Christmas Day!!!

I LOVE my BOYS!

I love how Nate is discovering the fireplace while Josh is opening a present.

Now Nate is in the fireplace.  Thank goodness the previous owners never used it or we would have soot and ashes everywhere!

SURPRISE!!!

Just after we finished opening our Christmas Presents there was a nock on our door.  I went to open the door and there was John's mom with her camera taking pictures, John's dad, and two of John's brothers (Gary and Nate).  It was the best surprise and best Christmas present!  It was one of the best Christmas's ever!

Can you tell I was surprised!

Gary and Josh hugging!  Josh was so excited for them to be here!

Nate immediately went to Grandpa Edwards and snuggled with him.  It was so adorable.

Nate and Grandma Shawna

After Josh went to bed that night, we had our second round of Christmas with John's family.  Nate wouldn't go to sleep so we let him come out with us and he had a blast being the center of attention (Josh is usually in the center of attention or does whatever he can to be the center of attention).  Nate was talking up a storm and laughing constantly and he got to open a present all by himself without his big brother interfering.

Josh helped Grandma make dinner one of the nights they were here.  She made authentic fish tacos.  They were soooo delicious!

It took over 30 hours for them to get to our house because of mechanical problems with the airplane.  They were supposed to be to our home 24 hours earlier than they got here.  They were exhausted.

Christmas Eve!

Santa came to our home!

Nate was very curious and liked Santa.  Josh on the other hand was very unsure and a little scared.

This was as close as Josh would get to Santa.  Maybe next year he won't be so scared.

Joshua

"Santy Claus, Why, Why Are You Taking the Christmas Tree?  WHY?"

One of most favorite times and memories of this past Christmas season was reading to Josh every night by the Christmas tree. Out of all the books my favorite and definitely Josh's favorite (because he requested every single night without fail) was "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

About a week ago, while John was taking down our Christmas Tree Josh said the following:

"Daddy, why, Why are you taking the Christmas tree!?  WHY!?"

"Are you going to stuff it up the chimney?"

"Why are you talking away Christmas! I don't want Christmas to go away!" Josh then proceeded to cry and John had to explain that Christmas would come back and then Josh was fine and was able to stop crying. When John told me this story, it sounded just like Josh. Too bad I wasn't in the room when this happened :( I thought it was so cute, so I had to post it.

Conversation with Josh in August 2009

This was so fun for me to go back and read!  It is now 5 months later and it is amazing how fast these little ones change and fun to remember how there were and what they would say and talk about just a short time later.  This particular conversation was much longer and we had while Josh and I were playing with toys.  I decided to write down what he was saying on a paper near by because I wanted to remember some of it and have a record.  He was so cute at this time!

Josh liked to talk about all of his Iowa friends.  This is what he had to say about a few of them during this conversation that was mostly Josh talking!  He's becoming quite the talker.
"Sammy's always, always eating!
"Sammy's always tired."
"Sammy is in Oregon."
"Elizabeth is always doing puzzles."

"'W' is always Joshua's"
"All the letters are always getting played with."

"Mommy and Daddy went to Africa" (I wish).  I am going to go to Africa too!  I'm going to go to Asia too!"

Josh likes to quiz me from time to time.
Josh: "What letter is this mommy?"
Me: "E"
Josh: "WOW!  Really good job mommy!  E is for egg.  Good job mommy, good job!"

"Mommy, you're a girl.  Daddy is a boy.  Joshua is a boy too."(Good to know).

"Mommy, you got married to Daddy.  I saw the picture of your beautiful dress.  Girls get married in beautiful dresses at the temple."

"Mommy, will you marry me?.... I'm going to marry Hailey and Kate!!!" (We've had many talks on this one, he has lately narrowed it down to marrying Olivia now.  He even asked Olivia's dad for permission the other day.  I have no idea where he learned that.)
"Mommy, you are my best friend!"

Josh: "Mommy, are you happy?"
Marie: "Yes"
Josh: "Oh, Good! (sounding very relieved)...  Mommy, how are you doing?..."

Santa Baby!

I cannot believe that one year ago today, I brought Nate home on Christmas morning.  He was the best Christmas gift ever.  Here are some Christmas photos of him that I wasn't able to post in time last year.

Merry Christmas!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the hospital a year ago today on Christmas morning.  I really cannot believe how tiny he was.

This little onesie my mother-in-law sent for us to open on Christmas and it was so perfect.  It read "Good Things Come in Small Packages."  Looking at these makes me a little sad because I so want to hold my tiny baby again.  They are only that small for such a short time.

Josh meeting Nate for the first time on Christmas Eve.  I love how excited Josh was!  Now they are best buds (well as long as Nate isn't destroying one of his train tracks)!

Happy 1st Birthday Nate!

Nathan turned One on December 23rd!

I really cannot believe it!  It has gone by way to fast!

More pictures of his birthday to come and Christmas day!

***Dancing With the Boys***

We debated about taking our boys to the neurosurgery Christmas party, but we all had a great time. It was good to visit and the food was fabulous (especially the all you can eat kids buffet). As soon as the live band began to play, Josh was on the dance floor and didn't leave. He found some very cute girls to dance with. Nathan also got into the action, dancing in our arms with a big grin on his face. It was so much fun, we stayed until 11:00 pm!

My Mother-in-Law's Music Website

Many people have been asking for a downloadable version of the video

to show at church meetings and family gatherings and MP3 of her song

"Do You Have Room."

You can find all these things and more on her website

http://songsbyshawna.com/Site/Home.html

Hopefully, this helps and that her message can be shared to as many as possible this Christmas!

Nate 10 to 11 Months!

I can't believe that my baby is now 11 months. It has gone by way too fast! We are truly enjoying every moment with Nate! He is the sweetest, happiest baby! He is always smiling and I love to see his sweet smile everyday!

Nate's 10 month stats:

Weight: 20.2 pounds (26%)

Height: 30 3/4 inches (93%)

Head: 17 3/4 inches (28%)

To sum it up he's very tall and skinny. Although to me he seems like a chunk to me since Josh was always around the 3rd percentile at this age.

NATE LOVES:

His Big Brother

(Nate absolutely adores him!)

Food

(he pretty much eats just about everything we give him from avacados, carrots, sausage, chicken, beans, blueberries, zuccini, oranges, etc. )

Sleep

Binkies

Books

(his favorite is "Care Bears Wish Upon a Star")

Playing the Piano all by Himself

Obsessed with Vacuums

(makes vacuuming easier and harder all at the same time)

Pulling Himself up to Stand

Crawling

Trains, Cars, Trucks

Music

(loves for mom to sing to him and he sings on occasion himself)

Dance

(he definitely feels and moves to the beat)

Cleaning Up Toys

(Josh says multiple times throughout the day: "Nate, stop cleaning up my toys! I'm playing with those!!!" Mommy...!")

Grandma & Grandpa Stephens & Edwards

People

(He seems to go to anyone and loves to smile at every person he sees)

Dad and Mom

(of course)

Swings

(every time we take him to the swings he laughs the entire time, it is the cutest thing)

Go on Long Walks Outside/Running

Animals at the Zoo

Horses

Cake

Watching Movies

(He is totally glued and has been since only a few months old. Not my favorite, he is too young to watch TV!)

I love this picture because they are holding hands and so happy together.