Nathan's Birth Day

A year ago today, I was lounging on our little red couch, eating carrot cheesecake from our Last Supper at the Cheesecake Factory. We were enjoying the last Sunday without a kid. The last night before we met Nathan. The last night before our lives changed forever. For the better!

And now I see what my parents have been doing all these years. How important it was to call as early as possible to wish me a happy birthday. Because all day they were probably reliving the day I was born. There are so many things I get now.

For Nathan's special day we'll . . . well, I don't know what we'll do. We're having a small, casual pizza and cupcake party in the evening but I haven't thought about the day. I guess I should enjoy getting away without too much fanfare while he's unaware. But I want to do something special. It is, afterall, as much for the mother as it is for the baby, isn't it?! Maybe I'll get a pedicure then get him a gift. That's fair, right?

Lately our little almost-one-year-old has really become a toddler in my eyes. If you ask Leo, Nathan hopped on the train to toddler town weeks ago. But as his mother I wasn't sure I would see past him being an infant. But true toddler he is. You can, obviously, see it in the way he walks. He's a pro now and is practically running he's so fast. But you can also see it in the way he plays and makes faces and looks at us. He imitates, he hums, he gets impatient when he's hungry, he gets moody when he's tired. He laughs when he pleases us and sometimes when he doesn't - because he knows it! He won't let us eat anything without him having a taste too. He doesn't like when things get taken away from him. He whines a lot more than I would like. But he's so silly and he loves to play peek-a-boo and wave at everyone (on his own terms of course) and has the cutest little grin. So many little things about Nathan have been blossoming before my eyes I am amazed to step back to see I really do have a toddler!

As you can see, I am very much in love with our little guy. Even with the whining. BUT Mommy did need a break this past weekend and Gigi and Grandpa Ed were there to take over. Nathan went over there for an overnight as he did great as usual. I got a ton of stuff done. I really don't remember being this productive before him. Cleaning the house, inside and out, cleaning the car, even enjoying some sun (it was gorgeous out!), reading a book, watching a movie later and getting takeout sushi. Wow. It was a good and full, and even relaxing, 24 hours. Did I miss the booger? Yes. But it's much easier when I have stuff to do. Good thing Nathan is so well-behaved with others. As long as he continues to do overnights with no problem I will take the whining if I have to.