2011 - A Photo Recap

Happy New Year!  

2011 was an amazing year!  So many wonderful new experiences shared with Nolan...too many to describe in fact (and since I can be rather long-winded) so I thought I post favorite pics from the year and let them capture the moments and tell the story of our year instead.  Enjoy!

January 1, 2011 - we took Nolan "sledding" for the first time.  He loved it. 

Nolan started eating more solid foods.  Here he is eating pasta for the first time. 

Nolan learned to crawl on Super Bowl Sunday making Daddy very proud. 

He learned the art of crying when he doesn't get what he wants.

Nolan developed a "faux hawk" which I'm realizing I really miss! 

We enjoyed play time with friends...

Ugh, I miss this cutie!   10 months old

Nolan started pulling himself up.  Love that tushie.

We enjoyed our first Maine Maple Sunday.

Nolan learned to climb stairs - that kept us busy.

Happy Easter!  (hee, hee, hee!)

Nolan turned ONE!!!

He learned to walk....or, um, run.

Summer came and we all enjoyed being home together - and eating berries, lots

and lots of fresh-picked berries.

We played at the playground - a lot.

We went hiking.

We celebrated the 4th of July in Portage, Maine with best friends.

We ate fried clams at the Yarmouth Clam Festival.

We visited a favorite ocean-side spot several times during the summer.  Many rocks perfect for throwing.

We took Nolan to Squam Lakes for the first time.  A place which holds a very special place in my family's heart.  We played with cousins, went for boat rides, and ate ice cream. 

We visited Grandma and Grandpa Bob in Rhode Island.  Nolan loved the beach.


Nolan had fun playing with his cousins.

We explored the river when the tide was low finding lots of neat places to discover and observe the wildlife.

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We made yummy baked goods with all those berries!

We spent a lot of time out at camp with Nanny and Grampy.

We played outside a lot!

 

Nolan was baptized in the presence of many of our loved ones.

He gained, and even asked for, more independence. 

Here he is joining us at the table in his booster seat for the first time.

We went apple picking.

He started helping out in the kitchen.

We enjoyed a train ride, wagon ride and pumpkin picking.

We hung out by the fire.

We carved pumpkins.

We went trick-or-treating....in the snow.

We went for sled rides.

We visited Santa.

We found Jesus....literally.

We decorated the Christmas Tree.

We decorated a GIANT gingerbread man.

We went for a horse-drawn carriage ride through the twinkling streets of  Freeport.

We had a blast in our jammies Christmas Day.

We rang in the New Year, once again, with toys and good friends. 

And we laughed and laughed all year long....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a wonderful year 2011 was!  Looking forward to all 2012 has to bring us.  But mostly I hope it brings us more love and joy as this little boy continues to fill our hearts.   Happy New Year to you all! 

Here Comes Santa Claus....

We've started what is hopefully a wonderful tradition with dear friends of ours.   This is the 2nd year we were lucky enough to bring not just Nolan, but Buckley as well to get pictures taken with Santa.  AND we are joined once again by Nolan's best bud and Buckley's girlfriend!  (Seriously, you've should've seen the tail wag and heard the excited whine as Buckley spotted his best girl strutting up to the door of the vet clinic)   He could barely contain himself.   Fortunately for our family, a local vet clinic opens the doors to the public for pictures with Santa for children and pets.  How delightful that we get to take the brothers in for pics with Santa together.   :)   The best part is that there is little to no wait and no overwhelming crowd to battle.  The owner of the clinic himself dresses up as as Santa, his children are his little elves, and his wife snaps the pictures.  They also let us take our own pictures, too.      Last year we were joined by Nolan's almost birthday twin (my friend and I were due one day apart, but I went a few days early and she went a few days late and the boys are now exactly a week apart).   Here's last year's picture:

The boys are nearly oblivious of the man in red.  And so sweet in their holiday garb.  

After our Easter Bunny debacle,

I decided Nolan was going to need a little more preparation this year.    So all week long we talked about Santa, read stories about Santa (petting the picture and saying "Niiiice Santa!"), and tried to find shows about Santa.  I gave him a stuffed reindeer to snuggle with and we asked him what presents he wanted Santa to bring.   The morning of Santa pics we even talked about how Buckley was excited to go see Santa, too.  

On the drive to the vet's clinic, I told Joe "We're taking this picture no matter what, right?  Even if he loses it."  (Joe isn't the biggest fan of taking a picture for the sake of having the picture so I wasn't sure what would happen if it didn't go well)   "No problem, of course" was the response.  Nolan was in great spirits waiting for our turn to go in and see the kind-eyed Santa saying "Ho, ho, ho!" on the other side of the door.  He and his buddy watched squirrels steal bird seed from the feeder outside the window.  

Finally, it was the moment I had been preparing the little guy for.  We walked into the small room where they set up a tree and presents and were greeted by the sweet family who organizes this.   There sat Santa with his soft voice welcoming us.   We got Buckley set up first for the picture and then I looked at Joe who was holding Nolan.   This was it, ready or not Nolan.   Joe handed him over to the jolly man in red who got Nolan settled on his knee.   Holding my breath, I just starting snapping pictures.  Nolan barely paid attention to the Santa, focusing more on all the crazy people saying "Nolan!  Look over here!  Smile!"   He must've thought we were all looney.   But the little guy did great!   I was so proud of him.  

After the picture with Buckley, we took the picture with both boys.   His little buddy had a harder time with it all, but we hope we have many more years for both boys to get those smiles down.   Either way, it's a fun tradition!

Merry Christmas!