Natalie Hansa Sweek

pumpkin patch

2009-12-20T22:09:00.000-08:00

Just before Halloween, the fam decided to stock up on pumpkins.

You know, in order to lure helpless trick-or-treaters into Natalie's never-ending world of terror.

"Dad... why are we really here?"

"Um... a little room?"

"Hey - just my size."

Success.

eating... with a spoon!

2009-12-18T22:05:00.000-08:00

And the crowd goes wild!

bandannas are forever

2009-12-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

Natalie goes through her Hell's Angels phase.

Or perhaps she's trying to recapture Ning's classic early 00 styles.

Either way, this is the only time she's been allowed to sit on the desk (must have been a tough day for Mom).

For some reason, Natalie loves to stick things under her neck.

bicycle man, bicycle man

2009-12-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

Dad finally put his money where his mouth was & hooked up this pimpin' back seat to his bike. Now he & Natalie are mobile, agile & in style.

"who is jane fonda circa 1986?"

2009-12-13T21:53:00.000-08:00

Too early to forecast a future as a step instructor? Probably.

Now that's grace under pressure.

beads

2009-12-11T21:50:00.000-08:00

The spoils from Brett & Ellen's beautiful bash included a slew of beads, much to the delight of all Sweeks under three feet tall.

lil' climber

2009-12-10T21:48:00.000-08:00

Nat is what you'd have to call rambunctious. Mom & Dad are finding out it's a way of life.

p'tite bretonne

2009-12-08T21:44:00.000-08:00

You don't have to be named Kerlerec to recognize an authentic two-sizes too big Breton shirt. When Carine & her crew sent this over, Natalie literally couldn't wait to try it on.

daddy snuggle time

2009-12-07T21:40:00.000-08:00

Somewhere between love & annoyance lie this set of pics...

"I get it, I get it already!"

And we top it all off with an Eskimo kiss.

NOLA

2009-12-05T21:36:00.000-08:00

This was the outfit in which Natalie tore up the dance floor at Uncle Brett's wedding.

Abita Springs, LA (and its town hall/opry in particular) will never be the same.

can't top these peepers

2009-12-04T21:32:00.000-08:00

Jeepers creepers!

dancey dance

2009-12-03T21:09:00.000-08:00

Natalie's favorite show is Yo Gabba Gabba. Highly recommended for those with kids and/or enjoy hallucinogenics. In this video, young Nat starts out dancing before becoming... just... too... darned... absorbed...

end of the golden gate triptych

2009-12-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

The W / Marin Headlands side of the bridge. Which reminds us: get out to Point Bonita sometime if you can.

golden gate #2

2009-12-01T22:17:00.000-08:00

Smell the excitement as Natalie takes her first steps on the Golden Gate Bridge.

"OK, OK - I'll look at the camera - then you'll let me look
at the view, right?"

"That's more like it."

"What big teeth you have, Mother"

To think some people come for the views.

Nat says: "my push-toy is the bee's knees"

golden gate no. uno

2009-11-30T21:11:00.000-08:00

Took the quick jaunt across to the North side of the bay, for a look back at the city on a glorious day. These pics are from the E side of the 101.

bye, bye lakie

2009-11-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

Last non-snowy views of Donner this year. A sight Mom & Dad never tire of. So far so good for Natalie too.

"Oooh..."

love is ... a sprinkler

2009-11-27T20:59:00.000-08:00

Why it's dangerous to leave Dad & Natalie alone together: life lessons tend to be "sticking your finger in the sprinkler is fun."

Which, you know, it is.

the big donner trip (III)

2009-11-25T20:52:00.000-08:00

When we weren't lakeside, lazing in the cabin was definitely the place to be.

The whole crew.

Posh candlelight dinner, a.k.a. Staredown at OK Corral.

Everybody loves Ray. There's just no way around it.

the big donner trip (two)

2009-11-23T20:51:00.000-08:00

A representative sample of the go-go-go life at the cabin.

shades

2009-11-21T20:45:00.000-08:00

Now if that ain't just the look of a 50's movie queen, we don't know what we're talking about.

slide?!?

2009-11-19T20:41:00.000-08:00

For a while there, Natalie preferred to think of the slide as a place for sedentary contemplation...

... and was quite a bit less sure about, you know, actually sliding.

the big donner trip (part 1)

2009-11-17T20:32:00.000-08:00

On Labor Day weekend we went up to Donner Lake w/ Ray & them.

Natalie & Dad's favorite part was dipping our toes in the lake.

on my hobby horse

2009-11-16T11:26:00.000-08:00

Our friends at the Thai Cottage hooked Natalie up with a sweet rocking horse. The benefits of cuteness never cease to astound - milk it while you can, girl!

This face popped up out of the blue, much to Mom &
Dad's delight...

wagon

2009-11-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

Cruising the city sidewalks with Brendan....

Alert face.

Funny face.

"This is serious" face.

a day at the beach, long ago

2009-11-14T11:11:00.000-08:00

Natalie just loves the beach...

Don't be alarmed. (This was in August.)

shorn deux

2009-09-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Mom got her hair cut again - as if we needed an excuse for picture-taking.

#1A lovie

2009-09-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

When Terry came along, she took her place alongside lil elephant as her tried and true best pal...

#1 lovie

2009-09-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

Natalie's favorite stuffed animal is this little elephant, whose trunk has been gnawed almost beyond recognition...

duboce park

2009-08-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Natalie loves the playground at Duboce Park - a quick hop on the muni from 21st ave.

a new friend

2009-08-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

One of the first friends Natalie made in the big city is Nok.

new digs 2

2009-08-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

More pics from the early days on 21st avenue.

"DON'T TOUCH TH - too late"

"I didn't do it"

new digs!

2009-08-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

Luckily for all parties concerned, Natalie took to the new house like a fish takes to water...

She especially loved the window seat, especially once she figured out how to get down without falling on her face.

ocean beach

2009-08-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Still on the way to the new digs, the weather was so nice Mom & Dad had to introduce Natalie to the Pacific Ocean.

On future trips to the beach they'll stay busy trying to keep her from running straight into it.

san francisco, open your golden gate

2009-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

On their way into the city to make the move official, the crew stopped to grab some views...

"I don't know, kid - how long do you think it is?"

birthday aquatic

2009-08-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

Dad's gift was a floaty thing for the pool.

Nat wasn't too sure how she liked it the first time, but has since gotten the hang of the "huge body of water" thing.

Aunt Nancy: high the list of Natalie favorite people
(Can you have separation anxiety for someone you just met?)

birthday pics two

2009-08-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

More pics from Nat's b-day bash.

Yummy.

This little guy has become Natalie's favorite friend

"my precious..."

happy #1 (again)

2009-08-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

Some of the SoCal Sweeks came through Sonoma just in time to catch Natalie's birthday celebration...

As for little Hansa, she thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention. Hasn't fully grasped the gift thing yet, though.

wedding bells...

2009-07-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

Lindsay was married in a beautiful ceremony on June 4 ... Natalie had fun (up way past bedtime!) but may have been secretly disappointed she didn't catch the bouquet.

The newly minted husband is Andy, and the Sweeks are now officially related to Brits.

Splendid.

with Aunt Mary (T's great-aunt) & the Wing/Palmquist crew

the French word for this look is "abasourdi" - (sorry, Linds).
they'll find marriage is indeed a stunning ride.

the pebble

2009-07-31T19:02:00.001-07:00

Video goodness from the boat ride out to Alacatraz...

the stone

2009-07-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

Nat, Mom & Grandma took a trip to Alcatraz as part of the pre-festivities for cousin Lindsay's wedding...

It was windy.

Natalie was very excited - her first time seeing the ocean...

because it's there

2009-07-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

No word yet on whether or not Natalie will need oxygen for the final ascent.

last days in the park (II)

2009-07-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

Note how Natalie perseveres in her curb-balancing efforts even when faced with the ultimate ego-crushing blow: complete and utter indifference from the peanut gallery.

last days in the park (I)

2009-07-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

The sweet playground on the plaza is one of the things we'll miss the most about Sonoma.

meeting of the minds

2009-07-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

Kevin and Natalie discuss metaphysics.

fish-eye

2009-07-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

Wow. I don't even know what to say.

shadow & light

2009-07-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

beer is love (still)

2009-07-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

the help walker

2009-07-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

Happiness is a blue plastic hippo with wheels...

mikey's birthday

2009-07-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

So far back it seems like prehistory, but Natalie attended her first birthday party during our final weeks in Sonoma and made a friend... (Note how she's already running with an older crowd.)

the big news (delivered w/ a grimace)

2009-07-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that updates have been few & far between lately.

That's 'cause famille Sweek has moved back to San Francisco - on the N line again! - and things have been pretty busy. (Well, mostly. The last week or so is just laziness on Dad's part.)

More the pity for Natalie's loyal followers since so much went down in June/July - cousin Lindsay's wedding, Nat's first birthday, not to mention a complete revolution in the little girl, who's now officially a toddler.

She walks, she runs, she understands tons of words, she can throw a fit, she needs discipline ... the fun's just getting started, we can tell.

And in celebration of all that, the next few weeks in this space are going to be a smorgasbord of pics and videos - so keep an eye out. Lots of great stuff on the way.

(this car seat, much like our Sonoma digs, is now history)

Happy #1, Natalie!!

2009-07-02T23:23:00.001-07:00

Lots of things going on for these Sweeks... but you'll have to wait a few to get the scoop on that. For now, Dad just wants to take a look back at one year of fun, laughs & diapers changes.

Happy Birthday, Natalie!!

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

dancy dance dance

2009-06-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

I am hilarious.

In this case, because any semblance of a beat will get me dancing my little dance. I can't help it. As the French people say, "j'ai le rythme dans la peau."

laughy laughy fun times

2009-06-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Grandpa came over awhile back & we entertained each other no end... I had my little fake laugh going real good, as you'll see.

shorn!

2009-06-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Mommy got her hair cut, but I still recognized her. I'm good like that.

horse, duck, mission...

2009-06-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

Natalie takes them all in with the same quizzical expression...

computer time

2009-06-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

"I'm helping Daddy work"

living hand to mouth

2009-06-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

Natalie's well behind her peers in the "this looks like it belongs in my mouth" department. Mom & Dad even started to worry a little. But lo & behold, she finally felt the urge.

Note: alternate title for this post was "foot in mouth disease"

dishwasher

2009-06-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

To continue on the appliances theme, this is what happens if we clear the dishwasher while Natalie's not otherwise occupied. (Although this was the only time Mom actually let her get all the way up.)

Also note the classic Natalie funny face towards the end of the video.

frigidaire

2009-05-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Natalie scoots as fast as she can when she hears the fridge door swing open: she's got to get there before someone shuts it. With success comes a very good mood.

"Grapefruit juice?"

"No, no, let's go OJ"

funny face

2009-05-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

Walking & making faces at the same time - quite a skill-set we're developing.

cutesie hat

2009-05-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Look at the cool chapeau Aunt Lindsay gave me...

Note: I'm making a phone call. (Likely to China.)

shoulder rides

2009-05-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

Natalie's thought bubble: "I'm soooo tall!"

way late easter pics

2009-05-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

The whole family got together at Papi & Mami's for Easter... but only one of us was the complete & total center of attention.

This was the first time Natalie ever put food in her mouth on her own

"Yum?"

"OK, OK, I get it"

she stands! (well, she leans, really)

2009-05-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

Little Natalie is getting very mobile... Mom & Dad foresee long days of chasing her everywhere on the horizon

peek-a-boo! (deux)

2009-05-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well now isn't that precious?

daddy love time

2009-05-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

Always with the kisses and hugs...

a friend...

2009-04-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

This is the only person I've ever stuck my arms out to & asked to hold me. No one knows them, but I have my reasons...

my first bay bridge photos

2009-04-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

Wow - the great-grandparents have an awesome view...

rainy day woman

2009-04-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

crib pics

2009-04-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

I'm loving my daytime crib lately...

more fun in the park

2009-04-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

I love everything about the playground, especially the sand...

Uncle Tyler calls my walking style "mime against the wind"

family photo

2009-04-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

i can crawl!

2009-04-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Opinions will vary as to whether this makes life easier or harder for the parents, but so far everyone is pleased. The big key was the transition from sitting to crawling and back again - now I can move around & still stop to play if I feel like it.

spring is here

2009-04-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

That means I get to wear short pants - yay!

I have feet!

Spring also means dad put the hamac back up... nice.

brendan comes to visit

2009-04-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

My friend Brendan (he's about 6 months older than I am) and his parents came for a visit. What fun!

april fool's

2009-04-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hey... this isn't laundry.

little fatty face

2009-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

dad's hats

2009-03-29T17:04:00.001-07:00

For some reason (maybe it's because I love playing with them) Dad thinks it's funny to put these gigantic things on my head. Luckily I look good in anything...

high chair goodness

2009-02-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

yummy yummy yum

2009-02-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

More adventures in solid food... Dad's feeding technique, surprise surprise, is a bit messier than Mom's.

backyard fun time

2009-02-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

One of the lovely things about California: January days nice enough to play in the backyard...

doesn't grass feels funny?

more tummy pics

2009-02-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

ouch!

2009-02-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

classic mat play & roll-over skills - but you gotta watch your noggin, girl.

she sits!

2009-02-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

what balance! what elegance! what grace!

ruby slippers

2009-01-22T13:44:00.000-08:00

Natalie got her first real pair of shoes for Christmas - fetching, n'est-ce-pas?

raspberry!

2009-01-18T13:37:00.000-08:00

What a little funny face ; )

peek-a-boo!

2009-01-14T13:33:00.000-08:00

my first bite

2009-01-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

For a few weeks now, Natalie's been on the road to solid food - starting with rice cereal & oatmeal.

And whenever Mom or Dad eat something, she stares with big, envious eyes - soon enough, little girl, soon enough.

"hmmm...not sure how I feel about this"

"I also like playing with my spoon"

a time to laugh...

2009-01-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

Peek-a-boo with Daddy on the bouncy seat - what a blast!

cozy christmas

2009-01-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

Natalie's first Christmas was a blast: all kinds of people just itching to spoil her, this crazy white stuff falling gently from the sky, a wonderful lighted-up tree, and tons & tons of wrapping paper to play with.

"It's my book now, daddy"

"I can fly!"

wishing everyone a fingerlicious christmas!

2008-12-24T13:50:00.000-08:00

!!!

butt!

2008-12-19T13:48:00.000-08:00

sleepin' it off

2008-12-17T13:45:00.000-08:00

Natalie is just figuring out how to fall asleep by herself (night-times are easier).

With that comes tossing & turning & hanging out of the crib.

wow... I've got a big head!

a sweek day in the park

2008-12-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

Grandma, Grandpa & Uncle Ty met us at the square for a fun, crisp day at the park...

alameda buddy

2008-12-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

Natalie & friend Brendan at the Lee's place in Alameda.

Ning, Emilie & Brendan have no idea what Hansa's making a Popeye face about. What about you?

thanksgiving

2008-12-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

Natalie & the parents went to grandma & grandpa's house for Thanksgiving Sunday soup, and got to see the great-grandparents as well.

Four generations at one time, but for a little girl just a lot of people to play with & coyly smile at...

swing time

2008-12-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

Natalie is the tiniest girl on the swing set by far, but she loves it.... (not to worry, we go slow...)

She's getting bigger (16 lbs) & really figuring out the world around her - every few days a new skill. She loves being outside, especially getting to look at all the big kids on the swing at the 2-5 playground.

...and roll!

2008-11-18T12:43:00.000-08:00

Natalie has got the stomach-to-back roll all figured out. She's also rolled from back to stomach, but it's only happened once - when mom wasn't looking, of course.

shake, rattle...

2008-11-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

Natalie's really gotten the hang of grabbing & shaking her toys...

scary daddy...

2008-11-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

sometimes, the man is just plain frightening...