Up & Over

One of the books Nathan loves to read is:



The phrase I have now memorized from repeated readings throughout the story is:

We can't go over it.
We can't go under it.
We've got to go through it!

I guess he's taken this phrase literally when it comes to everyday life as evidenced by the pictures below:

 

 

Silly Boy!

Stuck

Nathan's toys often get stuck under our pantry shelf.  I love his "uh-oh" as he looks for the stuck toy.  In my opinion it's the cutest "uh-oh" I've ever heard!  (I'm not biased AT A:LL!)



Here he is signing please for us to get the stuck toy for him:

 

Walking!

It's official!  Nathan can walk!  He's not quite walking everywhere yet but we know it's soon to come!  Yay Nathan!

 

 

The Little Engine That Could

Nathan's new favorite book is:

It's been on his shelf for quite awhile but I figured he wouldn't sit still for me long enough to read the entire thing.  Boy, was I wrong!  He loves it!  And when he goes into his room to read pull the books off his shelf it's the first one he looks for.  He then will sit and page through the book and point to different things he sees.  (Pointing is his new favorite activity by the way--he points, and we tell him what things are--he loves it!)  My Dad is convinced this is just the beginning of his fondness of trains--or so he hopes!

Dear Nathan,

Tonight you took three steps all by yourself!  It was so exciting!  I thought for sure you would want to do it again, but you are one stubborn little boy and want to do things when YOU want to do them, not when WE do.  You are starting to realize you can stand without holding onto things.  Hopefully as your confidence grows you will decide that walking can be pretty cool too.  Either that or you're just going to skip walking and go straight to running!  I probably should start training so I'll be able to keep up with you.

Love you!
Mommy

Birthmom

One day I hope and pray that I will get to meet Nathan's birth mom.  I want to be able to look her in the eyes and say thank you.  And I want to tell her that I look up to her and consider her to be the bravest woman I have ever met.

I have tried to put myself in her shoes many times since we brought Nathan home.  And every time I do I come to the same conclusion.  I couldn't do it.  I couldn't carry a child inside me for 9 months and give it to someone else to raise.  No matter if I was young.  Single.  Or had little to no money.  I just couldn't do it.

But this young woman did!  And I am so grateful!  Without her self-less act I would not have the title of Mommy.  And it's a title I am loving more and more each day!

A Ghost?

A ghost invaded our kitchen tonight:



He likes to use the kitchen towels hanging on the front of the oven for covering.

He especially likes running into things.

If he loses his covering he's quick to cover up again.

I think the dogs were truly scared (of getting run over by this blind ghost!)

 

Believe it or not this kiddo came up with this game all by himself!

No Walker? No Problem!

You would think by now Nathan would finally venture out and start walking.  But no.   Instead when his walker isn't close by he uses the dog food containers instead!

 

 

 

Dewar's

What is Nathan so starstruck about?



What can he not stop staring at?

The Dewar's singing Moose!

He could not tear his eyes away!

 

He was just a little excited when the Moose sang another song.

Look Mom, he's at it again!

Pursing his lips together to say, "Moose"

Family Photo!  Four generations represented!

Nathan enjoyed the ice cream too.

Giving Chewy a high five good-bye.

 

Love You More?

I have a confession to make.  I love my son.  A lot.  A whole lot!  And sometimes when I look at other Moms I think I might love my son more than they love their own kids.  I know that sounds judgemental.  And I'm ashamed I even think it sometimes.  But it's true!

Ben and I waited so long to become parents (and I know many others who waited even longer!) and when I look at my son and hold him at night sometimes I have to hold back tears for how grateful I am to be his Mom.  I often wonder if this whole parenting thing happened easily (and with not much effort on our part) if I would love my son differently or even less.  I definitely think it would be far easier to take things for granted.

There are times when spending time with my son trumps other activities.  Especially since I work full time.  The evenings and weekends are the only time I have with Nathan and those times have become very important and precious to me.  This often means that I say no to a lot of things if it means I will have to spend time apart from him.  I don't consider myself to be over-protective. And it's not that I don't trust other people to watch my son.  But if I have the choice to spend my day with Nathan or someone else, it's going to be Nathan.  Especially when every time I turn around he's growing, changing and learning something new!  I also know the day is coming (sooner than I want it too) when he may not want to spend as much time with me as I want to spend with him!

When I look back on Nathan's childhood I don't ever want to have regrets.  I'm trying my hardest to carve these precious moments on my heart and cherish them now and in the days to come.  (Okay except for the newborn stage when he didn't sleep--I'm pretty sure I've blocked that from my memory forever).

Is it a crime to love your children too much?  If so, I'm guilty!

Walker

Well it only took a day for Nathan to figure by walking (instead of crawling on his knees) he could go a lot faster!  He's even figured out how to pick it up little by little to make it turn!



This may be our only view of Nathan very soon!

 

 

He's not having any fun at all!  NOT!

 

 

Wrong Chair

Caught in the act!  Sorry Otto, but we're not changing your name!

 

Knees

I bought this toy months ago hoping it would encourage Nathan to walk.  He was very reluctant to try it.  He is now finally using it, but only by crawling behind it on his knees!  *Sigh*

 

 

 

New Accessory

Nathan is becoming a fashion trendsetter.  He's invented multiple ways to accessorize using none other than a kitchen towel!



A new head covering?

A scarf?

Or a cape perhaps?