10/10/07

Happy Birthday, Nathan!

Nathan woke up this morning and walked out into a living room full of balloons! I said, "Nathan, it's your birthday!" He said, "Hoo-ray!" One of the highlights of today has been playing with the balloons. It was something very simple, but I knew he would enjoy himself immensely.

The next picture I posted because Nathan's expression just cracked me up. Does anybody else find this particular expression to be the spittin' image of Nick? I'm not sure exactly what it is--but, I took one look at this picture and saw Daddy!
Nia came out to celebrate, too! I'm afraid my nickname for her ("Beauty Queen") has rather worn off on Nathan, who, with no direction from me shortened it to "Queen." "Na-night, Queen," he will say. This reminds me of Michael Riley, a good family friend, who gets called 'King' by his wife. Nick hasn't quite reached that status yet.
The #1 birthday gift for this year came from Nick and me. Nathan got lots of wonderful things: books from Great Grandpa and Grandma Durling, money from Great Grandpa and Grandma McNeil, wooden lacing shapes (animals!) from Grandpa and Grandma McNeil, and an art easel and supplies from Grandpa and Grandma Jones. From Nick and me, Nathan received some magnets (he LOVES magnets), a sidewalk chalk kit, a bubble maker, and a Frisbee...but, these were all side notes. The highlight of the birthday is, BY FAR, this:This is our dog. We were told he is a Spaniel mix puppy. I've spent enough time with enough dogs to know that Spaniel is not the dominant trait in this pup. However, he is DARLING. I would guess he is primarily Chow, but it's not that it really matters anyway. What did we name him? Well, there was much discussion and debate, but in keeping with our new Navy enthusiasm, we have named the dog: Hoo-Yah. A strange name, I know, but not only is this the generic call from US Sailors, but it also had a rather large advantage in that Nathan has already been taught to say the word. "Hoo-Ahhh" he says!
Nathan's cake was a pickup truck cake. Master Baker Mommy created it last night. Nathan was SO excited to see a truck. At first he attempted to pick it up and play with it, but once we convinced him it was edible, he caught on rather enthusiastically.

We just let him dig right in. Neither Nick nor I are big cake fans, so if he destroyed the whole thing, neither of us would break down and weep. Most importantly, he really enjoyed himself. When a child is only 2, you might as well let them have fun. They aren't going to remember any of this anyway! Digressing further into the age of un-civilization, Nathan soon abandoned the fork and just went at his cake dog-style. Oh, boy! It's his birthday, so I didn't bother lecturing or correcting. We just let the moment go. Sometimes...just once and a while...it's OK to break the rules.

Max Lucado, by far one of my favorite authors, penned these words (I write them on my heart for Nathan):

"There is more to your life than you ever thought.

There is more to your story than what you have read."

Press on. You are only two (or, later, only 12, or 20, or 82). There is more to your story. God has BIG plans.

1 Corinthians 2:19 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

And, one more from Max Lucado. I love reading this and reflecting on how Nathan is now, at two, and just hoping that some of his 'childhood wonder' never leaves him.

"Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, "Do you like it? I did it just for you."

I hope a part of Nathan's heart stays two forever. I know that becoming a parent reignites some of the awe and wonder of childhood. And it is pleasant, wonderful, delightful to find joy in caterpillars and crayons, rainstorms and running, puppies and puddles, straws and singing...

Isn't it?