Trip to NJ

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Well we got back like 2 weeks ago and this is the first time I have been able to write everything that happened. We had such a great time with Kate and her family. We appreciate all their hospitality they gave to us. The flight up was OK. It wasn't a full flight and we had an empty seat next to me. I planned these flights during nap time and this one didn't work out that way. He was into everything. He was all over the place and wanting to talk to the clouds outside the window. He had no interest into his DVD's. All the other kids on the flight were sleeping but not my little Nate. There was a time where the flight attendant came by and asked if I needed anything. Very nice. So we get there and it was a beautiful day. We sat on the patio. All there trees were blooming so it was yellow dusting. Very pretty. Then the next day we went to the mall since it was raining and he rode his first carousel ride. He loved it. The 3rd day we went to this awesome park (can't remember the name) and it had a carousel and a zoo. The pics above are from that day. The kids had so much fun. We timed it just right before the rain came again. The last day we headed out early. The flight was 20 mins late but that wasn't bad. The bad part was while we were flying the ATL airport shut down due to bad weather. So we circled and circled and circled and had to go to Chattanooga to refuel. We sat there for an hour or so. The thing I was mad about was they wouldn't give me a water without a lid on it. So this whole time I had nothing to eat nor drink and I was fading fast. But Nate on this flight was so much better. It was a sold out flight and thank goodness the woman next to me had a 9 month old at home and understood. He sat and watched movies and feel asleep on me. Then I had to feed him baby food on my lap. He didn't melt down until we got in the car at 5:00. We were suppose to land at 1:30. When we got home his face lighted up and you could read it "Thank goodness we are HOME". All in all a good trip and can't wait to see Kate and the kids again.

2 at once

All the drool that has been coming out of his mouth, the crankiness, & less sleep is all from 2 teeth breaking through the same time. They are on the top by his front teeth. I hope they hurry up and break through so we can sleep more. I am sleepy.

Hello

So Nate's new thing is when you say hello he will take whatever he has in his hand and put it up to his "ear". Now we usually end up with it being in the back of our head but it is the cutest thing EVER. Got some photos of it tonight when he was playing with my cell phone.

Nate's 1st Birthday

Nate had such a great time at his party which was last Saturday, April 25th. He had so many special people that came; even Aunt Erin and cousin Kendall and Jace from TX. He really smashed his cake with help from Cousin Kendall. He got so many toys that mommy and daddy have to add a new addition to the house to put them all in;). He also had a great time swimming in his pool for the first time. It was really cold at first but as soon as GAP started splashing with him he loved it.

For his actual birthday on Wednesday & we took him to the aquarium. He loved seeing all the fish. He would get up to the glass and hit it and babble to the fish. When we got home we gave him a cupcake and he inhaled it. He got so messy we had to give him a bath.

Today we had his 1 year check up. We had more awful shots and finger prick for anemia which he was fine. Here are his stats:

Weight 22 pounds even (lower 50%)
Height 31 inches (75-90%)
Head 49.5 cm (95%)

He has gained 3lbs since Jan and has grown 2 inches. His head grew 1.5 cm. He has pretty much stayed in the same % but actually went up in his height. Last time he was 50-75%. And I have the 18 months clothes to prove it:). The dr did notice his allergy eyes. He got this from his daddy. He doesn't want to do any testing yet on allergies but we need to keep a close eye on it through the seasons. If we see it getting worse then we will take the appropriate steps. I feel bad sometimes because people will look at him and say he is so tired when actually he just woke up. Poor fellow I hope he doesn't get it as bad as his daddy has it.

I actually had to take him to the Dr on Tues because all the pool time from the previous weekend exploded his eczema. We are on this new cream that is helping but it is still there. I am going to make an appt with a pediatric dermatologist because it takes 2 weeks to get in. If the cream made it go away then I will cancel it. He has always had eczema since he was little and I have always kept it under control. Now that the summer is approaching and we will have pool times and lots of sweating we will see how it does.

No walking or words yet. He is babbling a lot and we keep repeating names and things for him to one day catch on. The Dr wants the 3 words and walking to happen by 15 months. I think he will be walking in a month. He is now getting braver by reaching out and going from the coffee table to the couch. He also goes from the door and walks along holding the wall to get to the window. Gammy brought over her walker for us to borrow (this is to help me when I need to do something in the kitchen and he isn't getting into all the cabinets) and he is turning and flying across the floor. If you come over watch your feet because he loves to roll over them.

New things is that he is starting to get an attitude. When he wants something that we won't let him have he gets really angry and tightens both of his fist and does this angry noise. It honestly makes me laugh but I make sure to turn my head when he does it so he doesn't think I mean business. He is still giving lots and lots of hugs. We hug everything. The new hug is when I put someone on speaker phone he will lean forward to give it a hug. Too cute!

Foods--he is doing much better. Still sometimes gags and vomits but it has not been as bad as it was. We are now off formula YIPPEE!!! AMEN!!!!!! That stuff was so expensive! HELLO WHOLE MILK!! Monday I am going to start taking away the bottle. I have stopped warming the milk so hopefully when I start introducing it in a sippy cup it will be easy (Praying here).

Nate has been such a blessing to our lives. I love waking up in the morning hearing him talk and when walking in his bedroom he gets so excited to see me. He gives me hugs all the time which always warms my heart. His laugh is the best medicine I could ever ask for. Happy 1st Birthday Nathaniel Jacob!

More teeth!

This weekend was crazy. Saturday we took Nate's 1 year photo's and family shots. We did some inside and then went up to Vickery and got some great shots. The pollen was so bad that both Brad and I had huge allergy attacks. Nate was a little fussy because he is cutting more teeth. I just don't know which ones! The 2 top and 2 bottom are in. The drool is unbelievable. I have to change his clothes at least once a day because he is so wet. Yesterday he woke up from his nap and this one was by far the worst melt down ever! Nothing would satisfy him. We ended up giving him Motrin because we tried everything else. About 30 minutes later he was much better. I keep trying to look in his mouth but it is hard to see without him biting me. Oh and the biting of the shoulder has come back. He bit the heck out of me this morning. OUCH!

Last week I had to take him to the Dr because he had a fever and green stuff coming out of his nose. He ended up having a sinus and ear infection. Our first one and the Dr says we are very blessed that this is the first time he has ever been on antibiotics. We almost made it a year:). He is still coughing and has a running nose. But hopefully by the end of this week he will be back to his old self.

This weekend is his 1st birthday party. We are very excited of everyone who is coming to celebrate his 1st year of life. I just hope it doesn't rain!!!

New things--Gammy brought over the walker for us to borrow. Wow a month makes a difference. He is all over the place going forward and backward. His new love is opening and closing cabinets. I am just counting down the days until I have to rearrange my kitchen and lock up cabinets. I am thinking that is going to be on daddy's to do list very soon!
Still no interest in walking yet. We have tried the walking toys but he is more interested in crawling for right now. But we catch him more and more letting go and standing for about 3 seconds on his own.

9 more days until he is one year old!

Nate & the Easter Bunny

Gammy told us today that the Avenue was having a free Easter Bunny pics today. So they met us up there to get our free picture. The Easter Bunny didn't phase Nate at all. He even touched is face. He was perfect!

Hugs and more Hugs

Sorry it has been a while since I updated everyone. I have been out of town the last 2 weekends and sick all last week. Promise I will do better:)
A couple weeks ago Brad and I went to St Pete for a friends wedding and that was the first time we left Nate at home. My mom and Kristin helped take care of him. I missed him terribly but it was so nice not to change a dirty diaper:). He did really well without us and slept a lot. When we came home he had a new thing that my mom taught him...this funny laugh. He would do it all the time. He thought it was hilarious. When we got back he was 11 months old. This picture was so much harder to take but he will not sit still for anything. Well I take that back he will sit still for Baby Einstein videos. Anyway, we had to give him a graham cracker this time to keep him still. He loves his graham crackers! Now that I post this I only have a couple more weeks until his 1st birthday. I have sent out invitations and he is going to have a barnyard theme. It will be so exciting with all our family members here. I can't wait to watch him smash his cake!
Then last weekend daddy kept Nate while I went to Athens to help initiate Leah into Sigma Kappa. Gammy and Papa came over to visit and I heard they had a great time at Taco Mac with Nate.

This weekend is Easter. We are going to church and then to my dad's house. We are going to try today to get his picture with the Easter bunny. Hopefully we can do this. I was going to do it this week but I was too sick to deal with it. Thank goodness I went to the Dr and got shots and meds to help me get better.

New things with Nate...
Hugs...he LOVES giving hugs all the time. He gives them all the time to Gabbie. He loves her so much. Then too of course Elmo. Then the best part is me...he will just crawl over to me and give me one and it makes my day. Now this isn't a hug that he holds his hands out and squeezes you. This is all head. He just leans his head forward and lays down. He also gave a hug to a girl named Ava Grace at My Gym and literally knocked her over.
New thing he does with his daddy is they like to bump foreheads with each other. I think this is his special hug with his daddy. He only does this with his daddy.

Clothes--tops he is in 18-24 months I still can't believe he skip the 12 month shirts in a 2 week time. Pants he still has to wear 12-24 months because the next size is too long. But I noticed last night that these pants that were long 2 weeks ago were just right on him. He is getting too tall too fast!!!
Food-- we are getting better. This weekend I am going to pick up whole milk and try it for his day bottle. He is getting better on table food. Mornings his favorite is yogurt and blueberry pancakes. But things are going to change big time in the next couple weeks while I phase out the bottle. He does very well with a sippy cup. Now lets cross our fingers that whole milk transition will be a breeze!!!