In mom's belly

Last night, Bob was looking at some pictures with Colin before going to bed. There was an older picture of Bob, Colin and me in Omaha. Colin asked where Nathan was. Bob said that he was in Mom's belly. Colin just looked at Bob with this wide-eyed expression and very seriously said, "Did Mom eat him?"

"Stink in my nose"

I've been forgetting to post this. It happened on New Year's Day when we were over at our friend's house with Colin and Nathan to watch football. The kids played downstairs and I was down there with them. Colin got one of the candles from the bathroom and asked me to smell it, ummm... smelled good he said. Then he pointed to another candle in the room, and declared that that candle gives him a "stink in his nose". Then he invited me to smell it. Gee, with an endorsement like that how could I refuse? Personally it wasn't a bad smell to me, but for some reason he really didn't like the way that one candle smelled. I'd never heard him refer to anything like that though, I wonder where he got it from ... "a stink in his nose", too funny.

Eating & running

We were in the car going to Moe's tonight and out of the blue Colin says, "When I eat I run faster." Okay, so I ask why is that? Colin replied, "Eating gives me more power!"

Of course.

*Note: after rereading the blog, I realize that this exchange losses something in print because you just had to hear how Colin said "more power". It was just so sincere and expressive.

Doctors appointment

I took Nathan and Colin to the doctor for their 2-year and 4-year check-ups. Kinda nice how their birthdays are close enough that I can combine the appointment. You would think that I planned it that way, but not really.

Our pediatrician, Dr. K examined Colin first to show Nathan how it's done. It worked pretty good, and Nathan was very cooperative. However, during the appointment I realized that Nathan will not be the little nudiest that Colin was. At doctor's appointments, the doctor likes you to take off the child's clothes. So after Nathan's clothes were removed, Nathan spent the whole time whimpering about putting them back on, "pants, pants, pants" pointing to his bare legs. Actually, Nathan doesn't like anyone to be naked. If Bob goes into his room at night without a shirt on, "shirt, shirt, shirt", pointing at Dad's bare chest. None the less, Dr. K was able to get his exam done in various stages of dress and undress. It was very impressive.

I, on the other hand, did a major bad mommy thing. I thought for sure that Colin was not going to get any shots this time ... and I told him that! The nurse over heard me telling him and quickly wrote a note which said that he will get 5 shots. What could I do? I felt so incredibly bad. So note to self -- never never ever tell your child that he is not getting any shots, even if you are positive that he won't, even if the appointment is not for him. Because some how some way, the doctor will figure out a way to do the shots thing. Some government ruling on vaccinations will change, or you'll get the information wrong, or a needle will go on a rampage and get your child. You never know, it could happen. Okay, maybe not the needle rampage thing.

Now I have another year until the next annual check-up. I'm going to schedule both Colin and Nathan's appointment at the same time again.

"Nathan did it"

What Colin says everytime something bad happens. Sometimes it's true. But we can't tell when it isn't. Nathan hurry up and start talking so you can defend yourself!

When Nathan turns two

Bob went shopping with Colin before Nathan's birthday party. Somehow they got on the topic of how old Nathan is. So when they came home Bob told me about the conversation, it went something like this.

"How old is Nathan?"
"One and a half"
"When does Nathan turn 2?"
"At 5:00."

By the way, the party started at 5:00pm. I guess you don't turn 2 until the party starts. If only that was the way to stop turning 40, just don't have a party!

Happy Birthday, Nathan!!

Yesterday was Nathan's 2nd birthday, hard to believe that 2 years ago Bob and I were racing to the hospital just in time for Nathan to be born. I remember Colin's assessment of the situation when he came to the hospital, "Baby born?"

So we had a little party for Nathan with Uncle Ian, Aunt Roxanne, our friends in Roswell, Amy, Eric, their children, Grace, and Tyge who are Colin and Nathan's age; and some new friends from the neighborhood, Karen, Bill and their son, Fritz who is Colin's age. The party was at 5pm and we did a burrito bar where you could build your own burrito. We got the idea from Tyge's birthday party which was at dinner time and included build your own pasta dinner. Tyge's birthday was on Monday.


We also had a cake, that is a cake from Rach Makes Cakes again. She's the one who did Colin's Dr. Seuss birthday cake. This time we wanted a cake in the shape of a puzzle piece because of Nathan's obsession with puzzles. It was perfect!


Recap of the wonderful presents (so I don't forget), from Fritz, finger puppets and a Steve McQueen Cars from the movie. From Grace and Tyge, a Melissa & Doug puzzle (with 12 interlocking pieces of a farm yard) and an aquatic animal 6-in-1 block puzzle. From Uncle Ian and Aunt Roxanne, a Cars activity center with paint, crayons, workbook and game. From Mom and Dad (me and Bob), a cobbler's bench.

Cricket box

Bob bought a "cricket box" in Taiwan a couple years ago. I guess it's a Taiwanese thing where you put crickets in this tiny, ornately craved box with holes. Colin found the box and wanted to go outside to put crickets in it. He placed the box on the back deck and went to the sand box to play. After a while he came back to the box -- I assumed that he forgot about it, but nope, he was checking to see if there were any crickets in it. Then he sits down next to the box and asks me to sit down next to him. He was waiting for the crickets to get into the box! I guess crickets were suppose to know that this was a cricket box, and they were suppose to go into the box on their own accord! So we watched the box a little bit and he says, "I don't see any crickets coming." Nope me either.

Polar bear club

New Year's Day, Inman Park has a Polar Bear Club at the neighborhood pool. Bob thought I was crazy, but I thought this sounded like a fun idea. They even have an "Ice Man Triathalon" where you bike around the block, run around the pool and then "swim" across the pool. The water is about 40 degrees, so not many actual put their head in the water but just wade across.

I don't have a bike and thought that Colin's tricycle would take to long to ride around the block, so I just ran the bike part of the triathalon -- I wasn't the only one to do this. But besides that, I did it and got a shirt too! BRRR - that water was cold. Luckily, it was only 40 degrees outside, they've done it when it's been colder. Yeah, I know it's rare down here in Atlanta, but it happens.