Birthday Gifts of the Baby Kind

I recieved 3 birthday gifts today from my dear son Nathaniel. The first requires a little back story:

We had a another blow-out of epic proportions yesterday. Green, smelly, puddle making proportions. You're welcome for the mental picture. I had to take the sheets, and mat off of the bed to wash them. I was also incredibly busy getting things ready for Activity Days that would be taking place at my house later that evening. Well, we get through Activity Days, everyone goes home, and we are exhausted. You can guess what comes next right? We fell asleep on the bed before putting the mat and sheets back on. No big deal right? You wouldn't think so.

So, this morning I wake up, and Vincent is already up with Nathan. Pretty routine, Vince changes his diaper, and then gives Nate to me so I can feed him, and Vince can finish getting ready for school. This morning, Nathan was eating, and had finished all but about an ounce of his bottle, and he starts to choke, due to a faster nipple on his bottle than he's used too. Before I know what's happening, he has projectile vomited all over my nice, clean, un-made bed. No mat to catch it. I of course take care of Nathan, who is covered in breakfast re-runs, and try my best to soak up the wet nastiness that is now my bed. Turns out formula soaks into the mattress really well! I had to put a towel on the bed and press down to get the formula to come out and soak into the towel. The bed took a couple of hours to dry. Needless to say, I will be returning to size 2 nipples for my Avent bottles for at least a while longer. This was present #1.

Present #2 was a lot less messy, and much cuter than the formula re-runs. We went to the pool today, as we usually do on Thursdays for play group, and got into the water. Nathan was happy as can be, chilling like a snow flake in winter, in his little floaty. Eventually, he started to fuss in his little floaty, so I pulled him out and we began to float around the pool together. Out of nowhere, he takes his little right hand, and starts to beat the water with it, making quite the splash! He proceeded to get water in his face and all over me, but I couldn't help but be proud that my son had taught himself how to splash. Nathan even mimicked me splashing later on, and had quite the party with the water. This was present #2.

Present #3 is a combination of a relief, and a nightmare. Nathaniel is getting another tooth in his bottom gums, right next to his deluxe model tooth (the tooth he was born with). I am relieved that the tooth has broken the gums, because Nathan is more himself, but I am terrified at the prospect of him getting more teeth. He is only 6 months after all. I guess the sooner we get it over with the better right? Crankiville here we come... This was present #3.

Put everything together, and you get a soggy, drooly, splash of a birthday, all wrapped up in baby smiles and giggles. It was rough to begin with, but finished out on a high note. I am looking forward to what this new year of life has to bring, and future gifts of the baby kind. I just hope they are a little less wet, and a little less sharp.