STOP THE CLOCK!

It seems like every time I turn around I catch Nathan growing. He's gone through his second shoes size this summer. Sometimes I am just struck by how much of a little boy he looks now instead of a baby. I want to see him grow and do new things but it makes me a little sad that the days when I can hold him and rock him are limited.

Summer Fun!

The weather has been so lovely the past few days. It's been a great respite from the heat and has compelled us to come outside and play.





Nathan enjoys his sandbox. He gets sand everywhere - even in his diaper!

He finished his second week of daycare yesterday and he seems to be enjoying it. I've heard his teachers are having to carry him around a lot. He wants all the adult attention in the room but he is learning how to play with others too. Nathan is so worn out at the end of the day after being at school.

Oh by the way, I'm an auntie again! Abbymarie Sienna Harris was born yesterday to my brother and his wife who are in Germany.

Day Care Update

Would you believe that I actually don't have any new pictures of Nathan this week? This is Scout pretending to be a jungle cat.

Nathan seems to be enjoying his daycare. He comes home really tired at night and is more than ready to go to bed early. I took him in early on Friday since Ron was at work and he cried and acted heartbroken then but he was fine for Ron all week so I'm not sure what that was all about.

I am almost through my first eight day set on day shift. It has been an interesting adjustment but I think I am going to like it. It's amazing how much time it takes to get Nathan up and get him to day care. Having a baby seems to shrink the day down by half!



Nathan has taken an interest in cartoons. He mostly watches Veggie Tales. When he sees the opening theme song he laughs and claps and squeals at me. It's so sweet. There is no TV watching at day care (yay!) so at night we usually sit together on the couch and watch a Veggie Tale video. They are so much fun. The only problem is those silly songs get stuck in my head and reverbate all day while I'm driving around. Last week I had "Sport Utility Vehicle" stuck in my head and this week it is "Gated Community". Satirical little vegetables!



Sponge Bob is also a regular around here. When Nathan starts talking, it will be interesting to hear what things he repeats now that he has been exposed to such silliness.

First Day of Day Care

Nathan went to day care for the first time today!


No, this isn't what he wore to daycare but Mommy was running late so I didn't get a picture. He didn't go for a full day today. The first few days are going to be short days so he can get used to it.

He went in gleefully enough and started playing with the toys and totally ignored us so we left. A little later I called to check on him and heard that he was "fussy but we gave him a toy and he calmed down." That translates to me that he was whining which has been his favorite form of communication during the past week.


When we came to pick him up he was still napping and he was the only child still napping. The worker said he wouldn't nap but sat on her lap and "made noises but didn't cry". I took that as the polite way of telling me that he whined. One cute little girl named Jayla realized that Nathan was the topic of our conversation so he went over and woke him up for us by throwing a Shrek doll at him. That did the trick and he woke up crying but he was very happy to see us. The whining soon started (it's a two-year old thing I guess) but the worker offered him some graham crackers and he became happy enough.

The worker said this little girl Jayla was infatuated with Nathan and followed him everywhere. While we were there she kept bringing him toys to play with. His response was to duck his head and emit a loud whiney "EEEENNNHHHHH!!" at her. In a little while he should be better about making friends...at least we hope so!



We are glad his first day went well and hopefully he will really start to enjoy "school" as we call it. I talked about going to school a lot so maybe he won't be surprised to go again tomorrow.

These pictures are of Nathan playing in his pajamas before bed. He has grown a lot the last couple of months and is looking like such a big boy!

The last picture is Ron holding one of the new puppies.

Nathan has been visiting Nana's house and playing with her little puppies. She has eleven right now. Yes, I said eleven. We haven't seen much of Nana lately because that is a lot of puppies to take care of. Nathan is very gentle and Mom's sheepdogs are so patient with him around their pups.



He won't have to visit Nana's any more to see puppies. We have six new ones of our own as of this afternoon. This is the first time we have ever had a dog delivering puppies while a two year old was in the house and it was a challenge. Liberty's puppies are such little cuties so I'm sure we will have more puppy photos to come.

A Future Wear Bear?

I heard the term "Wear Bear" for the first time last night from one of my partners. He said that's a nickname for kids who wear on you. He said sometimes that he prays his daughter will be silent for just two minutes to give his ears a rest.

Of course this was all said with affection but it made me wonder if I shouldn't be wishing that Nathan will start talking. He speaks his own language of coos and giggles constantly. I love listening to him on the baby monitor when he wakes.

Nathan has learned how to give kisses and to blow kisses. Unfortunately, because he is two, once he learns something he decides not to do it anymore because he can. At least I was able to get a picture of him with his Nana blowing kisses.

Nathan has started pointing at things he wants. His aim is not always good so he dissolved into tears when I guess the wrong thing that he wants but when I get it right, he squeals with laughter. Sometimes when he is fussy, I can say, "Show Mama what you want" and he will lead me to his high chair or to the refrigerator. Lately, he has been leading me to the garage where the car lives. He doesn't like being cooped up in the house for eight days while we are working. He loves when we are off work because we are always going places.

Nathan's life is about to change because he will start daycare next week. We think he will really enjoy it since he loves to be out so much. I switch to dayshift next week so my life is about to change as well but change is good!

Cousins and Kittens

Nathan enjoys visits from his cousins. He likes the attention of the older kids. The two dark haired boys belong to my sister who took a cheesy self portrait with me which is depicted below.





The kittens are growing! Scout is as tall as our grown cats now and he won't take "no" for an answer when it comes to affection. Taser is still a little, sweet thing. If only cats could learn to wash dishes, everyone would have a kitty in their home.