Leaving on a Jet Plane . . .

. . . but only for a few days. Tomorrow Nathan and I are going on our first big adventure together. I feel pretty prepared. Lots of extra clothes, diapers, wipes and reasons for strangers not to touch my baby. Seriously, get your dirty hands away from him! It will be a fun time just me and my boy - no matter what happens. Because we all know - Shit Happens!

In the meantime, here is a new photo of our two-month old. Look how he's grown!

Two new videos!

Grunty Little Stinker

Nathan has become very active in the last few weeks. We can put him under his play mat where all sorts of toys hang down from it and he is entertained for a long while. He'll move his hands and pump his feet like wild, hitting all the toys and making noise. He still doesn't know he's the one making all the commotion but he t least notices commotion is being made and he likes it. There is a little mirror attached too and he seems to stare into that for a while admiring his own pretty little face.

While he was in a good mood playing yesterday I put him on his tummy to play a bit. He hates it. But he needs his practice. He managed to get one arm at n angle that allowed him to get on his side and then - TADA! - he rolled over. I think it was a fluke but it will stil fun to watch. Daddy witnessed it too. I tried again a couple times but he doesn't have the patience just yet. (Meredith, I'm hoping he learns to roll over fast since he hates it so much like Elise!)

Something else Nathan is good at lately, grunting. Grrrr......this new talent of his drives mommy insane. It was only a little in the morning for a few days. Last night it seemed as though he grunted the whole night away. This does not allow for peaceful sleep ladies and gentlemen. I sometimes think it may be time to move Master Nathan to his own room . . . I don't know if I can do it though. Not yet.

We are off to the doctors today. I beleive he gets the first of many shots to come. Oh dear . . . I hope he does better than I will with that!

First Trip to the Beach

If you guys have been checking back often, hopefully you have been to the Picasa site to see updated pictures. There are many now and in a new folder "Nathan Growing Up". Bear with me as I figure out the best way to organize. In the meantime have fun looking thru them.

This past weekend we all went away for our first little family trip. Even though it was a short trip down the highway for only a couple a days, it felt like a big trip since we are learning what to bring for Nathan. And there is much to learn. You have to anticipate everything - weather, poopie accidents and excess spit up to name a few. And from here it only gets more complicated as his needs will change, his attention span expands, and he needs more than moms and dads faces to keep him happy and occupied.

We went to the Wilmington area to visit Nonni and Poppi(y?) Stan (and Sandy too). Nathan slept the whole way down. Yay! We went for a walk after dinner and hung out Friday night. We brought the Wii with us too for another form of entertainment. Not like we needed it with Nate since he is always center of attention!

Saturday the weather held out for us and we went to the beach. We were very excited to have a first like the beach! He wasn't the biggest fan of that water as predicted. It felt good to us (I beleive the water temp was in the 70's - perfect!) but Nate's little naked body wasn't prepared for the waves and the wind that followed. We got the pictures we silly adults needed and a video that will surface on of these days. The rest of the day on the beach, Nathan slept while we enjoyed the sun and sounds of the ocean. It was awesome.

The rest of the day we relaxed and enjoyed the company. It was a good trial run for longer and more adventurous trips in the future. It came at a good time too. Soon I will be venturing to NY with Nathan by plane. I'm a little nervous. But I'm told it's easy with a little one like him and people are generally really nice and helpful. Hopefully that is the case. I won't be making all the visits I would like in NY - it's a short trip. But we'll do the best we can and save the rest for next time in July when we will all be up. I plan to take Nathan to some of my favorite places while we are up - like Nyack and the River. I can't wait to spend a day just me and my little guy hanging out enjoying the things I miss!

I see the Baby!

Best Family Ever

I have the best little family ever. Yesterday we went to friends Eleni & Mike’s house for a little beer festival. This has officially taken place of the actual beer festivals locally because it’s cheaper, safer and just better. (also less walking. Yahoo!) Knowing how these things go we knew we would be spending a better part of the day there so we were a little worried about Nate. How will he do at this all day affair? Well, no need to worry. He did FABULOUSLY! He slept for the first few hours until it was time to eat. We did that with no issues and he hung out with us big kids. He sat on the couch between everyone and gave away smiles all night. Eventually people got the nerve to hold him (I think there were more inexperienced baby-holders than otherwise) and before the party got too crazy of course! He was very popular and very well-behaved. He made mommy and daddy so proud!

This morning my men treated me well. Leo and Nate left me in bed and went out to the store to get mommy some flowers and a card. I got up to help Leo out when I heard my little one squirming so he could make us breakfast – waffles! I did request mimosas but you can’t get champagne Sunday morning but who am I to complain? My boys did well. We later went for a walk together and did some yard work. Yes, yard work on Mothers Day. It’s cool – I like to be outside getting some sun and fresh air and time to myself. Being productive makes me happy! What a great First Mothers Day!

Kid on Me

I often want to update the good ol' blog but I usually have a kid in my hands. I mean that quite literally. Nathan continues to enjoy being bounced and held and walked around. Though we have found various things he also enjoys lately. He will lay in his crib (the real one in his room) and watch the mobile with interest. That could last anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 (with constant cranking of the mechanism that makes it go around and make the music of course). I recently had to get some e-mails out so I set him up and put my laptop on his changing table so I could be close by to watch and crank while multi-tasking on my computer at the same time. He enjoys his swing and can often be put to sleep there for a while. He is good when guests come over and I sit and have lunch and he snoozes. Problem with that is the music is quite annoying and sticks in our heads day and night. His vibrating chair does the trick, especially when I need to take a shower, fold the laundry or make dinner. Again, depending on his mood he may stay for a while and sometimes it's just not what he wants. Recently, Nathan has enjoyed his boppy but in a more upright position. It's so cute to see his sitting up like a little man. He kicks his feet and "talks" in his grunting, cooing way. And we've also got his wrap and I borrowed a carrier to see how he likes that so I can hands free. So I guess he isn't always on me - just when he doesn't like any of those other things. Sometimes he just wants the arms of mom and dad.

Nate is changing and growing in other ways too. I think we are graduating from his newborn items, diapers and onsies, into the next step up. I love to dress him up in new outfits now - we have many to choose from! He is getting heavier and very long. This kid won't be taking his little mother very seriously when he's five and towering over me. I will be looking up and telling him to go to his room. Yeah, that will work!

Our friends and relatives are continuously generous. We seem to receive a package everyday. We have many toys yet to play with and drawers of clothes we can't wait to try on. We also have some more unique gifts like a painting from Africa (Thanks Hadas!) and a stuffed Koala Bear from Australia (Thanks Elaine!). Maybe we can get an item from every continent!

Today we are off to a friends house for a little backyard bbq. Our friends are looking forward to seeing Nathan again as he grows. Although we're the only ones with kids at these things right now, Nate is very welcome wherever we go. Hopefully he will be very welcome in someone's bed too so he can nap today while the adults play.

Some more videos

Cute Madness

Here's a mug to melt your heart. Even when he's mad he's cute.