Footloose and Paci Free

Okay, we are really not paci free at this point, but I thought that was a cute title for this post. We are working on being paci free and today was Nate's first nap without a paci! On Monday I decided that it was time to work on getting rid of the paci. Several friends and even our dentist suggested that we cut it. Some suggested cutting it off gradually and some suggesting cutting it in half. We decided to go with the gradual approach. There doesn't seem to be that much of it gone, but it has definitely lost its appeal. I know this process will continue to require work and Nate is still adjusting (it took him over an hour to fall asleep today), but today was a major milestone.

Beach Trip

We went to the beach last week and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and the water was beautiful. Nate loves the beach and loves getting in the water, but this year we were surprised at how fearless he was. This is not like him at all since he has always been such a cautious child. He didn't mind being hit in the face with a wave or even being knocked down. The funny thing is that he can't stand to get even the tiniest drop of water in his eyes when he's taking a bath.

Nate is really starting to say some funny things. One night he was trying his best to stay awake even though he was so sleepy and my mom told him good night. He told her "You say good night, but I say good morning." When he is really involved in an activity and we tell him that it's time to do something else he'll say "Hey, wait a minute. Let me play just a few more minutes." He got the "hey, wait a minute" from Mater on Cars. He says it just like Mater and it cracks us up every time. We can also ask him how something tastes or how he likes something and he'll say "Pretty good, huh?" I am pretty sure this came from Cars also. Believe it or not, he doesn't even watch it that often. I guess he's saying so many many things from Cars lately since he watched it on the way and way back from the beach.

I also just want to mention how loving Nate is being right now. He'll go through stages where he's too busy for hugs or kisses, but he is in a loving stage right now. He will give us the best hugs and kisses without us even asking for them. His favorite thing to do is have a group hug with me and Darren. It's sooooo sweet. I love this child so much and I'm so thankful for him.

Baby Shower Baking

We are going to a couples baby shower tonight. I volunteered to bring brownies and decided to make them a little more fun and festive for the special occasion. I think they turned out pretty cute.

Nan & Pops

Nan and Pops came for a visit this afternoon. I asked Nate if he was excited that they were coming and he said "Yes!" You would be excited too if you knew you were going to get this.


He definitely loves them, but he also loves the treats they always bring him.


The sweetest smile I got of Nate today was behind the sprinkler

Nate's New Favorite

Technically it's been his new favorite since Valentine's Day. That's when my mom gave Nate a couple of characters from Cars. Then he got a couple of more for Easter. These cars are his absolute favorite thing to play with. He wants to take them every where. One day he lost Lightening McQueen at a friend's house. I knew he would be upset, but I thought it would be a good lesson for him. After an entire afternoon of almost constant whining about it, I said forget the lesson I need some peace and quiet (emphasis on the quiet). So, Darren made a quick trip to Wal-Mart and everyone was happy again.

Spring Flowers

I am still working on my photography skills. This afternoon I practiced with some flowers in our back yard. I love this time of year. I love being awed by God as I look at His beautiful creation.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

I made these amazing homemade cinnamon rolls a couple of weeks ago. I saw them on Bakerella's blog, but it is actually a Pioneer Woman recipe. They are not labor intensive, but they do require a lot of time. Most of the time they require is wait time. You have to wait on a mixture to cool before adding the yeast and then wait on the dough to rise. Trust me (and Darren), they are worth the wait. If you like cinnamon rolls, you should definitely give this recipe a try.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/