Natalie Hemsley

Feb24

Nyla’s snow day!

We got some snow today and Nyla was excited to go out and play in it. I knew once I got her up from bed and told her we got some snow she was going to be saying “snow” over and over again. The last time we had some snow which was probably a month ago was actually her first time to actually acknowledge that this was something different. She picked up quickly the word snow that we kept saying and it was just non stop. Although sometimes it does sound like “no”. She forgets the “s”. So today she knew what it was when I told her snow. We got all bundled up to play. She loved hearing the snow crunching as she walked on it. Then it was all about eating the white fluffy stuff. She loves popsicles which she calls them “sicle”, just says the end of it, so I knew anything icy cold she was going to love. I was so freezing cold and wanting nothing more than to sit inside and drink some hot cocoa but gotta do what the little one wants and see her eat tons of snow :) My Beauty is getting so big!!

Jan1

The Hemsley’s 2010 and 2011!!

2010 sure did fly by! What a great year it was overall!! Here are some of our accomplishments that I couldn’t be any prouder of.

-We survived our 3rd year in Oregon, huge accomplishment, haha.

-Nyla started crawling in February, walking in May, and talking.

-Nyla had a wonderful 1st bday party

-Josh finally left Phoogoo for an awesome company  that came at the most perfect time.

-Josh started rolling in the dough at the time that was most crucial for us. Six figure with work and freelance all by himself. I couldn’t be any prouder of his hard work.

-Lost all my baby weight finally even though I just had 7 pounds they were sure stubborn. Back to 110, yay!

-Got out of my comfort zone and joined a mom meetup group and a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers group) that i just love and have met awesome people.

-Took Nyla to Maui for her first time when she was one years old and had the best time as a family!!

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Looking forward to 2011:

-February trip to the Carribean

-Hopefully a new addition to the family

-Our 3rd wedding Anniversary

-Nyla turns 2

-Potty training

-We turn 26

Dec2

Nyla with Santa then and now

I just can’t believe what a difference a year makes for kids. I remember exactly last year when I took her to see Santa early in the morning to Washington Square and it was like 20 degrees outside. I had my adorable little baby who was then 6 months old in her cute holiday outfit. There was just one person in front of us this time too and when it was our turn I just put her on Santa’s lap and I don’t know if she was still half asleep but she just sat there with a blank look on her face then she turned and looked at Santa and then just looked back forward again. It was the cutest thing ever.

Now this year it was still adorable, just different. I just love having all these pictures that bring back those memories so clearly.

Nyla 18 Months                                                       Nyla 6 Months

Dec2

Nyla’s first visit with Santa

Nyla got her first visit with Santa today at Washington Square Mall. We took her around lunch time that way we didn’t have to wait in line since that is just not an option with Nyla. There was just one person taking their picture with Santa before us. I gave Nyla the little pep talk that we were here to see Santa and that she was going to sit on his lap and we were going to count one two three cheese and we were going to take your picture and then your all done and Santa will give you a candy. I was hoping she would understand some of that. She did pretty good with Santa last year so I was anxious to see her reaction. She is not normally fond of men and this was a man all dressed up in a funny outfit. It put her on his lap and of course she kinda freaked out and started a little cry but luckily we all got her attention and we got some picture’s of her nor crying. Once we were done she got her mini candy cane and she was really excited about that. Next Santa will be Bridgeport Village where I think it is a much better looking Santa.

Nov27

Christmas Tree Farm Adventure 2010

Today our little family went out to our usual tree farm that we just love, Sleighbells in Sherwood. Love the name, absolutely perfect! We normally like to go the day after Thanksgiving and go with my parents but they had to leave a little early this time. I knew the rain we have been having was going to make it all muddy. So we prepared our selves with our boots to get nice and dirty.

It was a beautiful day. It was mainly cloudy but there were peaks of sunshine.  Always a treat. There were tons of people. They had a orchestra band playing Christmas music. It is always a fun tradition every year to start the Christmas season. They have an amazing gift shop filled with some amazing original ornaments and fun Christmas decor.

It was a little more difficult this year with Nyla walking trying to find the perfect tree. We knew she wouldn’t be able to go too long and we could be there all day looking cause it goes on forever. We spotted one right away that we thought fit the criteria. But once we started chopping it realized I think this is way shorter than we normally get. I thought 7′ was what we normally got, which this tree was till we cut it then it loses some after cutting. It ended up being 6.5 feet and we realized it was 8′ we normally get for our living room cause the ceiling height is super super high. So problem solved, I wanted to do two trees anyways like when I was little. One tree for the play room upstairs and then one tree in the living room.

Can’t wait to start decorating the trees!! I just love my house during Christmas time!!

Nov23

November Snowflakes

This month kicked off some falling snow for us. We had some big snowflakes falling November Sunday 21st, it didn’t stick yet. Then Monday night we had more snow falling. Unfortunately I was sick with the stomache flu so I didn’t get to watch it falling. The next morning I got to see some of the leftover snow outside.

We got Nyla into her new snow gear and she was super excited to go outside and see what this white stuff was. She went straight to her sand box with the snow on top. She loves eating ice so of course she went straight to putting the snow in her mouth. She loved walking on the grass with snow on it. It was all frozen and crunchy. It was freezing cold out so we were out there for just a little bit and Nyla was not too happy about that.

Later at night she grabbed her snow vest and shows me that she wants to put it on. Then she grabs my hand and pulls me to the sliding door to show me she wants to go outside. Poor little one doesn’t realize how cold it is here. It’s not California Nyla Breeze, too cold to play outside. I love my little one, she is just way too cute!!

Nov16

Cali Trip-last day

So Monday was our last day in Cali but luckily our flight wasn’t till 6pm so we pretty much had all day. Nyla slept really good last night and didn’t wake up till 6am. We did play time till 11:15am. We had plans with my good cheer buddy Stephanie and her little boy Gabe.

So we met at Victoria Gardens Mall and had lunch at Yard House. I was so happy she mentioned it for lunch cause it is another place we don’t have here that I just love. Nyla and Gabe were cute together. The were coloring together, playing with some of Gabe’s toys and sharing their lunch’s. We then were planning on riding the train but it for some reason wasn’t running when we went to it. So we did the carousel next. I haven’t actually seen it there before. They must have added it after we moved. It was super cute and the kids were excited to go on. We sat in the little carriage seat and normally they don’t move but this on actually rocked up and down. Then stopped at Jamba Juice. I got Nyla her own little smoothie. She just loves them. Next we did some shopping and went to Gymboree and Children’s Place. The little ones were having fun shopping and playing together in the shops and were pretty good for the most part.

I think she got a brain freeze. She sucks it down so quickly. And she decided she wanted my big cup so I got her kids cup, haha.

They were both getting pretty tired and ready for naps so we were off back home. Nyla fell asleep in the car and I was going to just sit in there with her but when I was looking at my camera I realized my camera memory card fell out when I dropped it somewhere. I remember dropping it once but I didn’t think anything happened. So luckily my mom could sit with Nyla in the car so she could nap and I took my mom’s car and rushed back over there to see if I could find it. It ended up being in Gymboree under one of the racks.

I found it fairly quickly so I thought I could fit in some Pinkberry quickly since it was right there. I was still cutting it kinda close since I was planning on leaving to the airport at 3:50pm and I got home at 3:30. I packed mainly last night  so I didn’t have much to do but I knew it would take a little longer with a baby. We ended up getting there quickly and I loved that it was pretty empty. We got checked in really quickly and got to relax. We got some dinner at Schlotzsky’s and got a nice hot ham and cheese sandwich. Nyla did good just hanging out and running all over the place. She has been doing some fits lately when she doesn’t want to go somewhere, We had to board the plane and she didn’t want to go so I had to pick her up and she just throws a fit and arches her back screaming. So not fun and I know the people waiting to board were worried. Luckily we had amazing people around us and an amazing lady right next to us. it makes it so much easier. Nyla did the best she has ever done. She stayed occupied really easily. I brought some play dough that she likes to play with now and doesn’t think its food. We did some coloring. We played with some stickers that she likes to put all over her self, and she enjoyed talking to all the people around us. I was so happy she did good. It was funny though when we landed and she saw Josh she actually acted like she didn’t know him. It was that long to her. I think she was just tired she wasn’t sure what was going on. It was a good trip but I was happy to have our family together again.

Nov14

Cali Trip-part 3

Today started off really rocky. Nyla went to bed really nice last night but decided to wake up at 3:30am. No good, especially when I went to bed at 12am. I let her cry for 15 minutes then thought that I didn’t want her to wake everyone up so I got her and gave her a bottle to see if that would relax her but no, she was up and full of energy. I took her down to living room and put Barney on and tried to give her some snacks. She was ok for a little bit but then she was getting cranky and i was really not in the mood to deal with her that early. I gave it a couple hours then had to put her back in her crib and just let her cry. I needed some sleep and she still seemed tired. I got a couple more hours of sleep in but I was still so tired from being up earlier. It was just a rough morning and my mom was trying to give me as much of a break as Nyla would let her.

Josh’s parents came over around 10:30am to see Nyla and I was blow drying my hair so they got to enjoy her without Nyla attaching to me. It seems to work better seeing new people when I am not there.

She eventually was due for a nap and she needed it bad. She was cranky and rubbing her eyes so I got her a bottle and layed with her in bed. Unfortunatley it is just so loud in this house with the dogs and other loud noises that she just kept getting woken up. I was starting to lose it. She finally got an hour nap in and I kinda napped too but I didn’t get into a very comfortable position so it was a little hard.

We were finally starting to have a better day. We did more playing outside enjoying the beautiful day. She was picking some flowers and just ran all over the place. I was on the computer while Nyla was with my mom and I noticed that my friend Jill wrote on my wall about her shower being at 2 and not 3 like I for some reason originally thought. It was 1:20 so I was so happy I read that or I would have been an hour late. So I hurried to get ready and headed off. It was my first time driving in California myself since I moved away, so about two and a half years. It was heaven!! Oregon driving is so frustrating to me. Everyone drives like grandmas going under speed limit and still driving horribly. I feel like I am never getting anywhere. Finally I can just drive and get from place to place nice and smoothly. I would have to say I do like the more fast paced lifestyle. That was one thing I thought might be nice to get away from but I was wrong. I like it much better. And a bonus I got to drive my moms car! So nice. The Benz drives so beautifully. I just wanted to cruise to the beach with the top down. Maybe next time.

I made great time getting to Jill’s baby shower thanks to Cali driving. Just a little late but luckily they didn’t start yet. I always just think how weird it is that me and Jill are now both 1 hour away from each other in Oregon. Funny how things happen. I am so happy she is doing great in Salem and has a beautifully growing family. It was so great to see her back in our native California. It was awesome weather for their outdoor shower. Everything was decorated beautifully. Holly Jill’s sister did an amazing job hosting and decorating for it. Jill looked amazing as usual, so tiny with her little bump. We did some cute games, had some yummy food and cake and watched her open her gifts. It is always fun to see people open gifts, I don’t know why but I enjoy it.

While I was gone my mom actually took Nyla to my grandma’s house and my aunt, uncle and cousins were there to see Nyla. My mom said she did really good and it was actually good I wasn’t there cause I know she probably would have acted shyer and attach to me.

Timing on everything worked out perfectly. We were done about 4:50/5pm so I ended up meeting my mom, Nyla, and my brother at Lucilles Smokehouse Bbq. A place me and Josh have been craving for some really good classy bbq food. It was delicious. Nyla was a little antsy there. She just wanted to run around. I put her in the booth with me and she was just bouncing and bouncing. Once the food came she relaxed for a little bit but then she was ready to go run around so I was going to walk with her to Pinkberry at Victoria Gardens but she ended up really cranky after seeing some dogs and not wanting to leave them. So that didn’t work and I could tell she was tired and ready for bed. It was about 6:30pm so right on time to get home and get her to bed. She went to sleep super fast which was really nice. It was a long day for her.