11 months

It's true!  Nolan is 11 months old now.  He's doing all sort of fun new things.  He's signing quite a bit.  His recent favorite signs are "lights" and "fan".  Whenever we walk into a store he looks up to see if there is a fan to tell us about!  All together, he is signing:  "more, dog, fan, light, ball, please" today he imitated "all done" and I think "mama".  It's super fun to connect with him this way and know what's on his little mind!  He is imitating sounds more often too and when you ask him what a cow says, he will tell you (in his way) "moo"!  Pretty darn cute.  He loves peek-a-boo and has started pulling blankets up over his own head when you ask "Where's Nolan?"  He's waving "hi" and "bye".  He's also getting closer to walking, pushing his little walking toy around the house.  But I still think it will be awhile before he walks on his own.  Thank goodness!  I can hardly keep up with him as is!  Here is his 11 months old picture.

Schabow's visit the Pumpkin Patch!

We took Nolan for his first visit to a Pumpkin Patch and had a great time!  He was a little tentative in the new environment, Mr. Serious face, but I think he enjoyed it.  He got to play in the pumpkins, see horses, bunnies, goats and baby cows and he got to "pet" a baby chick.  It was a really neat place, complete with hay rides, pony rides, and train rides for the littles and they had cider, roasted corn, homemade pumpkin spice doughnuts and more!   We had a really great, memorable time and of course we took TONS of pictures.  Here are a few for your viewing pleasure  ;)

ooh!  a little pumpkin just my size!!

 hmm, let me touch it... I like it!!

I think I will eat it...

I am not sure I like to eat this pumpkin.... tastes distinctly like dirt...

I will just hold it and love it instead!!

August/September

Nolan was 9 months old in August and 10 months old in the middle of September.

It's really starting to sink in that we have an almost 1 year old little boy!  He is no longer "army" crawling and is crawling around like a big boy. He is pulling up on everything and cruising around furniture like a champ.  He loves for mommy and daddy to hold his hands to help him walk around.  He just started signing MORE and DOG consistently.  He is doing all sorts of baby talk - babbling to himself in his own language.  He loves to test out his vocal cords with shrieks and snorts - usually when we are in a restaurant or someplace where he should be quiet.  He is just so funny!  But he's a really cautious and serious little guy too.  Whenever we go out strangers are always coming up to us and making sweet faces asking him "can you give me a smile?" and what not, but he just looks at them with the most serious look because he doesn't know them!  What a goof.  He is STILL a really big boy for his age and strangers are always bringing this to my attention as well  ;)  At 9 months the Dr. said he was the size of an 1.5 yr old - oy.  Waiters are always trying to give him crayons.  Ha ha! 

We have had such a wonderful, quick summer!  In my last post I wrote about our awesome trip to Wisconsin in July.  In August, my mom and dad came for a visit and in September Aunt Ashley came for a visit.  We've been so lucky to spend so much time with family this summer!  Here are some photo highlights from our August and September.

hiking backpack - not just for hiking!  great for washing dishes, vacuuming and more!  ;)

checking out the flowers with grandma

 Nolan loves to go to the park now

look at that hair, ha ha!

with auntie Ashley

snuggles with mama

checking out the fish at the zoo with auntie

When Ash was in town we went for an awesome hike in the gorge.  It took us about 3 hours and we saw three sets of stunning waterfalls.  I don't know how Steve managed to carry Nolan on his back that whole time, but he did!  It was great!!

 

Nolan also had several opportunities to splash in the water this summer! He loves splashing and walking through the water with daddy!