Granny in AZ for Easter!

*Apr 2-7

I made mention of Granny's visit in this post, but it's definitely deserving of it's own. :)

On the heels of Mokie's super quick visit, my other blessing of a grandmother came for a visit --- this one longer and spanning Easter weekend, which was great!  She was a wonderful sport... Merely days before her arrival, and at 7 weeks pregnant, the first-trimester gross-feeling blues hit me in full force.  While some might think this a terrible time for someone to pay a visit, it was actually wonderful that Granny could.  She really demands nothing, is content to read a book, and is just all-around easy company.  I was happy for her presence -- though no one was happier she was there than Nolan!

Granny is a retired librarian and a life-long lover of books.  When I was growing up, the shelves of her home were always lined with books, and I can remember tracing their covers before I could even read: hardbacks, paperbacks, big letters, small letters, all colors of the rainbow. 

As such -- Granny is a Nolan-book-reader, level: EXPERT.  And she did a lot of it over the course of the week, much to all of our listening enjoyment.

We made one trip to Barnes and Noble, where she generously picked out a number of books to give to Nolan --- some Dr. Seuss books he didn't have, as well as a book of nursery songs (for me to sing to him, she suggested).  Well, as you might guess, Nolan didn't want anything to do with ME reading him books while Granny was in our midst!  Even now as I write this (4 months later), he can tell you every one of those books, given him by his Granny!  A sweet memory and connection.

*****

We attended an Easter egg hunt at an acquaintance, Autumn's, house over in Scottsdale.  The mob of bigger kids scooped up all of the eggs, while Nolan came away with only one (despite our contributing 12 to the hunt...).  Mama thought this was kind of a bummer, but he of course didn't care.  He was amazed that his one egg had CHOCOLATE inside!

Those Ray-bans.  Couldn't you die?!

*****

 Easter morning brought our own egg hunt and goodie basket, of course!

 In true lame-mom fashion, I *tried* to limit the candy/junk.  His basket contained a bouncy ball, some new crayons, a pack of plastic dinosaurs, some stickers, and eggs filled with raisins, almonds and graham crackers (don't judge too much -- he loves those snacks!)

- Easter 2015 -

 So thankful Granny was here for it!

 Egg hunt, party of 1!  No greedy big kids to compete with here.  (I kid!  Mostly.)

 Easter a la AZ

Before Granny headed back to Lubbock, we of course had to make a visit to our library.  (I told you she did a lot of book reading this week!)  I love this photo!

*****

Granny, we look forward to our next chance to see you.  THANK YOU for making the trip to our house!  We love and miss you!

Baby #2: It's a Boy!

I said all along that I didn't want to know the sex of this baby.  I really enjoyed the mystery with Nolan, and it's a great memory of the big (and, for Mikel, unexpected!) reveal at his birth.

It's funny because, with Nolan, I said over and over early in that pregnancy that we would for sure find out.  "I'm too much of a planner!", "I'm too impatient.", "I could never have the ultrasound tech know and us NOT know!"
But the night before his anatomy ultrasound, I suddenly just did not want to find out.  I was happy how things were, and I didn't want to change anything!  Plus - it sounded fun.
I think Mikel wanted to shake some sense into me when I told him the next morning - an hour before the ultrasound.
And so, we didn't learn his sex, but instead had the u/s tech write it on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope (in case we opted to open it and learn later, at home).  We never did open that envelope (well -- we did a week or so after his birth), and I hid it from Mikel by taping it to the back of a wall sconce.  I loved the anticipation and mystery, and was pretty sure we would repeat the experience for Baby #2.

Then came...... the night before the ultrasound.  Appears I make these decisions in that sort of timing.  I was going through Nolan's closet and drawers - separating outgrown clothes from what fits - and thinking.... "Do I keep these clothes?"  Then looking at the currently rose pink walls of the future nursery - and thinking.... "Do we paint these walls?" I had a little (stupid but needed) permission-giving convo with Steph in which she reiterated it's totally okay to do this differently this time around and I'm not copping out to find out the sex because HELLO I'll have a 3 year old complicating my to-do list if a girl pops out, so "Do yourself a favor and think about it".
And so, in keeping with my pattern, I didn't say anything to Mikel until the next morning, about an hour before the ultrasound.
"I think I want to find out this time."
- blank stare: "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I think so.  Cool with you?"
- disbelieving shrug: "Sure. I mean, I guess so, if you want to."

We agreed again to have the tech put the sex in an envelope, and then we could open when and where we wanted to - if at all.  We had a sitter for Nolan so we could go to the 10:00 appt, and then to lunch, just the two of us.  I had thought we might open the envelope at lunch, but the restaurant was noisy (and we were hungry)... so we decided to wait.

I love my Rochester girlfriends because this wait killed them.  And they all group-texted to tell me about it.  The jist was:

Rachel: Soooooo???
Me: Oh, it was loud, so we waited.  Now we're shopping at Nordstrom Rack.
Nicole: Are you KIDDING ME?!
Me: I'm sitting in the men's shoe section waiting for Mikel, who is trying on every pair of pants that Nordstrom carries.  Think he'd mind if I opened it without him??

Steph: Just send me the envelope and I'll open it!!!

Ha!

So we got home in time to get Nolan up from his nap.  It occurred to us to let him open the envelope -- so off we went!

Right before letting Nolan rip into the envelope, I asked Mikel, "Okay, what do you think? Boy or girl?"
Mikel: I think Girl.
Me: I think Girl, too.  Nolan, what do you think?  Is the baby a boy or a girl?
Nolan: Boy. (-- which, he doesn't even know boy vs. girl, but still had to ask.)

 Mikel: "Nolan won!!!!"

Nolan: "Nooo! I'm TWO!!!"

 Discussing the anatomy in gross detail.  Mommy was a little stunned!  Two boys!

 Good news :)

 While the news absorbs, we all decided to go swimming.  As soon as we took N's shorts and diaper off to change into his swim diaper, he had to hop up, bare bummed, to compare penises side by side with little brother.  This included straddling the photo, at one point.
Ohhh, I see so much penis talk in my future.......

 Dad is pumped!!

 No question there. (u/s June 27: 18w, 5d)

So the score is:
Boys - 3

Girls - 3 (thanks to pups!)

Praising God for two healthy boys.

...And also for Beautycounter -- my nice, girly hobby.  :)

Nolan turns 2

*written May 2015

Dear Nolan,

You turned two on a Sunday this year, and it was a lovely day.  We had just arrived home from our Thanksgiving trip to Texas the evening before, so it was a day filled with errands as a family, but you didn't mind.  :)

We started your day with breakfast at one of our favorites, Modern Grove, where you got the fluffy waffles you love.  And we get to thank Grandma Debby for teaching you to dip bananas in Jello powder, which is what's in your photo!

Love our lefty.

We normally attend church on Sunday mornings, but this particular day held a long to-do list (and our breakfast celebration ran late...) so we decided instead to get groceries at Target...

...and go pick out our Christmas tree!  You got a little tiny candy cane.  We haven't had a real tree since our first year of marriage.

After lots of travel, you took a big nap and then that evening came our little family party for you.  You had a chocolate cupcake (your favorite!), and you fixated on the "hot candle" when we sang Happy Birthday (see the YouTube video for that) :)
https://youtu.be/QI_wsOD69pE






Love you, Bud.

For the next couple of nights, you sang "Yappy Booday" every chance you got.  I managed to catch one go around!
https://youtu.be/FhYYDQsqEz4

*****

Nolan, you're talking, pretending to count, and singing your first songs.  We love you, we love watching you grow, and we are so very very happy to be your parents.  This will never change.

Can't say we didn't try...

* written May 2015

Oh man, November 4th was a sad night.  For that was the night we first tried to take away binky.

Nolan was about to turn 2, and I had read that sometimes it's no big deal to take away a pacifier.  Like -- parents build it up like it's going to be World War 3, but when it happens, the kid does fine!  N was only using his for bed and nap time - and really only to fall asleep, not all night - so I thought, "Nolan's pretty chill about a lot of things.  Maybe this will be us!"  By the way, whoever wrote that has never been a toddler parent and was writing purely on hired obligation.

We had also read that it's sometimes effective to simply snip the end of the pacifier, rendering it ineffective for getting suction so the baby simply loses interest, letting the paci fall by the wayside.  Again -- this is bogus.  We didn't know that, but were we about to learn.

So, Mikel and I teamed up for the whole bedtime routine as is often the case.  Bath, lotion, teeth, jams, book.  Totally normal.  Then we lay him in his crib - "goodnight!  we love you!" - insert snipped binky and run out.  Then watch the monitor.

Nolan sits up.
Takes the paci out of his mouth.
Fingers it around a bit, trying to examine it in the dark.
Puts it back in.
Twists it in his mouth.
Pulls it out.

Sticks it in.

Pulls it out and tosses it aside.
Then starts patting and sweeping his crib with his little hands in search of a different paci.
Finding only the snipped one, he tried it a couple more times --- then MAYDAY.  

The saddest, most defeated little confused cry!

Not totally invested in this little experiment, we didn't push it.  I mean, the kid sleeps like 13 hours per night and takes a 2 hr nap, so this wasn't totally worth jeopardizing our whole livelihood over that exact night.

I ran upstairs with a new binky in hand, ready to hand it over and lull him to sleep.  I gave it to him, bid him goodnight again --- but when I left, he just sat in his bed and whimpered pitifully for 20 minutes.

Talk about tugging at heartstrings!  Rocked his little world.

Now, 6 months later, we still have the paci -- and actually, now he insists on having two!  Think he got wise?
But you know what else we have?  A majorly solid sleeper.  And some things aren't worth rocking the boat for........  We shall see. 

Nolan - October

*written May 2015

Oh my goodness, these photos are so old of my leeeeeettle beebee Nowen!  Had to include them though.  Worth the memories.

He went through a phase of ALWAYS wanting to wear his helmet all the time. I loved it --- except when he insisted I also wear my helmet at arbitrary times of the day.

Riding bareback?

I'm sorry but I love this photo!

...and this one.  Poor guy!

This was when I was in the middle of my 21 Day Fix.  Here Nolan is doing some yoga.

Not sure what you call this pose!

I got a hybrid bike from a really awesome store that refurbishes bikes for charity (called the Grey Matter Foundation).  Nolan loves his new seat - and we all loved taking advantage of the fall weather as it started (barely) to cool down

Our first Mom-and-Nolan hike of the season was a nice, short, flat one.  It was still warm, and we were both sweaty!

This vision showed up at our neighborhood park one day - inviting the kids to tour it and handing out Jr. Firefighter stickers.  Even a 22 month old knows this is super cool.

Sorry - more nudey pics.  I can't resist.
I found this sturdy slide for cheap at a garage sale, and we have gotten a ton of use out of it. Nolan likes to slide down on his belly - but if it's in the buff, he picks his hips way up high. HA!

AZ kids learn to play imaginatively with big rocks.  (This photo prompted Nikye and DJ to give Nolan a big dump truck for his birthday the next month!  Whew!)

Halloween!  It was 90 degrees, and poor Nolan's costume was all fleece.  We didn't make him wear the pants.

Cutest little elephant we ever saw.

 The Children's Museum remained a favorite destination through the summer and fake fall.

Buddy, we love you.  And I dare say, writing this 6 months late - I think I might love you more today than I even did then.  You are our treasure, and I can't believe I get to spend my days with you.