1 Year Pictures

We went to JC Penney last week and got Nathan's birthday pictures taken. We are so happy with them and it was really inexpensive. He started out a little fussy and I was afraid we weren't going to get any good pictures (he kept trying to crawl to me) but then we got out his baseball, and he was in heaven. Also, it was so funny because the photographer gave him the "O" to hold and he did not want to give it up. He has alphabet magnets on our fridge and the letter "O" is obviously his favorite. He always carries it around the house. Funny kid.

So, here they ALL are:

Worth It

The price I payed to get a few dishes washed today. I wonder what I'm going to have to do to get a shower.

March Projects

March was such a crazy, busy month that I got hardly any projects done (unless you can count planning a birthday party, traveling, and enjoying spring break as projects- I think maybe you can). I planned to do a lot more, but I'm happy with what I accomplished.

I have been wanting to make something to hang on Nathan's wall for a long time and finally came up with this:




I got some frames from Ikea, painted them green, and cut out pictures from an old Winnie the Pooh book to match his room. I hung them with some old raffia I found and the whole project took me very little time and very little money. Sweet!

Looks like I have a lot to accomplish next month!

Washington and Finals

Ryan had finals last week so he hasn't been home much lately. When I mentioned to my mom how little we would be seeing him, she suggested Nathan and I come up to Washington for a visit. It sounded like a good idea, but we weren't sure how it was going to work since driving alone with the baby (can I still call him a baby for a little bit longer?) didn't appeal to me and I really didn't want to take a 5 1/2 hour train ride. After a lot of planning and replanning, we finally decided that my Dad would come down and pick us up. The day he was planning to arrive my mom called and informed me that the nasty flu they thought they were over had struck again. More planning, more thinking. This trip was starting to feel like it wasn't meant to happen. I really didn't want Nathan to get sick, but the thought of spending the whole week at home with Ryan gone all day, instead of with my family, was a horrible idea too. We decided Dad should come anyway. Well, about half way here, he got sick too! So he turned around and went home. This was on Friday the 5th. We had been planning for weeks and I still sat at home. Saturday night my parents called and said,"What about flying?" Everyone was well again and they had some free miles. So Sunday morning, Nathan and I boarded a plane at the Eugene airport. It was only an hour flight and Nathan was an angel. He ate graham crackers and sat on my lap so nicely. I didn't even have to get out any toys. Also, the flight attendant was so nice and made sure Nathan and I had a row to ourselves and extra snacks. I thought, "I could fly with him all the time." (Remember that thought when I tell you about our flight home).


In the airport

When my Dad and Leslie came to pick us up at the airport, they casually mentioned that Jesse had thrown up 18 times since I had talked with them the night before. By the way, they said, you guys are going to go stay with Natalie instead. Natalie is a dear friend of our family and someone who was a great second mom to me growing up. So Nathan and I spent our first two nights at Natalie's house.

Despite our attempts to stay away from all the sickies, I still got the flu that week. I can say for sure, a winter will never go by when my kids don't get a flu shot. Nathan is the only one who didn't get sick at all. I'm shocked that he didn't with all the kisses he gets.


Nathan loved Nana and Papa's big front window

Besides all the sickness, we had a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time just hanging out. Nathan got all sorts of fun new toys, including his first balloon! He also got to try his first popsicle and he discovered the piano! He loves standing and playing a tune.


Popsicles are yummy and cold!

Our trip home was a bit more eventful. It was dinner time nad Nathan had missed his nap. Then, after we boarded the plane, we had to get back off because of mechanical problems. We waited for a new plane and boarded again. I was really pleased with how kind people were to me. I can't count how many times I was asked if I needed help. We ended up being an hour late. When the flight is only an hour long, that makes a big difference. We sat next to the funniest man. He was so kind to Nathan but he was one of the most awkward people ever! He played with Nathan and gave him high fives (actually, he let Nathan slap his hand over and over) and he let Nathan put his sippy cup on his (the man's) tray table. He would touch Nathan's foot and say, oh so awkwardly, "What is that foot?" Imagine this in an excessively monotone voice. Nathan loved it! That guy and the sweet grandma behind us saved my life!

Anyway, our actual vacation was pretty uneventful. We just had a few funny moments that make for a REALLY long story. Most importantly, Ryan got a lot of studying done while we were gone and he passed all his finals. Hooray! We loved seeing family and we can't wait to see them again next week (and Ryan's family too) for Nathan's BIRTHDAY!!

St. Patrick's Day 2010

Today was a pretty low-key St. Patrick's Day (for us) since Nathan and I just got home from Washington last night (more on that later) and Ryan has had finals all week (finished, hooray!). We wore green, ate potatoes, listened to Irish music, danced a jig or two. I tried my hand at Irish Soda Bread, and failed miserably. Maybe next year I will try your recipe, Larissa. Anyway, we still had fun dressing up in our festive attire and doing a little photo shoot. Too bad you can't see the shamrock temporary tattoos Ryan and I are sporting.









I thought it would be fun to upload all the pictures we took in a row, showing how difficult it is to get a good picture with Squirmy McSquirmyson, but blogger only uploaded a random few, so instead you just get a smattering of not so good pictures. Oh well.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Where did my Baby Go?

Today I looked at Nathan and thought, "Oh my gosh! Where did my baby go?" I mean, I know he's been growing up, but when did he become a little boy?! I'm having a meltdown.

11 months old!

Nathan is 11 months old today. He has become such a big boy lately. He is finally crawling and he gets around really well. He also started pulling himself up and loves to stand all the time. He walks holding on to the couch/walls/hands/etc. I've also recently discovered that this boy is a climber! He wants to climb on everything, the couches, the changing table, the stairs (!!!), the desk. I think I'm in big trouble.

Nathan is ALL boy. He loves balls and doggies and cars, and he eats us out of house and home. He can say "uh-oh" (it seems a fitting first word), bark like a dog, make cars noises, and occasionally says "bye-bye". He seems to be always jabbering about something, whether it's in his language, or ours. If you are really lucky, Nathan might give you one of his sweet kisses. Nathan's big news this month it that he is finally getting his first tooth! He has been so good and I didn't even realize he was teething until I happened to feel the tooth poking through his gums.

We are having fun exploring the outdoors now that Spring is (almost) here. He's not sure how he feels about grass yet, but he loves to swing at the park and watch the cars and dogs go by. I've already had to stop him from eating a ladybug so I have a feeling we are going to have some fun adventures this summer.