McMama

In my life before motherhood, the mere idea of stepping foot inside a fast food play area was enough to send shivers down my spine. It's hard to say whether the germs or the chaos frightened me more. How could parents possibly emerge from those places with their eardrums and sanity intact?

.........

Fast forward several years to this morning, when I awoke to freezing temperatures and steady rain. I finished getting my little guy dressed and began wondering what we could do to burn off some toddler energy in such yucky weather. Not begrudgingly, but happily, I loaded us up into the car and headed down the road to the McDonald's...



What can I do but laugh and myself and the way that life continuously shifts my perspective?

Quiet Moments

We had a wonderful morning with our playgroup friends today, but I completely neglected to take pictures (again! I know, I am a terrible blogger). I finally pulled out the camera this afternoon to try to capture some quiet moments. Talking while in motion is how Nathan spends much of the day, so these moments of stillness are especially sweet to me...


You may question my sanity when I tell you that I gave Nathan a box of markers to use for coloring this afternoon, but they were washable, and he did a great job keeping them on the paper...


The dense areas of little squiggles are where he was practicing writing his name. His concentration while doing so was precious...

Hmmm...which color next?

We drew tracks so Thomas and friends could play, too...

Speaking of Thomas...

Just for Grins

Gracie shall henceforth be known as Saint Gracie...

Her patience with toddlers is praiseworthy.

Nathan will not, however, be known as Nate Dog.

(Don't let the backwards hat fool you.)

School Days

Nate had another great day at school today. He hugged his teacher when we arrived and then hurried off to play. I am a sucker for the sweet projects he brings home...

Recent Happenings

On our way to the doctor's office this morning (for yucky nasal congestion), a little voice from the back seat said, "Owls nocturnal." (noc-tuh-nal)

Why, yes. Yes they are. (holy moly!)

And then it was back to talk of Thomas and choo choos. Apparently, Nate has been paying close attention to his animal books.

(but he still loves that Thomas catalog)

Park Playin'

We enjoyed the beautiful weather this morning with sweet Addison and her mama at the park...

School

Today Nathan had his very first day of school, and the only tears shed were mine as I walked to the car after dropping him off. We were extremely blessed that a spot opened up at the wonderful program our church offers on Tuesdays and Thursdays (from 9 to 2). I know that there will be days we struggle in our new routine, but I am so encouraged by how well this first day went.

Ummm...

There are no pictures to accompany this post (and as you read on, you will thank me for that).

I just finished scrubbing the bathtub where a certain little person was taking his bath. Why would I be cleaning the tub after bath time, you ask? Perhaps because my little guy decided to make a sudden, ahem, deposit while bathing. (Boy was I wrong to think the diaper incidents of infancy had destroyed my ability to be grossed out.)


Oh, the glamour of motherhood.

Toddler Terminology

These are not Nathan's sneakers. They are his "football game shoes" (so he informed me this morning while getting dressed).

Glad that's all cleared up.

Thomas "book"

Nathan has long been a lover of books, but his most recent literary favorite isn't exactly what you'd call, well, literary...


As he thumbs through the pages of the Thomas & Friends catalog, Nate makes up stories to go with the pictures. An example: "Uh-oh, Thomas. Wheels off track. Follow me, James! Faster, faster. Percy freight cars going big bridge." Fortunately, he doesn't connect the pictures of all his favorite characters with toys to want or buy. Whew.

Twenty Eight

Hugs + kisses.

This and That

First things first...Happy New Year!

Today Nate went to his friend Addiesyn's 2nd birthday party at The Little Gym, where he had an absolute blast playing with his buddies (Jason, meanwhile, got to sit in a suite at the new Cowboy's stadium to watch the Cotton Bowl — how cool is that?)

Nathan sure loved his cupcake! (Can you tell how well he wore himself out playing?)

And, from Little Gym to a "little gem," which I discovered after putting Nathan down for his nap...

Love it.