Letter to Natalie

Natalie,
You have came into our lives and have turned them upside down. Which is ok because you have done it with a style and grace that is all your own. You rule over this house with a power I have not known before.
You will wake up and stare at me. Often you pat my checks and give me kisses or other times you will snuggle in closer and I will kiss you and play with you hair. I LOVE this time with you. I love the feeling that I get when you wake up and see me. That smile is priceless one I hope to see for the rest of my life.
You love the shower. You play with your ducks and will often take your washcloth and clean the bathtub. You hate getting you hair washed, but think it’s funny to put soap on a washcloth and scrub you. That is only if you repeat “scrub, scrub,scrub” the whole time. Why? I do not know.
When I shave you insist on having a razor (ok guys really I took the blade off). I will put a quarter size ball of shaving cream on your leg to which you will profusely swing your razor while babbling.
You, for some reason, are not foud of getting out of the shower and letting you daddy take you. You actually cant stand it. Your sick sense of humor thinks its funny for me to have to get out and wrap both of us up in towels while you try to escape.
You love having you ears cleaned. You will stop and lean you head to me so that I can clean them. You insist on seeing the Q-tip after and will often say “OOOooo” Yes it seems ear wax is a daily discovery.
You hate getting a diaper on or changed. You want to flip and flop. Is not that you don’t want a diaper, because you don’t seem to care. You just don’t want to stop and take the time out to have it done. Getting dressed is becoming the same battle.
You like you daycare. Most days you will walk into the room and start playing. You have started to keep a closer eye on me as I put your things away and talk to your teachers. It’s getting harder and harder to slip out so that you don’t see me.
When I pick you up I always get stories about cute things you have done like putting all the dolls in the chairs at the table. Or sticking the guitar in the bottle holder on your diaper bag. I hate that I miss these moments.
You love to play and explore. You are incredibly independent. You like to go between the playroom, the living room and the kitchen with you toys. You will not play long alone but will play for a while by yourself if your father or I am in the room.
You love fresh fruit, crackers, cheese and bites of meat are all high on the list of things you like. Anything that you can feed yourself.
You love to paint, and color. You do not mind the texture of clay and silly putty. You will take you hands and spread them out and the close them. You want to know what things feel like. You prefer it to be messy.
You will only sleep sideways in the bed. You tuck your toes under my stomach to keep them warm. I am not sure that this is the only motivation because I am pretty sure you also use them as a tracking device to see if I am still bed. You would just die at the thought of something happening without you. You will kick blankets of because the rest off you body cannot be covered. I can not get you to sleep correctly. I will try to move you and you stay until I go back to sleep and then you will move. The truth is that I have not tried very hard. I love that we sleep together no matter what direction.
You will crinkle up you nose and snort. I am not sure were you picked this up. But you have found it to be a very useful tool in bargaining. We are often told that you work a room and you do. You will smile and snort till they are all watching you.
I can see when you are up to something. I can look at you and almost see the wheels turning in you head. I can watch you figure something out and it’s amazing. Your father and I are constantly amazed at how smart you are.
With all the crinkled noses, the kisses and smiles I love you more then you know.
Mommy