I've been adding to this list for months and just never posted it so some of them are a bit out of date. But of course, they're still cute and worth remembering in my book.
Nolan is getting pretty good at stalling bedtime. Recent tactics are running to his spot behind his high chair and telling us he's pooping, asking for more stories, needing to get other blankets, or light sabers, going limp or closing his lips tightly and laughing while we try to brush his teeth, etc.
Often when we stop the car at a light Nolan will say from the back seat, "Go Daddy!" and then with relief in his voice says, "Thank you Daddy" when the light turns green and we go again. Also once shouted from the back seat when returning home from Costco one day, "Go car! I don't like your attitude!"
He has two specific silly faces that he makes quite often. With one he scrunches up his nose and lips, and the second one he sticks his chin out, closes his eyes, and gives you a big no teeth, lips closed smile. We went for a walk in the cemetery last week and he kept scrunching up his nose and seriously saying, "we better get outta here!" and running.
Nolan's latest Animated Book of Mormon quote is he'll tackle one of us and say, "you're always sticking up for Nephi."
Nolan's favorite songs for a few weeks were: You're Welcome and How Far I'll Go from Moana and 'Collection' from The Little Mermaid. He'll also sometimes sing, "iiiiiiiit's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." He obviously can't say the word correctly but it's obvious what he's saying because of the, "iiiiiiit's supe......" (p.s. you can tell how behind I am and how long ago I wrote this because he's now been obsessed with Star Wars and only Star Wars for a month now ☺ This is sooooo last month haha).
His favorite movies are Moana, The Little Mermaid, Smurfs, Trolls, and Inside Out (but only because that's "mommy's favorite"). The struggle we have is that he'll watch each one for 5-10 minutes and then start it over. I think sometimes he just wants to practice doing things on the remote or something (he's incredibly good at working the Roku haha), but it's super frustrating so sometimes we have to ban him from the remote and make him sit down and watch the whole thing.
Nolan is getting pretty good at stalling bedtime. Recent tactics are running to his spot behind his high chair and telling us he's pooping, asking for more stories, needing to get other blankets, or light sabers, going limp or closing his lips tightly and laughing while we try to brush his teeth, etc.
Often when we stop the car at a light Nolan will say from the back seat, "Go Daddy!" and then with relief in his voice says, "Thank you Daddy" when the light turns green and we go again. Also once shouted from the back seat when returning home from Costco one day, "Go car! I don't like your attitude!"
He has two specific silly faces that he makes quite often. With one he scrunches up his nose and lips, and the second one he sticks his chin out, closes his eyes, and gives you a big no teeth, lips closed smile. We went for a walk in the cemetery last week and he kept scrunching up his nose and seriously saying, "we better get outta here!" and running.
Nolan's latest Animated Book of Mormon quote is he'll tackle one of us and say, "you're always sticking up for Nephi."
Nolan's favorite songs for a few weeks were: You're Welcome and How Far I'll Go from Moana and 'Collection' from The Little Mermaid. He'll also sometimes sing, "iiiiiiiit's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." He obviously can't say the word correctly but it's obvious what he's saying because of the, "iiiiiiit's supe......" (p.s. you can tell how behind I am and how long ago I wrote this because he's now been obsessed with Star Wars and only Star Wars for a month now ☺ This is sooooo last month haha).
His favorite movies are Moana, The Little Mermaid, Smurfs, Trolls, and Inside Out (but only because that's "mommy's favorite"). The struggle we have is that he'll watch each one for 5-10 minutes and then start it over. I think sometimes he just wants to practice doing things on the remote or something (he's incredibly good at working the Roku haha), but it's super frustrating so sometimes we have to ban him from the remote and make him sit down and watch the whole thing.
He still points out most STOP signs, although not quite as diligently as he used to. Last night while we were driving he pointed one out mid sentence..."When we go home we can tur..S-T-O-P, Stop...turn on Smurfs!" hahahaha ☺
This kid CANNOT leave Branson alone!! And not in a good way haha. But despite that we feel assured that he really does love him because he doesn't like it when Branson is hurt. Last week B fell off the bed and was crying really hard. Nolan laid in his bed bc we'd asked him not to get up while we took care of B. When we went to get him after a few minutes he was very concerned and asked, "what's wrong with Branson?"
Once I asked Nolan if he loved Branson. He paused before answering and you could tell he was really thinking about it. He said, "Well...ya....but a little bit..no." Even though I of course would have loved for him to smile and shout, "yes! Of course I love him mommy!" I was actually very impressed with how he really thought about the question and gave an honest answer. He first said yes, of course he loves him. But maybe a little bit no because he's a baby and is always getting into his stuff right now and touching him, etc.
Sometimes Nolan will just put his hand on me (either on my hand, or on my shoulder, or on my back) and my heart just about bursts with love.
Once I put Nolan in time out and he matter-of-factly said to me, "Mommy, it's ok, I'm the best. Don't worry about it."
We've been going back and forth about what to do with Branson at night. I want them in the same room, and feel like they'll just have to get used to each other and learn to go back to sleep if one wakes the other up. But on the other hand, B is still learning how to fall asleep on his own and sometimes cries for a minute or two before settling in. On top of that he usually goes to sleep about an hour after Nolan so I feel bad if he were to wake Nolan up. The first night we tried it it actually worked out quite well, but for about 5 minutes whenever Branson would make a noise we'd hear, "Shhh! Branson, it's time for nap!" "It's time for nap!"
This kid CANNOT leave Branson alone!! And not in a good way haha. But despite that we feel assured that he really does love him because he doesn't like it when Branson is hurt. Last week B fell off the bed and was crying really hard. Nolan laid in his bed bc we'd asked him not to get up while we took care of B. When we went to get him after a few minutes he was very concerned and asked, "what's wrong with Branson?"
Once I asked Nolan if he loved Branson. He paused before answering and you could tell he was really thinking about it. He said, "Well...ya....but a little bit..no." Even though I of course would have loved for him to smile and shout, "yes! Of course I love him mommy!" I was actually very impressed with how he really thought about the question and gave an honest answer. He first said yes, of course he loves him. But maybe a little bit no because he's a baby and is always getting into his stuff right now and touching him, etc.
Sometimes Nolan will just put his hand on me (either on my hand, or on my shoulder, or on my back) and my heart just about bursts with love.
Once I put Nolan in time out and he matter-of-factly said to me, "Mommy, it's ok, I'm the best. Don't worry about it."
We've been going back and forth about what to do with Branson at night. I want them in the same room, and feel like they'll just have to get used to each other and learn to go back to sleep if one wakes the other up. But on the other hand, B is still learning how to fall asleep on his own and sometimes cries for a minute or two before settling in. On top of that he usually goes to sleep about an hour after Nolan so I feel bad if he were to wake Nolan up. The first night we tried it it actually worked out quite well, but for about 5 minutes whenever Branson would make a noise we'd hear, "Shhh! Branson, it's time for nap!" "It's time for nap!"
For a few weeks on the drive home from Jeanni's house N would say, "Ok Mommy, we're going to go in the house, take our shoes off, then watch TV. Got it?! (with a thumbs up gesture).
One night as we were eating dinner with Gm Bailey Nolan pointed to each person and said, "mommy, daddy, grandma, branson - you are alllll my family. I love my family." ♥ Heart melting.
Justin loves my hair when I wear it down and apparently Nolan is just like his dad, "One time I got out of the shower and had my hair up in a clip. Nolan looked up at my head and said, "what did you do to your hair? I don't like it. I like it down." :D
Once we were in a parking lot and I alerted Nolan to a car that was coming. He said, "when a car does something bad, daddy honks!" I responded, "ya, sometimes drivers are naughty." Nolan: "And when they do something really bad he honks some more!" hahaha. I couldn't wait to tell Justin that one!
Nolan can sometimes be really sweet to Branson. I love it when I hear him get close to B and say things like, "it's ok buddy" or "we're coming Branson" (when we're trying to get a bottle made) or "It's time to go to sleep Branson."
Once we were holding hands walking down the stairs and I said, "Nolan? How did you get to be such a big boy?!" And he replied, "Let me tell you... I was little, and then I got bigger!" True.
Since the time Nolan started talking we have gotten countless comments on his "adorable voice." Even from moms with kids the same age! I guess I just thought all kids talk cute, but there must be something extra cute about Nolan's voice because seriously everyone comments on it!
Sometimes I feel like a celebrity at the grocery store with N and B. I am often stopped by people commenting on how adorable and good they are ♥
Nolan is really turning into such a sweet, caring boy. The other day on our way to church Justin was buckling him in and N grabbed his tie and said, "I like your tie! It's blue and purple." We both about died. And another time I had just come back from a soccer game and was lying in his bed with him. He was sitting up next to me, and as we settled in he looked back at me and said, "So, how was your game?!"
I don't think he likes it when we spell words in front of him that he doesn't know. Whenever we do it he said, "I spell on you!" ☺
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Nolan went through a frustrating phase for a few months where he would get into trouble for whatever and then he would whine/cry/scream at an annoying volume for a long time. After a minute or two we'd usually tell him, "If you need to scream like that and get out your anger you can, but you need to go in your room because everyone else doesn't want to hear it." He'd then go in there on his bed and scream for a long time. Oey. We tried to be patient and realize that whatever it was he wanted was a big deal to him, but still, mostly he was just being ridiculous.
Anyway, once it was particularly bad and he screamed for a particularly long time and, after being patient as long as I could (like 25 min, I timed it), I was done and told him to go to bed and not to come out for the rest of the night. Finally, he stopped screaming and tried to come out one time, but I made him go back for another few minutes so he knew I was serious. After he was good and quiet for a sufficient amount of time I went in there to talk to him. We hugged for awhile, I told him I loved him, and we went on with what was left of the night. Later that night (about 2 hours later) when I put him to bed (for reals this time ☺), as I was leaving the room, he sweetly said to me, "I'm sorry I was screaming." Awww ♥
Another time I was so upset with him - it just seemed like he was constantly pushing my buttons or messing with Branson, etc. and I felt like I had been yelling at him all day (which I hate and always feel bad about). It was rough. But by the time 5pm rolled around and daddy came home he was doing really well and back to his old self. He was great while I was at piano, the whole time we were at softball, at dinner, and throughout the whole bedtime routine. There was no mention of how he'd been in trouble a lot that day. Then in the morning as I picked him up out of his bed he said, without prompting, "I'm sorry I don't listen Mommy." Sweet boy.
He's done that a few times before where he'll do something naughty, and I'll get upset and make him say sorry to Branson or Jeanni or whoever it was that he was mean or disrespectful to. He'd mumble a half-hearted, "sorry," but mostly just because I made him. But then much later, when I was least expecting it, he'd come to me and truly and sincerely apologize. It's good to remind myself that 1. He's still so little. He's just trying to process all of these emotions he's having. And it would be frustrating to have a new little person around that is always into your toys (the toys that up until now were yours, and yours only) and you don't understand why. I do believe these things aren't an excuse for bad behavior and that it's our job as parents to teach good behavior and correct bad behavior, but 2. He's just like most of us are -- In the heat of the moment, even if we know we should apologize, we're often just not ready yet. We need time to cool off. Then once we've had time to calm down and think straight, we can go back and apologize. I'm learning a lot from these kids.
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Nolan is at such a fun age where his personality is starting to come out. I wonder so often what kind of interests he will have and what kind of person he will become. I hope so much that we can teach our boys to be kind, responsible, hard working, respectful, thoughtful, and faithful.
One night as we were eating dinner with Gm Bailey Nolan pointed to each person and said, "mommy, daddy, grandma, branson - you are alllll my family. I love my family." ♥ Heart melting.
Justin loves my hair when I wear it down and apparently Nolan is just like his dad, "One time I got out of the shower and had my hair up in a clip. Nolan looked up at my head and said, "what did you do to your hair? I don't like it. I like it down." :D
Once we were in a parking lot and I alerted Nolan to a car that was coming. He said, "when a car does something bad, daddy honks!" I responded, "ya, sometimes drivers are naughty." Nolan: "And when they do something really bad he honks some more!" hahaha. I couldn't wait to tell Justin that one!
Nolan can sometimes be really sweet to Branson. I love it when I hear him get close to B and say things like, "it's ok buddy" or "we're coming Branson" (when we're trying to get a bottle made) or "It's time to go to sleep Branson."
Once we were holding hands walking down the stairs and I said, "Nolan? How did you get to be such a big boy?!" And he replied, "Let me tell you... I was little, and then I got bigger!" True.
Since the time Nolan started talking we have gotten countless comments on his "adorable voice." Even from moms with kids the same age! I guess I just thought all kids talk cute, but there must be something extra cute about Nolan's voice because seriously everyone comments on it!
Sometimes I feel like a celebrity at the grocery store with N and B. I am often stopped by people commenting on how adorable and good they are ♥
Nolan is really turning into such a sweet, caring boy. The other day on our way to church Justin was buckling him in and N grabbed his tie and said, "I like your tie! It's blue and purple." We both about died. And another time I had just come back from a soccer game and was lying in his bed with him. He was sitting up next to me, and as we settled in he looked back at me and said, "So, how was your game?!"
I don't think he likes it when we spell words in front of him that he doesn't know. Whenever we do it he said, "I spell on you!" ☺
---------- ♥ ♥ ♥ ----------
Nolan went through a frustrating phase for a few months where he would get into trouble for whatever and then he would whine/cry/scream at an annoying volume for a long time. After a minute or two we'd usually tell him, "If you need to scream like that and get out your anger you can, but you need to go in your room because everyone else doesn't want to hear it." He'd then go in there on his bed and scream for a long time. Oey. We tried to be patient and realize that whatever it was he wanted was a big deal to him, but still, mostly he was just being ridiculous.
Anyway, once it was particularly bad and he screamed for a particularly long time and, after being patient as long as I could (like 25 min, I timed it), I was done and told him to go to bed and not to come out for the rest of the night. Finally, he stopped screaming and tried to come out one time, but I made him go back for another few minutes so he knew I was serious. After he was good and quiet for a sufficient amount of time I went in there to talk to him. We hugged for awhile, I told him I loved him, and we went on with what was left of the night. Later that night (about 2 hours later) when I put him to bed (for reals this time ☺), as I was leaving the room, he sweetly said to me, "I'm sorry I was screaming." Awww ♥
Another time I was so upset with him - it just seemed like he was constantly pushing my buttons or messing with Branson, etc. and I felt like I had been yelling at him all day (which I hate and always feel bad about). It was rough. But by the time 5pm rolled around and daddy came home he was doing really well and back to his old self. He was great while I was at piano, the whole time we were at softball, at dinner, and throughout the whole bedtime routine. There was no mention of how he'd been in trouble a lot that day. Then in the morning as I picked him up out of his bed he said, without prompting, "I'm sorry I don't listen Mommy." Sweet boy.
He's done that a few times before where he'll do something naughty, and I'll get upset and make him say sorry to Branson or Jeanni or whoever it was that he was mean or disrespectful to. He'd mumble a half-hearted, "sorry," but mostly just because I made him. But then much later, when I was least expecting it, he'd come to me and truly and sincerely apologize. It's good to remind myself that 1. He's still so little. He's just trying to process all of these emotions he's having. And it would be frustrating to have a new little person around that is always into your toys (the toys that up until now were yours, and yours only) and you don't understand why. I do believe these things aren't an excuse for bad behavior and that it's our job as parents to teach good behavior and correct bad behavior, but 2. He's just like most of us are -- In the heat of the moment, even if we know we should apologize, we're often just not ready yet. We need time to cool off. Then once we've had time to calm down and think straight, we can go back and apologize. I'm learning a lot from these kids.
---------- ♥ ♥ ♥ ----------
Nolan is at such a fun age where his personality is starting to come out. I wonder so often what kind of interests he will have and what kind of person he will become. I hope so much that we can teach our boys to be kind, responsible, hard working, respectful, thoughtful, and faithful.
