Nathan in the tree

Pikes Peak

A couple of weekends ago we took a spur-of-the moment weekend trip to Pikes Peak.  The summit is an elevation of 14,110 feet, and you can drive all the way up, it is a 36 mile round trip. 

We stopped at a lake about 6 miles up, it was so beautiful!

We brought Jack along, as always he was a great traveler!

The kids were asleep at the top of the mountain, so we hopped out of the car and quickly took some pictures of the two of us.

Then we drove back down just past the treeline and had a picnic.  It was a little windy and cool, but still fun!

As we were leaving the picnic area, a fox walked by our car!  It was the first time we had seen a fox in real life (besides perhaps at the zoo) so I had to take a picture.

Hannah's 1 year check-up

Hannah went to the doctor today for her 1 year check-up.  She is in the 3rd percentile for weight, 10-25th range for height, and right about 50th for head circumference!  She was a little nervous at first (probably rightfully so, as she had to get shots at the end!) but Nathan reassured her, "It's okay, Baby."  She cried at the nurse taking the measurements, but by the time the doctor came in she was more relaxed.  She even said "Tickle tickle!" as the doctor checked her belly.  It was so cute.

The shots didn't seem to phase her this time, she cried when she got them but I didn't notice any crankiness or tenderness later.  The DTaP is the one that really seems to cause discomfort, and she didn't get it this time, thankfully.  I got the adult equivalent (Tdap) a couple of days after Hannah was born because pertussis was going around and they didn't want me to give it to her.  That shot knocked me out for a full day, not fun!  I have nothing but the deepest empathy for my children when they receive their vaccines since that experience.

Nathan-isms

My mom says I need to write down all the cute things that Nathan has been saying lately, presumably in his baby book.  Well, since I gave up on his baby book when he was a few months old (and things were hit and miss up until that point anyway), I thought I would blog about them.  Let's see, funny Nathan stories...

Today we went to the splash park  We had only been there for about a half hour when in rolled a thunderstorm.  Knowing that Nathan would not be too thrilled to head home so soon, I told him, "Nathan!  Let's go home so you can take a warm bath!"  I always try to emphasize the good (warm bath) as opposed to the bad (go home).  I'm not sure what parenting experts would say about that, but distraction works quite well with a two year old.  Alas, we got home to find that our hot water heater was on the fritz and the kids had to endure what was at best a lukewarm bath.  They played in the tub for awhile anyways, but Nathan said (slowly, as if trying to figure things out), "We came home for a warm bath...  This is a cold bath."

Nathan was playing and talking to himself today, and this is how the conversation went:
"What's Mama's name?  Heather.  What's Dada's name?  Jared.  What's Nathan's name?  Nafey.  What's Hannah's name?"  long pause  "Baby!!!"

A couple of weeks ago, Nathan shut Hannah in her room in the middle of the afternoon saying, "Good night, sleepy girl!"

When Nathan had an allergic reaction to mosquitoes and I had to take him to the doctor, he thanked me as we were leaving the office.  "Thank you for taking me to the doctor, Mama!"

He routinely tells me I did a good job after I finish my morning workout.

Yesterday morning we walked to the park to meet some friends, and the moon was visible in the pale blue sky.  Nathan found this very exciting, so we talked about the moon.
Nathan: "I want to touch the moon."
Me: "That would be fun, but it is too far away to touch.  Do you know how to get to the moon?"
Nathan: "In a rocket ship, like Dora."

Nathan on his Aunt McKenna "BaKenna loves me.  Her took me to the park."

There are so many more, but my mom is right - I need to write them down or I'll forget them!!!