A few things lately

 Dear Nathan,

I haven't written in a while. Not for lack of want but life goes so quickly and is so busy - it's really minute to minute here in our house. I'm taking time on this Sunday evening to share some recent things with you that might bring a smile to your face or some insight down the road. 

January

• You really like putting puzzles together. When you unhooked the pieces you called it "unplugged."
• You called brussell sprouts "pencil sprouts."
• While we were at the park you said, "I have to get the dirt out of my shoes so I don't grow into a flower." This made me smile. 

February 

• You pulled your shirt up over your head from behind and said, "I'm a skeleton." So funny and cute!
• You asked, "Can I have another sweet orange? It makes me sweet."
• You often say, "I'm a strong boy! This (insert healthy food he is eating) will make me big and strong!" 
• You told me, "I have a bloody tooth!" It ended up being a canker sore.
• After something upsetting happened between the twins, Nathan said to Zach, "You hurt my brain and broke my heart!" 

March

• You said, in a falsetto voice, "My tummy's hungry. Feed me!" You then said in a regular, serious voice, "It said that." 
• While you and Zach were both hugging me, you said, "Everybody loves you! You're my best mom ever!"

April

• While I was tucking you into bed, I hugged you and you said, "You're my best mommy ever. No one else's. Just mine, mine, mine."

Other notes: 

You and Zach are still potty training. It's been a long road. You are doing pretty good overall but occasionally poop in your underwear or pull up and there is an occasional pee accident. But you will both get there...hopefully by the time you start preschool in July! One of my biggest pet peeves lately is how you and Zach will put your wet underwear in the dryer that is full of wet clothes. I tell you to put your wet ones in the laundry room but I don't mean in the dryer. I've clarified it a few times and it still happens - not sure if it's you or just Zach but it isn't my favorite. 

You have a temper! We were at Pacana Park the other day and I was trying to show you and Zach how to play tennis. You can frustrated and threw the tennis racket across the court, start yelling things like, "stupid, I hate tennis" etc and stormed out of the court. 

I love you Nath. We both tell each other often, "I'm glad you're in our family!" 

Love, Mom

Sweet boy

Dear Nathan, I'm sitting in your and Zach's room in the dark. He has been asleep for a while but you just fell asleep. Before you did, I was laying by you on the floor (which you prefer to your toddler bed). My back was to you. You reached over and traced your finger over my eyes and whispered, "eyes," your traced it over my nose, cheeks, chin, hair, etc, repeating each name as you did. I smiled because this is what I do you you. I have my finger around your eyes and say, "Mommy loves your eyes." Then your nose. "Mommy loves your nose." And each part of your face. It's so sweet that you thought to do this to me tonight. What s sweet boy you are. I love you. Love, Mom

Adorable: recent updates

Dear Nathan,

You are 20 months old. You are a joy and make us smile daily.


*Need to put Nathan's specifics in.

• January: You and Zach started to blow kisses, wave and say "nigh nigh" when it was time for nap or sleep. 
• February: 
• April: 
• You and Zach figured out how to open the doors to the church and one of the ladies I exercise with found you both out in the parking lot the other day while we were inside stretching at the end of class. I am so worried about you guys getting out now and think I will have to keep you in your stroller during my class, which I know you will hate near the end.
• You are learning sign language and know several signs. You and Zach love watching "Baby Signing Time" and you point to your wrists (the sign for "time") while jumping up and down, your way and telling me you really want to watch it.
• You like hot wheel cars and trains. Today I built a train track for you and you had so much fun pushing trains on it. 
• You love green smoothies. I often make these as an after school snack when the boys get home.
• You have a pretty easy going personality.
• You are adorable and fun and we love you a lot.

Halloween 2018

Two cute skeletons, a cool older skeleton, the cutest mummy ever, and Cinderella (affectionately referred to as Ellie-rella). 

Happy reunion

Dear Nath (a nickname Norah started that kind of stuck and I think you might kind of hate someday),

Dad and I went to Boston for a few day to a children's mental health conference. It was amazing. Our friends, Sarah and Steven Chasten and their little girl, Gwendlyn, stayed with you guys. You are pretty attached to me and have been especially clingly lately with getting your molars so I was worried to leave you. It was the sweetest thing when I walked into your and Zach's room this morning when I heard you babbling in there. I said, "Good morning!" and you both popped right up in your cribs. You saw me and immediately started giggling. It went on for a couple of minutes with a huge smile on your face. Zach was smiling too. It made me so happy to see you both so happy to see me. Your dad and I missed you guys (all of you) a lot.

Photo Shoot with Grandma Utah

Fun photo shoot with Grandma Utah during her visit this month. I took this picture of you guys at a park here in Maricopa. I love how it turned out. (Left to right: Skye, Adalei, Eleanor, Josh, Grayson, Grandma, Zach, Oliver and Nathan.)

*Toddler Status*

Dear Nathan,

Where did my baby go? You and Zach are suddenly looking so much like toddlers! It makes me a little bit sad, knowing you're our last babies. I have tried to savor each milestone with both of you but life is so busy lately, I feel that lately it has sped by without me being able to appreciate a lot of the little things.

• You are walking! Like a pro, at that. You took your first step (actually several steps in a row) on May 17th and have been going non-stop since then, gaining confidence along the way. 
• You still enjoy walking behind your push toy, even though you can walk on your own. 
• You and Zach love playing in the toilet when someone leaves the bathroom door open and the lid up, much to my dismay. I make sure to wash your hands really well when that happens.
• You and Zach LOVE balls. You love to push them and chase them. 
• You love watermelon. 
• You have six teeth now. Teething has been rough.
• You usually sleep through the night! (Zach usually wakes up once and usually doesn't wake you up when he does, which I am grateful for.)
• You have lots of smiles to share.
• You love to babble - "dadadada..mama...nana..."
• You still wear your helmet but it shouldn't be much longer. 
• You like to let us know how you feel, which can be good. 
• We are noticing a little bit of red / auburn / copper in your hair and Zach's as well. My great grandmother (Genevieve Campbell) was a red head so maybe you got her genes.
• You are loved and adored. 

You and Zach love the splash pad. 

June 2018 - 10 months old. Taken in Uncle Levi's backyard when we met cousin Grayson for the first time. 

Fun at our neighborhood pool. 

Fun family day at Copper Sky, our local recreation center. We love swimming there.

June 2018 - 10 months old. Taken in Uncle Levi's backyard when we met cousin Grayson for the first time.

And just like that, you're a toddler! Such a cute boy. 

I couldn't love you more. Love, Mom