleven months ago, Natalie was born. I can't believe how quickly time has gone since then, are you purposefully speeding things up? In the past eleven months I've watched Natalie grow from a helpless newborn to a strong willed and incredibly independent toddler. I would like a little more time with my baby, please.
Thank you, Father Time, for considering our request. We appreciate any time lapses you might be able to offer.
Sincerely,
The Blanton's

Here's what's going on now that Natalie is ELEVEN MONTHS OLD!
*Says "uh oh" when she drops things and before she's about to drop something (very naughty)
*Says "deh deh" for "doggy" and "buutts" for "button"
*Stands up alone and balances, also squats down to pick things up and returns to standing
*TOOK FOUR STEPS THIS MORNING!
*Has started drinking cow's milk, although she's not a fan
*Has eight teeth, and is currently working on her ninth. We've been up since 4 a.m. thanks, Natalie.
*Gives "high fives". Chase is very proud of this one, he taught her!

I'm sorry there's no picture, Natalie woke up with a bit of a runny nose this morning. I figured I'd hold off on the glamor shots until she's not so snotty.

Celebrations!

Last Monday was Natalie's first Labor Day; we finally managed to snag a family photo... Thanks, Pam! Mom BB-Q'd for us and invited a few close friends to join our celebration. It was great fun, except Natalie didn't bring her party pants. She was a bit ornery the entire time. I guess we all have our "off" days.

Saturday Natalie went to her first birthday party. My friend and coworker, Jeanne, had a Pink Poodle Party for her daughter, Kenley. Kenley turned 2! Natalie had a blast, she listened to a story about Buddy the Dog, and then got to meet Buddy. She played the "dog walk" with her friends Graeme, Ceilidh and Kenley, had birthday cake and rode in a Radio Flyer wagon for the very first time. She loved it! I think I know what she's getting for her birthday now!

Ready for Fall

I love Autumn. I love the mums, pansies, pumpkins, football, spiced cider, county and state fairs, but mostly I love the weather. Labor Day weekend has always marked the beginning of Fall for me. Don't exactly know why, it's not like it gets cooler immediately after Labor Day. Maybe it's because we stop wearing white. Whys is that, anyway? This weekend has been a great one to usher in the dawn of a new season (poetic, huh?), we fed geese, visited the Moore Country Fair and were greeted by the very first morning under 60 degrees that we've had in a very long time. It was glorious!

Friday, Chase and I took Natalie to the Reservoir Park to feed the geese. She was very interested in the geese and watched them very intently. I think she loves animals. Saturday, Chase, Mom and I took Natalie to the county fair. She rode two rides: the "Wiggle Worm" and the train. She loved both of them, she smiled and squealed the entire time. After her rides were over, we visited the livestock area where she got to see pigs and goats, sheep and pigs, ducks and turkeys. She sat straight up in her stroller and cooed at all the animals.

Life is good.

Ring Ring

Natalie loves the telephone. I'm pretty sure she's going to be a girly girl of epic proportions. She loves the phone, shoes, pretty things, dolls, pink and just about everything else girlish. She usually steals the phone from me during conversations, so I almost always end up talking to everyone on speaker phone while she's playing with it. It's pretty difficult to carry on a conversation while a ten month old has control of the telephone; she's constantly pushing number buttons and the flash button. Last week she started holding the phone up to my ear and waits for me to say "hello" before she giggles and steals it away again. She'll do this over and over again, and I don't get tired of obliging her. She's just so stinkin' smart! She has made a few other advancements recently, too:

Stands up by herself and balances well *ALL THE TIME*. I think walking is only a matter of courage, she "cruises" with little to no support.

Does the hand gestures for "The Itsy Bitsy Spider". Of course, she hasn't quite mastered or refined her new skill yet, but it's so impressive.

Sings along with others (mostly my Mom) and initiates singing.

Shares her food. She's big into taking a bite and then wanting Mommy or Daddy to have a bite. Super cute.