I’m 2 and ½ years.  That’s a pretty big deal. That’s two years of lots of watching, lots of brain development, lots of learning.   I have my own ideas about how the days should go.  I spend a lot of time planning my day and what I think Momma and Lyla, even Daddy, should do.  Most of the time I’m pretty good at making sure things go according to plan.   I can do a lot myself, even if people think I can’t.  I can sweep, and then put the dirt back where it came from.  I can use the spray cleaner and a rag to wipe things…and also to clean Lyla.  I can kind of vacuum; we just need a smaller vacuum, that’s all.  I can put clothes away…where I think they should go.  I can pour my drinks, which also gives the thirsty counter a drink.   I have my own camera and can take my own pictures, artistic pictures.  I can do puzzles, build towers, and draw.  I can sing, play the piano perfectly, and steer the cars. You name it, I’m pretty sure I can do it myself.    

The big people in my life look at me like I’m a child, incapable of such strategic planning, incapable of doing things on my own. That’s why one phrase is so important:  “I can do it myself!”.  I have to use this phrase about 31 times each day.  At least I think that is the number…I can’t really count past 19.  It isn’t just about the words.  You have to look them in the eye, use hand gestures and a loud voice.  They still don’t get it.

 Some big people really don’t get it at all.  One day on a field adventure, a woman came up to us with this strange, high pitched voice, squishy lips, a wiggling finger, and what she thought were words.  She looked and sounded like an idiot.  I stared at her…then looked at Momma…then looked behind me at Lyla, who actually had a goofy, toothy, grin on her face.  Ah ha…the woman was talking like we were babies.  Leave it to Lyla to encourage her.  She messes up everything!! Momma was too awkward to fix it, too busy looking for pictures to take.   I had to take control.   I would do it myself.

The woman asked Momma how old we were.  I can answer myself!!  Momma told her.  The woman looked at me and squished up her nose and lips, saying, “Wow…a biggy wiggy two year old!  What a big boy!  Yes you are!!”  She grabbed my fingers (really, I didn’t know this woman at all, and she had the nerve to touch me!).  I looked at her, done with the shenanigans, and said, “It’s time to let go!  Momma, it’s time to say goodbye.  I’m a big boy, I can do it myself!  Lyla no talking!!”  Momma’s mouth opened, then shut.  By looking at her eyes, I could tell she was trying not to laugh.  The woman gasped and then started to talk again, but just sounds came out.   So I looked her in the eyes, talked slowly and loudly, and said, “Use your words.”  

Momma mumbled something and whisked us away so fast I could barely hear the woman call after us, “Well, he certainly is a spirited boy.”  And then Momma mumbled loud enough I could hear her, “And you my friend, certainly are an annoying woman.”   Since I really needed Momma to push us away, and couldn’t stomp off myself, I was so glad when she did!   Sometimes, I still need help.  Some days, Momma is my superhero.  

I love books.  I love cars and trains too.  But books are the best.  Books are amazing.  Maybe even more than … well, than most things. ALMOST as good as a Momma or Daddy hug.  Books teach you things.  Books have great pictures.  Books tell you stories.   And who doesn’t like a good story??!!  A good story takes you to other places and people. 

By the time I was two years old, I ran with giraffes and bears, went swimming with dolphins, got stuck in a whale’s belly, drove a train, climbed a tall tall tree, found a wocket in my pocket, danced with wolves, built an igloo, flew on a train to Africa, played peek-a-boo with a strange robot, got stuck in a mud puddle with a blue truck, said good night to the moon, put pajamas on with elephants, rode a submarine, and…and…and.  Well, I could go on and on. 

Read a book. It’s good for you!

All that I did because of books.  Each book is an adventure. 

I have so many shelves of books that Momma has to move them around to remind me what books I have!   Some of my books are short, some are long.  Some make me happy, some make me sleepy.  Not only do I get an adventure with each book, but I get to spend time with the big people that I love each time we read them.  Sometimes I read the books by myself.  Sometimes I have Momma or Daddy read the same book over and over and over and over…mostly because I like being with them. 

Books aren’t for everyone…I guess.  Apparently Lyla feels they are better as food or to throw.  She rips books out of my hand and hits me with them.  What?  She doesn’t like stories?  I guess we can’t all be readers.  Someone should really talk to that baby girl about books.  I guess I could show her how cool books are. 

I have a few books that have really pretty pictures.  I wonder if someday I can use my camera to take pictures for books?  I HAVE been practicing my picture taking!  Hmmm… For now, I’ll just go read another book.  

Well, it’s a new year.  I’m another year older…and she is still here.  It’s been a big year!  I remember when she first came to live with us.  I remember Momma and Daddy calling me a big brother for the first time.  I remember holding her for the first time, her throwing up on me for the first time, the first time she smiled at me, laughed at me, and growled at me.   I go back and forth about having her around.  She smells.  She makes funny noises.  She keeps us ALL up at night.  She gets a lot of attention.  Sometimes I act like her so that I get attention too…as if to say, “Hello big people!  Remember me?  The funny, witty, charming one who actually HELPS with things?”   Then, when no one is paying attention to either of us, I remind her that I was here first.  This usually ends in crying, head butting and an innocent-looking, well placed move from me that appears to be a hug just as Momma and Daddy look at us.   On the other hand, she thinks I’m super cool (maybe she’s smarter than I thought), AND she growls.  Both of these will come in handy.  And when she smiles at me or gives me a kiss, I get that happy tug and warm feeling.  When she laughs because of something I do, I can’t help but smile!  

I’m talking about Lyla, of course.  This last weekend it was her birthday.  She’s one now!  It seems like when I turned one, I had such a better understanding of life than Lyla does.  I already had my own blog, was practicing with cameras (even without permission), and had the art of distraction down, especially in public when Momma embarrassed us with her camera.  Lyla seems like such a baby.  She just crawls through life unaware of all that is done around her and for her.  Pfff.  Some kids.  Oh to be that unaware.   

She’s watching me now…actually she’s headed this way, so I better stop.  Not that she would understand what I’m doing, but I don’t need her drawing attention to me.  I guess I’ll have to pretend to be really interested in learning the ABC song again so Momma doesn’t catch on to me writing this.  I mean, how many times can you hear that song???!!!  Lyla doesn’t mind; she’ll just clap and bop her head like she does every time…such a baby.   Gotta go!    

Hi people.  Sorry it has been awhile.  Lyla, then Momma, then Daddy got sicko, so I had to take care of everyone.  But they are whining less and So remember that whole promotion thingy?  Where I take photos to help Momma now?  Well, it’s a lot of work!!  Apparently there aren’t that many acceptable ways to use a camera.  I’ve tried.  Upside down, sideways, running, using my teeth…all of which earned angry eyes from Momma or Daddy.   Momma keeps telling me I’m looking through the camera the wrong way.  She laughs (not AT me) and tells me I keep taking a lot of “selfies”…whatever that means.

You have to hold really still, like you are pretending sleep.  I tried this, but kept closing my eyes (because aren’t they supposed to be closed when you sleep?  I guess fishy sleep with their eyes open…but whatever).  It’s pretty hard to take a picture with your eyes closed.  I’ve tried.  A lot.

What I’m trying to say is that this is hard work!  The camera gets heavy, my legs get tired, and having to help push Lyla around gets even more tiring. And I don’t even have to do the editing and camera work.   Momma says hard work is a good thing.  Uh oh- that’s code for a soon-to-come-long-boring-story from her soon.  I’ll just “take a nap” then.  Oh well, gotta get back to work.   Practice practice practice.  Don’t forget to check out some of my photos online!

Apparently you can’t run and take a picture. Trust me, this big rock is amazing!

I got a promotion!  I got a promotion!!!  A promotion!!!!   What’s a promotion?  If it involves more cars, more toys, more running time outside, and more books- well, I’m in.  It must be a good thing because Momma has big eyes (the happy kind, not the angry eyes) and that goofy grin on her face right now.  I’m just gonna keep smiling and jumping loudly since it seems like the perfect opportunity to get away with squealing and craziness, even if I don’t know what the big deal is.

Getting In the Zone

Well, here’s the deal.  Since I am two now, apparently Momma and those people she works with (one is my Uncle Tim and he has cool boots) think I can do more than just be a contributing writer.  You know what I think?  I think they’ve never experienced writer’s block.  Do MORE?  What are we talking about here?!  They MUST realize I’m entering a dangerous stage of life where my brain is still so mushy, making it easy for me to go from happy to crazy sad, to calm and then angry in the blink of an eye, right???!!!  And they trust me with more?  Okayee!!

Here’s the more.  Besides writing Nate’s Notes, I’ll be taking pictures.  That’s right, you will be able to see my pictures on the website now!  Momma says I shouldn’t toot my own horn, but…Toot!  Toot!  The images will be in the Artistic Shots Gallery.  Get it?   Because they are artistic.  Because I am an artist. THEY finally see it!!  See for yourself; my early work should be up soon.

Momma finished telling me about the big promotion with a hug.  I jumped up, running to my room to find my camera.  Momma followed me to ask what I was doing.  Well THAT is a silly question.  Pfff…and people say MY brain is mushy??  Exasperated, I answered, “Momma- I gotta go outside to take pictoos!”