Nolen is 5!

For some reason 5 is an age that is bittersweet for me.  I am so happy that Nolen is healthy and growing but 5 just seems so old!  Nolen is no longer a toddler....he is a little boy. He will start school this year. Almost all of his baby fat is gone.  Nolen was our baby for almost 4 years and now he is 5!

Nolen is at a very shy age right now.  He is definitely a home body which is nothing new.  He LOVES Legos.  He can sit at the kitchen table for hours and play right by himself with them.  I am so glad that he has an imagination.  Eric and I decided that he needs some social interaction....so him and Gavin are both taking JiuJitsu.  At first he didn't want to do it and would not really participate but after a little bribery encouragement he is doing much better.

Nolen is very loving and sensitive.  He will cuddle all day.  He very rarely has to be punished because all it takes is one look and he bursts in to tears and says he is sorry.

For his birthday this year all he wanted to do was have a Lego cake and go to Mamaw and Papaw's house.  I couldn't go and buy a Lego cake because then Gavin wouldn't be able to have it so I had to make it.  Honestly, I just didn't have it in me to spend 4 hours trying to decorate a cake and since he wasn't having a party....I didn't.  Ha!  I told him that it was made with love even if it is ugly...but my sweet boy said he loved it and he thought is was awesome.

He wanted a Lego cake and he got one.....a cake with Legos on it.  They were new Lego's so he was very excited!

{Nolen and his pitiful cake}

{Nolen and his cousin Elliott}

{He was very excited about his new Dino Legos}

{He got cool guys from Old Mamaw}

{Mommy and Daddy got him a real bow!  Gavin got one for his birthday and Nolen has been wanting to get out there and practice with them....now he can!}

Cohen's Party

We had Cohen's birthday party on Saturday.  Things got off to a rough start.  My car was in the shop across town with the birthday banner in it.  Gavin had 2 football games and someone blocked Eric's truck in at the field.  I didn't have time to put out half of the decorations I had planned to.  If it weren't for our family coming and helping, I wouldn't have gotten it done.

You know what though?  This little guy didn't care one bit.

He helped open his presents.

My friend Jody made him a few hats for this winter....too cute!

He really enjoyed reading his cards.

Birthday boy.

Cohen and his cousin Caedmon.

Cohen and his scrunchy face.

Checking out his cake...

He did not need any encouragement....he dove right in.

I don't know who that kid is in the background with his mouth open with food in it....but his Mama needs to teach him some manners!  Oh wait.....he belongs to me.

This was Cohen after the party.....he was pooped.

Cohen through the months....

This banner is from Cohen's party.

Here is a close up of each picture.  It is crazy how much he changed in just one months time.  Right around the 5 month picture is when he really starts to look like "Cohen".

Love my baby.

Cohen is 1....say what?

Cohen is ONE today!  I cannot believe it.  I know it is so cliche to say.."time flies" but it totally does!

Cohen is a great eater.  He will pretty much eat anything I offer him.  I think our days of baby food are numbered....he wants whatever we are eating.  He is done nursing.  Nolen was so attached to nursing and it took forever to wean him.  Cohen could care less.  I could tell he was starting to get distracted and would only nurse for a minute on each side so I started cutting feedings.  I have this fear of him suddenly quitting and me getting Mastitis (which is what happened with Gavin).  It has been 2 days since he nursed and he just doesn't care.  It is kind of sad....he isn't a baby anymore.

He is very busy!  Always in to some sort of trouble.  He has almost eaten dog food and has played in the toilet.....twice.  It is hard to keep that lid down....just ask Gavin and Nolen.  He can climb out of his walker and climbs in to and on top of his toy basket.  He can stand for as long as he wants but has zero interest in walking.

He is still in a size 4 diaper and weighs just under 23 lbs.  He has definitely slowed down on growing.....and still wears mostly 12-18 month clothes.  

He has nothing to do with a pacifier but will not go to sleep without sucking on his elephant.  I ordered 2 more of them and I now have a rotation to keep them from getting stinky.

He jibber jabbers....a lot.  He will try to say most things I ask him to if he is in the mood.  Most words sound nothing like the actual word but at least he is trying.

He is definitely not shy and will go to anyone who will take him.  He reaches for everyone....even strangers in the grocery store.  

I have to tell a funny story about the birthday boy.  One night last week, Gavin and Nolen went to spend the night with Eric's parents and we took Cohen and went to dinner.  We went to this little Mexican Restaurant and it is so yummy but the tables are on top of each other.  We were sitting really close to a table with 3 younger women at it.  Cohen would not quit staring at them.  He kept turning around and smiling and waving at them.  He was totally flirting with them.  There was an empty chair at their table and he kept grabbing it and pulling on it.  Eric got on to him a couple of times and he didn't stop, so the 3rd time he smacked his hand and told him "NO".  Cohen looked at Eric and then looked at the girls, turned around and gave Eric this look that said, "Daaaaddddd, you totally embarrassed me in front of these pretty girls!!"  Then he started crying his pitiful--you hurt my feelings cry.  He was so mad at Eric, he kept giving him dirty looks....it was so funny.

Anyways, Cohen has had a great first year of life and we all feel so blessed to have been a part of it.  He is just the happiest most lovable little boy.  I love him so much!  

Stay tuned for pictures of his 1st birthday bash and his 1 year pictures!

Nolie Polie is 4 Years Old!!

Nolen turned 4 on January 8th.  We had a very laid back day.  After having a baby in October, we decided to take a break from Birthday Parties! 
I made him waffles for breakfast and then he wanted pizza for lunch.  We went to Pizza Inn because he wanted to go to "the pizza place with the guy", but he didn't eat all that well (I think he was still full from his big breakfast).  Then we went and saw Tangled, which we loved.  Gavin kept saying it was a girl movie and he didn't want to see it, but he laughed the whole way through and even though he didn't want to admit it....he really liked it. 

Then we came home and Nolen wanted "trees" for dinner.  He ate an entire head of steamed broccoli!

 We had cupcakes and sang to him.

  He opened his presents and as long as it has some "guys" in it....he is happy!

Nolen is an amazing little boy!  He is so sweet and sensitive.  If he gets in trouble, it breaks his heart.....but he still gets in trouble!  Whenever you get on to him he will say, "you broke my heart" or "that's not very nice" and it is always followed up with a "but do you still love me?"

He constantly tells us he loves us (literally 20 times a day).  He says, "I love you bigger than the oceans, bigger than the skies, bigger than the whole wide world and to the moon and back. Any many hands and boots and feet (and whatever else he thinks of).  Then he expects you to repeat it back to him word for word and if you get it wrong, he says "Nope, try again!"

He is ALL about playing.  He always has a "guy" in his hands and can play for HOURS by himself.  He has an imagination like I have never seen. 

He is a great brother.  He looks up to Gavin and they play really well together (most of the time) and is just so sweet and gentle with Cohen. 

He is such a joy to our family.  We are so blessed by him.  Even though he isn't the baby around here anymore, he still melts his Mama's heart!

A Trip to Nashville!

We gave Gavin the choice this year of having a birthday party or going to Nashville and spending the night at the Gaylord. If he chose to go to Nashville he was allowed to take one friend with him. He chose to go to Nashville....and he wanted to take his cousin Wyatt (no surprise there).

Nolen, Wyatt and Gavin at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel

We went to Snow....which was a big pile of very cold snow.....

We saw a few reindeer....

And we went to ICE!

To say it was cold would be a HUGE understatement!  They have to keep it around 9 degrees in there to keep the ice from melting.  On top of all the clothes that we had on....they hand out huge parkas to wear.  It was so cold in there that it literally hurt.

But it was pretty awesome too.....

And did I mention cold???