Last day of 2008

Did we ring in the New Year??? Nope, all of us were in bed by midnight. I thought about setting alarm and waking Nate up to get some pics of him at midnight. But, then thought better of it. I don't have one of those kids that can wake up and then go right back to sleep. He would have been up for hours.

Grammy and Grampy have been here all week watching Nate because daycare is closed and we have to work. They spent the night Monday night and last night. Reese and Grampy slept in the bed together Monday night and he slept on the couch last night with Grammy! Tonight Grammy and Grampy watched Nate while Brad and I went out to eat. We ate at the Asian Bistro and it was yummy! One year ago today we went out to eat for the first time without Nate. Mom and Dad watched him and we went to eat and came straight home! Tonight we went to eat and to the mall and to Walmart! Such excitement!

Happy New Year!

Our last Christmas Celebration

Today my family came over to our house to celebrate Christmas. This year we decided to have hor dours instead of a meal. As always we had too much food. Grammy, Grampy, Aunt Ellen, Emily and Amy came over. Nate gots a lot more presents. He got a singing Barney, lots of Thomas stuff, books, a Thomas plate, and some clothes. His favorite was the Barney and a train case that has a track on one side. Of course, Reese got more treats. Nate played Santa and passed out all the gifts.



I rocked him to sleep and then put him in his bed and he stayed asleep for another two hours! He was so tired from all the celebrating!



Nate played the Barney so much that it is already needing new batteries!



Christmas is finally over! Time to relax now!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I woke up bright and early (like Nate usually does) so excited for Nate to wake up and see what Santa brought him. I laid there and laid there and laid there! He was not moving! So, I got up and walked around the bedroom, opened some drawers, rustled through some papers, nothing! Finally at 9:00 he started moving around so I woke him up.



He was so excited to see the gifts under the tree! He said "oh, dad!" He got all kinds of gifts. He got a Thomas ride on, lots of books, a hat and mittens, a couple of Thomas trains, a stuffed dog, a music set, a blanket, some hodded towels, and lots of other fun stuff. His favorite was definatly the Thomas ride on. He rode it all around the house! Reese also got stuff from Santa. He got treats, a new collar and a new blanket.



Nate slept so long we had to rush around to get ready for church. We even had to have Nate take breakfast to eat at church. He looked so handsome in his Christmas outfit.



After church we went to the nursing home to visit Brad's grandfather and then went out to eat. Chineas! We were going to eat ham and turkey for Christmas lunch but Nate was letting us know that he was not waiting any longer for lunch. For dinner we always eat Pizza Hut on Christmas night so we ate out again for dinner!



After dinner we all watched Christmas cartoon together. Me and the boys laid on the couch together. Poor daddy, there was not enough room for him!



I hope that everyone had as good and blessed Christmas as we did!

Christmas Eve #2

After we left Granpa's house we headed to Nana and Pap's house. Nana, Pap, Great Grandma, Uncle Lance and Aunt Jenny were all there. The dogs Kiki, Molly and Earl were there too. Nate loves the dogs and hugged and kissed all over them. Nana and Pap had a train around there tree that Nate LOVED! Nate got all kinds of gifts. Some of his favorites were a barn, a basketball goal and of course a book. He wasn't really into opening gifts and I thought he would be this year. He was just as content letting me rip off the paper.

Nate has so much fun running in Nana and Pap's new family room. It is so big and open. He remembered the big bath tub from last time we were there and asked to take a bath!

Christmas Eve #1

Brad had to work today so after he got off work, off we went to celebrate. First we went to Grandma Pam's house to celebrate with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Josh, Uncle Jack and Uncle Lance and Aunt Jenny. There was lots of yummy food. Nate loved the chicken noddle soup and him and I ate all of the green peppers and ranch dip!

Then time for presents. Nate got an Elmo Live and a Thomas track set, a sweater and hat set and a farm book with puppets. He loved it all. The Elmo scares him though if he is to close to it. It is so cute, he will yell and knock Elmo backwards. Granpa put a sucker in Nates stocking and I let him try it. Remember that this will only be the second sucker he has ever tried in him life (i know, what a bad mommy). He LOVED it! Thanks Grandpa :)

Snow Day!

I got a text message today that it was icy out and the offices would be closed! Who-hoo! A snow day for me and Nate. We played all day and then he took a LONG nap while I rocked him. I love days like today! We didn't even got out of our jammies until Brad was about to come home from work. Tonight Nate and I made cookies for Santa. We are not going to be home until late tomorrow night so we went ahead and made them tonight. I think Santa is going to love them :)

Grandpa's family Christmas

Today we went to O'fallen to have Christmas with Brad's dad's family. It was at Granpa's house. Grandpa and Grandma, Great Uncle Gary and Great Aunt Effie, Great Uncle Roger, Great Grandp and Great Grandma and lots of cousins were there. They had it catered from Boston Market (which I had never had) and it was so good. Nate didn't eat very well. He really only wanted to eat raisins, which is one of his favorite foods. He played with those toys that is a puzzle with golf pegs in it all day. He would take the pegs out and then put them all back in again. Such concentration and determination!

My smart little guy

Nate can count...to 2! I will say Nate what comes after one. He will say "Twoooo". He is so proud of himself and claps and wants you to clap too. I really think that he is so smart. I told him that I was pretty sure that being about to count to 2 at 17 months was advanced!

Another new sign

He started doing "Daddy" tonight. He will not do Mommy. So, now, not only does he not say "mommy" but he won't even sign it. He will only say Mommy in times of desperate need!

Nate had a slumber party last night...

with Grampy!!! Brad went "Christmas shopping" with his friends from back home. So, it was just going to be me and the boys. But, Grampy decided to come up and spend the night with us. Mom had to work so Grampy came by himself. Nate and Reese were so excited. We went out to eat and got to eat Mexican (Grammy hates Mexican). Then Grampy took us grocery shopping. This morning we got up and went to eat the breakfast buffet. Nate and Grampy played all night. Grampy isn't used to getting up so early but got up at 6:15 am when we did! We love you Grampy!!!

Visit with Santa

This afternoon we went to see Santa. Nate liked him! I was kinda hoping for a screaming Santa pic! He wouldn't smile but he didn't cry and he gave Santa five! Want he really liked was a baby that was there. He is really starting to like babies and wants to see them and touch them if we see anyone with a baby. He looked at her and touched her face and said "awww"! It was so sweet!

Tonight, Daddy is going out of town and Grampy is spending the night!

I am as big as Daddy!

Brad is on a new kick that he is going to get in shape. So, everynight he has been doing push ups and some kind of ab things. (Obviously, I am NOT working out!) Nate tries to help him everynight. It is so cute. He even makes the sounds!

Happy Birthday Reese

Today is Reese's birthday! He is 5 years old. We told him the story of the day that we brought him home :) We celebrated his birthday on Sunday at the party with him and Brad. We were going to take a family walk (Reese loves to walk) when I got home from work but I had to work late and it was really windy tonight so we didn't. We just gave lots of pats and kisses!

This morning when Nate woke up he started saying "I love" and kissing on Reese. That is the first time he has said I love you on his own without prompting. And, it was to Reese on his birthday. How sweet! They really are the best of friends. The second picture up above is when we first brought Nate home. Reese loved and protected him even then.

Nate is now saying "hat" in sign language. So we are up to seven signs and approximately 18 words. He is picking up on signs so good though. He can do about four other signs if prompted first but seven with no help. He is so smart!

Happy birthday Reese!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is Brad's birthday. Nate got him a DVD set of Christmas movies. We had a party at our house today for Brad and Reese, whose birthday is tomarrow. Grammy, Grampy, Nana, Pap, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Lance, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Jake and Uncle Josh all came. We had lots of food and cake for both people and dogs. Nate had so much fun running around and showing everyone his new tricks. My mom taught him to say "I love you" today. He only says it if you have him repeat the words after you. It is so sweet. And we have another new tooth. Number 17!



Happy Birthday Daddy!

Christmas pics

Today we went and had Nate's Christmas pics taken. They turned out so cute. I think he may be a model one day. He loves having his pics taken!

First snow of the year

When we woke up this morning there was snow on the ground! So, I bundled up Nate and took him outside to play. He was excited but he loves to play outside anytime. He was so bundled up he had a hard time walking! He would say "look" and "whats that". He cried when it was time to come back in the house. There was only a little snow and it was all melted by 10 am.

Nate's favorite food

Tonight we went to eat Mexican food. It is Nate's favorite! He is truely his Mommy's son! He ate guacamole, cheese dip, a cheese quesadilla and rice. He nearly ate his whole plate. So, now it is two against one in this house on what to eat for dinner! Grammy, it is time for you to start liking Mexican too!

A sign of how smart he is

Tonight he learned the sign for "bath". He is so proud when he learns stuff. He will go to the bathroom and sign "bath". He really likes doing sign language. We are working on "please, thank you and dog" next. When I tell him to "say" please, he signs "more"! Such a smart little guy!

Mommy and Nate's date day

Today was my Wednesday off work so it was "Mommy and Nate's date day." Unfortunaly, Nate had to go to the dr. He had had a cold that wouldn't go away and had to get his flu shot. He weighed 22 lbs and 10 oz with clothes and diaper on. The dr said that his ears, throught and lungs looked good. So, he had still not been on any antibiotics in his life!

After the dr visit, we went to eat at O'Charley's and did a little shopping and Target. Then we came home and Nate took a nap in my arms in the rocking chair. I love those times!

My sweet little boy

First Nate cut two teeth today! He had now got 16 teeth!

When I got home from work he was asleep in his big boy bed! Brad said that he fell asleep in his arms and he laid him in his bed and he stayed asleep!

Tonight we went to the La Leche League meeting. There were two babies there. One was seven weeks and one was 12 days old. Nate LOVED them! He really like the 12 day old baby. He would try to give the baby his sippy cup. He stole an older babies paci and tried to give it to the little baby. But the sweetest thing, the little baby was crying and Nate took Rocky and put in on the babies lap! It was so sweet. He kept laying his head on the baby and saying "ohhh".

Usually he falls asleep on the way home and goes right to sleep when we get home. Tonight, he screamed most of the way home and did not go to bed until 10:30.

Nate's new trick

He now says "ho, ho, ho"! It is so cute!