Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: 3 years old

Dear Nathan,

On the eve of your 3rd birthday I thought I should write this letter to you.  It's been months since I've done a monthly newsletter so there will be a lot to include here.  Mostly I can't believe you are three years old already.  Time is flying.  Although I'm' really enjoying this age, I wish things would move a little slower.

First off life with you is mostly awesome.  You are smart and funny and cute.  All of those things equally.  You are so funny.   People often laugh at your funny way of say things.  We were on the c-train the other day and you were so excited about things that other people were laughing at you.  Or if we ask you something you'll often reply with a funny "sure". 

Much more cuddly then I remember Lucas being.  You love giving hugs and snuggling in bed together.  This morning Lucas jumped into bed with you to wake you up and you were so happy to wake up that way.    Or the other day we were having a video conference with Grammy and you jumped on my lap and I rubbed your back.  Not a minute after you were sounds asleep on my lap.  It was such a nice thing to have that "baby" experience again.

Your speech has taken leaps and bounds this year.  You are also getting better at playing board games and puzzles and all the things "big boys" do.   A lot of your growing is influenced by having a big brother.  You often copy his dance moves and his kung fu moves.  You also like to "read" books like Lucas does.

As your personality is coming out more and more.  I'm glad you are taking on some of my traits.  Lucas is so much like Darryl it's nice that I have a buddy to do things with.  If I am ever going out somewhere you always want to come with me.  Last week I needed to go pick up a book at the library.  I asked both you and Lucas to come.  You jumped right on the opportunity where Lucas was happy to stay home with Darryl.  And that happens most of the time.  You are my partner in crime when it comes to running the roads, and I'm so happy to have a buddy.    Also like me (and Lucas too) you love to sing along to music. Your favourite song to sing along with lately is a Paramore song "You are the only exception".   I'm lucky the two boys in my life love music as much as I do.

You are not really partial to any character.  You'll enjoy Spiderman as much as Diego and Star Wars.  I think part of that is having an older brother.  You are exposed to more then I would normally do if it was just you. Your drawing is really coming along too.  A couple of week ago I was a work and Daddy sent me a text saying "Nathan just drew a person".   He sent me the picture of it and I thought it was great.

I love you so much, my baby.  Even though you don't like it when I call you baby and you correct me and call yourself a big boy.

love mommy

Nathan Monthly Newsletter: 33 Months

Dear Nathan,

As I write this you have spent the last half and hour talking to yourself in bed while I sat playing games. Your sleep continues to go through stages, for a week it's great then a week it's bad again. Last night you were up for 2 hours so we are in a bad stage.



Speaking of stages you are in the "why" stage. While I was reviewing 2010 one of our struggles one was your speech. At the beginning of the year we were worried about your lack of speech. It's amazing now how much you talk. Sometimes you never stop talking. You ask questions after questions after questions. You want to know where and why and how. Some of your consonances are still needing some work, but most people can understand most of what you say. Although it's still "Lutas" and Huddy Bear" and "Damma".



You love to dance and to sing. Whether it's requesting music in the car when we drive or learning the words to kids songs, like "Down By the Bay". Music continues to be a fun part of your life. Auntie Karen bought you a guitar sweatshirt for Christmas this year and it has become your favorite thing to wear. On the weekend I had to peel it off you get cleaned and then put it right back on as it came out of the dryer. You love that sweatshirt.



You loved Christmas. You were in the stage where it took hours upon hours to open presents because you wanted to play with the toys you got rather then going onto the next thing. And while Lucas's favorite part of Christmas was Jesus, yours was Santa Claus. You talked to the video he sent you.


You have some funny runs, like when you go pee on the potty or you are helping someone out. You do a little run out of the bathroom with lots of shoulder action and I know you are so proud of yourself. Or the other thing you do that makes me laugh is the way you say "sure" when I ask you to do something. Or if I ask you for a toy " Ummm sure" you'll say and it makes me smile.



Over Christmas time you and Lucas have been doing a lot of coloring. You have been getting so much better at it. You are spending more time concentrating on it and doing a much better job of staying in the lines. Also Lucas is enjoying drawing things on paper and you are following his lead. Your drawings rarely resemble what you are trying to draw, but it's good that you are trying.

It has been documented on the blog already, but I'm so proud of how you did with the potty training. Granted the first few days were very very hard. You made it to the potty 1/6 times. But at the end of the second day something seemed to click and we have been pretty good since then. You caught on to it quite quickly and I'm so glad we stuck to it through those couple of days of frustration. You are now a "big boy" and you love to tell anyone who will listen that you are a big boy.


Well Nathan, sleep well tonight, as I'm sure in the morning there will be 100 more questions from you and I'll try to answer them all.

love mommy

November Newsletter

Hi Boys,

This month is another combined newsletter. I wonder how you will feel about these newsletter when you are grown? I hope you are able to look back and read these and see how life was and see how much I love you. This month I didn't get a letter done for Nathan so I'm going to combine them. You spend a lot of time together. You are really really good friends. The talking and the playing happens all the time. Which in turn means there is also some fighting and not getting along. But most of the time you two are the best of friends.




Nathan you are talking a lot. Sometimes you'll repeat a word over and over. Sometimes you'll repeat every phrase I say. You've started to say funny words to, like "actually". Just like Lucas does. You are still having trouble with certain constanants, but most of your speech has come a long way.


Your favourite thing lately has been airplanes. We have an airplane book that we read most nice. You love to pick up Pop at the airport and we go and watch the airplanes come in. You talk every day about going on an airplanes. Whether it's to go see Aunt Lori or Grammie or go with Auntie Karen or Grandma. You are really wanting to go on an airplane. Next year baby... next year



As for you Lucas, things are continuing on quite hunky dory. You are still loving school. It is usually your favourite part of the day. You love Mrs. McKenna, your teacher. We have been talking lots about bullying and being nice to people. Luckily you are a really nice kid in the first place so we don't have to talk about it very much.



You have been more willing to try new things. Tomorrow you are going skating, which you were not interested in last winter. And you want to try skiing this winter. You have also become more willing to eat different foods. The other day we had stomput and you ate so fast, when last time we had it you didn't like it.


You love playing with Lego. Which thrills Darryl to no end. Most days on the weekend, when Nathan goes for his nap you want to go downstairs and play Lego. You love to build ships and play with them. You are also really enjoying spending time with your friends. We organize more play dates with them and you love playing with Matt and Shaun still too.



The other night, Nathan was sick, so to help us both sleep I brought him into bed with me. Later on in the evening Lucas you woke up with a bad dream. You were both in bed with me and I was the meat in your boy sandwich. It was so peaceful to hear you both breathing. I slept great.


Well boys, may the fun continue into next month. Christmas is coming and I'm looking forward to seeing all of the joy and excitement on your face for the season.

love you both

love mommy

Nathan's Montly Newsletter

Dear Nathan,

This week you turned two and a half. In another two and a half years you will be in school like Lucas is and will have grown up so quickly. You are so looking forward to school. I think having a big brother makes you look forward to life so much. For the moment I am really enjoying our "mornings" together. When Lucas is in school we go out and do things and are best buddies. I am enjoying that we get to spend this time together.



It was a hard month for all of us. We flew home for Uncle Ian's funeral and although you were quite good for most of it, but it was hard for you too. There were times that I was frustrated that you were not more quiet or less rowdy. But at the same time I have to remember you are only two years old. I do think your smile helped people.



As I was looking through pictures from the last month of you I have trouble finding any without Lucas. You and Lucas continue to be really good friends. Tonight you and he played for almost 2 hours. It's nice that you can talk more and communicate and have fun with Lucas. Alot of your play and imagining is beyond what most 2 year old plays, bad guys and "lightsabers" and shoot em up.



You have some of the greatest body language. I'm sure it's because you took longer to talk and so you needed to learn how communicate in other ways. But your facial expressions and your body expressions are priceless. If you don't get something you want, you can see your shoulders shrink and your head go down. Or if are thinking about a question you look around with your eyes.
Well best buddy, happy 2 and a half year old birthday.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Nathan Monthly Newsletter: Month 28

Dear Nathan,

You continue to grow up so fast.

Your speech is getting better and better. You are starting to use full sentences, which is great. Sometimes I still don't understand you, especially if I can't see what we are taking about. But your speech is getting better and better. With your increased vocabulary we are seeing how much you know. For example you know most all of your colors.



You have this beautiful smile. It is one of my favorite things in the world. You still love me so much. Which makes me so happy. When I've been away for a while and you see me. Like when I come home from work. You jump up and yell mommy mommy. You hug me and you are so happy.

You also love to make people laugh. If you do something and someone laughs at you, you'll be happy to do it again and again to keep them laughing. You know what a wonderful sound laughter is and will do most anything for it. You love to ham it up for people.



You have moved into your race car bed. Bedtime has become very fun with you. You like to turn off your own light and jump into bed. Then we talk about your favorite things and if anything made you sad. The thing that makes you sad is the same thing everyday. Lucas punches you. That is your sad thing everyday. Now it makes me laugh. I rub your back for a minute and then go.


Somedays you are going through the terrible twos, you can be whiny and hard to get along with. But most of the time you are a funny kid, who smiles at everyone and makes them smile back. A kid who wants to be just like his brother and loves his dad. A kid who makes his mommys worries and bad days disappear.


love mommy

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: Month 26

Dear Nathan,

As I'm posting pictures everyday I thought I would write monthly newsletters to both you and Lucas this month. Things continue to go well with you. Are are a fun and happy guy. You sleep well, even though it is still on your futon.



Your speech is getting better and better everyday. One of the things that I am happiest about is that you try most anything now. For example tonight in bed I asked you to say Lesley, which is a hard word because it has two L's. And even though it didn't sound like Lesley, I could tell you were trying. You are also not good at hard G's. You now love to talk about "da-ma". It's nice that you love her so much. Some of your favorite phrases are "very very hot". Or "dark baby".




We have been playing outside lots with the nice weather. You love it outside. You love to be free and run around.


You enjoy mornings. You are generally happy all the time. Sometimes you get upset if you don't get your way or if Lucas is playing with something you want. But you are usually a pretty happy kid. Speaking of Lucas you love to emulate him so much. A lot of your speech has come from him. That and the gun noises. =)




You still love Mom, but everyone else is moving up on the list. Alexis said the other day she had a breakthrough. You went to her for a hug when you hurt yourself. But lately when I ask you who you are going to dream about at night you say Mommy.

I love you too Nathan.

love mommy

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter

Dear Nathan,

Happy 25 month birthday baby. It has certainly been an eventful month (or atleast last week) for you. It's been interesting to have you at the hospital and to see other peoples reactions of you.



Last week you were sick, which is not totally uncommon for you, but over the night it got much worse. I had kicked Daddy out of bed and brought you into bed with me. When you woke up the morning you were having a lot of trouble breathing. To the point where all of your chest and neck muscles were working to have you breath. I knew this wasn't good and so I took you up to the Children's hospital. They were amazing there and got you in right away. The respiratory therapist asked us some questions and when they determined it was a bad case of croup, they got you the drugs to make it better. You were such an amazing patient. Even the nurse commented on it. She said she'd never seen a kid your age not fight having the mask on. And the doctor asked if you were always so laid back (which you are, as long as mommy is around)



You still love mom. Although you don't cry anymore when I leave you want to be with me all the time. The other day at the hospital I was going to leave to pay the parking and the nurse was going to stay with you. You were having none of that. Or the other night you woke up in the night and was calling out Daddy's name, when Daddy went in you were so upset and was calling for mom, mom again.

Your speech continues it's slow but steady pace. Your favorite word of late is "boo-yah". It makes all of us laugh which makes you say it even more. I think when Lucas gets excited about something it makes you just as excited. If Lucas laughs at something you do, you do it over and over again. You guys are still best buds, even though you can't say his name yet.



We've spent lots of time outside over this last month. The weather is getting better and so we are enjoying the fresh air and the snow. It's great because we both love being outside. You love riding your plasma car and playing in the dirt.



Today is Mother's day and I feel so lucky to be your mom. You are a sweet and wonderful boy.

love mommy

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter

Dear Nathan,

Today you turn 2 years old. It feels like time has flown by. I can remember all the details about when you were born. Tonight while going to bed I let you play for a bit and I just watched you enjoy yourself. It was interesting to watch you entertain yourself.

There are still things that keep you baby-ish. My favorite is your cute baby run. You are also still in the no fear stage. You are super friendly. Will smile and wave at anyone, strangers or people you know


Although you are trying more words, your speech is still not great. We are still waiting to see a speech pathologist to help us. There are things I know you understand even though you can't say the words yet. You get the concept of counting even though you can't say the words. You will point like you are counting and say "unh, unh, unh" You also really enjoy singing even though you can't say the words.



Still love love love you Pop. You talk about him all the time. Every night I ask what you are going to dream about and it's either "at" which means cat or "Pop". Never Mom or Dad or ball or bear. When you see him you give him great big hugs and love to spend time with him.




In general you are very easy going. You are usually happy when I get you up in the mornings and unless you are hungy you are happy most of the day. You go down well for naps and most of the time well at night. You may cry a little for me, but really you are a pretty happy guy.





Eat pretty much anything. Unlike your brother who is starting to get more picky with foods you will still eat anything. For your birthday we are having avacado's and ham and pineapple. Two of your favorite foods.

Nathan this is such a great time in our lives. I love being your mom and a enjoying every moment of your childhood.

love mommy

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: Month Twenty Three

Dear Nathan,

In one more month you will turn two and I can't believe it. Time flies when you are having fun. And most of the time it has been a really fun time with you. You make the cutest faces, whether they are intentional like surprise faces or mad faces or unintentional like a coy face when he trying to be cute.



Your dad and I had some intense discussion about you this month. We are both finding you lack of communication to be a little frustrating. You were sick when we got home from Mexico and so we were very lenient with your sleep, which you were taking advantage of. It was hard to communicate with you to go back to the old ways your Dad and I had some disagreement on how to handle it. But we worked it out and we are back to normal when it comes to your sleep.



One thing I have noticed this month is your preferences for things. When we go swimming you want to spend lots of time in the hot tub and let me know. The other day when we were getting dressed you really wanted to wear shorts. Even though I made you put on pants, you wanted the shorts on overtop of it.



One of your favorite activities is washing the dishes with me. You love love love to play in the water. You play with the bubbles and put water in and out of containers. Usually at the end of it you are soaking and there is lots of water on the floor.



Generally you are a happy guy, you love to bop your head to the music or dance to a good beat. You smile and wave at strangers, which makes them happy. You love to play with your brother. It's still mostly copying him, but you love to be with him.


I love you so much Nathan.

mommy

Monthly Newsletter: Nathan (22 months) Lucas (54 months)

Hi Boys,

I totally missed Nathan's monthly newsletter as I was too busy bragging about the great time we had in Mexico, so I thought I would combine both of you into the same newsletter. This month has had some big up and downs for both of you. Both of you were INCREDIBLE in Mexico. We took you on a plane ride that kept you way up past your bedtimes where the four of us had to fit in 3 seats and you both were so so well behaved. I was proud to be your mom.

Then once we got to Mexico you both had a really good time. You loved swimming, playing in the sand, looking for fish, finding all sorts of other animals, eating, drinking, swimming, playing, hitting pinata's, dancing on stage, freeze dancing, and sleeping. It was really a vacation where Daddy and I got to connect with both of you. It was great fun to play with you, where there were no outside distractions.



You guys are continuing your friendship. It's amazing all the things I'm okay with Nathan "playing" because he is just mimicking Lucas. You guys get bad guys and shoot them. You throw balls around the house and generally have a good time together.



Nathan you are communicating more. It's not with a ton of words, but with more words and gestures. You are also playing more by yourself lately. It's great that your imagination is developing. You love to play with the farm that we have and with the food you got for Christmas. You will "help" me clean and love to spread out a blanket (or napkin) out on the floor.



Lucas you are growing up so so quickly. The other day I brought you home a pair of 10 shoes. Both you and Daddy thought they would be too big and although they are a little big for you, your 9 shoes don't fit you any more. You became a good swimmer while we were in Mexico. You and I had so much fun in the pool. I really love swimming and I'm happy you love it too.



On the bad side you both have been more whiny this month. Lucas you don't want to get dressed by your self and have been lethargic the last couple of weeks. I think alot of it comes from watching too much TV. It's winter and we seem to be watching more TV then normal. Nathan, we had a bump in your sleep and you have been getting up in the nights more often. You both went through a bout of sickness as well. Different sickness, Lucas was throwing up and Nathan you have had a cough and fever for the last couple of days.



While we were in Mexico, I had such a great time reconnecting with both of you. We also got lots of compliments on our parenting and what great kids you were. I am so so happy and honored to be your mom. You are great kids and mommy loves you so so much.

love mom