Fun in the water!

Well, as you know from last week's post, Nathan had his last bath in his baby bath tub (and his last shower with daddy this week because apparently he's gotten a bit too wiggly) so this is his new contraption.  It's a very cool seat with suction cups that you stick to the bottom of your tub so baby is safe and contained (thanks to Aunt Carrie for tracking this down for us at a 2nd hand sale)... 

Nathan really seems to enjoy his new bath seat.  I sit him in it and then fill the tub up to about his waist so that his toys float around him...

Bed Head!!!

This past Friday we went to the pool with Aunt Carrie and Sarah...

Nathan flirting with Sarah...

Working on walking...

Playing with Baxter...

Our little musician...

WOW - check him out clapping while standing...

Having a conversation with his bear...

Nathan Turns 11 Months!

Last week started off a bit rough with Nathan taking a tumble off the bottom shelf of our picture table.  He still loves to sit up there and play but he hasn't quite gotten the hang of how to get down from it.  We've been working with him but last Monday morning he decided to just take a nose dive off the shelf and do a face plant onto the hardwood floor.  His little busted lip tells the story...

He still loves to play with the table that Grandma Pratt got him for Christmas.  He's now taken to pushing it all around the house...

Last Wednesday was Nathan's first time swimming!  We joined a group at the Center of Clayton called "Splash and Play."  Here's Nathan modeling his Elmo "Little Splashers" swim diaper...

Nathan's first time in a swim suit...he was enamored with the texture of it I guess because he kept feeling it...

Here we are on the first day with friends Melissa and Jet...

Nathan's new nickname is Nemo because he took to the pool like a little fishy! 

I think that he thinks it's just a huge bath tub - he had a ball!

On Friday, his 2nd day in the pool, I dunked him under a few times and he just thought that was so much fun!  But by far, his very favorite thing to do is float on his back (with Mommy supporting him of course).  He just smiles the entire time and acts like he could do it for hours!

Oh boy...last Wednesday was not only Nathan's first time in a pool, but his last time in the baby bath tub.  Here's one last shot of him in his froggy tub...

Pushing around his table some more.  You can tell by the look on his face that he was squealing with joy...

Oh yes, a new thing he started this past week is climbing up on things!  Here he is trying to scale his table (we're just wondering when he's going to try climbing out of his crib)...

Our little Love Bug on his 11 month birthday.  Man, those cheeks just won't quit - we love them...

Not quite sure when this little guy will stop pulling his socks off.  I think he's like Daddy and just likes his feet bare...

He's persistent, that's for sure...

Aunt Carrie found this cute little wooden train (whose headlight lights up and whose engine toots) at a garage sale and Nathan just adores it...

Aunt Carrie also found this cool basketball, baseball, golf combo thingy.  Watch out NBA, once this little guy gets a little taller you'll want to start scouting him...

Lately, when I put Nathan in the bouncy seat, he pulls his knees up as far as he can and likes to hang out like that.  I guess he's working on his ab muscles...

Still motoring around with this fun cart from Great Aunt Sandy...

This past Sunday we went over Grandma and Grandpa Krestel's to celebrate Daddy's birthday (fyi, the candles are in the shape of a 3 and a 6...sorry to give you up sweetie!)...

Looking like such a boy in this adorable outfit Grandma Pratt sent him...

Trying to walk from Aunt Hanna's arms to Daddy's.  He's SO CLOSE...

He didn't seem to want to share the Desitin with his bear...

Got A Few Hairs Cut!

We kicked the week off with a visit from Parents as Teachers.  Nathan decided to show off during the visit by standing up on his own without pulling up or holding on to anything!  Later that week he was leaning against the front door screen, let go and stood there clapping.  He will now clap whenever you say "good job!" or "yay!"

Here's Nathan hanging out with his two best friends - his fingers.

Ta-Da!

Nathan enjoys putting things in his mouth and just crawling around with them hanging out.  Here he is with his sippy cup, but he'll do the same with his blocks or whatever he can get his hands on.

Playing with his stacking cups while in his super cute jammies that he borrowed from cousin Jonathan...

Another thing Nathan recently started is looking under tables for his stuff...

Finally, we got his hair cut for the 2nd time this past Friday.  This time we went to Aunt Hanna's salon versus Grandma and Grandpa's kitchen.  Instead of having a trash bag draped around him, he got the official cape.  Here's the before shot...

Wet down and ready to go (we kept him occupied with Aunt Hanna's spray bottle)...

The during (he was a pretty good client for the most part)...

The after (we think he looks so much older and his cheeks are accentuated) ...

Nathan has found another hole to stick his fingers in and is looking for a little something extra for dinner...

Fun with mommy (who also got her hair chopped by Aunt Hanna)...

Looking tall and thin...

Our 1st Mother's Day!

Nathan kicked the week off with a new friend - Mr. Octopus, the spout cover.  This was a necessity given his recent tumble out of the tub...he was good and soapy and leaned over to reach for the spout.  Although I had my hands on him the entire time, he toppled out, but, thank God, didn't hit his head or anything - it just scared him A LOT!   As I mentioned last time, Nathan loves to point at everything...

Mr. Smiley (being ever so modest and covering up his privates)...

I recently introduced Nathan to the Baby Einstein videos and I've never seen him sit so still...

He's absolutely enthralled...

Although we don't think it's been warm enough to turn on the air conditioning, we did bring out the fan and as you can see, Nathan is having a ball with it...

He'll stand in front of it and just laugh and scream as his hair gets blown all over the place.  I like this picture because it shows his teeth which are getting so big and making him look so grown up...

What FUN!

On the day of his surgery, May 6th, Nathan gave Mommy an early Mother's Day gift.  I had been working with him on clapping for months and he just didn't seem to be getting it.  Then, at dinner that night, he just started clapping!  I was so proud and excited - who knew it would be such a thrill to see your little boy clap his hands!?!?  Ah, the simple joys of parenthood...

I think he's proud of himself too and he claps constantly now.  Another thing he got the hang of, to Mommy's dismay, is shaking his head NO!  Surprisingly, he does do it at "appropriate" times like when there's something he doesn't want to eat or he doesn't want to go down for a nap or he doesn't want to obey!

Grandma and Grandpa Krestel were over last weekend to help with some projects around the house and Nathan tried Grandpa's ballcap on for size.  Doesn't it look like Nathan is telling Grandpa a story, like he's saying, 'and then...'

One of Nathan's latest things is crawling all around while having an object in each hand so he just kind of glides along the floor...

Our 1st Mother's Day!  I was emotional all week just thinking about what a blessing it is to call myself a Mommy, especially to this sweet little gift from God.  Kevan and I waited many years to become parents and it is a joy and responsibility we don't take lightly.  We thank God daily for this gift and for wisdom in how to raise him in a godly and loving manner...

Giving his bear some, ah, love?!?!