A little sunshine

So I've been having a rough week. It started this weekend with a sharp pain in my lower right side. It was very painful and hurt to even walk. I called the Dr. Monday and had an appt Tuesday. They did an ultrasound and they found a cyst on my ovary (which could be nothing to worry about) as well as another lump that he is unsure about. He can feel it just poking on my stomach. (Of course, I can't feel it) So there will be more poking and exams tomorrow... I am actually doing a good job not worrying. At first I let my mind wander to all of the horrible possibilities but I'm just not going to go there. On top of it, I woke up 2 days ago with a terrible sore throat. You know the one that hurts with every swallow? And then...my period started! Cramps! And now there is more stupid crap going on at work with a few "wonderful" (I'm saying that sarcastically if you didn't catch it) employees who think they can do whatever they want. And then...ok I'm done. Now to the good part. Yesterday I decided I needed to get out of the house so Nate and I headed to the coffee shop. Its nice because they have a play area for kids that Nate absolutely loves. When I got there I ran into two girls that I had seen at MOPS last Wednesday. They said that they meet at the coffee shop and let their kids play on the Wednesdays we don't have MOPs and invited me to join them. They were so nice and friendly and we all swapped numbers to get together for "play dates" I was so excited! I am so lonely for girlfriends and after 5 years I was starting to give up on the idea of ever having a friend. I came away reminded that the Lord does care about my every need and He delights in meeting them! Thank you Lord for the little bit of sunshine in my dreary week!

Help!

Ok, what is the fastest most effective way to get your 18 month old to keep his hands out of his pants?!? I have noticed his exploring hand down his pants quite a few times in the last week or so and today he came to me with a handful of poop! YUCK!!! This can't happen again!

MOPS

So Nate and I checked out MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) today and both had a good time. They have free babysitting which is nice. Nate cried a little when I left but was having a blast when I got back. He would "run" and then clap for himself. He really has fun whenever he gets to play with other kids and new toys. He was so cute when we were leaving he had to wave goodbye to everyone and yell "ee a" (see ya). I got to meet some new people and visit with a few aquaintances. First we had a craft where we decorated our name tags and could make a card or two, then brunch, a speaker, and finally a discussion time within your assigned group. It was a little awkward being my first time but I'm sure I'll warm up and enjoy it. I really am trying to do more things like this to "get out of the house." I need something different for myself to do and its going to be nice to meet other women who are in a similar place in life as I am.

To top off the whole morning, we came home and Nate took a 3 hr nap! Nice!

Here we are after we got home from MOPS this morning...we were having fun. :)

A few things I've been up to (from Nate)

Curly's food looked a little dry so I thought he
might enjoy it more if it were in cold cereal form.

Here I am helping Mom make pumpkin muffins!

Yum! I love to taste test!

I love my "puppy Curls" even if he scares me half the time!




Driving my new "car"




Dreaming of driving a real one someday...

Just hangin out.

Mom thinks I look so cute in my WY Cowboys hat.

"Uh oh!!!"

I thought this would be a fun game to play with the

paper towel roll but for some reason mom didn't

think so.

Nate at 18 months

Nate seems to be growing and changing quite a bit lately. He has his well-baby check up next week and I am anxious to see how much he's grown. I know he has grown taller because he can now open and close all the doors in the house. This has its pros: he can now let himself out of a room once he closes the door on himself, and cons: he can now open the doors to the bathrooms and flush the toilet till his little hearts desires...or until I catch him. Speaking of which... he has begun to tell me when he has poopies! Yeah! Sometimes he is too distracted to tell me but he probably tells me 80% of the time. Progress!

He has turned into quite the monkey as well. He is so proud that he can climb up onto our bed by himself now as well as all benches, chairs, tables... Mommy doesn't like this new feat that well.
He is also trying to say some new words such as "ee ya" for "see ya"when he is waving goodbye, "bop" for hot, "ba" for ball or book, to name a few. The sweetest thing is that he loves to pray before we eat. He always reminds me by laying his head against his shoulder. Last week Derrick was gone hunting and each time he specifically wanted to pray for Daddy. So sweet!

He also has had many not so sweet moments as he is getting his other three molars in as well as a cuspid. He has not been sleeping well at nights at all. I'm ready for this phase to be over!

Well, thats a quick update on the Naters for you.

Scripture that I am so thankful for...

Luke 4:16-21
"And He (Jesus) came to Nazereth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD."

And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Thank you Jesus that you not only came to bring us eternal life, but an abundant and free life here on earth!

Diaper days of summer

For some reason Nate loves this vest.
Atleast once a day he goes to his closet

and gets it down and insists on putting

it on. He then heads straight to our room

to look in the mirror as he is doing in this picture.

(Reminds me of his cousin Logan)

Getting into a little mischief with the wipes...

We have had this toy for some time now
but I've just noticed him playing with it
lately. Its funny how they show no interest
one day and the next its their favorite toy.