Easter Egg Hunts

EGG HUNT I
This was Natalie first official Easter Egg hunt this year. She did remarkably well! It also helped that Daddy taught her a few practice rounds at home ;-)

On Thursday, Natalie's daycare did an egg hunt for the kids after school. Natalie's age group class went first. As soon as it began, Natalie went straight for the eggs. It was so cute!!!

Natalie and her friend Savanna having a great time hunting and sharing their eggs together.

EGG HUNT II
On Saturday, our city held their annual Easter Egg hunt. We wanted to check this one out with Natalie, too. However, this one did not go as well. 1) It was very windy and a little cold, 2) There were way too many people, 3) It was supposed to start at 11am, but they were running late and many kids were getting impatient and cranky including Natalie, 4) It's over in less than 2 minutes, and 5) It took 30 minutes or longer to get out of the parking lot because of traffic.

Natalie not happy. She could not wait to get started.

Video: Daddy takes Natalie out to the field to hunt for eggs.

As you can see, it was too crowded! We may skip this one next year!

Shop and Play at the Galleria...again!

Once again, Mommy and Natalie goes shopping at the Galleria. Nordstrom's children's department usually gives a balloon away to their little customers :-)

Natalie is well-behaved out of her stroller which is so nice. She walks and stays very close to Mommy and Daddy.

After Mommy gets some shopping done, we stop by the indoor jungle playground so Natalie can play.

Natalie is finally able to climb and stand on top of some of the animals. Yay Natalie!

Natalie had a fun-filled day!

Daddy's girl

This is usually how it is....as soon as Daddy comes home from work, Natalie loves to hang out with her Papa. She always asks me, "where's Dada?" all the time!

They were playing and watching Sesame Street together.

Natalie loves to hang out with Mommy, too!!!

Airplanes!

We went to the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum to check out--well, you know, airplanes! It is a cool place to see an old retired, historic airplane (DC-3) and learn a little about the history and world of commercial aviation.

Before we toured through the museum, they were about to show a brief 15-minute documentary about AA's first flight, past and present, in their theater room. We have not taken Natalie to a public movie theater yet, so we did not know if she would freak out with the darkness, loud speakers, or the huge projector screen. However, once the film began she sat very still on my lap and watched the movie in its entirety. AMAZING!

Daddy and Natalie checking out a MD-80 ("Super 80") model airplane.

Here, Daddy shows Natalie a display that demonstrates how an aiplane propeller works. She really enjoyed pushing all kinds of buttons.

A retired DC-3 plane that you can tour inside. Although, it was small and cramped, it is hard to believe this plane few passengers on trans-continental flights. For example, the flight from Chicago to Los Angeles took over 7 hours!

Alain and Natalie checking out the forward compartment and cockpit.

Exiting the aircraft / Natalie christening the plane for good luck ;)

Of course, everywhere we go, Natalie has to have her "woobie" blanket...

Pictures with Mommy who is 8.5 months pregnant with Natalie's baby brother!

Following the penny down the coin funnel / More buttons to push that shows a cockpit view of a 757 aircraft.

Destination station. Natalie pushing buttons that highlights where AA flies all over the world. Natalie deciding where our family should go! Hopefully soon, we will be able to travel somewhere tropical with a nice beach :-) Ahhhh!

Overall, we had a great time at the museum. It is definitely a place worth checking out!

Natalie's 18 months checkup

Natalie is now 18 months old! Wow, a year and a half! I can't believe time has flown by. Thursday, Natalie had her routine checkup with her pediatrician and she did great. Her measurements were:

Weight: 23 lbs (25th percentile)

Height: 32.5 inches (75th percentile)
Head: 18.5 (90th percentile)

Overall, Natalie is healthy and an advanced talker for her age. Dr. T said Natalie's big head means she is smart :-) She can say many words, although she was a bit shy when we put her on the spot to speak in front of her doctor. She can identify and name a few basic colors, some numbers and alphabets, and of course, animals. She still loves to read her books!!! I think we can enroll Natalie in kindergarten now--HA!

After her checkup, Natalie received a Hepititis-A shot on her leg. She cried but recovered quick. Luckily, Daddy was there to help distract her from the pain.

Natalie playing with the magnet wall at the doctor's office.

Natalie's next checkup will be in 6 months, when she turns 2 years old! Oh my goodness! And her little brother is expected to arrive in less than 2 months!

Sleepy Heads

Once again, time change! It was that time where we had to "spring forward" an hour which meant lost sleep for us. I got up at 7am which is the time Natalie usually wakes up. I went to check on her, but she was still sleeping. After Natalie drank some milk in her sippy cup, she fell back to sleep in my arms. I put her down on our bed thinking she will wake up, but nope; she and Daddy were snoozing away. I was too awake by then, so I got up to make breakfast.

They slept for another hour!

Splish, Splash--Bubbles!

When Daddy helps out with Natalie's bathtime, it is all fun and games, water and bubbles everywhere. Natalie is definitely a water baby just like her Daddy ;)

"Mommy, look at my new hairdo!"