Glue Stick

Soccer

Nathan loves playing sports with Daddy.  Today they tried out soccer in the front yard.  

Setting up for the perfect kick.

Run & Kick!

Nathan loves playing with his Daddy!

Play-doh

I introduced Nathan to play-doh today!  I will call it a success since he didn't try to eat any! :)

Dear Nathan,

Today you decided to grow up.  You decided that your crib was no longer cutting it for nap time and you attempted to climb out.  You never successfully made it out but Daddy and I decided we didn't want to wait around to find out if you could indeed make it.  So tonight we took the front of your crib off and attached the toddler rail to it.  You are officially not a baby anymore!  Only babies sleep in cribs!  Truth be told it was rather exciting to set up everything and start some new bedtime routines with you.  But there's no going back now and that makes me a little sad.  I'm afraid I'm going to blink a few more times and you'll be all grown up!  Love you to the moon and back!

Mommy

Toddler Bed

Today Nathan decided to try climbing out of his crib at nap time.  Truth be told he actually spent his entire nap attempting to crawl out!  Although he wasn't successful we decided we didn't want to wait to find out!  After his nap Ben got to work on taking the front off Nathan's crib and attaching the toddler rail it came with.  

No more crib!  Sniff, Sniff!  

Nathan checking things out in his "new" bed.  When we got ready for bed later he pointed to his crib and said, "broken"

Believe it or not up until this point we had never given Nathan a pillow.  Daddy showed him how to use it correctly. 

Reading books in bed will be new to Nathan's bed time routine.  Up until now we always read them together in the rocking chair.

Set up and ready to go!

Nathan's monkey tried out the new bed too.

In our PJ's reading books...

Is it just me or does he not look so sure about this?!

One last book and then lights were out!  I'm writing this an hour after we put him to bed and so far we haven't heard a peep and he hasn't gotten out!  Success!  (Well for now anyways....nap time tomorrow may be an entire different matter!)

Adventures in Baby-Sitting

The other day Callen came over while his Mom & Dad attended a meeting out of town.  I kept track of our day with my camera phone.  Sorry for the less than stellar pics.  Thank goodness for Instagram filters! 

Eating Breakfast:  Smoothies, Muffins & Milk!

Playpen time!  Nathan in the pack and play, Callen in the crib.  They spent most of their time throwing all the toys outside of their playpens!  Oh and screaming at the top of their lungs (happy screams, not sad!)

Walking in to the gym to go to Kids Club. Nathan insisted on holding Callen's hand wherever we went!

The backseat was lively with these two guys in it!

Callen tried on Nathan's bike helmet. What a cutie!

Wagon Ride!  Nathan decided riding this way was more comfortable!

These boys have enjoyed many a wagon ride together!

Watching Thomas the Train together.  Nathan insisted on hugging his friend tight while watching.

The view from the back.  Love it!

Reading Books

Coloring

What a fun day we had!

Love is Blind

Today, I realized that something I learned in our adoption classes has come true.  Back when we were becoming certified to adopt one of the things I struggled with was whether or not I would be able to adopt a transracial child.  (You can read the original post here).  If you've seen pictures of our son, it's obvious we didn't let the color of our child's skin become the deciding factor in taking him home.

I still remember a comment a fellow adoptive mom of transracial children said before we even had met Nathan.  She said that although many other people are quick to notice and point out the difference between her children's skin color and her own, she often forgets there is any difference at all.  At the time I wondered if I chose to adopt a transracial child if that would be the case for me.

Today I realized it was true!  I do not sit at home and hold Nathan's hand in mine examining the differences in tone and color.  When I'm out and about running errands and living life the fact that Nathan's skin is darker than mine rarely crosses my mind.  In fact, sometimes I'm caught off guard when people do stare or ask if Nathan is my son.

With Nathan being our first (and for now only) child it's hard to explain the love I have for him.  Some people when choosing whether or not to adopt have often said they wonder if they will be able to love a child that is not biologically their own.  I guess this thought may have crossed my mind but from the moment we met Nathan it felt like he had been ours all along.  The color of his skin had nothing to do with the fact that we fell in love with him the moment we first met him.

I'm not sure how to conclude this post so all I will say is that Love really is blind!  I'm so glad God knew what he was doing when he brought Nathan into our lives!

Daddy's Haircut

Ben recently decided to shave his head.  Nathan wasn't sure what to think at first.  Daddy's new haircut was a source of conversation for quite awhile!

Checking it out up close:

Grandma

Nathan loves his Grandma!  Giddy up!

"Cookies"

Nathan's imagination seems to become more and more active each day!  He loves getting my Tupperware hamburger maker out to make us "cookies".

Here you go Mommy!

Mixing up his cookies.  They almost always are chocolate!

Future Firefighter?

 Uncle Nick & Grandma George coordinated their gifts this year...possibly without knowing?!  Nathan loves his firefighter jacket and hat from Uncle Nick and his fire truck from Grandma George.

A firefighter is supposed to ride on the firetruck, right?!

Sharing his hat with Grandma

Monkey Business

Look Mom!  I'm giving my Monkey a piggyback monkeyback ride!