Happy Half Birthday!

Nathan is officially 2 1/2 years old today. Wow - he's growing up so fast! I recently (finally) finished getting the first year's worth of blog posts ready for publication (Blurb is a website that converts blogs to books). Well... 99% ready. Hopefully it'll be sent out soon, just a few details need fixing first.

Anyways. it was fun going through all the blog posts from Nathan's first year of life. He's grown so much. And yet he's still the same little boy he was 2 years ago, in many ways. Same laugh. Same silly expressions. Same adoration of his Daddy. Etc, etc. But this post is about him being 2 1/2. What's he like now??

He is talking more and more every week. He's had a speech therapist working with him a couple times a month for the last 6 months. She's been great at giving us more ideas on how to help him figure out how to plan to talk. She thinks his trouble is a result of trouble planning to talk (figuring it all our in his head). And she believes (from watching him play) that he has perfectionist tendancies. Those tendancies make him want to get it right the first time it comes out of his mouth... which prevents him from trying new words quickly or easily.

He's been talking more and more, especially the last few months. Words he has down pretty good include: more, Momma, Daddy, sis, cheese, that, this, no, K (as in OK), ready, hi, bye, thank you, kitty, choo choo, all done, cookie. We've heard other words on occassion, but once a word is said, he might say it a couple times and then we don't hear it again for a couple months. But when it reappears, he has it down. Words like duck, Gramma, my turn and balloon... among others.

There's one phrase he says all the time that people who don't know us might think he's saying something else.... See, when Nathan doesn't know how to say a word, he calls that object "da." For instance, until recently (before he got "Momma" down), I've been known as "da" around our house... I know, a Mother's dream... lol.

Anyways, Nathan will often use the phrase "Oh, Da..." as in "oh no" or... eh hem... "Oh, da**"... I sometimes worry that his Sunday School teacher thinks we must say that a lot, since Nathan is often saying what sounds like it... Jacob's been trying to curb it by teaching Nathan "Oh Dear". It's kinda funny, I guess :)

And recently he's started saying some sentences, too. It's been about 2 months, maybe longer, since we heard his first sentence - "I did it". But he regularly says: "I get it

"I got it," "I want more," and "I want that." He's gotten pretty good with animal sounds, too, in the last 3 months. He makes noises for cats, dogs, bears, tigers, lions, sheep. He likes to stick out his tongue for lizards (thanks Gramma), wiggle his nose for bunnies, and blow kisses for Mommy, too ;-) But he still hasn't decided to try sounds like those for cows, pigs, horses, monkeys, etc. He's thinking about it though!

He's getting good at learning his colors - he knows the basic colors, although he hasn't said any of the words. And he's very slowly learning numbers, at least 1, 2, 3 well.

He loves to run, race us, jump (though it's more of a half-skip, cause he still doesn't have the courage to get both feet off the ground at the same time).

He loves to press the handicap button at the front door of the church, to open the door. We'll often race to the door, with him squeeling all the way "I get it, I get it!" and everyone within earshot stops to smile and admire our adorable little guy :)

He loves to ring the door bell at our house, too. I try had to stop him from ringing it non-stop when we visit a friend or neighbor... lol.

And he loves to get silverware out for all of us at dinner time. And in case we forget, he reminds us to pray before every meal, before naps and before bedtime. He refuses to eat until we've thanked God for our food :)

He still loves to read - to be read to or "read" on his own. One of the sweetest things he does, is at nap time or bed time, when Jacob or I sit with him to read a few stories before bed, he'll sometimes take our hand (the one closest to him) and pull it around himself, so he's snuggled up in our arm while we read. It's sweet.

Nathan still loves the wii. Though he plays much less often than he'd like.

And he adores trains. Any kind of train. Trucks are cool. Cars are cool. Airplanes are cool. But trains are awesome.

Bathtime is still one of his favorite times of day, too. As is breakfast. He'll often eat as much for breakfast as he does for both lunch and dinner combined. He's recently been introduced to Captain Crunch... I fear there may be fights in my future when it's back to oatmeal, corn flakes, cheerios and/or fruit for him. lol

He's a big boy now that doesn't need wheels. He refuses to ride in the grocery cart. Doesn't like the stroller. And would much rather pull Faith in his red wagon than ride in it himself. He still loves his wagon - but it's much more fun to give other's rides!

Unfortunately, he's still not potty trained. He's certainly fascinated with the idea - and loves big boy underwear. He tries to use the potty daily. But he's still afraid to let himself do anything while on the potty. Just once... if he would do it just once... I think we'd make huge progress. I'm trying to be patient.

Sharing is still a semi-foreign idea to him, too. Although he's getting better. Some days he offers his sister toys, snacks, drinks, etc. Other days he is a big bully to her. And then there are days where I have to ask him to share... so he'll find the smallest possible crumb to give her. Once he had a handful of M&Ms, and found a 1/4 piece. He gave that one to her. ha ha

All in all, Nathan is such a blessing - a joy, a true gift from our amazing God in heaven. He teaches me so much about the love of our God. And I am reminded that all of my emotions must be a thousand times amplified for God, as our Father looking down on us. Like the joy that God must feel when we do something right... The smile that He must get when we glorify Him... The patience He must have when we're stubborn or rude... The wrath and hurt He must feel when we sin, time and time and time again... The love He must have, overflowing, for us... regardless of what we do, a true unconditional love. And the complete forgiveness that He offers to us because of His love. It reminds me of that verse... Matthew 7:11: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

How thankful we are that God blesses us. That He gives us His grace, mercy and blessings. That He sustains us, provides for us, loves us and forgives us. That He's preparing a place for us in eternity to worship Him forever. And that He gave us Nathan and Faith. Two of the greatest gifts I've ever received. And that He is helping us to raise our kids to know, love and serve our Him.

Happy half birthday, Nathan! We're so proud of you, so thankful for you and so in love with you!