Nathan is 1!!!

I cannot believe that my baby boy is already a year old. On Wednesday we woke up early and headed to the zoo. It was so much fun, especially getting to hang out with everyone. Kathleen and Elara, Marilynne, Jenna, Bethany, Michael, Bryan, Kamarah and Maelee, Trevor and Janelle all met up with us. We got to see the monkeys (still our favorite!), the lions, tigers, rhinos and so many other animals. It was awesome! And, on Monday we got to hang out with Ricky and Elara at the park. Nathan had such a fun week!
After the zoo on Wednesday we took Nate to Joe's BBQ in Gilbert. He ate his entire sandwich. From JOES!!!! that's huge. And that night Dan and I took him to the park to play. I think that Nate had an awesome birthday. He was all smiles and grins throughout the day. And, on the plus side he wore himself out and went to bed at 7:15
I just can't believe how much my little man has changed over the past 12 months. He went from a tiny baby, completely dependent on me for everything to an independent, walking, talking little man. He's walking several steps at a time, though he still prefers to crawl. He has mastered the art of climbing, and enjoys jumping off the things he climbs on. He's a talkative, babbling little boy, who imitates me and the things I say/do. Like in the car, when we get stuck at a light, he yells "go" from his carseat. Or, if he gets upset with something I do he points his finger at me and makes an angry scowling face. He furrows his brows (like I do when I scold him) and shakes his finger at me. It is so cute!
I love watching Nathan get into things. Even though it makes me nuts, it's fun to see him make discoveries. He knows that if he opens the cabinet door he can pull out a stack of bowls. And if he turns them over, he can bang on them like drums. Or, if he twists his body after I unbuckle his carseat straps, he can free his arms and climb out. He is also starting to be able to figure out where his toys are kept and how to get into them. I love seeing his mind work, and seeing his looks of concentration until the light bulb goes off and the connection is made.
I LOVE my little boy!

frusteration

Ugh, today has been........interesting. Something that should have been so good and so happy turned into a big source of frusterations and hurt and negative emotion. I know that the negatives will fade and the awesomeness of the situation will shine through, but right now I'm just so irritated! I don't know why I'm surprised when people act in a manner consistant with their personality. I guess what really annoys me is the glaring hypocrisy. If I had done what this person did today They would have trash talked me to everyone we know and been pissed and refused to talk to me for a week or two, and would have brought it up every now and again, especially whenever a similar circumstance arose. I handled a similar situation with as much tact and compassion and consideration for their feelings as I could, and still got a negative reaction. Again, news that should have been a source of extreme happiness and joy turned into me standing there for 10 min. hearing about how it was crap and how everyone else did the same thing, and how this person was constantly wronged. I got a "oh, well I'm happy for you, but can you see where I'm coming from? It just sucks. And at least you actually came out and told me, persons x, y and z never even told me, I'm always the last one to know and I have to hear it from someone else." blah, blah, blah. I'm sorry that what you want didn't happen on your timetable. But for goodness sake, that was my day. Why does everything have to be about you? Fast forward to today: this same person has found the most impersonal, uncaring way to spread the word to the masses. Would it really have killed them to wait a day and share the news in person? Then go ahead and slap it up all over internet land. Whatever
As I said, I really am happy for this person. I know that this is big news for them, and that it's something they've dreamed of for years now. I'm irritated at how I heard, not what. Grrr

fun itmes in the ER

Well, last night was a fun-filled ER adventure. After 2 days of Nate not being himself, Dan and I took him into the ER. Poor little guy, he was really warm and listless. We went to the park and he didn't even want to go down the slide or crawl in the grass! I tried 3 different times to get him into the pediatricain (and was stuck on hold for at least 15 min each time). Darn swine flu!
But when he started throwing up as well, I took him in. We got there and he had a fever of 104! (and, to prove that he was serious, he threw up on his dad twice before they even got his temp taken) I was so freaked out. We were never even in the waiting room, they took him back immediatly.
I can't help but feel guilty. I knew that he hadn't been feeling well, but I just told Suzanne to give him plenty of fluids and a cool bath before bed, and I went out for a GNO to see Julie and Julia. I left him for a night and come home to a sick baby with a ridiculously high fever. And as we were at the hospital and they told me his temp and his weight (almost a pound less than normal) I felt like a terrible mom. For the second time I left my son for the night and ended up in an ER room. At least this time I got to bring him home with me. As if I didn't already have enough neurosis and paranoias.
I will admit that I got slightly hysterical. (Sorry Sara, hope it wasn't anyone you know in triage). My voice went up about 4 octives as I shrieked "that's really high!" (in response to the temp), and "he's lost over a pound?!?!" (when they weighed him). Luckily Dan was able to calmly talk to the hospital staff while I cried in the corner.
We were whisked off to the back, and Nate was given a bed immediatly. He got a suppository that dropped his temp like a rock off the Empire State building. Then, just as he was starting to feel a little better, and have a tiny bit of energy and not just lie there like a lump, not caring what happened to him....he got a catheder, and they took a urine sample. Let me just say that he was NOT enthused with that process.
It seemed like forever, and I was really freaked out, but we finally got the results. Turns out it wasn't a UTI. And he was only slightly dehydrated, so he didn't need an IV either. It's just a virus, and he needs fluids, rest and tylennol. Thank goodness!

pitter patter of little feet

well, the day I've been dreading came last week. I can't believe I've been suck a slacker that I didn't post about Nate's first step for a week! Last Monday (4 days before he turned 10 months old) Nate took his first step when Kathleen came over to drop Elara off. I couldn't believe it. I mean, yeah he's been standing on his own pretty well lately, but I didn't think that he would be taking steps so soon. I mean, he wasn't even 10 months old yet!
He hasn't done it much since then, but he is standing and looking like he wants to walk. He gets all excited and tenses up like he's going to take a step, then he bends his knees so he's in a crouch, then he stands back up again. And he keeps that up until he finally falls back to his knees and crawls around again. It is so cute.
I just can't believe how big Nate is getting all of a sudden. I mean, my baby is growing into a little man.

This Sunday we gave Nate his FIRST HAIRCUT!!!!! Dan was getting tired of the mohawk that Nate sported everytime his hair got wet. And the crazy bedhead he was waking up with. So, I finally gave in.

"What is this strange buzzing sound near my head?"

"Why is my hairs on the floor?"

He's a handsome little man boy now. He looks more like a little boy than a baby boy and it's breaking my heart! I love seeing him so big and seeing all the things he can do now that he couldn't do a few months ago. But at the same time, I kind of miss the baby phase. He's just growing waaaay to fast.

Finally updating

Wow, I can't believe I haven't updated since April! Well, since last time I posted a lot has happened. Nate and I have been going over to Jennifer's or Marilynne's house to scrapbook almost every week. I love seeing my pages come together, and imagining looking back at all the memories I've been chronicling.
In June Nate and I went to visit northern California for Grandpa Anderson's 80th birthday celebration. It was a lot of fun. We got to meet some family members that I hadn't seen since Dan and I got married, and who Nate hadn't met yet. We also got to spend a lot of time with Dan's aunts and uncles. And I really feel like I got to know them a lot better.
Afterwards, Uncle PJ came to visit us for a week and a half. Nate loved it, and Dan was super stoked to spend time with his little brother. We got Spencer, Dan, PJ, Brian, Tyler and a couple of Spencer's friends together and they had a halo party.
Lilly had her first birthday party and it was fun. Even though it could have been planned better. We were at the splash pad from 2-4. Turns out the water is shut off between noon and 4pm. So, that was great fun.
Nate has been in swim lessons for the past 4 weeks, and he LOVES to swim. He is like a little fishie once he hits the water. He can do big arms, big kicks, blow bubbles, hold onto the wall, and do monkey arms. He's not the biggest fan of floating on his back, but he loves splashing and singing songs.
Last time I updated Nate was crawling. Well, he's still doing that very well. But he's now standing, cruising, climbing stairs and getting into mischief every chance he gets. He recently cut his fourth bottom tooth, and his 5th and 6th top teeth. Which brings him up to a whopping 10 teeth!!! So, once they grow in, he'll have more teeth than Lilly! It probably won't help. After all, she's still biting him. But now he pushes her down too, so I guess that's progress. My baby doesn't get pushed around, now he can be the bully too. :)
Ok, I think this is long enough. I will try to be better about updating the blog. Lately I've been sucked into the world of facebook. And, as I've mentioned before, I can only support one online addiction at a time.

For Nate

Hi sweet boy. This is another letter from Mommy to let future you know what you're up to at 6 1/2 months old. Right now you're alseep, taking your morning nap so that you'll be well rested for a fun day of playing on the floor at Aunt Marilynne's house while Mommy scrapbooks. I'm about to pick up the photos I ordered. Just picking out my favorites, there are 154 picutres of you in the past 6 months!
Let's see, hmmm. Well, you've been getting better and better at crawling and babbling. I swear sometimes that you're saying mama and dada. I know that you're not quite big enough to actually say it and mean either me or daddy. But it's really cute. And watching you crawl around is so funny. You get up on your hands and knees and rock back and forth, or sometimes you plant your face into the ground then drag yourself forward. Then of course there's the circle crawl where you see something (usually Princess) and drag yourself around in a circle. You work so hard, and you move so much, but you don't get very far.
I've been singing primary songs for you and so far Popcorn Poppin on the Apricot Tree seems to be your favorite. I think it's the gestures. I love to see your face light up when you hear IIIIIII looked out the window, and what did I see?. By the time I've gotten to window, you're usually giggling. Everyone comments on how happy you are. I've even been asked if you ever cry. Nate, you are such a sweet, happy little boy. You smile and make happy faces at strangers in grocery stores. And you make new friends everywhere you go. I can't believe how lucky I am to have such a sweet little boy. I love you so much.