Here’s the thing, sweetheart.
You cried.
A lot.
I don’t think you liked me very much in the beginning.
Our relationship back then could be summed up with these pictures:
First you’d be all, “WTF? I’m entrusting my life to THIS woman?”
Then you’d be all, “I don’t think I like this. I demand a replacement.”
Then you’d cry. For like an hour.
Then you’d resemble a pissed off old lady. You thought again, “I’m entrusting my life to THIS woman? Where is the damned replacement?”
And the whole thing would start all over again when you realized that there would be no replacement.
I tried my best! You’re lucky that you were my second child. You’d have been incredibly ticked off had you been my first. Your poor brother had a mother who had no idea what she was doing. You at least had an experienced parent.
At least I thought I was experienced.
Then you came along and WOULDN’T STOP CRYING and I started to fear that I had no idea what I was doing all over again.
You cried.
And you cried.
And oh yeah, YOU CRIED.
I think I know what upset you so much. It was the fact that I sang to you, wasn’t it? Because when I sang to you when you turned one, you covered my mouth and went, “Shhhh.” You do that even now. Were you crying because that was your way of saying, “Jesus woman, could you SHUT your yapper? You are NOT the next American Idol.”
It also could be that I was always putting stuff on your head. I couldn’t help it, Natalie! I had a boy first, I couldn’t decorate his head. Then you came along and I was all, “Yay, hair pretties!”
Apparently you didn’t like the hair pretties.
At around six months, you cheered up. I think it’s because you realized that I was the best you were going to get.
Sure, you still had an attitude. At a year old you informed me that you were mad. You followed this up by, “No.” Soon it was, “No this,” and “no that.” No, no, no.
You keep things interesting though. You give me a lot of write about in my blog and for that I am appreciative.
I cannot believe that you are three.
I cannot believe you enjoy watching a creepy show called Yo Gabba Gabba. One of the characters looks like a diseased male appendage, darling. And should I be concerned that he is your favorite?
Thank you so much for allowing me to dress you up.
Thank you so much for keeping me on my toes.
I wouldn’t change anything for the world.
Happy Third Birthday, Natalie Elizabeth!
Love,
The one you love to torture the most
PS. I’m sorry, but you probably won’t be able to date. Ever. Blame your father.
--------------------
I made a video of Natalie and the outfits that I put her in. It is just for fun. The song is "Material Girl" and I usually always get a note saying that material things aren't important, blah blah blah. I GET that. It's just for FUN.
hahaha Happy Birthday to Natalie!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! She's a doll...except for the whole crying part haha. God help the little girl if one should ever exit my womb after having 5 boys! She will be in tiaras, diamonds, and high heels from day one!
ReplyDeleteWow..I had one of those crying babies too...most of his baby pictures of him are just like the ones you posted...I don't think he was happy until he was 5!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Natalie! Enjoy your day!
Awww She is just to darn precious!! I can't believe our babies are 3 now!! Happy Birthday Natalie!!
ReplyDeleteshe's so beautiful - it's a good thing your husband has that gun - he's gonna need it when she's older!
ReplyDeleteAwww... I loved it!! If you get too much crap about the song choice, you could switch it to Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!
ReplyDeleteAlso, probably shouldn't let your husband watch it. Seeing all those outfits together in one place and the $$$ might start adding up in his head! Material Girl soundtrack definitely won't be helping you out there! Danger Danger Will Robinson!!
BTW - incase no one has ever mentioned this before, Natalie is GORGEOUS. I know, revelation right? She is beyond adorable! Those blue eyes are to DIE for. And dimples. And huge smile... she is too cute for words. Well, more words... uh... nevermind. Pretty girl there!
Happy Birthday to Natalie! She is one beautiful little fashion princess! Gymboree really should give her a modeling job!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Natalie!
ReplyDeleteI understand the crying and sad faces at first. We had a lot of those when we brought Roxy home. She wasn't very trusting of us, either. Can't wait to see what the next two and a half years bring us!
Seriously laughing out loud at all the crying pictures. Happy Birthday, Natalie
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Natalie!! She really is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLu did the same thing. She cried for hours on end and liked her father and her aunt better than me. She didn't like strangers looking at her. She would scream. Thankfully, she outgrew all of that.
♥Spot
oh happy birthday beautiful natalie!!!
ReplyDeleteby the way- that 11th pic down just seriously about breaks my heart she is so cute!
have a wonderful wkend!!!
Too cute! I can never get over how creative you are. Usually B-day posts are all warm and fuzzy but yours is unique with just the right amount of lovey dovey.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Natalie! She is too cute hard to believe only 3! Hope she has a wonderful birthday.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your Natalie.
ReplyDeleteIs it wrong that I think it's hilarious that you have so many crying pictures? My Natalie did that for the first 4 months. Colic. Sucked!
Glad y'all figured out a way to co-exist!
Those pictures are hilarious! Happy birthday to Natalie.
ReplyDeleteHappy 3rd Birthday Natalie!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute video! You are an excellent Mommy! <3
Our youngest turns 2 on April 1st (yep, April Fools baby). I cannot believe how fast the time has flown. But..something thats a good thing! ;) ((hugs))
Happy birthday Natalie!!! :)
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, the picture of her at 6 months with that hat on, is SO CUTE!! I mean all the pictures of her are cute, but I love that one. your daugther is adorable, happy birthday to her!
ReplyDeleteThat is one stylin' girl! You could have also played Rod Stewart's "You wear it well". She's so gorgeous! I love her goofy hats! And Daddy does not look like he's going to let her date... Ever. I think you are quite right. Thanks for this post! You made my day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Natalie. Is it really today? Because my daughter's bday is today as well. Three is a big one! Mine's 5, though. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteLet me be the 1,000,000th person (Is there a prize? balloons and streamers?)to say Oh My God, that's a gorgeous kid. Also, I linked to your hysterical St. Pat's story on my blog tomorrow.
I pretty much LOOOOVVVEEEE that you keep it real! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday ms. thang! :)
She sure is one fab lookin lady! We love us some Gymboree/childrens place/baby gap around here! I know you do too! (kindred spirits!)
She's THREE??! How did that happen?! Happy birthday to her! Natalie is super-cute, even in the silly outfits you make her wear :P
ReplyDeleteAwww...Happy Birthday Natalie!! She's adorable!
ReplyDeleteYou're daughter is a doll; she's super sweet and beautiful. Completely understand that you just have to dress her up so nicely. You're doing a great job. Your kids are adorable and you're so funny. Should write a book!
ReplyDeleteHappy b'day Natalie!
Happy Birthday to your interesting and beautiful Natalie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutie pie! I hope you have someone very deserving that you are passing all those clothes to, or a second-hand kids store you can sell them to - unless you are thinking of a third? ;) Happy Birthday kiddo!
ReplyDeleteI laughed so hard as I read this. Those pictures are priceless! Happy Birthday to Natalie :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Natalie!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter (also a 2nd child) cried for 6 months! I've always said it's a good thing she wasn't the first, she'd have been the last.
OMG, I LOVE the picture of Tom and his gun. I'm going to need one of those because my girl is not even leaving the house after she turns 13!
Well, she may as well marry my son, he only cried for the first 6 months too. It was pretty awesome!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday dear Natalie...happy birthday to you!
What a great tribute to your daughters first years...and quite funny, too!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the video. Nice touch.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope that she has a great birthday.
Awwww! So sweet! Happy Birthday Natalie
ReplyDeleteWow, she must of cried alot since you have all those pictures!
ReplyDeleteShe is a little doll now with a huge smile. No more tears!
Happy Birthday Day Natalie!
Adorable! She's such a cute girl, and you take such great pictures of her. (And dress her in cute stuff!)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she got over the crying thing.
Now Amber, you know material things are not important, right??
ReplyDeleteHaha, I couldn't resist :)
Happy birthday to miss Natalie!
Natalie is gorgeous!! Happy Birthday little one, and big wishes for many, many more.
ReplyDeleteps. watch out boys this girl is going to grow up to be smokin hot AND she has attitude!!
awwww she is such a cutie! Happy Birthday to you Natalie! lol I love the pictures, its cool to see her go from crying to more calm to such a smiling girl:)
ReplyDeleteI am green with envy that you have a little girl to dress up! With two boys, they don't like it much when I dress them up in pink tutus.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with keeping up with her wardrobe when she's a teen--might have to nip out and get an extra job or two to finance that one ;-)
It's all been said before, but Natalie is so beautiful, and a natural for the camera!
Happy Birthday Natalie!
Shelly at Tropical Mum
Happy Birthday, Natalie! She is such beautiful girl, and all your posts about her crack me up! She reminds me of my sister as a little one (we're 7 years apart), and she let you know what was WHAT.
ReplyDeleteAlso-thanks for your comment!
I think I only ever managed to get one crying picture for each of my kids. You have a whole montage!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Natalie!
A Lot of Loves
Yep ... I cried.... I can't believe Nathan is next ... crap...
ReplyDeleteer... um...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE!!! It has been a pleasure watching you grow up from far away. Nathan should really make a new video for you .. LOL... to bad I can't get him to sing Happy Birthday ... to bad I can't really even get him to TALK...
Anyway ... I loved the video. You know you could throw more then half of those pictures in a portfolio and start her modeling! LOL ...
::: sniff ::: Still can't believe she's 3!
Happy Happy Birthday Natalie!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Mom...Classic picture of daddy. I have one similar of my Lil One's daddy!
Such a cutie! Happy Birthday miss Natalie:) Glad you've got your daddy to keep you safe;)
ReplyDeleteHow cute! Happy birthday to Natalie! (The pretty hair things are darling!)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Natalie is just beautiful! I feel sorry for her boyfriends!
ReplyDeleteThose are some really cute pictures, and I think we all have those "crying" moments! Please stop by and take a look around my new blog! Thank you,
ReplyDeleteAngela
http://imjaredsmomma.blogspot.com
Happy birthday to Natalie. Love love love the photo with the bunny ears and full out scream/cry.
ReplyDelete"Pissed off old lady" is great.
ReplyDeleteLuckily she smiles a lot now, happy birthday precious.
Happy Birthday, Natalie! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one loving head decorations! I've had a son only for 9 years, this new little girl is getting hair stuff every day, if i have anything to say about it. I'll see if that's where the crying comes from for you!
ReplyDeleteLoving this entry. Already tweeted it :) Love the honestly...some babies cry- a lot- future mommy's need to know that LOL
ReplyDeleteThe photos of Natalie's first 6 months are hysterical! God, do you have future blackmail.
ReplyDeleteAnd luckily Daddy's got a big gun, because that's a lovely little girl you have there. Happy Birthday, Natalie!
Hilarious!! Stopping by from SITS!
ReplyDeleteI am laughing out loud! What a great post. So happy your sweet girl has cheered up.
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE!!!
jj
Aw, Happy Birthday to Natalie!
ReplyDeleteI have a girl and her Daddy's REFUSES to let me do "hair thingies" (headbands) and now she rips out hairbows to look at them and then tries to stick them back in. Sigh. At least I got my cute hats on her.
Natalie's so beautiful, Amber. Every time I see the pics of her all dressed up it makes me ache for a girl ... and then I turn around to my chaos of a boy-filled house and think, "Man, I don't need any more kids, girl or not."
ReplyDeleteI can't believe she's three! I remember when you got pregnant with her, during the ITW days ... it doesn't seem like all that long ago. Wow.
Happy birthday to your little princess! :)
Happy Birthday Natalie! She is so beautiful. My Jakob had colic. Ugh. Crying, crying, and then some more crying.
ReplyDeleteYou LIE. She is an angel. Happy Birthday Natalie!
ReplyDeleteOh my, she is SO adorable!! Even when she was crying she was cute! I never did get a girl to dress up. =( I guess on one hand thats a good thing, cause I'd be broke from buying all sorts of cute girl stuff!
ReplyDeleteShe's such a doll! Absolutely gorgeous, what is it about the gorgeous little girls being the ones who challenge their parents the most from DAY ONE?! And they are so good at charming the rest of the population into thinking they're angels with their perfect little smiles. *sigh* Just wait till she's four. Happy Birthday Natalie!!!
ReplyDeleteSo, I clearly am spending too much time on Facebook. I read your post and then was kind of confused for a moment at the end when I couldn't find the "Like" button. So, um, "Like".
ReplyDeleteShe's so cute! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat incredible early pictures. How did you stay sane? I love how you can put a humorous spin on it!
ReplyDeleteShe's a gorgeous 3 year old. Her face isn't even misshapen from all the crying...
Lindsey Petersen
I love the crying pictures! And I love the hair "pretties"
ReplyDeleteYou daughter is a doll - congrats on her bieng 3! Mine will be 3 in July - how quickly they grow!
And I also agree that YO Gabba is CREEPY!!!
All of those bawling pics are hysterical!
ReplyDeleteand of course her gymboree outfits are da bomb!
As a birthday present for Natalie (who is a doll, by the way), I've awarded her mother the Sunshine Award, for having a great blog. (I know, Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize, but I did the best I could!)
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Thanks for visiting my blog! So glad you did. Your blog is adorable. You have such a darling daughter!!
ReplyDeleteShe's a beauty! I can't believe how many shots you have of her crying though!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she cheered up and hope you and her had a wonderful day on her birthday. March is the best time to have a baby - my girl turned 5 on March 19th.
What a CUTIE! Happy b-day Natalie!
ReplyDeletecloset365.wordpress.com
So cute, even when screaming! At least, with no volume she is. Loved the video. Tom had better keep that gun handy, your daughter is a beauty, she'll have them queuing at the door.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Natalie!!!! So glad you've stopped crying, lol!
ReplyDeleteHow funny. Bella can't date either. Cute girls, hubsters named Tom - we must be twins, lol!
She could be a model. She is one of the most beautiful/photogenic children I've ever seen. (And I see a lot because I read a lot of blogs!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet, sweet video for a beautiful little girl. And I bet all the outfits are from Gymboree. I'd submit it to them. I'm telling ya, she could be a model for them. She is adorable!
ReplyDeleteUm, material things aren't important? Yeahright. Material things are fun and fun is important ergo...
ReplyDeleteHope your little one has a SA-WEET birthday!
Happy birthday big girl! Love the video montage!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness... that 6 month picture is adorable.
ReplyDelete:) I betcha Natalie thinks you are a wonderful mom now - especially after you walk into the side of the house.