Happy Birthday, NATE!

Well, we knew it would happen, Nate would eventually turn 1! And that he did. I think that turning a year old is a momentous occasion, not always for the kid, but for the parent, it is hard work getting through the first year, there are huge milestones and things to deal with, where you are convinced that you will never make it through, but we did, and we went from this... too this: Here's a picture of him first thing this morning...look already happy! Excited to start the day. He is definitely the happiest baby that I have ever birthed...I know you think that is not saying much, but seriously, it is one thing that almost everyone comments on, how happy he is.
So how has Nate changed in the last year. Well, he's walking! And man you better watch out because when he makes up his mind to get you, well he is going to get you. Although it is quite funny, because I don't think his steering is up to par yet, I took a video of him today (that i will hopefully download tomorrow) that shows that he wanted to come to me, but just kind of turned and didn't know what to do!

I have learned that I can't just put him down now, I have to put him down near the toys, so he can have something in his hand to walk with, he doesn't like to be toyless.

Nate "talks" also. He jibbers and jabbers and cares on. He says "hi" alot. He really likes it when people say it back. He is doing some signing also. He really seems to like it when you try to talk to him or communicate with him and he does know what you are saying. I have had to start telling him no and he will now walk away...it only took 1-2 days of positive reinforcement and much cheering!

You might be able to tell he now has 8 teeth, 4 top, 4 bottom. He LOVES to eat, and I am pretty sure he would eat all day. He is getting a little fussier about it, but he never really complains and he still prefers to eat himself, at this point I don't think he has any allergies. I also started him on a sippy cup of water. He is still nursing, several times a day. I am not convinced he is actually wants to nurse, I think he enjoys the quiet time with me, he often chats with me instead of eats.

I know, this is not of Nate, but I was trying to get a picture of all of us, and well, I am not so good with the self portrait.

Nate is sleeping pretty well, but our schedule is crazy right now with all these showings. He is sleeping from about 7p (ish) to 3:30 nursing and then waking up for the day between 6:30-7:30. Although I have been so busy with the moving stuff, I think I often sleep through when he actually wakes up because he just chats to himself when he wakes up (see previous paragraph on happy baby!...I mean toddler!) He naps 1-2 times a day depending on how often I can get them in.

He is in this very generous phase where he wants to feed me what he is eating. I remember the books talking about that, it is a sign of something I don't remember. I am more than willing to let him feed my because I think it is so sweet. Although really I wouldn't mind if he had a little less food in his mouth. Sometimes he does tease me and eat it himself, he gets a big kick out of that.

Nate adores his sister. I think he knows how to push her buttons and although I am not encouraging it, I definitely think it is something that he should do to her, because well frankly she has been taken advantage of by her for a while. He loves chasing after her and squeals with delight. I know the fighting phase will start soon, but I am definitely enjoying the adoration phase.

Now onto the cake slideshow. As expected Nate enjoyed the cake, dug right in, no questions asked. Several of my pictures wouldn't upload correctly, I don't know why. Also, I think the godfather got some good pictures. One day I will hopefully hit him up for those pictures.

Walking, beginner style!

Have I mentioned that little man has decided to walk for his first birthday? GO NATE! I have been trying to get videos to show how he walks, because frankly if you haven't seen a baby learning how to walk, walk, it is quite hilarious. These first 2 videos are from when he still was undecided about walking. And by that I mean, he would walk and then go back to crawling, deciding that that was a better alternative, because he is a super fast crawler.


This video I don't think shows how well Nate is walking, but it does show how excited he is that he is walking, you can hear him laughing and see his big proud smile.

Day 1, Daddy gone :(

Since Eric is gone, I thought I would post some pictures from the day. I mean, it is only fair that he experience part of the day as it happens, right? Here is Gwen during Nate's nap time, playing with the caterpillar.
I have decided that we need to do some structure during this time, I think this is too much free time. I mean I think she need free play, but I also think that since it is not likely that she will be going to preschool next year she could use some structured learning. I mean I am not going to start homeschooling because frankly that wouldn't work. I mean today she told me a sheep says "moo". And half the time I ask her, her name she tells me she doesn't remember! Blast her!

I wanted to get the 2 of them together under the table, but that didn't work out. I apparently didn't mention it to Gwen first!

I guess this is better. But certainly not perfect.

Today I spent the evening staining the deck, I did a little this afternoon. I wanted Eric to see the color. See!

It doesn't really look that different, but I swear that it is and it looks pretty good, I think!

Puddin'

I have decided to clean out the cabinet. Ok so maybe I didn't decide that I should, we are making a push to clean out all food stuffs in the house. I found some pudding in the pantry and decided to make it and give some to Nate.
I think he liked it.

what do you think?

he even tried to use the spoon.

He went straight to the bath, no questions asked! I think he approved. He probably would have gotten more in his mouth if he would trust someone to give him food off the spoon, but I think he enjoyed it anyway!

ARG mateys!

Have I mentioned before that Eric likes to draw? Have I mentioned that Gwen likes stamps and Eric drawing on her is really the next best thing?
Here's our pirate now.

Giving her best ARG! Really we have to work on that...

The artist, showing off his work...I am hoping this doesn't come up again in 15 yrs when Gwen says she actually wants a tat.

Seriously, Gwen's a ham! I am not convinced that drawing on her with pen is a great idea, but Eric assures me it is ok.

Exhaustion

I think the stress is finally getting to me. Or at least I can admit that the stress is probably what has been getting me sick for the last couple weeks. I appear to be sick again. :( The kids also have running noses also.
We had the Godfather and his girlfriend over to help move some furniture into the garage. We are now living with half our furniture, well less than half our furniture and more than half our stuff. Eric and I loaded up everything they put in the garage into a truck we could get for free with our storage unit. If I wasn't already feeling rather congested and up late (taking a friend to the emergency room, she's ok BTW) last night, I probably wouldn't have dropped that sofa on Eric's foot! Haha just kidding, really we did a great job today, we put Nate in the jumper, Gwen wandered around and we put everything in the storage unit. This evening Eric and I have crashed on the couch watching the movie "RV" which is hilarious, after riding in an RV...
So onto some pictures from the last week, Nate and his little buddy...
Nate is sure going to miss him, I am not sure his friend is going to miss him, Nate is rather abusive...
He uses him to stand up on and loves to "pat" him, I am trying to teach him to be gentle, but he doesn't really get it.

Nate has finally decided to start walking this weekend. He is really trying to walk and has decided it is the he wants to try to cross rooms.

We realize this is going to cause NUMEROUS problems because he is already knocking Gwen out of the way so he can get to what he wants to and I think I am going to let that continue for a while, since she has boxing Nate out for a while. I mean I guess he has taken quite a beating from her, while she tries to "help" us out, policing Nate.

Here is Gwen and her little friend sharing a cupcake.

Gwen has already had a cupcake she somehow talked her friend into giving her some.

"Hide & Seek"

Gwen LOVES to be chased and play hide & seek and to be scared. Of course, she doesn't understand any of it, you could seriously walk up to her and yell "BOO" and she would squeal with delight. I don't know where Nate & Eric where but a couple weeks ago Gwen decided to play hide and seek with me...do you see her?
We have to pretend that she is not there and then we have to look for her and when you look for her you can hear her saying "I'm over here".

Still hiding!

She will keep hiding in the same place over and over again, or tell you where she wants you to hide. I do wonder how much longer it is going to be until she "gets" it!

UNC visit

I have decided to get the picture backlog taken care of, so enjoy. I finally have a couple of spare minutes. These are from our UNC trip earlier this month, when we found our house. Finally! I never downloaded the pictures from Mom's camera, so I only have these few. Eric and Gwen I don't know what this is called, but it is in all the UNC pictures, I guess I will learn!
A family portrait! Nate is not cooperating, but he was rather tired!

Mom & Gwen, at the thing I don't know what it is called.

Gwen, lolly gagging!

still lolly gagging...

she was pretending to be something here, I can't remember what now, dog, lion?

Posing at the monument...

sweet Nate.

Nate at Chic-fil-A.

Gwen in the "tubes".

Gwen & Grandma at the hotel.