Nash's birthday was yesterday! He had a great day...and lucky for him, it rained, so we could have his birthday party! (Keaton was supposed to have a soccer game, and Daddy should have been in the field, so we were just going to have his party on the first night it rained around his birthday....the weather really cooperated with us.) This made it so only the people that lived close could come on such short notice, but this time of year it is what we had to do!
This first picture is of Nash helping me make his cake (ahem, cupcakes) yesterday morning! He loved helping...but soon after this picture ended up in the bath because he had 'shampooed his hair' with cake batter.... YUM.
A picture of the finished cupcake/cake...complete with 6 very cute new dinosaur toys!
We had a great time at the birthday party. Both Grandpa and Grandma Zittergruen and Grandpa and Grandma Reimer came....and the kids' favorite (and only ones their age) cousins ...Mason, Cagney, and Devin! Here is a picture of the kids starting on their pizza!
This is Nash trying to blow out the candles (as you can see, Keaton was trying too...and had already gotten one). Nash was very distracted by eating the sprinkles off of the front cupcakes...and Keaton was VERY worried that Nash was going to catch on fire from his candles.
yummmm....sprinkles.
the boys after their cake...notice who's face is messier :)
Now for the presents. Nash received LOTS of very cool presents for his birthday.... He got a Thomas set from Grandpa and Grandma Piano.
And...drumroll please....a card that sings the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song....which he had a hard time putting down to open his next gift....and it was the first thing he picked back up after opening all of the gifts. He LOVED the singing card, of course!
From Daddy and Mommy Nash got a "Puppy Guitar"! I figure either way he will have noisy gifts...at least if I am the one picking them out, I won't have to listen to Elmo's voice all day. :) (THIS is Lola's favorite toy, by the way, 'cause now she can practice for when she grows up to be a rockstar!)
Keaton and Lola decided Nash also needed a 'baby doll' to practice for when we have our baby...so he opened this gift, and immediately gave the baby a kiss... we haven't named his baby yet....
He got an awesome farm set from Grandpa and Grandma Tractor....I know it is green, and we have red machinery...but John Deere really makes better toys for little kids! He has been carrying the combine around all morning just saying "combine, combine" (which is one of his new favorite words...and about the only one that actually sounds like it is supposed to!)
And from Rod, Nancy and kids he got matchbox cars and construction equipment. This gift is PERFECT because he always steals Keaton's cars and stuff....so now he has some of his own (and I think I may need to initial them, so Keaton doesn't steal Nash's toys!)
Again....after he was all done with the gifts, he got the Mickey Mouse card out and sat on Uncle Rod's lap for about 5 minutes looking at it and listening to it....so funny! Who knew that a singing card could bring a 2 year old so much enjoyment? (obviously, grandma Piano did!)
...and the rest of the night the cousins all played with all the great new toys!
They really had a blast!
Onto Nash turning TWO! Nash has REALLY turned into a very enjoyable little kid. (...and his behavior has really improved in the last month). He is trying to talk more...although most words sound the same....and is starting to play more independently. His personality is so much different than Keaton and Lola's....it is amazing to see the kids grow up and turn into little people with such different personalities!!!! I think that Nash will be a very adventurous, ambitious, and always entertaining child, no matter what his age! He is always doing things for laughs and is very determined to do something once he gets it in his head (could also be seen as stubborn:).
He is two, I know, but he still loves his binky and his blankie and NEEDS both for nap and bedtime. Even though he needs his binkie, he is an excellent sleeper (knock on wood).... He has been in a 'big boy bed' since July (climbing out of his crib already) and does great sleeping by himself. After books we just march to his room together, we do prayers and sing "Jesus Loves Me" (which he sings along to) and then we snuggle just a little. After about a minute, I kiss him and whisper "good night Nash." and he whispers back "night night mommy"...then I head to the door and as I head out he yells at the top of his lungs "NIGHT NIGHT MOMMY!!!!". Too cute!
He and I really enjoy our new found time together while the other two are in school. He just kind of hangs out around the house, going into the different rooms and just playing, occasionally coming out to show me something that he did that is funny. (It is not always quite that simple for me, sometimes I can't get him out from under my feet!) He usually plays in either his room or Lola's room. It is cute, because Keaton does not allow Nash into his room...and Nash doesn't even try when Keaton isn't here. But, the instant Keaton gets home from school, Nash is busting into his room! It is like he is just doing it to aggravate Keaton! (I'm pretty sure he is.)
Nash really loves his brother and sister! Lola and Nash are very good friends. They actually play together very well....Nash also LOVES playing with Keaton, but Keaton isn't quite as patient with Nash as Lola is. Keaton really gets upset when Nash isn't playing things the 'right' way....or when Nash messes up things that Keaton builds or sets up. Lola, on the other hand, really doesn't 'build' much or 'set things up' so she has a lot less to be ruined by the bulldozer that is Nash. Most of the time Lola is a very loving and protective sister to Nash....although there are times that the 2 of them just get too rough!
It is SO enjoyable to see all of our kids grow up and play together. It is crazy how much love we have to give in our hearts. When we had just Keaton, we had the same fear that all parents have...that we could never love another kid like we love Keaton....and then Lola came along. Of course we were wrong...there is always more love to give....on top of loving Lola just as much as Keaton....now there was this new brother/sister relationship to love too! It was like love x3! (That being said....there are times when one is more enjoyable, easy, or cooperative than the others....but they all take turns going through that too.) Now with 3 kids...and Keaton and Lola being even older....we of course love Nash just as much as Keaton & Lola....and now there are even more relationships to enjoy! I am so excited to meet this baby #4 and to see how much that adds to our family! This pregnancy has been tough on me, but in the end, it will all be worth it!
Having kids has changed our lives forever...and we are so blessed in so many ways....and have so many things to be thankful to God for....and today.....we are especially thankful for our littlest boy, Nash!
Happy Birthday Buddy!
