Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Natalie's 1st Valentine's Day

It was so hard to go back to work after 2 snow days at home with my girl!

    Natalie with her Valentine from Mrs. Brandi!

Back to reality

Today was the dreaded day that I really had mixed feelings about. Part of me was ready to go back to work just to have a routine back in my life and then the other part of course wanted to stay with my girl. It would be so nice if germs didn't exist and she could go to work with me. However, leaving Natalie in great hands makes it so much easier. 

I didn't get any pictures of me and her but these are some pictures Brandi sent me from their day. ;) 

I'm almost 100% certain she will be spoiled rotten and I am perfectly fine with it. She is only this small for a little while and I want her to be rocked and loved on and there is no doubt Brandi has this taken care of! ;) 

Natalie: 2 months

At 2 months you:

• weigh 10lbs
• are 21.5in. long
• are in 0-3 months clothes and size 1 diapers
• go to sleep anywhere between 8 and 10 and most nights only get up 1 time.
• still sleep in the nap nanny beside our bed

• you have seen your first snow

• went to Sunday School for the first time
• love to be rocked which makes my heart happy. I wouldn't trade that for the world.
• love to sleep on your tummy but it make me nervous so I let you nap on your tummy occasionally.

 

 

 

 

 

Natalie's First Snow

Monday night the weather man said we were suppose to get a dusting of snow and well to say the least the computer models were off. On Tuesday morning, Daniel got up and went to work like any other normal day. I got up and was going about our normal morning routine when I looked outside and notice it was snowing pretty hard. I decided I would go ahead and wash up our night time bottles in case our water froze, I would have that much behind me. Before I was finished washing bottles momma called me and said that me and Natalie better get to her house while we still could. For those of you who may not know...we live within walking distance to my parents house; however, walking was out of the question with Natalie.
Momma was suppose to pick Kynlee up from daycare because they were originally closing at 2:30. We decided we might better go ahead and get her. Natalie stayed with Papa while Nana and I went to pick up Kynlee. When we got to daycare around 10, they were hunting a number to call and let us know that they were closing somewhere between 11 and 11:30 and were trying to get in touch with all parents. Thankfully we made it there and back without any problems.
In the meantime, Uncle Jake is at school in Oxford. I had texted him and called him to tell him to come home. He left Oxford at 10:30 and within 30 minutes he was calling saying he couldn't get home. There was a wreck on 431 in the curves and the interstate was at a standstill. So his only option left to try was Hwy. 78 to Heflin. He got stuck there too. You could feel the tension in the house of having one of your own stranded. After about an hour an a half of being stranded he called and let us know that there was people there working to clear the road and he had some Clay County folks with him. We all breathed a sigh of relief. He finally made it home 3.5 hours later. We were all so thankful he wasn't one that was stranded out on the road and was able to make it home. There were thousands of people out there that weren't as fortunate.
Once everyone made it to Nana and Papa's we went out to play and for a few pictures.

Natalie and Kynlee's first snow

 

 

I sure do miss the hogs, but after the past 2 days I am very thankful we didn't have to worry about feeding them and checking their water.

 

 

We were still stuck inside today. Clay County was pretty much still shut down. The three of us and Kirby loaded up and went back to Nana and Papa's to sit by the fire. Daniel and Uncle Jake ventured out and went to town and to Maw Maw Betty's to feed the cows. When they got back I was about to go stir crazy, I had to get outside. So Uncle Jake and I went and played in the road. Natalie stayed inside by the fire with her daddy and only came out for a quick picture.

Please keep your comments to yourself. I know she doesn't have anything on her head but it isn't worth the fight for a 5 sec picture. She hates anything on her head. She was only uncovered for Nana to snap the picture and then she was covered back up and carried back inside.

We ended the day with a beautiful sunset.

 

 

Baby Dedication

Today was Natalie's baby dedication. I was real nervous about how it would go because me and her went to church Wednesday night and she screamed during preaching. So my goal this morning was to keep her awake as long as we could so that when we got to church she would be ready for a nap and not put on a show for Bro. John.

 

 

As you can tell she was dressed and ready for church before she decided to take a nap. (Yes she is very sleepy in these pictures.) Anyway...we made it to church where Natalie slept through the song service. Then it was her time to shine. Bro. John read several scriptures and then Natalie took a short stroll with Bro. John.

Daniel and I were given Natalie's Certificate of Dedication and a Bible.

 

 

 

Thankfully, we made it through church without any major interruptions from our girl. After church I wanted a few pictures with our family that was able to make it. Daniel and I were blessed to have both of our families with us to share this day. We could not ask for a better support group in raising our baby girl from our family to our church family. They say it takes a village to raise a child and well I think we have the best village there is :).

Daniel and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for our girl. We are so thankful that God chose us to be Natalie's parents. We pray that she will follow him in everything she does and seek his guidance.

 

The following is just part of our village :)

 

Paw Paw, NaeNae, Uncle Bennie, & Aunt Sue Nell

Maw Maw Betty and Aunt Joann aka Grandma

(Aunt Joann means a lot to our family probably more than she will ever know. While Natalie was in the NICU Aunt Joann went with us on Sunday's to visit since Maw Maw Betty wasn't able to go. The only people allowed in the NICU were parents, siblings, and grandparents so Aunt Joann signed in as a grandparent. While holding Natalie for the first time she told her that it would be ok if she called her Grandma too. We love you to the moon and back.)

Papa, Nana, Uncle Jake, and Misty

Aunt Janie & Uncle Gary

Granny Peggy

This lady has been around my whole life. She works with my mom. She is CRAZY to say the least but we love her and we were so glad that she joined us for this special day.

My best friend.

Bro. John

Aunt Bethany and Kynlee

 

 



Play date with Will

Today Natalie and I went to visit Katie and Will for a play date. Their first play date consisted of eating and napping for the most part. Please notice in all the pictures how Will has barely moved and my child is all over the place. She is constantly moving her hands and feet.

 

 

 

I have to say I think these are 2 of the cutest babies. :)

Two Dr. appts. & a Photo Shoot

Natalie had 2 doctors appointments today at Children's Hospital. We had to be at her first appointment at 8:30 so I got up at the wee hours of the morning to make sure I had everything she would need and to get myself and her ready plus her fed.
Her first appointment was with an orthopedic doctor. We had to have her hips checked out AGAIN (that's a whole other story) because she was breeched and 6 weeks early. This doctor ordered an ultrasound. Natalie did great during the ultrasound and then the doctor came in and did a hip exam on her. Everything checked out just fine considering the fact she is only suppose to be a week old which is what this doctor was going by. (Being premature their are some things that were not quite finished developing and he said he hips looked perfectly fine considering the fact and that we would go by her corrected age, which is from my due date.) So we go back in 6 weeks just for a check-up.
Her second appointment was just an ultrasound on her spine to make sure everything was fine and it was. Ya'll I promise Daniel and I are not terrible parents. All of these things were looked at at St. Vincents during her NICU stay and checked out just fine so I had no doubt that today's reports would be any different. :)

When we got home from the doctor Natalie was in a good mood and wide awake so I thought I would snap some pictures of her. Plus she had on an adorable outfit that was given to her at the baby shower from Renee Denson. It is absolutely precious and Natalie just makes it look even better :).

Kirby is starting to come around. Natalie loves watching her.