Nolan's New Slide

Today, Nolan's babysitter asked if we would like her twins' old slide because it was taking up too much room.  I've been looking all over for a slide at yard sales and on Craigslist, so I was excited to take it off of her hands.  I was thinking a plain little tikes slide with the red slide and blue ladder.  Oh no, this slide is mint!!  Rock climbing on the way up, steering wheel and rails at the top, along with a fun slide down the other side.  Nolan really likes his new slide!!  Since, the weather is so nice out, Bill and I decided to go ahead and get out his turtle sandbox, minus the sand, and his swing.

 Big boy at the top!

 Peeking through the sides at the neighbor's dog

 Nolan loves spinning the wheel!! He can get it going really fast too.

 Ahoy Matey!! I was singing the Jake and the Neverland Pirates theme song!!

Nolan did so good on the slide.  He would much rather sit at the top and play with the wheel than go down the slide.  Partially because there is grass at the bottom of the slide and he doesnt like his bare feet to touch the grass.  We attempted shoes, but he threw a fit for having shoes on.  He wanted to take off his shoes and play with the wheel!!

 Trying to poke out the turtle's eye!  We will have to put sand in the sandbox this summer.  Last year we used it as a pool.

Poot loves to swing!  He was playing with the wheel on the slide when he saw Bill bring the swing out of the shed.  Bill couldn't put the swing up quick enough.  Nolan was crying and then a huge smile was on his face as soon as I buckled him into the swing.  If Bill and I would have left him swinging, I'm sure he would have fallen asleep, but we had to come inside for dinner.  Nolan is all boy!! He HATES being inside.

The Retro Shades

I am in charge of ordering the toys for the toy box at Kellerman Dental.  I hit the jackpot with the sunglasses because everyone in the office took home a pair.  Not only for their kids, but for themselves!!  I had to take a few pair home for my boys and myself as well.  Nolan's are a little big on him, but he can grow into them.

 My Boys!!

Playtime with Nolan

Nolan has been a sick little boy for about a week and a half now.  He started out with a virus which then turned into an ear infection.  We are still battling a low grade fever, but hopefully the antibiotic will start working tonight or tomorrow and Nolan will no longer have a low grade fever.  If Nolan still has a fever at the end of this week, we will have to try a different antibiotic.

Along with the virus and ear infection, Nolan has had three molars come in.  Letters B, I, and L.  Poor little man has had it rough for a few weeks.  Luckily, he is starting to play and act like himself.  I snapped a few pictures of him playing tonight.  Nolan is growing up.  He is saying more words, and responding when I ask him to do things.  It amazes me how much he understands at his young age.  Along with words, comes an attitude.  This little man knows how to throw a fit.  If he cannot make the puzzle piece fit he screams at the top of his lungs and throws the puzzle piece down!!

Nolan is finally big enough to climb on his turtle by himself.  Nolan doesn't weigh enough to make it bounce up and down, so he rocks it back and forth like a horse.  He thinks he is pretty darn cool!

Along with his turtle, Nolan enjoys playing with his tractor and wagon.  Nolan can now say the word, "cow" and makes tractor noises when he pushes the tractor around.

Nolan plays with his wooden toolbox set nonstop.  He likes to take the bolts with him where ever he goes.  When we are at home, he takes the bolts and sticks them in the holes on the toolbox.  Sometimes he will take the hammer and hammer the "nails" into the toolbox too.

The Elmo Microwave was an awesome yard sale steal!!  Nolan has one at Nana's house and as soon as I saw this one at Kidmania I had to buy it!  Only $5 and a few Lysol wipes later and it's a brand new toy!  Nolan likes the music it plays when the food is being "cooked."  He bobs his head up and down to the beat.

I'm glad my baby boy is starting to act like himself again.  Thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery from this ear infection are appreciated!!

Second Prenatal Check-Up

On Wednesday, February 29th, I had my second prenatal check-up.  Dr. Hulsen and I were able to hear the baby's heart beat on the external doppler this time!  The baby's heart rate was 150bpm.  I looked back in Nolan's pregnancy journal and his heart rate was 150bpm at 12 weeks as well.  In May, I will have another ultrasound done to make sure the baby is developing correctly.  Bill and I are not going to find out the sex of the baby this time around either.  I have a hunch the baby is another boy, but who knows.  Bill and I have begun to throw a few names around, but nothing has stuck so far.  We have awhile yet, so no rush.

I have been feeling okay.  Some days I have more energy than others.  My cravings this month are powdered donuts for breakfast and Chinese food for lunch and dinner.  So far, I haven't had too many aversions, but the occasional patient whom doesn't brush his/her teeth makes me a little nauseous.

I am still able to wear my normal clothes.  I don't feel like I am showing at this time.  After I eat, my belly looks a little bloated but not a pregnant belly yet.  My belly button has decided to pop out a little already.  I have no clue as to why, I guess because my body remembers the shape and goes back easier.

 12 weeks and 3 days

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!!  The Purcell Family had a great Valentine's Day, full of love, chocolate, and toys!! What more could anyone ask for?  Nolan received a couple of new toys and movies.  While mommy and daddy received a new Tempur-Pedic mattress, KING size.

 Nolan with his new popper!!

 Nolan really enjoys stacking the rings.  He will put a ring on, clap and smile, then place another ring on.  This continues until all the rings are placed on the pole.  Nolan does a really good job with stacking them in the correct order too.

Nolan has grown up so much in the past month.  He is a big boy now.  He loves to dance, and find new things to get into.  Nolan is ALL boy.  I didn't think anyone could be so destructive at such a young age! He loves to wrestle and play with Bill.  His new obsession is his cheesy smile, he throws his head back, closes his eyes, and smiles with his bottom teeth.  Too funny!!  Nolan is also starting to use a few new words and becoming more independent.

 The Cheesy Smile

Happy Valentine's Day to my favorite boys, Bill and Pooter!!  I love you both very much and couldn't imagine my life without the two of you!!

First Prenatal Vist for Baby P

I have been very sick with this pregnancy too, hence the few posts I've made this past month.  So bare with me, as I will try to keep posting to keep everyone up to date on Nolan and my pregnancy.

Yesterday, was actually my first prenatal visit with Dr. Hulsen.  I went by myself because there was no ultrasound planned and Bill and I knew the routine.  I had the usual blood work and exam done to verify I am pregnant.  According to my calculations, I was 9 weeks and 2 days along with an estimated due date of September 4th.  Dr. Hulsen said it might be too early to hear a heartbeat with the Doppler, but we could try.  No heartbeat was found, so Dr. Hulsen ordered an ultrasound to verify my due date.  Dr. Hulsen wasn't worried in the least because of the size of my uterus and because of how sick I've been, which are good signs of a healthy pregnancy.

There wasn't an opening on Wednesday, so Bill and I went back this morning.  I didn't realize how worried I was until I saw the little flutter on the screen and knew there was a heartbeat!!  I finally breathed a sigh of relief to know my little embryo was going strong.  The ultrasound technician measured the size of the embryo and came up with a measurement of half an inch.  Thus changing my current pregnancy to 7 weeks and 4 days along with an expected due date of September 16th.  No wonder the heartbeat couldn't be detected with the Doppler, I'm way too early in my pregnancy to hear it!!  The ultrasound tech measured the heartbeat to be at 162 bpm, which is great!!  The tech printed off a picture and sent Bill and I home with an excitement of being parents again!!

 Nolan playing with the ultrasound picture

The embryo is next to the arrow

 7 weeks and 4 days

An Afternoon at the Park

Today was a great day to be off!! The weather was beautiful, it felt more like Spring than Winter.  I wanted to take advantage of the warm sunshine, so I text Tiffany and asked if she and the kiddos would like to meet up with Nolan and I at a park.  After the kids had their naps we met up for a little bit of fresh air.

At first Nolan was a little shy with all the older kids running around, but after he saw the swings he became excited.  I'm surprised Nolan remembered the swings, but when he saw them he pointed and took off after them.  Madison swung alongside Nolan and Nolan kept smiling at silly Maddie.

Once Nolan swung for a little bit, he decided he wanted to be more adventurous and tour the playground.  He was a little hesitant with the slides and bridges, but he did great for his first time!!  The older kids were being a little rough, so we decided to head over to the pond to see the fish!!

 A ton of birds flew over and Nolan couldn't stop staring at them.

The sun started to set and the air was becoming chillier.  We decided to make our way back to the cars.  The boys are so much alike! They have the same strut and make the same grunts.  It is too funny!!

Thanks to Tiffany, Maddie, and Grantie for meeting us for a fun park play date!