Baby update and Belly Pictures

We are down to four weeks left. The doctor told us, at our visit today, that the baby seems to be average sized (we did and ultraound). This really confuses me - Nathan was so big and she (and otheres) had told me that the second is usually bigger than the first . . . I really thought we were going to be tipping the scales at over 9 pounds this time, but it doesn't look like it. It also doesn't look, from what the doctor said, that this baby is coming any time soon. He is in position and all, but nothing else is changing.

My cousin took these for us this morning. Didn't she do a great job!!

and one for fun - did you really think I could have gotten up from that last one by myself?!?

I am going to play with them and put them in black and white and see which we like better.

moments of pure sweetness

Bedtime is not usually when I expect to see Nathan at his very sweetest. He is a very sweet loving boy in general. Nighttime is an unlikely time to see this exhibited for a few reasons:
1- he doesn't like to go to sleep - afraid he will miss something fun
2- he is consistenly the fussiest when he is tired.
We have a routine at bedtime. It is not very big or detailed like a lot of family's I have heard. Just simple, we walk to his room - have a vitamin - new diaper - pjs - ear drops if needed - then he sits on my lap (or sometimes Richard's), snuggles, and I rock him while we sing a song. The song is either a hymn or "Jesus loves me," or something like that.
For the past several weeks, if Nathan thinks the song was too short, or Mama didn't sing all the verses, he will push with his feet to start the rocking motion again. This is very sweet to me as he is not normally a snuggler and here he is asking for more snuggle time.
Just this week, he has started 'singing' along with me. Now, I haven't actually made out any words that he is singing, but he is singing - and usually by the second or third verse he pretty much has the timing of the song down.

It really does warm my heart.

Nathan's second birthday party

Let me just start by saying, No, Nathan is not 2 years old yet. He won't be two until Friday. See - he is not even two yet. Being that as it is - we still had his birthday party this past weekend. It was a small very nice time with family close by.


Here are some pictures:

Pappy teaching Nathan how to use his new clubs - aimed at the tv?!?

I think this will be an outside toy. After Nathan got his football bean bag chair, that became the 'official present-opening spot.'

The bean bag chair by mom was fine for opening the new gifts, but every new fun treasure was quickly taken to Aunt Carol for a little playing, then back to business on the opening.

Here we all are with his birthday cake.Nathan's cake - Brownie with mint chocolate chip icecream on top. mmmmmm

Nathan knew where to go to get the goodsAfter all that opening and eating it was time for some plain-ole' playing!! (with Doug and Aunt Carol with his new legos)With Daniel and Aunt Carol in the sandbox outside.

With Dada and Kaleb in his new bouncey bounce.

two great short stories

Story / update number one:

I decided it was time to start Nathan with a 'big boy' cup. He was scared to drink from it at first, but caught on as he got thirsty. We are going to stick with just water in the 'big boy' cup for a while.

Number two:

As I came to the breakfast table the other morning, I looked down at the large plate sitting there. Something just looked peculiar about it. It was the same plates we have had for a while. We were having pancakes to eat, and there was one left on this plate. Something was just different about it. There was syrup and butter on the table - that wasn't it.
It was PEANUT BUTTER

The result of a pregnant Mama in the house you may ask????

NO - I think Richard is having 'sympathy cravings.' He assured me that this was normal. To that I say that pickles and ketchup is perfectly normal!!