Yum!

This is the only way we can get Nolan to drink water or juice. The problem comes around when I am at lunch with the girls and he doesn't understand he can't have a drink of my Diet Coke. Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing

Nolan in Action....Literally

This is a test, to see if this will work. This was taken with the digital camera, so no sound and not very good quality picture, but I hope he brings a smile to your face! I had to stop filming rather abrudtly, as he found the beautiful scrap book Keelee just sent me...you'll see in the video! :) Enjoy!
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9 month Appointment

Weight: 18 lbs, 5 oz (10 % for his age) Height: 27 3/4 in (25-50% for his age) Head: 45 cm around (25-50% for his age) The doctor was pleased and also told us to start introducing more table foods. I can't believe his next check up is his 1 year. Where does the time go? My little man is growing up so fast. I love him to pieces and just cherish this time so much. Thanks for checking in, hope you are all doing well. God bless. P.S. Still no teeth for our little gummy bear, but the bottom ones are so close to popping through you can see white and feel the bumps, so not too far off I hope.

Coming Home

Even with such a fantastic weekend, there' s nothing more perfect than coming home. And look at the two guys I get to come home to. I am the luckiest! Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing

Saturday's Boston Pictures...

Here's the coffee shop that was filmed in Good Will Hunting, where Matt Damon drank coffee with Minnie Driver. Sadly, that's as close to Matt as I got: Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video SharingHere I am on the steps of Harvard's library (see Dad, it could hav ebeen worse. I bet the parking tickets here are WAY worse!) Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video SharingHere is a Holocaust memorial. Six of them stand for the 6 million people who died. Only 5 fit on in the pic. Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video SharingThis is picture is for my Dad, since the grandkids call him Grampy. Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video SharingCaroline & Sally at Lucca's: Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video SharingSally & I on our trolley ride: Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video SharingMe in front of Cheer's. Sally was the only one who knew my name but considering te crowd that night, I think that's for the best: Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing

Boston

So this past weekend, I left the boys at home and took a trip to see Sally in Boston. It was a BLAST!! Oh my goodness, I cannot express in words how much fun I had and how truly grateful I am to Sal for her graciousness as a hostess. We couldn't believe it had been almost a year since we had seen one another...way too long, but I guess when you live thousands of miles away and one of you has a baby, that's sometimes how it goes. But we picked up where we left off...drinking wine and talking until all hours of the night!!! Okay, last time I saw her I guess I wasn't drinking wine, I was pg, but you get the idea! So Friday began with Sally getting me from the airport , going back to her place and sipping some wine. Then we got ready to hit the town and Sally took me to No Name...the best lobster place in Boston. And if you are thinking fancy shmancy...not at all. It was awesome, very casual, wooden tables, and oh my GOSH! The lobster...UNREAL GOOD!!!!! Then we just hit a couple places on our way home and had some more wine. We ended the night by chowing down on pizza when we got to Sally's, then sleeping in on Saturday!! Saturday our day began with lunch at a Thai restaurant around the block from Sally's. Then we ventured out to see Boston. We went to Harvard's campus, and then took a trolley ride around the city...what a beautiful and full of history city! Saturday evening we did some shopping then met Chris & Caroline at Lucca's, an awesome Italian restaurant in the Italian district (I didn't realize, but Boston has lots of "districts"...Chinatown, German, Irish...). Sally and I finished the night by walking to Cheer's bar...the original. It was so surreal! Sunday morning I had to leave (EARLY) and Sally was kind enough to escort me back to the airport. I had such a good time. THANK YOU SALLY!!!! Even with all the excitement of Boston, the best part of the trip was seeing you and catching up on how things are. I miss ya girl! Now it's your turn...when are you coming to FL? Here's some pictures from Friday night: Sally & her lobster: Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing Me & my lobster : Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing Sally on the town: Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing

South Cheyenne

Before I tell you all about my FABULOUS weekend, I want to finish blogging about our triop to Melbourne! Thursday evening we headed to Cocoa Beach where the Felker's live, to have dinner at their place. But it wasn't just us! Billie & the kids were in town for a vacation and much neede R&R and TJ was in town for a TDY that started later in the week. All night TJ kept referring to the party as "South Cheyenne" since it was a reunion in the south. First off, a huge THANK YOU to the Felker's for their hospitality. Dinner was awesome! Felker caught the grouper that we ate...good stuff! Their home is beautiful and their backyard is awesome. Felker is quite the handy man. He put in an inground pool himself and built a tiki-hut/deck that just makes you feel like you are on the beach (not that the beach is far). Delaney, their daughter, is 7 months and BEAUTIFUL! Unfortunately we arrived as she was going to bed, so we didn't get to snap any photos of her. Nolan LOVED playing with her toys, though. So much so that he refused to go to sleep while we were there (something rarely done. He is fighting to stay awake by 7 most nights). And in exciting news about Nolan, he took his first step at the Felker's. We were sitting on the couch, and I set him down like I always do; he must have thought I still had him, because he took one step, stopped in his tracks, looked behind him at me (saw I was NOT holding on), and then dropped to his toosh to crawl. Brian was there, too, luckily. Since then, we have tried to get him to walk a bit and he has NO interest. But thought I would share anyway, as we were pretty excited. So since blogger is being naughty today and this is the second time i have posted this, I am going to post the pics (hopefully): Here's Abbey, the good luck walking charm (she was present when Evan started walking and now was there when Nolan took HIS first step)! Tiki Hut: Felker himself: Billie & I Brian & Late Nighter Nolan: Bilie & Jamie: Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing

Trip to Melbourne

Last week Nolan and I decided (fairly last minute) to join Brian on his TDY to Melbourne, FL, which is about 45 min to an hour past Orlando (east of it). Bri was originally going to fly, but with all the hullabaloo with the airlines, he decided to drive. When they booked him a suite on the beach Nolan and I just couldn't pass it up. It was a 7 hour drive and I must say Nolan did excellent both ways. On the way home he was pretty fed up by the time we were home, but I can't say that I blame him. I sat in the back much of the time and played with him, so hopefully that helped. Guess where we dined for dinner on our way there? STEAK N SHAKE!! It was awesome!! MMM....so good when it touches the lips! Even Nolan sampled my strawberry shake and was impressed! The first full day we were there Brian worked a long day, but we were still able to enjoy a great dinner at a local Mediterrian place. While Brian was at work Nolan and I went swimming in the pool and then later walked on the beach together. While Nolan napped, I finally tackled something I have been meaning to do for months...SCRAPBOOKING! And might I add I am HOOKED! I love LOVE LOVE it!!! So all my seasoned scrapbooking pals (Lindsey, Kim, Beth, Keelee) watch out..I will be calling you for help! I think I am even going to take a couple classes at the local scrap book store. Anyway, Thursday Brian didn't work as long, and its a good thing because we had big plans for that night. I'll explain in the next post. For now, here are some pics from our hotel room: Here's Little Man, checking out the view:

Here's a morning view of the water from our balcony:

Date Night!

While Brian's folks were here they were kind enough to watch Nolan one evening while Brian and I went to dinner in Destin and then caught a movie (we saw Talladega Nights with Will Ferrell...SO FUNNY)! We had a blast!!! Thanks Grandma & Grandpa! This time we remembered to get a couple pics before we left.

More from our boating day...

We spent a day on the boat while Brian's parents were here. We went to Crab Island and since it was a weekday there were not many people so we were able to anchor at a more shallow area. It was nice, but there were lots more crabs...literally! I didn't realize that was why it was called CRAB ISLAND (ding dong here). We caught two and let them play together before returning them to the sea. Then we ate at Dewey's...then had to wait out a storm. Then headed home (still got rained on). It was an awesome day and we all slept well that night! Bri, Grandma & Nolan at Crab Island:

Brian and a sleeping Nolan...see his little hat in the float?

Grandma, Grandpa & Nolan waiting out the storm (see how scary the sky looks?)

Look what I caught on film! Grandpa giving kisses to Nolan!

Nolan's Tubing!!

This is Nolan's first tubing excursion...

JUST KIDDING! We just tied the rope to the boat as a precaution. Daddy & Grandma are both on either side of him laughing at the photo trick we decided to pull on all you faithful blog readers!

Day at the Beach

Here we are at a Destin beach when G & G McMenamy were here! We sunbathed, swam and ate lunch at the Crab Trap! Daddy & Nolan watch the waves! Brian, Sam & Nolan Brian, Nolan & Grandma& Grandpa!

Sooo Behind...

Ugh! I hate it when I get behind on blogging, but I will catch up! Nolan and I went with Brian to his TDY in Melbourne, FL. It was a 7 hour trek, but it was worth it. The hotel was literally right on the beach (Atlantic side). I'll blog more about that when I upload the pictures, but just wanted to let you all know we are home and safe. I finally uploaded all the pictures from when Brian's parents were here. My computer locked up a few times because there were so many. But I have lots of pics to share...aren't you excited? Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

BIG THANK YOU!

Brian and I (and Nolan) want to thank Dennis & Kathy. While they stayed here Dennis did a huge amount of yard work for us because Brian's back was still healing. He weeded and mowed our lawn and we can't tell you how grateful we are. And of course, thank you to both Kathy & Dennis for watching Nolan while Brian and I went to dinner and a movie. We're so blessed!

No Walking Yet...

But the kid can cruise with the best of 'em.

Boathouse Lunch

These are pics of us during and after lunch at a place called the Boathouse in Niceville. It is SO good and one of my favorite places. They have hush puppies that are to die for (and I am not a hush puppy fan AT ALL).

Look Mama, No Hands!

Nolan will NOT hold his own bottle. While we were eating lunch last week we tried to get him to take it. This is how he opted to eat the bottle. Little stinker. This didn't last long either, because there was a little girl at the next table that he just HAD to flirt with!!

Swimming...

Kathy, Dennis, Nolan and I cooled off in the pool. Poor Brian was at work that day.

Terrific Visit

We bid farewell to "Grandma & Grandpa" McMenamy this morning. We had a wonderful visit! We were very busy and Nolan is one tired little guy, but he loved every minute! I am in the process of getting all the pictures to the computer, but there are lots, so keep checking in, there are sure to be lots of updates soon!

Pictures at Last...