Christmas 2009

Pre-Thanksgiving Great Bear Get Together

The Gang

Natalie, Evelyn, Matthew and Liam on a walk.

13 Months

Wow- this has been an amazing month. The neurons in your brain have really been firing and connecting. You started walking in Hawaii, and two weeks later, you won't stop. You love to demand "Up" and be held. Your words: Bird, Ball, Up, Out, Uh oh, Mama, and Dad. But you still don't really understand who mama and dada are. You direct Nana "out" to visit the birds and the fruit trees.

You stopped throwing food and can sign "All Done." And you love food. We can't keep up with you. You figured out how a straw works and that has been great fun!

You do have some stranger anxiety. I haven't left you at the Gym Daycare in some time. And some separation anxiety. But it is with and from everyone. Not just mama. And especially with nana. Although your favorite is dada. Your favorite has always been dada.

Your bedtime is 8:30 and with the new blackout curtains, you'll sleep til 7:30ish. It is wonderful!! Breakfast is Cheerios with daddy. You love oatmeal and applesauce. We had a temper tantrum over yogurt last week. You only take bottles of milk in the morning and night. Otherwise, we are on the sippy cup.

Keep it up and by next month you'll be running!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Natalie had such a great time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She loved the kelp forest and the jellyfish.

We will definitely be going back soon!!

On your birthday

Birthday Dinner at Zeni Ethiopian

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Oakland Zoo

4 moms, 7 kiddos, 1 great day at the zoo.

Granddad's Visit

Granddad and Alice came for a visit. They had so much fun!!

11 Months

Dear Natalie,

This has been an incredible month. All of the sudden you have become so cuddly, huggy, and just darling. The giggles are adorable.

We started the Little Gym and you love it. You are meeting lots of new kids and learning new skills like somersaults, and hanging from the bar. No walking yet, but man are you a good crawler. You figured out how to go down the stairs face first. This was a very scary time since we were sure you would fall hard. But you didn't and finally learned how to go down the stairs, sofa, and bed backwards.

And speaking of things you are good at, eating. You eat everything - paella, pulled pork, spaghetti, pad thai, buffalo wings, fries, In N Out burger, fried rice, and pizza. Except blackberries and raspberries weirdly enough. You still love frozen yogurt, and ice cream. But the hit this month was picking tomatoes with Daddy. You absolutely love them!!

A few big firsts, like your first Airplane trip. You and I went to Palm Springs to visit Grandpa and Grandma. Both trips, you screamed bloody murder as the plane was taking off and then promptly crashed!! Such a good baby. The trip was so much fun- we finally made it to the Living Desert and saw the Meercats. It was really hot, but we went in the pool, and stayed relatively cool.

Also, Granddad and Alice came to visit from Indiana, and we had a blast. Picnics in the park, BBQ in the backyard. Granddad just loved holding you and singing the same songs he did when Aunt Amanda and I were little. Such memories!!

We introduced sorting blocks, puzzles, and books. These were all a hit. You try to read the books, but sometimes the books are upside down. The favorite right now is Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see? I like to read Alice in Wonderland to you. In a few years, I have a Halloween costume for you, but I'm not sure what you'll be this year. We'll be in Hawaii, so a surfer girl, a fish? You love the kittens, so maybe a cat.

I am not ready for the next month, you are almost 1 baby. And so not a baby any more.

We love you so much!!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

At the Movies

Ode to Natalie

Baby's First Words- Uh oh!

And yes, she means it. She has decided that anything that falls or is thrown off the high chair is an uh oh. We are working on the throwing...

The Living Desert

We finally made it to the Living Desert. Natalie loved the Meerkats, Wild Cats, Bobcats, etc. But she was really nervous in the aviary. I guess the birds were too big and too close.

Baby's First Plane Ride

My First Kicks

Baby's First Stride Rites- Thanks Grandpa Jim!!

The Ladies

First Camping Trip

Family Photo

9 months

Happy 9 month birthday baby! You just had your 9 month well-baby check up. You are 23 lbs and 30 1/2 inches. This is still of-the-charts big. We were expecting more like 75% because it seemed to us that you had slowed your growth. But what do we know. You are however perfect!

You are crawling up a storm and can maneuver up the one step in our house. You can't make it back down, but we will work on that. You pull up on everything, especially the keyboard Nana brought for you. We expect you to climb up the keyboard any day. Also, the cruising has begun, so you will be walking any day. You got your first pair of soft soled shoes, Robeez! We don't need the Stride Rites quite yet.

The babbling is getting closer to talking and we swear you said dada the other day and meant it. You figured out how to stick your tongue out and that's been a great game these last few days. You love making faces in the mirror.

Napping has been thrown for a loop, but you still sleepp through the night so I'll take it.

You are eating anything and everything. Right now, you love pinto beans and avocado. Nana made you some squash finger foods and those were a hit. We have been sharing our food with you, and have started to order a little extra just for you.

We have been hiking every weekend, throwing you in either the day pack or the Beco. You sleep better in the Beco, but Dad likes the pack. The sacrifices that we make. It's been great fun exploring parks such as Wilder Ranch, Rancho San Antonio, Castle Rock, Joseph D, Grant, and Lexington. We can't wait to go back when you are older.

Everyday really is better than the last and this is such a wonderful stage.
We love you so much! But you certainly are more toddler than baby now!!! I gues the NoGrow that Granddad gave us really doesn't work!

My First Beach Trip

Natalie and Camillo at Capitola. She did great and didn't eat any sand. So cute in her suit!

Casa Lupe

Natalie pretty much eats whatever we are eating these days. which means alot of Mexican. Our favorite restaurant is a local family place called Casa Lupe. Super family-friendly and we have been going there for years.

Hiking at WIlder Ranch

BabyProofing

We have started baby proofing the house. Natalie is on the verge of crawling. When seated, she can lean over and start to pull herself. She can actually balance pretty well, and can sometimes make it back to a seated position instead of slipping onto her tummy.

We had to move the glass coffee table and end table into the garage. We bought a nice soft cushy rug for the living room and a soft ottoman. A baby gate has gone up around the fireplace anf entertainment center. Too many hazards and cords.

We are ready! Keep it up baby- you are so close!!

Swinging with Theo

Visiting with Great Grandma Ruth

7 1/2 Months

This has been an amazing time- just this past week has brought so many milestones.

Motor Skills:
-rolling from front to back
-pulling yourself up to stand
-sitting with no props
-baby steps with dad's help
-no more leaving you without supervision

Eating Skills:
-pureed food is out
-chicken
-halibut
-rice
-bread
-peas
-squash
-holding your own finger food: green puffs and wagon wheels
-two teeth!!

You are so good at restaurants. We went to the Club and had a great lunch outside. We had a nice dinner at Pasta Pomodoro. You were better behaved that all of the older kids. And we met everyone at PF Changs for dinner. You were a little fussy, but really only wanted the bottle, and puffs.

My First Ice Cream

Teething

You are officially teething - Aunt Amanda found a very sharp bottom tooth coming up. You are doing great with the teething except that you have now smacked yourself in the head with your teething toy twice.

6 Months

Wow! I am so not ready for this. How are you 6 months old?

You are perfect. So smiley and giggley. That is my favorite part right now. You love your toes, we can't keep socks on you. Same with hats. We had to get you footed PJs to keep you warm at night. You are almost out of the sleep sack and you might be ready just for a blanket like a big girl. You consistently sleep through the night which is great. But I am still waking up, so, not great.

We introduced zucchini and peas with the rice and oat cereals. You are just not so sure about solid food. Although, you will eat anything for Grandpa Jim. The teething and drooling has continued, but no teeth yet.

And you are still a big baby, 19 1/2 lbs, but now only 95th percentile, instead of off the charts big. We upgraded you to the new carseat. This has been perfect for you because now you can see the mirror and outside the car.

The biggest milestone is that you are sitting up. You list a little, but you are getting great at staying straight up. You still hate tummy time, so no rolling over yet. But you will sit up on your forearms to check everything out. You are so observant and love to people watch.

You love outside time, especially with Nana. It has been great having the grandparents babysit. You play, watch Baby Einstein, listen to Raffi, and as always, have some toy in your mouth. Your favorite toy is the little cat. We are reading Alice in Wonderland, and I can't wait until you are big enough to fit in the Alice dress I bought you!

We have pretty much stopped calling you "the Beastie", and have moved on to Leelu, as a derivaive of Natalie. Someday we'll explain the name in more detail but for right now just remember "Chick-en".

The cats are getting more curious and you are trying so hard to pet them. Ripley has taken over your stroller bassinet which is ok. All the cats share a lap with you now, and are not so scared of the crying. Yes, there is crying. Especially when you are sick. One of my most precious memories will be carrying you in the special Natalie hold so that you can suck your left thumb, cuddled in my arm, next to my heartbeat and you just crashed. Crying frantically one minute, and sleeping peacefully the next. I love being able to soothe you.

We are having so much fun with you baby.

Love, Mom and Dad

Harker Babies

Theo (15 months), Garrett (11 months), Natalie (6 months)

Thanks for bringing dishes and babies to share!

Matching Outfits

Look how cute they are in their matching Tea Collection dresses!

Tour de Force

We spent the day in Healdsburg, wine tasting at some of our favorite places. It was a beautiful day!! You were the perfect baby. And loved to slobber on Dad's wine glass.

Rice Cereal

Palm Springs Baby

The Living Desert- I'm Crawling... Soon, we will make it down to Palm Desert to visit Grandma and Grandpa. But for now, you are ready to be a little living desert lizard.

March Madness- UConn Lady Huskies

The Newest UConn Lady Husky Fan! We love this time of year- your dad was a little nervous when he picked me up for our first date and Grandma, Aunt Amanda and I were watching b-ball. He has learned, and so will you!

Go Lady Huskies!

The True Beastie

Today, you let your beastie out. I really needed to recover from nose surgery and you spent the day crying. We think you are teething, but the crying needs to stop until I am better.

SuperNatalie

This gets giggles every time!

The Littlest Leprachaun

Your first St. Patrick's Day- one of our favorite holidays! We had lots of people over for corned beef and cabbage, but you slept right through the party. You were passed from Tony to Kathy to Elizabeth to Jer to Erick and Tika, still sleeping, before finally being put down for the night.

5 Month Update

You finally have discovered your toes! This is the milestone I have been waiting for. So super cute! Although, you showed Aunt Amanda and Kathy first while we were away overnight.

You are starting to roll to your side, but no roll overs yet. We have to belt you in to all the chairs because you look like you are going to launch yourself out. We tried rice cereal. Daddy got some great footage, but you weren't quite sure about it. We don't think you really ate any, but it was more about learning how to use a spoon than anything.

You are a delight- all smiles and giggles. Still 1 night feeding/changing, but you are so close. Bed time is more like 7pm, with a wake up about 3 and then we are up at 8. No nap routine yet, but it seems ok so far.

I went back to work M/W and you get to spend those days with Nana. You are learning how to swim in the tub and just having a great time. She wears you out with all the playing. You are so lucky to have loving involved grandparents.

Granddad and Natalie

Could they be any cuter!! Granddad came for another visit. We had a blast- it was gorgeous weather and we got to spend some time enjoying Santana Row with the baby.

Natalie and the Exersaucer

How fun! Thank you Theo!

4 Month Check Up

Natalie had her 4 month well baby check up today with Dr. Don. She is 17 lbs, exactly, and 26 inches long. This is off the charts for weight and 95% in height. She also received three vaccines, one oral and two shots. After the first shot, she looked at me, and paused for a second before she started her infamous frown and then the cry. But she was a trouper and seems to be sleeping the after effects off.

Baby's First Trip to Tahoe

We went to Tahoe with the Hiltgen family. We kept you bundled in a little bear outfit inside and then in a pink poofball outside.

Won't You Be My Valentine?

The Lobster Bibs

Alice made you some special bibs with Maine lobsters on them... so adorable. Thank you Alice!