Nathan and the CAMEL

More October Pictures

Nathan loves construction equipment -
this is what he is pointing at - he stood there for so long until we dragged him away
Nathan's playmate Oliver
Nathan carrying our pumpkin home! Bought at the farmer's market for $5!
Green eyes?

Nathan Keeps on Growing

We have had a nice October - the highlight of which was a CAMEL RIDE for Nathan at the Bronx Zoo. We have a photo of it and Nathan looks at it every day and shows it to everyone who comes in the apartment. What is not in the photo is the incredible meltdown he had when we took him off the camel - he wanted to stay on!

Nathan had his 18 month checkup this month and he is doing great. He is 27 pounds 6 ounces, and 33 2.5/4 inches. He is above 50% in height, weight and of course head circumference (95th percentile). The doctor was pleased with his progress and Nathan enjoyed his visit up until his Hepatitis shot and taking blood (for lead and iron count). Unfortunately they had to do the blood twice (nurse error) and so Nathan wasn't too happy. I promised we would go to the park to see his friend Oliver afterward but that did nothing. He cheered up after we LEFT the doctor. It was great to have a playdate with Oliver (two in one month now). Amazing to see how different the two of them are - Oliver is really progressing with his words and Nathan is still as active as ever. This month he is catching a ball in his hands and loves to kick and throw the ball as well. New words are "apple" and "hat" and we are trying to encourage him to learn more though he still prefers a combination of sign language, sounds, and gestures to communicate. He never fails to get his point across and when he knows that you understand him, grins and makes a funny noise which is difficult to describe in words. I need sound effects for that. He also likes to push and pull our bodies around to get us to do what he wants - i.e. piggy back ride or get up, etc.

This week Nathan is in love with pumpkins! He likes to point out every pumpkin that we pass on the street and to pick up our pumpkin and carry it around the house. He is going to be a dog for Halloween in a costume that my mom made for him and we are excited for our first trick or treating experience!

Nathan is not really into sharing right now and is going through a pushing phase. We have to keep an eye on him at the playground because he is a big toy stealer and likes to push kids over. Oh boy. What happened to "free love" rather than "free violence?" We're trying to talk him out of it.

The other week we had our first "big boy" breakfast where Nathan sat in an adult chair FOR AN ENTIRE MEAL with Scott and I. It was really cute. He was so proud of himself eating his breakfast in a big boy chair like everyone else. Of course when he was done he was off and running, even if Scott and I were still eating. But we enjoy supporting him in his efforts to do new things, though we don't want him to become a big boy just yet!

He also loves to buckle things - he can buckle himself into his booster seat and stroller (if you give him enough time and he doesn't lose patience) and is very interested in opening and closing, putting objects in and taking them out, etc. His mind seems to be always working. It is amazing to see it all coming together in his head. We can't say enough how much we are blessed with such a wonderful little boy. Picture of the "girls" with our "boys" - Sarah and Zachary with Nathan and Mommy

Daddy and Nathan in their shades - too cool!
Nathan at Hannah's birthday party
Nathan loving all the toys at Hannah's birthday party

September and October cont'd

We have officially been to our first Navy football game! Last weekend we had a great time in Annapolis with all the grandparents (Scott was at PJ's bachelor weekend in Florida) and going to the Air Force/Navy football game. Poor Nathan. It is hard to have split loyalties, with one set of grandparents rooting for navy and the other rooting for Air Force. Grandpa Wilson was particularly crafty, by loading Nathan up with plenty of Navy gear at the Midshipman's store before Pop Pop and Grandma Geri even arrived! Once we got over that hurdle (I have a feeling we are getting Air Force gear for Christmas), we set out to the game with a goal of having Nathan witness the flyby given his love of planes. We got there so early, however, that Nathan's patience was wearing thin by the time the flyby happened. In spite of the extra seats Grandpa Wilson had bought, Nathan did not enjoy being confined to the stands. The flyby scared the you know what out of him but it was fun to be in the packed stadium watching some football. After the flyby Nathan and I went running around and after being knocked over a few too many times, headed back to our rental house for a big nap. One very funny anecdote from the weekend was Nathan's constant clapping at the football game. Anytime he heard the audience clapping, he would join in...it was a riot. The weekend was really great and so nice for Nathan (and me) to have all grandparents together, enjoying each other's company and spending time as one big family. Can't wait to do it again.

After Annapolis we headed to Virginia to see Baby Zachary and Aunty Sarah. Zachary is SO CUTE and it was so nice to see my friend Sarah as a new mommy. Nathan did not do so well not getting Sarah's full attention and acted like a true brat anytime that Zachary was in the room. I guess he has a bit of the only child syndrome and we'd better have another kid quick! It was very nice to spend time with them and share some memories and experiences from when Nathan was younger. I can't wait to see them again.

Just in the past couple of days, Nathan has become quite the communicator. Even though words are still slow in coming (new words are boo boo, baby, uh oh, ow, and an attempt at "Nathan"), he has really started to communicate with a combination of sign language and gestures. The other day I gave him some water and he pointed to the water and said "brrr" clutching his chest to tell me that the water is cold. When you can figure out what he is trying to say, the grin is priceless, like "you really get me." It is very cute and so cool to see him communicating and turning more into a little boy each day. Life is great.

Nathan has his 18 month checkup tomorrow. I am excited to see how much he has grown. The journey continues!



Nathan on the carousel at the Bronx Zoo
Our one photo from the Air Force/Navy game - to prove that he was there

Baby Zachary and his mommy Sarah
Nathan loved Sarah's cake

September and October

Well, here we are again where another month has passed and I have not updated the blog. AAAH. Where does time go?

Since our last posting, we have been to the Poconos for the first time, went to Brad and Lindsay's wedding, had Grandma Geri come visit for a day, and gone to Annapolis and to Virginia. Busy, busy!

Starting from the beginning, Nathan enjoyed our trip to the Poconos with Kelsey and Aaron. Kelsey is pregnant so it was a perfect pairing - they liked to go to bed early like us! Nathan loved the swingset in the backyard of the house we rented, loved being able to walk around on the deck and in the yard at his leisure, loved the pool at the community center (we witnessed our first total meltdown from him when we tried to get him out of the freezing cold pool), and just had fun being outside. It was a great Labor Day weekend.

The next weekend we went to the Hamptons for Brad and Lindsay's wedding. It was a nice reunion with some Tufts people that we hadn't seen in a while and we enjoyed staying in a beach house with Susan, Michael, Omar, Liz, and baby Akayla. The wedding was an adventure. Without a babysitter, Nathan of course was a handful, only wanting to try to jump in the pool at Brad's house (where the wedding was held) or in the ocean behind the house. Then we stupidly tried to put him down to sleep in the same room as Akayla and found them later both just hanging out talking to each other. Oh well. It was so nice to be a part of the occasion and take Nathan to the beach for the first time. By the way, he likes sand, but is not okay with the ocean. Too loud and scary. He is a pool guy.

Then Grandma Geri came up for a visit. Perfect timing because we had just been asked to dinner at Aunty Amanda's house with PJ and some other friends so we got a night out. Scott of course took it too far (he hasn't been out in quite a while) and had a bit too much to drink. It was nice to stay out "past our bedtime" and not worry one bit about Nathan who was hanging out with Grandma Geri. Having had to show love to the toilet the next morning, I am not sure that Scott will go overboard the next time.

I will share the Annapolis and Virginia trip in the next post.

Nathan these days is just so much fun. He is now "saying" no by shaking his head vigorously and has amazed us with his skill at climbing into and out of his booster seat to eat and FASTENING the lap belt. He is getting better and better at using a fork and spoon, loves to climb on anything and everything, had his first incident with poison control after pouring dishwashing soap in his eye, and is somehow able to keep moving all day long while keeping an ear open to what the adults are saying so that he doesn't miss a thing. Run is his m.o. rather than walking and he is starting to have favorite blankies out of the many that are stacked in his closet. As I have said before, this toddler time is really my favorite age.



Nathan on the swing in the Poconos
Rockin out to the Poconos local band at the Saturday night bonfire
Dancing machine

His latest obsession - the vacuum!