Thankful

Reading my friend Anna's recent blog post inspired me to write a short post about what I feel thankful for this year. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my family and friends), I am not nearly as funny or sassy as Anna! If you want a good laugh, be sure to read her post.

I won't pretend that this has been anything other than a difficult year for me. However, I've gone through other difficult times and it's true that it always does get easier and better as time goes on. I am lucky in SO MANY ways. First, I am lucky to have Natalie and I try to never forget how easily that may not have been. She loves me unconditionally and completely. I am inspired by her persistence and amazed by how much she is learning and asserting her independence lately. I also love how she curls up against me and sticks her little hands under my arm to go to sleep at night.

In addition, I also happen to have a truly awesome family. I don't even dread spending time with them during the holidays like many do. In fact, I look forward to it! My family understands me like no one else and they do everything they can to help with Natalie. Seeing my nieces and nephews grow up and interact with Natalie is amazing. They get so excited to see her and they help her do things that she has difficulty doing on her own. Natalie loves giving everyone kisses and likes dancing with Ronan and Kiernan and wrestling with Carter.

Then, last but not least, I have the greatest friends! They keep me entertained (Roller Derby - need I say more?) and help me out whenever I need it. Many of my friends have known me since junior high or high school and know me as well as my family does.

So, in case I don't say it enough or at all, I truly appreciate all of these people who make my life (and Natalie's) so much better!

Natalie's 5 years of Halloween fun

NICU baby 2006:

Piglet 2007:

Kitty Cat 2008:

Monkey 2009:

Pinkalicious 2010:

Pink and Tink: **Natalie stood without any support for about 30 seconds**

With the whole gang: Kiernan (Tinkerbell), Natalie, Carter (The Amazing Bumblebee), and Ronan (cowboy):


Natalie did a GREAT job walking with her walker up to several houses this year. I am so proud of her. After she followed her cousins up to about 5 or 6 houses, she insisted on holding a piece of candy in each hand and having me carry her. When someone would try to give her another piece of candy she would try to give it back to them! She dressed up as Pinkalicious, a character in one of her favorite books right now. I love seeing how much she has grown up over the last 4 years!

The amazing Ipad

Check out this link to a Wall Street Journal article about children with special needs using the Ipad for communication. Since Natalie's communication device just got denied by insurance and medicaid, an Ipad could be in Natalie's future. (Although I will be appealing the medicaid denial).

Little bits of Natalie

There are so many times throughout the day that I see Natalie do something and think that I need to remember to blog about it. I don't want to forget the little things that she is learning and doing all the time. So, this is just a little list of Natalie's recent quirks and accomplishments:

*She can make herself sneeze. I have no idea how but I think it's an impressive talent! I discovered this a few months ago when she sneezed and when I laughed at her and asked her if she had to sneeze again, she did (over and over again)! I need to get it on video.

*She has been adding a few new foods to her diet here and there. She will now eat hummus (if it's on a pretzel and spread pretty thin) and pumpkin bread (stuff I made that I thought was mediocre at best). She has also been drinking prune juice mixed with her bottle of Pediasure at night. Next step is to eliminate the bottle (she just has one at night but it's a pretty solid part of her bedtime routine)!

*She can walk much longer distances with her walker and she just learned how to turn it to go in different directions. The turning process is still rather unsafe if someone is not right there next to her but she is getting better every day! She seems to relish the freedom it gives her and she is getting VERY stubborn about doing the walking thing her way (i.e. picking the direction, the pace, stopping/starting etc). She's also been trying to stand up by herself in the middle of the floor but her balance is not quite there yet to be successful.

*She likes certain parts of preschool but I am not sure she is as excited about it yet as she was last year. It's hard to live up to Miss Davis! However, Natalie does seem to at least enjoy gym and library time and I think as time goes on, she will love it as much as she did before.

*She follows directions so well! She heads straight for the stairs and goes up to her bedroom when I tell her that it is nap time. She gets certain toys or books when I tell her to. Natalie goes right to her chair in the kitchen when I tell her that it is lunch/breakfast/dinner time. I should note that she has been able to follow directions pretty well for awhile now but I don't know if I've ever made it a point to note it. I just started trying to teach her letters and I think she will pick up on it pretty quickly. I tested her today on one of her toys which has rather small letters buttons and she seemed to know "N" and "A" after I showed them to her a few times.

*Natalie had her first appointment with her new pediatrician a couple weeks ago (4 year appt)and she was 35 lbs and 39 inches tall. That is the 47th percentile for weight and 28th percentile for height. This is GREAT for a former micropreemie! It's funny that she's only at the 28th percentile for height because everyone always comments on "how tall" she is.

*She has now had stitches in her chin a total of 4 times(May 2009, January 2010, April 2010, and August 2010) and her ped said that the next time she needs them(because there will be a next time), I should have the ER doctor put a few internal stitches in first. He made it sound as if they should have known to do this before - interesting!

Cook's babies

My mom loves all her grandchildren and how could she not? They are all so adorable and have such unique and fun personalities. Notice the newest addition, Lucy Marie, in my mom's arms. She's beautiful and Carter and Kiernan are helping their parents take good care of their little sister.


Natalie hasn't quite gotten the hang of hamming it up for pictures like Kiernan and Ronan have but don't worry, they are working on teaching her.



Check out these two blonde Backyardigan junkies watching TV together:

Party

Just wanted to do a quick post of birthday party pictures. Cook and Howard hosted a little birthday party for my big girl on Sept 5. She had tons of fun with her cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents and friends! Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with Natalie!

Happy 4th Birthday Natalie

Wow, Natalie is such a big girl now, a 4 year old preschooler! To think that just 4 years ago tonight she was born a 1 lb 6 oz micropreemie. I am so proud of all that she has accomplished in 4 short years and I can't wait to see what she will be able to do after 4 more.
We had a little birthday photo shoot in which Natalie very UNenthusiastically participated.
What mommy, you want me to cooperate? HaHa!

Maybe I will just pick my nose...

Or play with my toy Boots(thanks Kristin!)...

Or lick my knee...

Fine. Is this what you want?

This is as good as it's going to get tonight. I guess she's at least looking at the camera in this one(well, sort of anyway)!