Little Piggy

I have great ambitions to catch up the blog this weekend.  So I'll kick it off with a video of Nolan's new skill.  During his visit, grandpa Webb taught him to snort like a piggy.  Thanks grandpa  ;)  Just teasin' it's actually pretty cute!  (remember if the video doesn't show in your email go to the blog: http://stinas-place.blogspot.com/)

Where has the summer gone?!

In true Christina fashion, I'm playing catch up on the blog. There may be a flurry of posts over the next few days.

Let's see, last I wrote was June and Nolan's 7 month birthday.  Flash-forward to today and little mister is 9 1/2 months old already.  Mercy!

July and August have both been pretty great.  We've spent time with grandmas, grandpas, great-grandma, cousins, aunts, uncles and every one in between.  We are so lucky to have such an amazing family support system.  I'm going to do a post on our trip to Wisconsin and my parent's trip out to Oregon very soon!!  But for now here are Nolan's 8 & 9 month pictures for you to enjoy.

Oh - and for those of you who knew about it, Nolan's surgery on Friday went well.  He had a tough, tough day or so.  I've never seen this boy so out of sorts and really in a lot of pain.  It was hard on us to not be able to comfort him.  I cried.  I admit it.  I cried the day before, at the hospital, and again once we were home and he was hurting so much.  I have such a better understanding of what our parents went through with us.  There is nothing more painful than knowing your child is hurting and there is little you can do.  But thankfully now 5 days later he's mostly back to his old self.  Diaper changes are still tough and he's sick again (strep for the 3rd, yes 3rd!! time this summer) but the surgery is healing just fine.  So thank you all for your thoughts & prayers! 

Ok, now for the good stuff! 

8 months old on July 13th

 

 

 

9 months old on August 13th - he's pulling up on everything now, so he's loving standing up on everything.   And don't you just love those rolly, polly thighs?!!  Too bad that's not considered cute on a gal of my age too  ;)

Catching up on 7 months and June

On June 13th, Nolan was officially 7 months old.  

His 7th month brought us many fun times.  This little boy who had such an uncomfortable, sick and grumpy start to life is turning out to be one happy, funny little man.  It's so fun to see his personality coming through - even his first tantrums, ha!  I never knew that babies so young could scream and kick when they have a toy (or my cell phone!) taken away.  Well, I'm glad he's communicating  ;)

We took Nolan for his first zoo trip in June.  It was a fantastic and beautiful day!

relaxing after a picnic lunch at the zoo

 checking out the lorakeets with mommy

 

being eaten by a lion

looks like he's thinking "silly daddy! babies don't go in lion's mouths!"

 

We also graduated from our mom's group in June.  Babies are supposed to graduate when they turn 6 months old, but since Nolan was a month premature, we got to continue in group until his due date/his adjusted age was 6 months.  Mom's group was instrumental for us.  We met each week for a few hours in a group facilitated by a postpartum doula.  It was so, so wonderful to meet such amazing women and come together to support one another through this incredible and surreal time of just entering into motherhood.  Many tears and many laughs were shared in group and now a smaller group of us will continue to meet regularly for support, friendship and to let our babies play and socialize.  Here we are with our mom's group friends Angela and baby Owen who graduated on the same day.  

At the end of Nolan's 6 month (beginning of 7th) he *finally* graduated from his swaddle!!  Hooray, freedom!!

For Steve's First Father's Day we made this cute card and got him a backpack hiking carrier (since Steve loves to hike) and then we went hiking as a family.  Little guy loved it!

 

And June brought more adventures with food as well.  For the most part, Nolan really likes to eat, but he was NOT a fan of avocado!  

At first he was a little sad about the avocado...

 but then he got a little mad about the avocado, ha ha!

Looks like we'll stick with sweet potatoes!

Good Morning Surprise

This is how I found Nolan in his crib this morning...sitting and pulling on the bars! 

He has been able to sit up by himself for awhile now if I put him in that position, but he has never moved from laying or crawling up into sitting all by himself.  Guess it's time to lower the crib all the way.  Little guy will be pulling up and cruising soon!   I know it's a small milestone, but I'm sentimental.  He's getting so big so fast and with the crib all the way down, how can I kiss his sweet face good night?!  Sigh.

hey mom?!  what are you doing in here?!   busted  ;)

so sweet, just playing contently by himself 

On the Move!

Wow, it won't be long before he really takes off. This baby is movin'!
He is particularly motivated by an iphone - ah, already into technology like his mommy ;)
(there is a video below for those reading this in an email)

Look what Nolan can do!

Memorial Day visit with cousin Charlie

Last weekend we took a visit down to Philomath to see Nolan's cousin Charlie - and his mom and dad ;-)

Charlie is about a month older than Nolan and the babies had a fun time together!  Here are some photos from our visit.

"let me tell you something...."

 

 "oh hi mom, you're still here?"

"aaaaah....lleluijah"  (can't you hear these little angels ha!)

  

 pretty soon we'll have two little crawlers on our hands!

"hey Charlie...wanna know a secret?!"