WOW!

Nolan's new word, "WOW"! He used it for the first time on Thanksgiving, and I am not sure where he learned that word, but it sums things up perfectly. He uses the word correctly. On Thanksgiving, he pointed to the bubbles Todd was blowing and said, "Wow." He is in awe of Christmas Trees and the fancy lights! And today he was looking at several trees, and just kept saying, "Wow!" Why I think this word is so perfect, is that through the eyes of Nolan--everything is so special, so new, and so interesting to his mind.

So Nolan, keep saying WOW and I hope that life continues to amaze you and be just perfect!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I know you are very busy during the holiday season, so I just wanted to say Thank you for letting me meet you in your sleigh. I was a little scared by your big red suit, and jolly cheeks...but I am only 18 months old and this was the first time that I was able to meet you. I wanted to share that I have been a very good little boy this year. I always try not to make too much of a mess, and I like to help my mommy around the house. I love my family soooo much, and I love my dog Wrigley too. For Christmas, I would like to wish for everyone to be happy and healthy in my family. And I would really like some puzzles, some books, I would love anything with Elmo. I would like a bone for my dog Wrigley too.

I am so looking forward to Christmas this year! I already have learned all about the Christmas tree, and I particularly like playing with the ornaments. Merry Christmas Mr. Claus!

My little HELPER!

Nolan loves to help out, or at least he thinks he is helping out! He likes to empty the dishwasher, he learned how to start the dishwasher with the push of a button. He also likes to help with the laundry. Todd's clean clothes were sitting in a laundry basket next to the washing machine, and Nolan decided they needed to be rewashed. Watch the video and you will fully understand--quite CUTE!

If you are happy and you know it!

Nolan's favorite song, "If you are happy and you know it!" He loves this song, and I think it is because we sing it in both of his classes that he attends, and it is on a video we have at home. He also learned this song from Grandma Nancy. So when we are in class on Tuesdays he is quite the star, because he is the only little tike that participates with clapping, stomping, and hooray! I am glad that Nolan is HAPPY!
Here is a video of him dancing at home along with this song.

Nolan and his Wrigley

I recently posted about Nolan and his best friend Wrigley. He loves WRIGLEY! He loves the fact that she is bigger and that he can rough house with her, and he can also pet her, and chase her around. He has been trying to ride her lately, although he has yet to be successful. And here is a video of the two horsing around.

Our visit to the Shedd Aquarium

Today Nolan and I visited our friends Angie and Lukas in Chicago. We saw Angie's renovated house, played with their cat Ruby, which Nolan scared away by repeatedly "meowing." Then it was off to see the fish at the aquarium, which Nolan calls the " shes."

He loved the visit to see the different type of sea life, his favorite was the turtles, sting rays, sea horses, and the cat fish. He played in an otter's den, and rowed in a canoe. A great little visit to the Shedd aquarium was had by all! We will have to go back and visit all the "shes" again very soon.

A boy and his dog!

I took this picture this morning as Nolan was outside playing with his favorite companion Wrigley!



Nolan absolutely adores and loves Wrigley. Wrigley is Nolan's best friend! He wakes up and the first word out of his mouth, "fffff" that is his term for dog-as he is pointing at his furry friend. He follows around Wrigley all day long, the two chase one another. Wrigley makes Nolan giggle, and giggle some more. He gives Wrigley hugs, and pulls her tail. And of course Nolan is very generous with scraps of his food. Wrigley is more than tolerant of Nolan, she loves him too! She sleeps outside his room at naptime, awaiting the little pair of grubby hands to grab her and let the chasing begin.

I am glad that Nolan loves Wrigley, every boy needs a dog!

A boy and his dog make a glorious pair:
No better friendship is found anywhere,
For they run and they play,
And they have their deep secrets for many a day;
And that boy has a comrade who thinks and who feels,
Who walks with a dog at his heels.

He may go where he will and his dog will be there,
May revel in mud and his dog will not care;
Faithful he'll stay for the slightest command
And bark with delight at the touch of his hand.

Getting SO Big!

My baby is 18 months old today! Can you believe that he is already a year and a half old? I feel like he just blessed our lives and the past year and a half, has just passed in a blink of an eye. His first smile, and his first giggles, and his first word, and his first steps, there have been so many firsts. And I know there will be more firsts, but mom is being a little sentimental that her baby is becoming a little boy, and growing up soooo quickly!

The other day, my little observer--heard me telling the dog Wrigley "No." So what does he do, he goes up to her, points his finger at her as she is barking, and yells,"Nooooooo, Nooooooo!" I just had to laugh! But what it made me realize is that he is watching my every move.

He doesn't say a whole lot yet, but he knows things, he seems to understand everything. He shakes his head yes and no. He babbles non-stop. When I tell him I love him, he gives me a kiss on my cheek--he is just so sweet and lovable! We love you so much--Happy 18th Months Nolan!

Nolan's learning the game of GOLF!

Nolan and Todd have been practicing their golf skills. Nolan has a little golf set and he spent an hour today trying to figure out how to swing the club to hit the ball. It was quite amusing to watch Nolan and his daddy playing golf this afternoon. Here is a picture and video from the event.

Hot Chocolate Run 15k

On November 1st, I along with a few friends from my triathlon group made the trek down to Montrose Harbor in Chicago for a 9 mile/15k run, Hot Chocolate Run. The finish line was full of all hot chocolate and just chocolate that you could possibly want. The race had a turn out of 11,000 people. Big event!! It was a great day for a run, started a little cool at 6:30 in the morning when we arrived, but ended up being sunny and great weather. The run was all along Lake Michigan.
I was so excited with my time, 1:22:08--about an 8:48 minute pace.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween 2009! The week began by having a kindermusik class that was a little party, and Nolan showed up as his favorite character, ELMO! It was cute, he was getting hugged by other children in the class, and looked at me confused--"why are people touching me mom?" Well, I took him to a mirror, he realized he was ELMO, and then was excited to be ELMO, and with the attention. He stayed in the costume for a whole hour and didn't want to take it off at the end of the class.






On Halloween we took Nolan with his grandparents to the Palatine Park District Halloween Party! Nolan sported his ELMO outfit, and he played, made an art project, played bean bag games, and a pluck the duck water game! He watched a Halloween puppet show, and had a great morning!