This dress was among the new clothes in the package that Natalie opened that came in last time she was here. After she got out of the tub, she was asking me about the flower dress in her closet...I soon realized she was talking about this new dress. So why not wear it today!
This was photographed about a year ago (10.03.08). Natalie was really beginning the "pretend" age. She is playing with her Elmo doctor set. I didn't get many images. Precious was not a very good patient. Just look at the look on her face! 
These first two images are of Natlie and her Poppa playing around while Mimi did a little blogging.
It is always a little neat to see what she picks out!~~Natalie's Mimi~~
I hate that I didn't get another photo. One that shows her with the baby doll. She has really shown interest in this baby doll lately. This is the one she named Sally a while back. It is really so sweet seeing little ones imitate their parents and grandparents taking care of babies. Maybe I will get a chance to photograph her today with this baby doll. Last night I showed her how to swaddle a baby. She loved it. It all so sweet it almost make me cry.
Natalie and I
I actually like myself in the above image. I used to be rather photogenic, but twenty years and more than 20 pounds later...not so much. I wished Natalie had a more pleasant expression, but over all I think this is my new favorite image with her because after all, she is beautiful with or without a smile.
It's funny I make sure I get more photos with her now that I am with her less. But I guess I can use another one of those cliche's...better late than never. I phycially took care of her 3 days a week (or more depending on what was going on with school, ball and other activites) when she was younger (actually her first 3 years). One day when she was about close to a year old, I thought about how few photos that I had of the two us. Now I already had a hard drive full of images of her alone, many with Poppa and even many more with her parents. And being the overthinker that I am, I thought to myself..."what if something happened to me? Would she have any idea of how special she was to me? How much she really meant to me? How special she makes feel being her Mimi feel or felt (in that case). Would others remember to tell her that I was the one that took all those photographs? After expressing this to Randy, he would offer to take my photo with her, but it would always be when I needed my hair washed or just looked plain yucky...not to mention it was more overweight then. So now if I don't feel like it is really bad hair day or whatever, I ask to be photographed with her every chance I get. As evidenced by more recent posts. [If I have shared this little story before, I apologize for the repeat.]
The next two are of Natalie alone. I only did these a just a few more (only 10 altogether...not my typical mini session like normally everytime that I pick up the camera...probably why my family isn't that fond of being photographed), but we were already beginning to run a little late for church and we still needed to stop by Mary's house to pick Cari up from church.
This was is a little softer with natural lighting. Often I prefer natural lighting over flash, and sometimes the other way around, but sometime I like them both. They are just different as in this case:
This pretty smocked dress was a gift from Jonah for Natalie's birthday. On Natalie's birthday, Jonah's mommy was almost here and she remembered she forgot Natalie's birthday gift. So she said thought oh well Natalie probably won't know the different at this age and that she would just give it to her later...not big deal, huh? I totally agree. Natalie received two (twins, huh?) Mermaid Dora dolls (also the same gift left at home). So Nicki decided to take it back and find Natalie something else. This is what she came up with. Great choice! Natalie loved it.
Jonah came her with his parents last week for his two portrait. However, we had to re-schedule them due to the accident that happened earlier that day (his eye was still swollent). Nicki mentioned that the dress has been riding around in her car she she bought it. The very next post that was made on their blog, I noticed it. After Brittany saw it, she too, noticed it and mentioned it to me yesterday.
Nicki, I wished you could have seen Natalie in the nursery yesterday. I didn't actually see you at all...I guess that's what happens when you arrive late and then leave quickly for quick seating for lunch. At first Natalie started of soooo good in church (the best ever). Then quickly she went downhill and said that she wanted to go see Jonah. Nicki, what I really wished you could have seen was Natalie talking to Jonah right after she got into the nursery room. She walked over to him...I didn't catch all of it, but I think she was telling Jonah thank you for her dress. I looked over the and she was up in his face...I heard her say Jonah and I heard her say dress while she was actually holding her dress. Jonah was unimpressed and probably had no clue as to what she was talking about...typical little guy (big one) not knowing a thing about clothes and such and just not really caring either. From being a parent of a little one of both a girl and boy, girls are so much more detailed-oriented from an early age about clothes. It is so cute! But the whole scene was about Natalie thanking Jonah too!
These next few images are of them decorating Natalie's pumpkin.
So what did Natalie make!
A PUMPKING CAT! TOO CUTE!
After supper, Randy and I came back. I asked Natalie about coming with us. I really wanted her to stay the night and go to church with us. She said..."No, I have t stay with my parents!" It was so funny. But convinced her to come because "her parents" as she interestingly called them (you must admit that this is a bid growny for a 3 yr. old) that her parents were coming too. She still wasn't so sure, but her mommy walked her to the car and buckled up. She was soon very fine with all watching her DVD in the car.
So bathtime was next on the agenda for our evening at home. Last time she was here she played with toys that she had not seen in a while that I found while giving my bathroom a good cleaning or re-organizing. This is one of the toys that I found then too, but we didn't play with then because it was on a taller shelf and I just forgot about it. This was one her first tub toys other than rubber duckies. I bought it for her while she was a very young infant. I found it on clearance at Wal-mart. It said ages 12 mos and up...I think I gave it to her for her first Christmas, but I quite honestly I am not sure. Anyway...it one of those toys that I don't think she has outgrown. It has three little Care Bears with each one on some kind of floating device. They can each slide down the slide and then they have permanently resting place on the toy near the slide. We (and I do mean we) had fun sliding them down the slide!
After much playing (before the water gets any cooler), I remind her it is time to roller over and wash her hair. This is the first reaction I got. Isn't that a cute bottom!!!
Next she rolled around on her back...something she has enjoyed doing in the tub for about as long as I can remember...well, at least as long as she has been old enough to play in the tub w/o assistance. I am glad that I photographed this because I am not sure that I ever have. It's one of those things that's "worth remembering".
She is trying to wrap Precious in a old beach towel that I have been wrapping her in a nighttime before she goes to sleep. Often Precious is a litte cool, but especially this evening since she was groomed the day before.
A POSED "CHEESE" WITH PRECIOUS (PRECIOUS DOESN'T LOOK TOO "CHEESY", HUH?)
And lastly she needs to brush her teeth.
Doesn't she look cute in her new Elmo P.J's that I have had in the back of the closet?
That's all I have from the night. Her mommy came in a few minutes later and she didn't want Mimi or Poppa...just her mommy. So I went to bed, but her mommy did have hard time getting her to bed. I think she was just a little overtired!
This was also the first time that Cameron and Brittany stayed the night here since getting married. It was different and reminds me of staying the night at my parents after getting married and moving away. It was nice to visit with all of them. It had been 4 weeks since I had seen my son. It is strange being parents of grown children. But I guess that's our goal in rearing our children... but is is all sort of bitter sweet.
~~Natalie's Mimi~~
~~Natalie's Mimi~~
