Last week I headed back to NJ for a few days and packed in a whole lot in my short visit home. I got to see my old buddy Lauren before she left for the Middle East for nine months. My friend Kristin came to visit and I got to hear all about her three week missions trip to South Africa. Nate was visited by Ron, Aunt Mariane, Mary (who leaves for college very soon!), and Hannah. We visited my grandparents (Nate's great grandparents!) and Nate gave them lots of smiles. And we also got to visit my great Auntie Alice who had not yet met Nate. The weather was crummy so we didn't get in any pool time but we did plenty of lounging and talking and eating. I also got to see Jessie who had been away in Europe for a couple weeks.

Kristin worked wonders with Nate. He fell asleep in her arms numerous times.

Nate was a HIT at the nursing home. Auntie Alice covered Nate with kisses.

Jessie and my mom got Nate the "Sassy", a super fun bouncer. He is a little young for it but yesterday Nate had a new little friend come over who is five months old and showed him how it works.

Testing it out in NJ

Lunch at Stoney Creek (Thimble Islands in the background)

Here I am at Stoney Creek 8 days before Nate was born.

All ready for church! (Nate now wears a bib much of the time because he has a constant waterfall of drool coming over his chin. He also likes to put EVERYTHING in his mouth, including bibs)

Here is a series of Nate making goofy faces. I don't know why some pictures are turned the wrong way. Anymore his mouth is wide open as he tries to shove anything and everything in it!

Fun with Mom and Dad

Off to the deli down the street

(blurry, but I didn't have the patience to get a clear shot)

Here's one picture from Nate's first professional photo session this past Saturday. I'll try to get more up later or tomorrow. Isn't he the cutest?

An attempt at an unswaddled nap in the crib resulted in little sleep but lots of smiles!

Two years ago yesterday...

we said "I do!". I planned on blogging yesterday but I spent Nate's short nap times making dinner and dessert for my wonderful husband.

(all my wedding photos are saved on my older computer which I am too lazy to pull out so here is a picture of a picture from that beautiful day)

And now back to Mr. Nathaniel...

Here is Nate waking up from an almost TWO HOUR nap this morning! Yippee!!

Back to sleep after eating

such a perfect little nose!

Nate loves to stand. Doesn't he look so old in this picture?

Don't Nate's eyes look lovely? We're waiting to see what happens to the color. They were bright blue when he was born but recently have been turning green towards the center.

sleepy baby...

who I always manage to wake up with all my clicking.

Three months!

Look how much he has grown...

Party time!

Today we went to a birthday party for the little boy next door who turned one. Nate wore his spiffy Hawaiian shirt and khakis for the special occasion and was adored by all party-goers. Before the party, we took advantage of the fact that we were all actually showered, dressed, and half awake to do a photo shoot on the front porch. We got several nice family pictures. Unfortunately Piper couldn't be in the pictures because the camera was resting on the railing and from that position she didn't fit in the frame. Oh well.

Timber!

I made this shirt I'm wearing last summer when I was on a sewing kick. It will probably be the first and last article of clothing that I'll ever make for myself.

This morning Nate took a 50 minute unswaddled nap. This is significant both because he was unswaddled and because it was so long (his naps are usually about 30 mins). As I type this he is taking yet another unswaddled nap! Yippee!