Christmas Highlights

Let's see if I can remember the highlights of the past few days.

*Christmas Eve at my Granny and Papal's--Nate decided he likes strawberries and cracked everyone up by enunciating "Straw-berr-y" so deliberately everytime he wanted another bite. He also decided he likes grapes, so yay for new fruit options that he has so far refused!

*Later that night, we told Nate we needed to put out some milk and cookies for Santa. I put out some Dora animal crackers, and the little stinker ate every one of them and then wanted the milk! He didn't care one bit about Santa needing cookies. The next morning when I got him up, I told him we needed to go see if Santa came. He said, "Eat cookies!" He talked of nothing but cookies until ...

*We walked in the living room, and he was so excited and provided commentary on each of the toys he saw ... then he saw the train table, and it was all over. He was at that train table like it was his job until we had to take it apart to bring it home on Saturday.

*On Christmas evening, we went over to Jean's to see everybody over there. Nate got his first taste of Jean's fudge, and he reacted appropriately--by lunging for it and taking huge bites and asking for more and more. :) He LOVED the fudge, just like his mama. He said, "More chock-wat."

*On Friday, my mom let Nate help her make cookies. He was very excited about the idea of cookies--eating them, that is, not so much making them. He sat in his high chair eating M&Ms and watching her, then took a turn stirring. Then when he had his fill of candy, he couldn't take it anymore and out of the blue yelled "Pop!!!!!!!" as in, Come rescue me!!!!!

*Blake and I went to the movies that night, and when we got back, Granna and Pop had taught him a Knock Knock Joke. Apparently he did it perfectly while we were gone but wouldn't do it without prompting after that. It goes like this:

Nate: Knock knock
Me: Who's there?
Nate: Boo!
Me: Boo who?
Nate: Whatcha cryin bout? (followed by lots of fake laughter)

*Yesterday (Saturday) we went to Lucas' house for Christmas with him, then we came home, unloaded the truck, and immediately had to go to the grocery store. Everything we put in the cart, Nate wanted to eat right then. "Mac and cheese--try it! Ceweal bar--try it! Eggs--try it!" Eww. :) We have him some mac and cheese when he got home, and he was wiped out and ready for his own bed after a very exciting few days away from home.

*Today we have just hung out here at home, and this place is Train Central. He's wanted to watch his new Thomas the Train DVD several times, and it is SCARY how much he knows about it. As each of the trains come on the screen, he says their names, and he's almost always right. And to me, they all look the same! He says "Thomas. Percy. James. Henry (this sounds like On-ry, like the French say it, lol). Emiwy." And I have caught him singing the correct words to the Thomas song even whent he video is not on. Ahh, the joy of little boys.

This was a very fun Christmas for Nate, and for us getting to watch him experience. I'm sure he'll be talking about Santa and trees and ornaments for months, just like he's still talking about pumpkins and costumes from Halloween.

Letters, numbers and shapes

In the last couple of months, Nate has learned some of the letters and numbers by sight. He will be pushing buttons on my phone and say "Threes! Zeros!" or see his Pampers box and say "P!" He especially likes 8's and H's for some reason. :) I haven't really been actively teaching him more letters and numbers, but since he's interested, I showed him some letter flashcards today and he picked up a couple new ones! "W" is a new favorite, and it's cute to hear.

But he's quite the expert at shapes. He knows all the regular shapes, plus a few special ones, like trapezoid. He's always wanting to learn more, and I think Memaw taught him octagon and pentagon this weekend. :) It's really a great party trick, because inevitably, he asks someone to draw him a rectangle, and they're really impressed. Haha

Nate has been using his easel to color today, and we also talked about letters, numbers, and shapes, at his request. A few minutes ago, I heard him say "ABC's!" and then more quietly, "No, they're shapes." He cracks me up.

I took some pictures of Nate standing at his easel coloring, but for some reason this site is not letting me upload them right now, but here is a cute video of Nate talking about shapes and Daddy and making a funny face.

The Christmas fun continues

Nate got lots more toys and goodies this weekend when Memaw, GrandBob, Brian, Sunny, and Coco came for Christmas dinner. His latest obession is "moo-sic." He got a little music player and an awesome keyboard and plays with those nonstop ... next to his train running. :) He also got an art easle and supplies from Memaw, so I'm sure I'll have fun pictures from that soon.

Yesterday we went to a new church, and I think we have found a winner! We liked it. This place is HUGE. The entrance looks like you're walking into an airport, and there are escalators in the lobby. :) I felt like I was in Rupp Arena in the sanctuary. But they have lots of small groups you can get involved in. Perhaps the best part was that Blake and I could actually pay attention to the service because Nate was in Sunday school!

There was a first-time visitors' drop-off in the "atrium" where I filled out paperwork that ensured that only we could pick him up--I gave my driver's license number, and they gave me a random computer generated number that was on a sticker on his back, one on his bag, and one for me to keep. They would also flash this number on the screen if there was a problem and we needed to check on him. It was all very elaborate. He was in "Wing F"--I'm telling you, this place is huge. Wing F is for the two year olds, and within that they were seperated in their classes by birth months. I literally handed him over a counter and they put him in his room. It was a little unsettling, but I knew he'd be fine if there were toys in there. :) When we picked him up, the woman who brought him out said, "He's a little crazy about bubbles!" He had this white bubble stuff ALL OVER HIM. All over his face and hair and clothes. :)

When we got in the car, I asked Nate what he did in Sunday School, and he talked about the bubbles and the crackers and the toys. I think there was also something about reading a book. It's hard to get the whole story out of him. I said, "Did you learn about baby Jesus?" His little eyes just lit up, like hey, you know about him too? Ha! He said, "Baby Jesus, and color a picture!" He colored a picture of a wiseman going to see baby Jesus. For the rest of the day, Nate randomly yelled "Baby Jesus, baby Jesus, baby Jesus!"

Choo Choo, part 2

Okay, the train is a full-on obsession now. Thomas must be running all day long. Even when Nate is eating or doing something else, he wants the train on. Thomas takes a AA battery, and after about a day and a half of running, he went dead. Nate was frantic: "Mama! Help! Fix it! Mama! Pweeeeeeease!" I finally found one working AA battery in our stash. The next day, his new respite care worker was here, and I ran out for an errand. When I came back, she said that Nate was very good, but he freaked out when Thomas' battery went dead! She was resourceful and took the battery out of the TV remote. :) Yesterday I bought rechargable batteries!

Last night when Blake came home from work (after Nate was already asleep), he said he bought Nate a Christmas gift. Then he pulled out another Thomas the Train set (this one was different than the one he had and also had a different engine, not Thomas) and a Track Extender Kit. Oh my. We put it together, and now the thing sprawls all across the living room. Nate was so excited this morning that he wouldn't eat his breakfast! He didn't want to take a nap. He didn't even want to go Bye Bye!! I have NEVER seen him not want to go bye bye.

And guess what he's getting for Christmas--more trains! It is so funny how much he loves them. He will even watch these boring documentaries with Blake about old guys who have elaborate train villages in their basements. :) He'll probably BE one of those old guys one day.

Choo choo!

Yesterday Nate received, among several gifts, a Thomas the Train holiday train set from his Papaw and Grandma. It has a big circle track with a station and a tunnel, and Thomas is hauling presents. As soon as he opened it, he said, "Hold this! Get it out! Hold this, hold this, hold this! Get it out, get it out, get it out!" over and over until we were able to get just the engine out for him to hold. He played and played with that thing all evening and all day today. Finally, tonight I had time to put the track together for him and put the battery in Thomas. It's been about 20 minutes now, and he hasn't taken his eyes off of it. Here's what I hear:

Thomas train!

Whistle!

He has presents.

Look at it go!

Here it comes!

There it goes!

Ooh, through the tunnel!

Choo choo!

Chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo!

Round and round it goes!

All aboard the choo choo train!

Oh, HELP! HELP! (This is when he tried to touch it and Thomas came of the track.)

Whoo whoo!


Man, two year olds are FUN at Christmas! :)

Walking video!!!!

But first I'll tell you the cute story from today. Well, there were several because he talked nonstop from the time he woke up until he went to bed, but this was the cutest one. After hippotherapy, I asked Nate if he wanted to go to Target. Target! He loves Target! When we got there, the parking lot was full, so I was driving around looking for a space. Nate didn't understand why we weren't going inside already. "This way!" he said and pointed at the door. I continued driving, and Nate started throwing a fit and screaming. I told him that we would not go in Target if he was screaming. A few more screams later, I finally found a parking space. I said, "Nate, remember we will not go in Target while you're screaming. Are you going to keep screaming, or not?" He whimpered and said, "Not." :D

Okay, here's the video! And what cracks me up about this is that we realized that Nate needs to hold onto something when walking--typical of most kids, but you have to remember Nate is used to holding either hands or his walker--so in the absence of something in his right hand, he held onto his HAIR! Ha!

We're both tired tonight

Today was a hectic day! I had a lot of Christmas shopping to do, plus get Maggie groomed and take Nate to get measured for his new braces. This morning I told him all about how we would go get his feet measured this afternoon, and we would get some new "car shoes" (that's what he calls them), but instead of cars, we could get something else on them, like dinosaurs. (That's the only other design I remembered from last time we ordered.) After some shopping, I brought him home for a nap, then I had to go pick up Maggie while Blake was home for lunch. He said Nate woke up going on and on about dinosaurs and he had no idea what he was talking about. :) There were lots of cute designs to choose from (animals, sports, bees), but we chose dinosaurs since he'd been so excited, and since he says "rawr" so cute every time he talks about them.

Then we did a lot more driving around from store to store this afternoon, and we were both tired when we got home. While Nate was eating his dinner, he had me laughing so hard I was crying! He was yelling: Go upstairs!!!!! Take a bath!!!! Brust da teeth!!!! Go nigh night!!!!! He must have been really tired, but it was just so hilarious. He kept on with TAKE A BAAAAATH! Brush da teeth! Take a Bath! I was laughing so hard I called my mom and after she realized I was laughing instead of crying, his yelling had her cracking up too. He's just so loud! And insistent! This went on until I finally did take him upstairs to get ready for bed. I wish I had gotten that on video.

A little milestone :)

Nate and I have been working out hard lately. Last week the PT said she thought what was holding him back from standing independently (which of course has to happen before walking) is his trunk/core strength. So she gave us some hard core excercises:

1. Row row row your boat sit-ups. I sing while I help him use his tummy to help him sit up and lay back. Fortunately, as with most things, if I make it a game, he loves it and even ASKS to play this game.

2. Back excercises. I stand him up facing away from me, hold my arm over his knees to lock them, make him bend over at the waist to pick up a toy on the ground, then he has to pull himself back up to standing. This is HARD for him! But he's already so much better at it.

3. Lots of practicing standing. He stands while I position him well and offer minimal support. And occasionally I let go ... and he falls over. :) But there have been a few times when I'm only supporting him with a finger, or even just holding his ankles, which does nothing more than make him believe I'm holding him up.

4. Wheel Barrow walking! Just like wheel barrow racing, where he's walking on his hands, but I hold him straight out (instead of slanted up) by his thighs (instead of his ankles). Oh my gosh, this is hard for ME to help him! It's gotta be tough for him, but he thinks it's fun. This supposedly is a great exercise for back, shoulders, trunk, arms, hands ... good all around.

We had PT this morning, and I told Dee that my goal was for him to be standing independently by Christmas. She said that wasn't impossible, but I could tell she thought that was a very lofty goal. But she doesn't know Nate like we do! We work and work and work on something, and one day he just does it.

Tonight we were playing/working out, and I decided to make him try walking holding onto one hand. I try this every couple days, and he always fusses and says he needs help. Even this weekend, my mom said she tried it with him and decided he didn't have enough balance/strength for it. So tonight after he initially refused to walk holding on to only one hand, I held both of his hands, then mid-walking I put both of his hands in one of my hands, then while he had momentum, I let go of one of his hands.

He did it!!!!! He walked and walked, with me beside him holding one hand! I praised him like crazy, and he kept going. I had him walking all over the house and even took him outside to convince him to walk some more. I can't wait to show Blake tomorrow, and hopefully I'll get some pictures and video.

Picture with Santa

Saturday we were in Lexington helping Lucas put up his Christmas tree against his will. :) I also wanted to get Nate's picture taken with Santa at the mall. On a Saturday ... when Nate was miserable and sick ... and I didn't have a stroller. What was I thinking? We parked at Macy's, which is at one end of the mall, fairly close to the playplace where Santa always is. We let Nate walk in his walker some and took turns carrying him, only to find out that Santa has moved to in front of Dillards--at the other end of the mall, literally a mile away. So he did some more walking and we did a lot more carrying. When we finally got there, Santa was on his dinner break, so we waited in line for a half hour, pacifying Nate with a bag of M&Ms. I knew Nate would be a little afraid of Santa, so I talked him up as much as I could. When it was our turn, I took him up the Santa and kneeled down on the floor with him instead of dumping him in Santa's lap immediately. Santa was so nice--he got down in the floor with us, asked Nate his name and how old he was and what he wanted for Christmas. I answered that Nate wanted a choo choo train and a wagon. Santa said he would tell his elves, and they would make sure they were wrapped up pretty and in his sleigh so he would be sure to bring them. Then he asked Nate if he wanted to sit in his chair, and they took the picture with Santa still in the floor and Nate looking terrified. :) Here it is...













Wait for it .....

It's a good one, huh? :) But since then, every time Nate sees Santa on TV or in a story, he says, "Choo choo train and a wagon." Ha! He might just get it.

It's Christmas at our house!

Blake and I decorated inside and out for Christmas last night after Nate went to bed. This morning I went down and turned the tree on before he came down. Oh my gosh, you should see how excited he is!

He speed crawled over to the tree: "It's a tree! En-ments! (ornaments) Wights! Red, yewow, bwue. Wook, a ball! It's a tree! Wow!"

Then he saw the little village beside the tree: "Ooh, houses! Door, window, tower (church steeple). Count the houses--one, two, three ... Two houses! Wow. Merry Christmas!" (no joke, he said Merry Christmas.)

Then back to the tree: "Ooh, a tree! En-ments!" .... and on and on.

After fulling taking in the tree and village a few times, he discovered the nativity scene and speed crawled over there: "Wook! Animals! It's a goat. Maaaaaaa. Wook, it's ears. Mouf (mouth), eyes." I showed him Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus and told him what the other animals were. Back to the tree: "Tree!"

When I could pull him away from the tree, I showed him the ice skating rink/music box that was my Granny's. He was mesmerized and watched it while it played through three times. First he said the snowman was on a boat on the water, but I told him he was ice skating like we saw the kids ice skating with Memaw and GrandBob last week.

This whole time, Blake was making breakfast. Nate decided he wanted to show Daddy everything, so he called for him about a thousand time before he could get away. Back through the whole thing again: "Wook, it's a tree! Merry Christmas! ..."