Christmas Day...How it was spent...

And this is how our Christmas Day was spent....

What a great Christmas all around! Good friends, family and food (though I was SUPER lazy and didn't even make a nice Christmas dinner.), and no over spending. Perfect!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Christmas 2008!

Christmas morning...started a little earlier than we had hoped (why is it that we, adults, expect to be able to sleep in just a little on the morning after Santa comes? We should know better! ;))...but definitely worth it.

Because Santa brought Nathan a "mega gift", and set it up in the TV room, we decided to open all our wrapped gifts first and then let him see his "mega gift". Its a little backwards from "normal", but I think we are still trying to figure out what OUR "normal" is where Christmas is concerned (things change when you have family in and out, kids, traveling...etc). At this point in our kid(s) lives, they don't know the difference anyways :)

Nathan got quite a few gifts...some Curious George books, a Thomas toothbrush that plays the Thomas song for a good 4 minutes (to which Nathan said "Momma, does it ever turn off?"), some bathtub roller soap...and a BUZZ LIGHT YEAR!

Opening his Buzz Light Year.

"Come on Momma...just open it!"

"Ahhh, come ON Momma!" (still trying to get Buzz out of the package...they don't make those things easy!)

After Buzz was finally free from his packaging, and Jonathon and I had opened our gifts, we took Nathan into the TV room for his "mega gift".

And for the "Mega Gift"

A train table and train set! Just look at that face! Complete excitement, yet disbelief and questioning "is this ALL mine?"....

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve 2008! Let the fun begin!!! We all woke up to a wonderful breakfast from Nathan's Grand Dad and a visit from Gretchen. Nathan wasn't quite sure what all the hoopla was about (I don't think he fully grasped the meaning of Christmas, or Santa Clause. He just knew he got to open gifts...and lots of them). Regardless it was a pleasant morning.

Before noon, we headed to Nan and Paps' house for Christmas Eve dinner and more gifts:

One of Nathan's favorite toys was a large Thomas the Train carrying case, which Nan and Paps bought for him. He LOVED it!

Here he getting a little tired (no nap) but not wanting to give up playing. The floor is oh so comfy!

After a fun filled day at Nan and Paps' house, we came home and started the tradition of making sugar cookies for Santa! Nathan LOVED being able to cut out the cookies:

Making a snowman.

Daddy helping him roll the dough...

Cutting out a candy cane.

It was a great Christmas Eve. The cookies turned out great...Nathan was ready for bed and excited for Christmas Morning and SANTA!!!

Santa Through The Years

Last night we met up with the Freemans and took Nathan and Audrey to see Santa at The Mall. My...how things have changed. Lets recap:

Here is Nathan, back in 2006...his first Christmas, and his first Santa encounter. Completely oblivious...but darned cute!

And who can forget last year's debacle! I am still surprised Nathan actually sat on Santa's lap long enough to get a picture taken. Just looking his this picture, I can actually hear his cry of "Mommy...who the heck have you given me too???? DON'T LEAVE ME!!!"

And...now this year...awww, what a sweet little boy. He was a tiny bit apprehensive, but you could tell he was wanting to be brave. We made sure he saw other kids sitting on Santa's lap, so that he knew that it was okay. We prepped him to tell Santa what he wanted (a train, a Buzz Lightyear...and a Christmas Tree. We have a Christmas Tree, so I am not sure why he wants another...regardless. :)), and he did as he was told. We honestly, did try to get him to smile, but the mere sight of a camera and Nathan shuts down. He HATES to get his picture taken anymore (thanks to me, I am sure)...so this stoic face was the best we could do. :)


P.S. I am convinced this Santa has a twin. Doesn't it look like the exact same Santa in all three pictures? Though...they are each at different malls?

Picture of the Day

Holiday Dance

You really must watch the following video (thanks Erin for posting this on your site, and hopefully it is okay that I have copied and put it on mine)...Please pay special attention to the one, and only, child in all red running around and dancing as if he is part of the group. I give ya ONE guess as to who that is...

a>

And, the video cuts off before all the girls run out the door...with the Boy in Red following behind.

Again, you really HAD to be there to witness this...as the video does not do Nathan's performance justice. Lets just say, I pee'd my pants in laughter (umm, not kidding...).

Hiccups

Yesterday, I went and got Nathan up from his nap, and he had the hiccups:

Me: You have the hiccups! Where did you get the hiccups?
Nathan: The Grocery.

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The above account will REALLY be funny to my mother who often tells the story of when I got the chicken pox, and was asked where I had gotten the chicken pox from...my reply was (of course): K-Mart.

Introducing...

Now that we are approx. 6-8 weeks until delivery (good heavens I hope I am not overdue!)...I thought it would be a good time to introduce the Little Tyke to the world (from this point forward, he will be referred to as Little Tyke...because he has no name, and we are not even remotely close to deciding on one. Little Tyke sounds better than No Name Ice.).

I want to make sure the world (ahem, you dear reader) is clear as to why I have not talked too much about being pregnant, how I am feeling, or posted these pictures yet. I do not want you all to think that we are anything but super excited to add to our family. However, there is a difference between totally wanting another child (or children), and being faced with actually having to care for another child. As with anything, the reality is way more daunting than the dream, fantasy, and "want". SO, that being said, I think we all (and by "all", I am including YOU...dear reader) have been in a teeny tiny bit of denial (come on, admit it!). I know I was...up until a few weeks ago when tying my shoes no longer became an option. ;) NO MORE! With 6-8 weeks left...let us embrace the new Little Tyke. He is sooooo cute already! Don't ya think?

Just Relax...

Overheard this morning while getting into the car to go to Mommies Day Out ("School"):

Nathan:Momma, my cup, my cup....Momma, my cup....
(this is said as I am carrying him, two bags, his toast, two sippy cups...a popping belly...and one of the sippy cups fall to the ground)
Me: I know, Nathan, I see it buddy, I will get it...just a second...
Nathan: Momma, my cuppppppppppp...
Me: Natey, I will get it after I get you in the car. Just Relax...
Nathan: No, Momma, I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna relax...

(again, probably more funny in person)

I DO Like Green Eggs and Ham, Sam I Am...

Yesterday morning, I broke down and made Nathan some green eggs ("green eggs and ham", as you HAVE to call it for Nathan to be satisfied). He kept whining, again, that he wanted some...so I made him some. He LOVED them (not enough to want them this morning...but loved them nonetheless). Here are the results:

A satisfied little boy, I must say!

On the funnier side, after I made the eggs, I brought them into Jonathon to see...he was running on the treadmill, he took one look at the eggs and just about puked at the mere sight of them. Well, we know who WON'T be requesting green eggs and ham for breakfast! ;)

Random

One night last week, we had Ravioli for dinner...which Nathan USED to like, but now he doesn't (he has become SO picky). How do we know this...well by the fake gagging/puking noise he would make whenever he put a bite of Ravioli in his mouth. Yes, folks it was like he was a Valley Girl in the 80's and seriously ACTED like the food made him gag. Gag me with a spoon!
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After we let him get down from the Ravioli dinner, he started whining for some "Green Eggs and Ham". Yes, I know most kids will request this in their lifetime...but will most kids have a complete meltdown if green eggs and ham just aren't available at 8pm? Only mine, I am sure of it ;) He settled for "yellow green eggs, and mommy needed to get some ham at the store". However, I am also very aware the the moment I really do make him green eggs, it will be expected every time he has eggs...until he is 16. So...I am very leery to go down that road...;)

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Also...poor little Lightening McQueen has completely been abandoned for another. Thomas the Train and all his little train friends have completely moved in and the poor Cars Crew has been almost forgotten.

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Probably 4-5 times a day, Nathan will ask "What are we going to do next week, Mommy?" to which that should be translated to "What do you have planned TODAY, Mommy." "Next week" is Nathan-ese for "right now", "later", and "we are going to go to the park or a jungle gym, right mommy?" ;)

Play in Snow?

A couple of weeks ago, Nathan started asking if we could go out and "play in the snow". I am not sure where he saw or got the idea of playing in the snow, but it is a daily request these days. Much to his delight, it "snowed" a week or so ago...and when I say "snowed", I mean "ice flaked" for about 20 minutes (just long enough to go out and SEE the white stuff). Regardless, Nathan was so excited to play in the "snow"!

(Nathan and Grand-Mom Gerwing)

("This is it?")

Anyway, his interest in snow made Jonathon and I yearn to take a trip to Utah so Nathan could play in some REAL snow, with some REAL snow toys and REAL snow boys...the Frentheway Crew. Alas, with a new baby...we aren't sure that is real feasible this year.

Also...his interest in snow means that it wont snow at all here in Louisville this year. ;)

Bed Update

I have gotten a few inquiries as to how Nathan was/is dealing with his new bed situation...

Well, he actually has been GREAT! He is still taking his naps, still going to bed without any trouble. Nothing has changed actually, except he can can get in and out of his bed on his own. Now this afternoon we had some issues...we had gone to All About Kids to run around and play. We were there for almost 2.5 hours, and Nathan was SOOO tired (you try running, climbing and jumping for 2 hours!!!), so he was super fussy, crying and just D.O.N.E. We came home and he wanted to go to bed, so I put him down. I heard him rumbling around for a good 15 minutes after I left the room, which I figured was him just winding down from all of the action earlier. He finally fell asleep...and about an hour later he woke up crying. Now he hasn't done that in a long long time, so I knew something was up. I went up there, and he was lying by the door. SO...I don't know if he had gotten out of bed and was playing in his room, and then fell asleep...woke up and didn't know where he was. OR, he fell asleep in his bed, and walked to the door when he started crying. I don't know (I need to put a video camera in there!). Regardless, I put him down again, and he fell back asleep for about 30 minutes when I heard a big THUD. He obviously had fallen out of bed while sleeping. Odd thing is is that he didn't cry, he didn't say a word...he just got up, and continued to play for a good 45 minutes until I went and got him. Not sure if this is the start of a trend...or if it was just a fluke of him falling out of bed.

Also, an odd thing...Nathan doesn't get out of bed and try and open the door by himself. He CAN open the door, I know this, he does it all the time when we are getting ready in the mornings. But for nap time and bedtime, if he wakes up, or isn't quite tired yet, he will just play (I assume in his bed) until someone comes and gets him. I am not, at all, complaining...I just find it one of his personality traits. He isn't presumptuous...or its as if he doesn't know he is "allowed" to do that on his own. He did this when he started to crawl. He would only crawl in one room, and it took him a while to venture into other rooms...again, as if he didn't think he was "allowed" the freedom to do that. I find it interesting (and no, we have not TAUGHT him this...we don't beat the kid into staying in one place! We don't even say anything about it.:)).

SO yeah, that's the scoop.

Growing Up

Perhaps you may have heard...we are having another baby boy in January. (hehe) Anyways, so now that we are about 10-12 weeks away, I figure it is time to start thinking about where we are going to put the Little Guy, what he is going to wear, and the life changing ramifications that a new Little Guy is going to have on Nathan, our current Little Guy. I know, I know...why start thinking now? I mean, we have waited THIS long to finally realize/accept that another one is on its way (hehe...of course I am only kidding...sort of). SO...questions:

Q:Do you rush to potty train Nathan so that you don't have two kids in diapers?
A: I have decided not to (much to the dismay of many, I am sure). I have heard horror stories about people trying to rush their oldest into potty training, only to have set back after set back once the baby got home. Also, Nathan honestly shows ZERO signs of even caring about going potty in the potty. He is perfectly content with running around with a diaper full of poop all day. We have asked if he wants to go potty in the bathroom...and he said yes, once, then after that he could care less. I think his interest the first time was more to climb up on the step stool. ALSO...I honestly don't care if I have two kids in diapers. Nathan doesn't use that many diapers anymore as it is...and quite honestly, the thought of getting to Target/Mall/Grocery/just buckled into the car seat and hearing the words "Mommy, I have to go potty" just makes me tired and frightened. ;)

Q: Where is the baby going to sleep?
A: Uhhh....good question! Our house has 4 bedrooms. Two upstairs, and two downstairs. Currently the master bedroom and Nathan's bedroom are upstairs. The office and Beth/Fred/Guest bedroom are downstairs. I really do not feel comfortable with moving Nathan downstairs, and him being downstairs all alone. He is ONLY 2...I just don't like that idea. We initially decided to move the crib into our room (there is room), and get Nathan a "big boy" twin bed. The baby will most likely sleep in our room the first 6 weeks anyways (at least), so there isn't a real NEED to change everything up RIGHT NOW. After that, we have a couple of options: we all live and sleep upstairs...us sharing the Master bedroom, WE move downstairs and the boys have upstairs, we move Nathan downstairs (and I don't sleep ever again worrying about him), or we move. I happen to be partial to the last option ;)

The fear, right, now, is Nathan...I don't want to push him out of his room and bed when the baby gets here. So we need to start the "transition" now, so that he is used to it by the time the Little Guy gets here. That way it isn't such a HUGE shock for him (it will be, I am totally aware of that). SO, yesterday I decided to turn the crib into a toddler bed, just to see how he would do.

Again, I had heard horror stories about making the switch to a single/twin bed (even the toddler bed) and the child no longer wanting to take naps, or getting up at all hours of the night. Well, I need my sleep people, and I NEED those naps. Nathan is SUCH a good nap taker, and SO good at going to bed at night...I was hoping it wouldn't change with a new bed.

Yesterday the transition was made, and HE LOVED IT! He was so visibly excited about being able to get in and out of his bed by himself. He would run in his room, jump in his bed, pretend to go to sleep and then jump out. He wanted ALL of his toys in his bed with him, he went and got books to read in bed. He just loved it...oh and he now insists on a pillow. It was fantastic! Nap time rolled around and he went right to sleep (maybe played a little...but didn't get out of bed, an DID go to sleep). Bedtime came and he was still super excited to sleep in his "new bed". He slept all night...well, I take that back, I did hear him rumbling around a little. He DID turn on a little rabbit Easter Bunny toy that makes noise a couple of times...at 2:30am, but he never tried to open the door, nor did he call for Mommy. I would say the transition is a success thus far. Although I haven't gone to get him this morning, for all I know, his room could be in total shambles and he was up all night playing ;)

Q: Have you thought of a name for the new Little Guy?
A: No. We don't agree on anything. Nathaniel was the only name that we agreed upon...and, we took it. So Little Guy it will be.

Q: Can we stop reading now?
A: Yes.

Climbing the Haystack

Pickin' Punkins...

Fall Festivities are never ending around here. Last Saturday morning, we met up with the Morten sons at Gallrein Farms out in Shelby County. The more popular place to go for pumpkin picking is Hubers (which we did go to)...so going away from all the crowds was nice. We were the first people there, which made us a tiny bit skeptical...but soon others arrived. They have a free petting zoo, free hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a HUGE haystack to climb all over, and a lazy dog that Alexa and Nathan fell in love with. :) As you can see, above, Nathan and Alexa became a part of the welcoming committee :)

Us...in the pumpkin patch.

SO many to choose from!

How 'bout this one?!?! It has already been picked!

Trick-or-Treat...YMCA Style

Mmmm...candy! Nathan and Audrey test out the goodies.

"Take the candy out of your mouth guys, and smile..." ;)

Audrey, deep in thought as Mini Mouse. (Come on! Isn't she THE cutest Mini Mouse EVER! :))

Let the festivities continue...The evening after the Zoo, the Freemans called us up and invited us to join them at the Fall Festival at the YMCA. That was fun! They had trick or treating inside the Y, which both kids LOVED! Then they also had big, bouncy, blow ups for the kids to jump around in...which I think was more fun than the trick-or-treating part. Both Nathan and Audrey let everyone know they were 2 when it was time to leave (meaning: they cried and cried and cried). :)

Sneak Peak

Nathan in his costume.

Keaton as Curious George.

Nathan and Keaton...goofing.

OOoh Halloween! I have NEVER been a huge Halloween person, until this year. And I still wouldn't call myself a "Halloween" person...I just seem to be more into the festivities than I have in previous years. I think that is because I have a child (children? can I say that yet?). It has been so fun to see Nathan learn the Halloween vocabulary (he has "Trick-or-Treat" down pat!), as well as all the traditional Halloween characters (ghosts, goblins, monsters, etc..), although he doesn't quite care about anything but the candy (which is just fine with me!).

Last week, we took him Halloween at the Zoo, and met up with our friends, the Walkers. We thought, going on a Thursday first thing would beat the crowds. Boy were we wrong! I think everyone in the entire city of Louisville decided to go that evening. Regardless...once we got in, we all had a great time! Nathan really enjoyed the train ride, the candy...and the music. He has totally gotten into music lately...and he LOVES to dance!

Oh yes, as you can see...he is Lightening McQueen! Ka-Chow!

Picture of the Day

No...he isn't peeing ;) He is in Time Out. You see, Nathan likes to spit...and he KNOWS he isn't supposed to spit, but does it anyways. Even after the "Nathan if you spit one more time, you have to go to time out." warning. In fact, giving him that warning is a 100% guarantee that he will spit again.

SO, what do you do when you are in the car, on the way to a destination...and he spits...and you throw out that warning? You have to follow through...when you get to your destination. Which is what happened here.

Frentheway Family Visit

"The Westerners": Mom/Kathy/Grandma, Hailey, Zane and Natey Boy.

Hailey and Nathan running in the covered bridge.

A couple of weeks ago...when Nathan was sick...my Mom, Zane and his fiance, Hailey, came to visit. We had a great time, aside from Nathan being really sick and nursing him back to health (sorry, Mom, Zane and Hailey...I am sure the sight of a 2 year old pooping down his leg wasn't your idea of a great vacation!).

We went to the Zoo one day, went on a drive to a covered bridge another, sat around, cooked, ate, Zane fixed our couch (thanks Zane!), I took engagement pix of Zane and Hailey...and just basically hung out! I really enjoy getting my family to Kentucky...after 6 years of being here, I am really beginning to feel like this is home (or maybe "accepting" it is a better word for it? ;)), so its nice to get the Westerners out here once in a while to show the place off! Especially in October! :)

Stickers Stickers...Stickers Everywhere!

Nathan's new "garage door" obsession is with stickers. Not just ANY stickers, they have to be stickers from the movie Cars. What does he doe with them? Just sticks them all over his legs mostly...once his legs are all filled up, he will sometimes move to his face and head (as you can see). He asks for sticker sheet after sticker sheet, and they all end up on his legs, then in his hands, then in a ball on the floor and in the trash. The adult in me wants to limit the stickers that he plays with...as it is "wasting" them. BUT the mother in me always wins out...as the stickers keep him occupied and happy. After all, they are JUST stickers! :)

Sicker than Sick

So...we seem to have caught a seriously horrible case of the flu bug around here. I should say, Nathan has caught a seriously horrible case of the flu bug, as Jonathon nor I have come down with anything (yet...I am sure I just jinxed it!).

Last Friday evening, Nathan was sitting there, playing with stickers, and he threw up a little. He turned to me and asked "what'd he do Mommy". 30 seconds later, he threw up again...A LOT. Then proceeded to throw up every two hours for the next 12! Poor little guy was so ill. He didn't have a fever until the following mid-morning, when the throwing up seemed to stop (he didn't have anything to throw up...and the dry heaves were awful for him!), then he started burning up. He proceeded to just lay on the couch all day long. Poor little thing...

I was hoping that he would start feeling better the following morning (Sunday), but he was just the same as the previous day, except instead of throwing up, it decided to RUN out the other end like a faucet! It was like a newborn all over again, except even worse! I would change him, and as soon as I would get a clean diaper on, it would run out again. He stopped drinking anything, he didn't eat for three days...by Sunday night, I was getting pretty concerned. I can handle the throwing up and the diarrhea...I was just really concerned about him getting dehydrated.

Then, at about 8pm Sunday, he perked up...played cars...and chatted...for about an hour, and then it was downhill again. Needless to say, he woke up Monday morning in much better spirits and he has been doing okay ever since. He is still very weak, and he walks a little funny...as if it hurts (someone please tell me that that is just him being weak and recovering from getting hit by the flu bus for three days. If that isn't normal, PLEASE TELL ME! I am worried that maybe this wasn't the flu, but something worse...BUT, I might be being a little dramatic - I am the mother, I can do that!). He still hasn't eaten much at all. Just little nibbles here and there. He is very clingy and wants to be held most of the time. At least he isn't throwing up or running out his diaper anymore though!

Family Night

Last weekend, our growing a family ventured to Bowman Field for the Bluegrass Balloon Glow. What a great time! We got there about 30 minutes before the balloons were even being blown up (it seemed like 3 hours though, because the toddler attention span is all of 3 minutes!), and walked around watching everyone unload and begin the set up. It all happened so quickly! All the sudden there were TONS of hot air balloons in the air! Nathan had a great time! He was a little freaked out at first, with all the fire and loud noise, but he quickly got used to it. He was in awe of the huge balloons...and continues to ask for them every morning :)

Of course, being 2...his favorite part of the night was not the balloons...it was an empty party tent with stacked folding tables. He ran around this tent over and over and over. There were a few other kids doing it to, so he joined right in. It wore him out...though I am sure he could have stayed for hours and hours! :)

First Life Lesson

Last night, Nathan and I went to the grocery, to, you know...get groceries. ;) Nathan really likes to ride in the carts with the cars in the front ("the blue one mama!"), which I am not a huge fan of because the car makes the cart so large, and I am not at all experienced in driving a semi! Anyways, it was later in the evening, around 7pm or so. Nathan hadn't eaten dinner yet (bad mother, I know), I hadn't eaten dinner yet (again, bad mother of child in womb, I know), so I was tired, hungry and just not really wanting to be at the Grocery right then. Regardless, we got through it (Nathan was a very good boy, until he started screaming because he wanted Cheetos and I told him he had to eat some dinner first). We checked out, and were getting in the car, when I noticed that Nathan had grabbed a bag of Skittles from the checkout isle while I was paying for the groceries.

Now, I am pretty sure that the only candy that Nathan really knows the packaging of are Reece's P-butter cups (and MAYBE M&Ms), the mini ones. I really try to stay away from commercial TV so that he doesn't learn a whole lot about packaging and get sucked in to the marketing of it all (call me crazy, I know...he will learn it all through other kids, I am sure). SO, for him to pick up the Skittles bag, was him just being curious as to what this shiney red bag was all about (and I am sure he wondered what must be in it). I know he really didn't KNOW they were Skittles/candy...he is pretty innocent about the checkout isle and that there is candy at all of them (and I would like to keep it that way). BUT, he did take the Skittles...

SO...being tired and hungry, I was faced with a very simple decision: Do I take the time to take the candy back into the store and return it because we didn't pay for it? It was a bag of Skittles...they would never miss it. He didn't INTENTIONALLY mean to "steal" it, he has no idea what that means. We are tired, hungry, and going back in the store, means unloading all the groceries and walking back in...or pushing the semi of a cart all the way back into the store, through the crowds of people...blah, blah, blah...OR do we just go home, with the bag of Skittles?

As tired and as hungry as we both were, I decided that this could be Nathan's first lesson in integrity and honesty (two very BIG human qualities that I deem as very important in a personality). So, we unloaded the groceries into the car, put the car cart away, and went back into the store. I told Nathan he needed to give the Skittles back to the store because we don't just take things without paying for them, regardless of how small they are. He carried the bag, and handed it over to the cashier. (No, I did not get angry at him, nor yell at him, nor even seem flustered...so don't worry that I freaked out and scarred him for life. That isn't my style!)

The cashier looked a little baffled and even started to ring them up, but I told her that we actually didn't even want them. She looked even more baffled.

On the way out Nathan hugged me and said:
Nathan: Have to pay for things, right Mama?
Me: That's right Natey, we don't just take stuff without paying for them.
Nathan: I sorry Mama...

It was THE sweetest moment, and as simple as it was, and as young as he is...he got it!

The Teachings of a Father

A New Way to Use Mascara

Apparently he thinks mascara is for his lips. Hey, at least he didnt try to put it on his lashes...that could have required a trip to the E. R!