That thing you do.

So it has been a little while since I have updated and I thought I would update on the latest things that Nathan is doing!


Since turning 1 it seems like his vocabulary has doubled! Everyday he is learning a new word or words.
The List:
Mama
Dada
Backpack
Boots
Map( yes my son likes Dora the Explorer. I think it is mainly because of Boots!)
Ball
What's That
Kitty
Cookie
No No
Thank you

I'm sure there are a few more, but hey its 11:08 pm and my brain is a little foggy right now.

He has also started walking in the past few days. Leading up to this HUGE milestone were a few little steps here and there... and then one night... BAM!!!! I was holding on to his hands and let go and he just took off! One of the most cutest moments yet!!!! He still prefers to crawl, and why not. He can get around much faster on the trusty ol' hands and knees. I give lots of credit to one of his new toys from his birthday... behold

His (great)cousin's Jeremy and Kristen bought this for him, and he LOVES it!!! It has really helped him learn to walk correctly ( he liked to walk on his tippy toes before) I highly recommend this Train!


Another AMAZING thing he has started doing.... get this... putting away his toys!!!!! I hope this continues, well, forever!!! And he has taken a huge interest in his books now which is wonderful. He must get that from his daddy!

He loves music! I recently put Kyle's keyboard in his room and loves to turn it on and play with all the different effects on it. He loves to dance anytime he hears music, which i love!! He shakes his little booty and smiles!!! Ohhhh its just so darn cute!

I am hoping that all these wonderful little quailties continue through life. And if f I have say, which i do cause I'm the mom :), they will!!

Here's to one amazing 1st year!

Dear Nathan,

Wow, we made it son!!! We made it a whole year together, and prefectly healthy (well one little ear infection) and happy too!! My dear sweet baby boy, you have made mommy and daddy more happy than you will ever know. We have loved every minute since you came into our lives.

Mommy and Daddy have been looking back at pictures of you, from when you were just minutes old to pictures of you learning to sit up on your own and so many more. You amaze me every day with something new that you have learned. It is such an amazing thing to see you go from this little itty bitty baby that was so helpless to this sweet adorable little boy that loves to do things on his own! Watching your face as you learn new things is priceless.

You have been such an amazing little baby. You now (that mommy actually takes you out :) :)love going places, seeing new people and doing new things. No matter if you have had a nap or not, you are willing to shop and be out, and i love that!! I see other kids that scream and cry,but not you! You are an excellent child and i love you even more for that. God couldn't have given us a better child, for that we are truly thankful and feel very blessed.

When it comes to being a mother, there are no trophies handed out for changing the most poopy diapers or getting peed on the most, but you, little bubba, when you crawl up to me and wrap your little arms around my neck and look into my eyes, that.... surpasses any trophy i could ever recieve. It melts my heart into a puddle of mush everytime you stop what you are doing and come hug me. Thank you for letting me know I'm doing a good job.

Well little turkey butt, this has been one of the best years and it is all thanks to you. Thank you for bringing such joy to each day. For putting smiles on our faces and filling our hearts with joy and laughter. We are looking forward to see what type of little boy you are going to be. I have a feeling that you will be a silly, sweet, mellow boy with a slight wild side and a love for music and animals. We shall see, and love you just the way you are.

Mommy and Daddy love you very much.

Happy 1st birthday baby boy!!!

The boy is growing!!

So a lot has happened with Nathan since turning 4 months old. He had his shots and he was still cranky after a few days. I read that that can be expected. Well turns out the little guy was getting his first tooth!!! The about a week and half later, what do you know. There is another tooth coming in. He is handling it very well.

He has also learned how to roll over. and let me tell you, he thinks it is the coolest thing ever. You can't lay him on his back now for more than a minute before he is rolling over. Kyle and I both got to witness the first roll from front to back. We were so happy for him. But now... I wish he hadn't learned it yet. He is so hard to get dressed now, or even change his diaper. I thought was hard with him kicking his legs and not wanting to straighten them out when we needed him to. This my friend, is a whole other story.

The little guy is growing up so fast. I can't believe is almost 5 months old already. Time has flown by so fast. I am so thankful that I can stay at home with him. I would hate to miss out on all of his " Firsts".

1st TOOTH!!!!

So, I'm not really sure if in fact this is a tooth coming. Nathan's doctor said it could be something else... I can't remember the name, but it was something like pearl something or other. He has been a little cranky lately, but I was just thinking it was from his shots. He was a little better a few days later. But today when I put him in his swing, I thought I saw a little something. My hands weren't "clean" ( meaning I hadn't washed them in the last 5 minutes) so I used his burp rag to try to look. Of course he tried to eat is, so I didn't get a good look. So this evening while were playing in his room, I decided to try to look again. I put my pinkie in his mouth and rubbed it along his bottom gum line, and sure shoot, I felt something. Something sharp and what appeared to be white!

I had bought some teething tablet a while back. So looks like they are about to be put to good use. I plan on calling his doctor in the morning , just to get some advice. You would never know that the boy is teething. Well except for if you hand him anything it goes straight to the mouth. But that should be expected at his age. He is only cranky if he is tired. I get a kick out of how he acts. It's rather funny.

I can't believe my little baby boy is growing up so fast. I love watching him everyday. Watching what knew things he has learned to do. Watching him get excited over a favorite toy. mmmm I love that little boy so much!!!

I will try to post pictures of this new little tooth, try is the word!!! Silly boy doesn't like having his picture taken ( we are going to have to fix that little problem) I'm getting an AC adapter for my camera soon, so that means I will be able to leave the stinkin' thing on for more than a few seconds before it dies.

Just some things

Well, your 4 months old now bub!!! My how time flies. You've changed quite a bit since the last time I wrote a letter. You are getting so big, and such a big personality to match!

In the past 2 months mommy and daddy have seen you change so much. Once just a little tiny thing that only ate, slept and pooped with the occasional cry. Now a little boy that smiles, gets excited when he knows he about to eat, and has favorite toys ( your monkey blanket and your belly buzzer frog)!!!

You've learned a new thing that absolutely melts mommy's heart. You've learned how to laugh!! The first time I heard that sweet little laugh ( 12-12-08) I almost cried! You were with daddy and starting to get fussy so I took you and started making monkey sounds. You thought that was the funniest thing ever! And now you are finding other things to be rather funny too. I LOVE IT!!!

You also celebrated your first Christmas. You had a great time seeing all of your aunts and uncles and grandma's and grandpa's. Everyone loves you so much. You received a lot of wonderful gifts. A lot of things that make noise I might add. I am okay with them right now, but we will see how long that lasts.

You have been recently working on your rolling over skills. You can roll from your tummy to your back, but your having a hard time finding out how to get from your back to you tummy. Crawling is coming soon too I think. You have the motion down, you just haven't figured out how to move just yet. Sometimes it looks like you are swimming. Very cute.

You are mommy's big boy. You think you are such a big boy in fact that you have to hold your bottle now!! I think you've learned your grabbing reflex from grabbing mommy's hair!! I seriously think you are going to make me bald, little boy. Someday you'll learn that pulling hair is a "no no", but until then, I guess I'll just have to continue laughing and crying , trying to pry your little fingers open to retrieve my hair.

A little update on the 3rd month of life

So Nathan's 3 month of life has been pretty eventful. A little scary I also might add. On December 12th, I was playing with Nathan. Making monkey sounds at him and what happened?!! I got the BIGGEST laugh EVVVVVER!!!! I almost cried. It was the sweetest sound I've ever heard. Sure he laughs in his sleep a lot, but me, his mommy, got the biggest laugh. He hasn't laughed like that again much, but I'll remember that sound for the rest of my life.

On a sad note. Kyle fell asleep with him on the couch one night, I was laying in bed watching t.v and I heard the worst sound ever. Nathan rolled off of Kyle and hit the floor!! HARDWOOD FLOOR!!!! He cried, and to took him in my arms and walked around telling him that he was okay. Then Kyle starts crying cause he felt so bad. So now I have to boys crying!! I told Kyle that it was okay, and babies sometime either roll off the changing table or fall off the couch, and he was going to be okay.

I was so worried about falling asleep because I wanted to make sure that Nathan was going to be alright. and guess what?! He was. Kyle still feels so bad about it.

Okay, on a much happier note. I swear that Nathan has said mama and mommy!!!! Sure he doesn't know what he is saying... but I know I heard it. :)

He sometimes like to watch HGTV with me. I'll put him in his swing ( which is right next to the tv and I'll catch him watching it. I don't like for him to watch much right now, because I have heard it is bad for babies to watch tv. But I think it is cute.

And now we are getting ready for Christmas. We are having a Christmas with my mom on Sunday. I am excited for Nathan to get a few more toys. I have a really cute outfit I might put him in. But then on Christmas day we are going to Kyle's parents house, and I think I would like him to wear the same outfit. I guess I'll just have to wash it before then.

Well that is pretty much the only thing that has been going on for the past almost 3 months. He is getting bigger and stronger each day. I just love that little boy so much. It is unreal.

3 month pictures

This is the look I usually get if he see's me with the camera.

Sitting up on the couch like a big boy!!

Poor child always wearing a bib. I hope he out grows the reflux soon!!

3 months and GROWING!!!!

Kyle and I took Nathan to the doctor today for a weight check and just a general check up. Last month he weighed 9.3 lbs and was ( I think) 22 inches long. Well today... just 1 month later he weighed 12.7 lbs!!!!! He gained just over 3 pounds in 1 month!!!!! He is 23 inches tall and his little head is still 16 inches round.

The doctor, for some reason, thinks he might be a little anemic. She never told me why she thought that. But didn't seemed concerned. She just asked if his formula had iron in it. Which it does. We talked about him spitting up so much too. She told me to start giving him 1 tablespoon of rice cereal in the morning and before bed too.

Kyle has been sick this weekend, so the doctor gave him a Z-pack. I kind of thought I should have got one too. My throat started hurting more as soon as we left. I really hope Nathan doesn't get sick.

Over all our little blonde hair, blue eyed boy is doing WONDERFUL!!!

how do I love you? let me count the ways.....

To my dear sweet baby boy,

Although I have never written a letter for you to read when your older, I thought I might. I have been inspired by another mommy who writes to her son, and I thought it was sweet. So here I go.
Today I write you and you are 2 months and 1 week and 3 days old. I've loved every single minute of these past 2 months 1 week and 3 days. Although some days were harder than others, they all have been worth it. In this letter I write you, dear son, I am going to go as far back as I can, and that even means while you were in mommy's tummy.

I remember the day that we found out that you were growing in my tummy. It was January 11th, a Friday. I thought I might had been pregnant, and while I wasn't sure, I went ahead and took a pregnancy test. Daddy didn't know I was doing it, but as soon as I took it.... it showed up POSITIVE!!! I opened the bathroom door and smiled so big at your daddy. He looked at me like I was crazy. I held up the stick and he came in to the bathroom, where I stood frozen from shock. He hugged me and we both just looked at each other like we couldn't believe it.

Daddy and I made a doctors appointment as soon as we could. Your daddy went with me to just about every single doctors appointments I had ( I let him skip out on some of them) All through out the pregnancy you grew just like you should have. Everything was always fine up to about my 6th or 7 month. Mommy had waaaay too much amniotic fluid in my tummy. So therefore that lead to a lot of ultrasounds and NST's ( Non-stress tests) for the rest of my pregnancy. I had 2 NST's a week for the last month and half . I loved every single one of them because I could hear your heart beating and hear you move around in my tummy. We never found out why I had so much fluid in my tummy ( I like to think you just liked to pee A LOT!!!) Dr.Birch ( the woman that delivered you) wanted to induce mommy, so about 3 weeks before your expected due date, we went in to have you. I only slept for about an hour the day before you came into our lives. Although mommy tried to have you naturally, it just wasn't possible. You ended up being brought into this world through mommy's tummy, at 9:11pm Sept. 5th 2008. At birth you weighed 7.7 lbs and were 20.5 inches long. Your head was 14 inches round and your chest was 13 inches ( or maybe I have that backwards. I was kind of out of it when I was told everything about you). You were prefect!!

We only had to stay in the hospital for about a day and half after you were born. We were released from the hospital on Sunday afternoon. On the way home from the hospital we got into a car accident! It was the scariest thing for mommy and daddy. It didn't seem to faze you one bit. In the end we were all fine, but still very shook up. Now we drive with a " Baby on Board" sign in the back of mommy's window, and if anyone gets too close, daddy points to the sign.

After you came home, you lost some weight. Which is pretty normal in , okay I'm gonna say it, breast feed babies. ( Yes son, mommy nursed you, and you enjoy it ) But by the time babies are 2 weeks old they should be back up to birth weight. Well at your 2 week check up you were down to 6.11 lbs. You also had jaundice. So the mean ol' doctor wanted to do blood work on you. We went to the lab and there was only one lady there, so poor daddy had to hold your little arm while the lady stuck you with the needle and drew your blood. Oh you did not like that one bit. Your levels ended up being kind of high, but it cleared up on it's own. By your one month check up your weight had increased. You were now at 7.3 lbs. Still not that great but getting better. You had reflux so it was hard for you to keep food down. So the doctor put you on some medicine, it helped, but not that much, I guess you are just a spitter upper.

So here we are, at your 2nd month of life. At your 2 month check up, you sir, have gained 2 pounds in 1 month. Excellent my friend. You are now at a whopping 9.2 pounds. Your head is now 16 inches round and you are about 21 to 22 inches long. You had 3 shots at your 2 month check up and that was kind of hard. Luckily you had 2 very nice nurses give you shots at the same time. Dr. McBee ( our family doctor) said you are pretty darn perfect ( we think so too ).

Well that is the story of your life up till now.

Some funny things about you that mommy and daddy have noticed about since you've come into our lives:

• When you are not hungry or do not want your paci, you push your lips together really tight.
• You smile while mommy nurses you. ( I love it)
• You only like to sleep while someone is holding ( I know some people would say you are beyond spoiled, but I don't care what those people think. I love holding you so that is all there is to it)
• You LOVE , LOVE, LOVE animals. Especially Monkeys.
• You love to have " conversations" with mommy.
• You love to headbutt mommy and daddy.( it seems to hurt us more than you)
• You love to pull your daddy's body hair. IE. daddy's armpit hair. ( I laughed so hard the first time you did it)
• You love laying on your changing table and staring at the wall hanging that is right above it.
• You love to poop and pee as soon as we get a new diaper on you. ( Mommy's and Daddy's bank account don't like that too much)
• You love going for walks ( although now it is starting to get cold outside, so it's a little harder)
• The sound of a running vacuum cleaner will put you to sleep.
• You like to wake up around 1 o'clock in the morning ( which is about the time mommy gets sleepy), and stay awake till either 5 or 6 in the morning.

And so dear son, those are just a few of the things that we have noticed about you so far. And just some facts about us while you were in my tummy. I CRAVED!!! Taco Bell just about every single day of the 9 months. For sure in the first trimester. All I wanted was burrito supremes. During the first trimester daddy got the flu, which of course gave it to mommy. The first time I ever got the flu I was pregnant with you. It was rough on mommy. Okay since I thought about the Taco Bell craving, it brought back a lot of memories. I will now list everything that that I remember craving while you were in my belly ( granted none of it was healthy and that maybe explains why I went from weighing 105 lbs and a size 0 to 153lbs and almost wearing a medium in maternity clothes)

Foods I craved while I was carrying you :

• Taco Bell - Burrito Supreme ( sometimes I would get a small mt.dew)
• Hunan Manor. Daddy and I could easily spend over $40.00 on food there, most of it was for me. I would always get vegetable fried rice and lots of egg rolls.
• Fudge Rounds ( I once ate a WHOLE BOX in less than 24 hours)
• decaf. Sweet tea
• Fruit snacks
• Nutrigrain strawberry breakfast bars
• Cereal- I loved cinnamon toast crunch up until the day I threw it up and after that I have never eaten it again
• McDonald's hamburger happy meal with no pickles or onions

Well son I am sorry I ate like crap with you in my belly, but that is what mommy wanted. And what mommy wanted, MOMMY GOT!!!

So my dear blue eyed boy with crazy blonde hair, that is your life in a nut shell. You daddy and I love you very much, and are so thankful God picked us to take care of you. You are a blessing, a true blessing.

I promise I will try to write you letters through out your life, so one day you can read them and know what a sweet, loving little boy you were/are.

Love ,

Mommy

Happy 2 months

Today Nathan is turning the big 2 months!!! I can not believe he has been in our lives for 2 months now. Really it seems like just yesterday that I had him. But it's been the best 2 months of our lives! Monday we took him for his 2 month check up and everything is great. The doctor said that he was pretty perfect. He gained 2 pounds in 1 month. His head is now 16 inches round and he also grew an inch ( now at 21.5 inches) But I think he is longer than that, he was not very straight on the bed when the nurse measured him. But over all he is perfect!!! He is still having problems with his reflux. I'm trying to rule out milk being the cause of it, but I love chocolate so much its hard to not have any for 10 days to 3 weeks. Sometimes the medicine seems to help, and then other days it doesn't. I know he doesn't spit up much when Kyle has him, but as soon as I get him... there it goes... all over me!!!


He has started cooing a lot more this past week. I love it!!! He smiles when he sees either Kyle or I.It seems like he is hitting all of his mild-stones just as he should, and maybe some a little before. It seems that he loves animals. He has animals all around his nursery on the walls and he loves to stare at them. He also has a stuff animal that is a monkey and he LOVES!!!! that. He likes to grab it while he is getting his diaper changed.

Well little man is waking up from his nap, I must go, but I'll post more later. I'll also put more pictures up.

Pictures

Caught him in mid yawn.

My sweet baby boy smiling at mommy :) 5 weeks and 5 days old.

Seconds, or heck maybe even minutes old. Getting checked out to make sure everything is okay, and of course it was. Thank you God!!!!

I can't get enough of him. He is the cutest baby EVVVVVVER!!!!!!

Mommy's silly little boy making funny faces already.

Sorry these aren't in order, but this picture is of my sweet face 1 day before he turned 1 month old. ohhhh i just love him!!!

Right after getting out of the recovery room. I was induced at 6:00 am , had contractions for 4 hours before giving in to the epidural. Epidural wore off when it was time to push. Couldn't push the little guy out so I ended up having him by c-section and he was brought into this world at 9:11 pm. aaaannnnnnnd I threw up 2 times while in the recovery room. So that explains why I look so rough. But end the end, it was all worth it.

Kyle,Nathan and I on our first day home. I was beyond swollen from the amount of fluids I was given.