1 Year!!!

Here we are having made it through one tough year!!! Our little Nolan has tested us as parents for sure.  But, with that said, we couldn''t love him more.  He has proven to be an absolute goof ball.  Super funny with a flair for the dramatic and a bit of a temper I am afraid.  I wouldn't want it any other way.

Nolan's first year:

Travels:  Hawaii, LA, Yaak MT, Vashon, Hood Canal, Lake Chelan, Silverdale, Cle Elum

5 states:  WA, ID, MT, HI, CA

2 plane rides, 3 ER visits, 3 trips to Montana, 1 inhaler, 5 states, 1 sleepover, 10 birthday parties, 1 trip to aquarium, 1 ride on the Great Wheel, 1 wedding, 1 funeral, 30 swing rides, 2500 puffs, 1 golf tournament, 7 swim classes, 1 mommy and me movie, 1 tree lighting ceremony, 1 chicken costume, 1 Mariners game, 8 teeth, 3 book parties, 2 ferry rides, and a West Seattle parade.

So many memories that I can't even count.

At 12 months old our Nolan is still loving books, eating crazy amounts of string cheese and grapes, crawling all over the place, pinching, shaking his head when frustrated, sleeping through the night, and slowly learning how to give high 5.

Stats:
24 lbs
size 12-18 month clothes
size 4 diapers
size 4.5 shoes

11 months

11...my favorite number and perhaps my favorite age so far.  I did think we would be getting sleep at this point but what did I know.  We of course have a child who doesn't tire himself out after crying for 45 mins.  What the heck.  Poor guy.  Poor parents.  Other than that, he is pretty great.  He is crawling all over the place, standing all around the house, and eating like a champ.  He definitely has his likes and dislikes but I wouldn't want it any other way.  I love that he has personality, albeit feisty and moody.  But with that his laughter has gotten louder and his smiles bigger and toothyier.  He is hands down the most handsome kid I have ever seen ;)

Nolan at 11 months:

~24 lbs.
size 18 month clothes
size 4 diaper
sleeps 5-6 hrs at a time on a good night
has 8 teeth (4 top, 4 bottom)
loves cheese
he's a biter
pulls on his ears when he is tired
crawling like crazy
crib belly sleeper
loves books
likes to open and close doors
cracks up at the dogs
waves good-bye
growls
seems ticklish
eats peas, cucumbers, squash, meatballs, shu mai, puffs, grapes, blueberries, nectarines, chicken
got his first goose egg from the edge of the bath tub
loves walks in his stroller
things the swings are awesome

We love you Noli Bear

mover and a shaker

It's all over...Nolan is crawling and we are chasing.  And listening, and saying noooo, and cringing.  He is pulling himself up on whatever he can and so far his bum is taking the brunt of his lack of steadiness.  Thank goodness!  We haven't had the inevitable faceplant or big crash.  I have to say it is beyond cute hearing the pitter patter of his hands and knees cruising around the corner.  You can hear him pick up speed and you know he is excited.  I am trying to keep myself from calling him over like I call the dogs but it is really hard!  This all started July 15, 2013 putting Nolan at just over 10 months.  There is it for the record books!  (i don't know how to add videos :( )

Crib cam

Matt and I NEVER thought we would get Nolan out of his rocker sleeper chair into his crib.  He started sleeping in at around 5 weeks old when we decided he possibly had reflux and needed to sleep at an incline.  4 attempts and 3 respiratory illnesses later...We have our crib sleeper.  The end of June we mentally prepared to sacrifice a weekend of sleepless nights to get over the huge hurdle of ditching the chair Nolan was literally growing out of.  Little did we know Nolan was ready, we were ready, and so it happened.  We knew we were getting somewhere when he started napping in there for 2 hours or so.  Then the stretches got longer and longer.  It seems he is a belly sleeper and now is sleeping more or less through the night. I will admit to watching the monitor for way too long to make sure he was breathing.  First time mom syndrome.  But now I have to say the monitor is mostly for entertainment purposes.  I love seeing how contorted he gets, listening to him talking to his bed buddies, and crossing my fingers that he won't actually pull himself up to standing.  But that''s a whole nother blog post.  So, finally at 9 months old he is in his crib and we are getting a lot more sleep!  Some favorites from the crib cam...

Aloha...Maui 2013

Maui was the perfect place for a mother daughter vacation.  Nolan got to tag along.  But really, we were all on vacation with Nolan.  Travelling with an infant is a much difference experience.  He did very well overall but man nap times can ruin a beach day.  We got through the first flight on the way over with flying colors.  First class is the way to go!

The first night did not well but what can you expect with the time change.  He didn't sleep much longer than 1 hour stretches.  We all took turns making him happy but in the end it took 2 walks in the middle of the night just to get us to 7:00 as an acceptable time to be up for the day.  My mom and sisters were beyond helpful.  They entertained him, walked him, distracted him, danced with him, fed him, swam with him, and of coursed loved on him.  Their patience in beyond measure.

Maui was its usual beautiful self.  The weather was perfect, the water was amazing, and the beach was picturesque.  We walked miles and miles on the beach walk and spent hours with our feet in the sand.  We found sea shells, saw spinner dolphins,  ran into a high school friend, drank frozen drinks and played a new late night card game "Cards for Humanity".

I am hoping this is the first of an annual tradition.  Nolan's good behavior on the airplane make me feel like we are ready for more.   It may be early to say, but he might be a jet setter at heart.

My beautiful sisters

Matching suits...Stacey is mortified

Helping me decide on dinner

Beautiful mother/grandmother

Pool Time

Whalers

First beach day

Our beach Cabana

5:30 am

5:30 am walk

My little Magnum PI

Kapalua Bay Course

Kaanapali Beach