Blue

The only color Nate ever seems to want to draw with these days is blue.  I honestly think it's because it's the hardest color to scrub off. 

"School"

Because Nate is not able to move around and explore his environment like other kids his age, he is considered at-risk for cognitive delay.  So, for the last year an "Early Interventionist" has come to our house once a week to play with Nate and teach him the ways of the world.  Her name is Feng and she is Nate's favorite "teacher". 

 

It has been fabulous having Feng come to our house, but we have decided it is time for Nate to venture out to her clinic to prepare for preschool (which he'll likely start in six months).  Nate is the only kid at the clinic while he's there. 

 

We call it "school" and Nate thinks it is the greatest thing that has ever happened to him.  There are so many toys and books Nate has never seen before.  There is therapy equipment that he actually enjoys using.  His favorites are the scooter board "airplane" and the "merry-go-round".

 

The "merry-go-round"

Puzzle time

Story time

Happy camper

As much as I hate having to get him out of the house and take him to school, it is totally worth it to see how much he loves it. 

Cousin Micah

Nate got to meet his brand new cousin Micah this weekend.  It may not have been love at first sight but they warmed up to each other pretty quick. 

 

 

This is Nate's first boy cousin on the Green side and he was excited about the idea of little Mikkamahkus (Micah Marcus) to play with.

 

There is nothing like a newborn to make your two-year-old seem gigantic.  Micah may be big for a newborn, but he is still SO tiny.  What a sweet and adorable baby he is.  Welcome to the family (and the world), Micah!

Call Me Natey

A couple of days ago, Nate was hanging out on the couch while I got some work done on the computer.  Then out of the corner of my eye I saw his little head start to bob.  Then came some little whispers: "Pss pss pss met yooou, psss psss psss craaazy, psss psssss number, call maybe!!!" 

We may have listened to this song/watched this video one too many times this summer.

 

Nate took very good care of George today by giving him food and medicine via his g-tube.

 

PS If you have trouble giving your kid his medicine, you should totally give him a g-tube.  Nate thinks getting medicine is hilarious and awesome.

 

PPS Yes that is Wild Wild West playing in the background, DJ Nate is a huge Will Smith fan.

Painting

Today I decided to try out watercolors with Nate.  I wasn't sure how this was going to go over since he has issues with most everything wet and/or messy.  He does love to color though, so I figured I had a fighting chance. 

 

Turns out Nate was born to paint.  Check out this masterpiece he made on his first attempt.



He thought the whole process of dipping the paintbrush in water and then picking a paint color was fantastic.

Eventually he discovered finger painting, both on paper and his own body.  He thought it was so fun he didn't even mind the mess or the bath that followed.

 



PS Have I ever mentioned Nate can take some really horrible pictures?

 



Nate's love affair with himself as a baby just keeps growing, so we've been looking at a lot of old videos and pictures lately. Sometimes it's completely miserable for me to look at the "before" pictures of sweet little tubeless Nate, but it's also fun to remember what a happy and goofy kid he's always been. Here's a little gem we came across today...