The Birthday Boy

A quick post to show you pictures of our birthday fun last night.   :)   I decorated the kitchen quickly before my boys got home, and Nolan loved seeing all the streamers hanging up.   And he is a frosting boy for sure!   I was giving him tastes of the frosting while I was making his cupcakes, and at one point he smacked his lips and wagged his tongue at me to let me know "Momma, I want some more of that stuff!!!"  At first he wasn't quite sure what to do with the cupcake, but Daddy helped him get some of that sweet treat into his mouth and after that it was allllll over!  After his bath and refusing his bottle (I'm sure his belly had had enough), he went right to sleep!  So much birthday excitement!

And done....

Just Because....

Just because my baby is ONE today....

Seriously, where did the time go????  And yes, I'm the one who sat there last night looking through his baby pictures trying not to cry (that was tough).    It's been amazing watching him grow and learn new things every day.   I feel so blessed to be this sweet boy's mother.   And celebrating his one year birthday is bittersweet -  our year has been filled with so much love and laughter, snuggles and tickles, tears of joy and tears of frustration (for both Nolan and me); it's been an amazing experience so far.   I look forward to all that is in store for us this next,busy year!   :)  

Birthday Gift Ideas

Many people have asked me "What does Nolan want for his birthday?"  Well, if he could talk, I'm sure he'd tell me, but really his actions say it all.  Here's a look at some of the things Nolan enjoys playing with.  That should help some people out when trying to find the perfect gift for this almost one year old.   :)

Straws....straws are fun.  You can take them out of
the container, put them back in, take them out again,
crawl around the house with them, chew on them, etc. 
The possibilities are endless.

Highlighters are also cool.  You can roll them
around or use them as drumsticks. 
His favorites are yellow and orange.

Okay, at this point we all know spatulas are totally cool...

Canisters and boxes from the recyling are fun toys.  They make
great drums....or stools.  Nolan likes to sit on coffee cans.

Cupcakes liners!!!  So much fun!

 See!?!  Even the dog likes them!

 Here, Buck!  Look at this awesome toy!

So, hopefully that gave you some good ideas.   The boy really doesn't need much!  :)   He certainly knows how to make his own fun! 

Big Boy!

Hi, I use a fork now!

This week, we were having a little fussiness at dinner time.  (What!?!?!  Nolan?  NO!)  We had just sat down to eat and food was already ending up on the floor.  I gave him a bite with my fork and suddenly he was interested again.  I remembered my lovely sister passing along a little fork and spoon set so I grabbed the fork from that and, voila, it did the trick!  Now we bring out his little fork when less than desirable foods are on the tray or he's being Sgt. Crankypants. 

Okay, he might not always get it right...

Mmmmm, nectarines taste so much better with a fork!







11 months!

One more month!  I can't believe our baby boy is turning 1.  Such a fun, exciting, and BUSY year!  :)  Here's pics from his 11 month photo session.   He does not sit for long anymore, that's for sure!  I used to be able to sit him there and get 50 photos - I think we got about 10-15 before he decided to split. 

This is how it starts...

Then he goes after the index card...

Then he goes after Puppy...

Rarrrrrr!!!!!!!

This time he decided he was done! 

And he took Puppy with him!

See ya!  


How this kid makes me laugh!   Looking forward to celebrating his very first birthday and seeing what the next year will bring us!

April Fools Day!!!

March 31, 2011 - got home from work, went for a run, Joe went for his first bike ride of the year, walked with Nolan in the stroller to get the mail, grilled some chicken for dinner, no snow in the yard - it was a wonderful evening. 

April 1, 2011 - THIS

View of the front yard

AND THIS

View of the back yard





YUCK!!!   To top it off, we had a Snow Day for school.  Which means I am now getting out June 20th - which is a Monday.  Yup, teachers and students will come back to school that Monday to squeeze in that last day.  And don't worry, lots of learning will be taking place that day.  Riiiiiiight. 
Anywho, it all worked out because Nolan has a miserable cold so we were all able to be home to snuggle and get some rest.  This is what rest looks like in Nolan's world:

He's getting pretty good at this!

It was a fun day even if it means one more day in June.  Hoping the weather warms up quickly and melts this snow!  It's spring after all and that is not a joke!