Nate got a haircut

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve is spent with my family.  We had a busy schedule this year, too!  Family arrived here at 10:30 and we started with opening presents (yay!  the best part first!) went to church, opened more presents, made dinner, ate dessert and played with new toys.  Whew! Here are some pictures from the day's festivities.

Our family Christmas tree, my very pregnant and very happy sister, Nate opening a Wonder Pets gift, Ryan and Nate going through his stocking, my mom opening the picture my sisters and I had taken for her (Becky, next year we are coming to you-Sears was a horrible experience!), my sister Valerie showing off her snowflake earrings, Tim opening the funniest book he'll ever read, and Nate playing with one of the many, many, MANY new toys he got.

I tried to be fancy/formal this year with the table setting.

Highlight number one of the night: Nate got an Amtryke bike from his Grandpa!  

Highlight number two: the drum set he got from Aunt Gina and Uncle Tim.  He had been playing the air drums for some time and was so excited to get a real set!

Highlight number three: Getting Tiffany earrings from my dad!  

The best part was just being able to spend this special time with family and preparing and enjoying a meal together.  It's so nice to have my sister and brother-in-law home!  Hard to imagine next year there will be two little ones opening presents!

And here is Nate on Christmas morning, trying out his new bike.  It was the first thing he asked about when he woke up. He's had fun riding it all over the house and is getting stronger and faster every day.  Once spring gets here he'll be out riding with the big boys in the neighborhood!  Thanks, Grandpa!!!

Candy in the pumpkin

Friday night we went to our church for "Trunk or Treat". There were A LOT of people there. We would find during the service on Sunday that there were over 5,000 people there!!! It was coooooold, but Nate had both Gramma's there so he didn't mind one bit. It was really a fun night, and such a wonderful event put on by our church. Nate had a ball.

When I asked him what happens when he says "Trick or treat" he said "You get candy in the pumpkin!"







Enjoying a sucker while waiting in line for over an hour.



Checking out his loot.

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For the first time, we stayed in our neighborhood on Halloween (we usually go to Ryan's sister's house). Nate has his own buddies here now, so we went door to door with some of them. SO fun for him! We took turns carrying him and when he got too heavy we just rolled him in his wagon as close to the door as we could get. He was really shy about saying "Trick or Treat" and only mumbled it a few times. Other times he would get confused and say "Thank you" first.



Howdy partner!







Some of Nate's neighborhood friends Preston and Mason

When I asked Nate if he was done, or if he wanted to keep trick or treating, his response was, "More candy!"

I think it's safe to say he enjoyed himself.



Here is a recap of Nate talking about this whole Halloween experience:

Finally

It's here, in all it's red glory!



I was worried that Nate wouldn't like it because it was so different from his loaner one. But he didn't seem to mind a bit. We put the new wheels on and the guy couldn't even get the plastic off of them before Nate was tearin' it up.



He's finally able to look out the window himself-the old one was too low.







Aaaand I finally found the cord to upload video! Hooray! This is one I took today...it's not much because my battery died. I just can't get a break with this thing.

***UPDATE*** I just tried to upload the video TWICE and it won't load! AAaaaaahhhhhh!!!

Watch out, world!

Here is Nate using his "wagon" as he likes to call it. He is really starting to get around in it. He actually used it most of the night tonight and we can see that he is building endurance. He happily wheeled all over our family room (on the carpet which is harder!) and played with toys. We are eternally grateful to our PT Toni and her husband for making it for him. Every time we see him in it, we can't help but think that he is REALLY going to take off when he gets his chair! (It was officially ordered Aug. 20th and should be in the middle of October!)

Letter crazy

My kid is obsessed with letters. Is this normal? Not that I'm complaining. I'm just glad he isn't obsessed with staying up late or not eating his vegetables. He knows all 26 letters. He can say about 20 out of 26 correctly, and he's thisclose with the others! He can also say most of the sounds. He loves to point at our shirts or hoodies that have letters and tell us their letter names and sounds. And he loves, LOVES his fridge phonics and letter factory video (thanks, Traci!). We're going to get him the word whammer for his birthday (you can put up to three letters together to make a word). Here's a video of him doing what he loves.

Music to a Momma's ears

That's right

our baby can READ!

*We were expecting Ryan's mom any minute and toward the end of the video she arrives (hence the doorbell). I cut the last one short rather than let her stand outside and freeze!

Self help take 2

Remember when I wrote about Nathan's new OT goals? One of them was feeding himself 50% of the time with assistance to scoop. I took a couple pics of him attempting (and promptly giving up and using his hands). Well, here is an update.



I don't know why this made me cry, but it did. I realize it's progress, a milestone met, one therapy goal made. But it's also one more thing he doesn't need me for anymore. And once upon a time not so long ago, he used to look so small in that chair. As much as I hate it I am all too quickly watching my baby turn into a big boy. Yesterday at Target I bought him two shirts that were on clearance. Do you know what size they were? 2T! 2T! I simply can not wrap my mind around the fact that my little baby is officially out of the baby section. I also can't help but look longingly at all the baby clothes when I now walk past the baby section instead of shopping in it. ;) Sigh.

I'd say he did a pretty good job! (Never mind all the yogurt that ended up on his bib-he really did get quite a bit in his mouth!)

Christmas

Everyone said it would happen. That Christmas would be so much more exciting with a little one around. And they were right!




We had a fantastic holiday, spent with family and friends (as well as a little too much food, sweets and wii playing). Nathan was more interested in ripping the paper this year but not much else. Except this new toy.



I can't even imagine how much more fun it will be as our family grows. And my sisters start having kids (ahem, yes I am talking to you, Regina!) Well, I can sort of imagine. Paper flying, kids squealing, toys singing, people laughing, and pure happiness all around us. Can it be Christmas everyday?

Gramma therapy

My mom is great company for Nate while he is in his stander. They find all kinds of fun, educational things to do together. Like this flash card lesson, for example. Funny stuff. Warning: the video is a bit long, though. Be sure to watch my mom's expression when he chooses the wrong cards. Who needs preschool when you've got a Gramma like this?

No explanation needed

One amazing year

In honor of October being Spina Bifida month, I thought I would re-post the montage I made of Nathan's first year. And what an amazing year it was!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Variations

We have been working on signing with Nathan for awhile now. So far he can sign "more" and "please" with his own variations. At first I worried that this was a problem but our PT Toni assured us that all kids have their own variations. As long as they use the same sign appropriately, it's fine. Here he is signing "more please" during snack the other day. The "more" looks like clapping and the "please" is him bringing his hands to his chest. This makes sense, because when we ask him to "find his belly" he does the same thing and the sign for "please" is rubbing your belly. I'm not really sure why he won't bring his hands down to his actual belly, but that's for another day. Enjoy!

Let the games begin...

Spaghetti time!

Tonight was Nathan's first experience with spaghetti. Let's just say it was a successful one. He actually figured out how to slurp up the noodles!



And later, after we began the daunting task of cleaning him up,



he found some more in his bib!

If You're Happy and You Know It

Sitting!

The day has finally come! Nathan has been getting better and better at controlling his "trunk" muscles and can now sit for short periods of time all by himself! We are so proud of him and can't wait to see what new things he is going to show us!

Inchworm

Here is a video of Nathan doing what I like to call "the inchworm". He really has some tremendous upper body strength! Today was cool (don't even get me started about this summer's weather...we haven't swam in our pool in weeks!) so he had long pants on and was just able to go, go, go on the hardwood floors! Notice what he is going for...works every time!

Kisses

Here is a video of Nathan giving "kisses" to a random stuffed animal my mom had at her house. He is very affectionate to all his stuffed animals (a few in perticular)and will usually indulge Ryan and I if we ask for a kiss. Just a testament to what a sweet little boy we have! (And evidence for us later after he learns the word "no" and has tantrums that he once was a sweet little boy).