17 Months

Natalie turned 17 months old just before the 4th of July holiday. 

This month brought so many more words, and Natalie shows she understands pretty much everything! Some of her most common words are: mama, dada, brother (duh-duh), tickle, up, hat, help, bubble, hi, hello, night-night, cheese, papa, grandma, hot dog, drink, more, eat, ball, help, book, shoes, duck, fish, car, choo-choo, Mickey (she says niang-niang for Mickey), hulk, Moana, bobble (as in bobble head toy), go, hot, purple, cracker, hippo, banana, apple, cake. Natalie will try to repeat almost any word you ask her to say.

She has also become pickier with what she will eat. This past month she loved scrambled eggs and stopped eating bananas (her former favorite food!). She still loves mac and cheese, broccoli, waffles, pizza, spaghetti, and yogurt. Recently, she started eating blueberries like they are candy.

People often ask, "is she always this happy?" Honestly, Natalie is really happy and very cute most of the time. She loves being around other people, and is very social. She has a great sense of humor and seems to "read"faces and emotions well. Although she's happy most of the time, she has started to assert herself more and more recently. She has always had a loud and high pitched cry/scream, and she's expressing herself by using it more recently. In the car, she screams, and it's pure torture.

Natalie loves sitting in her little chair, climbing, pushing her baby stroller, carrying around babies, and she will even get out her clothes to try and dress her dolls.

This month she developed a love for her first on screen show-Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Mickey and the Choo-Choo Train episode). She would wake up in the morning and say, "niang-niang," which means Mickey. As soon as I'd put in the Mickey DVD, he'd appear on the screen, she'd smile big, wave, and say "Hiiii!"

After I was getting fairly sick of watching the same Mickey episode, I put in Moana, and Natalie was hooked. Especially to the part where Moana sings "How Far I'll Go." Here's a picture of Natalie sitting in her little chair, holding her baby, watching Moana sing. Soon after I intruded Moana to her, she was able to say "Moana" to request it.

We had a great time at Circus Flora in June. It was our fourth year to see the show. Each year there's a different theme and lots of great acts. 

My uncle got us hooked on Circus Flora, and he goes with us every year. 

One of these children obviously needs a cotton candy intervention. 

Natalie clapping for a great performance.

Afterwards, we played around SLU campus while we waited for our restaurant of choice to open for dinner. 

The next day, we hit up the zoo. It was a beautiful day, so we had to park really far away. But, the plus side was that we stumbled upon this concrete turtle park while walking to the zoo entrance. The kids had fun climbing and playing. 

Sliding down.

At the zoo entrance

The elephants

Natalie saying, "fish!" 

Natalie saw this guy and said "hippo" for the first time. 

She was so excited that she could reach this button and listen to recordings of bug sounds on her own.  There were four buttons and she spent some time here pressing away.

Looking at butterflies. 

Using our guide to identify them. 

Face painting is a must. 

Penguin time.

It's cold in here!

Natalie loved the train and kept saying, "choo-choo." 

Then she got tired and took a five minute nap. She never wants to miss out! 

We ended with the carousel. Natalie chose the hippo. 

Luke chose a snake. 

Cali on the cheetah. A great day at the zoo!

At the end of June, we attended my college roommate's wedding in St. Louis. Friday morning was the traditional American wedding. 

A beautiful outdoor ceremony in her parents' backyard. 

A few college friends with the bride. 

Friday evening began the traditional Indian wedding festivities at Union Station hotel in St. Louis. We ate delicious Indian food and got our hands decorated with henna. 

College friends 

Saturday morning the bridesmaids put on our robes and primped until the bride was ready for the Indian wedding ceremony. 

Bridesmaids ready to go. The colors were so beautiful. 

The bride was stunning!

 The reception was at Union Station Grand Hall. It was such an amazing venue with impressive archways and stained glass windows. 

They even had a light projection show before introducing the bride and groom. 

Bride a groom ready for the reception

The kids and me in traditional Indian clothing. Jacob looks spiffy in his suit too.  

My parents had a great time, and were a great help with our kids the whole weekend. 

Luke did great sitting on his own at the kids' table. 

Since my college friends were in Missouri for the wedding, they drove up to Columbia for a quick visit before flying back home to California. We pretty much did a food tour of Columbia visiting some of our old favorite places. First, we ate/drank at Flatbranch. 

At first, the girls seemed unimpressed. 

Then, they stuffed their faces. 

Now we are happy! 

Luke filling up on his favorite Flatbranch food, soft pretzels and spicy spinach cheese dip. 

It was a really hot day, so we decided to let the kids get soaked at the spray park afterwards. 

Then, to the Mizzou columns, which is actually the sight of the visiting couple's engagement and their wedding was even on campus at Mizzou. Unfortunately, the columns are being renovated, so they are covered in scaffolding (as you can see in the background). But, we still had fun kicking a soccer ball around on the quad. 

College friends decked out in Mizzou wear

Luke reading bedtime stories to Owen. They had a great time together, and shared a love of Beatles songs. We love having visitors stay with us and play with us!