Missing Nolan

Without Nolan here this week, things have been a little less hectic. Natalie and Nathan are such good sleepers, so Matt and I have been able to spend some time together in the evenings after they are in bed. We haven't done anything special this week, just hung out at the house, and I took Natalie and Nathan to McDonald's today for lunch. I was hoping that with Nolan gone, Natalie would ease up on the hysterical temper tantrums that she throws, but that was wishful thinking. She now gets on her back, kicks her legs at the walls or whatever is in range, and then twists and turns with her legs on the wall and the rest of her still on the floor. I'm just at a loss for how to manage this....I'm just holding out hope for now and trying to keep my patience. Of course this pic is of my "sweet" girl...

On a better note, Natalie is now letting us read books to her. It's so funny because out of all the books we have, she gets about the same 5-7 books each time! Sometimes we can still only manage a couple of pages before she loses interest, but usually we can finish one of the smaller books just fine. We also have been playing a lot on the back deck this week. Natalie loves to be outside, and it doesn't matter if it's in the yard, at the park, or just on the deck. I have my mop and bucket out there, and she has been so amused to mop the deck. She has torn up a box and dropped it piece by piece onto the patio below, she also finds amusement in opening and closing the sliding doors. She's pretty easy to please, as long as you know what she wants...but if you don't, watch out!

Nathan has learned to sit up by himself this week, though this pic is of Pop-paw David doing airplane with him before he gives his pop-paw a taste of spit-up. I have to sit close to him because he is still a little wobbly at times. But for the most part, this is his favorite position for play. I have certain toys that I always give to him so that he can gnaw away and relieve his swollen gums. Natalie has payed attention to this because when I bring him downstairs from a nap, she immediately brings him all of his toys. It's really cute to watch her do this, and you can just tell that she is so proud of herself. Natalie is also very possessive about the things she carries with her. It used to just be a blanket. Now, she equips herself with her blanket, juice cup, 2 baby dolls, a little bear, and a pillow. She moves them from chair to chair depending on where she wants to sit. All of her belongings are placed at her desired location, and then she will situate herself.

We get Nolan back tomorrow, and I can't wait to see him. He's had an amazing week from what I've heard. He got to play with Judson and Abby, go to Billy Bob's and Camden Park, swim in the pool (and jumping in by himself), and he got his first "official" haircut. I know that age 3 is a little later than most kids have their first haircut, but poor Nolan has just never had much hair. Matt cut his hair probably 3 times last year, and only once this year! Nolan had made up his mind that Poppy (my grandpa Bailey) was going to be the one to take him to the barber. They said he was just a little angel. The barber gave him 5 suckers, a certificate, and a lock of hair. Since he is a creature of habit, I'm sure that he will want to get his hair cut by this barber every time! And at the rate his hair grows, this may actually be possible. (Thanks for the pic, Teresa!)