Happy Second Birthday Nate!!!

My baby Nate turned two years old on Monday, January 26th. We celebrated his birthday with all of his (and our) friends last weekend at McDonald's. It was so much fun, and the best part for me was that I didn't have to clean up!!! This is Nate saying "cheese" after blowing out his candle. Isn't he adorable???

This is a pic of most of the gang that was there for the party. Notice all the pregnant ladies sitting on the left side of the picture. We are all having babies in February. In addition to those three pregnant ladies, there were two more in attendance. I think that there is something in the water at our church!

This is Nate's friend from church, Amelia. What a cutie!!! She obviously loved her chocolate cupcake!

And, here is our good friend Aubrey, also enjoying her cupcake!

Brianna sure did enjoy playing in the big treehouse!

And, of course, Nate was probably the only child who actually sat and ate most of his food. I tell you, if you put food in front of the boy, he is happy. He especially liked his cupcakes that Brianna and I made for the party!

So, what do you say about baby Nate??? Well, I guess I can start with the fact that we are not going to be able to call him "baby" any more...just Nate. He has definitely grown up so much the past few months. He loves to play with his animals and trains. He absolutely LOVES to be read to...we could do that for hours on end. He has a contagious smile and laugh. He loves to play tackle with his Daddy. He looks so much like his Momma, it is sometimes scary. He has a tender heart. He started singing this week..."Jesus Loves Me." Except, when we get to the "Yes, Jesus loves me" part, he says "Yes, Jesus loves Nate" which is just way to cute. He has absolutely stolen my heart.

I love you Nate, and I pray that your heart will stay tender, that you will come to know Christ as your Savior at a very young age, and that your life will honor Him in all that you do.

Catching Up on Pics

It has been awhile since I have posted any pictures, because I didn't know how to download them onto the laptop, and Nathan wouldn't do it for me. But, he recently showed me how to do it, so here are some pictures for you all to enjoy!!!

Grandma Hendricks sent us a Rice Krispy Treat House Kit, so one evening Brianna and I made and decorated these fun houses.

This is a pic of my kids doing their push-ups with Daddy. They also do sit-ups...it is so cute.

Here is Brianna in her cute outfit that Grandma Hendricks sent her for Christmas.

This is just a really cute pic of Nate saying "Cheese" really loud!

And, here is Nate in the outfit that Grandma Hendricks sent him for Christmas. Again, saying "Cheese" but not so loud.

So, one day I told Nate it was time for naptime, and he needed to go to his room. When I got there, this is what I found. He was pretending to take a nap under his Cowboys floor mat. How cute!!!

This was our Christmas tree. Well, the second one that we had. We went and picked out a real tree first, and within a couple of weeks, it was completely dead, despite our valiant efforts to keep it watered and alive. So, a week before Christmas, we threw it out and got out my old, faithful pre-lit tree that I just love.

Nate got a "pound-pound" (as his father used to call it when he was a child) for Christmas.

Brianna got a baby doll stroller for Christmas. She actually got two, but the first one broke, so the second one came in really handy. I took the broken one back to the store, and she got some really cool Dora tennis shoes, that she just doesn't want to take off.

Positive!!!

Well, we have survived the great freeze in Alaska. It is officially out of the negative temperatures now. After over two weeks of extremely negative temps, it is finally above zero degrees. In fact, we are having a warm front come through...it is actually supposed to be in the teens today, with snow. Now, you may think I am crazy for saying that, but when it has been as cold as it has been for the past 2 1/2 weeks, the teens sounds AMAZING!!! When it is finally warm enough to snow, it is a good thing.

On other news, we haven't done too much lately, just because of the extreme temps, and Nathan has been taking my car to work because his is literally frozen (seriously, the tailgate will not go back up because it is frozen down). I do plan to take the kids to run errands tomorrow, probably just to Target and the Commissary, but that is exciting for me these days. And, we have MOPS this week, so that is always a fun thing to look forward to.

We have also been battling colds around our house. It started with Brianna last week, and then I have it, but I am getting better. I think Baby Nate has a bit of a cold, but not sure yet how bad it is- so far just a touch of a runny nose. And, then last night Nathan said he thought that he was coming down with it. So, the course continues. At least there is no vomit...yet.

The interest in our home has picked up a little bit. We really haven't done too much to advertise, but we are getting some phone calls and people setting up appointments to come and see it. So far, only one person has actually come, but hopefully more will start to come now that the temperatures are on the positive side. We created another blog so that people can view our house in more detail than just the few pics you can put on craigslist or whatever other site we are using. It is www.11734galenabayloop.blogspot.com if anyone is interested.

And, now only five weeks until our little girl is due. I guess I should wash clothes and get out the baby equipment, and that kind of stuff. But, so far, I haven't done a thing. I do plan on buying some diapers and baby laundry detergent at Target tomorrow. At least that is something. Maybe Nathan and I will get the other stuff out this weekend (we've been saying that for a few weekends now) so that I can get stuff washed.

And, one more thing. Baby Nate turns two in just two weeks now. For his birthday party, we are just inviting his friends to go to McD's with us to play. That way, I don't have to entertain people in my home. So, for those of you in the area, we are meeting at the Eagle River McD's at 5pm on Saturday, Jan. 24th, and you are all invited. I can't believe how big he is getting. He has always been my "little man" because he just looks like a little man, but now, he even acts like it. He is so adorable...I could go on and on about how cute he is, but I will save that for his actual birthday.

Thankful Thursday and Happy New Year!

1. I am thankful for a warm and safe house to live in here in AK. The weather has been so cold lately- I don't think that it has gotten above zero once this week. BURRR!!!
2. Since it has been so cold, I haven't gotten out of the house much, which means that I haven't spent any money this week. That is always a good thing!
3. My brother-in-law Josh came over today to teach me how to make Swedish Rolls, which is a very special, and secret, Youngren family recipe. That would be Nathan's mother's family.
4. I am thankful for 33 1/2 weeks of pregnancy that have gone very smoothly. At my last appointment we thought that the baby's heartbeat was a little low, but after going to Labor and Delivery and being hooked up to monitor's for about an hour, and scaring Nathan and the kids in the process, everything is fine.
5. I am thankful that I only have 6 1/2 weeks left until I get to hold my precious little baby girl in my arms. I seriously can't wait!
6. I am so thankful for a wonderful, understanding husband. I have not been sleeping well lately, and he has put up with my tossing and turning, and even crying. He will just lay there and hold me and tell me that it will be OK, not to worry, etc. He is so sweet, and I could not make it through this pregnancy, or any other time of my life, without him. I love you Babe!!!
7. I am so thankful for Brianna, who understands when Momma has had a bad night of sleep, and will take Nate into the other room and play for an hour or so, so that I can get a little more sleep. She has such a tender heart and is such a good playmate for her brother.
8. I am also thankful for my little Baby Nate, whose smile will light up any room, and it definitely lights up my heart every time I see him. He is such a joy and he also plays well with his sister, most of the time.
9. I am thankful for the time that we have had in AK. We have had so much fun exploring this wonderful land that God created, we have been able to meet our financial goals, and most importantly, we have become friends with some of the most wonderful people. We will truly miss them once we leave AK.
10. And, especially since it has been so cold this week, I am thankful that we are moving back to the lower 48. It is weird how the Lord prepares our hearts for the next adventure that HE (not the Air Force) is sending us on. Although it is difficult to leave our friends here is AK, and it is difficult to not move home to OK, I am so excited to move to GA and meet new friends and get settled in to our new life there.

I hope that you all have had a wonderful New Year and that each of you take the time to reflect on the great things that God has done in your life over the past year.