My guys

Although the heat has been unbearable lately, we do try to get some outdoor time each evening. Here are a few pics of "my guys" that I was able to get the last few nights.

Lemon Treat?

We had a lovely evening with Grandpa and Grandma Yancy and Great Uncle Robert and Aunt Ann tonight. First of all it was like Christmas when we got there, Uncle Robert and Aunt Ann loaded Nathaniel up with some really cool toys! I am sure you will see appearances in upcoming posts. We are always blessed by their generosity.

Then we went out to eat. Nathaniel had a very special treat tonight, his first taste of lemon. Is this cruel and unusual punishment or a culinary experience??? You decide.

Rockstar or patient?

Apparently we have been missing our pediatrician lately. You guessed it....junk began oozing out of Nathaniel's right ear so we headed to the clinic. When we arrived, there was a new girl sitting in the middle cubicle/desk area. She commented on how cute the baby was and Nate ate it up. She begins to sign us in and when I say our last name the guy in the cubicle to our right comes around and says "Is that little man Nate?" upon hearing this, the lady on her left jumps up, runs around clapping her hands and says "Well, it is my little Boo!". Nathaniel is 100% hamming it up for his admirers; he is laughing, waving, playing peek-a-boo with the staff....humm....no appearance of illness here.

The nurse calls us back, Nate knows the ritual and nicely sits on the scale (23.9 lbs now) and waits patiently for his temp to be taken. Before we know it our pedi appears. She politely greets us and Nathaniel goes directly to her and throws his hands in the air wanting to be picked up. Doctor laughs, picks him up and plays with him some. Then she asks what we are in for today. I reply the usual and I want her to peek at his toenails. I think a fungus is growing. She again laughs. We stip off his socks and shoes and she proclaims "a fungus is growing, I don't know what to do about this, I will be right back". She is gone for awhile. Apparently, topical creams do not typically work but he is too young for the orals. Great. One anomalie after the other with this kid!

Then she looks in his ears. Which he miracously let her do for about 1.5 seconds before the screaming and thrashing began. She says to me, I want you to take him back to the ENT. It looks like his left tube is about ready to fall out. Grrrrrrrrrrrreat. She then reviews his chart aloud to me. Jan tubes, Feb antibiotics, March ear drops and later antibiotics, April antibiotics, May 14 days of antibiotics, June drops and antibiotics. Then she looks at me and says "I think something is wrong". Really? Ya think? Don't get me wrong. I love my pedi. I really do. She is a doll, but to the mom who has been up most nights in the last 13 months, don't say "I think something is wrong". I want you not only to know what is wrong, I want you to fix it!!! All I could do is laugh. We now have a new ENT appt and may be going to derm soon if this fungus does not clear up with some natural stuff she suggested.

So off to the pharmacist we go. Now our pharmacist is probably the nicest guy ever. You want to invite him home for Sunday dinner with the family. Or maybe I just feel that way since we sometimes see him more than family. Who knows? Anyway, he had a new tech who also gushed over the OBVIOUS cuteness factor Nathaniel has and as she was carrying on and on, our pharmacist whips out his camera and takes a picture of Nate "to hang on his wall" he tells us. Humm....a wall of sick kids???? That does not sound like it will win any awards. Does it?

All in all, an interesting day. Nate got a whole lot of attention. Then he came home and crashed on the floor (I don't think he has ever done that before). Apparently he has difficulty managing his celebrity status (or maybe he really is ill - who knows?).

Father's Day

Happy Fathers Day!

More often than not, people say "he sure looks like his daddy", so in honor of Ted's clone, he got a shirt that says "Me" and Nate got one that says "Mini Me". Since he is always in "go" mode these days, it was hard to get a good pic of them together with both shirts showing.

Ted also got an Astros jersey and 4 tickets to an upcoming game so he can have a guys night at the ballpark soon. And to top it all off Daddy got a new infrared grill -so come on over and put Daddys skills to work!

I really love the father-son relationship that has developed. In the beginning Ted was so consumed with caring for his own mother that he felt he had missed out. However, this has not impacted the deep admiration Nate has for his Daddy. Of course, "dada" was his first word and he completely lights up when Daddy walks in the room because he knows that fun is about to follow. No one makes Nathaniel laugh like Ted does. It is such a blessing to see how deep they love each other. I cherish the wrestling matches, the "gotcha games", the storytimes, the countless giggles, and the silly songs as much as any mom would. How blessed we are to have the best Daddy in our lives. Happy Father's Day Ted....we love you.

Some of Daddy and Nate's playtimes:

Wild Hair

It began like any other outside time with Mom and Nate. We play a fun (?) game called "keep Nathaniel from running full spead ahead into the street", we admire the flowers that are in bloom,

but then for reasons unbeknownst to us, Mommy got a wild hair and decided she could cut Nathaniel's hair. Although it was getting a bit long, it was not yet out of control.

This was Nate's fourth haircut. Luckily it tends to grow back quickly....but then again, it has never been cut this short. I do not know what got in to me. Nathaniel would be still for a few seconds then rapidly turn his head, so the cut got higher...and higher...and higher. What started out as a trim quickly grew into a short bowl cut. I just could not leave well enough alone. I kept going back for "touch ups"....and this is the end result. Nathaniel did not enjoy this special mother-son bonding time too much.

Daddy's only comment was, "It looks like we are signing him up for the Marines". But in the end, Nathaniel forgives me...just watch.

One serious lesson learned. My apologies to Cool Cuts for Kids for the unfaithfulness demonstrated this day in history. We will be back when his hair grows out.

What a week(end)

What a busy week. Mom left the men to rule the house as she headed up north to surprise her best friend in Minneapolis. Let's just say the purchase of a shark mask and meeting up with Amanda in the Chicago airport was priceless!!!! We had a great week full of laughing and shopping at Mall of America. And the Yancy men did well at home. In fact, Nate seems more attached to Daddy than Mommy now. I am not real sure that I am loving that.....humm.....

Saturday Mom had the privilege of playing guitar for worship at a women's retreat and Sunday was filled with fun. First there was the craziness of the elementary kids that mom helps lead,

followed by Splash Day for the entire church. Nate was only fairly interested in the water today. He is real hit or miss with water enjoyment these days.

He did enjoy hangin' with his good buddies Abby & Izzy Obert and Colton Copper again.

Then we went for a walk in the park. Mommy finally put together Nate's tricycle that Grandaddy and Grandma Yancy gave him for his birthday. He thinks he is such a big boy in it - even though his feet don't even reach the pseudo-pedals yet.

Tomorrow we must get back to the daily grind. After such a great week, it will be a hard transition. Mom is very thankful to Daddy for allowing her some much needed girl time.

On a streak

New things daily..... Nathaniel finally cut his 6th tooth. It has been at the surface for months but was a little shy with breaking through. He is now saying Mama, Dada, Dog, Night-Night and a very muddled form of thank you. Granted it is not always consistent or appropriate but he is able to form the words and tends to thrive on the attention when he uses Mama in the car (of course, this typically results in some kind of cheering from Mom).

He continues to be into anything his little hands can get ahold of and has discovered the ability to climb onto things. This is cause for high Nate-Alert when we are visiting Granny, who had emergency surgery yesterday and is in ICU on a vent again.

He enjoys reading time - especially in his new wild-n-crazy rocker. I am not sure if this chair is a curse or a blessing. He loves it; he enjoys rocking in it, reading in it, AND moving it around the house to use as a step stool to reach higher and higher....

Recently, he has discovered the joy of nudity. He fights us putting on PJs after bath time; he is now able to take his diaper off (YIKES!!!) and enjoys an occasional streak through the house. Oh the joys of little boys!

I love it!

Sandcastle Competition

Mommy and Nathaniel joined the Oberts at Galveston's sandcastle competition while Daddy recuperated at home (he has been sick for the last 3 or 4 days). There is some real talent to this art. However the most amazing thing Mommy saw was...Nathaniel has done a 180 degree turn and now loves the ocean.

There really was no rhyme or reason for his drastic change, except perhaps trying to be macho in front of the Obert twins. In all actuality, he was a little more brave than was Mom's comfort level with this new found bravery. He wanted to walk straight out into the ocean. No fears whatsoever. Thankfully, he has some room to improve with his balance skills and when he would get about waist level, the waves would knock him down (However, this caused concern in the battle to not get water in the ear canal!). It was really fun watching him enjoy the water and hearing the kiddos squeal. Here is hoping for a long life of loving water....and many tropical vacations!

Rollie-Pollie Now

Here's Nater-Tater and his Alligator

Nathaniel was moved up to the "Rollie Pollie" Class (and turned 13 months old) this week. This is the one year old class at his day care. He has had a really tough time transitioning. He was very attached to Miss Nellie, Miss Thelma and Miss Audrey in the "Cuddle Bugs" Class where he spent the last 8 months. He cried most of the first day but has gotten progressively more comforable and only cried after nap time today. He enjoys the outside time they get twice a day, doing art projects, having Thursday splash day, and apparently loves chapel. They said he was clapping and dancing at chapel his first time to go....we are so proud of our little charasmatic kid!!!! Despite the crying when I drop him off, it is much more fun at this age. The kids who can talk, do their best to say "Hi Nathaniel" and tend to try to steal his morning snack when we arrive. I am sure this will be a very good move, but we do miss our old teachers. Yet another reminder that he will not be a baby forever.