18 months

I guess at 18 months you are no longer considered a baby and are now a toddler.  I feel like Nolan has been running, talking and eating like a toddler for months, but we're now getting a taste of the terrible 2's! While the fits are short, we're trying to nip them in the bud.  We've also been trying time outs.  Even the most advanced one and a half year old doesn't really grab the concept of being disciplined, but we're willing to put in the effort!!

Lots of new things are happening with Nolan this week.  We started a combo class for kids 18-24 months at New York Kids Club.  Nolan did pretty well, and I think he did really well in the art, snack, story section.  The class has two part; one part gym class and the other a more focused sit down with a teacher. I think it is so great to give him a little taste of preschool with the comfort of having me there to help guide him.  Nolan doesn't like circle time, but I'm hoping that as he learns the routine he'll be more cooperative.

Nolan is down to just one nap.  He is going to bed by 7:15, up around 6:30 a.m. and down for his nap at noon.  I am still getting used to the longer waking hours in a row, but it has allowed us to get in a better routine with eating, classes and play dates. 

Our boy continues to be full of life.  He runs, sings, dances, claps, blows kisses and gives hugs all day.  He loves talking to all the doormen in the neighborhood tell them hi and bye as we walk by.  He also now fully recognizes our apartment.  It is so cute when he points and says "bubba, bubba."  If you point to another apartment and ask if he lives there he says, "No, no, no, no!"

We're looking forward to hearing Nolan say even more new words and watching his little mind think, process and grow!

Same Place different year!  What a difference.  He sat for the first time in the bottom picture that day.  Now he runs wild at Sheep's Meadow!

Learning to eat at the table~

We love you Nolan!! Happy Year and a Half. 

Naural Disasters

NYC had a crazy end of August.  We had a small earthquake when Nolan and I were out at the U.S. Open watching the first round.  Shawn was in his office and felt a small sway of the building, but it seemed like there was little to no damage in the city.
Less then a week later Hurricane Irene came up the eastern seaboard.  Outside of heavy wind and rains, NYC fared pretty well.   I feel badly for all of the people that left the city and ended up in places with no power and couldn't get back to the city for a few days.

Priest Lake

After the O'Neill reunion, we spend two days at Priest Lake at my aunt and uncle's cabin. I have so many great memories as a kid there in the old cabin. The "new" cabin is so beautiful with huge windows that over look the amazing lake view. Nolan went on his first kayak ride with Shawn, and he even got into the water with me! He is so full of adventure. He turned 17 months on the trip. His new loves are animated movies. Despicable Me and Shrek 4 being the top two. He'll point to the TV and say, "Gru." He is also running, so I'm always on the run chasing after him. Nolan's words have really come around, and I love that the please and thank you that we taught him in sign language are now the main words in his vocab. He says yes please, thank you, excuse me: great manners for a such a boys boy!

We opened up some great wine with dinner, including a 2003 Woodward Canyon Cab from Walla Walla with my great, great, great?? uncle's picture on it. It was such a treat to drink that bottle with many members of the Yeenders, including my cousin Tiffany who made the trek from Seattle, and my cousins Ryan and Carol who came from Portland! Tee and Chuck came from Seattle and Marcy and Rocky came from Portland and Denise and Bob from Spokane. We're so lucky to have such a wonderful family!!

Sunset from the deck

Nolan and his Papa having snacks!

The water was a little cold, but my sister, dad, Ryan and I dove in head first!! Thanks for the great pic Tiff! Please note Shawn and Frank, my sister's new fiance, watching in the kayaks!

O'Neill Clan

Last week we packed up and headed to NW Idaho for the O'Neill Olympics. We rented a 42 acre place where we all camped, ate, played games, and took a quick ride down to lake Pondere. Nolan loved playing with all of his older cousins and running free all over the place. Shawn kept giving him rides in the wheel barrel, and he totally loved it. It was so great to get out of the city get some fresh air and spend quality time with my extended family.....all 56 of us! Icing on the cake was team O'Yeender winning the Olympics. Ohhhhh Yea!

My grandparent are the best! This was on my Gpa's 85th birthday!

The full moon provided light for us, most of the time we didn't even need a flashlight. My cousins and I were "howling" at the moon :0

Nolan was happy to see his Auntie Katie again!

The O'Neill's are amazing musicians, and we got to listed to them sign and play for over 2 hours.

Tracy and Sean

We had the pleasure of going to Sausalito for my dear friend Tracy's wedding. She found an incredible man in Sean, and I could not be happier for them. The church was so beautiful, and in true Tracy form, the reception was very artsy and filled with great food and music. Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Castle!!

The day after the wedding, Shawn and I took the ferry over to SF. In all of my years of living in the Bay Area, I had never take the ferry. The views were awesome, and the weather was great!

Mat and Shawn in China Town. We walked all over SF!! No cabs needed for these NYC people!

Tahoe

Our friend's Mat and Bridget came out to CA, and we were able to spend a couple of days in beautiful Lake Tahoe. I have so many amazing memories of Tahoe, and it was so great to add more with the Warner's!

Sunset in South Lake

BURRRRRRRR, the water was freezing, but we got in all the way!

Beautiful hike at Emerald Bay. The views were breath taking, and the drive was a little scary at times. I cannot believe some of the roads that don't have guard rails!!

4th in CA

Nolan had a great time swimming in Papa's pool. It was so fun to get in the pool with him, he got such a kick out of being in the super big bath! Nolan's first time in the pool was on my dad's birthday!

Heather and Jason hosted an amazing 4th of July parade pre party. As always there was great food, drinks and most of all company!

Nolan wasn't really sure what to think about his 4th of July ride. We had a great walk down the street in the Woodlands, the neighborhood that I grew up in. It was so fun to take Nolan down the parade path that I took many times as a kid. What a trip down memory lane. I love having so many friends living in the ole 'hood.

15 months

Nolan sure is a communicator. He loves to sing, dance, talk and use made up sign language. With all of this communication has come the mini temper tantrums. I pretty much ingrone them, and he gets over it in about a minute, but it is clearly a look into the near future of the terrible 2's! When he's not having a mini fit, he is laughing, playing and mostly dancing! If we're stuck inside he loves to dance and sing with shows like The Fresh Beat Band and Yo Gabba Gabba. When we're outside it's all about baby speed walking, kicking balls around and mostly eating sticks, dirt, rocks and whatever else he can stick in his mouth when he thinks I'm not looking!

Despite a little fit here and there, Nolan is still very sweet and friendly. He loves to wave at the people of New York as we stroll around the neighborhood. We just taught him how to shake hands. It's so cute. The other day at the park one of his friends that he had not seen is a while was there. He went up to him and gave him and hug and kiss. It was so cute.

Nolan code words:

Nana = food

Go, go = video on the computer, go outside, or Yo Gabba Gabba. It just depends on what he points to!