Nathaniel Wishes Everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!

Showing off his teeth! :-)

Nathaniel's new camera face...not sure what started it!

Yes, that is lipstick on his forehead and cheek! Momma kissed her valentine! :-)

Nathaniel Likes To Move It

Despite Nathaniel's mound of toys, he finds joy in playing with our kitchen stools. As you can see, he gets frustrated when he gets stuck, but quickly figures out how to continue. What you can't see is what happened when I took him away from his fun to go to bed. He threw the biggest fit, complete with screaming and HUGE tears.

Nevertheless, it was fun to watch him problem solve as he moved the chairs around and figured how to get them unstuck. Enjoy!

Nathaniel Enters The Beautiful Baby Contest

After MUCH encouragement from MANY people, we have entered this picture into the Beautiful Baby Contest for Regis and Kelly:

Nathaniel's Long Awaited Birthday Video

Thanks for your patience! Enjoy!

Nathaniel's Eats His Very Own Birthday Cake!

Here is one of the videos I promised.

Nathaniel + The Stomach Flu AND Daddy + the Stomach Flu AND Mommy + The Stomach Flu = .....

...no Birthday Video yet. I promise I am working on it.

The good news is we are all finally feeling like humans again. My appetite is still not even close to where is should be, and I am completely weened off COFFEE, but I am gaining strength slowly and was actually hungry today! WOO-HOO.

Nathaniel's 1 year doctor's appointment was on Friday. I was so sad that I couldn't go, but I was just too sick.

The doctor continues to be encouraging! He says Nathaniel is doing GREAT, he is right on target for his age and is very healthy!

He weighed in at 26 lbs 6 oz. and is 31 1/4" tall.

He is completely adjusted to whole milk and has had 1 full day of NO bottle and just a sippy cup! Tonight also was his very first dinner of all self-fed food! It was so exciting! He had homemade (my experiment) macaroni & cheese, mashed meatball (ground turkey) and carrots.

Nathaniel continues to get quicker on his feet and perfect the art of falling correctly. :-) He really is the most amazing kid I have ever met!

7 Month Gotcha Day Anniversary

June 2008

January 2009

(I didn't think it was possible, but he has gotten even cuter!!!!)

Thank you, Lord, for trusting us with our son...our miracle!!!

Nathaniel Sports His Birthday Suit!!!!

Ummm...do you see the drool?? :-)

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY, NATHANIEL!!!!

I keep pinching myself to see if today is real...my little boy is 1 year old!!!! It seems like just yesterday we were picking up our tiny little 5 month old from Ethiopia (actually Saturday marks our 7 month "Gotcha Day" anniversary too!)!

Nathaniel amazes me everyday! I still am convinced that every time he wakes up from a nap he has grown another inch taller...Paul is starting to believe it too! :-) No, we are not crazy.

Here are some pictures of Nathaniel on his first birthday! There will be LOTS more to come today and tomorrow with his 1st Birthday party! Enjoy, and Happy Nathaniel's 1st Birthday to you!!!

My cute little goofball! :-)

Little Birthday Monster. I just love that forehead! :-)

So grown up and tall. My little man!

His "GQ" pose! :-)

I can't imagine my life without this little bundle of cuteness!!!!!!! Momma loves you, bubby-cakes!

Nathaniel and Elvis Presley

I just found out that my son and Elvis were born on the same day, January 8th, just 73 years apart! Coincidence? I think not!!! :-)

Nathaniel Learns To Walk

Nathaniel took his first steps while celebrating Christmas with my dad on 12/26. He has not tried again until today. What a great way to start off the New Year!

Nathaniel Wishes You A Happy New Year!

Simple Picture Title: Drool! :-)

Nathaniel's First Christmas -- Pictures Are Worth A Million Words!

Merry Christmas from our mischievous little love bug!


Grandpa and Nathaniel. It was at Grandpa's house on December 26th that Nathaniel took his first steps on his own!

Grandma's special time was giving Nathaniel his night bottle. He is wearing the cute new pj's from Auntie Heather.

Reading his new book with mom. He loved looking at it and touching the different textures.

Hanging out with Auntie Heather.

Santa put this special bib in Nathaniel's stocking!!!

Daddy decided to "decorate" Nathaniel's face for Christmas...he didn't seem to like it too much.

Nathaniel all dressed up for our special Christmas service. He is so handsome and is looking so grown up!

Nathaniel's first snow experience.

Ummm...I promise it is just water. We are just teaching him young about the good stuff!

Playing with just one of his noisy new toys.

A family tradition was watching "Nester the Long Eared Donkey". Nathaniel loved it!

Again, teaching him young about the important Christmas traditions! :-)

Hanging special ornaments on the tree from Grandpa and Jim.

Video of Nathaniel's 10 seconds of fame was found!

After searching and searching for a video of Nathaniel's 10 seconds of fame, I was came across someone who posted a portion of the segment on You Tube. I asked her to post the entire segment, and she graciously accepted. I am so excited!!!

Nathaniel Is Featured on the America World Blog!

Our Agency's (America World Adoption Association) blog features Nathaniel today!

Check it out! http://www.awaablog.org/blog/

Nathaniel Becomes a Celebrity!!!

Today was a historic day for the West Family! On the Friday episode of the Bonnie Hunt Show (NBC, 12 PM PST), the winning Christmas picture of Nathaniel and Chewy was shown...on National TV!!!!

Her website invites people to upload their Christmas pictures to be shown on the air. Paul told me about it on Monday night, so I did, not thinking anything would come of it. Of all the days to watch the show (I am not usually home during the days), I just so happened to watch it on the right day!

I caught me so off guard that I didn't get it on video. :-( If anyone happens to come across it or taped it, let me know! :-)

Well, since the most adorable Christmas picture of my son was shown on National TV, I decided to post it. :-)

6 Month "Gotcha Day" Anniversary and Photo Session

I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that today marks 6 months since Nathaniel has been in our arms! The time has flown by, yet it feels like he has ALWAYS been here. I know I say it in almost every post, but what a PRIVILEDGE it is to be Nathaniel's mom...How much he has blessed our lives and made it so full of love.

Back in August, we were thrown an Adoption Shower by Paul's family. As a gift, a dear church member gave us a certificate for a professional photography session with his granddaughter.

The pictures are AMAZING and I want to share them with you! Here is how to view our pictures:

www.celebr8lifephotography.com

Click on "Main Site" (on the left)

Click on "Your Gallery" (on the top right)

The password is (case sensitive): Nathan10/24

She has also entered some of her favorites from our session on her blog.

Here is just a taste...

Nathaniel Gets Even Older...

Today is Nathaniel's 11 month birthday. Oh my goodness! I can't believe that in 1 month, my little boy will be a year...I am already researching decorations for his 1st birthday! It is going to be all things Sesame Street/Elmo theme!!!

In just over 2 weeks, we get to celebrate another "first" with Christmas! I feel so blessed to get to be a part of so many of Nathaniel's first.

Wednesday, December 10th marks 6 months since Nathaniel's "Gotcha Day"! At this point, he has been our son longer than he was an orphan. Nathaniel is more than a blessing, he is a MIRACLE!!! Thank you, Lord for my son!

Our Attempt At Christmas Card Pictures!

Here is a short glimpse of what it was like to get the *perfect* Christmas photo!

First Post From My New Computer and Christmas Cards!

After fighting our old laptop for over 6 months (and finding out it would cost more to fix it than get a new one), I braved the crowds on "Black Friday" and stood in line for one of Walmart *fantastic* deals. So I am hoping this will cause me to be more consistent with blog posts. :-)

Here are some pictures! :-)

Chillin' in Daddy's office before Sunday morning service. What a handsome little man. He is growing up so much.

Just the beginning of the "blooper" pictures while trying to get the *perfect* Christmas card photo :-)

What an amazingly patient dog we have. He loves Nathaniel so much too!

Playing peek-a-boo with Chewy's antlers. He eventually broke them which caused an outfit change as shown later. :-)

Trying the picture by himself. The angle is wrong and makes him appear to have huge feet. Oops! :-)

Taking a quick break.

Rudolph's nose feels much better on his gums. All Nathaniel (and Mommy & Daddy) want for Christmas is his top front tooth to finally poke through!

Makes you wonder what is going through the head of our doggy. His eyes say "help me!". :-)


This was the last of the torture for my little boy and his dog. They were such good sports! The winning picture (not posted here) will be in mailboxes all over the states very soon! :-)