From NC to PA...: May 2014 Recap: 2 Years, 1 Month

I'm not sure what the format of these "life" updates will be now that we've hit the two year mark, but I definitely like going back and reading them, so I will try to keep them going at a monthly pace and just write any memories/milestones that will be fun to look back on.

In May, Joe raced the Broad Street Run (I, after completing all but the last week of training, had to miss it due to a back injury - so upsetting!), we had a few visitors (Emily's friends Ashley with her twin boys, and Meghan who is MOVING TO PHILLY SOON(!!!), and celebrated mother's day, my dad's birthday, and memorial day.

Nolan Lucas - May 2014

A Slice of Life: May 2014

Favorite Pronunciations/Quips:

Backy Ard = Backyard

Binx = Swings

Broozebee = Frisbee

Dinoar = Dinosaur

Dandy = Thomas

Beeseball = Baseball

Banskentball = Basketball

Doccerball = Soccer Ball

Yike it? = Like it?

Dumping = Jumping

When asking if he wants something "Yeah Dure!" = Yes Sure :)

"No - I don't tink so!" (another adorable answer to a question!)

Nolan is basically talking in full sentences now. I've gotten very good at understanding "toddler speak" and can translate basically everything he says now. It's so nice to be able to communicate so well and to ask him questions.

Love his silly personality!

Favorites:

Color = Yellow (the yellow crayon in the bath is almost gone where most others are untouched)

TV Show = Caillou and only Caillou

Song = Old MacDonald in the car "Toddler Favorites CD" where they put an elephant on the farm - he cracks up at the elephant noises every time!

Pastime = Kicking/Punting the soccer ball (he only want the real soccer ball aka "the white one" or "the big one"!), throwing the soft basketball into the mini hoop in our hallway, throwing the "Broosebee" (frisbee) around, jumping on the furniture.

Wearing Mommy's shoes (and showing off some crazy hair!)

He LOVES these small foam airplanes. He's even brought them into his crib with him at night and brought them into daycare because I couldn't pry it out of his hands :)

Things to Remember:

Skipping to the car from daycare - he always keeps the same foot forward

Singing back and forth - "Laaa Laaa Laaa" (he mirrors me) "La La La La La" (mirrors again) - lots of laughing.

The start of Potty Training - we bought Nolan a baby Bjorn portable potty and put it in the downstairs bathroom. He doesn't mind sitting on it with his clothes on, but isn't a fan of taking his diaper off to sit on it. His favorite book about potty training is "My Big Boy Potty" By Joanna Cole. He loves the boy Michael in the book.

Easy bedtimes - Many times Nolan will cut our bedtime routine short voluntarily asking for his bed and for us to turn out the light. He always goes into the crib awake now and can fall asleep on his own. I believe this is what helps him sleep late on the weekends - I know he wakes up (sometimes he even turns on the sleep sheep again) but he then falls back asleep.

Getting ready for "Night Nights"

Stuffed animal attachment - For bedtime, Nolan needs his "baby Caillou" (gift from Whitney's son, TJ), "doggy" (Mr. Toutou who was a pacimal, but dean ate the attached pacifier), "bear" (Build a bear that Aunt Jessica gave at the baby shower), and the sleep sheep on and set to the rain sounds.

I found him asleep like this in the morning. Butt in the air, legs crossed, on top of all the blankets, bear on top of his head!

Baby Caillou and Doggy under his favorite blanket made by Grace

His hair is really wild with the warm/humid weather. He gets super sweaty playing outside at daycare and often times i pick him up his hair is soaking wet and it looks like he's had a perm it is so curly!
The "MY" stage: We are definitely in the "My/Mine" stage, where he describes everything he sees as "My". Some things are his "Where's MY Broozebee?!" and some things he just saw for the first time and are definitely not "MY firetruck" "MY toy". He's not too bad about it yet (the worst he gets is whiny) so hopefully it will pass quickly!
Fake whistling: There's an episode of Caillou that he is trying to whistle, and Nolan sometimes tries too, but ends up just humming in a high pitched voice. So cute!

May Goings-on in photos:

Walking into the Please Touch museum with Ashley's adorable twin boys Sam and Spencer


The boys playing at the museum

Ashley brought her twin boys for a visit this May, and we ate lunch together at the house before venturing off to the Please Touch museum. It was incredibly hard to keep 3 toddlers in the same area playing (without them fighting over the same toys!) and unfortunately the twins had a meltdown and had to leave after a little bit, so I have a few more solo shots with Nolan from the same trip too.

He loves the construction site in the museum

Haulin' cinder blocks!

Other favorite area - transportation!

Changing out the wheels

Who wouldn't want to switch out their cars' wheels for rockets?!

Fun with Magnets

It all went downhill fast for Nolan when we entered the Outer Space area in the museum. They have these big wind pipes that blast balls and hold them in midair. As soon as Nolan saw the balls he had to have one. He took it away from the area with with wind and just wanted to throw it "up in da sky!" After a while I had to give it back. A meltdown ensued and we left at that point...

"My Ball!"

His throwing follow-through

Guarding the ball with everything he's got!

The weather has been absolutely beautiful this month. We are really soaking it all in this year after the rough winter. All Nolan ever wants to do is be outdoors, so we've been trying to spend as much time as possible enjoying the weather outside. Rose Tree Park in Media has become a favorite spot for family time on the weekends. We went there for mother's day, and again the next weekend, and found yet another area in the gigantic park that is great to play. We also saw a horse show going on the same day!

Nolan in heaven being outdoors with his soccer ball

Frame-worthy shot

For memorial day, we wanted to venture a little farther out. We tried going to another favorite spot: Wissahickon Park, but it was absolutely mobbed for the holiday weekend with no parking available. We scrambled and Joe was able to quickly find a state park nearby (Fort Washington) that had tons more space. Plus it had a playground, which Nolan appreciated.