Ball!

Natalie has had quite a fun time playing with this mini soccer ball Nick had taken to Guatemala. This video tells it all:

And what's more fun than a ball? A ball and a pair of daddy's boxers. (Don't worry, they were clean :)) She drug them around, flicked them over her head, and generally had a fabulous time. Crazy girl. :)
She has been crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything. She loves to crawl over our legs, pillows, you name it.
She laughs and smiles, and this week she started pointing to things. She can also identify my nose and my mouth. She grabs my nose or my mouth when I say, "Natalie, where's mommy's nose/mouth?" It is SO cute. We are still working on eyes and ears.
On Monday, she had her 9 month check up. She was 18lbs 15oz (50th %), and 28 1/2 inches long (80th %). Poor thing got the first round of her flu shots and had her blood drawn. She has to go back in a month for the second shot and another blood draw. Her iron level was a little low, so we have to give her a supplement twice a day. He said it was normal as she took in less milk and increased her solid food intake, so it's nothing to worry about.
Unfortunately, we were back to the doctor again today because she broke out in a nasty rash, some of which is blistering. :( We knew what it was, but just wanted confirmation and to see when she could return to the sitter. It's Hands, Foot, and Mouth disease. Another little boy at the sitter had it last week, so we've been watching for it since it is apparently a highly contagious. Obviously. Fortunately, she never ran a fever nor lost her appetite, and she doesn't act like she is in pain. The pediatrician said that this year's strain is really mild, so we are thankful.
Her hair is still totally wild, but it is getting longer. No sign of any more new teeth, but the six she has are fully in.
You know I just can't get enough pictures of her. :)





Last weekend we went and enjoyed celebrating our friend Hannah's first birthday. Aiden and Isabel were there too, so we tried to get them all together for a picture. Well, you can imagine how successful getting 4 kids ranging from 9mos to 2 1/2 years together for a picture turned out. Here are the best shots we could snap.




We also want to give aunt nee nee (Courtney) a great big congratulations! She graduated with honors from TSTC (Texas State Technical College) in Waco this past weekend with a degree in Digital Media Design. She is SUCH a talented artist. The company that hires her will be very lucky indeed. She has moved to Austin and is currently hunting for a job. We're praying for you! We also miss you and love you!

It's Nick again. Candace is off to bed and has instructed me to enter a post. She is working hard at her job and at home, trying to keep up with Natalie and me! Things are going well for us, I am starting to get back into a routine from my summer travels and Candace is trying to get over the fact that Natalie's pediatrition told her that Natalie is no longer a "baby." Fortunately we do have a great doctor for Natalie and he is right, she is no longer a baby and is starting to turn into a little child.
Speaking of our little girl, here are some pictures we took last week.

She Crawls! and She Squeeks!

It's been several weeks since she started to crawl, so I thought it was high time we shared it with you.
Tonight, she started making a new sound. She was in her high chair finishing her dinner and noticed Bella in the kitchen. This just cracks me up!
Lastly, here is the big girl "standing" up by the couch. Enjoy the videos! :)

9 months and counting

I surly can't believe that my baby is 9 months old already. It seems like just yesterday.....well, you know. Sorry to all for our long blogging hiatus. We have been out of commission traveling around as you saw from the previous post. I have come to the conclusion that I just don't have enough vacation time. While in Missouri, I made sure to take the time each morning I was there to enjoy my cup of coffee and the beautiful view from my in-law's kitchen table:

Ahhhh....it's the little things in life you need to take time and enjoy. Speaking of, here is the little thing and what she has been up to.
Sleeping: Sometimes she sleeps peacefuly like so:

Sometimes she wakes up, sits up, and fusses until she falls back asleep in what has got to be one of the most uncomfortable positions I've ever seen.

She is on the move now and crawling up a storm. Of course that means she can explore and get her hot little hands on all sorts of "fun" things. Her favorites are shoes and rugs. Mommy and Daddy are learning to put our things away quickly. :)





She still loves her books as much as ever.


I broke down and bought the umbrella stroller I wanted. It is awesome! And Natalie seems to like it, too.

She is the baby of a million faces. Here are just a couple.




Natalie Shea is quite the joy, as you can see. I love her SO much. :)

Summer time

A little update on the Moss family from Nick:We just got back from the wedding of MURRAY and DANIELLE MOSS. Congrats you two and may God bless your marriage. It was great to see a lot of family and Natilie got to meet most of my extended family. It was a great end to the summer of travels for the Moss family. I think Candace and I are looking forward to not having to go through another airport for at least a few months. We do love living in Florida, but only seeing our families every now and then is tough. Enjoy the pictures from the Wedding and my mission trips.

Dad, I, and Natalie


Grandma and Grandpa Moss (4 generations)


Natalie enjoying Nana and Grandpa's backyard


Natalie and the Bride


Michael and Abby (they walked down the same isle 14 months ago)


A pretty darn good looking family!


The siblings


My Beautiful Girls


The new couple


Candace and I made that walk 6.5 years ago


I got to go on to Mission trips this summer. Guatemala in June with college students and the Dominican Republic in July with high school students. I am so thankful for these opportunities.

Here is the house we helped build in Gulaun, Guatemala.


I am working on a sidewalk at a local church in Gulaun, Guatemala


Here we are finishing putting down the sand for the sidewalk, before we laid the cement.


We visited a man's coffee plantation near La Union, Guatemala. Here are his new coffee plants.


In Santo Domingo, DR at one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Western Hemisphere.


The orphange for physically and mentally handicapped children where we spent each morning. We spent time talking, singing and just loving the children.


Here I am holding up the pole to keep the tarp up at the VBS at a home church outside of Santo Domingo.