Nolan's One Year Checkup

Nash and I took Nolan in for his one year checkup today.  Unfortunately he had to get three injections in his thighs.  Then we had to go next door to have his finger pricked for the hemoglobin and lead tests.  Poor guy had a rough day!  Nash was in charge of holding Nolan's pacifier.  When Nolan started to cry, Nash rushed right over to put the paci in Nolan's mouth.

Nolan weighs 25.3 pounds now, about a pound more than he weighed at his 9 month checkup.  The difference now is that he is getting a little taller so he is in the 75th percentile for height and weight.
Last week, tooth number 4 finally popped through so he has four on the bottom now.  During our trip to Ohio this past weekend, numbers 5 and 6 started to surface as well.  His two front teeth (just in time for Christmas).  It looks like the one to the left of those is not too far behind.  What a trooper!  Thank goodness for infant tylenol!
Only 4 more days 'til Christmas!

Quotes from a 2 3/4 year old

**Nash wanted to help me decorate Nolan's birthday cake on Sunday.  I compromised and let him frost a cupcake from the leftover batter.  Then he wanted to eat it...for breakfast.  I realize this is not the breakfast of champions but I let him eat it anyway.  After a few bites I asked him, "How is it Buddy?"  He said, "This is the best lunch I ever had!"

Nash fell asleep eating lunch after playing out in the snow.

**I was looking at some On Demand movies to watch and asked Nash if he wanted to watch The Princess and the Frog because we hadn't watched it before.  He said, "That's a girl movie maybe."

**I turned on the TV this morning and the Today Show was on.  I happen to really like the Today Show.  Nash said, "I wanna watch a boy channel."

**I took both boys grocery shopping at Wal-Mart the other day because Jason was out of town and we needed some things for Nolan's birthday party.  I thought that was pretty brave of me.  My nerves were probably a little frayed by the time we had to stop at Hobby Lobby really quick to pick up frosting tint for Nolan's cake.  I was all set to check out when Nash stopped at a display of plastic airplanes.  I asked him (probably somewhat irritated) to start listening and stay with me.  He told me several times quite loudly on the the way to the checkout, "You listen to me right now in my ear!"

POST IT NOTES:
**Nash likes to have his blanket on his bare tummy when he starts to get tired (satin side down, fuzzy side up so he can rub his hand across it until he falls asleep).

**Nash loves it when I put his comforter over his bed like a tent.

**During meal times, there's a fine line with Nash that you do not want to cross.  While eating Nolan's birthday supper (gluten free lasagna which was AWESOME!) Nash told me it was going to make him sick.  I said, "one more bite."  He did as I asked then gagged and threw up all over his plate.  This is the second time he has done this with me and he also did it with Jason once.  I felt terrible and will definitely listen the next time he tells me he's had enough.  He has Jason's sensitive gag reflex!

Tub Time

I was able to snap a couple of really cute pictures during bath time today.  Nolan still likes to splash but has turned it down a few notches.  Bath time has not been quite as stressful recently as it once was.  Both boys love the water.  I'm already looking forward to the pool and sprinkler next summer!

Nash and Color Changing Mater

Nolan

Happy 1st Birthday Nolan Jace!!!

Nolan is one today!  So hard to believe.  He has changed SO much over the past 12 months.

His new favorite word is "WOW!"  He climbed 18 steps the other day at the speed of light pretty much (under Jason's supervision.)  I had no idea he could do that.  But then again, I never really gave him the opportunity.  He loves climbing the stairs but hasn't figured out how to get back down yet.  Over the last few weeks we completely switched him over to whole milk.  He liked the formula better.  He still loves his food.  We haven't been doing any baby foods for quite some time except for some occasional prunes.  Lately he has been grabbing for the spoon and wanting to feed himself.  It's so cute, but so messy.  He usually hits his nose or his chin first but eventually he hits his target.  He is pulling himself up on everything and is even pushing the kitchen chairs across the floor.  He is not able to stand on his own but is starting to get brave and let go with his hands sometimes.  Today he stood for about 6 seconds before plopping back down to the floor again.  He throws tantrums sometimes if he gets hurt or if he doesn't get his way.  Real tantrums.  The kind where he starts hitting himself on the head or beating on the floor.  It never lasts long though.  He still only has 3 teeth!  He naps twice a day with his blanket and pacifier.  He has started playing this game with me at nap time and bedtime.  I just started realizing it's a game.  I put him to bed and pretty soon he's whining again.  He never used to do that.  I've learned that it means he has thrown his pacifier and blanket out of the crib.  I let him whine for a while to see if he will go to sleep but eventually I'm back upstairs giving him back is comfort items.  Then he goes to sleep.  Whatever works.

He makes an elephant sound and raises his arm up like a trunk.  He moos like a cow and barks like a dog (but they sound pretty similar).  He opens and closes his mouth like a fish.
Nash is having a hard time understanding why Nolan gets to have a birthday and he doesn't, even though he knows when his birthday is..."Febawary twenty-third."   :0)

Nash "helping" me decorate Nolan's monkey cake

Nolan had a Curious George party. I know this isn't George but it passed Nolan's inspection.

Jason and Papa Rick

Everyone is making sure Nolan's gifts work properly

Great Grandma Phyliss watches as Nana and Nolan play with a new gift.

Family Picture: I think Nolan is in a sort of cake coma.

Dear Nolan,

You are an amazing little boy.  I could listen to your infectious laugh all day long.  I got tears in my eyes when I put you in your crib tonight because I can't believe you are one year old already.  You are doing things more independently each day.  I love to watch you figure things out.  You know what you want and you go after it...you can be very strong willed (you get that from your daddy).  When you smile and scrunch up your nose, my heart melts.   I love you to the moon and back Nolan Jace!

Love,

Mom

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

While the boys were taking their afternoon nap today, it started to snow.  It ended up being our first big snow of the winter season.  When Nash saw the snow he begged to get his snow pants and snow boots on so we could go out and play.  I got Nash all bundled up and then moved on to Nolan.  He doesn't like having mittens on so he started biting them to try to get them off.  I had to move quickly to get myself ready because I knew the snow would distract Nolan from his mittens.  He was so bundled up that he couldn't even sit up on his own, he kept tipping over backward!  Today was the first time that Nolan has ever really played in the snow.  He didn't enjoy playing in the snow as much as he enjoyed eating the snow, however.

Nolan amazed by the snow and no longer thinking about how annoying his mittens are.

This was Nash's idea, not mine!  We were going to give the shovel to him for Christmas but he really wanted to shovel some snow today.  Who am I to argue?  :0)

We had been outside for about 10 minutes or so and I heard Nash say the dreaded words.  Yep, I had made a rookie mistake!  He had to pee.  Why didn't I think of that before I spent 20 minutes getting us all ready?!  It's funny now but at the time it wasn't.   Eventually we were all back outside playing again.  Nash would have played outside all night if I'd let him.  I showed him how to make a snow angel and we ran around making tracks in the driveway.  Nolan crawled around a little bit but most of the time scooped snow into his mouth.

Nash, our little snow angel

Nolan enjoying a snow snack.  I think the temperature caught him off guard.

Jason and Will got the lights up last weekend.  Now we just have to find some time to go cut down our Christmas tree

Photo Shoot

Nolan turns 1 year old on Sunday so I took the boys to the mall for a photo shoot.  They did fairly well but I worked pretty hard trying to get them to both smile and look at the camera.  I was sweating before it was all over.  Here are a few of my favorites...

Disney on Ice

We've been anticipating Disney on Ice ever since I purchased the tickets over a month ago.  Every time we saw the commercial Nash would ask if it was time to go.  Finally, December 1st arrived.

Nolan, Jason, Megan and Nash

Nana, the boys and I picked up Evan, Whit, and Jason and hustled off to the show.  We met up with our friends Eric, Laura and Maddox too.  Nolan and Maddox struggled a little bit because the show went on right into bedtime, but they were troopers.  The show was really good.  Nolan liked Pumba from the Lion King the best. And I don't think he's ever seen it.  Nash like Flounder from The Little Mermaid.

Nolan, Whitney, Evan and Nash

Nash and Nana