12.31.10 - Looking back

As 2010 draws to an end, Nate discovers that he can look back at his Mommy if he throws his head back. Over and over and over again. He must have done this a dozen times!

12.30.10 - Gorgeous day for a walk ...

... or to play with your shoes. We left work early so we could enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. The kids got to play in the backyard while Dad took down Christmas lights before going on a walk through the neighborhood. It's been a few months since we've been able to do this on a regular basis and Nate can't sit still. He wants to explore everything. From the top, it looks like he was going to fall out. Upon further review, he was just playing with his shoes!

12.29.10 - Hangin' out

So the story goes, Mom is trying to do some laundry and the kids decide to help. Yeah, you can tell how much laundry got done!

12.28.10 - Props

We are starting to discover some major differences between Maddie and Nate. For instance, if you gave Maddie a bottle, she'd lie on the floor and drink it. If you give Nate a bottle, well, it's hard telling what he might do. He might drink it, he might drop it on the floor and swat it under the sofa or he might us the sofa to hold it for him. Hey, Lazy Bones! Hold your own bottle! And quit playin' with your food!

12.27.10 - Learning to share

If only Maddie would share her toys as well as she shares Puffs.

12.26.10 - Christmas Day, Part II

The day after Christmas is always reserved for Gramma Karen and Grampy Keith. We gathered at their house where Maddie and Nate loved playing with all their new toys with their cousins Emerson, Savannah and Taylor. Keaton's around there somewhere. He might be hiding in one of those huge stacks of gifts!

12.25.10 - A K-State Christmas

Today was more Christmas fun. After opening gifts from Mommy and Daddy AND Santa, we headed to lunch and MORE presents at Grandma and Grandpa Shepherd's house. It was our first holiday in their new house. And even though Nate had a full day, he was all smiles late in the evening when he modeled his Daddy's K-State Santa hat with his new K-State jammies.

12.24.10 - Christmas Eve

Today was our busiest day of celebration. First, we celebrated Maddie's second birthday with bagels for breakfast and pizza (her choice!) for lunch. Then, after naps, we headed to Nan and Pop's for Christmas Eve. Nate didn't care so much for this outfit but did like all the toys he got!

12.23.10 - Christmas outfit

Nate wore this adorable sweater vest to Christmas at Grandpa Greg's tonight. He loved opening his first package.

12.22.10 - Guess what, Nate!

Christmas starts tomorrow!

12.21.10 - Puny

Mommy came home sick from work today and Lisa reported that Nate threw up right at the end of daycare. So to give mom some rest, we retreated to Nan and Pop's house for dinner. Of course, Nate didn't eat. Well, he did eat about three bites of peaches and a few sips of water, all of which came back up. Poor guy. And poor Mommy, too! Let's hope they feel better before Christmas.

12.20.10 - Cruisin'

Nate's cruisin' on anything he can!

12.19.10 - I love mommy!

And he ain't afraid to show it!

12.18.10 - Now, THIS is Santa!

After careful research (read: asking Facebook friends), we found the perfect Santa tonight. This older gentleman decorates his entire yard with lights, dresses up as Santa and sits in one of his sheds which he calls "Santa's workshop." In fact, the entire place is called "The North Pole." An elf greeted us at the gate and Santa gave Maddie and Nate both a new stuffed animal. I have no idea who he is and I don't know that I'd have remembered him (we went there a few years ago with our former Little Brother) if it weren't for a couple of friends who knew of him. He represents the true spirit of Christmas and the best part is that he's on the south side!

12.17.10 - You're not Santa!

As Buddy the Elf would say, "You're not Santa!" That's what it looks like Nate would be saying if he could talk.

12.16.10 - Oh, Christmas Tree

Nate says, "What Christmas tree?"

12.15.10 - Dance with me!

Nate dances to a Van Halen song on Pandora with his Mommy!

12.14.10 - Car & Driver

Nate's really likes playing with his new cars, one of which came from Brian and Emily. He likes to push them toward the end of the hallway, which is becoming a popular hangout spot with his sister.

12.13.10 - Bedtime monkey milk

Nate's growing awfully fond of his Snuggly Monkey, making sure he has it going to and getting up from bed.

12.12.10 - Clasen Christmas

After church, we stopped at Gramma Karen's house for a bit. After that, we stopped by the annual Clasen Christmas. It was pushing two o'clock, which is an hour past Nate's nap time, when he finally drifted off to sleep in Angie's arms. He slept on the way home but, as our luck would have it, was wide awake once we actually tried to put him in his crib for another hour of sleep. Not to be outsmarted by a ten-month-old, Angie and I took turns taking naps so that we could all catch some shuteye.

12.11.10 - Did you have to wake me up?!!

It was nearly midnight when I got in from covering a wedding in McPherson. As soon as I came in, Angie realized she hadn't taken a photo of Nate for the day. Caring for two under two while growing a third, I can understand how a photo might not be at the top of the priority list. We snuck into Nate's room to get a shot of him sleeping but the flash woke him up! Oh, no!

12.10.10 - Music to our ears

Maddie and Nate play a duet on some musical toys at Nan and Pop's tonight. As usual when Dad's away shooting a wedding, the rest of the family seek refuge (for awhile, at least) at Angie's grandparents' house!

12.09.10 - Taste tester

Nate gets to be the taste-tester for a batch of alphabet soup Maddie whipped up while waiting for their mom and dad to whip up some real dinner.

12.08.10 - And that's all I need

I need this snuggly and that's all I need. And this. I need this binky. I need this snuggly and this binky and that's all I need!

12.07.10 - "Peek-a-boo, Dad!"

Nate likes to play peek-a-boo over the back of the sofa.

12.06.10 - Clean sweep

Two weeks ago, Nate was terrified of the vacuum. Tonight he was mesmerized.

12.05.10 - Pushy

When it comes to her brother, Maddie can be a little pushy.

12.04.10 - First Christmas gift!

We celebrated Christmas with the Swearingens in Manhattan tonight and Nate got to open his very first Christmas gift - a book about trucks! Getting together with Brian and Emily has become a yearly tradition and every year there seems to be a new kid. Next year will be no different. :)

12.03.10 - Big smiles

Nate started to (somewhat) emulate is sister's antics tonight at dinner. Ordinarily I would only show one photo but this needed both photos for full effect.

12.02.10 - Pincer grasp

We were paid a visit by our Parents as Teachers parent educator tonight. She brought an activity for Nate to practice his pincer grasp. He had no problems picking them up and stuffing them in his mouth!

12.01.10 - Christmas blankie

Aaron gave this blanket to me on the first Christmas we were matched together in Topeka. It comes out each holiday season. It's a favorite with Harley, then Maddie and now Nate.

11.30.10 - Window shopping

Grandma and Grandpa Shepherd asked for our input on picking curtains and window treatments for their new house so we spent some time at the mall tonight looking (and playing) around.

11.29.10 - Behind Door No. 2

Nate loves closing the door to his bedroom. He's laughing here because he thinks it's funny that it slams into his dad's head while he's trying to take this photo.

11.28.10 - Grandpa's basement

We went back over to Grandma and Grandpa Shepherd's new house today so Angie could take a tour. While she looked around, Nate practiced his standing with grandpa in the basement.

11.27.10 - Carriage rides

We braved the chilly nighttime air tonight to ride the free Carriage Rides at Bradley Fair. It's a fun time but if you go take a blanket and be prepared to wait.

11.26.10 - Standing!

Nate's been practicing his standing lately but tonight was the first night he stood in his crib!

11.25.10 - KitchenAid dishwasher

Angie has a KitchenAid mixer and Daddy has a KitchenAid dishwasher. No kidding, while unloading the dishwasher this morning before beginning Thanksgiving dinner pies, Nate managed to pull himself up on the opened lid and started going through the silverware.

11.24.10 - Feed The Children

Some days, I swear these kids are going to eat us out of house and home. But, as Angie said recently, "We may struggle with what to make for dinner, but at least we can make dinner." It was a stark reminder for me how fortunate we are, even on days when it's hard to see.

11.23.10 - This boy needs a car or two

Nate likes to push things around the house. So, if you're wondering what to get him for Christmas, get him so cars and trucks! Poor kid, we're still pretty heavy on girl toys around here.

11.22.10 - Grandma's (new) house

Grandma and Grandpa Shepherd closed on their new house today and we got to take a tour before dinner. Nate loves it! It's a big house with room for lots of toys and only six blocks from our house. They'll move in in a week, after all their new furniture and appliances arrive. We can't wait to have them closer!

11.21.10 - Weeeeeeeeeee!

It was ... Absolutely. Beautiful. Today.

In fact, Wichita may have set a record high today (eat your heart out, Hawaiian vacationers!) so between lunch and afternoon naps we squeezed in a few minutes at a nearby park. We've been there before and Maddie loves the slides. Today, Nate got to play, too, having a ball on the swings with his Mommy.

11.20.10 - Not my mom

Aunt Emily is staying with us tonight because her job brought her to town. But it just so happens that tonight is Bunco night so while Angie's away, Emily helped entertain Nate. They played a few toys and read a few books. Nate did fine but this look seemed to sum it up: "I have no idea who this woman is but she's NOT my mom, dad!"

11.19.10 - I got the fever

Nate's fever just isn't going away but it isn't getting any worse. We've been taking his temp regularly and pumping him with baby Tylenol. Being sick sucks. :(

11.18.10 - Poor baby

Nate's been fighting a slight fever today. He woke up after being in bed for an hour tonight. After changing his diaper, he rolled over on his tummy, butt in the air, and laid there on the floor. Poor guy, he felt so rotten. So I stretched out next to him and snuggled. I don't know if he felt better but it made me feel better for him.

11.17.10 - Full house

Fortunately, I think there's room for at least one more.

11.16.10 - Driving Miss Maddie

We went shopping for a new kitchen sink faucet tonight at Lowe's and Nate drove the car cart with Maddie. Although Maddie wasn't interested in it at first, she later walked over to one and wanted in. It was their first time to take one for a spin and they had a pretty good time although they're terrible drivers.

11.15.10 - Baby cages

Angie's boss in the library at KU refers to playpens as "baby cages." When you have two kids (and one on the way) you can't afford fancy baby cages so diaper boxes will have to work. :)

11.14.10 - Monkey hat

We ordered a monkey hat pattern online a few days ago and hired a co-worker to crochet it for us.

11.13.10 - Full belly

When I have a full belly, I like a nap, too! I usually make it away from the dinner table, though!

11.12.10 - Time for bed, little monkey

And you, too, Nate!