Post-Halloween Blues

Another Halloween has come and gone. I really had fun playing with the decorations around the house this year. Mommy has a set of ghost coasters (which Daddy calls “ghosters”). I’d collect them from the various tables, line them up in a row, stack them, or just hold them up to Mommy or Daddy (or any consenting adult) and yell, “Boo!” This little game evolved into quite the ritual. I would say, “Boo!” and my victims would have to respond, “Aaaaa!” If I didn’t think that there was enough emotion in their response, I would gently remind them, “No. You say BIG ‘Aaaaaa!’” It was also fun shopping in the stores this year, too. Whenever I saw a giant spider or a ghost painted on the window, a jack-o-lantern sitting on the display table or bat balloons lining the aisles, I would ask, “What’s a [spider] say, Mommy?” (The answers were “Creepy-Crawly!” “Boo!” “Happy Halloween!” and “Eeek! Eeek!” respectively.)

We really played up the Holiday and the greater Fall Season this year. We took a trip to the Pumpkin Patch with our MOPS group early in October. There, we read stories, played on the John Deere tractor and got into an argument with another little boy who was eying the Deere while I was on it. (“That boy not get on the tractor now, Mommy.”) I also stepped into a pile of fire ants with my sandals on (it was still 87 degrees that day). I cried for about a minute, and then was ready to finish the story. I still talk about those pesky ants from the “pumpkin shack.” One of Mommy and Daddy’s friends from school had a Halloween Party with her kids and neighbors. I got to make a personalized trick-or-treat bag, decorate a mini-pumpkin, eat cupcake “brains” and “spider” crackers, and squish cascarones on my friends’ heads. We also went to the Boo Part at Sea World—I got to swashbuckle a pirate (they named me the Hawaiian Hunter of the West Sea because of my shirt) and sing songs on stage with two other silly pirates.

The Saturday before Halloween, we carved our pumpkins. Daddy carved a mean Daddy pumpkin. Mommmy carved a silly Mommy pumpkin and my wee baby pumpkin was “just right.” (I’m on a Goldilocks kick right now.) On Sunday, Daddy had to work; so that afternoon, Mommy took me to a Fall Festival at the church next door. I jumped in the bouncy castles, played the ring toss, went fishing in the fishing pond (I caught a rubber frog), and pet a baby goat and a donkey in the petting zoo. I also got to share a bag of popcorn with Mommy and eat a blue lollipop (one of my prizes) on the walk home—I think that was my favorite part! The next day, Mommy and I hosted a party for our neighbors—Carroll, Kail and Lizzie. We made fuzzy spider friends, decorated monster cookies, drank rotten apple punch, and ate “monster toes” & “spider” crackers.

I was a pilot for Halloween proper. Before Mommy and Daddy left Okinawa, Daddy bought a little pilot suit in South Korea. I just barely fit into it. Mommy would’ve been heart-broken if I hadn’t. The only problem was when I was let loose in the jumpy castle at the Fall Festival—every snap except the ankle snaps came undone (luckily, Mommy had the foresight to put a pair of my olive drab pajama shorts over my diaper.) It was an excellent way to cool down after working up a sweat during the games. That night, we went to another Fall Festival at the church down the road. I got a pumpkin painted on my face, played lots of fun carnival games (like “Rebekah’s Well” “The Walls of Jericho” and “Jonah and the Whale”). Then we came home and went trick-or-treating around the cul-de-sac. It was really fun when Daddy put the candles in our jack-o-lanterns!

All-in-all it was a successful Halloween. I even cried a little when I saw Mommy packing up the Halloween Decorations that weekend. But she convinced me I’ll like the upcoming Holidays even better!
Until then, enjoy the season!
Nate

Summer 07 Update

It is I, the great Nathaniel Goodwin (“Nate the Great,” for short), back from my summer travels. Some of you were wondering what event could have pulled me away from my bi-monthly-turned-quarterly journals. The answer is this: the call of the open road.

Yes, after I turned 2, life got mobile. Mommy took me on a 12-day road trip up north to see Air Force friends stationed along I-35. Daddy had 3 weeks of finals, so Mommy thought it best to get out of Dodge! We spent 5 days in Edmond (just outside Oklahoma City) visiting the Toweys—Mommy and Daddy’s friends from Grand Forks. I got to play cars and jump on the trampoline with my god-sister, Remy (now 7 years old!) and play with Annie’s brand new puppies. I also went to the Oklahoma City Zoo—I saw grizzly bears swim in the water and get out to shake all the water off, I saw a Mommy gorilla feeding her new baby gorilla, a one-eyed ostrich that was trying to have a staring contest with me and, my favorite, the zoo train.

From Oklahoma, we continued north to Wichita, Kansas to visit friends from Okinawa and Grand Forks. I stayed in my own suite at Hotel Booser and every day Pam & baby Jake and Mommy and I met with Jen & Noelle Matherne to tour the Wichita toddler scene. The big event was going to the zoo on Earth Day! Hey, admission was free, but every elementary school in the southern part of Kansas was there that day. It made Mommy a little stressed to try to keep up with me in the throngs of people, but that’s my job…to keep her on her toes. I also had dinner at the Booser’s and the McGarry’s, tried new foods at good restaurants, “helped” Pam play with baby Jake and played on Noelle’s super-duper swing set.

As for the time in the car, the weather was great for driving, I was well-behaved (we borrowed a portable DVD player from a friend and bought one soon after our return—for long car trips only!) and Mommy says she couldn't have asked for better traffic flow (despite passing right by the Texas Motor Speedway on NASCAR Sunday!) I watched “Leap Frog Letter Factory” several times on the trip and could identify all my letters by the time we got back. Mommy also packed a lot of goodies in a cooler and we stopped to stretch our legs and have a picnic or a snack every few hours. Mommy says the trip went so well, she would consider another road trip in the future.

In May, my cousins Anna (3), Ashley (2), and Adam (6 mo) came to visit us in San Antonio (along with Aunt Julie and Uncle Wes, of course!) It was another non-stop whirlwind with the 3 of us toddlers and an infant. We packed in Sea World (I love watching “Shampoo” and the dolphins at the feeding station), the zoo (I was a crabby-pants that day), Children's Museum, Science Museum (with really cool robotic dinosaurs), Artworks (a whole hour to free-play with playdough, paints, stamps, glue, sawdust, markers and a spinning record player), picnics in the parks, and a lot of backyard pool time in the 9 days they were here.

June took us to Lake Limestone in east Texas a few times. Granna and Papa put a new house on their lot, so we stayed with Great-Aunt Mary Ella during the night while we painted and prepped and played during the day. Our first trip was during Daddy’s two-week summer break after his gigantic med school test, something called the Step One. I planted a pecan tree with Daddy and Papa. Now it’s “my tree.” We also got to “swim” in the lake (though I wasn’t as keen about putting my head underwater or floating in my floatie this year). We went out on the jet-skis, too. I loved going over the bumps. “Again! ‘Gin!” I’d yell. I had fun trying out my new Batman rod & reel set I got from Wendy and Charles for my birthday. I love going to the lake because I can splash in the lake, drive the jet-skis, run down the long dirt road, swing in the hammock, chase the cows at the ranch, go fishing on the dock with Daddy & Papa and eat Granna’s really good food.

In July we headed on another road trip, this time with Granna, Papa, Mommy, me, Katie and Skyler. The Navigator was packed! We ventured back to Mississippi for Camp Meeting and another 12 days of reunion/revival fun. This year was just as refreshing as last year! I swam in the swimmin’ hole and went down the 10-foot waterslide 3 times, picked blueberries with Mommy and Granna’s family, played with my tractors and cars all over the campground, tried to ride a 12” bike—next year for sure!, fed the cows with Cousin Johnny and Cousin Sandy (#68 still likes me), lifted the bucket on a backhoe loader by myself, sang in the toddler choir, ate my first ice cream cone from “the stand,” swam in the tanks after the shaving cream fight (but didn’t like getting my hands messy with shaving cream), went on the hayride, and ate almost an entire bag of Cousin Sandy’s boiled peanuts. It was another year in Little Boy’s Paradise.

On August 1st, we flew from San Antonio to Minneapolis. (Yes, that is the same day the I-35 bridge collapsed in Mpls. Yes, the same I-35 that carried us on our April road trip. We’d been safe at Grandma and Grandpa’s up North in Bemidji for several hours at the time of the collapse. None of our friends or family was directly affected by the tragedy—except for extended commute times. Thank you to everyone who inquired.) With the news of the bridge collapsing and the recall of millions of lead-painted toys behind us, the Minnesota vacation could commence. I went to the Clearwater County Fair with Sydney and Grandma—saw the goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, horses, and cows and even ate a hot dog from the concession stand. I started getting crabby before Mommy could take me on a ride at the Midway, so we went home for my nap.

On Saturday, Mommy took me to the beach on Lake Bemidji for her 15-year Class Reunion Picnic. Mommy’s friend Alyssa took me wading in the lake when I started getting antsy. I had so much fun, I decided to just sit down and go swimming—in my clothes! On Sunday, I went to TWO princess parties. My oldest Breyen-cousin, Anna, turned 4. My cousin Sydney turned 3. I also got to meet my newest cousin Sarah ( Sydney's sister). I had so much fun playing with all my cousins and new friends--not to mention getting TWO slices of birthday cake in ONE day! The rest of the trip consisted of running up and down Grandma and Grandpa’s long, dirt driveway collecting neat rocks and leaves; hiding in the shed Grandpa was building (my fort), taking a photo with all the Breyen grandkids, climbing all over the new swing set Grandma bought for us, playing in the sandbox and giving baby Adam and baby Sarah kisses .

Which brings us to September—this month got a little lost in the hubbub of catching up from our summer travels and starting the routine of the school year! We’re busy this year! On Mondays Mommy goes to the gym for yoga (I get to hang out with the toy cars and “Sesame Street” in the KidZone). Tuesdays we alternate MOPS and story time at the library. Wednesdays Mommy and I attend Bible Study Fellowship. Thursdays is our free day— usually ends up being errands. Fridays we’re back at the gym and onto a “parenting” book club. So, my typical schedule is this: up at 6:45, breakfast (favorites are Cheerios, oatmeal, waffles and yogurt with fruit and juice on the side), dressed and out the door around 8:00. We’re home in time for a little free play, followed by lunch at 11:30-ish (PBJ, chicken nuggets and cheese tortillas are my favorites), clean-up, story time and nap at 1:00. I usually wake-up around 4:00, Daddy gets home around the same time, so I pick out his after-work clothes for him to change into and we wrestle on the bed for a half-hour. This amusement is followed by free play until dinner at 6:00, bedtime routine from 7:00-8:00 (“bath time,” p.j.s, “book time,” “brush teeth time,” “prayer time” and “sleep time”—as I call them).

Oh, we did take a quick trip to the beach and state aquarium in Corpus Christi when Daddy had a Saturday off this month. I love the ocean—floating, looking for shells (so I could load them in my dump truck), driving my beach trucks all over the sand, building sandcastles with Daddy, etc. I can’t wait to go back. After Labor Day was a great time to go…we practically had the whole beach to ourselves until about 11:00. I loved looking at the sharks, jellyfish and river otters at the state aquarium. I got to touch a manta ray and a little sand shark in the petting area. But ask Mommy and Daddy what it was like to share the hotel room with a toddler at bedtime! That’s the highlights from another San Antonio summer. Would you believe it didn’t break 100 degrees here this summer?! (That’s because it was always raining!)

That’s all for now,
Nate

April Likes & Dislikes

NATE'S LIKES • Drawing--well, having Mommy or Daddy draw cars, tractors, trucks, trains and buses • Eating (esp.chicken nuggets, fish sticks, tomatoes & blueberries)-- sometimes with a fork! • Books (but before we read, we must identify all the pictures of the cars in the book, then we can read the story from the beginning!) • Playing outside--even up North when it's 45 degrees • Running across the room, down the sidewalk, through the store, etc. • Splashing in the tub w/cars & boats during bathtime • Elephant rides on Daddy's back • Jumping or doing "trust falls" on the big bed • Playing with cars and trucks in the house, in the car, in a box, with a fox, here & there...everywhere! • Smiling & giving "head butts" (his sign of affection) • NATE'S DISLIKES • Diaper changes--we've got one wiggly, strong-willed little boy! • When he's up past his bedtime • Being told, "No!" • Loud noises • Being sick--this time was really a doozie!

Life As a 2-Year-Old!

Howdy y’all! What a fun time to be a little boy! I love this stage of toddlerhood! I’m really “getting it.” These past few months have been so fun. In fact that’s one of my new words. I love to say “fun” when I like something. Mommy was driving back from bible study this morning and we seemed to be flying over this hilly section of the road. From the backseat I shouted, “Weeeeee!;” followed by, “fun…gin…fun!” Nathaniel speak for, “That was fun! Let’s do it again!” I’m starting to count. We have 15 steps leading up to the second floor of our house. Mommy & Daddy usually count the steps as we go up and down. Hence, I can count to 15! I usually skip the number 5, but hey, I’m trying. I totally get the concept of “more than one,” too. Last month, when I wanted more, I would sign “more” (or “please”) or just say “mo’.” This month I say, “two.” When I see that Mommy has blueberries in her cereal in the morning (I LOVE blueberries), I say “bey-bey-bey.” Then Mommy says, “How do you ask?” I do the sign for “please” (or “thank you”) and Mommy says, “OK, that was a polite way to ask. You can have a blueberry.” Last week I discovered the secret, when she gives me a blueberry, I say “TWO.” Hah! Two is more than one! Now I realize that four is more than 1 or 2, so after she says, “OK, you can have a blueberry;” I say, “Four!” (Mother’s note: I wonder how long it will take for him to figure out 15 is more than 1, 2 or 4!) (Since the last mother’s note, he’s stopped saying “Four!” And now says, “1, 2, 8, 9, 10!” when he wants more than one of something.) I’m working on the ABC song. I know that letters exist. Whenever I see letters on the covers of books, I start singing a mumbled version of the ABC song (at least I start with “A,” get the right tune and throw in a couple of “E” sounds—I’m realizing a lot of letters sound like “E”). The other day, we got out of the black car and I was being the pokey little puppy working my way to the front door. Mommy came around the corner to find me and I was singing the ABC song in the driveway. I found the letters “CHRYSLER” on the side of the door, pointed, proudly announced “C!” and started singing. I’ve got a little over half of the letters down by recognition. I’m particularly fond of Q, T, E, A, C, B, P, O and K (not to be confused with X). I love to play an Elmo game on the computer that allows me to press a letter on the keyboard. Then Elmo tells me a word that starts with that letter and a picture of the word appears. If I accidentally hit the space bar, Elmo starts to laugh and says, “That tickles!” I love to sing other songs, too. I sway back and forth and sort of hum the tune usually shouting the last word of each line. For example, “Are You Sleeping” sounds something like this, “Ah-ah sleeping? Ah-ah sleeping? Mm-mm-John. Mm-mm-John. La-la-ringing. La-la-ringing. Dong. Dong!” Other favorite tunes include, “Wheels on the Bus” (complete with motions), “You Are My Sunshine,” “Old MacDonald” (he usually has a hen, frog, pig, or bull) and “Farmer in the Dell” (farmers have tractors and tractors have wheels. I like anything with wheels.) Let’s see, I still love books. My current favorites are, “Richard Scarey’s Things That Go,” “The Napping House,” “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” (I love labeling colors. My favorite color seems to be “g’een.” My face lights up whenever I say it.) “Noah’s Ark ,” “Little People Wheels Around Town” (or any of his other lift-a-flap books). I also love “Hooper Humperdink? Not HIM!,” “Green Eggs and Ham” (That’s the book Mommy read at the barbershop during my first professional haircut a few weeks ago.), the Berenstain Bears, any of my “Cars” books, “Thomas and the School Trip,” and “I SPY” books (I can find all the cars, trains, buses, vans, etc.) As I approached my second birthday, a new word popped into my vocabulary, “No.” It started off innocently enough. I wouldn’t scream it in a tantrum, but instead matter-of-factly SING the words. For example: Mommy or Daddy said, “Nathaniel, it’s time to change your diaper (I HATE diaper changes). I continued what I was doing and, without looking up, simply responded, “No. Noh. Naaaooooohhhh” as I drive my car down the length of the couch. A few weeks ago at lunch, Daddy wanted me to drink the rest of my milk. Standing on my big-boy chair, I sang “No. Noh. Naaaooooohhhh” as I piled my peas and corn into my mouth. Mommy and Daddy didn’t respond. So, after about 30 seconds of silence I proclaimed, “No!” once more. Mommy and Daddy both asked, “Is that your favorite word?” I paused, thought about it and joyously yelled, “CAR!” I guess that answers their question. I still love cars. I had a racecar theme for my second birthday party on March 17th (for those keeping track, yes, my birthday is the 19th, but who wants to party on a Monday?!) Mommy made the invitations. She included a picture of Lightning McQueen (“Keen” as I call him, from the Disney movie, “Cars”), inviting people to “race on over.” I had a wonderful time. My Great Grandmother and Granddaddy were able to make it from Port Arthur, TX. Grandma & Grandpa Breyen were here from Bemidji . Granna & Papa Goodwin drove down from New Braunfels, my cousins Katie & Skyler, our neighbors and some of my playgroup buddies were also there. I was so overwhelmed and excited; I didn’t talk for the first hour or so. I just ran around with my cars—acting silly. When the kids showed up, we made racing visors with cars stickers. Later, Daddy played “The Wheels on the Bus” on his guitar for all the kids outside. I love doing the motions—I really exaggerate the horn going “beep!beep!beep!” and the wipers going “swish!swish!swish!” (my whole body twists from side to side with my arms straight out in front of me)! At the party, the kids ate grilled cheese sandwiches with grapes and the adults dined on Daddy’s chicken fajitas. I really enjoyed the present-opening this year. I wanted to play with every gift as soon as I opened it. But when Mommy pointed out I had more presents waiting, I gallantly put that gift aside and waited for the next package to arrive in front of me. Of course, the overall gift theme was cars, trucks, trains & tractors with some clothes, books and alphabet games sprinkled in for Mommy (er, I mean for good measure). Soon it was time for my birthday cake. Mommy made a buttermilk chocolate cake in the shape of a racetrack. There were even two toy cars on the track! After the “Happy Birthday” song, right before I blew out my candle, Mommy and Daddy asked me how old I was going to be. I diligently responded, “TWO!” In the end, I sort of understood that this celebration was all for ME! I was wound up the entire morning (and well into the afternoon). On my actual birthday, Mommy & Daddy took me to Chuck E. Cheese for a “quiet” family night. Daddy tried to teach me skee ball, but I wanted to use all of my tokens on the Monster Truck game. Earlier in the day, I had my first tea party with Mommy. I found the blue elephant tea set Mommy & Daddy got in Thailand. I took one of the cups to Mommy in the kitchen and clearly announced, “tea!” It was sort of a demand, but Mommy filled the cup with apple juice and warmed the “tea” in the microwave. I enjoyed a few sips, but realized the party would be more fun with two people. I took another cup into the kitchen and said, “Mama. Tea. Sit.” I politely showed Mommy where she should sit with me at the table. She made herself a cuppa and joined me. I thought I was such a big boy—I smiled and sipped with both hands the entire party. Aunt Ju-Ju (Julie) joked that maybe she should’ve given me a tea set for my birthday! Shortly after I turned 2, Mommy and Daddy found a good deal on a used blue racecar toddler bed! It’s all ready to go into my room; but people keep telling Mommy, “If he still stays in his crib…don’t mess with a good thing!” We’ll see. I’ll probably move into my “bigger-boy” bed soon. Mum’s theory is we’ll probably have to battle the crib-to-bed transition eventually, why not now? The two-year-old milestone also marked the transition to my nickname, Nate. Mommy and Daddy had thought all along that they’d call me Nate as I approached preschool age. And boy am I thankful! I think it will be a lot easier to learn to write “Nate” than “Nathaniel!” When I moved up from Bible Babies to Bibleland in the church nursery, I was registered as Nate…so begins the transition. Wow. That’s my two-year-old update. For the record, there are a few more trying days between me and Mommy now that I’ve started my third year of life. But right now I think Mommy & Daddy will tell you that it’s still more the “terrific twos” than the “terrible twos.” The three of us will keep you posted.
Until next time, Nate

Happy 2007! (I'm 21 Months!)

Happy New Year! I hope y’all had a Merry Christmas! I am about as happy as an almost-two-year-old boy can be right now! First I had Christmas up in New Braunfels with Granna & Papa and my cousins Skyler & Katie. I got a train set, an art easel, cowboy boots & a cowboy hat, an Aquadoodle pad, little San Antonio Spurs Nikes from Uncle Todd, the “Cars” movie on DVD, some “Cars” shoes, and a “Cars” book (do you notice a theme?) I really got the hang of opening presents this year. I could rip the paper off a box or pull tissue paper out of a bag in less than 20 seconds! The next day I baked cookies with Granna. I loved cutting the Christmas shapes and shaking the sprinkles. Mommy and Daddy even let me try one after they came out of the oven! I went to see Santa Claus twice this year. The first time I was very excited to see him at the beginning. Mommy & Daddy asked me if I wanted to sit in Santa's lap while we were waiting in line and I nodding, "yes!" enthusiastically. They kept asking, "where’s Santa?” I would point quickly and smile. But, when my turn came, I got a little nervous. I cried a little and yelled, “No!” when I was supposed to sit in Santa’s lap. I gave Santa a “high-5” instead. The second time we went to see Santa was at La Cantera Mall. This time I knew exactly what I was supposed to do. I sat on Santa’s lap like a big boy—a little confused as to the point of the hullabaloo, but sitting for the camera none-the-less. My final episode with Santa this season was at home. Grandma gave us a singing cowboy Santa who dances. Whenever Mommy or Daddy would turn him on, I would shriek at the top of my lungs and yell, “Off!” But by the end of the week, I was requesting the "Santa song" wherever we went. On Friday the 22nd I left for Iowa. The flights up to Des Moines and back went well. They should have, I’ve flown enough (but Mommy still gets nervous about me before every flight)! It helped that I was bumped up to First Class on the flight from San Antonio this time. It was a nice Christmas present, but it made Mommy very uneasy. She kept asking, “doesn’t the nice lady know we’re traveling with an infant?” Whatever that means; I happen to be a toddler. As long as I had my cars and books, I was fine. Since we got up at 4:00 to catch our 6:00 flight, I went to sleep as soon as I was in the car on the way to Uncle Wes & Aunt Julie’s after we landed. Their neighbor, Shelly, had to pick us up since Julie was in labor at the hospital. Oh, yeah! I have a new boy cousin on the Breyen side of the family. Aunt Julie had Adam Wesley at 12:12 on 12/22. I got to go see my new cousin at the hospital the same day he was born! He was a fun Christmas present for the Papenfuss household. He was a big guy at 9 pounds 5 ounces, but still didn’t want to play too much with the rest of us. He slept a lot, but I still gave him lots of hugs and gentle kisses. He’ll be a lot of fun to play with in a year or two! I had a wonderful holiday up in Iowa playing with my other girl cousins Anna, Sydney & Ashley. I came home with an entire suitcase full of toys, too! I got a plethora of cars and trucks, a Cabbage Patch Kid named Nathaniel, “Cars” slippers and “Cars” p.j.s, dinosaur p.j.s, books, puzzles, toy animals, a doodle bear, a DoodlePro pad, and a toy garage. I’ll need three months just to unpack my booty. (Hmmm, just in time for my birthday loot from Mommy & Daddy!) Now I’m back at home. I meant to get this update out on New Year’s Day, but we all continued the nasty tradition of getting sick when the Breyen’s get together. I was down for the count the last four days. My fever broke yesterday, but I still have this cough. Mommy isn’t sure how much is a cold and how much is a reaction to the cedar trees that bother so many people here in San Antonio (including Mommy). Aunt Julie called yesterday to say that baby Adam was hospitalized with RSV, so maybe that’s the bug I’m fighting. Arghhh. Yesterday, I had my first temper tantrum—55 minutes of screaming, crying, throwing my cars, throwing my books, hitting the walls with my hands, swatting at mommy & Daddy, batting my sippy cup, dropping to the ground and kicking the floor with my feet then spinning in circles. At one point I heard Mommy say, “Who is this boy and what happened to our Nathaniel.” She was very happy Daddy was there to witness this dramatic shift in my behavior. I’ve been such a mellow kid until now he probably wouldn’t have believed her if he hadn’t seen the display with his own eyes. Yes, I do turn two in March; I’m just trying to prep Mommy & Daddy for what’s in store. (Grandma says I’m simply advanced for my age.) My obsession with cars is still prevalent, of course. Aunt Julie says it’s a “hoarding” issue. If there is a car in the room, I must have it in my hand. You can always find me holding a car, reading about cars or lining up cars end-to-end. I also love to dance. I play the music magnets on the fridge, lift my legs up high and stomp them down again or I sway my body from sideto- side and swirl my hips wide. Mommy says I'm going to get all the ladies. I’m also quite the neat freak. Oh no, I could care less if there are cars, books and toys all over the floor; I just want my hands, plate and sippy cup to be orderly. If there’s a speck of milk on my plate (where it doesn’t belong) or a crumb of toast on my sippy cup or some oatmeal on my finger; I scream at the top of my lungs and point to it. Forget the fact I’m wearing a bib and can wipe it by myself. I want to make sure everybody is aware of the travesty. My vocabulary is increasing everyday. I now say “Sorry” on a regular basis (I get a lot of practice). I said “Wuv yooooooo!” to Mommy and Daddy over Christmas vacation and almost made them cry (I’ll have to remember that one!) I still don’t say yes, but I nod with my whole body when I want something (like a Japanese bow). I’ve learned the power of using the words, “momma” and “dada,” too. I hope everyone reading this entry had a wonderful Christmas and a happy turn of the New Year. My resolution this year is to see how quickly I can frustrate Mommy & Daddy every day by testing their patience and their authority. 2007 should be a fun year!
Until next time, Nathaniel

18 Months!

I think at my age it's still appropriate to celebrate half-birthdays; so, I should get a year-and-a-half present! Can you believe I’m half-way through my first year of toddlerhood! I love being a big boy. I am starting to understand that I have a personality and my own desires. Just ask Mommy how I demonstrate this new discovery when she says, “No cars while you eat.” Or Daddy says, “Let’s go change your diaper!” I definitely let them know that I disagree with their stifling statements. My favorite ploys are arching my back, going limp or a short, high-pitched scream of frustration—depending on the situation. I’m sure this phase goes hand-in-hand with my “testing.” I love to make Mommy or Daddy say, “No.” I just want to make sure they really mean it—that it’s not some sort of verbal hiccup. I’m here to help. All my shenanigans aside, I still love being around people. I love charming them with my dimples when I smile. I’ve started waving and yelling, “Hi” at other shoppers in the aisles or strangers in line at the post office. Usually, they smile and wave back. After all, I have a pretty loud greeting, “Haaayyyyyeee! Haaaayyyyeeee!” I love to give Mommy and Daddy hugs and a kisses before bed. I smile after each kiss; then turn, give them a big hug and pat their backs! (I smile even bigger when Mommy and Daddy ask for a kiss and I don’t give one!) Without a doubt, I am obsessed with cars—or anything with wheels. Mommy says I should find a new hobby. She insists that the fine audience who reads this journal must be growing tired of hearing about my fascination with cars. So, I’ll talk about how much I love books. When I finally sit still at home or during playdates, it’s because I’ve found a stack of books somewhere. I’ll sit on the floor, on the couch or in a toddler chair and flip through books. Of course, the book I want is always on the bottom of the stack. I love exploring the pages—especially animal books, books that make noise, car books, truck books, train books, airplane books, etc. Do you notice a trend? I’m very curious with buttons, too. I love to push buttons or switches (especially on electronics). I can quietly explore a remote control for 30 minutes. Likewise, I could talk about how I like music. I love to dance to music. I bend my knees to bob up & down, put my hands in the air or spin in circles. I really love it when Mommy and Daddy sing, too. When I’m acting up in the cart, stroller, carseat, highchair, on the changing table, etc., Mommy or Daddy can usually calm me down by singing “Hush Little Baby,” “I’m a Little Teapot,” “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or my favorite (you figure out why), “The Wheels on the Bus.” When I want someone to sing “The Wheels on the Bus,” I start shaking my wrist back and- forth (like the wheels going “round and round!”) I shake my wrists whenever I see a school bus or city bus, too. It’s my sign for bus. (WARNING: This paragraph is for grandparents or speech therapists with occupational interest only!) Some of you have asked how many and which words I’m saying these days, so I took a few minutes to write them down (and Mommy made notes): car (this was really his first word), Daddy (says very regularly), Mommy (says when prompted, usually he just calls me “Car!”), truck (also does the sound of a big diesel truck), train, “beep! beep!,” tire, ball, dog (his special toy is a doggy blanket), duck (his nursery theme), hi (and wave), bye (and wave), cheese, shoe, sock, shirt, fish (he went on a big “sh” sound spree there), Elmo (“mo”—he doesn’t even watch Sesame Street!?) and Anna (“na”), Skyler (“sssigh”), Ashley (“aie”) & Sydney “(“sa”)—all his little cousins. I also sign the following words: milk, eat, all done, car, bus, book, bath (splashes his hands), and please (now how do we teach him that just because he says please, doesn’t mean he gets what he wants!) I’m also good with noises (word replacement). The pediatrician says these count as “words,” too, I guess. I make noises for the following words: dog (“huh, huh, huh”—like a dog panting), cat (“meow”), bird (“caw”), horse (“clop-clop”—clicks his tongue), cow (“moo”), pig (“gruntgrunt”— like an actual pig snort, not an oink), frog (“grunt grunt”—same as a pig!), snake (“sssssss”), bee (“zzzzz”), monkey (“aahh-aahh”), gorilla (“ooo-ooo”—and then beats his chest), firetruck, police car & ambulance (“rooooo-rooooo”—for anything with a flashing light), a big dump truck, cement truck, or any big rig (“rrrrr, rrrr, rrrrr”—like a big diesel truck). I’ve also started using two-word sentences. “Milk please,” after I wake up from my afternoon nap is a favorite. So, that’s a typical snapshot of my interests other than cars, you’ll see there’s still a general trend. Most of my interests revolve around things with wheels. I still get excited when the big rig next door starts his engine for work in the morning or an airplane flies overhead. I’ll point out the window or up in the sky and yell, “car!” During playdates or at the nurseries for church and MOPS, I run to the cars right away. Ride-on cars, small matchbox cars, big dumptrucks I can push on the ground; I like them all! I’ll find all the cars in my toy baskets and line them up bumper to bumper on the window sill. Mommy and Daddy did some landscaping this fall; while we were at the big garden center looking at plants, I found a small, Rubbermaid-like garden trolley and entertained myself by pushing that around for nearly 45 minutes! Needless to say, Mommy encourages this passion a little more than Daddy would like. “Oh, gee, another toy truck…just what we need!” Mommy and Daddy did get together though to surprise me with my first movie, “Cars,” of course. They waited until it was at the dollar theater in case they had to leave the theater half-way through the show (especially since I don’t even sit still to watch TV yet). Grandma Breyen sewed a camp shirt and matching hat out of “Cars” material for the event. Mommy took photos of me & Daddy in front of the marquee. I was in awe for the first 30 minutes—just in a trance. When the racecar hero in the movie, Lightning McQueen, first appeared on the screen, I pointed at the screen, turned towards Daddy, then whipped my head towards Mommy and gave them a look that said, “Are you guys seeing this? There are giant, talking cars up there! This can’t be happening! I never want this moment to end!” I lasted about an hour in the dark theater. Then Mommy and Daddy took turns tag-teaming to take me out into the halls to run around (which was fun in its own rite). After the movie, we all went to Chik-Fil-A (kids eat free on Tuesdays!) We had so much fun! In other news since the last update, we went to the lake for Labor Day weekend. The whole Goodwin clan was there. I got my first ride on a jetski with Mommy & Daddy. Two weekends later, we went to Houston for Jason’s cousin Lee’s wedding, my first one; I stayed up until 10:00—way past my bedtime (and Mommy and Daddy were still one of the first guests to leave the celebration!) That weekend I had my first Ikea experience, too. I ran around the store for four straight hours. It’s like a giant playground (except for the lighting and vases area). Daddy had two more rounds of tests. Mommy is keeping up with a full fall schedule (which is fine with me, because I get to see other kids whenever she goes to one of her “meetings”). She’s happy to note that the house is “almost” set up (unhappy to note that it’s taking so long). Let’s just say she wouldn’t kick you out of the house if you wandered upstairs by mistake. Other than that, I’ve been busy cutting my molars, exploring my world and running everywhere I go! I leave Thursday, October 19th for a 10-day trip to Iowa and Minnesota to see my cousins and Grandma & Grandpa. Yippee! Another airplane trip--I can't wait! Until next time, Nathaniel

Long Time No Hear! (17 month Update)

Wow! Where to start! I must admit, I’ve been a bit remiss with my journal. It seems I’ve been too busy “going” I haven’t had time to reflect. But, Mommy and Daddy say I need to slow down now and then to smell the roses and reflect on days past. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride (hee-hee)! As you know, I turned one in March. I was such a baby then. Now I’m a big 17-month-old. I can run, scream, sign, climb into and onto seemingly everything (just try me), and cuddle. Oh, there’s one more verb that Mommy doesn’t like to talk about, “bite.” Grandma Breyen thinks it’s hilarious whenever Mommy vents her frustrations. She just laughs, “Hah! The biter got a biter!” So I guess Mommy used to bite, too. I’m pretty sure she’s over that phase.

What else am I into? I love flipping through books and I dig cars. I can spot a car on a poster, billboard, cereal box, book, magazine ad, in the road, on a truck, in a toybox, etc. No car is safe from these eagle eyes. And by car, I mean anything with wheels. If an airplane flies over the house, I drop my toy cars and yell, “car!” If a truck starts its engine outside, I run to the front door and yell, “car!” If I see a boat on the lake, I point and yell “car!” (OK, boats don’t have wheels, but their trailers do.) For those of you who have seen my obsession first-hand, you understand how compulsive I can be when I empty the toybox in order to find every single car; then line them up. Or sometimes I’ll make one pile of cars and move them one-by-one to another, better pile.

Other than biting and cars, what have I been up to since March? Roadtrips and entertaining! We drove up to Abilene, TX because Mommy & Daddy are crazy, but also to meet Rusty and Fenny’s new baby, Reagan Evers. We took an earlier trip to College Station, TX to see more friends from Okinawa, Brian & Ann Gwinnup. They were passing through on their way home to Florida after Ann gave birth to baby Jackson in Denver a lot earlier than planned. It was fun to play with Riley (I’ll give Jackson a few more months)! Over Easter, I went on two Easter Egg hunts and to a petting zoo. When the farmer gave me a handful of oats for the baby goat, I ate them. The man assured Mommy it was “just like trail mix.” We made a couple of trips to Granna & Papa’s lake house in east Texas this summer, too. In May, I tried swimming for the first time. I don’t know which style of “swimming” I like better; sitting in my floatie and leaning back against the headrest, or laying horizontal in the water with my hands folded across my chest in my life vest. It's a rough life. Since then, Mommy has tried to get me used to the water. I can blow bubbles and I’ll even let Mommy dunk my head under water. But when we go to the water park at SeaWorld, I just like to climb up and down the big stairs OVER & OVER again.

Daddy took his last final on May 12. Then he had TWO MONTHS of summer vacation. I liked having Daddy home so much! We went to the lake, SeaWorld, the zoo, etc. We met up with Ms. Jen and Noelle Matherne (our friends from Okinawa) in Austin. We played in a really big park ( Zilker Park) and went swimming. I also got my first real taste of traditional Texas BBQ in Dripping Springs. We then hosted Brian & Janelle Cahill for almost two weeks while they were here in San Antonio. I had fun playing with Brennan & Sarah at the Children’s Museum, the Science Museum, the zoo and exploring new restaurants. I also got to entertain baby Kate Manion when her Mommy & Daddy flew down to San Antonio for lunch (ah, the life of an airline pilot). Over Memorial Day Weekend I got to see my god-sister, Remy, when Martin & Kelly Towey flew down to SA in their plane (ah, the life of a private pilot). We explored SeaWorld, the Science Museum and Mommy & Daddy shared one of their traditional red-wine dinners with the Toweys.

I’m not sure what happened in June. Mommy took me to a bunch of playdates, storytime at the library, walks through the neighborhood, and errands. Daddy pulled up the carpet from downstairs and installed something called “wood laminate flooring.” Whatever it is, I can run a lot faster on it. At the end of the month, Mommy and I took another airplane trip; this time to Minnesota. Daddy joined us a few days later (after his summer AF course). I loved it up North! I got to eat lunch and play cars with my Great-Grandma Breyen, snuggle with my Great-Grandpa Folck, play with my cousins Ethan, James & Emily, and see a lot of my great aunts and uncles—and that was all in the first day! Whew! I told Mommy to slow down, or I won’t be able to keep up my cute-and-charming gig for 2 weeks. Up in Bemidji, Grandma & Grandpa Breyen had a very kid-friendly backyard! We had a swimming pool, swings, climbers, and TRUCKS, CARS & BULLDOZERS (my favorite)! I loved playing with my cousins, Anna, Sydney and Ashley again. Those girls are crazy! They liked to use Grandma & Grandpa’s fireplace hearth as a stage. We sang quartets of “The Wheels on the Bus,” “Twinkle Twinkle,” and “The ABC Song.” My role was to look cute, dance and, every now and then, throw in a hand motion.

On the 4th of July, I went to the Kolarsky's cabin. There, I went on another boat ride. I’m not too sure about boats. I don’t cry, but I don’t smile. I just sit there, expressionless and motionless while we’re moving. This past weekend on the Gulf of Mexico, I found out sailboats are a different story! When we returned from MN, Daddy started school. Mommy and I had three days at home; then we piled into Granna & Papa’s Navigator for our roadtrip to Mississippi . Daddy’s family reunion (on his Mom’s side) has been going on in Summit, MS for over 150 years. This was my first time (and Mommy’s, too). It was FUN! My cousin, Skyler, and I played with cars, wagons, bikes, tractors (big & small), fed the cows, rode horses, etc. We ate fresh blueberries, fresh peaches, butter beans, fresh tomatoes, and even chocolate cake! I went swimming in the creek—Mommy jumped of the really high rope swing! We went to church every evening, but sometimes I was already asleep. We were having so much fun that Daddy caught a same-day flight into Jackson for the final weekend of Camp Meeting. He was there for the hayride, Big Sunday and the road-trip home! Camp Meeting is a little boy's paradise!

When we got home, Mommy was really busy recruiting for the MS-Toos (the med school spouse’s group) since it was orientation week for the firstyear students. Daddy was busy studying for his first round of tests. My fall schedule is filling up quickly. If you’d like some cuddle time, you’d better call soon. I’m a busy baby. I have Bible Babies at our new church on Sunday. (Last week Mommy & Daddy got paged during service because I was crying so hard—an angry cry, too. The older people kept saying something about the onset of "separation anxiety." I just know I wanted my Mommy and Daddy.) On Tuesday, Mommy and I attend MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers). Wednesdays it’s the MS-Too’s playgroup. Thursdays Mommy is trying to get me into a Mom’s Day Out program so she can have one afternoon to herself a week. (I don’t get it; after all, the universe does revolve around me. Why would she want alone time?) Mommy’s trying to start a neighborhood playgroup. The two houses across the street each have a two-year-old boy. Oh what I could learn from those older boys. I think that about catches you up on my summer—lots of friends, family, trips to the Zoo, treks to the water park at SeaWorld, books and cars.
Until next time, Nathaniel