A walker...and a talker! (Plus videos!)

I've heard from multiple sources that a baby is a walker or a talker. The brain focuses on one big thing at a time, so if a baby is an early talker, he/she probably won't be an early walker, and vice versa. Nolan was an early walker, so he wasn't talking yet. Over this last month he started to say some words, and it is so fun! He now says mama, dada, nana (banana), ni-ni (night night), and num num. He also says mmmmm for moo. We have been signing with Nolan since he was 6 months, and it has been obvious for awhile now that he understands a lot of the signs. For instance, just the other night I asked him if he wanted milk, and he took off into his bedroom and ran to the rocking chair where we nurse. When I sign for drink, he turns his head and looks at his sippy cup. He does sign "eat", "milk", and "more". It's so fun that he understands some of what we say now and is able to let us know what he wants!
Another completely adorable thing that Nolan does that melts our hearts is kiss the air. He smacks his little lips together and makes a kiss noise. My mom says that he will walk over to the baby gate that I meet him at when I pick him up after work, say "mama", and kiss the air. SO SWEET! Last weekend my parents watched Nolan overnight while Jason and I went to his cousin Jamie's wedding. It was Nolan's first overnight (he did better than I did, I think). He did the mama/kiss thing that weekend. He must have missed me! Then this work week he was eating lunch in his highchair and started saying "mama, dada" and kissing the air. It is the cutest thing ever! And Nolan is generous with his kisses. The other day when we were hanging out at my mom's before I went to work he went up to my mom and looked up at her and kissed the air. What a sweetie!
Today our little man turned 11 months old. I know I say this in the majority of my posts, but I cannot believe how fast time flies. Seriously. One more month and we will have a 1 year old on our hands! What!?
In the meantime, here are some pictures and videos of our little guy. Enjoy!

Playing under a table at a restaurant 

Cheesy smile

Love this.

Sweater made by my mom's friend Kathy Kallas when my mom was pregnant with me! Love it. And I love the red khakis. :)

Double Digits

It's been awhile since I posted. School started again so I am back to work (insert sad face here). I am still half-time, but it's different this year. I teach in the afternoons every day, rather than full-day half-weeks. I don't like it. I miss my whole days off with Nolan. I try to spend as much time with Nolan (and Keegs) as I can in the morning. But I miss snuggling with Nolan after his naps. He now naps in the car on the way to my mom and dad's (my mom is watching Nolan again this year :)) and then takes one afternoon nap when I'm at work. So I miss out on his one snuggly time of the day. Ok, end of my pity party.

Nolan is doing terrific! He is walking all over the place. It is so fun to watch. He'll wander around the house checking everything out. It still seems weird to see him walk into a room, instead of crawl. Nolan still uses walls, objects, and sometimes his cousin Abigail - sorry, Abigail! to stand up, but I think he'll be able to stand up on his own really soon. He is able to bend down and pick a small object up and stand back up on his own, so he is capable. He just needs the confidence to try. I'm sure it won't be long.

Jason and I can't believe that Nolan is ten months old now - he is in the double digits! The past ten months have flown by. His first birthday is quickly approaching. It makes me both happy and sad. I'm sad that he is growing up so quickly and won't be my little baby boy forever, but at the same time I'm so happy that he is growing, healthy and happy. Jay and I feel so blessed to have Nolan. :)

Hey, Gophers fan!

Where ya going?!

Our baby boy is ten months old!

Trying to crawl off the chair again

Sweetie pie. Nolan loves to sit criss-cross!

Nolan is WALKING!!!

Yes, that's right! Nolan is walking at 9.5 months! Holy cow. About a week ago, Nolan started to let go of what he was holding onto and try to walk into our arms. At first he would just kind of step, step, tumble, and it felt more like a delayed fall than a walk. But just a few days ago, it turned into real steps where he made it into our arms without tumbling down! It is so fun to watch him. Nolan gets the biggest smile on his face after he successfully takes a couple steps. Sometimes he gets a grin on his face right before he walks because he knows what he is about to accomplish. The most he has done so far is five steps. And of course, it is completely on his terms. He won't walk when you want him to or when you're hoping he will. It mostly happens when you aren't watching him like a hawk. Jason and I are so proud of him (and he is of himself, as he should be!)

Here's a video of him walking today.

I never posted Nolan's 9 month stats from the doctor. He is 21 lbs, 0 oz (57%), and 28 3/4" (67%). He is a growing boy!! He is quickly growing out of his 9 month (6-12 month for some brands) sized clothes, and getting into the 12 month (12-18 month for some brands) sized clothes.

Jason and I played professional photographers (ha!) for Nolan's 9 month photos. Here are a few of our favorites. We'll be taking him back to Judd Sather (studiojphoto.com) for his 1 year photos.

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