Sanford, N.C. — Two-year-old Jayden Ayers is a typical toddler – all smiles and very active, according to family friends.

On Wednesday, Jayden gave his family and local law enforcement a scare when he went missing from his family’s Sanford home.

Lou Ann Goodwin, a family friend, said Jayden and his mother took their usual morning nap, but when his mother woke up the front door was open and the toddler was gone.

Jayden’s mom called 911, and authorities quickly began searching the area. There was some fear that Jayden had fallen into a nearby pond.

More than four hours later, Jayden’s aunt found him in a field near the home.

“He was happy, happy to see everybody, wanted to know why everybody was here,” Goodwin said. “He was in a diaper and a T-shirt. No shoes. He’d been following the dog.”

Jayden was fine except for some scratches and chapping from the cold weather.