Big Bucket O' Dirt

Bathtub Fun!

Just Because...

Picture of the Day

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.

In the blood

I believe the subject title says it all. Golf. Already an obsession.

Big Helper

Nathan is getting to the age where I can ask him to start helping me with chores around the house...and he enjoys it (take advantage of this, I know!). So yesterday we went to the Grocery. He was very helpful and sat in the little grocery cart car and ate his "crackers" while I meandered around Kroger, trying to push this semi-truck sized cart. He didn't fuss at all, and was very helpful in making sure that I wasn't feeling lonely by turning around and yelling "Hi, Mama!" over and over again. ;)

Anyways, when we got home he really really really wanted to go and open and close the garage door (because he NEVER wants to do that...ever! ;)). I told him that we could go outside and open the garage door AFTER we got all the groceries put away. He seemed to totally understand and was very eager to help. So...I put him to work. I had purchased some toilet paper for both bathrooms, so I asked him to take one of the t.p. packages and put it on the steps so that I could take it upstairs when I go. He did this with excitement. Excitement that he was big enough to help, and excitement that once we got the groceries put away, he could go outside and open the garage door. Once he put the t.p. on the steps, he ran back to the kitchen to find out what his next chore was. I gave him the second package of t.p. and told him to go put it in the bathroom down stairs. Which he did with the same excitement as he did with the first package of t.p. Except...he didn't run back to the kitchen...which I found as odd. So I continued to put some groceries away, losing myself in the "how the heck am i going to fit all this stuff in the freezer" thought that I seem to go through everytime I go to the grocery and get stuff we "need". Realizing that Nathan was not yet back from taking the t.p. to the downstairs bathroom, I decided that I had better go check on him to see what he was doing (it was awfully quiet!). So...I walked to the bathroom....and this is what I found:

Apparently the word "bathroom" means "toilet" to Nathan. Which makes sense, because we do say "going to the bathroom". And oh yes...he was flushing the toilet, trying to get the t.p. to go down. You could tell he was a little confused as to how to make it go down, so that he could finish his chore and go outside to open the garage door. :)

Candy?

Every day, at least once a day...normally when Nathan wakes from his afternoon nap...the following conversation occurs:

Nathan: Candy? Candy? Candy?

Me: No candy, how about a snack?

Nathan: Garage door?

And by "candy" he means Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The mini ones. He LOVES them! I normally let him have two or three a day...and he insists on opening them himself. I was able to catch the special moment he has while opening his candy....as you can see, it is a very private, intimate moment for the little guy.

(Also: notice the tiny bit of chocolate on his mouth...)

Pool Party!

Gianna the Diva. :)

Gianna

Ahh Gianna. Quite the diva already, but oh so adorable! Gianna is the granddaughter of one of Beth/Grand-Mom's friends. Gianna and Nathan are 9 months apart (Gianna, being older). While in Arizona, we got the kids together and let them play in the park and then go swimming...I have to say, 9 months doesn't seem like much, but Gianna is a true little girl. She doesn't have any "toddler" in her at all. It was fun to see what Nathan will be doing when he is 9 months older. I didn't even think that at some point even the word "toddler" would no longer describe my little baby boy. I guess pretty soon he will just...be...a boy.

What a sweet, sweet boy.

O-R-E-O

So while we were in Arizona visiting my Mom (more photos to come of our trip, I promise!), Nathan discovered the glorious goodness of the OREO. She had the little individual size packages of the mini-Oreos...perfect for little toddler hands. Anyways, as you can see, Nathan enjoyed them, immensely. He ate them as if they were a delicacy. It was quite entertaining.

Garage Door...Open?

Nathan's new name is "Rainman". For those of you that have been around him in the last two weeks, you know exactly what I am talking about. He is obsessed with the garage door. Slightly scared of it, but completely, 100% OBSESSED with it. It is all he talks about. All he dreams about. All he wants to do. The following is what I hear a minimum of 1,000 times on any given day:

Me: Hiii, Nathan....

Nathan: Garage door? Open garage door? Close garage door? Open it? Close it? Garage door...?

It is garage door, all the time around here. Once it is opened, he wants to close it. Today, I just gave him the garage door opener and let him go to town....he stood at the door, looked out the window and opened it, then closed it. Opened it, then closed it. Then he would run to me and tell me about it. Then he wanted me to watch him do it. Then he would open it and close it. Open. Close. Open. Close. Open. Close. (I know, I know. It isn't good for the garage door. I know. But after the 2nd week of hearing "Open garage door" every 30 seconds, all day long, my ears are about ready to fall off and I have run out of excuses and energy to explain to him why we cannot open the garage door.)

And it isn't just our garage door...it is everyone he knows. He asks if we can open and close the garage door where ever we go, and whomever we go to visit.

It was cute about a week ago...now it is...just well...exhausting. :)

Picture of the Day

Life is rough.

Arizona Fun!

Ahhhhhhhh!

Mmmmmm, water!

Just me and my Uncle Zane.

We jetted off to Arizona last Thursday for the Annual Grandparent Visit. My Mom met us at the airport and we proceed to make ourselves at home at her house...and at the pool (thanks Uncle Zane for getting us in for FREE!). Nathan has LOVED the warm weather and being able to spend all day outdoors. Grandma Frentheway has a pretty large backyard with a pool, a really nice swing set and lots and lots of rocks to fill the fountain. Tomorrow we trek up to Scottsdale to stay 3 days with Grand-Mom and Grand-Dad. That will surely bring more fun in the pool and the Arizona sun!

Mmmmm, Dirt!

Contemplative

Photo Fun

Time Out

The Time Out Corner. We don't use it too often, but as you can see, he has quickly gotten the hang of the purpose for it. I will say that Nathan in Time Out is quite possibly the sweetest thing ever. I know, I know, it isn't supposed to be a sweet thing. It is supposed to be "a teaching tool" and it is...but the little guy will quietly go there, stick his nose in the corner, and about half way through will start picking at the bricks. It is bittersweet.

Just Because...

...I adore it! :)

Picture of the Day

SPRING is SPRINGING!

On the hunt!

An orange one!

What do I do with it??

You people tucker me out!

Aunt Sue had Easter dinner at her house, and they had a nice little Easter Egg Hunt, just for Nathan. I think it is an understatement to say that he LOVED IT! He got so excited at finding the eggs, and then seeing what was inside of them (candy and money!). It tuckered him right out on the way home!

Hoppy Easter!

Ready for church!

Mom cleans up well!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Picture Of The Day

Grand-Mom and Grand-Dad,
Hope this puts a smile on your face today. :)
Love, Nathan

Half Naked

It has been brought to my attention that the majority of photos posted on this blog are of Nathan, with either only pants on, or only a shirt on. I kind of started to realize that a few weeks ago...and wondered why most of our photos of him are of him half clothed (or half naked, however you choose to look at it).

Basically, the child enjoys being naked. He has yet to learn how to take off his clothes (he knows the process, just doesn't quite realize that he can do it himself if he really tried). I am sure that once he does learn that "skill", there will be many more photos of him half naked.

So...I guess just get used to it. :)

Reflections

This photo really pulls at my heart strings. I LOVE that you can see Jonathon in the reflection in the door, as Nathan is looking in. It kind of speaks of generations or of what Nathan might become...maybe even what Jonathon once was.

Is it time to go inside yet?

This was just a cute picture. Taken after he made the snow angel. I think the experience of having to lie down in the snow scarred him for life. He was ready to go in after that.

Ugh Snow!

Checking out the snow.


Dad dumping the snow on top of Nathan (what a nice guy he is!). Nathan loved it!


Making his first snow angel.


So, it snowed buckets last weekend here in Louisville. Yes, SNOWED! In March!!! The weekend before, everyone had started thinking of where they were going to put all the snow boots, coats, sweaters, socks, thermal underwear, gloves, hats, and heaters...in lieu of the shorts, tank tops, swim shoes, trunks, suits, flip flops and froo froo dinks with umbrellas in them.. It was beginning to look a lot like Spring time. Alas, Mother Nature and Father Time had other plans (I HATE it when they go against MY plan, by the way!!)...and decided to give the city of Louisville a nice little wake-up call...AND all those school age kids one more day off. It dumped buckets...for Louisville that is (family out in the Prairies of Wyoming and the Mountains of Utah, you would have laughed at the "dusting" we got!). Regardless...it did give us a chance to take Nathan outside to play in the snow. We did realize that we are soooo unprepared for snow. Meaning, none of us have boots or matching gloves and hats and coats (because matching is SOOO important). Jonathon and I aren't that big of a deal, but poor Nathan had like two outfits on, just to stay warm. He DID have a nice warm coat and hat and gloves. Next year though, we will need to make sure we get some boots. Oh and snow paraphernalia...such as...a sled...?!



Oh yes, and one more thing....Nathan LOVED the snow...except when he had to touch it. ;)



Oh and another thing...it totally makes me want to live in Utah so that we can go sledding with The Frentheway Crew, and so Nathan can learn to ski (of course, that desire to live in Utah, in the cold, lasted about long enough to have the thought and then the desire turned to wanting to live in Arizona where we didn't ever have to deal with the cold took over.).

Meet Liam!

Hey Everyone! Jen has posted some very very cute photos of Nathan and Liam, from their visit here a couple of weekends ago. Go check them out! You won't be sorry! :)

Thanks Jen!

Company from the East

It has been busy around here at the ICE house. Hence the lack of posts...but hopefully, things have calmed down, some, and we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Aside from watching Clara (read below) for a few days, we also had our friends, the Ninos come in for a couple of days. For those of you keeping track...this would be Liam Nino, who is about a month older than Nathan. Boy, did they have a grand time! Two boys...with LOTS of energy...running around!!! :) It was so fun to see them interact and play off of each other. Unfortunately, I am not very good at the action shots...and thus failed to get a good (read: non-blurry) photo of them...well, in action. SO, Jen (or Matias), if you happened to get one, either send it on over, or post it for all to see :).

We also started swimming lessons today. I took Nathan swimming a couple of months ago, and it about scared the crap out of me. I think I did write about it. But to recap...the child does not understand that he cannot swim. I don't quite think he grasps what exactly swimming is, and what it is used for (umm, to keep you alive in the water!). The entire time he pushes me away, not wanting to be in my arms...but we all know that if I let him go, he will sink, and well...that wouldn't be ideal at all. So, swimming lessons started today. I am SO glad that they are only 30 minutes!!! He was good...for the most part, but man is he strong, and he is getting big...and I am not growing anymore (well, except if I keep eating the chocolate ice cream...then I might continue to grow in lbs), and so, he is catching up to me. Anyways, what I am trying to say is that it is a work out! However, today, Nathan was dunked three times (I know...EVIL!). He didn't mind it too much. I think he was more annoyed that I wasn't letting him play on his own (i.e. SINK), than being dunked under water.

HE did have his 18 month well-check. He checked out great. I need to update the stats on the right, but basically he is:

weight: 29.08 lbs
height: 33 1/4 inches

that is 75%-90% range. The Doc was super impressed with his speech, and was SUPER SUPER impressed that he said "the other door", which is considered to be a three word sentence, which apparently they shouldn't start doing until well after 2. We have a chatterbox (and boy do we!!!). :) He didn't get any shots, so it was basically strip down, weigh, measure height, listen to heart, check ears...and you are on your way! We didnt have to go back until he is two, which sadly enough seems so very close already!

On the funny side...we were riding in the car last Monday, and I looked back at Nathan (through the mirror...i did NOT take my eyes off the road! ;)), and asked him how he was doing. His reply "headache" and he touched his head. Umm, yeah, not sure where he learned that one, but it was quite cute (and I don't think he REALLY had a headache). Anyways, it is amazing what he picks up. I heard someone once say "It is amazing how your kids show you how you really are". That is SOO true...and scary...and it definitely keeps me in line and my emotions in check.

Itching for Summer

See, he broke out the sunglasses!

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)