Movin' on UP!

Nathan has decided he needs to be taller. When he first made this decision, he would climb on my bed and reach over to the night stand for anything he could get a hold of. He would turn on the phone, turn on the light, turn off the light, turn on the light, turn off the light...and change volume, time and station on my clock radio. He also managed to get one of my earplugs in his ear!

Then, he decided he should sit higher than the lowly floor when playing in his room:

Over the past couple of weeks, Nathan discovered that he could dump his toys out of their storage containers, turn the containers upside down, and use them as a stool to reach the light switch, the fan switch, the counter top, and my dresser. No more need to harrass mom or dad with repeated, "turn on the light! turn the light off! turn the fan on! turn the fan off! wash your hands!" He also has no need to request my permission or assistance in reaching the chip or cookie container. (Note to self: put lock on pantry)

His most recent endeavor was exposed as he marched into the living room with a half-eaten chocolate cigar, a dark circle around the edge of his mouth, and that gleam of satisfaction most of us get from the substance. Wrestling the remaining two-hours-of-sugar-rush-in-a-stick from his Vader-like grip, I wondered how he had acquired it. I headed down the hall and immediately saw the source of my latest frustration - the dreaded toy container.

Emptied and inverted - just as Nathan likes it! As I collected my camera to photograph the evidence, he climbed right up there and grabbed another one! (note to self: hide chocolate in very high place)

The moral of this story is, if you purchase convenient storage containers for your children's toys, make sure they collapse when empty!

Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!

A few days ago, Nathan had been playing in his room (I thought!) when I got up to go to the bathroom. About the same time, he came out of our bathroom with something in his hand. He was rubbing this unknown item on his chin, when I finally got close enough to identify it as my triple-blade razor!!! "NO SON! STOP!!" I yelled as I quickly and calmly (outwardly) approached him and retrieved the deadly blade. Nathan had climbed up my bathroom counter to reach my razor, and was coming down the hall "shaving" his chin - "like daddy does it!"



The good news is that he did not cut himself. (Thank you, Jesus!) The bad news is... razor burn! Yep, not only did Nathan have his first real shave at age two, but he experienced the dreaded razor burn as well. After a few lotion treatments, he felt a lot better and all has healed up just fine. I've since placed all of our razors out of reach. I just hope I don't see stubble on the boy in the next few days!

Like him and lick him!

It's official: Nathan likes his brother, Evan! A couple of days after Evan came home, Laura was holding him while Nathan snuggled up and checked him out. Nathan smiled, looked at Laura and said proudly, "I like him!" Nathan likes to pat Evan gently on the head and kiss him on a regular basis. If he hears Evan fuss or cry, he quickly alerts us or asks, "what's wrong with baby brother?" When Evan is in his hammock or bouncer, Nathan checks on him regularly and gives him gentle nudges to help him swing or bounce. The bouncer has a soothing vibration feature, which Nathan always makes sure to turn on when Evan is in it. Nathan still occasionally gets in the bouncer himself and the vibrating feature is a favorite of his.

The stress of having a sibling has been subsiding, I believe. Nathan's daily stress fits have become shorter and less intense since Evan's first days home. Evan is beginning to be more observant, looking around more. His umbilical nub finally fell off a couple of nights ago, and he seems to be in great health.

I'm considering nick-naming Evan, "Miller Lite". Apparently, he "tastes great" and is "less filling". Nathan finished his dinner tonight and went to check on Evan, who was being held by Laura. He walked up to him, patted his little bald head, leaned over and licked him! WHAT?! Yeah, that's right, Nathan licked Evan's head! (I guess we need to quit using that fruit-scented lotion on Evan ;)

I don't know why, but Nathan has been more fascinated with his tongue as of late. He frequently plays with his tongue, wags it about, and attempts to use it as an extra finger! I'm glad we don't have a flagpole in the yard, with the colder temperatures! Perhaps he's seen Evan stick his tongue out!

I think I'm going to purchase some one-cent postage stamps with the old glue-backs, and have Nathan lube them up and fill a page with them. Perhaps then he'll be less enthusiastic about offering his tongue so frequently.

Maybe he's just trying to get a bad taste out of his mouth. He just walked up to me with an infant bulb-syringe in his mouth.

(You know, the ones used to suck excess phlegm and sinus drainage from his and Evan's noses - YUCK!) Nathan refers to the syringe by it's primary purpose: "booger sucker". The only reason I can figure he's chewing on it is, a. the soft rubber tip is soothing to his gums (I think his 2 year molars are coming in), or b. he likes the salty taste (Again, YUCK!).

Keep your noses (and syringes) clean, and have a great day!