I don't even know where to begin for this post. I guess I will just start with the facts.
Our daughter is part Crab.
Yes, you read that correctly.
She has the perfect little pinchers & she knows how to use them!
Don't let that sweet little crab you see in that picture sway you!
Oh no no no! I am being completely serious right now.
You got me?!
Let's see if I can explain a little better. Andy Pants & I are not quite sure where this all began. Our little Crabby Natty earned this name early on. She has always had this weird fixation on rubbing on our arms or neck when we would rock her to sleep. It started as a "aww melt my heart" kind of thing. I mean what parent doesn't melt when their baby rubs on their arm with those soft little Johnson & Johnson baby hands?!
Well, from there she started getting control of those fat little baby hands, & learned how to use her fingers. Especially how to PINCH, & every day they got stronger.
Sure, pinching is a great tool to have as a wee-one.
-Picking up tiny puffs or food
-Turning pages in little books
-Pulling tiny threads on Mommy's sweater
-Being the Ultimate Competitor at a game of "Operation"
-Tightening those tiny screws in Grandma's glasses
-Picking up every tiny speck on our living room floor
that Momma missed with the vacuum
You get what I am saying here?
This ain't no joke!
I mean even Andy Pants is scared to be shirtless around her.
Lord help him if she gets ahold of one of his nips! YIKES!
(FYI: this HAS happened...ever heard a grown man screech like a little girl?)
Here is a great picture as proof of what I have been trying to convey.
She is double teaming me with both hands in this pic. I went in unarmed, knowing good & well what I was getting myself into. Look at my red neck!
OH, & let me forget to trim those little daggers she calls nails.
I swear she sharpens those things every night.
Why don't you swaddle her hands down you say?
This child has HATED being swaddled since the beginning.
She cannot stand to be wrapped up. What do I do?!!
Use Socks on her Hands you say?
HA! That only worked when she had no control of those pinchers.
I have even tried putting a silky blanket on my arms or around my neck to get her to get the affection for something else...& not human flesh!
So, now here is my new game plan. I'm a little scared she may find my eyes.
She doesn't only do this now when it's time for bed. She will even find that nice sweet spot on the back of your arm, while your checking out at a store, that will make you wanna scream & holler like a teenage girl at a Bieber concert.
It has brought tears to my eyes.
(I look like Natalie Portman in Black Swan w/ those sock hands)
Can anyone out there help us? I am clueless on how to break this habit.
These pinchers are only getting stronger...& people at work are starting to question these bruises ;)
Whew! What a whirlwind of a weekend. October is a big month in our family for birthdays, 6 to be exact. My sister, April, had my nephew a week & a day after I had Natalie. We even have another 1st birthday to go to this coming weekend. (Andy Pant's nephew's son was born a couple weeks after Natalie as well) That's 3 in a row! I have chalked it up to a party month & I have been cramming every chocolate covered oreo I can get into my mouth. Actually the last 3 months of the year are party months. I love this time of year. The holiday season is MY FAV, & October definetely kick starts the festivities.
Happy Birthday, BOO, Happy Turkey Day, HO HO HO, & 3,2,1 Happy New Year!
(image from google)
So we packed up my parents brand new RV & headed up North to the beautiful state of Virginia. Traveling with a toddler in an RV is so much more convienant. I can pack my whole house up practically.
Although packing for a toddler is just plain ridiculous. Even if we are going to Wally World to buy groceries five minutes from the house, we have to pack like we are going camping. I just like to be prepared for whatever experience we may encounter, & if you have a toddler you know exactly what I am talking about. Who doesn't love that perfect timing of a diaper explosion. BLEH!
I was so worried about what to pack for Miss Natalie that I completely forgot to pack my OWN pair of jeans that I planned on wearing for the main event: Carson's 1st birthday party. Thankfully there was a kick ACE Target near my sis' house. I know I keep getting off of subject but I am so jello of the selection at her Target then at the one near us. Their FALL clothing choices are killer. I had to make sure I just bought jeans...they were a perfect fit with my boots. I was too excited to finally put my boots back on!
We arrived in VA around 6pm on Friday. We fed the kiddos , let them run around & destroy play in the house before bedtime. Once bedtime came for them, a little drinky drinky came out for us. It was a long day & much needed, don't judge me.
Morning came & the party planner in me got to work. The theme was a YO HO HO, Pirate Party. My sister found some of the cutest Pirate "treasures" to decorate with. We lined the driveway with pirate flags, and set out tons of bandanas, gold clip-on earrings, foam swords, tattoos, & chocolate gold coins any pirate would "kill" to have! She rented a bounce house for the kids & all that was missing was the barrels of RUM for the adults.
Here are some pics of another successful first birthday!
A quick pic of my sis & I preggo together! Hard to believe we both have just celebrated our babies 1st birthday.
We were able to reuse our little pinterest project we made for Natalie's Circus Party for the Pirate Treat Table too!
I see us using that stand at all our parties!
Carson getting some bounce house time before all the kids get there
He loved it!
Then it was time to get the party started. My mom made him his Pirate Costume.
Have I told you my mom is an amazing crafter. She should have her own show for realS!
MOM LOOK! Dad is a Pirate!
Cute pics of the Birthday Boy we hung around the canopys!
Sista Sista! Rockin' the Pirate hats my mom made.
Cute little Pirate ship cake my Mom made as well.
I'm telling you this woman can do it all. I only wish I can learn half of her skills.
Natalie looking for treasures.
She did not stop moving once the party started.
Giving Pirate friend some kisses.
She got a hold of my cupcake when I looked away. I have never seen her move so fast.
That's my girl! Outta our way when it comes to chocolate.
Then it was time for the birthday boy to taste some of his yummy smash cake. My mom made him a little treasure chest to dive into.
THIS PIC IS MY FAV OF THE ENTIRE DAY.
"I pity the fool who tries to touch my cake"
The bad girl in me wants to photoshop a little middle finger on that hand. He just looks so hardcore with that little look & his tie on. Love that Face!
Well, I am finishing this up as we head back home. I like to pretend I am I am pop star traveling in my tour bus. Minus the hair & make-up & and no screaming fans....just a screaming toddler :)
I know we have another birthday this weekend to attend, but I am hoping we can squeeze in a fun fall trip to the pumpkin patch with our own little pumpkin head. I have always invisioned my own little one running around the pumpkins & through the corn mazes. I. CAN'T. WAIT.
Is anyone else doing any fun FALL trips? I would love to hear what traditions you & your family have!
So glad you decided to stop on by! I am new to this whole blogging world, although a little intimidating, I am still super excited to start this new journey! So bear with me as I learn the ropes & get my page lookin' fancy! I thought and thought what my first blog should be about, and well I think a proper introduction would be best!
We are the Dennis Family!
Hi again! Are you still there?
My husband, who I will refer to as Andy Pants, and I have known each other since 9th grade!
We didn't date in high school & I don't remember having 9th grade study hall with him, but according to him we did!
We became great friends our Senior Year in high school. We were both in relationships at the time so it never crossed our mind that we would ever date, much less be MARRIED!!
Some days we still laugh about how things turned out.
We graduated in 2002 & both went on to do our own thing. I would sometimes see him at the mall in passing but that was it. Maybe go to a few parties he had, but nothing more.
(left)Andy Pants & I Senior year:(right) At Our 10yr HS Reunion
(dont be jealous of our poses!)
Anyways, fast forward to 2007. This is where you know there is a someone watching over us. That saying "everything happens for a reason," is 100% true! We both moved to the same little townhome "village." My roomy at the time had just gotten out of the Marines, & he went to HS with us as well. Actually him and Andy Pants had known each other since elementary school. Small world!
We all started hanging out again.
I had just gotten out of an almost 8year realtionship, & having great friends around was the perfect distraction.
We like to think that the game "Rock Band" brought us together. He couln't resist my mad drumming skillz yo, & his bass playing was pretty hott too.
One day I was down & out from a nasty cold, & being the great guy he is, he brought me some delicious fruit juice from a fancy lil' organic grocery store, but what really stole my heart was the fact that he brought my sweet doggy a bone too... I mean really!
Meet Ribby Dennis!
Ok so blah blah so he won me over, we starting dating & on Dec. 25th 2008 he proposed!
On March 27th 2010 We Tied the Knot!
We actually got married where Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively just married!
WHY THEY GOTTA COPY US?!!
I could do a whole post just on our wedding sometime.
Would ya'll like to see more?
you know you want to!
OK! Back on Track!
We had our first furry baby on our honeymoon!
Meet Duke Dennis!
Then on January 26th 2011 we found out we were expecting a human baby!!!
It was the most amazing feeling. I still get butterflies in my tummy thinking about it.
I have always known I wanted to be a Mommy.
I had a beautiful pregnancy!
Here is our Birth Story if ya wanna know more!
At 7:02 on October 10, 2011 weighing in at 9.2lbs
we were blessed with Miss Natalie Dennis!
She is now about to be a year old! Next week to be exact....we survived it! We made it through our whole first year!
I have so many stories to share with you about her, and I can't wait!
