First leg.

Our little one and I, along with my in-laws, hop-skipped-and-flew our way from DC to Arizona today.

What a big journey for such a little girl!

And blessing upon blessing, she slept the whole way. 

Through two flights.

I think she like the rumbly-ness and vibration of the plane.

We are thrilled to be launching Summer 2014 West-a-palooza but certainly miss the man in our lives, he's back home holding down the fort and loving full nights of uninterrupted sleep until he joins us out here.
xoxo, natty ♥

Taking in some tunes.

We enjoyed our baby's first outdoor concert tonight.

And so did she!

Here's to summer's first full weekend, if only calendarically-speaking.

xoxo, natty

Changes!

As we head back to DC I'm also prepping myself and our daughter for some weeks on the road...Arizona to

California back to Arizona.

When we return we'll be wrapping up the time in our apartment and moving on up {northwards} to Maryland.

Our little family has gone through huge changes recently and has even more coming up ahead...wish us luck!!

xoxo, natty

Greenery and sky.

xoxo, natty ♥

Ten weeks.

It's been such a lovely few days with family and we're happy to have a few more...and let's see what Ms. Hanna Lu is up to...

• Tons of wonderful smiles, coos, squawks, and giggly sounds...we are loving this!!

• Thumb sucking! She usually gets just her fits in there but every other time or so manages just the thumb...she isn't aware that she can bring her hand to her mouth, it's just by chance or the few times we bring it up there for her.

• Has a hard time falling asleep.

• Has a hard time staying asleep for very long unless being held.

• Is happiest in the mornings.

• Hanny Lu is enjoying her first vacation with her dad's side of the family...we're in Shenandoah, Virginia, and the little girl loves all the attention and the beautiful green trees around us.

• Is doing well with taking a bottle.

• Did really well with the several-hour car-ride down here, though a bottle seemed to be the only way to calm her down at certain points; even if the car is moving well, little girl doesn't love to be stuck in the car and I think it's because she doesn't like to be strapped down and that's precisely the purpose of a car seat!

• Visited her first national park {Shenandoah} and slept her way through her first hike {daddy "wore" her}.

• Is being loved on by so much family this week; thank you so so much to them all for a fabulous time together! 

xoxo, natty ♥

Thanks.

Today we're grateful for those who have served our country. My grandfather, in particular, who piloted a plane in World War II.

Many thanks to all of our service men and women.
xoxo, natty ♥

Caves and lines.

Today we attempted to check out some local caverns and much to our dismay there was enough of a line to actually deter us. 

So we drove around downtown/historic Luray and then got some ice cream.

Some relaxing at the house, hot tubbing, and basketball wrapped up a wonderful day today.
xoxo, natty ♥

Green trees and hills.

We had a wonderful first day here today. We're staying in a cabin about 30 minutes out of the national park {Shenandoah} and it's gorgeous. After a leisurely morning we drove in for a hike. 

The park is 100 miles north-south and the main road that drives through it is built on a ridge so that the trails that go off the main road all seem to go downhill. Which means we get to go uphill on out way back. I actually find the downhill harder {"oh my aching knees and calves!" say the new mom who hasn't really exercised since last August} than the uphill but no matter which direction is more painful, a nice flat trail would be nice.

But I'm not complaining by any means! The hike was beautiful and we saw some waterfalls at the end. Hanna Lu slept her way through her first hike which was OK since she'llhave plenty more in the years ahead.

An Italian potluck feast for dinner, some time in the hot tub and around the fire , and s'mores made for a lovely end of the day.

Here's to the rest of our time here being just as enjoyable!

xoxo, natty 

Cabin!

We're off on a mountain adventure!

Happy weekend to you all!

xoxo, natty

To the graduate.

We are so very proud of you and the fearless {dedicated, HARD, committed...I could go on...} work you've put in since July 2012.

Your daughter and I love you so much!

Photoshoot intruder.

xoxo, natty ♥

Nine weeks.

We're almost into double digit weeks here; what a growing girl! Let's see what else is going on.

• The night after her shots was a rough one but things were better the next day
• She's rolled over from her tummy to her back several times and looks like she's trying to go in the other direction too
• Hanna Lu enjoys sucking on her hand (the right one, mainly) and seems to be going for the thumb at times
• She's about to meet some more family this week
• This is her last week in DC; next week we'll be in Shenandoah and after that we'll be in California and Arizona for about six weeks and then we're moving to Silver Spring, Maryland
• Lots of good smiles, coos, and beautiful sounds coming from this baby; we just love her! 

xoxo, natty ♥

What a week!

Today I'll look ahead at what's shaping up for us this week...

1. More family coming in! Hanna Lu gets to meet a great aunt and uncle and great grandparents as well.

2. My husband graduating from his graduate program with the highest GPA he's had over the two years; WAY TO GO SWEETIE!! I'm so proud of this man for all of the extremely hard work he's put in paired with putting up with a wife who had a hard time moving across the country and having a baby in his last semester; this was a crazy experience and he's been stalwart and successful through it all. 

3. Some warm beautiful weather...which means nice walks!

4. A family trip to a cabin in Shenandoah...this has been on our "we can't wait" list for quite some time. We'll head down later this week and then return next week!

5. This goes with numbers 1 and 4; time spent with family...


How's your week reader? Can you believe June is creeping up on us?!
xoxo, natty ♥

Two months.

We are barreling straight into summer as if there weren't a gorgeous baby doing new things every day! Let's see what exactly...

How old: two months old

Weight: 12 pounds, approximately. 

Likes:

• The ceiling fan! She gives the biggest smile she's capable of for the good 'ol fan. Mommy's a bit jealous.
• Trees; she loves looking at them through the window and when we go outside.
• Her baby pillow {just a pillow meant for babies to lounge on; not a purchase I would condone but it was a gift and she loves it...so does our dog when there's not a baby on it} and her playmat; she can sit and make very cute happy squawky sounds for a while in/on these two things.
• Being bounced in our arms on our yoga ball; our cores are getting a good workout these days.
• Sucking on her fist...it seems as though the thumb might find it's way in there but for now, with her coordination, it's almost the whole fist.

Dislikes:

• Being left alone for too long; she's good on the mat/pillow for a while but she lets you know when she's done
• Being encouraged to finish eating when she's done
• Falling asleep on her own...this will change, we really hope

Milestones:

• Two month shots...what a sad baby!
• Hanna Lu has rolled over several times from her tummy to her back
• She "talks" to us!
• Lots of smiling...we love each one
• She has met all of her grandparents and many of our DC friends

Sleep and eat:

• Hanna will nap during the day really well when being held or worn and for between one and 20 minutes if we lay her down...hopefully this improves
• We can usually get a three to five hour stretch of sleep, while she's down, at the beginning of the night {which can be between 9:30 and midnight for her} and then she'll sleep on and off until between eight and ten AM as long as she's on me...another thing we'd like to see change
• Hanna Lu's eating is sporadic; she takes a bottle now {yippee!} but from me or a bottle she might only want an ounce or maybe more...she eats best when drowsy

Miscellaneous: There's so much going on in Hanna's next month! Her dad's graduation {YEA!}, trips to Shenandoah with family, California, and Arizona, as well as meeting lots of new and wonderful people; what a lucky girl! And so are we to have our beautiful little girl.

Hey there Saturday!

Some apartment hunting, a graduation party for a pal, welcoming back grandma and zaide, pizza making, baby crying...all in a good Saturday. 

Let's hope Sunday is just as good!

xoxo, natty

Awake!

There's an alert baby here as we barrel towards midnight tonight...and a psir of tired parents.

In other news we had a great night of semi-homemade pizza with friends and are looking forward to family coming to town starting tomorrow for Mike's graduation {woo hoo and bravo!!}.

Enjoy your weekend folks!!

xoxo, natty

Crazy fast.

I saw today's date and got kind of weirded out; May's half way through?

To commemorate, we had coffee with a friend this morning, opened up a savings account for the baby {yea for fiscal responsibility at an early age}, went to Trader Joe's, and made dinner.

Then our precious darling screamed for a couple of hours, on and off.

Even with the shrieking and lack of a sleep schedule, I'm so grateful for the munchkin and for these days home with her.

xoxo, natty

Thanks babysitters!!

xoxo, natty

Eight weeks.

It's HOT here today! I don't remember summer coming this early last year but thankfully it's supposed to cool a bit later this week so we can comfortably get in our walks. And as for that baby...

•  gets her shots later today...mom's a bit worried and hopes it doesn't make for a sad baby and a really looooooong night ahead of us
• coos and squawks and makes all sorts of wonderful sounds
• LOVES our ceiling fan; she gives it the biggest smile, one she reserves only for that twirly friend
• may cry when being put into the baby carrier/wrap but usually falls asleep in it...in the "Ergo" she stares and stares at everything around her and her favorite thing to look at is leaves and trees
• has been to the mall a few times
• gave her mom a wonderful first Mother's Day full of smiles, bagels, and good times 
• went to Annapolis and walked around {she rode in the stroller, her parents did the walking} 
• sometimes likes a pacifier
• smiles and giggles in her sleep sometimes, and when she's eating {adorable}
• has her first airline reservation
• has no idea that she'll be seeing grandma and grandpa again this weekend {in town for Michael's graduation}, that she'll be meeting even more Arizona family next weekend when the rest of the crew comes in for the big day, and that she'll actually be going to the southwest AND California at the end of the month...what a busy girl!  

xoxo, natty ♥

Thinking happy.

Thoughts for this Monday:

1. I had the best first Mother's Day I ever could have had. Thanks to my beautiful daughter and caring husband.

2. We have so many wonderful mothers in our lives.

3. I'm determined to find a one-piece bathing suit this week...I guess this is marvelous?

4. Family is coming back to town next week for that wonderful husband's graduation...this is truly fabulous on several levels!

5. It's May; a beautiful month I normally don't get to enjoy because I'm afflicted with end-of-the-school-year-itis. But this year I just get to be a frazzled new mom in the late spring and that's truly wonderful.

Stay cool if there's a heat wave in your neck of the woods this week reader!

xoxo, natty

Happy.

Today I'm {so} grateful for the wee one who has made me a mother. She snuck out this morning and whipped up a brunch of bagels and lox {& very importantly coffee} and then we drove to Annapolis to walk around and check out the sights. It was a beautiful day and I was so full and happy.

We are also so thankful for our mothers, in all senses of the word. They help, love, and support us so wholeheartedly; we are very fortunate.

Happy Mother's Day.

xoxo, natty 

On the hunt!

We went and looked at an apartment today. I don't think it's our "one" but we're certainly on our way...I feel like we JUST planned out cross-country move.

Are you doing domestic weekendy things as well Reader? It's not super glamorous but also not a bad way to spend low-key time together.

xoxo, natty

Winding down?

So the school year is rapidly dwindling, which doesn't mean much to me considering I'm on maternity leave, but it does mean that summer is almost here and that we'll be doing some traveling.

And that we're moving out of our little apartment to a bigger one {yippee!!}...where in the world did the time go?!?!

For now, though, when the baby won't sleep and is fussing because she's so tired, that time is actually moving pretty slowly.

Have a fabulous weekend folks!

xoxo, natty

Is this summer?

It got warm here today!!

Which I would previously have loved but when I need to get out for walks with a small baby, it complicates things a bit...at least it's not full blown humidity and just a bit of a heat wave for now.

Is it warming up early where you are Reader? After a winter like this one...

xoxo, natty

More bum ruffles.

Seven weeks.

The leaves outside are green and growing and so is our little girl, minus the "green" part!
More going-ons:

• taking a bottle...woo hoo!
• smiling and cooing and making other glorious sounds!
• using cloth diapers which explains her very bulky {but cute} midsection in the above picture.
• leg kicking and arm flailing is a favorite activity.
• enjoys her bath times...they're in the sink and she gets so shivery when we take her out; those quivery lips are wonderfully adorable but a bit pathetic too.
• sleeps well on people still.
• is getting better at being "worn" in both her wrap and a more structured baby carrier.
• got a used swing and has enjoyed {slept in} it a bit for quick naps but doesn't seem to be into much more with it.
• is gassy! Poor thing, you can feel and hear her tummy rumbling!
• is growing a bit more hair although she does have a couple of bald spots on the front sides of her head. 
• is our wonderful beautiful baby.

xoxo, natty ♥

Five things.

I'm keeping it brief today; I only have a bit of time for this and some sleep!

1. It's raining out and such a lovely sound.

2. I got to meet with a hematologist today {I developed a blood clot after baby, in case I hadn't mentioned it} and ask as many questions as I wanted about my super rare condition.

3. Someone's learning how to take a bottle over here and that someone is not me!

4. We're making plans to visit the west next month and into July; woo hoo!!!!!!!

5. I just had a granola bar; Trader Joe's granola bars are some of my most favorite treats.

I hope that you're well wherever you are folks!

xoxo, natty

Helping.

We said adiós to my mom today. We have been so fortunate to have the family help since the little one came along, considering that the majority of this family lives on the other side of the country {I'm not forgetting a certain uncle our daughter has right here in DC!}.

We are ao thankful for your time here abuela and the help you gave us {and the food you cooked us}.

xoxo, natty

Señor coffee.

It's a Friday.

Time to go for a walk.

Have a lovely weekend folks.

xoxo, natty

Subs.

Thanks to a gift from a dear friend, we had a delicious dinner tonight.

If only the DC Jimmy John's delivered like they do in Minnesota!!!

Thank you so much dear Becs for how thoughtful you've been to our little family these weeks; we send our love over your way!