My Baby is All Grown Up

Today Natalie went to her first official day of nursery at church. You have to be 18 months old to go during the last 2 hours of church. We had taken Natalie into nursery to introduce her to the concept and she had done fine. Today was no different. She started playing with a ball with another little girl in her class and that was all she wrote.

When I went to pick her up her teacher remarked that she was "very smart". It makes a mom feel good to think that other people think your child is smart. Paul had to burst my bubble and tell me that the teacher probably says that to all the parents.

Natalie has been growing up awfully fast. She is starting to say a few words like, Dad, socks, shoes, dog, ball, NO, thanks, you're welcome. Notice I did not include mom on that list? She has only said mom twice and now she won't say it. If you ask her to say it she will smile at you with a conspiratorial grin and then say, "Dad". I think she is playing me.

She has also developed some cute habits: She likes to haul every item out of her crib in the morning and take it to her high chair and let the items hang out on the table while she eats. She will pitch a fit if we don't go through this routine every morning. She also loves to dance when music is playing. Her favorite songs are from the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. She likes to tickle my feet until I laugh. She is very tough and it takes a lot to make her cry. She loves books and often brings us books to read to her. She also loves to get her hair done. When I am finished doing her hair I say, "Pretty!" and she shakes her head like a Pantene hair model. She wants to be a big kid and loves to do whatever her brother and sister are doing. She is quite indignant when they ditch her. She is a unique personality and I love to see her evolve more and more each day. I never knew motherhood could be such fun!

She may be small, but she's mighty!