SO Much Fun!

Twice the Fun

So, last week, I was asked to watch our friends (the Crawford's) little girl, Clara. Clara is about 2 1/2 months younger than Nathan. So, basically, the same age. I was excited to do it...a. to help Stacey out (anytime!), and b. to see how Nathan (and me, of course) would deal with another child running around (no, I do NOT have any news to tell you). Anyways, the three days went really well, and I was very surpised at how smoothly they went. Nathan was a teeny, tiny bit jealous at times, but he was a very good boy and didnt hit, push or bite Clara at all! Clara is SUCH an easy going little girl (very serious as well), and she only whined for her mom once or twice. :) The above pictures are just a little inkling of what the week was like :)

Is it Spring Yet?

Weeee! (Part 2)

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Mmmm, Tastey!

Recently, Nathan has begun putting things in his mouth (thats not new), and just letting them hang there. Like...his "guy" in the picture above. He just walks around with it hanging in his mouth. He does this with straws, if he gets one, or his toothbrushes (yes brushES!). It is actually quite entertaining...and I am not sure where he gets it. Unless it is hereditary from his father who has this thing with chewing on stuff. Straws, soda can tops, soda bottle tops, ice...anything that he can chew on (I am actually VERY suprised that Jonathon was never a smoker). Interesting that something like that could be passed down...or actually that Nathan has picked up on that from Jonathon and is imitating it, which is probably the case.

Weeeeee! (Part 1)

Just ONE More (today)...

Picture(s) Of The Day

I've Got A Friend In You...

Last week, Nathan and I met up with my good friend Liz and her son Keaton, at the mall. It was one of those super cold days, were all four of us were so sick of our houses that we HAD to get out and do something...anything...even going to the mall and letting the kids run up and down. At one point, we all decided to go and grab some lunch, so Liz told Keaton to get Nathan because we were going to have lunch together. Keaton went and "got" Nathan. He grabbed his hand and held onto it until we got to our table. It was very sweet. Good buddies in the making!

(Thank you, Liz, for bringing your camera!)

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!

Oh Sweet! A New Chair!

Nathan got a new toy over the weekend...as you can see it is NOT a chair or a seat of any kind. Although, Nathan sure likes to believe it is...or I think he just wants to BE one of the Little People in the cars that go down the ramp/slide/garage thing. He keeps trying to get into the elevator as well...

That kid! ;) Always entertaining....

Rash Update

Well, after five days of Nathan having a rash, I thought I should take him to the Doc, just to ease my mind that I wasnt giving him something that would cause it (selfish...right?). Anyways, the Doc still hadnt a clue as to what the rash is. The redness of the rash has gone away, but the rash itself hasnt. His normally very smooth, soft, baby skin is now like sand paper. And when I say sand paper, I really mean...it feels like sand paper. The Doc though that maybe it was just a side affect of the cold that he had...which, by the way, has settled into his ears and he now has ear infections.

Lovely. It is a good thing, though, that Nathan seems completely oblivious to all of this. His disposition has not changed at all! He doesnt pull at his ears at all, he doesnt even seem to notice the infection.

So, yeah, antibiotics for 10 days, and hopefully he will be a perfect bill of health at his 18 month well check. :)

We Have a Rash...

So...out of nowhere, Nathan has come down with some sort of rash. It all started on Wednesday evening after we got home from Nan and Paps' house. That night he barely slept (me too!) because his nose was real stuffed up and he couldn't breath. It has continued off and on for the last couple of days. It isn't clogged, as the box of Kleenex that we have gone through proves that he is not "stopped up" (as they say around these parts). I have just assumed it is a very minor cold, or just something due to teething or the extreme cold that we have had the last few days. Well, today he woke up with a tiny resemblance of a rash, and it has progressively gotten worse as the day has gone on. This picture is from this evening, around 7pm. The rash is on his back and on his chest...it does not go down his arms or legs at all, and isn't on his face. It does look much like the rash he had a few months ago ("strep")...but I don't honestly think he has "strep" again, if he even had it last time. He does not seem to mind the rash...as he still manages to run around and is in good spirits. Though, I do not think he FULLY feels up to par, as he has been pretty clingy and whiny (hahaha, that isn't new! ;)) today. No fever.

So yeah...that's what it is...or isnt...or...I don't know. To those parents' of kids that we have been around the last few days...keep an eye out. I am sorry if your child caught it from Nathan, as we had no idea anything was sprouting.

Any idea what the rash may be? Nothing serious, I am sure...and no need to call Dr. Abbott. I am just going to let it run its course. Hopefully it won't take long to get rid of. :)

Update: So in doing some research, the rash that he has is a cross between:
roseola - causes high fever for 3-5 days and then once the fever goes away, small red bumps appear on the trunk that spread all over the body. Though, Nathan has not had a fever at all.

fifth disease - causes red cheeks and then a fine lace-like red or pink rash on the arms. I have noticed the last few days, in the evening, his cheeks have gotten real red for some reason. Though, his rash is not on his arms.

keratosis pilaris - causes small pinpoint size red bumps and rough and dry skin on the cheeks and the back of the upper arms and legs. I noticed yesterday that the back of his arms were real dry, and his cheeks have been getting real dry as well. Again, I just chalked it up to it being winter.

Video!

This is from last November, so it isnt real new...except to you all. Just thought the blog needed a little life ;)

Remeber Last Year?

Last year at this time (not the exact date...but around the same time)?

It is so bittersweet to look at how he has become such a little boy, no longer a baby!

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!!! ;)

Ahh, Mom....

" Ahh, Mom! The camera again?"

"Is she done yet?"

Actually, this is how we eat lunch when we have been playing at All About Kids all morning, and it is nap time.

'Coupla Updates...

It has been a while since I have actually written some Nathan updates....I should be (and should have been...shoulda, woulda, coulda) more diligent in documenting what he is doing (ie, words he is saying, things he is playing with, personality quirks). My good friend Jen is really great about doing this....defiantly go check out her son, Liam, and all he is doing...she is a good example of what I SHOULD have/be done/doing for Nathan ;)

Anyways, lets not dwell on what could have been...or should have been. Lets talk Nathan update. So. 17 months. Not toooooo much different in milestones than 16 months. He eats the same (somewhat picky. Grilled chicken, beans and bananas are his favorite), walks the same (does run as well), protests the same (though this is getting more pronounced and lasting longer), gets into everything (especially when he is bored), etc, etc. Two major things of note though:

1. He is getting a sense of humor. Not that he has EVER been a serious child. Quite the contrary. He has been extremely happy since day one (as long as he is fed!). No...he is starting to see things, randomly, that make him laugh. For example, the other night Jonathon was flipping channels and he came across the cartoon movie "Ice Age". Those of you who have seen this film, know that at the very beginning there is a little short cartoon film with a squirrel trying to hang on to an acorn. This was the part of the movie that Jonathon just so happened to catch. Well, Nathan took one look and chuckled and chuckled at this squirrel. He LOVED it! We kept playing it back for him and each time his laugh got harder and harder. I think WE were more entertained than he was! It was so fun watching him find something humorous. He was very frustrated when the commercials came on...he didn't quite understand them (who does, really?).

2. The child is ALL boy. I have mentioned this before. But he is REALLY all boy! Lets talk...poop. I know, I know, not the most elegant topic. But stay with me here. So, the last couple of months Nathan has figured out what it means to "go pee" or "poop". To the point that is knows how to do these two acts. If he happens to get up and away from me in the middle of changing his diaper, he immediately runs to a corner, the couch, a toy, and forces himself to pee on it (yes. he does). He laughs and laughs and laughs if he manages to accomplish this. Needless to say, we have learned to be very quick diaper changers around here! Anyway, the other evening, in the "tub-a-tub", Nathan kept grunting and grunting. This makes him laugh as well. At one point, he got up on his feet, and put his hands down on the bottom of the tub (so in a squat position), and grunted and grunted and grunted. I played along with him...thinking "surely, this child does not know how to make him self poop!". Hahahaha...boy did I fail that parenting moment! HE POOPED! IN THE TUB! ON PURPOSE!!! He thought it was THE funniest thing he had ever done in his life! So funny in fact, that last night the moment his cute little bottom hit the tub water, he started grunting. I was able to redirect his attention to his toys, so he did not accomplish his goal. But still...the child can apparently poop on command!

ALL Boy! And ALL toddler!

(To answer your comments/questions...yes, we have taken him into the bathroom and showed him where he is SUPPOSED to pee and poop - hoping, of course that he really is the genius we think he is and will be potty trained before 2. Unfortunately, he has zero desire to try that out! After all, what fun is it to pee in a toilet when you can pee on your parents' couch and get a great reaction out of them! Same with pooping in the tub! It is soooo funny to watch Mom yell "Jonathon...help! Nathan just pooped in the tub" and then watch as mom tells dad that he has to clean it up. THAT is way better than pooping in the stinkin' toilet! ;))

Can I Help?

My Two Gal Pals

Audrey

Clara

(Sorry the photos are a little blury)

First Date....Two Women

First, I had a dinner date with Audrey. It was great conversation...and I really hope to take her out again!

After I had dinner with Audrey, I had to rush and meet up with Clara for "drinks". We had a good time, though...Clara was a little agressive in getting me to taste her drink! She just wouldnt take "no" for an answer!!! Nice girl too...she likes to dance and I even got her to push me in a babydoll's stroller (unfortunately, my Mom wasnt quick enough to get a picture of that)!



(Last week, we went over to the Crawford's house for Dinner With The Kids. The Freeman's were also there. Nathan was in heaven with these two fine little ladies. Center of attention...at such a young age!)

How Old Am I (Picture of the Day)?

Yes, that is Nathan running around in a walker! It seems that he has become quite attached to it at his Nan and Paps's house. Yes, he can walk. Yes, he can run...but what fun is that when you can do both IN A WALKER?! :) Obviously, he is having a blast!

(Photo courtesy of Nan)

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....

It's Audrey, Audrey!

The best I could get of the both of them...together.

Oh! Audrey, Audrey (or as Nathan calls her, "Auden, Auden").

Audrey, hamming it up!

Christmas Nate!

Last Saturday, Audrey and her parents stopped by for a visit. I do have to say that Nathan and Audrey have really started playing well together (and by together, I mean, BY each other). They seem to be learning the whole sharing thing, and seem to be interested in what the other is doing. At one point, Nathan leaned over and gave Audrey a little kiss on her head. MUCH better than previous weeks when he just hauls off and hits her (and any other little kid around). :)



I really tried to get a good picture of the two of them together, but they just wouldn't stand still (dang kids!). So...I got some good ones of the two of them...separately. :)

Photo of (Christmas) Day

You really can't get much sweeter than that.

Christmas Morning

Its Like Christmas!

Just a boy and his Slinky.

Radio Flyer Fire Engine

Holiday Recap

Whew! January 2, 2008 already! What a whirlwind...at least it feels that way. But, then again, don't the Holidays always feel that way?

Well...let's see...what is new in The World of Nathan? Hmmm...well, he really couldn't have cared any less about Christmas and all the fuss surrounding it. He refused to participate in tearing packages open. It is a good thing we didn't waste our time wrapping his gifts! Most of them anyways!

Nathan's Grand-Mom and Grand-Dad came in for a visit right before Christmas, then his Grandma and his Uncle Zane came in for a few days (and actual Christmas Day). Throw in visits to the Schmoll Family Christmas Party, and the Ice/Rhodes Family Christmas Shindig...and you have one very confused little 16 month old. One that has decided that 1am is a GREAT time to wake up the neighborhood. Apparently, Nathan has forgotten that "night night" means "to sleep for 11 hours in a row". I am not quite sure what is going on with him...although he has sprouted a couple more teeth. Either he is STILL teething (will it ever end???!), or waking a few times a night has become a habit for him. He may have gotten a little spoiled in all this commotion, and realized that if he cries a little at night his parents will rush right in and cuddle with him (how dare us!). Smart kid, that Nathan! ;)

Nathan got some really great toys too! Nobody went overboard and he isn't completely overwhelmed with new stuff to play with. So far his faves are the golf clubs (plastic) that Santa brought him, the tent that Grandma gave him, and the new Baby Einsteins videos that his Grand-Mom got him. However, he has all different toys at his Nan and Pap's house...of which he really enjoys the truck (that plays music) that Uncle Jeff gave him, and the Radio Flyer (picture coming) fire engine that his Nan and Paps gave him. Some notable mentions are the Slinky from Uncle Rob and the shark bath toys from the Frentheway Crew.

All in all, it was a great Holiday season. On to 2008...where we are bound to enter the "terrible twos", a big boy bed, and POTTY TRAINING!