Future Chinese Translator?

This is what happens in our house when Mommy doesn't want to read the Chinese language dictionary to Nathan. It's not that I was trying to mean, I just don't understand how to say any of those words. Notice in the video he is actually holding the dictionary.

What is it like to live in Antarctica? Let me tell you!

Mother nature has most definitely made a mistake....I don't live in the Arctic circle, I live in West Michigan...not even the U.P. so why is there several feet of snow on the ground? I have no idea but I can say that we have had enough of this SUPER COLD weather!

This past weekend we finally got a break from the wind so that we could take Nathan out to play (if 20 minutes really counts as play). We got him all bundled up in his cold weather gear and hit the front yard for a little sledding.

Dave and I took turns pulling Nathan through the 6 or so inches on the sidewalks and driveway....the snow is way too deep in the yard for pulling sleds.

Nathan wasn't really sure what to make of the all the snow but he definitely loved being pulled in the sled.

It didn't take long though for his checks to get pink and cold so we had to go in....at least we got 20 minutes to experience what life might be like if we were penguins though.

Oh yeah, he can rock the snow pants and moon boots

Not quite sure what to make of his sled but still having fun

Mom! It's too cold out here, take me inside!

Finishing off our Christmas season...

Our final 5 Christmases went by very quickly so I am simply going to post some fun pictures that show where we were and who we were with. Enjoy! (I don't have any pictures from Christmas afternoon so if someone can email some to me it would be appreciated!)




















Nathan and Dave opening stockings at Grandma and Grandpa Stuarts house. By the way, Grandma S. made that stocking for Nathan....it's awesome!














Nathan and Natalie at Grandma and Papa Wallace's after opening their heap of presents.















Christmas Eve night at Great Grandma's and Great Grandpa Bade's house (Gigi and Poppy for Nathan)














Opening presents Christmas Eve morning with Grandpa Mossburger

The Christmas Fun Begins....

So, it has taken me awhile to find some time to sit and begin explaining the craziness that has been our Christmas season. I will begin with our 1st of 6 Christmas extravaganzas.....Christmas at the ole Mossburger household. We woke up bright and early the morning of the 20th and opened presents with Nathan. Well, we sort of opened gifts. Grandma and Grandpa Wallace bought Nathan a cozy coupe car which we brought home Thanksgiving weekend but didn't put together until the night of Dec. 19th. As soon as Nathan saw the car I think all excitement about opening presents was over. He wouldn't get out of the car! When Dave tried to pull him out he cried and cried. It took lots of prodding to get him to open our gifts to him-he just wanted to be in the car! Is this maybe a look ahead to when he turns 16?

Here is Nathan in his cozy coupe

Santa brought lots of fun toys to Grand Rapids for Nathan

Nathan also got a kitchen from Santa....maybe someday he'll become an iron chef!

Our first Christmas of the season was a success!

Toddler, Fridge, Bottled Water....

Nathan continues to amaze us at how fast he is learning and growing. We think we have one smart kid on our hands and a funny one too! The other night Dave was putting some bottled water in the fridge and Nathan all but pushed him out of the way so he could do it. We couldn't get enough of watching him imitate Dave so I thought I would post it for everyone else to see too. Enjoy!

How Many Therapies Really Exist?

It has been a busy couple of weeks with Nathan and visiting various doctors and such. He will be starting speech therapy soon to get him caught up to age. Thankfully he is test at or above age level for comprehension....he's just being stubborn about speaking.

He also had a swallow study done last week which was actually pretty cool because we could see via x-ray him chewing and swallowing various foods and liquids. It was determined that Nathan might be aspirating some liquid into his lungs when he drinks which could be causing all his respiratory issues. So, we have begun swallow therapy. Basically, we have to thicken everything he drinks for the next three-six months to see if his health improves and his lungs heal. He doesn't seem bothered by it at all.....in fact, he loves the fact that he gets so many tasty milk/yogurt smoothies and juice/applesauce smoothies. Probably the weirdest part is the gel we have to put in plain cups of water or milk. It makes the liquid all weird and kind of gooey looking.

This is a picture from early Nov. before all the therapy stuff started. He was fixated on watching the straw while he drank out of my cup. Now he has to work to hard to drink his extra thick liquids to make funny faces.

Deck the halls....

Tonight we put up the tree and started to get in the mood for the holiday season. This year was really fun for us because Nathan is finally old enough to participate.

He played with the ornaments and picked out some of his favorites


He helped open the boxes for Daddy's car ornaments

and he helped go through the boxes and find all the really special
ornaments we've gotten over the years

Last Christmas Nathan was only able to sit up and just starting to scoot around, now he is up, walking and able to "help" us get ready for the holiday. It's amazing how quick time flies! By next Christmas he'll probably be telling us what he would like Santa to bring.