The Smiths: November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Afternoon play

Trying to keep the kids busy with things to do.

Play dough time

Nathan's first time with the play dough. He likes it but definitely wants to eat it!

Monday, November 28, 2011

...and Now a Break from Your Regularly Scheduled Broadcast

Hey everybody, this is Tony. I rarely ever write on here, largely because I'm a smartass, and think that someday my kids will be reading this...maybe even when they're 60. Lately, I've been thinking that I should be writing here more often, because I'm a smartass and someday my kids may be reading this when they're 60. Of course, they'll also be reading it when they're 10...17...25...and so on. I start freezing up thinking of all the things I want to tell them, since what I want to say differs depending on the time they read this. It largely varies from:

() School is scary, and intimidating, but you'll do fine as long as you try.

() Everybody you know feels like they're an outcast. It's not on the SAT, but it's one of the most important things you should learn in high school.

() The friends you make on your own, the ones that count, will be with you the rest of your life. Particularly if Facebook is still around, or has inevitably mutated into Skynet.

() I know you loved him/her, but there will be somebody better someday that will make you wonder what in the hell you were thinking.

() You will always...always...think you are lightyears smarter and more savvy than you were 4 years ago.

() God, Country, Family: You keep those as your priorities and everything else will work out.

() For the love of God, use the toilet.

I didn't say these were in any particular order.

Nevertheless, I have hundreds of these things I feel like I need to spew to my future-children like Yoda every time I consider writing here, but I've avoided it in an attempt to not appear pretentious. But, as is obvious from this post, I've decided to give it a try anyway. Perhaps now that I've gotten some of my world wisdom out of me, I can post here more often.

-Tony

P.S. HI FUTURE KIDS! IF YOU'RE READING THIS AND STILL LIVING WITH YOUR MOTHER AND I, COME GIVE US A HUG. IF YOU'RE IN COLLEGE OR GRAD SCHOOL, GIVE US A CALL! IF YOU'RE IN YOUR 50'S, COME TO THE NURSING HOME AND WIPE MY BUTT, AS I'VE BEEN ITCHING FOR WEEKS.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Nathan is 14 months old!

Happy Thanksgiving! Today Nathan is 14 months old! One word I can use to describe Nathan these days is 'busy'! I forgot how completely absorbed that toddlers are in their play. He loves to be outside and play in the sand box, climb on the toddler slide and ride on a tricycle. He can't reach the pedals yet so Mommy pushes him along. He enjoys chewing on chalk but he will also sit down on the ground and mark with it on the driveway. He picks flowers, tries to eat acorns, and will take off running down the sidewalk, swinging his right arm as vigorously as he can!

He is not talking yet but he has a great understanding for what we tell him. He has quickly learned how to climb onto the couch and rocking chair, and that's when he hears "please sit down Nathan" from me. He knows what I'm asking him but he just can't listen, he loves to stand up and be as tall as he can!

On Sunday, 11/20, Nathan's 6th tooth finally came in, on the top right. So he has 4 across the top and 2 on the bottom still. I assume he's still teething because he is always chewing on his fingers and he's been trying to bite me the last few days. He opens his mouth and puts it on my leg or arm and looks at me, as if he's saying "are you gonna let me do this"? Of course I tell him that we have toys for biting and give him one of those.

Nathan loves apples and grapes, and crackers. He still won't eat meat, beans, bread, eggs, most veggies or cheese. Sometimes he will eat yogurt, pasta, or broccoli, but not always. I hope he starts to eat more foods soon, it can be frustrating to feed this kid!