9 Months Old

Yesterday was a special day for all of us; It was Jason's and my 2nd anniversary and it was Nolan's 9 month birthday. I can't believe we've been married two years! Time has flown by. I also can't believe that in three short months Nolan will be one year old! Time needs to slow down!

Nolan has been his busy little self. Back in June he started standing up and walking with some walking toys. He also is now cruising around furniture and moving from furniture to furniture. I don't think it will be too long before he is walking!

Nolan absolutely LOVES Keegan, but Keegan has mixed emotions. Keegan kind of freaks out when Nolan starts crawling right for him, but then will lick Nolan if Nolan has food on him. I've been teaching Nolan how to pet Keegan gently. He is catching on to it! He doesn't grab handfuls of Keegan's fur anymore.

Last weekend Jason, Nolan, and I went to Chicago. We had tons of fun going out to eat, walking around the city, taking a water taxi to the Shedd Aquarium, seeing the penguins, dolphins, beluga whales, and fish there, walking around Navy Pier, and meeting up with Heather, Phil, and Grayson! It was a very busy, busy weekend, but Nolan did great. He was a happy little guy and slept pretty well. He also enjoyed petting Grayson. I could see that he really is learning how to be gentle.

Nolan also understands the word "no", but definitely tests it out.The little stinker. It's so cute though and hard not to laugh or smile at him, but I don't want him to think that the word "no" is a game. Nolan knows he is not supposed to play with cords or with Keegan's toys. He will grab them and look at me. I'll say no and shake my head and he will put it down. Then, of course, he will pick it back up again and smile at me, I'll say no and he'll put it down. Then I'll redirect him to something else before it does become a game. Sometimes he'll be crawling for something and I'll say no and he won't pick it up.

Since Nolan became mobile he hasn't been very interested in books. However, when I can get him to read books he really likes looking at the books that include textures. He reaches his hand out to touch the soft/fuzzy/scratchy/etc texture on the pages. We've been reading a lot of those books lately.

This coming Friday is Nolan's 9 month appointment. I'm excited to see how tall he is and how much he weighs, but not excited for his shots. I will update this weekend with what his stats are. For now, here is a Nolan photo bomb!

Early this summer, first time walking with a toy

He loves walking with this toy he got from Grandma and Grandpa McCabe

Nolan and Keegan, checking out the world together

Waiting for Dada to get home

Nolan and Abigail checking out the world together

Loving the swing at Laurie and Nick's house!

Posing with my favorite, penguins, at the Shedd

Nolan's first carousel ride (at Navy Pier)

Nolan and Grayson checking each other out

They are bffs!

9 months old! Nolan would NOT sit still! He kept trying to crawl off the chair or else stand up, turn around, and try to grab the curtains. Silly guy!

Ba ba ba, Da da da

Nolan has become quite the chatterbox! About a month ago he learned how to say the "b" sound. All you would hear is, "ba ba ba ba ba!" from him. He'd wake up and start babbling away. It's so cute to hear it on the monitor.

This past week he learned how to say the "d" sound. He's getting closer to saying dada! All week he has been saying, "da da da da da da!" It's really cute.

Of course, I have been trying to get him to learn the "m" sound and say "mama", but no such luck yet. :)

Here are a few videos of our little babbler.

I was trying to put lotion on his face. He makes it difficult!

He moves from toy to toy now that he can crawl. I hope the newness of crawling wears off soon. He won't sit still for books anymore! 

On the Go

Nolan is officially mobile! Our days are never dull now. Late May, Nolan started getting up on all fours and rocking. He did this for quite some time, about a month. Slowly he started figuring out how to crawl. First he would lunge forward,then he started to move his knees, and finally he started to move his hands. One morning it all clicked and he started crawling! It's so much fun to watch him learn how to crawl. He is a determined little guy. You can tell he is so proud of himself and feels like such a big boy.

Not only is Nolan crawling, but he is pulling himself up to kneeling and standing positions. He loves to stand and cruise. He isn't the best at cruising yet, but I'm sure he'll be a pro at it in no time. He throws no caution to the wind; Nolan will turn around while he's standing and try to walk and will just fall if I don't catch him. Once he figures out how to balance on his own, he'll just take right off.

Just last Friday Nolan learned how to climb stairs. He isn't very fast at it yet, and doesn't quite have the hang of it yet, but he manages to make it up a couple stairs. You can't let him out of your sight for a second!

This boy is a mover and a shaker! I can only imagine how long he has wanted to get around our house. He is just thrilled that he is able to do so now. I'm proud of our mobile little guy. :)

First time crawling!

Learning how to round corners

Kneeling

Exploring our home

Having fun on the Fourth

Climbing stairs!

Checking out the books

More Water Fun

As everyone is well aware of, we're in the middle of a nation-wide heat wave. This means lots of water fun! Nolan has had a blast going to the Splash Pad, playing in his pool, and swimming in Lake Washington for the first time! He's learned how to splash and loves to do it. At first he was unsure about splashing, because he splashed himself in the face. But then he realized he was ok and carried on splashing. I think I might get him into swimming lessons through the community center this winter or for sure next summer.

Here are some pictures and a video!

Danananananananana Batman!

Smiley guy

Love this picture!!!! Swimming in Lake Washington

With cousin Abigail at the Splash Pad

Playing in the fountains

Playing with the water toys

Water Baby

Nolan finally likes water! Up until recently he only tolerated baths (and sometimes tried to escape from them). Now that he is sitting on his own, I decided to try him in the bathtub instead of his infant tub. It turns out I should've done that a month ago when he started sitting! He must love being able to stretch out, because he loves bathtime now! He plays with his toys and splashes around. It's really cute.

We also bought a little baby pool for Nolan. He also loves this! He splashes and plays with his toys. We have a little fountain toy and he puts his face in it and lets it get his face wet. He also loves watching Keegan run circles in the backyard. Half the time he just sits in the pool and watches Keegan!

Last week I took Nolan to the Splash Pad for the first time. I didn't know how he would like it, because the water is a lot colder than his bath/pool water. He ended up loving it! He sat by a little fountain that shot up about a foot and put his hands and face in it. He also loved watching the kids run around and splash in the fountains.

Here are some pictures of our water baby.

Schooooooooool's Out for Summer!

Today was my first day of summer vacation. I am so excited to be a full time SAHM for the next three months! I can't wait to spend everyday with Nolan.

Last week one of my best friends, Heather, was in town with her two month old, Grayson. We spent all of Friday together hanging out with the boys. They are best friends already!

Nolan now gets up on all fours all on his own and rocks. It's so cute; when you go to get him from his crib in the morning and after naps he is up on all fours, rocking, and grinning. He is so proud of himself! Sometimes he moves backwards, sometimes fowards. No crawling yet, but you can tell he wants to!

I can't believe Nolan is seven months old. He is now closer to being a 1 year old than a newborn! Craziness.

Here are some recent pictures of our little man.

Our happy little man

Grandma and Papa McCabe

Nolan and his best friend Grayson

"I have a secret to tell you, Grayson."

Big boy standing up (he tries to pull himself up, but can't do it yet so we prop him up. He loves to stand!)

7 months old!

6 Month Pictures!!!

This week has been busy and wonderful! Nolan has met a couple more milestones - he has gotten up on all fours and rocked and he has fed himself some puffs (actually picked them up off his highchair table and put them in his mouth!) He also met and played with his new best friend, Grayson, my friend Heather's son.

For now, I will just post the six month pics, which we love!!!! I'm so excited to have them printed and framed. Next time I'll post pictures of Nolan up on all fours and with his best friend Grayson.