First Birthday Party

Nolan and everyone celebrated his birthday 6 days early.  We had a birthday party for him on Saturday September 26th.  His birthday fell on a Friday this year but I didn't want to host another dinner party like we did with the girls' first birthday.  And the Saturday following his birthday was LDS General Conference so I didn't want to work around that schedule either or have attendance drop.  So the Saturday before it was and we all had a great time.  The months (or at least weeks) of preparation and planning paid off and it turned out as well as I had hoped.  We did a Milk & Cookies themed party with milk bottles, cookies and a few little munchies.  I designed the birthday banner, thank you cards, bottle topper stickers and made the chalkboard sign.  It was fun but a labor of love. Nolan had a small cookies and cream smash cake which he loved.  He also enjoyed unwrapping birthday gifts from everyone and was excited to see what was underneath the tissue paper.
**He did get another birthday cupcake and a few more present on his birthday...I'll post those on his 12 Month Update**

He really got the hang of "unwrapping" presents

The unsure approach..."Do I pick the whole thing up or what??"

Don't worry he figured it out 

In the tub after eating his cake...it was all over including in his hair

Still enjoying his balloons a couple days later

Milk bottles on ice and some of the cookie selection

Other fixings, thank you treats and mouse with book

Birthday banner and cookie and jar decorations on the mantle

Milk can with welcome sign and balloons.  We had a second can and balloons next to the mantle also.

Thank you treats for coming (I liked how these turned out)

Top of Milk Bottles (a last minute addition the morning of his party haha)

First Birthday chalkboard sign done by me

Autumn Aloft and Fall

We had a busy weekend.  We woke the girls kids up early to drive 45 minutes up the canyon and see a hot air balloon festival.  We went to the wrong address first and ended up being a little late to the actual launching but we did get to see a couple hot balloons take off still and one came in to land as well.  And so many beautiful balloons were in the air.  The girls and Nolan loved it and we plan to do it again next year and get it right next time.  We also got some helium balloons and they all loved having their own balloon.  It was definitely a treat to go see.

Looking up at the balloons

Enjoying the show

Between 10 to 15 hot air balloons were lifted off

Getting cuddles from dad

  After enjoying the balloons and scenery a bit and snagging a free helium balloon we headed down the canyon for brunch at one of our favorite little places.  Nolan was a huge fan of this.  We were able to eat outside and the food is excellent.  Being outside and food...two of Nolan's favorite things.  Plus they had some live music.  It was very enjoyable.  The girls gobbled up pancakes and shivered just a little due to cool morning air that was lingering.

Nolan LOVED Ruth's Diner.  Best thing ever based on his reaction to eating outside

After a yummy breakfast

We stopped by Jeff's parents to get chairs and his mom's antique milk can for Nolan's birthday party.  Then we dropped off one of our cars for some recall work and visited with my sister.  Then we headed home for dinner.  Everyone was tired and ready for bed that night.  Kendall slept in until 10 am the next day.  We did our jobs as parents in wearing them out with a good time.

First Day of Preschool

It finally came.  The day when we sent our little babies (who aren't so little anymore) off to school.  Okay so it's twice a week and only a little over 2 hours a day but it was a very big day.  They LOVED it.  They were counting down the days until preschool.  They were thrilled to arrive and find their seats and get settled in.  I knelt down and gave them a hug and told them I'd see them later.  They didn't mind one bit and I'm not even sure they had time to miss me.  I missed them.  I ran some errands with Nolan while they were in school and despite it being a nice change of pace to only have one child to buckle and unbuckle with car seats and use one shopping cart without tantrums or one set of little legs to keep up.  I missed it.  I missed their little voice making funny comments.  I can't imagine how much they will be missed next year when it is kindergarten and not just a couple hours twice a week.

They were so proud to be going to school though.  They took to it like pros.  The bonus of having a built in buddy for school has it's benefits although we hope to separate them either in kindergarten or 1st grade so they can learn to live without the other in direct sight.

They are also doing an online preschool program through the state.  This is 20 minutes a day of reading/phonics (minimum) 5 days a week.  They can also do 15 minutes of science and math which we try to just add on unless we're in an absolute pinch to fit in 20 minutes.  I wasn't super impressed with the program at first.  I think it was still learning their skill level and tuning in on just how to teach them, plus there were a few software flaws.  But after being in it for several weeks now I am sold.  They are learning phonics and letter sounds.  Things I struggled with exactly how to teach them.  They are starting to sound out words and recognize "power" words.  I think it will be a huge benefit to put them right on track for kindergarten and going forward.  Yay for education and yay for our smart little cookies.

They wanted to blow "wishes" before heading off to school

They are such fun girls.  Love love love them!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  So full of fun memories.  We went down to Jeff's parents and went swimming at the condo they own but rent out.  The girls had their new puddle jumper floaters and they had so much fun with the independence once they realized they weren't going to sink.  I was only going to let Nolan dip his feet in but he had other plans.  He loved the pool so much and saw sister's having so much fun that after a minute or two of kicking around his wet toes he went limp noodle on me in order to sit in the water.  He loved it.  We let Jeff take him into the pool for just a minute or two and at first he loved it but the second go around he was ready to be done.  I don't think he liked the wet and mega full diaper.

After swimming we all went up the canyon to enjoy some sloppy joes and campfire roasting.  It was so nice to complete the idea and goal we had to roast something around a campfire with the girls.  They LOVED it!  There was a creek that runs by this place and they enjoyed exploring around there with their cousins.  We even managed to sing a couple campfire songs and a round of joke telling.  Nolan enjoyed this as well...he loves the outdoors like crazy.  Only thing he didn't like was not being able to get down and play in the dirt.  It was just a really good weekend and a good memory to make.

11 Month Update

Weight / Length:   30" and 21 lbs (guessing here).  He is wearing some 9 month clothes (although it's becoming a stretch) but he fits mostly into 9-12 month now.  I'm just trying to stretch the transition until the weather cools off.

Eating:  We are still breastfeeding (yay!).  He feeds himself most meals now.  He does put up with me spoon feeding him dinner foods that are messy but he loves to be in charge of feeding himself.

Milestones/Development:   He is walking!! He is a determined crawler, climber and walker.  He climbs anything that sits still long enough and once he started pulling up I knew he was going to walk before his birthday.  He still drops to a crawl to get somewhere faster but is eagerly figuring out how to walk as well.  He babbles and imitates sounds and tone of voice.  He loves to be in the middle of the action. 

Helmet Treatment/Torticollis:  We are still plugging away at this.  I'm frustrated with it and sick of it and I think he's getting sick of it (he doesn't want to hold still and cries when we go to put it back on).  Next appointment is September 10th so crossing our fingers again but I think it might be October or November before we get the go ahead to quit.  Grrrrrrr!  Happy to be able to help him but frustrated with how long it has taken. 

Sleep:  I started putting him in a fleece sleeper cause I thought he got cool in the middle of the night.  For three days in a row he only woke around 1:30 am and then between 6:30 and 7 am .  We'll see if this is the magic bullet.

Teeth:  He still just has his two bottom teeth in.  I think his top ones are shifting around but we still haven't seen them trying to pop yet.  I kind of hope they'll wait until after his birthday and weaning is done. 

Fun Memories (Outings/Events):  We are hoping to go camping overnight but we'll see.  We tried to do a weenie roast and smores up the mountain and that failed.  He loves to crawl around outside with his sisters and he loves the swing in the back yard.

Challenges:  Sleep and Helmet.  Enough said.

Likes/Dislikes:  He likes almost anything I give him.  He loves to eat what we are having for dinner and everyone loves chicken pot pie (including Nolan).  He does well with meat and almost all textures.  He does okay with bananas now if they are cut up.  He LOVES to go outside.  He climbs everything and is so curious and eager to see and try new things.  He is going to be a different type of child than his sisters to keep up with.

Looking Forward to:  Being done with his helmet.  Him sleeping better.   Final preparation for Nolan's 1st Birthday. 

11 months old

He now squints whenever I take a picture with the flash and he knows it's coming HAHA

Making mischief in his sisters' room...caught ya!