Archive for the “Natalieisms” Category
Conversations with Natalie: June 14, 2011
I wanted to share two conversations I had with Natalie today, one that made me feel incredibly guilty and one that made me realize that everything was going to be ok.
The first one happened on the long subway ride home from Madison Square Park. We’d seen a concert with Josie and Tam, then had lunch with Chris and Kary.
Dancing to the Dirty Sock Fun Time Band at Madison Square Park
Shake shack!!!Sitting on the bench on the subway, Natalie took off her shoe. I noticed there was some stuff in it.
“Natalie, what’s that in your shoe?”
She handed her shoe to me and I when I looked up close, I realized that there were about 20 tiny rocks in it. We’d just walked a few blocks and down a bunch of stairs into the subway.
“Rocks! That must have hurt so much to walk on! Why didn’t you tell me that you had rocks in your shoes?!?”
“Well, I didn’t want to complain. You always tell me not to complain.”
I gave my poor child a hug and we had a long talk about the difference between complaining/whining about things that we can’t control (like the temperature outside or having to walk uphill) and speaking up about something that’s easily fixed—like stopping to dump rocks out of shoes.
Later, after dinner, Natalie was getting ready to take a shower and was cold.
“Mom, I need to get in the water right away. I’m so cold I have goose bumps! I even have goose bumps on my butt cheeks!” (giggling)
“Oh really?”
“Goose bumps on my butt cheeks!!” (laughter)
“Ok, honey, enough with the butt cheeks.”
“BUTT CHEEKS!!!!!!!!” (more laughter)
“Natalie, did you ever know that you are a rascal?” (trying to hide my amusement)
“Mom, did you ever know that your name is BUTT CHEEKS?!?!?!?!”
The two of us both had tears running down our faces from laughing so hysterically. I stopped feeling guilty.
Food Negotiations
It’s always a bit of a challenge to get Natalie to eat enough—at meals that is. She’ll eat plenty of snacks without any encouragement.
But this morning’s negotiations baffled me.
Natalie: I’m full (she’d eaten two bites of oatmeal, a food she loves)
Me: Ok, 5 more bites (knowing that otherwise she’d be begging for snacks in no time)
Natalie: No, 6 bites!
Me: 6 it is!
I love an easy victory.
Jodi & Jay’s Beautiful Wedding!
Mr. & Mrs. G Jodi and I have been friends for over 20 years and she has been there for me and our family countless times. So I was thrilled when she asked me to be her matron of honor and Natalie to be her flower girl. We have been looking forward to Jodi and Jay’s wedding since he proposed last year. There were many fun things leading up to this weekend—making favors, dress fittings, the bridal shower, bachelorette party—but we couldn’t wait for the actual wedding to arrive.
Natalie was so excited to be the flower girl! She has been telling everyone who would listen about the upcoming wedding and her role in it. At the rehearsal the day before the wedding, I started getting a little nervous that she would be too shy to actually walk down the aisle. But by the end of the rehearsal, she felt comfortable with the location and all the people in the wedding party who were new to her. Here are some pictures of the rehearsal and the bridal party getting ready to go out to dinner the night before the wedding. Jodi made all of our awesome shirts!
Flower Girls practicing
Lovely Bridesmaids Amanda, Marisa, and Lisa
Groom and groomsmen
Bride and Flower Girl
The famous Auntie Lori with the bride
Friends of 20+ years!!!
Bride and her Mama
The day of the wedding was picture-prefect. Sunny, not a cloud in the sky, with a light cool breeze. Jodi and Jay picked a gorgeous location for their nuptials—Wickham Park in Manchester, CT. The view beyond the alter was a beautiful valley. The day went without a hitch, everything was perfect down to every meticulously planned detail. Jodi and Jay did so much work to make everything special and it showed.
Natalie was extremely well-behaved and patient the entire day, even though much of it was spent waiting—for hair and make-up to be done, for the ceremony to start, for pictures to be finished, etc. I was waiting for her to have a meltdown at some point because she didn’t get to bed until after 10:30 pm the night before the wedding! But she started out happy in the morning and was an angel the entire day and night—we didn’t leave the reception until 10 pm!
After the ceremony, I was explaining to Natalie what would happen at the reception. I guess I spent so much time telling her what would happen during the ceremony, that afterward she though the wedding was over. Upon hearing that there would then be dinner, music, dancing, and cake, Natalie said, “well, Mommy, I’m a lovely dancer!”
We had decided beforehand not to take Miranda to the wedding. Although I wanted her to share in this important family event, at her age she isn’t able to wait patiently through a ceremony or stay up past her bedtime without freaking out. So, we left her with Bonnie and Ray, who said she did very well. Looking at how beautiful the pictures are, I was sad that she wasn’t with us. Maybe next year we’ll take another trip to the park and have some family photos taken.
Hair and Make-up
Natalie and Chayenne Flower girls all ready and waiting for the ceremony to start.
Marisa, Heather, and Amanda Jodi’s friend Heather served as the wedding coordinator and did a fabulous job!!
Flower girl with her Dadddy
Family shot
Flower Girl and Matron of Honor
Running
“No more pictures!!!!”
I can’t wait to see the professional wedding photos from Val McCormick!! Congratulations, Jodi and Jay!!!!