Fall Festival

We recently started attending First United Methodist Church in Winter Park in hopes that N will go to school there next fall and in searching for a new church home. We've really enjoyed it so far and hope to continue to meet people and get N adjusted to the nursery.

The school put on a fall festival to help kick off the season so while Ryan was off at a football game, N and I met up with friends and checked out all there was to do. Parker and Nathan seemed to get a kick out of the firetruck and even took turns sitting inside.

They had train rides and face painting and all sorts of cute games for the kids to play. The highlight for the bubs, though, was definitely the petting zoo! This boy loves animals and kept marching back to the pen to visit with the goats, ducks and bunnies. I could barely tear him away when it was time to go! We had a lot of fun and hope to do it as a family again next year!

Pumpkins

Fall is my absolute favorite season and I love to partake in all the festivities surrounding this time of year. As part of our annual fall traditions, we took Nathan to a pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect decor for our front porch. It wasn't as cool as last year, which made it a bit tough to truly feel the season, but we still had fun weaving in and out of the rows of pumpkins to find the best ones.

It's hard to believe last year at this time our little monkey couldn't even sit up by himself. We used the pumpkins to prop him up and carried him around in a wheelbarrow! This year he was running and jumping on the gourds and proudly pulled our wagon himself. What a difference a year makes!

Happy fall, y'all!

Seventeen Months

Nathan, you are seventeen months old!

You are my crazy cuckoo boy. You go nonstop and get such a kick out of yourself! You've learned to step up your walk to a run and Daddy and I love hearing your feet pitter across the wood floors. You spin in circles till you are dizzy, you walk around on your tip toes, and you are just generally all over the place! After our trip to Hilton Head, we also realized you grew a bit because now you can climb onto the furniture and reach the counters. We're in trouble!

You're very good at identifying various body parts and have learned to show us your "muscles" by flexing your arms and shaking them. You're a pretty good mimic and are such a smart boy, amazing us all the time by what you understand and what you get from us. I have a really hard time understanding your ever growing vocabulary but I know you're trying. Some of my favorites: "uh-ooh", "baby", "tweet-tweet", "bock-bock."

You got your second haircut this month and it's turning blonder each week! All of your molars made it through so now you have twelve teeth. You constantly have nicks or bruises somewhere on your body from being so active, despite my trying to keep you out of harms way. You outgrow your shoes before you can even wear them out and you're on to size 7 now! Such big feet, you are going to be such a tall boy!

We turned your carseat around for our trip to Hilton Head and you seem to really enjoy facing forward. I love turning around and seeing your smiling face looking back at me. You grab my hand to lead me places, which melts my heart and is just so sweet. You're still totally and helplessly addicted to your pacifier. I'm trying to limit its use but it's really hard for both of us.

We try to color, mostly with crayons or chalk (both of which you call "boo"), but I think you're still a little young. Most of the time you have more fun taking the colors out of the box and putting them back in. You are quite the sorter!

Your endless energy never ceases to amaze me and you constantly have me on my toes but I love seeing your busy little body on the go. I love you so much little monkey!
xoxo

Seventeen Month Stats:

Weight - around 27 pounds

Diapers - size 4

Clothes - 24m to 2T; shoes, size 6.5-7

Feeding the Ducks

Dana and I ventured to the "castle park" not too long ago and let the kids admire the ducks, much to our mutual anxiety. I was kind of relieved to find I am not the only one totally freaked out by birds in general - they are so dirty and aggressive! But we sucked it up because the little ones were in heaven and we decided to try again, next time armed with bread.

Nathan and Caroline marched right to the water's edge and greeted a small group of ducks with quiet wonder. As we stood there and started throwing out small pieces of bread, more and more ducks and birds joined the group and we were soon surrounded!

The kiddos got a kick out of it and I loved watching their reactions. I even gave N a few pieces of bread to share but the sneaky buddy decided he would rather snack on it himself. It made me laugh.

Once we ran out of food and our comfort level with the close proximity of the ducks ran out, we headed back over to the playground to hang out. Literally. It was a fun day and I'm so glad we have such great parks around us to experience new things like this!

Splash Pad Fun

With the sweltering heat this summer, we've found lots of relief at the splash pad with our buddies. Nathan went from being very timid, almost scared, to running right into the water with big smiles. It's been fun watching him warm up to it over the past few months! 

Our music class buddies are always a blast to hang out with and the kiddos all get along so well. It's welcome adult time when the mommies can stand around and chat while the babies wear themselves out.

We ventured out to the Dr. Phillips park a few weeks ago and had even more fun trying out new fountains. There was so much more space to run around and we spent a couple hours splashing in the water.

It may be fall around the rest of the country but it's still steamy here so we are still enjoying ourselves outside for as long as we can! I'm not sure how we will get the kids to use up so much energy once the weather does turn but for now I appreciate it making for a nice nap time!

We especially love our hang time with our buddies! Can't say enough how thankful I am that we have such good friends in our lives. It doesn't hurt that my cutie is so fun to watch when we go, too.

Sixteen Months

Nathan, you are sixteen months old!

As you continue to grow and develop, finding your self and testing your limits, I must say this month has been the most challenging I can remember in a while. We've struggled with communication, a new-found pickiness for eating and a really hard sleep month. Ah, the joys of toddlerhood!

In spite of the challenges, you've also continued to grow my heart and make me love you more with each day. Your sweet smile and sneaky grins could win anyone over and you are super friendly, waving (or pinching your fingers) to friends and strangers alike. You are running and toddling all over and it is the cutest thing to watch you zoom around. I love seeing you process new things and trying them yourself. The latest is playing chase and hiding, which you think is hilarious!

More and more, your favorite "person" is Jax. You wake and immediately want to walk out of your room to find her, calling her name and lighting up at first sighting. You ask to give her cookies and you love to snuggle her, though she can sometimes be overwhelmed by your love. You even find her collar and leash in hopes of taking her on a walk. Dogs in general get your attention and you love spotting "woofs" when we're out.

You love practicing your golf skills by smacking the ball around the house and you're actually quite good at connecting. You're also always into something, pulling things out of drawers and exploring the bathroom cabinets. Forget toys, you'd rather play with our stuff! You still have a penchant for reading, which I love, and are always up for a story.

Though I know it's early to tell, it does seem you favor your left hand over your right. You use a fork or spoon in your left hand and you are stronger at throwing with your left. We'll have to see if you're just like Daddy or if it switches as you get older.

For weeks you've been having a hard time with sleeping past the 5- or 6-o'clock hours and it is killing us! You wake exhausted and crying but won't go back to bed, which makes for a miserable morning. You're also working on dropping that nap still and most days only sleep for an hour and a half tops. I know you need more rest but just don't know how to encourage it more. I blame the molars that are halfway through (the bottoms are almost all the way in but the tops are still working on it) and pray that when they have broken in you'll be back to a more acceptable sleep pattern.

Our little vacuum is no more and it's tough finding things you actually will eat now versus your former self that rarely passed on anything. You could live off cheese and fruit, which you do on most days, but I really try to incorporate more proteins and substance. It worries me that you aren't getting all the nutrients your little body (and brain!) need to grow, but I know this is a sign of the toddler times, too.

We're back in music class after a short break and you really enjoy it. I love watching you dance and shake your little booty. I'm sorry you won't be inheriting any dancing skills from your mama but it's still fun to watch you try! You crack yourself up with your antics and I love hearing you laugh at the silly things you do.

Oh, buddy, I love you so much and even when you test my patience I could not imagine life without being your mom. You are a handsome little beasty boy and I love the expressions you make. It's a joy watching you grow, as hard as it is to believe you're not a baby anymore.

I love you!
xoxo

(officially monthly pic to come...)

Labor Day Beach Weekend

We've heard a lot about Hammock Beach and after spending Girls' Weekend there earlier this summer, Ryan and I decided to take his family back there for Labor Day. We rented a three bedroom condo so there was plenty of room for all of us to spend the weekend. It was a gorgeous resort and so much fun to bring Nathan on an overnight beach trip with Lolly, Uncle Brad and Aunt Sarah!

We cooked dinners in while we were there but enjoyed lunch out at the pool grille and had lots of beach and pool time. There was a seven acre water park complete with a lazy river and spray grounds that N loved! He wasn't so keen on the ocean but he liked playing in the sand and collecting shells. The only way we got him close to the waves was to go pet the pups that were on walks with their owners!

I would definitely go back as a family. We had a great time and really enjoyed our fun in the sun!