Happy Birthday Nathan

Our sweet Nathan turned two yesterday. What a joy he is in our lives. He is very mild mannered with a squeal and giggle that simply makes you smile right along with him. A frog "fog", bug, tractor "tator", bike, airplane "pa pane", truck, fire engine "jenjin", police car "peace car," train, etc. will bring that delightful squeal, so thankfully we get to hear it many times a day. Here is our attempt to capture that delight and his shear thrill at seeing a helicopter fly close to us at the EAA air show that we watched with my sister and her husband last weekend:

He isn't a very big fan of loud noises though. The fireworks on the 4th of July caused shear terror. Everytime we pull up in our parking lot (where we watched the fireworks) at night, he says "works. SCARY!" We live close to a minor league baseball team's baseball field and every time they have a weekend game they end with fireworks which we can see and hear from our bedroom windows. Nathan will even wake from a deep sleep when the fireworks start and call out "works, scary!" But then he gets to get out of bed and watch them, which he has learned to like. Gratefully, he goes right back to sleep after they are over. We just remind him that it is "sleep time" and he asks to say "payer (prayer)", sing "temple", and after getting his "blanket" and "drink" and we don't hear from him again.

Other endearing things about Nathan:
He loves jelly beans.
His kisses. He makes the correct noise by using his teeth and bottom lip, but rarely is he even facing you, let alone touching your cheek when he makes the noise.
He calls himself "Tatan."
He loves reading books before bed at night. He climbs onto our bed, sets a pillow where he wants to sit, turns around and falls back onto it, kicks his feet up and looks at us, ready for his book.
He loves having his hair done. That love, as well as his occasional insistance that I put a bow in his hair, no doubt stems from his admiration of his older sister.
When he wants something that he can't get to on his own, he comes and finds mom or dad and say "carry." As soon as we pick him up the directions begin..."dat way. Dat way," until we reach his desired object.
He loves marshmellows "lellow", muffins "fuffin", corn, strawberries, bananas, beans, apples "bapple", cheese, bread "bed", hot dogs with ketchup "chechup", chocolate milk "chocat milk", and popsicles "sicle".
He doesn't love meat.
"Thank you much."
"Mo pease. Pea-pease"
"DO IT!" - He has definitely reached the independent phase and wants to do everything by himself.
And he loves Brielle. They play and pretend together so well. It is heart-warming to watch them play and take care of each other.

The name Nathan means "gift [from God]". We are daily grateful for the gift of Nathan in our family. We love you "bud!"