This Christmas Eve Nolan was super excited for Santa to visit us. He helped me make sugar cookies, place them under the tree, and even sampled a cookie to make sure they tasted good enough for Santa. Bill also continued the tradition of reading 'Twas the night before Christmas to the boys. Usually Grandma Donna reads this with the recording, but somehow Nolan accidentally deleted it.
Nolan loved using the rolling pin. He kept eating the flour too. Silly boy!!
I wanted to take a picture of the boys by the tree. Nolan wouldn't hold Carter, so I placed Carter in the Bumbo. Nolan stood up went over to Carter and said, "sit carter lap." Nolan plopped down on Carter's lap. Thank goodness he was actually sitting on the Bumbo!
Today is Nolan's 2nd birthday!! Bill started the tradition of preparing pancakes in the shape of the year of your age awhile ago. We wanted to keep the tradition going, but we all slept in a little too late this morning, so we had pancakes for dinner. Nolan loves syrup, so he was super excited to have pancakes for dinner.
When someone asks Nolan how old he is he will reply, "two." Big boy is such a talker! He doesn't like for anyone to sing Happy Birthday to him though. Every time someone tried to sing Happy Birthday to him today, he hid his eyes and said, "Don't like it!" Crazy boy.
YAY!! Syrup
Dada with the birthday boy
Where have these past two years gone? I feel like my baby has become a boy. As I watched his video from his birthday party I couldn't help but cry. The little baby I gave birth to, two years ago today, is becoming a boy. Nolan has hit his terrible two's stage, so even though I could wring his neck sometimes, when I see his big brown eyes and loving smile I know he is the best little boy I could ever ask for. Not only is Nolan a great son, but an amazing big brother. I know he will always protect and love Carter.
Bill and I lay in bed at night, after fighting Nolan to go to bed for an HOUR, and talk about how smart, loving, and humorous of a little boy he has become. His head may be big, but it is a good-level head he has on his shoulders.
I know Nolan has not only brought love into our lives, but the lives of our families and friends as well.
Thank you Nolan for being the air I breathe and the reason for living everyday!! I love you so much.
After much searching, I finally found the boys matching Christmas pajamas! It was a lot harder than I thought. It seemed every where I looked one of the boys' sizes were out of stock. Babies 'R Us had some though!! Tonight I wanted to take pictures of my cuties in their matching pajamas. Of course, Nolan didn't want to cooperate. Instead I took a lot of pictures of Carter.
Nolan kept saying, "Dada wear Santa hat!"
Finally Nolan sat in the chair with Carter, but wanted to wear Carter's hat. He took off Carter's hat and put it on his head, so Bill put Nolan's hat on Carter.
When titling this post I almost put, "Nolan's first visit to the dentist", but we know this is not the case. Nolan was only a few weeks old when he made his first trip to the dental office!! No, today was his first time sitting in the dental chair and letting me look in his mouth.
Nolan's actual first visit to Kellerman Dental
Aunt KK was due for a cleaning and I asked her to bring Nolan along to see how he would do in the dental setting. Nolan is like me and loves his sweets, so I was concerned about cavities and I wanted to take a good look inside his mouth with a mirror and a decent light.
Nolan did great! When I went out into the waiting room to pick him up, he looked at my loupes and said, "mama's glasses" and he thought they were funny when I put them on. I sat Poot down in the big chair and he hung out like a pro. I showed him the mirror and asked him to open wide. He said, "Awe!!" He thought the toothbrush was too ticklish for his mouth, but he loved the water. I was able to take a good look in Nolan's mouth and no sugar bugs have made a home in his teeth!! :) So proud of my big boy!
Nolan checking out the cool chair
Mommy showing Poot her mirror
"Awe!!"
Aunt Kelby recorded a video of Nolan during his first visit in the dental chair!!
Bill and I gave Nolan his birthday present today. We were going to wait until his actual birthday, but since he was having so much fun with his presents we wanted to go ahead and give him his gifts from us. Bill did great finding Nolan's gifts. They're all very manly. Nolan received some cardboard building blocks, a football, a kickball, and a grill!! The grill is going to go along perfectly with his Christmas present.
"Fix It" is Nolan's newest quote
He kept climbing inside it for some reason
Ready to grill
Carter was watching the game and waiting for his burger! :)
Nolan said the grill is hot and the hotdog is yummy!! haha
This year for Nolan's 2nd birthday, I decided to book his party at The Little Gym. Since Nolan and his friends are now at the age were they want to run around, I thought it would be the perfect location for the kiddos to let loose and have fun. Plus, I wouldn't have a huge mess to clean up at the end. I think everyone had a lot of fun, including the adults watching the kids play.
There were four instructors who led the party and kept the flow going. At times, the kids wanted to do their own thing and the parents had to wrestle them back to the mat, but all in all everyone had fun.
I had Kristin make Nolan's cake again this year and she went above and beyond! Nolan loved his Choo Choo Train Birthday Cake!
We had to wake Nolan up from his nap to make it to his own party on time! He still wasn't awake yet when we arrived at the party.
Nolan made his rounds and said hello to the party guests. Then the instructors opened the door to the gym. Nolan and Kaya were the first two to test out the mats!!
Walking the line with Papa T
The rest of Nolan's friends arrived, so the instructors brought out bells to bring all the kids to the center of the mat.
After the kids were sitting around in a circle, the instructor wanted Nolan to give all of his friends a high five. Nolan gave everyone knuckles instead.
Then the music started...and the madness began!! At certain parts of the song, the kids were supposed to run around in a circle. Nolan loved this part! There were only a few collisions and no blood, so it ended well.
This is my ABSOLUTE favorite picture of the day!!
Throughout the rest of the party the kids were allowed to have free range of the gym at certain times and other times activities took place.
Nolan and Grant trying to roll the mat themselves
The bounce mat was fun too!!
All the kids laying on the bounce mat to deflate it.
Liv showing off her mad skills
Madison the balancing queen
Harper practicing pirouettes
Maycie and Chelsea on the uneven bars
Baby Bradley chilling
Owen walking the beam
Brooklyn bouncing on the mat
Brendan rolling on over
Baby Carter chilled in the adults' arms!! Carter was so great! I didn't have to check on him once. He either was sleeping or awake hanging out with not a care in the world. I think he knew it was his big brothers birthday. :)
The parachute was brought out and it was fun too. Nolan and I were put in the middle and everyone spun us around and sang, "Happy Birthday" to Nolan. We even hid underneath the parachute and surprised everyone.
With all the fun and running around the kids were hungry, so it was time to cut the cake and open presents. Nolan did great!! He thought the cake was delicious. Nolan gave all his guests conductor hats, handkerchiefs, and train whistles to thank them for celebrating his special day with him.
Group picture minus a few
Nolan sampled the icing before we lit the candles and he said, "mmm good mama!"
The cake was eaten and it was time to open presents!! yay Nolan is truly blessed with so many family and friends who care about him. Thank you all for making Nolan feel so special not only during his birthday, but everyday!
James gave Nolan his tractor from when he was a little boy
Uncles Jaron and Chance had to play with Nolan's tractor too
Whew, the party ended and we left with a ton of gifts and smiles on our faces. We went out to eat and then settled in at the house to play with all of Nolan's presents! Uncle Joe even stayed the night to help Nolan play with all of his gifts. He loved them all.
Nolan took a cookie break
Harvesting the fishies
Thank you to everyone who helped Nolan celebrate his 2nd birthday! Without family and friends Nolan would still be loved, but not SPOILED!! :)
Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Boy! We love you so much!!
