Two Years!

We have now owned our house and dog Frank for two years!  Yes, we got both the house and Frank on the same day :)  These two years have really flown by!  When I think of the things we wanted to accomplish with the house, I realize we have done quite a few things.  We finished up the upstairs and the basement, painted the exterior and turned Nolan's room into a nursery.  While we have more projects in store, it is nice to look back and acknowledge what has already been done.  Also, I don't think we could have been luckier in our choice of dogs.  Frank is such a joy for us.  Yes, he does bark at least 50 times a day and he'll pull your arm off if you take him for a walk on the leash.  However, he is gentle and sweet, and those are the qualities that matter most to us. 

In other news, we recently aquired a Kelty Kids carrier off of Craigslist and got to try it out at the dog park last Saturday.  I think Nolan enjoyed being in that much more than in the stroller.  Here are some pictures of the day.  Nolan is even modelling his new hat for you! 

When Fussy Time Hits

When nothing else works, taking Nolan for a walk really does the trick to calm him down and cheer him up. Don't get me wrong, he's a happy baby for the most part. Lately he's had a cold and I think that's interfered a little with his sleep, making him a little crabbier than usual.

It all came to a head yesterday evening at dinner time. He was eating avacadoes, which he normally seems to like a lot. Poor thing was pretty upset though and just kept fussing between every bite and letting out loud yelps when I didn't feed him fast enough. I was getting frustrated with this because it seemed like he was tired, but at 5:30 pm it was a little too early to put him to bed. So, I debated a few more minutes about whether to go through the whole ordeal of putting him in the carseat and driving to the dog park. In the end, I decided to give it a go. I think the fresh air was exactly what he needed. We got the chance to get out and see other people and dogs and to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Nolan was chattering the whole walk and kept a close watch on our black lab Frank, who was running around like crazy. Our dog park is a long trail that follows the Mississippi river. It is amazing to be able to spend time at the river, since it is such an important part of American history. I can see why this experience calms Nolan. It has the same effect on me :)

Do you make spending time outside a regular part of your routine? What are your favorite things to do outside?

5 Months Old!

5 Months

My little boy is 5 months old today! I can't believe he's been with us for that long already. At thje dog park with Frank and Nolan this evening, I was talking and singing songs to Nolan. Then, remembering his 5 month milestone, I thought of similar walks that I took just before Nolan was born. Like today, I used to talk to Nolan on my walks when I was pregnant with him. I would tell him how much I loved him and how excited I was to meet him. I would rub my belly as I walked and I'd think about how heavy this little thing inside of me was!! Nolan was feeling heavy today too, I had to adjust my carrier a few times to relieve my back. The difference today was that I had a little boy with me who would make noises along the way. He was looking around and watching all the other dogs playing and running around him. He's still my little baby though...with about 20 minutes left of our walk, he fell asleep and his head started drooping forward. I put my arm around him and held him tight for the rest of our time at the park.

Ryan was feeding Nolan his avacadoes tonight, and he was very impressed with how well he was eating. I guess the last time Ryan tried feeding him avacadoes, Nolan was making faces and hardly opening his mouth at all. See, veggies are growing on him already!!

One of my favorite parts about nursing Nolan at the moment, is when he reaches his hand up and grabs my face. Usually he doesn't grab too hard, but it's so nice to feel his soft little hand on my face. A coworker of mine who has a son in college told me today that one of the things she misses most about her son being little is the physical contact. Yes, she does get to hug him still, but she doesn't get to cuddle like she did when he was a baby. I'm definitely enjoying all of the time I get to cuddle with Nolan. I know Ryan is too, because he's always telling me how much he loves to hold Nolan and kiss his cheeks. He says he's even a little glad when Nolan cries in his crib at night, because then he gets to pick him up and hold him for a little while. Isn't that sweet?!

Sitting in his Bumbo, waiting for smashed bananas

Still so small!