Spring Time PLEASE Hurry!!!

This is what we do when we are SO tired of being couped up in the house. We dis-assemble our train set and use the train table as a dance floor!

You know, because...I don't have ANYTHING to do except clean up toys...;)

(oh yes...did you notice Cars on the TV. Never fear, Lightning McQueen is back "in", and Thomas the Train has taken a hike...this week, at least.)

A day in the life...

This is how Samuel sees the world...

Cheeky

Picture of the Day

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?" ;)

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

Oooh Crayons!

We were at Target (oooh Target!) a couple of weeks ago, and I picked up some bathtub crayons for Nathan to try...in the bathtub. Prior to this, he really has not been interested in coloring or any kind of "craft" along those lines. Well, to my delight and surprise he LOVES his bathtub crayons. Loves them!

Yesterday I was cleaning our bathroom, trying to get the crayon pictures off the shower and tub walls, when I hear Jonathon say "Nathan!!! Rach, come here..." So I venture into our room where I thought Nathan was quietly watching one of his "show shows", and below is what I found:

Oh yes, make no mistake, the boy LOVES coloring now...and it just so happens that our bed frame makes for a great surface! ;) Our first "Nathan, do not color on the walls" talk.

Luckily, it wiped right off...now if I could just figure out how to get it off the carpet. ;)

Bathtub Fun!

Look What I Found!

Look who has discovered my makeup bag? It is now his favorite thing to play with when we are getting ready in the morning. His favorite thing in my makeup bag? You guessed it...the lipstick...or anything that has to do with applying to the lips. I am really not sure where he learned that the lipstick goes on his lips because I RARELY even wear the stuff...but apparently he picked it up from somewhere.

Mmmmm, Dirt!

Is it Spring Yet?

Box of Tricks

Last weekend, Nathan's Grand-Mom (Gerwing) bought us some really nice toy boxes (not really toy boxes per se...but that is what we are using them for.) at Target. Last night I enlisted Nathan's help to organize and "put his toys away" in the new toy boxes...as you can see...he tried very hard to get ALL his toys in there...including his Elmo chair!

They Put Me To Work!

As you can see, Nathan has been put to good use. We knew having a child would be good for SOMETHING! :) (Kidding, of course!)

The fact that Nathan has learned to Swiffer at such a young age is sure to make Grand-Mom Gerwing proud! ;) See Beth, we are teaching him early!!! ;)

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Snow, Snow, Snow

It snowed the other day. Nathan's first snow...well the first one that he might be interested in. Jonathon took him outside for a little feel....

Shout Outs

For those of you paying attention, you will notice that I have added quite a few more links on the right. I have also divided the Friends from the Family Blog links...just because, well, because. :)

I thought I would give some shout outs to those that have just joined the blogging bandwagon...(this has NOTHING to do with Nathan, so stay will me folks...Nathan updates and pictures are on their way :))

So take a moment to gander at my family...Nathan's family. Many of you who keep up with Nathan, are from Jonathon's side of the family...so if you have blogs, let me know and I will add you to the link list. :)

Future Pro Wrestler??

Arms

I think somehow, overnight, Nathan has sprouted 5 additional arms...on each side of his body. It is as if he woke up yesterday morning and realized "Oh, I AM a toddler...I shall act like a Toddler".

It is so amazing to me the different levels of development that there are... for instance, two months ago Nathan was getting into everything. I honestly couldn't imagine what else the child could get his grubby little Toddler fingers on...until he woke up yesterday morning, and his getting into everything had just leaped to a new level.

He is simultaneously in every room, while he is crawling up the stairs and playing in the toilet...ALL at the same time!

Oohhh, the life of a Toddler!

(Not complaining. He is a good boy and keeps me on the very tip of my toes, every second of the day!)

This Looks Like a Great Place to Sit!

"Never mind that perfectly good (Elmo) chair...I think I will sit on top of all my toys and books, in the basket! "