Remember how Nate and my niece, Brooke, are like two little cups of sugar?
Brooke is still Nate's biggest fan. In my sister's house, the hubby and I are like celebrities because we're Nate's parents. Every time Brooke sees one of us in a photo, she points us out: "Candy! Tom! Nate!" When I send photo cards, I have to send my sister two so Brooke can have one.
At Nate's birthday party, Brooke was so excited to see that Nate was walking. She kept saying, "Nate! Walkin'! Walkin'!" as if to say, "I'm so proud of him and excited for him!" Her face truly looked like she was excited and proud. Even my brother, the 28-year-old lawyer with no current interest in having children, has been laughing about "Nate! Walkin'!" for days.
Nate, however, doesn't quite understand this adoring public of one.
Are you seriously hugging me again?
But they are just so cute together, it melts me. Even though Brooke is six months older, Nate is a smidge taller than her and a few pounds heavier (we'll find out exactly how much at his one year pediatrician's appointment tonight) and I absolutely adore seeing them together.
Remember the job interview the hubby had on Monday? Well... HE GOT IT. Now, he hasn't signed anything official yet or received a written offer letter, so the paranoia in me is high and I'm celebrating at about 90% capacity/10% cautious paranoia, but he was told he's hired and made to complete the required drug test and online assessment tests.
So this means... daycare! I'm actually very excited about this. If we had the money, I would have put Nate in part-time daycare months ago. Children can grow up just fine without daycare (I have to say that because I never went to daycare or preschool), but I do believe it has its benefits. I think Nate will learn more and experience more than we have the time or ability to teach/do with him at home. I also think it's going to be great for him to have a more rigid schedule (organized snack time, nap time, story time, outdoor time, and so on) and to be around so many children his own age.
And the bonus? Brooke will be in his daycare class.
The hubby and I (and Nate) are going to see the daycare tomorrow afternoon and Brooke (and TJ) will still be there when we get there. Considering how much Brooke adores Nate, I can't wait to see her reaction when we all arrive at "cool" (school).
