Natalie is a very sweet girl who reminds me a lot of myself at her age. She is five, but will be turning six on Sunday. I can hardly believe she will be six already. Some times she acts like a 6-year-old and other times she acts like 6 going on 16! The other day we went shopping for her winter coat and as we passed by the clothes, she would comment on them saying things like "stylin'," and "oooh...sassy!" I had to do a double take when I heard her say that one. Last month we were eating lunch after church when she spotted a boy from her preschool last year and she said "Mom, there's David...he is so cute." I just don't think I am ready for this yet!!!She is already very influenced by her school friends. It is very important for her to have friends and play dates. When I ask her how her day at school was, it's usually not about what she learned, but who she got to play with or who was unkind to her that made her day a good one or a bad one.
It used to make me sad for her that she was not as outgoing as other girls, but then I just had to realize that I was the same way and I eventually got over it. I can relate to her insecurities and her shy tendencies, but I often wonder if there is something I can do that will alleviate her worries. Dan and I try to encourage her to try things, but she just doesn't like to try anything that is out of her comfort zone. I encouraged her to sign up for the Kid's Choir at church. She didn't really want to, but eventually warmed up to the idea after listening to the practice CD over and over. When she was younger she liked ballet, so she took lessons for a couple years, but when she decided she didn't like it any more, I didn't push it. I just want her to be happy, but I don't want to enable her to be shy by not pushing her every once in a while.
Natalie still has a very active imagination and enjoys dressing her Barbie and Ariel dolls up in clothes she makes with towels and bandanas held together with ponytail bands and hair clips. Now all of her dolls are sporting custom mermaid tails so they can all swim together. She believes with all her heart that mermaids are real. Her friend told her that she saw Ariel at the beach, so now Natalie is totally convinced. Meeting Ariel at Disneyland should be exciting for her this spring. I can hardly wait!
Her imagination is not limited to mermaids. This morning she informed me that "bat-girl" came to her room last night and was flying around with her purple wings. Besides mermaids, Natalie really loves horses, or at least the idea of horses. She is a little timid when it comes to riding on them. She also likes our cat Harley and her pet fish, Coral.
Natalie also loves to draw and she is really coming up with some cute pictures. They are mostly of mermaids or people with lots of hearts and or balloons and flowers everywhere. She has been learning to write things and always asks us to spell words for her pictures. She is very thoughtful and makes cards and pictures for people, even her brother Zander.This summer we read Charlotte's web to Natalie and she loved it. She loves to hear stories and I'm sure will love to read as soon as she learns how. Until then, she can't get her fill of stories and almost every night she asks us "tell me a story when you were little."
Natalie is very interested in the world around her and enjoyed picking lots of flowers this summer. She is always making flower arrangements for me. It is so sweet, I think there was a new dandelion bouquet on the counter almost every day last summer.
Right now her favorite color is blue. For awhile now I have been dressing her in pink, pink, pink and she doesn't mind. But knowing that she likes blue too I have been looking for some cute blue clothes to add to her wardrobe.
Having a girl is really a dream come true for me. Being able to share my experiences with her and help her navigate her way through life is very rewarding. It's also so much fun to go shopping for a girl like Natalie, but sometimes I have to stop myself from overindulging her. I could go crazy with clothes, toys and crafts but there is this this whole budget thing I have to keep in mind. I have fun fixing up her room all girlie-like, it looks so pretty (Now if I could only keep it clean!) Now that she has her own room, she is big into privacy...not just from her brothers. Right now she has a sign on her door that says "No Mom." I don't take it too personal...with her limited spelling, it's just her way of saying I want to be alone for a while. Kind of cute...I just hope she takes it down before she turns 16!
This picture was taken last spring in a studio set up for fairy portraits.I just couldn't resist. She won't be little much longer.
3 comments:
"Sugar and spice and everything nice! That's what little girls are made of!"
I too love having my little girl. She was a suprise and I say the best suprise I have ever had! It IS so much FUN! She doesn't really look so much like me though with the strawberry blond hair.I can see a lot of her dad in her face but she definitely has her mother's fiestyness. teehee I am very much looking forward to having outings with my daughter. She is not quite two so our outings are usually revolved around McD's, Ice cream, mommy's errands, hmmm.. $$tree, Target, well anyways basically running around with me. We do however have tea parties with her babies in her room and we draw, she loves me to draw flalaws (flowers. I can't wait to have her by my side at Teas, girls only trips to the beach, shopping, lunches, etc.
I really had this boy thing down ya know having two boys before her. And even though I am truly girly girly I wasn't sure how this whole pink bundle in our life was going to go. I mean there's hair to tend to now where the boys just ya know have bedhead and voila good to go. There's the whole matching wardrobe now, not that I don't match my boys but... I think I am fashionably challenged, I didn't used to be but I don't keep up anymore. But, I do have my fashion forward sis to help me out. She is a doting auntie who loves to shop for her neice and nephews.
Anyway, I can tell Natalie is so dear to you Alyssa and having a daughter is such a wonderful gift and honor. My own mother and I have such a beautiful friendship and I so value her and treasure her. I just know that you and Natalie will have that kind of relationship. We all have our bumps in those teenage years but because of your love and devotion and well...God :-) She will grow in to such a lovely lady and will cherish you for it.
There! I have rambled on and on again! Yikes! But I totally agree, daugters are such fun!
Btw, did you know that there is a Charlotte's Web movie coming out soon? It looks cute.
OH, so many things came to mind as I read this. Having grown up with brothers I always dreamed of having girls - and God Blessed me with 3..and as I enter these teenage years..yes there are the struggles ..and we are entering into the subject of "boys" - watching them grow up into the beauties they are becoming is truly awesome. When you spoke of Nat and singing in the church choir - Taylor came to mind. She loves to sing. A few years ago we were encouraging her to join the church choir - "No Way" was her answer..and then one Wed. night Pastor Paul pulled her aside and asked if she was going to join the choir. After she said No, he told her "God gave you a voice like no other - and he wants you to share it with others", after that she agreed to do it - and loved it.
The only advise I can give you for your young Natalie is what I have done with my own girls - Pray for them. Taylor has been the child that will sit and watch - long before she will try (at least for most things)I think she does not want to fail, but it seems whenever she does try - she suceeds way beyond her dreams. We constantly pray for her strength in going outside her comfort zone..and over the years she is slowly putting herself out there.
What I see is you are an awesome mom and Natalie will see the things you do and will want to do it as well.
Hey Diane
I miss you! I think of you when I'm in Gresham, but lately it's just been to run a quick errand then back home. I need to bring the kids over to see you. Maybe during Christmas break.
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