Dear Nate, 2nd Birthday

Dear Nate

Today you turn 2 years old. I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by!
Your first few months you were an experienced walker already, and wanted to run and climb the stairs. Mommy was so nervous. But everything you tried to do, you did very successfully. I am so proud of you for trying so many things.

During the summer you loved to go swimming, but you weren’t too crazy about riding in Papa’s boat. We spent a week vacation together, and went to the water park, which you got used to after awhile, and went to the Toledo zoo which you LOVED, and your favorite thing from the summer…. Eating ice cream! We played on the deck a lot and you spent a lot of time in your pool and your sandbox. It took you a long time to be ok with the way grass felt, but you adjusted to it.

In the fall we went apple picking and to a cider mill. We got lost in a corn maze and decided never to do that again. You didn’t like riding any rides like on the back of the fire truck or a pony ride. For Halloween you dressed up as a frog. I think you loved trick or treating 10 times more than we thought you would. Daddy and you went out and trick or treated while Mommy stayed home and handed out candy.

You loved music and liked all types of songs, but your favorite was Carrie Underwood “Before He Cheats” You would dance all over the living room when it came on! For a few weeks you decided it would be a good idea to get up every morning at 4:30; which means you went back to bed at 6:30, but wow was that exhausting for Mommy and Daddy. Your favorite TV shows were Noddy, anything with Elmo, and Barney! Every morning we would get up and sit in the chair together and watch your favorite show. It was a nice snuggly time with you.

Christmas time came and we spent it away from home, Christmas Eve at Grandma Carols and Christmas Day at Nana and Papas, you got your talking vacuum which you loved very much, you cleaned the house top to bottom with that thing!

You had tubes put in again and also had your adenoids removed. That seemed to make the ear infections disappear, which was wonderful. Mommy and Daddy left you with a babysitter for the first time; Miss Lisa came and stayed with you. You started talking and your very first words were Maaa (for Max) and Dada, and Mama, and more (because you could do the sign for more perfectly). You liked to say NO to everything. When you were 18 months you learned to say YES! We were thrilled! You began to play more with your cousin Drew. You and him would have car races around the house, and share toothbrushes.

You were a fantastic eater, and your favorite food was Cheeze-its. You ate tons of them, and bananas still were a close second. At 18 months you got all your teeth but your 2 year molars. You loved to smile for pictures and we have LOTS! You also went to your very first MSU football game; you stood on Mommy’s lap and clapped to all the songs. Towards the end of your second year you got a new baby sister when Marisa was born. You started to throw temper tantrums after that, but grew out of it pretty quick. You loved Marisa and treated her very kind and gentle and wanted to do everything for her, including feeding her your precious Cheez-its and giving her your blankie.

Your birthday party was a little smaller, but it was beautiful outside and you got to run around with Aunt Jenn and Cousin Drew, so you were very happy.

I’m so excited to see what we have in store for us next year, I love you.

Momma.