Meeting Santa

Merry Christmas, everyone! Last Saturday after swim class Nathan, Todd and I headed to downtown Kalamazoo to meet Santa! This is officially added to the long list of things I love about Kalamazoo--the visit with Santa was free, we got to take our own pictures, and the line was really short. Nathan wasn't phased at all by Santa or Mrs. Claus--he was excited to sit on Santa's lap and point out all of the North Pole decor. All in all it was a fun family outing!

Waiting our turn.

Nathan, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Santa and Mrs. Claus, meet Nathan.

Santa, I love what you've done with the place, especially that big candy cane over there!

Fowle and Claus family photo

Hanging out with Daddy

12 month appointment

Nathan had his 12 month check-up with Dr. Dyk this afternoon. He got a clean bill of health and four immunizations. Here are his latest stats--still a little guy with a big ol' head:

Weight: 21 lbs (25th percentile)
Height: 29" (25th percentile)
Head circumference: 18 3/4" (75th-90th percentile!)

A boy with opinions

On Wednesday evening, we tried giving Nathan cow's milk for the first time. He was not a huge fan (Hello, mom and dad? I am a person, not a cow; I drink people milk!). Hopefully it will grow on him. N's personality is developing more and more every day. It's so much fun! Here's a video that demonstrates our opinionated little ham. :)

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Unbelievable, my son is one year old today! Since it was a work day, I took Nathan to daycare this morning, where all the teachers greeted us with a chorus of "Happy Birthday!" They had also put up some decorations around the room with Nathan's name on it--so nice! All the teachers seemed happy that N and I arrived bearing cupcakes. Nathan's gift to me today was that he was not hysterical when I had to leave (we've been having a string of really rough separation anxiety days), so I was able to give him a kiss goodbye and head off for the office.

Todd and I went out to lunch together, and had fun talking about what was happening "at this time last year." What an intense day that was! I am lucky that Todd is an incredible birth partner--he was a huge support for me. Of course, I think I did some pretty awesome work too. :)

After we all got home for the day, Nathan unwrapped some presents, played with some of his new toys and books and had dinner. And then it was cupcake time!! It took him a few seconds of concern about the texture of the frosting, but once he got a taste, he was a man on a mission until that cupcake was GONE! He loved it! Then it was straight to the bathtub for the young man. Then with some jammies and a song, we tucked him into bed. What a sweet, sweet boy.

Getting a special present from Daddy.


Loved the bow!


Daddy had to show him that the toy was actually cooler than the bow.


Oh, wait, this thing has buttons? Awesome!

N had a blast pulling the tissue paper out of the gift bag that Marcia and Greg McMorrow left on our doorstep today.

Awww, giving the stuffed cat a big hug as soon as he pulled it out of the bag! :)

Dinner at our house has become quite the messy affair!

Mom, what is this thing?

I don't know, the frosting texture is kind of weird...

Naturally, I will put some in my mouth.

This stuff is DELICIOUS!!

All business as he demolishes the cupcake.

Mmmm.... chocolate!

Video of the cupcake consumption

Vintage Nathan

In honor of his first birthday, here are some of Nathan's first pictures and videos. What an incredible day December 17, 2008 was!

Meeting Nathan Richard Fowle! (at this point he wasn't Nathan yet, he was baby boy Fowle!)


Very tired, full of joy


6lbs, 6oz, 19" long, born at 9:29pm


First time holding his son.



SO sweet!

First moments


First diaper change


10 days old

Snow Day!

Kalamazoo got the first snowstorm of the year, and it resulted in a snow day for Kalamazoo College! Given that it is our busiest time of the year in Admissions, I still had to work, but I got to do it at home, in my pjs, while my little guy was napping (and I still got way more work done than I would have at the office, go figure).

Last weekend Grandma Nancy gave Nathan some cute holiday pjs and a Christmas decoration that he's allowed to play with. Since he was rockin' the new pjs this morning, I decided that it would be a good time to take some holiday-themed photos. The series did not turn out quite the way I envisioned, but they are a great demonstration of how curious, busy and funny N is right now.

A few shots of our snowy backyard.

Checking out the snowman's nose.

The floor is a much more appropriate place for snowmen.

Hmmm... I appear to be surrounded!

Look! It's a tree! (he's in a phase right now where he points at everything--SO stinkin' cute!!)

Mom, your vision for me posing in my Christmas pjs in front of the beautiful tree with snowmen in my lap was a TERRIBLE idea!

Terrible, I say!

I'm outta here!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Hello dear readers! Sorry I've been a bit remiss in my blogging; work has been totally crazy and cutting into my "posting pictures of my incredibly adorable child" time. I'm sure you've all been waiting with bated breath to see the weekly evolution of Nathan's cuteness. Fear not, gentle reader, your wish is about to be granted! :)

Last weekend we went out to Wamhoff Farms with Dan and Nancy to get a Christmas tree. It was a perfect winter day--a dusting of snow on the ground and the sun shining. We had fun wandering around through the trees until we found the winner: a white pine, the Michigan state tree! A good time was had by all, and Nathan was so distracted by touching the pine needles and being adorable for Grandma and Grandpa that he actually kept his hat on his head!