H2ndBD Natalie!

"Happy Birthday mom."
"Sissy's birthday?"
"Me eat birthday cake?"
"Happy Birthday dad."

Our little learning sponge Natalie has been saying the HBD phrase for almost three months now.  It all started back in the beginning of November when I worked with her on singing some new songs.  We learned 'Jesus Loves Me' and in honor of her birthday month, 'Happy Birthday.'  At nighttime, we would hear those two songs, along with a few other favorites, coming from the monitor in the girls' bedroom for atleast 15 minutes after brushed teeth, prayers, kisses, and lights out.  Tony and I would look across the room from eachother and just grin.  She didn't really have the tune, but the words were there.

Well, November 16th came and our dear, sweet Natalie officially turned 2!  That morning we let her open her gift from us...a stroller for her baby dolls. 

After lunch we had a cupcake and did a few rounds (and then some) of the HBD song as well as the fun game 'light the candle, blow out the candle.'

The first lighting.

Patiently waiting during HBD song.

Enthralled with the smoke after blowing out the candles.

Round two of many more!

Getting every last bit of goodness off that candle.

"Here mom."

Such a sweet two-year old!

We didn't do much for celebrating beyond cupcakes that day, knowing that family would be around for Thanksgiving and that would be the time for more intense birthday celebrations.

Just a couple days after Natalie's actual birthday, a surprise from Aunt Carrie came in the mail (Saturday, Nov. 19th--3 days later).  It was a picture of Bolt from the so-named movie.  She LOVED this movie for the longest time and watched it more than I'd like to admit.  Unfortunately we had only DVR'd it, and we hadn't protected it, so to our surprise after so long it just disappeared.  Let's just say Natalie was excited to see Bolt again!

With her picture from Aunt Carrie, and Sam too!

Thanksgiving came, and Natalie had an actual opinion (I guess that is what being two years old means...you now have a say in things!) of what she wanted for her birthday cake.  A "Mickey Mouse airplane bithday cake."  Daddy and Mommy got to work and were rather pleased with what we came up with, as was Natalie!

With a more harmonious HBD song (a crowd of voices on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, Nov. 24th--8 days later), cake, and ice cream, as well as lots of gifts, Natalie was loving this whole birthday thing. 

Excited for some cake after blowing out the candles.

Enjoying gifts.

Trying out the new work bench and tools (just like her daddy).

Multi-tasking already!

Getting some help from Great-Grandpa Harvey.

Giving our new baby a bottle before bedtime.

Just a few days following Turkey Day (Monday, Nov. 28th), Natalie got a birthday gift in the mail from Uncle Brian and Aunt Sarah...so at this point, her birthday had drug out for 12 days!!!  Can't ask for a better 2nd birthday! 

What is it??  A monkey with a blanket, and crayons for the shower.

A masterpiece in the tub!

Before we knew it, we needed to start talking about Daddy and our friend Silas' birthday coming up in less than two weeks (Dec. 10th).  Natalie had a hard time adjusting to it being time for someone else's birthday other than her own.  Her friend Ava turned three on the 19th of November, but we didn't celebrate with Ava, so I'm thinking the idea of someone else having a birthday had not really sunk in to Natalie at all. 

Anyways, Natalie did just fine, and shared her version of the 'Happy Birthday' song with Daddy for days to come before and after his actual birthday.  Now it was time to start talking about Jesus' birthday.  For weeks we sang HBD to Jesus many, many times throughout the day to help her get the idea of what Christmas is about. 

Not long after Jesus' birthday, it was time for Papa's birthday, and then Aleah's.  Whew!  All Natalie could talk about was birthdays, for two months straight! 

It is finally starting to fizzle out, but not too soon. 

Quite often rather than an out-of-the-blue "I love you Mom,"

I get a "Happy Birthday Mom." 

My response...

I simply smile and say "I love you too, Natalie."

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY NATALIE GRACE!!! 
You mean the world to your family! 
God has truly blessed us with you, your huge heart, your quirky sense of humor, your beautiful smile, and your passion for life and learning!  WE LOVE YOU!!!

7, 8, 9, TEN, ELEVEN!

Oh my goodness, I did it AGAIN!!!  I guess this just goes to show how distracted I get from pictures these days.  I take them, I just don't seem to get much done with them. 

Aleah's tenth month has come and gone, and she is already eleven months old!  So here is a post with both her 10th and 11th month milestones!

Too fast.  Too stinkin fast!
Yet...
Adorable.  Absolutely adorable!

Aleah Lynn

10 months old on 11/7/11

At TEN MONTHS you:
*went to your first auction. It was at the Gess place...the farm Daddy bought this past June 1st. A social day for us.
*enjoyed all the dorm kids that came over to carve pumpkins...a first for three of the international ones!
*went from taking 3-4 steps on your own to 8-10 in a couple days.  It won't be long and you will be everywhere with your big sister!
*moved from the backwards-facing baby carseat to a forwards-facing toddler booster seat in the car. Your poor long legs couldn't take it anymore...too long of a drive to town to be cooped up like that!
*took your second trip to Great Falls and first to Helena.  This was over MEA weekend when we had Nicole, MJ, and Sara with us! 
*got to meet Paul and Abbie Hansen, and Zoe and Eliza for the first time!
*are down to one bottle just before bedtime each night, consisting of a mixture of formula and whole milk.
*celebrated your first Halloween.  You dressed up as Snow White and Natalie as a Pirate.
*spent about 10 days away from Mom and Dad while they went on a trip to the Dominican Republic.
*spent those 10 days at Papa and Nana's with Natalie and had a blast!

Miss Aleah Lynn

11 months on 12/7/11

At ELEVEN MONTHS you:
*and the rest of the family said our goodbyes to Nicole as she moved in with the Reddig family.  What a fun time we had with her in our home.
*are walking everywhere on your own.  You all of a sudden seem more like a toddler rather than baby, and I am in awe of your 'skills' quite often.
*can go from sitting to squatting to standing without holding onto anything!
*helped Natalie celebrate her 2nd birthday.
*celebrated your first Thanksgiving!
*got to house Steve (Pennsylvania) and Robert (California) from the dorm for Thanksgiving break.
*had your Baby Dedication at church.  Such a blessing it was to have both Papa and Nana Fast as well as Grandpa and Mimi Hohlen join us!
*say your first three words that actually have meaning: 'dat' and points at exactly what you want; 'uh-oh' for anything that falls/drops/accidentally-gets-let-go-of from your high chair; your own version of 'hello' when you hold a phone or some object similar to it next to your ear/face.

*are done with formula and solely drink whole milk and water!
*went to your second high school basketball game ever.  The first one was when you were just a month or so old.  This time you had trouble sitting still in the bleacher.  We ended up not watching the game and instead running up and down the hallway to keep entertained.  Neither you or your big sister are quite-yet bleacher material!
*would prefer to eat a meal in Natalie's booster seat rather than your high chair. 
*have mastered going down the four stairs between the living and family rooms on your belly.  Knowing you can do this makes mom's day a lot less stressful!
* have six teeth now...two on top and four on bottom.
*had your first bit of fun in good ole' toilet water!  Now we know we MUST keep the toilet seats closed!
*helped decorate for your first Christmas.  You LOVE gawking at and playing with the tree and the lower ornaments.