It's crazy how easy it is to fall behind on the blog. I usually keep notes to help me remember new things Nolan is doing or when he says something funny, but if I don't get on and actually write at least every two weeks there's just so much! So, sorry the post is so long but we want all of these memories recorded ☺
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*We've started helping him say prayers and it's super cute. He's already picked up that it starts with "Dear heavy fata, tank too today" and ends with "a name, a Jesus, amen." We tried taking turns saying it, but whenever one of us tries to pray he assumes we're just helping him and starts repeating what we say.
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*We've started helping him say prayers and it's super cute. He's already picked up that it starts with "Dear heavy fata, tank too today" and ends with "a name, a Jesus, amen." We tried taking turns saying it, but whenever one of us tries to pray he assumes we're just helping him and starts repeating what we say.
Speaking of prayers and bedtime. His new routine is adorable. After PJ's, a story (or 4), and teeth brushing, we tell him it's time for prayers. At this he grabs his bottle of milk and blanket, puts them on the table in his room, sits on a certain side of the table with his legs underneath it and fold his arms. After he says the prayer he gets up and gives me a hug (my favorite part) then grabs his bottle and blanket and throws them (literally) in his bed and excitedly tries to climb in.
We've also always try to sing a primary song at bedtime, but lately we don't get two words out before Nolan yells "No!" Do you think he doesn't like our singing? ☺
*He loves to "jump!" but usually doesn't quite get off the ground.
*He loves taking the battery cover off the remote and putting it back on.
*He loves calling daddy on the phone. All I have to do is unlock the phone and he can get to the homescreen where I have Justin's picture, press it to call, then press speaker. Last week when Justin answered I told Nolan to say "hi dadda," but he whispered it so quietly that I told him to yell it. I think everyone in Justin's cube at work heard the cutest "HI DADDA!!"
*He is such a tease. Austin Hobbs has been teaching to him to say "Aggies!" whenever Jeanni says "Cougars!" Nolan thinks it's hilarious and started playing the same game with daddy. Daddy was not amused and Nolan saw an opportunity. He loves to get right in Justin's face, flash a grin and yell, "Aggies!"
*One night after we put Nolan to bed I heard him yelling "Mommy! Mommy!" So I walked into his room to find him lying there, little hand sticking up in the air holding his bottle and calmly saying "moh milk" haha.
*He still loves The West Wing and often when I say Sara and Lis are coming over he'll say "Wes Fing! Yes!" and laugh. Speaking of which, he does this cute little laugh at the end of his sentences when he's excited and it's adorable. He'll say, "I uhlock a door hehe."
*I am seriously amazed at his restraint sometimes. In fact he probably demonstrates more restraint than me and he's not even 2! Once he really wanted to take one of those EOS chapsticks I have to Jeanni's house. I said he could, but "do NOT open it until we get to Jeanni's house" (I didn't trust him to not try to eat it and can't do anything about it if I'm driving). Well sure enough, he just held it in his hands while I got everything in the carand during the drive to Jeanni's house, and only opened it when we got there! I've also had moments of frustration where it just seems like he's crying for no good reason and I'm at the end of my rope and I've said to him firmly, "Nolan! Stop crying!" And this 21 month old seriously tries to stop crying! Then I of course feel bad for getting upset ☺
*He's definitely almost 2 and testing his boundaries. Often it's like he's trying to figure out just how far he can go before he gets in trouble. For instance, if I say, "don't touch that wall," he'll point his finger at it and see just how close he can get to the wall before getting in trouble. So we're really trying to be clear and consistent with expectations and boundaries. That being said though, he is still a seriously sweet toddler. Even if he does throw a bit of a tantrum it's always short lived and he actually seems to understand when we say we don't have that particular food or we can't watch that show right now, etc. He might continue to ask, maybe raise his voice, but he's honestly not even mean about it. Sometimes gets mad and screams, but we usually just ignore him (if reasoning doesn't work or he's clearly just being a little butt) and it doesn't take long for him to stop. We hit the jackpot with this one ♥
*His vocabulary still amazes us and everyone around him. I've had people ask me, "how old is he??" when they hear him communicating and then be amazed when they learn he's not even 2. He says quite a few 4 and 5 word sentences, one example is, "super why oher, ayother one" (Super Why over, another one?) or "I go a momma's car." We often hear him saying things like, "I did it!", "Yes!", "I found it!", "Of course!", "I got it." "Yeah", "I dih it!", "cose a koh" (close the door), "I uhlock" (the car door), "I go home a see daddy," "What is that?", and my personal favorite, "What da heck?!!"
*He's known how to count to ten for awhile, but now he likes to actually count things. He'll count letters, or grapes as he takes them off the vine, or Kix he's eating, etc.
*He also officially knows all of the (capital) letters of the alphabet by sight. This is his best parlor trick at the moment. People love it! (and can't believe it!)
*He's known how to count to ten for awhile, but now he likes to actually count things. He'll count letters, or grapes as he takes them off the vine, or Kix he's eating, etc.
*He also officially knows all of the (capital) letters of the alphabet by sight. This is his best parlor trick at the moment. People love it! (and can't believe it!)
*The other day as we approached the steps leading up to Jeanni's door I looked down and asked Nolan, "Do you want mommy to help you? Hold your hand?" But he just grabbed the railing and said, "I got it." STOP growing up kid!
*He is surprisingly aware of his surroundings and can tell if we're getting within 1/2 a mile from home from any direction. When we get close we'll hear "ahmost home!" or "I see home!" from the back seat. He also almost always notices the big arches and yells, "fies!" or "McDonald's!" whenever we pass it haha.
*Often we'll put a show on for him and he doesn't even really watch it. He'll just go off and play, but he alwaysknows when it's over. As soon as he hears the concluding music he'll run up to one of us and say, "a show over." Or lately he comes to me, puts his hands on his cheeks and says, "Oh no!" and runs into the other room to grab the remote and hand it to me. He's also good about giving the remote back after we let him press play.
*One day last week Justin picked him up from Jeanni's and upon opening the door Nolan marched in the house with the most adorable swagger you've ever seen.
*Also at pickup from Jeanni's, Justin asked her if Nolan had been a good boy. Nolan heard the question and responded with an enthusiastic, "of course!"
*He likes to sing the theme songs of his favorite shows (but usually only when no one is watching). Here's a video we took of him singing in the back seat. My favorite is how he usually yells the last part of each song ☺
"Supa weaders SAY THE DAY!"
"Daniel Tiga HOOD!"
"da da da da Ehmo's WORLD!!"
"Supa weaders SAY THE DAY!"
"Daniel Tiga HOOD!"
"da da da da Ehmo's WORLD!!"
*Last, we've learned a few things about his personality lately:
1. He likes to be mostly clean. For instance, while eating spaghetti he usually gets super messy and sometimes he'll look at his hands midway through the meal and freak out a bit and start shaking his hands. The first time he did this we realized he wanted his hands and face cleaned off. It's like he wanted a clean slate haha.
2. He also doesn't seem to like being wet when it's not time to be wet (bath times and swimming are fine of course). This week I was forwarding the laundry and of course Nolan wanted to come. On our way back into the apartment I was holding him and a pair of Justin's wet shorts to air dry. The shorts were touching his leg and he got this funny look on his face and started kicking his legs and saying "ah wet! ah wet!" haha I think he got that one from his momma. I hate when water is dripped on me when I'm doing the dishes or if someone touches me with wet hands! Sorry Justin, it was bad enough when it was just me!
2. He also doesn't seem to like being wet when it's not time to be wet (bath times and swimming are fine of course). This week I was forwarding the laundry and of course Nolan wanted to come. On our way back into the apartment I was holding him and a pair of Justin's wet shorts to air dry. The shorts were touching his leg and he got this funny look on his face and started kicking his legs and saying "ah wet! ah wet!" haha I think he got that one from his momma. I hate when water is dripped on me when I'm doing the dishes or if someone touches me with wet hands! Sorry Justin, it was bad enough when it was just me!
3. He is super tough! I was sitting on the banana chair the other day and he was standing right next to me. At one point I rocked it forward to get off and rolled it right on top of his foot! He cried/yelled a kind of shocked "get off! get off!" type of cry until I could get off his foot, then he just laid on my shoulder for a second and sobbed. I felt SO bad and kept telling him I was sorry as I went into our room so I could lay him on the bed and kiss his little foot better. Well, I barely had time to lay him on the bed before he rolled over and started smiling and laughing about something else!
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Some pictures from the last little while...
Comfy? in daddy's arms
He said "Mathews" for the first time last week so I had to catch it!
Golfing with my bestie one Saturday morning. Thanks Paul for hanging out with Nolan! The course took us almost an hour longer than usual because the group of 4 guys ahead of us were SO slow. I don't mind being slow (heck, I'm the slow one most of the time), but these guys didn't seem to have any golf etiquette at all. Like, if groups are lining up waiting for you to tee off, you probably shouldn't drive it 3+ times each, then proceed to hit your ball another 5+ times just to get it on the green. Grrr.
Our amazing and awesome friend Britface (ok, Brittany Gilson) decided almost on a whim to move back to Washington for a new job! We are excited for her, but super sad to see her go so me, Brit, Sara, Lis, and Sue went to a goodbye dinner then did some shopping before meeting a bunch of other friends for ice cream.
Sue + the Thomases - Andrew, Sara, and Lis
Andrew even let Nolan 'drive' his Acura and he was in heaven!
Just in case he needs to make a call during the night.
"Fimming!"
Swimming was a little harder this round, but he at least loves to kick his feet!
I thought I'd show how amazingly close Justin and I work these days. I'm standing at the JSMB and in the middle of the pic you can see the US Bank building where Justin works. I love being so close!
How amazing is this sky + temple combination?! I snapped these while Justin and I walked to our anniversary dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.
Nolan got a watch in his happy meal and loved pressing the button. I love how he's holding his wrist up like anyone would when looking at the time haha.
Always with the feet on daddy.
We went to the annual Big Blue Bash (put on by the Salt Lake Chapter of the Cougar Club) held at Rio Tinto Stadium and had a great time eating and listening to speakers and generally getting pumped for the season ☺
This picture Justin took of Nolan at the playground is just perfect.
Intently watching and clapping to a Cougar Football video ♥ This is everything Justin has ever dreamed of.
We had a BBQ for our coed softball team at the McHardy's house out in Stansbury Park. They had a little kiddie pool and other fun water toys so Nolan was in heaven!
Nolan, Edith, and Logan
Petting the McHardy's kitty. This boy loves puppies and kitties. Aleta was amazed at how gentle Nolan was while petting it (without even being told to) and said her daughter is always whacking it haha.
Nolan always looks forward to movie night with Sara and Lis and can always talk Lis into reading a book or two ☺
Having fun with daddy (and straws) at the park
He loves climbing in the basket and always gets upset when he inevitably gets stuck and can't get out.
Shoving spaghetti in his mouth and then hamming it up for the camera when we laughed!
Sleepy Nolan
Fun at the library
Too handsome and grown up in this picture
This is the new face he gives when you ask him to smile haha.
"I know I'm cute, what can I say?"
Sill kid knows how to keep the sun out of his eyes!
We love summer nights at softball!!
Someone got a hit as we were walking in so he put his arm up and said, "woohoo!"
I gave Nolan a sucker then got one for myself. He promptly grabbed it out of my mouth and popped it in his own. Oey.
Nolan loves Shelby
AND she let him drive her car so she's pretty much one of his favorites
Cute kid loves to play the "panano." He even has pretty good form! ☺
We went to Dicks to find Justin a new pair of cleats since his fell apart. I was trying to keep track of Nolan without actually chasing him everywhere (lazy and pregnant). At one point I was waiting for him to come back around a corner and he didn't so I started looking around for him. After about 30 seconds (and starting to panic just a bit) I spotted this cute pair of feet hiding in the middle of a clothes rack. I have a feeling taking Nolan clothes shopping is about to get a whole lot more interesting!
My cousin Ethan and his wife Ashley have been up here in SLC at Primary Children's for several weeks now. Ashley's water broke 2 months early so she had to be on bed rest in the hospital until the baby was born. Baby Aiden came and has had one surgery already to repair his esophagus. He's been such a tough little guy and we're really hoping they can go home in the next few weeks. They only got to hold him for the first time a few days ago. I can't even imagine how hard that must be!
We took this pic on the roof of Primary's after visiting the Hunt's.
One night Ethan, his son Mason, my grandparents and other cousin Chelseigh (Ethan's sis) went to the park and then dinner in Holladay. At one point my Gp got up to take a phone call and Nolan followed him everywhere haha!
Oh...this handsome face ♥
Nolan always requests "a foke and a knife" at mealtimes and adorably holds one in each hand and tries to cut his food like a pro.
I'm still trying to get a good picture of it, but he loves to walk around with his blanket on his head. He walks around a giggles when you pretend you are either scared or can't see him haha. Maybe he should just be a cute little ghost for Halloween?!
Playing soccer with his bestie Dakota at the park. Jeanni's boys are seriously so cute with Nolan.
He knows what a mohawk is now and often requests that Jeanni do his hair this way.
Listening to "moosic" with dad's headphones.
Singing the ABC's and getting distracted by cookies ☺
This is from a few weeks ago, he's gotten a bit better at singing the ABC's, but I think you can still tell what he's trying to do.
Just being silly and counting with daddy. Justin is always riling him up before bedtime, but I don't really mind. I love seeing them have so much fun!
He got this 'Elmo Loves You' book from my mom and on the last page he always gives Elmo a kiss ♥
