Conked Out

I always check on Nate before I got to bed... he has a tendency to kick his covers off and then get cold.  This is how I found him.  I guess he got out of his bed to read a book and play with his Duplos and then just conked out.

First Trip to the Dentist

Nate went to the dentist for the first time today.  He was EXCELLENT!!!!!  He did everything that was asked of him, I was so proud.

We have been reading a lot of books about going to the dentist and he came with me for my last cleaning, so nothing was really foreign to him.  He sat in the chair like a big boy, had his teeth counted, had his teeth polished, had a little plaque removed and had a floride treatment.  Then for the best part, he got to show off his spitting skills by spitting in the sink.

Then came the best part... a new toothbrush, Scooby Doo stickers, and a red (Nate's favorite color to paint with) balloon. 

Sitting in the chair

Getting his teeth tickled polished

Having the dentist count his teeth (he has 20 in case you're interested)

A Second Visit with Thomas

Recently we made our second pilgrimage to the Strasburg Railroad to see Nate's favorite mode of transportation... Thomas the Tank Engine.  Interestingly enough, I actually have no pictures of the engine in question, only picture of my little boy having the time of his life.

This is our second visit to see Thomas in the flesh, so to speak.  We went on a weekday, which was a very good thing, as the crowds were manageable and the lines much shorter.  Less people meant that we got to do some of the other things there like ride on the cranky cars and take a ride on the Cagney train, both of which Nate loved!

A bonus ride was in the school bus that acts as a shuttle between the railroad station and the corn field parking lot.

 On daddy's lap in the school bus

Having a snack while taking a ride on Thomas

Watching out the window as we pull back into the station

Phantom Picture

I really don't remember taking this picture, but here it is on my phone, so I must have... and I love it.  This is Nate in the morning, still sleepy, binky (or nummy as he calls it) in place, coming in for a cuddle.

Fun at Linvilla

For something different, I took Nate to Linvilla Orchard yesterday to run around. We saw two still-spotted fawns, touched a sheep, fed the ducks, but clearly the highlight of the trip was the wooden train in the playground.

 

 

 

 

Potty Training Style

Nate and I are potty training this week.  Today is day three and I am starting to see some progress.  I took the advice of lots of other moms who said to dress him in just undies and a T-shirt to make getting to the  potty in time easier.

Here is Nate rocking his own person potty training style: a tie dye, gerber training pants, and flame Chuck Taylors.

BICYCLE! BICYCLE! I want to ride my bicycle....

P.S.  This is my tricycle from when I was Nate's age... :)

Lunch with Nate

I was off yesterday, so after a morning visit with Nana and Zayde, Nate and I went and had lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen.  Nate decided he wanted to make silly faces for the camera... so this is what I got.

Busy Coloring

Making a Pseudo Fish Face

All cheeks!

Relaxing at the Depot

Last weekend we went to Home Depot to get a bazillion bags of mulch, plants, etc. to spruce up the front yard.  Nate decided that he wasn't going to stress about yard work, he was going to relax... by laying sideways in the seat of the car cart.

I Think We Found Nate's First "Chore"

And that would be mowing the law.  We had to go to Sears on Friday to buy a new lawnmower as our old one caught fire the last time it was started.  Nate had fun with the lawn tractors.

Easter Egg Hunt

Every year the University that I work for hosts an Easter Egg hunt for the children of employees.  I had my mom bring Nate down so that he could join in the fun.  It was a rousing success!

Waiting for the hunt to start

Hunting!

Coming and Going...

My little boy, or should I say big boy, learned to ride a tricycle this week.  Here are two short videos of him riding.  He is good at peddling, not so good at stopping or steering, but those things come with practice.

A New Adventure

I had to run some errands the other morning and promised Nate that I would take him to the playground if he was good.  He was really good, so off to the playground we went.  I found a new playground that had a stream behind it.  So we did a little a climbing, a little digging in the dirt with construction vehicles, and then we took a walk down by the stream where Nate delighted in throwing stone in the water.  It was a good day.

Scenes from a Playdate

At one point today we found both Nate and Sophia under the covers of Lisa's bed pretending to sleep.  It was very cute.  By the time I got my phone and took a picture they had moved and now Nate was lying on top of Sophia... I didn't think I'd have to have this talk for a couple of year... LOL!

Windy Day at the Playground

Pics from the Party

We were able to have Nate's birthday party on his actual birthday this year.  We had a bouncy party at a local bouncy house called Jumpers.  It is safe to say that everyone had a great time and that all of the kids took good naps that day.  Here are some pics that my brother-in-law shot of Nate blowing out his candles.  Sorry about the cleavage there at the end.

 

 

3 Years Old

Nate had his 3 year old check up yesterday.  It went very well.  No shots this time, and we found out that he grew 4" and gained 7 pound this last year.  Cognitively, he is ahead of the curve (of which I had no doubt, but I am a little biased).

We have a perfectly healthy and typical 3 year old. 

Now onto potty training!

Happy Halloween 2010 (only 3.5 months late)

We Got a Package from Amazon.com...

And it unpacked itself!!!!

 

Playing with a Space Ship in the Sun

Happy 3rd Birthday Nate!

Toy Story cupcakes for Nate's 3rd birthday party

The Big Boy Bed

On Christmas Eve we took the plunge and moved Nate from a crib to a bed.  It went way better than I ever imagined it would.  He LOVES his "big boy" bed!

Here he is moments after we set everything up:

My Little Snow Bunny

Last year he wanted nothing to do with the snow.  Last year he ran screaming from his snow pants.  This year is an entirely different story and I had a hard time getting him to come in!

Nate's First Gingerbread House

Nate's Favorite Christmas Songs

and

The Holiday Card Photo

I am not one for a formal, or even an informal family portrait in holiday cards.  That's not really my style.  In fact, I don't really like formal or informal portraits of Nate.  What I like to include is an action shot, something that shows off his personality.  This is what we went with this year.

This Kid is Funny!

Nate was really funny today...

--  We were in the car this morning.  I had given Nate a cup with graham crackers and a few chocolate bunny cookies.  After he finished his snack he asked me, "Mommy, when we get home can I brush my teeth to get the cookies and bunnies off of them?"

-- Tonight, Jon was playing with Nate and stopped to go to the bathroom.  He said to Nate, "Do you want to come?" (we are on the cusp of potty training here).  Nate said he would then he said to Jon, "Daddy, don't pee on me like I did to pop!"

In other news, this monring was the first morining that Nate woke up with a completely dry daiaper.  And he took his T-shirt off all by himself.

Milestone and More Funny S**t Nate Says

Nate has mastered the Thumb Up hand gesture!
Now to move on to other hand gestures... (just kidding!)

-- The other morning in the car Nate did something and I said, "You're funny."  He responded, "Yes I am.  I'm Nate XXXX, and I can do thing!"

-- Nate proudly proclaims, "Happy Meorahakah!"  (That would be Channukah and Menorah combined)

-- Nate LOVES Tylenol.  I don;t know if it is the bubblegum flavor that he likes or that he knows it makes him feel better, but he called out, in a croaky-froggy voice, from his bed the other morning, "Mommy!  I need Tyelnol!  Listen to my throat... AHHHHHHHH!"

My Little Chatterbox

I know that I am completely biased, but I really do have a funny kid!  So that I don't forget the funny things nate says, here is another installment of: Funny S**t Nate says

-- Last night when asked if his tummy hurt he said yes.  When asked why he said, "because I ate too much food."

-- Nate tell anyone in front of a computer that in order to get to his favorite website (this Thomas and friend website in case you couldn't guess) that "you need to oogle Thomas mommy (or daddy or pop or mommom)"  You too can oogle things!

--  Nate gave me a big tight hug the other say and said "I going to keep you Mommy."  Mommy is going to keep you too Nate.

Color Me Surprised

Nate has been really into coloring lately.  "Mommy will you color with me?" is a frequent request in our house.  So, to make my life easier and because I am just that lazy, I got two sets of crayons and markers, one for upstairs and one for downstairs.  The upstairs set is in a plastic box with a lid and is sitting on the nightstand at the foot of Nate's crib. 

This morning when Nate woke up (at 5:50) I went into his room and gave him  some books to read and blocks to play with.  I then went back to sleep until my alarm went off.  I thought that Nate was a little too quite, but sometimes he falls back to sleep so I didn't really worry, until I went in his room to check on him.

He was very much awake.  Apparently he had figured out how to get the container of crayons and markers up and over the side of his crib and was very happily coloring his toys, his Thomas the Train books, his feet, and every animal of his sheets.

Luckily, they are washable markers and somehow they did not bleed onto the mattress pad.  I couldn't be mad, he was so happy coloring his little heart out.


I should have taken a picture of his sheets but I did not.  I will take a picture if the marker doesn't come out!