The Barton Family Blog

Jen and Natalee are having so much fun bonding this week! Each morning Natalee wakes up, stands up in her crib and screams "Hi Jen!" over and over until I come and get her out (She and Jen share a room). After breakfast (and coffee!) Jen helped pick out Natalee's outfit and dress her. Here's a shot of Jen struggling with those darn buttons. Her fake nails seemed to get in the way! Natalee loved it when Jen let her wear the big green hat.. (: I'm not sure that she could even see, but she would walk around wearing a big goofy grin in Jen's hat! Jen even got down on hands and knees and played "I'm gonna get you!" with Natalee screaming and running for cover...

Camp Natalee 2008 background for those of you who don't know... Jennifer usually attends Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp for adults w/ disabilities each year. Last year she didn't get enrolled in time... so I created Camp Natalee! Jen came and spent a week with us when Natalee was just 2 1/2 months old. Jen learned that it's okay for a baby to cry, how to change diapers and give baths, and what it means to be an AUNT! Camp Natalee was a huge success! This summer just couldn't pass with out a Camp Natalee... so for the second year running... Jen came and spent a week in Corvallis! (Jen & Natalee brushing their teeth.... isn't it so cute? I love this picture!) What a difference a year makes! I have a mini van so I can fit Jen's walker, wheelchair, and Natalee's stroller all in the same vehicle! I don't live downstairs anymore... so getting in and out and going places is so much more smooth! We have a pool here at the apartment, so that makes for a fun o...

Well I have a lot of catching up to do... but I'm excited... cause I love having stuff to post. Going back a few weeks... Here's our 4th of July night in McMinnville! We headed to the Goodwill Parking lot for our traditional pre-fireworks show hosted by the Mac church. I love being able to head to Mac when we can - just to be with family and friends and to see their 4th of July bands, drama, etc... Naomi's band played with Jason as the drummer, my mom on guitar, and Stephanie Wegner at piano... there were so many people gone to Prescott Conference it was the only way to make a functioning band! They did great! Naomi has an incredible voice! Jason (future-brother-in-law in just a few weeks!) My Mom.. going back to the good old days! At the end, My mom, Stephanie & Naomi did 2 traditional p a t r i o t i c songs ... it was really really good with pretty harmonies... ther e's supposed to be a little glimpse of them right here... but alas.. my video is not u...

Happy Independence Day! We started out our 4 th of July meeting family at Discovery park in McMinnville for a bbq and just a fun relaxing time! After a few mishaps with the bbq , we got our food cooking and all our potluck stuff spread out over 3 tables! Discovery park is perfect for group get- togethers because of the layout... you can see the kids pretty well if you sit under the covered area... and there are also park rangers to deter any trouble-makers... Natalee & Taylor had a blast playing on the playground. It was fun with so much family around (The Brocks , Bartons and Smiths) because we could take turns playing with the little ones... and mommy got a break! Natalee's favorite part of the playground is always the swings... we had a hard time coaxing her out of them (she threw a fit!) Lucky for her, Aunt Auttie , Aunt Naomi, both grandpas & grandmas all took turns with her on the swingset ... so s...

This video doesn't need much explantion... it's self explanatory! (:

(that's right! 100% of the people who commented on my last blog post wanted me to share more pictures of my darling apartment... you asked people.. I deliver!) Natalee's room is far from complete at this point. My MIL made her a darling crib set, bumper pads, quilt, sheets... and a diaper sack and changing table pads to match (She's AMAZING!!!). I've been waiting to use them all this time because I don't have a crib. Well she is getting Johnny's old crib from a friend she loaned it to years ago as well as another oak crib.. so I get to pick which one I want! That will be the start of Natalee's new little nursery. There is a twin bed in there for guests (Jennifer, my sister, is coming to stay all next week!) and my mom is contributing a pink bedspread from my childhood so that it will match my color scheme (pink, black & white). I have a few pink & white little boxes, as well as the pink tubs Johnny and I purchased at IKEA last week so I know it ...

I got the idea to braid Natalee's hair in a mini french braid from Kyah the little girl I babysit. It took a bit of lotion to get that fine hair under control but I thought it looked awfully sweet! Natalee was just being a goof ball today prancing around the living room and sucking on a baby wipe (gross I know!) I thought I'd include a few shots just to show that there IS walking space in our living room now. On Saturday I don't think the guys who helped us move thought it was possible to find a place for all our stuff! After a LARGE Goodwill run.... I'm happy to say it's looking more and more like a HOME today! Ooo.. and I bought a couple fun treasures to organize and one cool tapestry to hang in my kitchen! It's so fun to have new things!