My Sweet Natalie

I tried a little indoor photo shoot on Friday since the back yard was still a little too muddy to send two two year olds out there.  I just wasn’t up for the mess.  :)

For the most part, I just couldn’t get my settings/lighting/area to really gel.  Or it could have been the four people under four running around.

Or this:

:)

Matt got home about an hour early, so I was able to pop outside with just my Natalie to catch a few birthday shots.  It was cloudy so no shadows.  She’s GORGEOUS!

And silly.

And funny.

And sweet.

And did I mention ravishingly beautiful?

Ray was sleeping in the room where all of Natalie’s shoes were, so I grabbed an “off-season” pair from James’ closet.  It was sadly warm enough for them.

She’s playful.

And goofy.

And amazing.

And a little worried about the airplane flying overhead.

Now for a few things about Natalie at age FOUR:

• She has for the most part given up sucking her thumb.  She occasionally regresses, but stops when we put the yucky stuff on her thumbnail.  I told her yesterday when she was so tired and really didn’t want me to put the stuff on her nail that four year olds don’t suck their thumbs.  She said, through tears, “I didn’t know that!”  It was pretty much all I could do not to laugh.
• She is so so so so imaginative with her toys (and whatever she has to play with).  My mother says she was exactly the same way.  You know the boy in Toy Story and the girl in Toy Story 3?  That’s how she plays.  But really only when she’s alone, and that happens very infrequently.  I don’t get much opportunity to watch her, but sometimes I get to listen.
• She will watch television any time she’s given the opportunity and for as long as you’ll let her.  Her favorites are Dora, Diego, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, and Wonder Pets.  There are lots of others she likes as well.  We stream them from Netflix, so they’re on whenever we want!
• She also, thankfully, loves to look at books and listen to books read aloud.
• She whines in a rather high-pitched loud way that I’m trying to get her to lose.  :)
• She plays very well with everyone in the house, from her almost six year old sister to six month old Laura.
• She is the best snuggler, and always has been. 
• She really likes to sneak into our bed in the night, and she’s pretty stealthy about it.  I will wake up in the morning with her snuggled next to me and not remember her climbing in.
• She’s a pretty good eater.  She might not like what’s for dinner, but she’ll eat a few bites.  She also likes pretty healthy things, so it balances out.
• She loves playing with dolls of all kinds.
• She will rarely look at the camera when I’m taking a picture of her. 
• She likes going to school but is also happy at home with me.  I definitely think it’s good for her to get out of the house and be apart from me, but I love that she’s happy to spend all day at my side.
• She wears a size 4 in just about everything.  She can wear some 5’s of her sister’s, and they’re not too huge.  She’s fills clothes out better than Joanna.  I love that she’s right behind her sister for hand-me-downs!  She loves to wear dresses and things that are “pretty.”  She wears a size 9 shoe.
• She’s a bit air-headed.  Sometimes I think it’s an act, but other times I’m not so sure.  :)  She uses it a little I think to get out of doing chores.
• She’s very smart, but in a different way than Joanna.  I’m pretty sure she could learn to read early.  She has already done much more writing and “reading” than Joanna did at the same age.  She likes it more than Joanna did.  She doesn’t have the same “common sense” knowledge that her sister does.  They make a good team, that’s for sure!
• I know there are a thousand more things I could share about her.  She is such a joy to be around and one of my truest loves.  Happy Birthday my sweet baby girl.