Nature

One of the fun benefits of staying with my parents is the amount of nature we see daily.  We get to explore and go out to actually find new creatures we can find and learn a little about each one.  We get to see the horses, we have encountered snakes, a turtle which gracie actually turned on his back and we learned a little about predators.  We have seen birds nests, dear, snails, and even goats.  Yes, it sounds like a very strange zoo but it has been very cool for the kids.

Trinity as a First

It has been some time since I stepped foot onto Trinity's Campus and we got to tour the new buildings and eat in the beautiful cafeteria, it was delicious.  Gracie and Nolan even took the time to check out there new mail boxes;)  Nolan enjoyed his first ice cream cone and both kids really love the hotel pool.  All in all it was a good time to spend time together.

4 1/2

Gracie is 4 1/2 and while do Nolan's stats she want hers done as well.  I also thought I would try and make note of the little things Gracie has been up to.

Here are his stats:

Height: 42 1/4 inches

Weight: 35 lbs 2 oz

Head Circumference: 19 1/2 inches

You love stuffed animal which you call your friends.  You make friends with anyone and everyone at the park.  You love the neighbors and invite them over all the time.  You would swim all day if possible.  You love to color and you are really good at it.  You now draw people like mermaids and people and you are really good.  You love wearing pearls.  We try and have a dance party once a day.  Most recently you actually asked me to cut your hair a certain length.  You love to learn and can't wait to go to sunday school.  In the last month you have lost 3 of your favorite friends(stuffed animals) and 2 were found at other people's houses.  Pretty sure the last one is not coming back:(  You ask it you can try clothes on now when we are at the store.  You are so good with your brother, you protect him and always watching out for him.  Yes, sometimes you fight but not as often as you love playing together.

18 Months

Nolan is officially 18 months and is changing and moving faster then ever, if that is possible.  And since I forgot about the 15 month shots and now we are in a transition period his 18 month stats are coming via nurse mommy.

Here are his stats:

{I will update these once we are planted in Illinois}

Height: 33 inches
Weight: 25 lbs 4 oz
Head Circumference: 18 1/2 inches

Mom Look at Me:

• you have a full mouth of teeth with the biggest smile that people always comment on
• your 18 month molars came in over 3 months ago so we are good
• you also give very serious looks you sometimes, even looking pretty mad
• you love any big truck or machine that makes noise
• you still love bath time
• you love being chased
• you love being tickled
• you only take one nap a day and sometimes you tell me when you are ready
• you are in 18-24 clothes. i believe your shorts will be on the small side for a while 12-18. your shirts are almost always 18 months
• although you could actually fit in a size 3 diaper we retired that long ago because you pee a lot.  Sometimes you even wake up from nap wet so we have to really watch your in take at lunch.  Night time is 5 for the same reason.  
• you love to play outside
• you love all and any shoes.  i think you love just putting them on by yourself
• you love to give other kids hugs
• you have learned the art of time outs and having to say sorry
• you love to help throw out diapers or take shoes to the steps
• you defiantly respond to us saying good job
• you love to tote your sippy cup everywhere
• anger and frustration is something we are working on.  if you get annoyed you can't do something you get so mad
• if i tell you no to something sometimes you will pick up the first thing you see and throw it.  so funny and I try so hard no to laugh
• you love your gracie so much aka sissy
• love to get a tissue and blow your nose
• You are still obsessed with vacuums and the loud noise they make.  Every house we go into you open their closet doors to find their vacuum.
• you love all animals and love when we make there sounds
• you eat are always trying to eat dirt and the chalk no matter how many times you get into trouble
• you have also taken on playing fetch with the dog you play so much he usually tires out first
• you can identify all major items on your body but we have to do your nose last because you like to stop and make noises with it and won't do the rest of them identified
• Favorite Word: NNNNO.  Yes the n sound travels a while
• nicknames: squirt, sweet boy, buddy, pumpkin
• nicknames when you are up to no good: rat, bugger.

Things He Says:

• oh geesh
• papi{as if he is italian}
• dadie
• gacie{gracie}
• sisi
• mom mommie mom mommie - sometimes he will keep this up until I answer or even when I do you just think it is funny, think that cartoon with Stewie
• hi
• bye {with a wave included}
• doggie{every animal is called doggie)
• let me see it
• outside
• door
• shoes
• no
• yeah
• ball
• pease{please}
• yuck

Of course there are so many other things you say these are just some of my favorites.  Your vocabulary expands daily.  You repeat a lot and sometimes I understand what you said but no one else does and sometimes you say something and we all laugh thinking no way did he just say that.

Now I am trying to get these on video but most of the time he just stares at me with a smirk that says yeah right.

Surprises

When you want to sit with me in the chair or have some cuddle time.  You use to want to be in my lap at all times or be carried but most of that ended with summer.  You love to be outside and free.

Food

All table food baby!

• You will eat almost anything
• if we introduce something new most of the time you will kill it
• if you find something interesting on the ground often you eat it, yes gross but he thinks it is so funny
• You do not like: cottage cheese 

Routine - These are pretty true - you are now using a sippy for all feeds except for the bedtime bottle

• you wake anywhere between 8-9am
• 1:00 nap
• 7:30 bedtime

Things that melt our hearts

• you give the sweetest little kisses
• you are always asking for papi and looking for him, he by far receives the biggest welcome homes i have seen
• when i ask for a hug before bed you give me a good squeeze
• Your big smile.

I remember some pictures of Troy around 

this age and they look a lot a like here

Sit & Heal

As most of you are aware the kids and I have been staying with my parents while Troy and I decide the next steps of our lives.  The time here has been a good time for me to sit and heal from time.  To allow time to run over me and to rejuvenate myself as a person, wife, and a mom.  I have had time with friends that I have not gotten to be with this much time with since college.  Being able to just be me and to share our lives and struggles have been a blessing.  Being able to take in there thoughts and prayers have been so great and helpful to a process that I so desperately needed.

I have also taken on a bible study that when I heard about it I could not help but bag to be apart of it.  It's called Story Formed Life.  We are going through scripture of God's story and taking what God wants for our life and making sure our life story includes those things.  I love looking at scripture in such detail and getting into such a deep learning process from this study.  So many that have taken this class have talked about how it changed there lives and there families.  Our church has really been focusing on sitting and resting and making time with the Lord.  I just love when I feel even more challenged by church and a study that seems to make you really think deeply about the story God wants me to have and lead.  On our first night at study we were asked to describe our faith history in one word and then explain.  I used a word and then thought of so many that better describe my faith history and then came up with providence.  He has always provided, always guided, and a never shaken love for me.  And although I love the continued learning process of my faith I am also a type A person.  I like lists and I like goals that I can accomplish and check off.  My faith will never be checked off as finished or something I am proficient in from start to finish because I will always be learning and always growing and my faith will aways be tested.  I feel lucky, over the years God has healed situations in my life in the locations in which I have lived.  Each move has done some sort of healing, changing, and growing.  I can look at each place in which we have lived and say exactly what he did in my life.  Learn to be married, grow a friendship, heal relationships, strengthen my faith, and grow our family.  Some don't get that chance to have that healing process in front of them.  I am thankful for the challenges and the things I have learned.  Even now my faith alters from moment to moment with strength one minute and questions the next.  I am excited to see how I get challenged and pushed.  We have already made some changes to our family and I will share that later but we made lists of what is most important for our family and how, what we do right now will make those teen years better.  Lots of thoughts and I am sure I will share more as I feel lead to do so.

Swingin

I mentioned before how much Nolan loves to swing, here is a cute little video of my little guy, Enjoy!

Doc McGracie

Not sure if you have taken a moment to watch Doc McStuffins but Gracie loves it.  She likes me to call her Doc McGracie when she is at work.  She now has her own book of diagnosis with pictures.  Below you will see where she has decided to have her own clinic, her patients, and I forgot to capture the waiting room but I will try next time.

 hard at work in the clinic

 a couple of her patients are being diagnosed and fixed

if you look in the background there a 

pink blanket with all the patients waiting

Next

This little man of mine is growing and changing all the time.  Since he was 2 weeks old we wanted to move.  He wanted to crawl, walk, run, talk, and now even ride a bike like his big sissy.  The moment Gracie jumped of he jumped on.  He loves just moving the handles back and forth but sometimes mommy will push him on the side walk and he thinks that is so awesome as he makes voom voom sounds and collects rocks to put in the front basket. What a boy!

Old and New

Since junior high I have been friends with Molly.  And, I have been given a unique opportunity to spend some quality time in Cincinnati and time to catch up with friends.  We have not lacked in play dates since we have been here, quite the opposite we have been a very busy little family.  Thankfully we have spent a lot of time with Molly and her two kids Pearl and Grant who are both very close in age with my two kids.  They also seem to get a long very well and love playing together which has made for some nice days followed by naps at Molly's house where we the mommies get to veg out.  To say I have loved this time is an understatement.  It has been so much fun!

 this is not pearl

gracie can make friends anywhere she goes

 nolan is more interested in climbing

up the slide then going down it.

 enjoying the sunny ride after the park

 pearl and gracie's silly faces during there outdoor lunch

 nolan loves the lawn mower 

and the pink 4 wheeler.

 loves cutting the grass

 gracie's new favorite thing is minnie mouse

Nolan finally got back into the swinging

and would stay in this swing all day if he could.

walk, jog, ride

Another great benefit to my parent's house is the bike trail that is literally out their door.  We daily go for a walk, or I jog while Gracie ride her bike.  And she can be pretty fast, I often have to ask her to slow down as she is always wanting to race and that is a little hard when pushing Nolan in the jogger.

Indoor Play

As April is known for the raining days we have taken to the close by Rec Center the have indoor swing sets and trampolines.  On one of our first visits since being here this time around Nolan was not very happy about the swing at all and wanted out right away.  To tell you the truth I was a little worried that he would have a fear for heights like someone else in the family and Gracie and I would be the ones riding all the roller coasters together.

Gracie loves and it

wants to keep going higher

loves taking on all the climbing walls

nolan right behind her wanting to do the same

glade she had some one to spot here

now if only I can get Nolan to say belay on

no slide was out of his league

check nolan out in his tie shirt hanging with all the ladies

I think he is trying to get them to bake him a cake;)

House Divided

When it comes to teams we always support the team Daddy coachs.  But there are a few teams that we don't share our love for and we have both taken our time to tell the kids who we love.  Troy loves the Royals and I am a Reds fan.  I love Ohio State and Troy loves K-State.  Then there are a few teams I have loyalty to before choosing another.  Example I am not a die hard Bengals fan at all but I would never root for the Brown's just can't do it and I hate the Yankee's, sorry.  Just team stuff.  I have taught Gracie some of the OSU chants and Troy is free to do the same but Gracie picked it up fast and knows how much it drives daddy crazy so she loves to sing it.  All this to say I got a picture of Nolan Sporting a Reds hat and I had to capture it because I was so proud to see him wearing it.

this one just looks like troy stance.