Nate has officially become obsessed with the movie Cars. Only moderately interested at first, he now requests it on a daily basis. He also sleeps with and totes around his Lightning McQueen toy car at all times. The repetitious twos have already begun. Nate and I have spent the last 2 weeks on 
Spring Break which has been fun...and exhausting. He is a kid who doesn't like to sit still so we are out and about much of the time. We spent the first 3 days of our vacation up visiting Grandma and Grandpa. Nate did much better sleeping there than last time...which was nice for me! He also wears himself out completely playing with all the other kiddos at Grandma's school. Nate officially named Grandpa and although it still fluctuates a bit, it looks like he is going to be Popah or Papa (stress on the last syllable). As you can imagine, my dad was thrilled to have been named! Aunt Suzanne had the honor of being the first named person. He calls her Suz (sounds a bit like shoes...but she'll take it!). Two weeks ago Bob and Nate saw Suzanne and Stephanie at the beach on our Saturday training run and all he kept saying for the rest of the day was Suz and doing the running sign. 
Spring Break which has been fun...and exhausting. He is a kid who doesn't like to sit still so we are out and about much of the time. We spent the first 3 days of our vacation up visiting Grandma and Grandpa. Nate did much better sleeping there than last time...which was nice for me! He also wears himself out completely playing with all the other kiddos at Grandma's school. Nate officially named Grandpa and although it still fluctuates a bit, it looks like he is going to be Popah or Papa (stress on the last syllable). As you can imagine, my dad was thrilled to have been named! Aunt Suzanne had the honor of being the first named person. He calls her Suz (sounds a bit like shoes...but she'll take it!). Two weeks ago Bob and Nate saw Suzanne and Stephanie at the beach on our Saturday training run and all he kept saying for the rest of the day was Suz and doing the running sign. 
We have kept busy with all sorts of fun things to do around San Diego. We have frequented the zoo, aquarium, SeaWorld (twice), dinosaur park, nameless other parks, beach, and gym class. Nate has truly become a climbing, jumping, falling maniac. His fearlessness frightens me a bit, but I love his adventurous spirit. He is big on hugs and kisses these days and likes to wake a pretend sleeping mommy with a kiss...and sometimes a little kick...right G-Mot?
He has really started expressing his anger and dislike...typically with arms crossed and a growl, but he has recently added in sticking out his tongue and/or trying to spit. This has resulted in our first real "time outs." I put him in his chair in his room and ask him to come out and see me when he is done making mean faces and can keep his tongue in his mouth. He usually returns within a minute and when asked if he is all done, replies in typical Nate fashion with "Yeah." The other day he came out and I asked if he was ready to be nice. He yelled, "Uh Uh!" and then ran back to his chair and did a few fake cries. He then returned and said, "All done." He amazes me every day and although I can foresee we will be heavily tested over this next year, I look forward to seeing him grow, change, and come into his own.
We had a dreary day for our Easter BBQ, but it was nice to have family and friends here. With such tiny houses, being out of the house is pretty much the only option when the Claremont crew come to town. Suzanne celebrated her 29th birthday on Thurs. and G-Mot (Lowell) had her birthday on Sat. so it was an Easter/Birthday gathering. That was 
probably Grandma and Grandpa's last trip down until Nate's Birthday since my dad, Suzanne, and Brian are heading down to Peru in a little over 3 weeks.
probably Grandma and Grandpa's last trip down until Nate's Birthday since my dad, Suzanne, and Brian are heading down to Peru in a little over 3 weeks. We have been spending lots of time with our friends Sandra and James lately since they will be moving to Houston in a few weeks. Nate and James met at My Gym when they were 6 months old and it has been wonderful watching the boys grow up together and become true playmates and buddies. We will miss them tremendously, but look forward to visiting them in their new home.
I am getting ready to head back to work next week and then the whirlwind begins. We are glad to have Grammy coming out for Nate's birthday party this year and it will inevitably be a Cars theme. Still not too many little friends, so I think we will just do a little something at the park where he can run and play, basking in the spotlight of attention. 
Oh, and if you ask him how old he is or is going to be, he can now proudly answer (and most of the time hold up the right number of fingers), "I'M TWO!"
Oh, and if you ask him how old he is or is going to be, he can now proudly answer (and most of the time hold up the right number of fingers), "I'M TWO!"
