Fall 2008

Hello Friends and Family!
Sorry it has been soooo long since we last posted. We've been a little busy. But, We're enjoying life!

Last month on our way to Mema's house for lunch, I noticed a prime photo op. Hence, the wonderful Fall photos of my little man! Yes, he has grown a ton and is soooo big. He is 45lbs and 43+ inches tall.


What a ham?





We put up our Christmas Tree a couple of weeks ago. Jasmine was much better at wearing the beloved antlers. Kayla was not a happy camper as you can tell. Jasmine would proudly pose and wear them as long as we made her.


I would venture to say that she is cussing me out in this photo!


And, why yes that is me under the Grinch mask! I got roped into being the Grinch for a Christmas Parade for the humane association I volunteer with. Is it sad that I enjoyed it?

Merry Christmsa and Merry Moose-mas!
Love,
Laura and Nate

CLEANER KING

Gotta love this kid! The other day I walked in on Nate in his undies, with his Burger King crown on vacuuming. What a sight! I'm still laughing! Honestly, he cracks me up 50 times a day! (sorry it's blurry, but you get the idea.)

Some of you may be asking why the Burger King Crown? We love BK's fries and whopper with cheese without the meat. Yum!

First Swin Lesson

Well, today was Nate's first swim lesson. He was so excited! We had been counting down the days. He was such a big boy until...he got semi "dunked" by the instructor. Then, all of the sudden you hear crying and "I want my mommy!" And, mom and dad were in the lobby trying to get the camera to work right. But, we weren't allowed to rush in to comfort him. The other moms said, "You can't go in there, unless you want to get in trouble." Of course, I'm still afraid of getting in trouble, so I resisted the urge to rush to my baby. After about 15 mins, he was finished. However, by some act of the good Lord, he made it through the whole class. When I got to him, he said it was scary and that he didn't want to come back. So, next week should be loads of fun. I wonder what kind of bribery tool I'll have to use!

Introducing Nate "Johnny Cash" Meadows

About a month ago, I bought Nate his very own guitar. It's an actual wooden guitar with real strings...can't really be tuned well, but he doesn't care. He loves dancing around strumming his "Gun-tar" and singing his favorite songs. I wouldn't be surprised if he turns out to be a musician. He's a natural!

The Big 3 Year Old

Happy Birthday to Nate!

Per Nate, "I'm not 2, I'm 3 now" as he proudly holds up 3 fingers. His 3rd birthday was this past Sunday, and he loved every minute of it. He is such a big boy. He's the first to correct me when I say, "Baby." But, I can't believe my baby is 3 years old. I remember his birth like it was yesterday. Why do they grow so fast? Why?

We had a party at our house with about 40+ friends and family. That included twelve 3-4 year olds running around. It was so much fun! I think Nate a great time. He wanted a Cowboy theme, but Mom didn't order the supplies in time, so he was stuck with the Backyardigans. I don't think he minded all too much. However, he didn't want anyone else to eat the characters off the cake. In fact, he patiently waited while I got to the middle of the cake to cut Uniqua (the pink female character) out for him.

I think we've already experienced some of the terrible 3's. So, now...I'm thinking I just want to survive this year. I've already survived the first 15 minute public tantrum. This occurred at school when I dumped all of his "junk" out of his "work bag." My little boy is very independent, very intelligent (if I may say so), and very particular. He definitely likes things his way. For those of you who don't know, he carries his own little attache bag around and says it's his "work bag". And, don't anyone dare touch anything inside. He's very possessive and obsessive about it. Those are his "important" papers. In reality, it's junk mail, school work, scribbles, and cut up construction paper. But, it's important to my little man, so it's important to me. Anyhow, the rule for taking it to school is that it can only contain 3 pieces of business. This day he freaked out, and I just about did too. I wasn't the same the whole day. I think I know why some female animals eat their young.

With all that said, I love that little stinker more than anything! And, I'm so extremely blessed that he is my little boy.

He anticipated his birthday for at least the last month. What can I use to encourage positive behavior? First it was Christmas, then his birthday...now I have a whole year! So now what...


Nate eating candy from the pinata


Busted...Nate decided to periodically help himself. At least he stayed in the same spot.

MERRY MOOSE-MAS!

And...of course, MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO!

Nate seems to have his mom's strange fascination with Mooses (or Meese)...whatever...we love them! We had so much fun putting up the Christmas tree and all the decorations. Nate was so excited. He said, "Just look at my Cissmas Tree. My dad built it." And, he also loves "his Cissmas Village" that we have displayed on the table. He really likes the ones that have motion, but we'll have to wait to get one on clearance the day after Christmas. (Or, a better idea...(Hint) someone could get Nate a ceramic Christmas Village item that moves...say the one from Target with the train.) Anyhow...I just love Christmas, and I love it even more now sharing it with Nate. Now, if we could just get dad to put up the outside lights...goodness knows, we don't want me to do it. (He works every single day!)




May you all have a wonderful Christmas! Remember to slow down and enjoy every blessing.

HALLOWEEN 2007

Meet Cowboy Nate.

It was too hot for Nate to dress up in his dinosaur costume. So, he went as a cowboy. And, I have to say he makes a gorgeous cowboy.

We had such a good time on Halloween. We went to a friend's neighborhood to treat or trick. We went all the way around the block with 3 boys all around the age of 3. And, we survived. The boys actually behaved very well. Cowboy Nate, Cowboy Baylor and Bob the Builder aka James all had so much fun. They all went up to the porch, rang the doorbell, and said "trick or treat". Then, to their surprise got candy from every house we went to. Nate so nicely let everyone (including the nice homeowners giving out candy) know that he doesn't like chocolate. I had to convince him that he was getting chocolate for mom. After that, he was ok getting chocolate. He's been on a sugar high ever since, and everything is sticky with candy residue. But, oh well, seeing him have so much fun is worth it.

By the way, it was completely unplanned that he and Baylor dressed similarly...