MMMM, I feel...HUNGRY!

So, as I have mentioned, Nathan LOVES books. However, there is one book that the only thing he likes to do with it is eat it. I am not sure what it is about this book that tastes so good, but it is the only book out of his entire collection that he eats!

(Notice the missing bottom tab. He. Ate. It!)

Baby Steps...Head First!

Nathan taught himself how to go down the steps...head first! We of course have not let him try this tactic out on the big step leading upstairs, as surely he would learn real quick why going down the steps head first is not the brightest idea!

(P.S. Don't mind the drool and the big drool spot on his shirt. The child HATES bibs, yet is a drooler!)

Diaper Acrobatics

Apparently, somewhere/sometime, in the last couple of months Nathan has decided that getting his diaper changed is no longer an essential, but a game. The MOMENT he sees me get the diaper and the wet wipes out, he starts crawling away as if to say "chaaase me!". Which of course, I do, because...well...he stinks!!! ;)

Once he is caught, he lays there long enough for you to get the pants/shorts and dirty diaper off, only to immediately flip to his tummy and crawl away again. He does not seem to care if there is still stink on his cute little bum....he just wants to get away and be Naked Nate again.

Getting a clean diaper back on him is the ONE thing that just about sends me over the edge! ;) Especially when he has the hint of a diaper rash and he lays there long enough to get the Desitine (or however you spell it...the white, sticky, creamy stuff that takes away diaper rash) smeared on his rump, and THEN crawls away, getting white, sticky, creamy stuff all over everything.

He does this with a HUGE grin on his face...and a giggle in his gut. His game of choice, for sure.

10 Months

Really? For real? Nathaniel Charles Ice...is he REALLY 10 months old, already???? I think I say this every month that passes...how does the time go so fast, yet continue to move even faster?

Nathan has mastered pulling himself up on things...even the wall. He is just now starting to show a little interest, or ability rather, in taking steps while holding on to someone's hands. He does KIND of cruise...but it is not all at once and he definately doesnt quite realize he is doing it. He does stand alone for a good 15 seconds then either sits down or grabs on to something. The crawling thing though...he has got that down pat, and he doesnt seem to be doing the "anyone seen the bridge" anymore. Only when he is in a really goofy mood...

Which...GOOFY! His personality is so entertaining! I keep joking to everyone that Nathan is going to be the kid in the back of the classroom eating glue....and I say that not being mean or saying that he is "weird". He just has a great sense of humor that I can totally see him being the class clown. He makes himself laugh, or he makes funny faces and sounds. He grunts and yells and "ooohs" all day long. Just watching him is completely entertaining and enjoyable!

All boy! One of Nathan's FAVORITE games is to drop something and then pick it up. He likes it when you pick it up for him, but he certainly isnt against picking it up himself....even if he is already on the floor and he just drops it from there. He will first drop it, then look at you and say "Ooooh. Ooooh?" as if telling you that he dropped it, then asking where it went. He then looks at the object and grunts and breathes real hard as if he is physically working hard to pick it up. Once he has it, he says "Aaaaah!" claps his hands, then proceeds to drop the object again. Sometimes, he will manage to throw the object and crawl through his entire minefield of dumped toys to get it, grunting the entire time....as if he were in a war zone, dodging bullets to get to where he needs to be. I am not quite sure what is going on in his mind, but it is obvious that the imaginiation is working overtime!

Books. Still in love with the books! If it were for the little Gerber cereal puffs and books, Jonathon and I would not go out to eat...ever, and I wouldnt be able to get through the grocery store or Target! He LOVES books. Pop-up books! Elmo books!

He still loves chasing the cats...and the cats are still trying to figure out when this little human being is going to leave. ;) Ahh, the cats love him...:) They are fascinated by him, and will sit on the outskirts of the room, just watching him (until, of course he sees them and makes a b-line to them...and the chase begins!).

He hasnt started talking yet, with the exception of "mama" and "dada" and "babababa" and "mmmmmm" and the afformentioned "ooooohs" and "ahhhhhs". I havent been real diligent in saying things like "up" or "out" or "more", etc...but I have started trying to do better at that.

Nathan LOVES to growl! He growl sings to his favorite songs, or will growl crawl around the house.

He just started waving goodbye yesterday. :)

And...he dancy dances!

Picture of the Day

Summer Lovin'...

In our neverending quest to find things to do...here is Nathan enjoying his afternoon "snack" while enjoying a hot summer day, in the shade. He had just finished splashing in his little pool...naked (Naked Nate, of course!). :)

Happy Father's Day!

Mommy, I don't Feel Very Good....

Last Friday, Nathan woke up from is afternoon nap as usual, and was a little fussy and within 20 minutes he had thrown up a few times and was extremely clingy and lethargic. All he wanted to do was sit on my lap and play with the phone. The duration of the evening consisted of him throwing up a couple more times, acting like he was feeling better, eating a little bit and throwing up a couple more times in his crib. Saturday he didnt throw up any, but just wasnt hungry for anything...and you could tell was just a little under the weather. Poor little guy had a little stomach bug. Luckily he is on the road to feeling better and is eating normally for the most part and is back to his goofy self :)

As a mother, it was very hard to watch your child throw up and be scared like he was. He had no idea what was going on...and I remember being young (not that young obviously), and being scared of the whole throwing up thing and the ONLY thing that made it better was my Mom being there. Even now, my first instinct when I dont feel very good is to call my Mom and get some Mom Sympathy. How awsome it is to now be on the other side of that...and comfort instead of being comforted.

Rejection of the Sippy Cup

Houston, we have a problem. Nate Dawg no longer likes the sippy cup...well, okay he liked it for about 2 weeks and now he doesnt want to have anything to do with it. I have tried different cups, and nope...just not interested. Weening him from his bottle is going to be interesting. Actually, I think we could just take away his bottle now and he wouldnt notice except at bedtime...but with him still being required to get as much formula as he is, it is a little tough to do that...especially now with the Sippy Cup Rejection.

Hmmm....I'll keep ya updated. :)

Bad Mother

Nathan in the ZONE.....




With all of Nathan's crawling around and need for one on one attention (which I really don't mind, he is a good boy and doesnt get into anything he really shouldnt), there are times when I just need 30 minutes of Not Being The Sole Source of Entertainment Time...SOO every once and a while I will break out a video for Nathan to watch while having a snack. This allows me to be able to go down and get the laundry or do some dishes or just eat lunch without having him crawl up my leg. Again, I do LOVE seeing him smile and making him laugh and just watching him all together, BUT there are times when I just need a little few minute break. Thus I break out the video. Now I say I am a bad mother because there are all these articles and studies about little kids, under 2, watching tv, especially in boys...and being linked with autism or A.D.D. So, I KNOW it isnt real great for him to be set in front of the tv. I also don't want the tv to be the babysitter or relied on at all, nor do I want an inside kid who doesnt ever want to do anything but watch tv or play video games. Anyways...

I will say that I can see a HUGE difference in Nathan when he is watching tv. (For the record though, he will only sit and watch the Baby Einstein Van Gogh video. That is the only one he will actually sit and watch, anything else or any other Baby Einstein video, he could care less about, the tv might as well be turned off.) The moment he hears the music he knows he sits...and don't even try to talk to him or get his attention because he is so zoned out he isnt listening to anything but the music on the video. Even snack time in front of the tv is not snack time because he just sits there, with his hand planted in his bowl of cereal and doesnt move for 20 minutes....while it is very cute and funny, it is also something to take note of the televisions affect on him. Interesting....

Curious Like a Cat...

Hmmm...The cats go through there, can I?

I KNOW I can fit...

Hmmm, maybe this way will work?

Nahhh....Look what does Mom have??? That flashing light thing that!

I couldnt quite capture the fullness of Nathan's attempt to go through the cat door. He tried and tried for a good 15 minutes. He would shake the door to see if it would move or if he could break through...it was quite entertaining. I just hope he doesnt figure out how to stick his head through, because I think it could fit, but I dont think we would be able to get it out without.