He Picked Me

Tonight Nolan fell into the door and bonked his head (a regular occurrence really as he is a tad bit clumsy).  Chad was already standing there so he went to help him and I hear Nolan's little voice say "I want Mama".  I was doing dishes (yep that's right, not even fibbing this time) and I IMMEDIATELY dropped them and ran to be his hero.  Chad was standing there doing nothing and Nolan still picked ME!  I know it doesn't sound like much, but to me it means a lot.  Nolan is a Daddy's boy through and through, so it makes my heart melt when he actually chooses me over Chad.  I realize this sounds awful, but I assure you Chad is just fine.  He is the chosen one most of the time so I know undoubtedly that he is perfectly content with the fact that I am basking in the glory of Nolan picking me over him tonight.  (I'm gaining points rapidly these days because Nolan now figured out there's a DVD player in Mom's new car...I have instantly become cooler)  Watch out Chad!

This called for a celebration….a little Photo Booth action on the computer for Nolan and his favorite parent (his favorite for at least 5 minutes tonight anyway).

If you are feeling bad for Chad right now I'll tell you a little story to clear that up.  Last night Chad wasn't home at bedtime.  So when we were going to lay down Nolan got tears in his eyes and his little lip was hanging out as he said "I'm sad, I want Daddy to tuck me in".  I told him I was sorry and that Dad would wake him up when he got home.  He countered with "You know what would make me happy?  Books, books make me happy."  He was totally playing me, but it worked.  Two books it was for Mr. Nolan, gotta give it to the kid for his acting skills.  Tears and all, impressive I tell you.

Here Buddy Boy

I opened one of Bennett's Christmas presents tonight.  That's right folks, we actually put some of Bennetts toys in the closet at Christmas time instead of having instant toy overload.  Nolan would NEVER go for that, so we started with the little guy.  It was fun to break out a new toy…for Bennett and for Nolan.  Here's a little clip of Nolan showing Bennett how the toy works.  Not the most exciting video, but I will say Bennett is quite impressed with the new toy and my FAVORITE part is when Nolan is trying to get Bennett to put the car in himself and he starts by saying "here buddy boy…".  Just a little evidence of how sweet Nolan is to Bennett (in case I need to remind myself in the coming years that Nolan was in fact nice to him at one point).

Teething…Hopefully!

Bennett has been a little, how do I say this nicely….challenging lately?  He just doesn't seem all that chipper all of the time.  We know he is fighting a little bit of a cold so that probably has a lot to do with it, but I also think he is teething on top of it.  Double Whammy!  Now when I say I think he's teething I'll be the first to admit I've been using that excuse for him for QUITE SOME TIME NOW, so a little white thing better be poking out of his gums pretty darn quick or we might have a bigger problem to solve!

So I am trying to sooth the teething issue and thought I would give a little plug for this gadget.  I like a good gadget (I totally get it from my Dad who's favorite store just might be the "As Seen on TV" store), a good gadget to me is something that helps with my everyday life.  This thing does just that, it keeps me sane.  It is pretty much a lifesaver for anyone with a teething baby.  You stick an ice cube in it and WAH-LAH, approximately 20 minutes of silence.  Some moms get really crazy and put like frozen fruit in them but that just sounds like a mess that I don't want to deal with…water dries clear, water is good for Bennett.  Check out the bottom picture when I took it away from him, looks like a grumpy old man!  Also check out his shirt, now imagine that with blueberry juice or something instead of water…NO THANK YOU!

Sunny Days Are Here Again

Yesterday it was GORGEOUS out, so we decided to head outside and play when we got home from work/school. Thank goodness we did because today I woke up and it's freezing with a chance of flurries! I'll never understand Missouri weather, never.

Here are a few shots of Nolan and his first chalk masterpiece of the year, and Bennett his little audience.

Then I decided I wanted to be in a few pictures on this beautiful day, but they never really turn out quite like I have it in my head.  My camera is extra heavy so it's pretty difficult to do the one-handed arm stretch, but I gave it the old college try.  They ended up looking like old photo booth pictures….

Finally a little video of Mr. B enjoying the bubble show Nolan was having for him.  This is right BEFORE I realized he had a 102 degree temperature.  Perhaps I should have had socks on him?

Rub-a-dub-dub

There's a new nakey boy in my tub!  Bennett has officially graduated from the baby tub to the big boy tub and let me just tell you…he LOVES it.  He loves to be able to sit up and splash around, happy baby and a clean baby what a combination!

Nolan thought it was cool to have Bennett in the bath for approximately 2 minutes.  Then he wanted him to get out so he could do a little "swimming" and continue with his nightly shooting of the bad guys in the tub.  Those pesky bad guys are everywhere I tell ya, you're not even safe in the tub!

6 Months

Some people might wonder what I do with all my spare-time.  You know what I do, I piddle.  On all kinds of junk, mainly with pictures.  I swear if I put half the energy into say...working out as I do piddling with pictures I would give Jillian from "The Biggest Loser" a run for her money.  Example: I went to a party Saturday night and they had a slideshow playing, I found out what program they used and IMMEDIATELY needed to test it out.  Lucky for me I have a child that turned 6 months old this week so I thought that milestone would be a perfect opportunity to do a trial run.  

It's official, Bennett is growing up WAY too fast.  I can't even believe I just typed 6 months, how did that happen?  Well even if he is growing up too fast, I've decided he's a keeper.  He's a jolly little fellow for the most part and he has stolen the hearts of everyone in this family I can guarantee you that.  I mean look at him, how could you not love those chubby cheeks?

 

Will you be my valentine?

Nolan had his first school party on Tuesday.  Chad and I were out of town.  Imagine my disappointment.  No seriously, I was a little devastated.  I had an overwhelming amount of Mom Guilt thinking Nolan would be the only kid in class without his mom there for the party.  I'm not sure if that was true or not, and to be honest I don't want to know.  I do know that he told me it was a "Girl Party" and his logic could be based on a few different scenarios: 

1.  His class is stacked with girls (7 to 3)  

2.  It was a Valentines Day party, so it had a lot of pink and hearts 

3.  Everyone's mom was there too, meaning there were an extra amount of girls  

I'm just going to go with #2 and get my self ready for the Easter Party.

The only real information I've gotten out of him about the party is the fact that he ate cookies.  Exciting stuff I know.  He did come home with quite a few trinkets though and he was all sorts of pumped up when I talked to him, so I think his first party was a success.   

His Valentines.

The BEAUTIFUL mailbox he decorated himself.

The precious Valentine he made for his Mom and Dad :)

I.AM.A.RO.BOT.

Nolan went through a phase where he would talk and act like a robot.  He would even go as far as to sit at the dinner table and say every sentence broken...like a robot of course.  

Example:  MY.NAME.IS.NO.LAN.I.DONT.WANT.MY.GREEN.BEANS.  

I realize it doesn't come across quite as nice in blog writing, but hopefully you get the point.  Anyway, ever since that little phase I've had a little place in my heart for all things robot.  I stumbled upon a puzzle around Christmas time that I got for Bennett because it's a little too simple for Big Boy Nolan at this point.  But the other day I walked in the living room to find the two of them "playing puzzle" together.  My love for robots continues (coincidence that Bennett is wearing robots on his jammies? I couldn't stage this stuff if I tried!).  

It's fun to see them start to play together.  Bennett would watch Nolan all day everyday if I let him.  And if I'm being quite honest, Nolan might be the best big brother ever.  I know I'm bias but he is amazing with him.  Always comforting him, bringing him his toys (mainly because he doesn't want him to have his toys, I know), constantly talking to him and showering him with hugs and kisses.  

Lucky boys to have eachother…lucky mom to have the both of them.

It Happened

It really happened.  Nolan brought home his first pet.  I wasn't ready for a new pet, we deprive the pet we already have.  I told Nolan that this new pet would be his responsibility.  He seemed to think that would be okay, though he seemed confused by the word responsibility (we'll have to work on that).  His pet's name is George, a name Nolan is giving everything these days.  

Meet George….

Yes, George is a Pet Rock.  A pet rock that Nolan painted with love and care.  I am very confident in Nolan's ability to care for this new addition to the family.  Don't fret that I have already had to rescue him from the bottom of the toy box.  Surely Nolan just thought he wanted to hang out with Buzz and Woody and get acquainted with the rest of the gang.  

And in case there was any doubt…yes he belongs to Nolan (it even says it on his belly).

  

Darnell Family +1

I had the pleasure of shooting the Darnell family again.  You might recall their maternity shoot from a while back.  Well, the baby is here!!!  Mr. Kellan joined the crew about three months ago, and from the looks of it he is fitting in just fine.  Mom and Dad are smitten with him and big brother Grant seems to think he's pretty alright too.  I spent a little time at their house last weekend just catching some natural moments of their new family.  Speaking of their house…might be the most intimidating photo session EVER.  I walked in and noticed that they have TONS of photographs displayed all over their house.  And the kicker…they are all awesome pictures.  Talk about PRESSURE!  Hopefully I could live up to their standards….

Get Married or Something?

I went to pick up Nolan from school yesterday and he was sitting at the back table with two little girls playing guys (a ladies man already, yikes).  In the beginning when I would go pick him up from school he would be sitting at a table by himself, so I'm happy that he at least has some buddies at this point.  I was also impressed that the girls were playing "guys" (superheroes, transformers etc) instead of playing with the large container of Barbies also available to them.  Anyway, so I walk up to the table and here is my conversation with Nolan....


Nolan:  (holding his two guys: Spider Man and some unknown Superhero) Um, I guess they are supposed to get married or something?

Me:  Oh they are?

Nolan: (looking at me with the most quizzical look possible) I guess...that's what those grills (Nolan's way of saying Girl) said.

Me:  Hmmm, that's interesting.  Ready to go?

Nolan: Um, yes.

I guess that's what you get when you play Superheroes with girls...instead of wrestling and fighting...you have weddings and love stories.  I'll be interested to see if he's sitting at the same table today ;)

But let's be honest, Nolan does love his Superheroes so it might take more than a little wedding talk to scare this dude away!

 

Jealousy

Believe it or not, somedays around our house can be rather boring.  Hard to imagine with a 3 year old and 5 month old I know, but as it turns out even they get tired sometimes.  So this is the scene I will stumble upon sometimes when I walk in from slaving away in the kitchen or folding a never ending pile of laundry (okay, there might be a hint of sarcasm there but I'm sure I was doing something equally as important like maybe blogging).  Anyway, the point is all the boys will be snuggled up together on the couch and it makes me SO jealous of Chad.  The boys seem to fit perfectly in his long lengthy arms laying there on the couch, and when I attempt to do this one of two things happen.  1) Nolan wants nothing to do with sitting still or 2) We toss and turn on the couch but never quite get that perfect fit.  Some day this will be me all snuggled up on the couch, I'm determined.  And you know what? I won't yell at Chad for taking my picture like he does with me…because like I told him "you'll appreciate these pictures one day" and he will.

  

 But then something happens.  They get up.  And they want to wrestle.  In that moment all of my jealousy slips away and I'm glad I'm not the Dad!