Well. . . time flies and it is already 2011.

 

 (I will have to find it but I have the same picture of myself with a seal in my mouth.)

As the time as gone by Natalie had gone from crawling to walking. She started crawling around 6 months and decided that was not enough. She has been walking, running, tripping, falling and getting back up since she was 9 months old. 

For Halloween she was a monkey and a cute on at that.  

 Thanks to Dad and Mom for helping capture this! Mom picked out the flower. We had to show someway that she is a girl and not a boy monkey. 

Well during the last 6 months we went to Moab with my family. It was my parents first time there. Everyone else had already been. Jon's Mom grew up in Moab so while we were down there and had some free time we went and visited Grandma Walker. She didn't know that we were coming but enjoyed every minute we spent with her. I just asked Jon to see if we got a picture of Natalie and her Great Grandma Walker. . . I am ashamed that I didn't get one. We are definitely going to get one next time we see her. 

While we were there we, went rock crawling and hiked to Delicate Arch. For as many times I have been to Moab with Jon's family I had never been to see the most famous arch. And I was eager to see it. I even wanted to get a family picture of us there. That didn't really work out cause Natalie fell asleep and it was windy like no other. But we managed to get a couple of shots after Natalie decided she wanted to wake up. 

The Rock climbing was a lot of fun. It was Labor day weekend and we thought everyone was going to be there but it turned out pretty nice and not too crowded. 

 We are ready to go. And yes they do allow babies on the tour. Natalie loved sitting in her car seat and watching me and the scenery. I don't think the bumping around didn't bother her any. 

All calm and nothing to worry about. 

  Our fabulous tour guide/driver for the hummer. She was amazing! She was working in Moab till the next school semester at the U started. She was going for her Masters, of course I can't remember what in.

Natalie with Grandpa Habel at our last stop of the tour. We got to see a beautiful sunset and the bats come out for the night. :) 

 Grandpa decided that it was Natalie's turn to drive back to town. hahaha! She does need to learn how someday. :) 

Well as you know Natalie has learned how to walk, run and fall. :) Here is some proof of her new ability. 

OH yes she can open up the drawers. 

She thinks that she is stronger than Mommy and Daddy. :) (Yes that is a bowling ball)

Sorry it is a little blurry. But she loves to take all the shoes off the shoe rack. And she loves to hide one of each pair of Mom's shoes somewhere else around the house. I am guessing only because Dad's shoes are heavy. :) 

You see what I mean about the one shoe only thing?? 

First time for her in the snow cause she can walk! Well she liked the snow until she found out it was freezing cold. Maybe next year she will not care. 

Her first official band-aid (not from having shots or blood taken of course).

The last and best. . . she likes to try and carry everything around she can get her hands on. No matter the size, quantity or the object she will carry it to a different location somehow. 

Christmas and Thanksgiving we amazing. The opening presents part was a little hard for Natalie, even for her birthday. But for her birthday she had a few eager cousins to help her out. :) 

Did I mention that we also got Ellie a little before Thanksgiving?? We got her from Natalie's babysitter. She is a 4 year old Border Collie - Alaskan Husky mix. We were really lucky to get her cause we already knew that she was amazing with kids and especially Natalie.

Natalie will jump on her wrestle on her and Ellie will not nip at her. And on the plus side she was potty trained already. Ellie sleeps on my side of the bed and will lay by me where ever I am sitting or laying. I think she is a momma's girl. I just can't wait to start and take her on runs during the spring and summer. :) 

Another thing I love to see. . . Natalie will just go over to Ellie and either sit or cuddle on her. And I'm not surprised but Natalie will share her Honey Nut Cheerios or Rice Chex with her. When Natalie has her snack trap thing (it is the thing that Natalie has her hand in, in the picture) Ellie will follow her around to pick up the crumbs. That is the extra thing I love about Ellie, amazing vacuum for children. :)  

Our little monkey turned the BIG 1 on January 8th. I can't believe it had been a year since she came into our lives. I can't believe how fast it went and smart she has become in the past year.

Natalie's first birthday cake. I couldn't decide on what flavor to get her because I don't like chocolate. If I was left to decide I would have gotten all white. But I told Jon to decided. It was white cake and Chocolate filling and frosting. Cake was made Granite Bakery. The reason why I chose them was because I actually sold cookies and doughnuts for the owner when I was 14. That job lasted till I got my drivers license. It was good money and I knew how well of a job he does. Plus I didn't have to pay for delivery charges or have to go and get it cause he dropped it off at my parents for he lives in their neighborhood. :) 

All the cousins helping and showing Natalie how opening up presents is done. :) 

Natalie loved her cake. There was actually a moment where Jon tried to put his face down in it to get a bite and Natalie covered it with her arms to make sure Daddy didn't have a bite. She know it was all hers. hahaha! 

Of course Uncle Anthony could not resist giving Natalie a new hair do. :) She was so into eating her cake that she didn't even notice Anthony rubbing he balloon on her head. hahaha!

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to Natalie's Birthday! You mean a lot to us and to Natalie!

Well a lot has happened and time I know is going to fly even faster. I am thankful to everyone in our lives. I know that 2011 is going to be a fantastic year no matter what it throws at us. 

Thank you again to everyone! We love you! 

Till I blog again. . .

~ Marissa "Mo" Whitehorn ~