Nathan- One Year Later...

One year ago today my sweet little baby Nathan came into the world! He joined our family, and just fit right into place! I cannot believe how fast this year has gone and how much he has changed and grown throughout the year. I can't believe how much our family has changed and grown with him! He is such a sweet and precious addition to our family, and I don't think I could love him any more than I already do! 

Nathan Samuli McOmber Born 1/29/12 at 7:55 AM! 

Sweet Nathan One Year Later (taken just this morning!)...

At One Year Nathan...

Can:
-Babble
-Give Hugs and Kisses
-Blow Kisses
-Give High Fives
-Clap
-Say Momma, Dada, Car (Occationally), Ba! (Meaning 'All Gone!'), and will mimic some sounds and animal sounds
-Blows Raspberries
-Can crawl like a Champ!
-Get into plenty of Mischief!
-Walk with a walker (He is getting SO close to those first steps!)
-Feed himself
-Eat, Eat, Eat!
-Play with Cars/Trucks/Trains
-Pull himself up
-Cruise along furniture and walls
-Stand for a few seconds at a time
-Dance
-Understand commands: No, Stop, Shake, Up...etc.

Loves:
-To Snuggle
-His Daddy and Grandpa
-Big Brother Owen... LOVES HIM!
-To Wrestle with Owen
-To EAT!!
-Explore
-Baths/Being Naked!
-Showers with Daddy
-Books
-Stuffed Animals... especially his Monkey!!
-Music
-To Dance
-Crayons, he loves them for some reason. He is now beginning to understand what they do too!
-Anything Owen has
-To pull things off of shelves, out of boxes or bags, cupboards, drawers, etc.
-To be carried around the house

Does Not Like:
-Carseat
-Stoller
-Being Left Alone
-Getting a Diaper Change
-Getting Dressed
-If Someone Eats in Front of Him
-When Daddy leaves for Work
-Bedtime

Dear Nathan,

Just one short year ago you came into this crazy family! I was so afraid that I wouldn't have enough love to give you and I wouldn't be an adequate mother to 2 beautiful, perfect little boys. However, the moment you arrived you completely captured my heart! My heart exploded with endless love for you, and I knew that you came at the right time to the right family. Looking back, I can't believe its been a year; however, I can't seem to imagine what life was without you! You fit in so perfectly!

Everyone who knows you, adores you. How could they not?! You are just so sweet. You love to smile and charm your way into peoples hearts. You hardly are ever grumpy. You hardly ever cry. And you always seem to be in a permanent good mood. You are very easy going. Even just recently when we were all so sick, you handled it like a champ! Probably better then any one of us! You still kept a smile on your face.

You. Love. Food. Oh my goodness, you are a champion eater! In fact, some of the few times you do scream and cry is when you see food and you are not partaking! If someone around you has food you IMMEDIATELY drop everything you are doing and speed to their side. Its hilarious. You are not picky... yet. I think you are at your happiest when eating! You will eat anything, and love everything. And I love that about you!

You and are your brother already have a special relationship. You already fight like brothers! It can be a little crazy, for sure! But you also play and laugh together as brothers. Owen tries very hard to take care of you, make sure you have everything you need, and also tries to make sure you stay out of mischief! He takes his role as big brother very seriously. And you adore him. He is probably your favorite person in the world. You want to do everything he is doing, and all you want from him is just a little attention and love. You love to hug and give him kisses. And you absolutely LOVE it when he will wrestle with and play a little rough with you. I hope that you two will always remain close, and be good buddies. There is nothing quite like a brother relationship out there. You are very lucky to have each other. I think Owen will always look out for you.

You definitely love Mommy and Daddy. You can be a bit of a Momma's Boy, but if Daddy is home, you are all over him. You follow him around the house, and love to have him hold you, snuggle you, and carry you around. You take advantage of the time you get to spend with him during the week. Its very sweet. You also have a very special spot in your heart for Grandpa. You two are at the beginnings of a very special relationship. He is your buddy, and you can play with him for hours on end.

At one year, you are adventurous! Complete opposite of your brother! Owen was more content just hanging around his toys and people. You are on the verge of walking, and you keep me B-U-S-Y!! I am constantly having to chase you around the house, and keep you from pulling things out of cupboards, drawers, laundry baskets, and the diaper bag. You climb all over the TV, and sneak into the plants and get dirt everywhere! I now understand the whole concept of "baby proofing" because of you! You are always on the move. You are really good at finding microscopic pieces of things on the floor and eating them! You climb the stairs and loved to be chased around the house. You are a little mischievous!

You are still pretty quiet. You have just started to baby babble a little bit. You can say a few words, but mostly if you want to communicate you let out loud screams to get our attention. Also, something that is very different from your brother. He was much more talkative early. But you also show your love in very sweet ways. You love to snuggle, and you give the BEST hugs. You blow kisses and give kisses. You reach your arms out when you want something or someone and wave your little hand... and thats how we know what you what! Its very effective, and very cute.

I am honored that I was chosen to be your mother. Most days I feel inadequate in the role of motherhood. I am undeserving of the unconditional love you give me. And I am working everyday to be better. I hope that you can forgive my imperfections and shortcomings. I am forever grateful that we are sealed together as a family for eternity, and I can call you my son. I am truly blessed. I am not sure I could ever fully express to the extent of how much I love you. But it has given me great perspective on how our Heavenly Father loves us.

I am one lucky Momma!

And I love you,
Mom

I know this picture is blurry... but it was just too cute. Nathan tries so hard to be like Big Brother! 

 We love you, Nathan! Happy 1st Birthday!

Christmas 2012

Yeah, I know this is a month late. But at least its going up! 

We had a pretty great Christmas. The boys were spoiled rotten. Shad and I loved every minute of buying gifts for them and planning it out. Its so fun to watch Owen understand more about Christmas and get excited. I can tell Christmas is just going to get better and better the older the boys get! How fun! 

Despite Shad being bed-ridden and sick both Christmas Eve and Christmas, the boys and I had a wonderful time. The perk to Shad being so sick was that he was able to spend pretty much the whole week home from work, either working from home or being sent home from work. (Yeah, it was THAT bad!) But even being sick, I'll take him being home and around, especially for the holidays. 

Christmas Eve is my favorite. As I mentioned briefly in the previous post, we always go to our dear friends, the Lomeli's house. They are family. And this year we got to have my best friend, Kambria, and her husband, Preston, for his first official Christmas with us! 

We start the evening with an early delicious dinner together. I stole many of these pictures from Kam's camera, so this is actually her plate of food. Mmm... 

The boys enjoying Christmas Eve dinner! 

After dinner, we take some family pictures, and then have a little Family Home Evening together  where we sing Christmas songs, and read the Christmas Story from Luke. 

After that we all share our talents with a mini-Talent show. We've done this for YEARS! It started when Kam and I were in 5th grade and started playing our instruments! (Harp and Violin!) My talent this year was showing off some of my pictures and photography on the ipad. My Mom's talent was the yummiest! 

Isaac is truly the most talented out of all us. He is an amazing singer and songwriter. Plus he has a pretty successful band down in Salt Lake (Red Yeti... check them out on iTunes!). Also Check out his skills here.

   

After talents, we then exchange gifts. Also fun. Owen LOVED his 3D Thomas & Friends book from Aunt Karen and Uncle Ben. 

Nathan bonded with this Uncle Isaac. They were very cute together! 

Before we all head home, we of course have to eat dessert! Yum! Here is Owen and Preston showing off their muscles after eating. Its hard to tell but Owen is "flexing" which is why he is slightly red in the face! Haha! 

After we arrive home we ever-so-quickly jump into our jammies so that we can open our own presents! This is also something we've always done: Open presents on Christmas Eve night. (But now Santa has to come Christmas Eve night, so we also get to open Santa Gifts on Christmas morning!) 

Owen was the designated present passer. He LOVED every second of it!

He was so excited to see his GIANT present pile grow. Look at those gifts pile up...Whoa!

I know this picture is REALLY blurry, but look at that face. Pure joy! 

Next comes the best part... Opening gifts! 

Owen was a very helpful big brother. He helped Nathan open all his gifts. 

He also helped Mommy and Daddy open their gifts too! 

And of course, he just HAD to help Grandpa open that Chocolate Space Needle he picked out. (Even though he spilled the beans earlier in the week!) 

But my Dad did get one special surprise from all of us... and we all managed to keep that one a secret! A brand new Nikon DSLR!

My Mom and I were also spoiled with matching Iphones (one white, one black!) on a family plan together. Lucky us! (Just when I thought we were going to keep it low-key since I really got a new house for Christmas! That sneaky Shad!)  :) 

Here is Shad helping Mom set hers up!

Poor Nathan didn't quiet make it to the end of the night festivities. He went to bed before we got to open all our gifts open. But we all soon followed so we could wake up and see what Santa brought us!

Santa brought Owen James and Dart (Thomas Trains) AND Tidmouth Sheds that he had so diligently asked him for. One. Happy. Boy. 

Nathan was most excited about his Sesame Street books... 

...And the awesome wrapping paper! Hehe

After we all opened presents and stockings and cleaned up a bit... Poor Shad went back to bed and slept the day away hoping to feel somewhat better by Christmas Dinner. Poor guy. I played ALL DAY long with the boys and all their cool new toys! And my parents worked, cooked, cleaned, and worked some more to prep a delicious Christmas dinner and party to a list of 20 guests! 

The medicine and sleep did the trick! Because Shad was on his feet by 5, just in time for the Christmas party and dinner! Dinner was awesome. We get to visit, relax, and chat with friends. 

And then play our annual "Trinkets or Treats" where hidden in gift bags are yummy Christmas treats or little Christmas gifts/trinkets! Owen loved helping open those too and pass them out! 

He also loved playing with his Uncle Ben! 

Then we all got to indulge in Delicious Dessert: Chocolate Fountain!! 

We partied late into the night, put the boys to bed, and helped clean up from the night's festivities. Another successful Christmas! Two, happy spoiled little boys. Yummy Dinner. Good Friends. Wonderful Family. And a beautiful Savior to be grateful for. We are so blessed. 

Unfortunately there will be no 'New Years Post' because by New Years we all got whatever nasty cold/flu Shad had. I spent New Years Eve trying to drive around and find an urgent or convenience care to see Owen who spiked a fever that day... no luck there. And so, we rang in the New Year with plenty of cough syrup, Ibuprofen, vapor rub, and tissue! Oh well... We did manage to have a yummy dinner of Cheese Fondue and Chocolate Fondue for dessert on New Years Day... So a semi-success! :)

Now... just a little bit more blog catch up! YAY! But alas, it may be awhile since we are currently moving into our NEW HOUSE this week! Whoo hoo!! Hopefully I don't get too behind again... 

December 2012: Leading up to Christmas

Again, this poor neglected blog...**sigh** We are all still cooped up with ROUND 3 of the Flu! Just when I think we are finally over it, something else hits! Its beyond ridiculous. So... I guess I will be skipping blogging about Halloween and Thanksgiving. Just know that they were both GREAT! :) But I refuse to skip over December and Christmas! 

December was a busy, busy month for us. It flew by in blur, as it always seems to. But besides still dealing with the fact that I am expecting, and that we are having a GIRL... AND dealing with sickness after sickness... we had to get ready for Christmas! 

We started the month with putting up our Christmas tree. Owen LOVED it. He remembered it from last year, especially the train that goes around and kept exclaiming 'I'm SO excited!' when we pulled out the tree and decorations! Such a little boy. 

Owen right after we set up the tree, before the TRAIN came out! So much excitement!

We also visited Santa, a few times. Well... if we were at the mall, which we often were, we ALWAYS had to stop and see him, if there was no line, which there often wasn't early in the season. Owen would give Santa a high-five or even a hug (I was shocked!) and then spout off quickly and quietly his Christmas list. Santa: 'Owen, What would you like for Christmas?' Owen: 'Dart, Edward, James, Gordon, Tidmouth Sheds!' Except he would mumble it so fast that Santa never quite understood him and would just give a jolly chuckle. :) Now, if you are unfamiliar with 'Thomas & Friends' you wouldn't know that everything on his list is related to Thomas and trains. (You'll just have to wait and see if Santa delivered said trains...) 

We also saw Santa at our local neighborhood clubhouse, where he came with hot chocolate and donuts! Owen was happy to wait in line to see him again and get a candy cane treat... Nathan was not. 

Now, I can't say for sure... but I don't think Nathan was scared of Santa, he just didn't love the fact that we "abandoned him!" But it makes for a classic Christmas pic! Love it! 

I wanted to do some fun 'little kid friendly' Christmas activities to help Owen grasp the idea of Christmas, and incorporate more of the Savior so that he could understand that really Christmas is not all about Santa and gifts, but "Jesus' Birthday." I really do think he got it. He is so sweet, and I think he really knows the Savior. Whenever we list members of the family, he always includes Jesus in that list. It melts my heart. 

I decided I wanted to do a 12 Days of Christmas sort of thing... where every night we did something small to celebrate Christmas together as a family. It wasn't always centered around the Savior, but it was family time together. 

Day 1: Decorate! 

Decorate the house with Grandma! Owen loved helping put up all the decorations, stockings, and lights! 

Day 2: Read Nativity Story and Set up Nativity Set

Owen really liked this. We got out the very kid-friendly version/book of the Christmas story from Luke, which we got for him last year. Grandpa read the story to him, and then we set up each piece of the Nativity and talked about it. He loved the Baby Jesus. 

Day 3: Trip to Seattle/Ward Christmas Party

I knew I really wanted to take Owen downtown Seattle. They have a whole winter train set up there at the Seattle Center, and I knew he would love it! He also loves the Space Needle, the Monorail, the international water fountain, and the big buildings. Seattle was sure to be a hit! We took him to the Seattle Center looked at the trains for awhile, rode the monorail to the Westlake center to buy Christmas gifts for Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa got a chocolate space needle.... which was the CLEAR choice. Owen refused to even look at anything else. That was THE gift for Grandpa! It was hilarious! Grandma got a box of hand picked (by Owen!) See's candy. 

Owen pointing out the Trains at the Seattle Center. 

We also saw the Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig Christmas Tree outside the Westlake Center and the carousel they had going across the street. Man, could Seattle be any funner for a 2 year old!? 

We ate lunch, rode the monorail back, saw the trains some more, saw the International Water Fountain, and called it a morning. Back home in time for naps! (Both boys fell asleep on the way home!) Success!

Owen with the water fountain. He keeps asking to go back to Seattle. 

Nathan is just our happy little bug, who enjoys the company. Love this kid!

Later that night, we had our wonderful ward Christmas Party and dinner. Where I got to be the photographer, and greet everyone as they came in and take thier family portrait. It was a fun night. 

Day 4: Make our Christmas Treats and Deliver them. 

All day Sunday we spent baking our Christmas treats! Before and after church! Owen loved rolling out the dough and cutting out shapes, like any little child does. I'm just sad I didn't take any pictures. Too busy in the kitchen I suppose. We delivered them late into the night. 

Day 5: Make Fruit Baskets 

Every year my parents make fruit baskets for their friends and co-workers. Owen loves fruit. As soon as he saw them come in the door with crate-fulls of fruit he was all over that! He kept asking to save him some, and which one was his. (My mom made him one too! Lucky boy!) I had originally planned to make a Gingerbread House on Day 4 with him... but he was so excited about the Fruit baskets that it became the activity instead. He also went along with Grandma and Grandpa to deliver them. :) 

Day 6: Watch Muppet Christmas Carol 

Its just not Christmas until you've watched Muppet Christmas Carol. At least not for Shad and I! Its our childhood favorite. We love it! Owen is still too little for some parts, especially since he is so sensitive. He doesn't do very many movies, he gets too scared. But he still enjoyed the songs and even asked to watch it again! 

Day 7: Christmas Lights & Hot Chocolate 

When Shad and I were dating in Provo, he took me out on a Christmas date. I was bummed I couldn't spend Christmas at home, and he made up for it with a date night of warm delicious scones and hot chocolate. Then we drove around and looked at all the Christmas Lights. We went around to all the "Rich and Fancy" neighborhoods and gawked at their huge houses and light shows. From then on... it became our tradition. We've done it every year. But since we don't have Scone-cutter here, its been reduced to just hot chocolate. :) Owen loved it last year... we actually did a lot of walking around last year. This year we just drove around the neighborhood, and looked at all the lights. I think Owen enjoyed the hot chocolate the most!  

Day 8: Christmas Craft Playgroup 

A couple other moms and I got together for a little lunch date/playgroup with the babes. So much fun! The kiddos decorated stockings with felt stickers and got to play together. And us mom's got out of the house, talked, enjoyed company, and ate some yummy soup lunch. Mmm...  Owen was very excited to show off his stocking he made to everyone here at the house. And he just HAD to hang it up by the fireplace with the others!

Day 9: Rice Krispie Train 

This was a hit. Instead of doing a gingerbread house, Grandma brought home a "Christmas Rice Krispie Train" Kit. It had train molds, frosting, and little candies to decorate the train. Owen absolutely loved it! It was so much fun to do with him! 

Waiting for the train molds! 

Starting to decorate with frosting and candy!

Look at that concentration! 

His face was much more messy that this picture depicts! He was definitely sneaking tastes of the frosting!

The final product and center piece of our dessert table for Christmas dinner: Voila!  

Day 10: Wrap Gifts 

The Saturday before Christmas we wrapped a bunch of presents with Owen. The ones he had gotten in Seattle for Grandma and Grandpa, plus the one he got for Daddy (a tie he picked out). He was so excited to put them under the tree and help open them later. He started wrapping pretend gifts and putting fake gifts under the tree!! Cute. 

Day 11: Christmas Sunday at Church

Always the best Sunday of the year! Poor Shad missed out because by this time he was struck down with Round 2.0 of McOmber Cold/Flu Season 2012-13. Luckily, we still had a few days before it would hit the rest of us! Owen loves music. Both my boys do. Nathan loves it too. Owen couldn't get enough Christmas music around the house, and loves to sing the Christmas hymns. His eyes lit up when the choir sang some Christmas songs he knew on Christmas Sunday. And he belted out "Angels with Have Heard on High" with all his heart when the choir sang. Melted me. It just shows me again, that he truly knows our Savior, and knows that those songs are praises to him.  

Nathan all clean, dressed, and smiling for Christmas Sunday at Church! It doesn't get much cuter than this... 

Day 12: Christmas Eve with the Lomelis 

This will get it's own separate blog post. But every year we spend Christmas Eve at our dear friends, the Lomeli's house, they are family. We eat a delicious meal, share talents, read Luke 2, and sing songs. Its my favorite Holiday Tradition, I think. We've done it for as long as I can remember! (Minus those 3 years we lived in Texas! 1997-1999) 

I cannot believe I didn't get more pictures in December of the boys prepping for Christmas. It was so cute. But I at LEAST had to document our December time together... for my memories. It truly is a special time of year, that comes and goes too quickly. 

Things that I HAD on our 12 Days List, but we never had time: 

- Zoolights... we went last year. Owen loved it, and I'm sure he would have loved it even more this year. But it was too cold, too rainy, and we were just to tired and sick most nights to make it out there. Next year I suppose. 

-DQ Candy Cane Blizzards! It just sounded delicious! But we were so bombarded with treats, it just seemed CRAZY to go out for more! 

-Gingerbread House. After the Train Rice Krispie Treat success... it just seems like that will be our new tradition instead of the house. And in my opinion... much easier!