Today is a day of Thanks. And we have much to be thankful for. We have an amazing son who brings joy to our life every day. Joe and I both have good jobs that are interesting and allow us to pay the bills and save some.

I want to hold on to these days because I feel them slipping away way to quickly. I still can’t believe that we are so lucky to Nathanael as our little boy.

Nathanael and I spent a lazy day yesterday (Joe was at work) and it was so great. We didn’t do much – he probably watched a bit too much TV and I could have accomplished a few more things but it was an easy day where we just enjoyed one anothers company.

As I sit here and type this I am watching Nathanael happily going outside the house to the porch and then back in  again. It’s chilly today and a porch is a great thing! He’s all dressed up and walks in to tell me hello and then says bye as he goes back out. Rinse, repeat, and again.

Today we are going to my parent’s house and they just completely adore Nathanael.

A string of somewhat disjointed thoughts that add up to one single thought: Life is good.

Today at the park

Dinosaur Costume

New Big Boy Underwear!

Last night I was putting Nathanael to sleep and I have an awful cough.  Clearly, it was bothering him and moments before drifting off, he said “mommy” and I said “yes sweetie” the next word was “shhhh.”  It cracked me up.

Nathanael’s language skills are improving and he starting to put full sentences together and completing thoughts.  I think he might be a bit behind still but he is making steady and consistent progress so I am not overly concerned.

At daycare, he’s been consistently using the potty so tomorrow he goes in training pants!  I never thought we’d be training now, but at day care they have suggested to see if we can capitalize on this window.   because it  might close so here we go!  I”m not sure if I am ready for this and I still wonder if he is connecting the dots but I’m willing to give it a shot.

Nathanael has adjusted really well to the new house and is taking it all in stride.  He seems to love the basement and wants to go down tehre all the time.

I am looking forward to the holidays and starting new holiday traditions in the new house.  I could use some rest (work has been crazy lately) so I’m hoping to chill a bit this week, get a bit recentered and have a great last 5 weeks of the year.

So our physical belongings moved from one house to the other.  The move was really exhausting (physically & emotionally); but it feels great to be in the new house.   I knew that the small space was driving me crazy but now that we have more room, well – it feels amazing.  There is lots of organizing and putting together needed in the new house but we have the kitch in order and that’s the area that gets the most traffic.

Nathanael seems to really love the basement.  Personally, I’m not such a fan of the basements but it’s great that he has a big area to play, run, and move.  And boy will it be fantastic in January!

Nathanael did pretty well during the move.  He wasn’t too freaked out about the house but I do think that having me distracted was hard for him and then he spent a fair amount of time at my parents so I could sense his little heart hurting a bit.  So, I’ve spent more time with him in the mornings and will try to do some special things with him this week-end.  Unfortunately, Joe has to go to Europe for the week for work.  I know Nathanael is really going to miss him and Nathanael can be quite brutal when you’re not around.  Rather then being really happy that you are home, he gets really angry at you and doesn’t want to pay much attention to you.  It’s pay back.  So, you really have to go slowly.

This is a photo from the MN state fair this summer.  Nathanael looks so old!

Halloween is taking a back stage to moving this year. But, we did manage to carve a pumpkin last night. Joe did a good job. I’d like to get him to grandma & grandpa’s in his costume but we’ll see how it goes. NaNa has a great dinosauer costume (there’s a reason why NaNa knows Target very well).
We closed yesterday on the new house and that went smoothly so it’s all packing all the time this week-end. Move happens on Monday.

So, we are 2 months into 2. Right now Nathanael is going through such a super cute, fun, loving stage – it’s so fun to be around him.
His verbal skills are really exploding and I can see him very much trying to create sentences in his head. Sometimes he can get a word or two out and sometimes it’s just a string of jibberish.
This morning I walked into the living room to find Nathanael sitting on top of the dog, on the sofa, random dialing. Later I found him leaning up against the dog, sunglasses on (backward), typing away on the computer. Umm, I wonder who he gets that from!
Life here is a bit hectic. We bought a new house and close next week. We just received the final loan approval today! I really like the house we bought and we will finally have room to breath. Nathanael will actually have a big basement to run around in. I get a pretty good kitchen and Joe gets a good garage. We are still in the same general neighborhood so that’s good. I can’t believe it’s actually going to happen. Of course, it’s been a frantic month – packing, fixing the current house blah blah blah.
We’d really like to have a Guatemalan exchange student to live with us so hopefully we can make that happen in our new house.

I’m overdue for a blog post.  But, just have a moment.  We had Nathanael’s 2 year photos taken.  Go to this blog:  http://glimpsesofsoul.com/blog/ and scroll down to see his photos.  I love them so very much.

Pretty much sums up our existence these days.  We can not touch anything that is Nathanaels.  Even if it isn’t Nathanael’s but something he’s claimed, then we can no touch it.  So, we have to watch him flounder, be frustrated, and try to do things that are just beyond his development stage.  Whoa to the fool who tries to help.  The role we are to play is to be part of his world but not to interfer with his definition of the world.   We can say “when you need help, please say help” and after a few tough minutes, we’ll get a pitiful little help that is a little heart breaking. 

Most of the time, we work through it.  But, say, you’re trying to get to work/day care and independent little Nathanael has claimed the backyard gate to himself and no one else is allowed to touch it, open or close it unless you are the Nathanael guard.  Nathanael, the guard, decides when he will open it, when he will close it, and will wave you on threw when he deems it ok for you to get into/out of the backyard.  Yes, this is sometimes acceptable when you have the week-end to your leisure but it gets a bit hairy when you have to get those cute little muscle buns to daycare and head on into work.

Yes, I love so much about the newer, word-expressing, mighty little Nathanael but …

One more month left until N is two.  Wow.  I can’t help but feel a bit melancholy.  I feel that N is growing up so fast and it hurts my heart a bit.  I know, great things to come but he won’t ever be a baby again.

N at 23 months . . .

*  Very cuddly.  How lucky are we?  He just loves to cuddle.  When we watch TV, he leans up against us and puts his hand in ours.  To die for.  He also needs to be physically touching someone at night.  Of course, when he needs to be carried around after waking or naps, it gets a bit tiring.  Nonetheless, I’ll take it.

*  A good smile but a great laugh.  N has the sweetest laugh – it’s already a belly laugh and it’s just pure happiness.  And N loves to laugh.  He really gets into it.

*  The language skills are getting better.  It’s probably not something that he excels in but we’re not particularly concerned.

*  Physically N is very coordinate and has serious core strength.  He’s just good at things like climbing (can hold on a bar for count of 10) and is sure footed.  The later of which can be quite deceiving – he almost fell 6 feet at the jungle gym but fortunately I caught him and disaster was adverted.

*  We’ve got the 2’s early.  He is very much needing control over almost everything from dressing to food to well, you name it.  I’ve tried to focus less on the effect it’s having on me (annoyance) and what’s motivating the disturbance.  So, we’ve been reframing things from I need to take your shoes off to help me take off your shoes.  We are all still working our way through this new stage . . .

*  N’s face continues to change.  Tonight he was being silly and I commented to Joe that he had his baby face on.  It’s hard to describe, but directly connected to our first (wonderful) trip to Guatemala.

*  Hates, hates, hates having his hand held to cross the street.

*  Not a big breakfast eater and the vegetables are a real weak spot.  He loves fruits, carbs, dairy, and protein.

*  When he’s done with what I call and an eruptor (from happy to sobbing in 20 seconds and then back again) – he wipes his tears away in a very dramatic fashion.  He puts both his hands over his eyes & repeatedly brushes them tears again. 

*  I struggle with how to be the best possible mom.  I still need to work on being present for N at night (vs let work things run amok in my mind).

Innocent boy . . .

Good smile . . .

Hello?

The last few months have been so much fun.  Nathanael’s language skills are improving and he def knows what we are saying.   Tonight he ran almost a mile with Joe.  It was so cute.  He’d run and yell “stop” and then when he was ready to go again he’d yell “go.”  I pushed the stroller, expecting him to need it, but he was fine without thank you very much.   He had so much fun and I loved watching those little legs go.  He also decided to wear a baseball cap, backwards, and it really cracked me up!  Joe was having fun and got a bit of a work out.

It’s just been so much fun the past few months and despite the occasional melt downs, he’s a sweet kid.