My Partner-in-Crime

Nolan and Momma, Momma and Nolan.   We're pretty tight.  I love this kid for many reasons, and yesterday we added a new one to the list.  

It's been a rainy week here in Maine.   Like drive-you-up-a-wall rainy.   And that's pretty much where I was yesterday - up the wall.  Nolan had turned into Sgt. Fussypants and I decided that what we needed was a change of scenery.   We'd been holed up in the house long enough.  So we all (me, Nolan, and our shadow Buckley) piled into the mini-van and headed into downtown Brunswick.  It's a quaint little downtown with your typical Main St. dotted with shops and cafes.  First we stopped in to my former employer, Maine Running Company.   Nolan is fascinated with shoes so this was the perfect place to spend some time.   I chatted with one of my work buddies while he stared at the walls lined with sneakers and watched people trying on box after box of sneakers.   Then I indulged in trying on my favorite sneaker - the Saucony Triumph.  Swoon.  (Hmmmm...pay for a week of daycare or buy a pair of new sneakers????  Tough decision.)     

After leaving MRC, we headed over to my most favorite place downtown - Gelato Fiasco.   Joe is not really an "ice cream" kind of guy.   He likes candy.  Me, I could eat ice cream every day.  I don't, but I could.   So I figured I'd treat Nolan and myself to some gelato.  This place makes their own fresh gelato on a daily basis.  And the flavors are endless.   Often they'll have an interesting flavor they're trying out.   They're culinary artists, really.   So after browsing the gelato case and sampling a few flavors, I chose Junior Mint for myself and Strawberry Balsamic for Nolan.   The boy could not get enough of the sweet stuff.  I could barely enjoy my own because he wanted that red spoon in his mouth every 3 seconds.  

Love me some gelato!

Mmmmmmm....







Keep it coming, Momma!

I'll just take that spoon, thank you!

So I have found my new partner-in-crime.   I forsee many trips to Gelato Fiasco this summer.  Forget Dairy Queen!     Joe can keep his candy.  

So after our little gelato date, we headed down the street to check out our new local Cool as a Moose/Life is Good store.  So many things I want....so little money.  Ah well.   Then we played with the Brio train table at another favorite store.   It ended up being a lovely afternoon.   Nolan and Momma, Momma and Nolan.  

"Ma-ma"

Best.sound.ever.    Last Wednesday I was washing bottles at the sink.   Nolan was standing over at our kitchen window looking outside.   All of a sudden he dropped to his knees and started crawling quickly towards me.   "Ma-ma, Ma-Ma" he said.   And when he reached me, he grabbed onto my legs and stood up.   My heart burst.   This was the first time he had said it - "Ma-ma."   Needless to say, I stopped what I was doing, scooped him up, burst into tears and smothered him with kisses.   Then we spent the rest of our evening outside walking around, swinging and blowing bubbles. 

Life is too short.  Savor every moment.  <3

I love this...

The classic "sleep-on-my-stomach-with-my-tush-in-the-air."  I don't know exactly when it started.  It was about a couple of weeks ago when he started getting sick.  I think it made him feel better.  I'd put him in his crib on his back and he'd instantly flip over to his belly and tuck up his knees.   He's feeling better now, but still does it.  I love going into his room in the morning and seeing him like this:

Makes my day.  :)

The Birthday Recap

I know I owe you an update on how his first birthday party went.   It's just that things have been busy.  Between trying to get through these last 27 days of school (but who's counting?), preparing for the birthday party and cleaning up after, Mother's Day and then returning to the daily grind, it's been hectic.   I'll give some details, but I think I'll mostly let the pictures tell the story.  

The party was scheduled for after the Birthday Boy's nap.   This also gave us some time to clean up and get ready.  I made Nolan a "small" 7-inch smash cake - chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.   Joe said "Let the boy eat some chocolate!"   No problem.  I made both chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for the guests.  I decided to use those monthly pictures I'd been taking of Nolan as decorations to stick in the cupcakes. I also chose some favorites from througout the year.  They came out really cute!  Since the party was 3-5, I also did a couple of hot appetizers and other snacks - crockpot meatballs(delicious!), Buffalo Chicken Dip (ALWAYS a hit), cheese and crackers, veggies and hummus, some popped kettle corn, and Joe's mom made yummy clam dip with Fritos.    It was a pretty decent spread! 



I wanted to have our party outside, but right at 3:00 the dark clouds rolled in and the thunder started.  It never did rain, but I wasn't going to take the chance!  After chatting and mingling for a while, we decided to let Nolan at his cake.   While he didn't enjoy his birthday hat, he definitely loved that cake!   He made good work of it, too, eating about 1/4 of the cake.  

After that, we cleaned him up and attempted having him open his gifts.  With all that sugar running through his system, Nolan didn't feel much like sitting down.  So I took over that.  He got some really neat gifts and we were so thankful for the wonderful things he got.

I swear he likes it, Ali!  We've been practicing.  :)

Daddy picked this gift out special

It was a fun day surrounded by loved ones, both friends and family.   It's sweet that there are so many special people in Nolan's life.  Our boy is very fortunate to know such wonderful people.   We look forward to celebrating down in Massachusetts with the rest of our family!    Can't wait!   :)

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!