Happy Halloweenie...

As I have said before Halloween is not my fav holiday...I let it "stress" me out with all the costume hoopla.   Plus it falls at a time of year where we have quite a bit going on...we did make it out this year without purchasing any costumes.  I did buy Zachary's get up--but technically he will wear this anyway SO doesn't count.  He already put a hole in the knee (at school!) to prove it's just a ordinary pair of pants.
We ended up with 2 ninjas, an "army guy", and a snuggly bear.  Jakeb was too big to Trick or treat with us so he is absent from most pictures--that and my camera died after the first house.  :(   Jakeb and his friend went and did their "own thing" with strict instructions that they could not go any further than 3 houses away.

Tuesday twelve.

1.  I am typing this up on the iPad at o'dark thirty stalling to wake up the hulk....Gavin is a bear most mornings.  

2.  About once a week Nolan will sleep til 2:30 in his bed without waking at all and then sleep calmly in our bed...last night was one of those nights...ahh a decent sleep.

3.  I have gone into obsess mode triple time with all things adoption now that our dossier is registered  and we are officially waiting.

4.  I used to tout that I didn't like coffee and didn't want that "addiction" ...guess who puts back 2 big cups a day??   Love.my.coffee.

5.  Holy moly we are fast approaching Christmas!  I love Christmas.

6.  Our boxer girl is seriously awesome with our baby boy...gives me a new appreciation for her.

7.  Robert starts a new position within his company Dec 3rd so excited for him.

8.  Um...Saturday was our 11 year anniversary!!  Crazy!  Love him and our crew and our life together more than ever.

9.  I have a big stack of books on my nightstand to read...I get thru about 5 pages before a konk out

10.  The boys got report cards last week and are all doing amazing!

11.  I have 4 minutes...but I hear Jakeb up so that's good!

12.  Gah I just remembered we are low on breakfast foods...need to get them up and whip something up for them to eat!

Embrace the Camera...

So yeah...I have thought about tossing this one up on Thursdays from time to time and joining in--I have even taken a few pictures with this post in mind.  But then one thing led to another and BAM it was Friday and I forgot.  Pretty much how things go with the blog...I forgot.  I will opt out of mentioning all the posts I said I was going to do and then well didn't...instead I will just give you a picture of me and a kid and call it a success.  Because, duh, it is.

For those that don't know...the point is to get in the picture.  As we all know I have lots of pictures of my chi'ren's but not so many of me with them...so there are 2--from last month when we were in TN.  

Blow out.

I seem to have a built in alarm clock that most mornings wakes me about 3 minutes before it is that I am wanting to get up.  This morning I woke up at 5:57, perfect.   I wanted to get up at 6...put Nolan in his bed and blissfully enjoy my cup of coffee before waking the big boys up at 6:30 for school.  Which I dread because Gavin is not a morning person and is basically the Hulk--hence the need for coffee and bliss beforehand.  

This morning I tried to get the baby in his bed--no go.  Robert tried...no go.  He cried loudly and woke everyone up.  Blissful coffee...no go.  So we were all up and going early this morning, which was good because Nolan had a dirty diaper that required bathing.   So our hectic morning got more hectic....but yet it happened on a morning that had plenty of time.  So really...and this is how I try to look at things like this...really it was fine.  We had time to get him cleaned up and the boys were helpful and ready to go.  So a crazy start to our day sure but at the same time there wasn't a better morning for such things to happen.  Now let's hope the diaper was a fluke (he seriously never has that happen) and not a upset tummy!

I am no expert but I really try to keep things in perspective when things just get no good.  Woe is me never helps and after a good bitch fest I am typically able to go ok...really?  We are good...my dad once fussed at me for saying something along the lines of "Of course this happened to me..." and while I don't really have a advice giving relationship with my dad...on this one he is right.  Basically he said don't say that and throw yourself a pity party...things happen, it's life, and it is just how it is.  It isn't that it happened to me....as if the universe is out to get me.  It happens.  Now sometimes all of that is easier said than done and we just need to feel sorry for ourselves from time to time...it happens.  

But today I am glad we all woke up early and had time.   I am however not glad that I can't get Nolan into his bed to sleep...so there's that.  But...because there's always a but...I do really like snuggling with this sweet {not sleeping} baby.  

Tuesday Twelve.

1.  It's not quite 6 am....I am slowly getting the hang of getting up before the kids.   It's wonderful and now much needed.  This morning I hit 5:45....I find myself thinking if I got up earlier I would have even MORE quiet time.   The boys have to get up at 6:30.

2.  I even have managed to get Nolan back into his bed the last two mornings.  Though I can hear him stirring around on the baby monitor....so it may not last....and it didn't he's now in my lap.  And we are both not happy about it.  6 am is not when Nolan likes to get up.

3.  Our dossier is registered in 2 regions and now we are officially waiting...not expecting to hear anything for at least 6-9 months really.

4.  I have yet to order halloween costumes for the boys I have got to get that done.

5.  I did however get Nolan's 1st birthday invite finished and ordered.

6.  Nolan is very confused as to why he's awake and sitting in front of the computer screen at 6 in the morning...he usually is not up until 7:15-7:45 or so.

7.  I love my coffee

8.  I can't believe we are fast approaching the end of the year.  I really need a few days to catch up--or months.

9.  I have been thinking Christmas gifts already--planning to do them a little differently this year.  Haven't bought any, but thinking counts right?

10.  Just for the record I have read that eucalyptus oil rubbed on the soles of feet helps a cough at night. Yeah it's true.  Totally worked for Gavin.

11.  Also if anyone is needing leaves we have a bazillion about to fall out of our trees.  Or Acorns...those are dropping like crazy right now.

12.  We took the boys to the fair on Saturday...it was their first time at a fair.   It was a lot of fun (and costly!) they were cute.  Zachary and Gavin are definitely the thrill seekers.

Picture it.

We took the boysies to the apple farm a couple weekends ago....we have done this every fall since we moved to GA and all really have a great time!  The best part is the hot apple fritter w/ ice cream right before we leave.  This time we invited my bro and his ladies, Amberly and Reagan to join us...

11 Months.

How can it be that this feisty little boy is 11 months old already!?  Just one month away from a full year (or less now since he actually turned 11 months 5 days ago..).   I think now at 11 months the newness of our boy has worn off...while we are still in awe of him everyday...we are no longer looking at him in amazement that he's here in the first place.  He fills our days with happy, loud, and awesome.  At 11 months he is WALKING and Talking.   Like walking all around walking--he took a few steps right before he turned 10 months and within the last week has taken to the feet and is up and running.  Really.  He tries to walk so fast he falls and tries again slower.  Gotta walk before we run baby boy.  He has spit out a few for sure words past Mama and Dada...We now have Yay, Hush, No, and he tries to say Dance but it comes out dA--almost like dada but just a tad different.  I swear he said love you to me yesterday but he hasn't said it since and I think it was just coincidence.  I said "I love you" and he said the typical "wu wuu" right after I said it....so maybe...He also says what sounds like "shut up" but I am 97% positive is not actually shut up because we really don't say that...so we haven't figured out what he is saying....
He can bend and pick things up and get himself back standing if he falls and is learning ways to get what he wants--banging, yelling, etc.   The other day I had him blocked in a room with me so I could get a few things done without worrying about him diving down the stairs and he was very displeased.  He thought he had found the solution and pulled with all of his tiny little might while grunting like a cave man trying to move that {much too heavy} box out of the way so he could break free.  He squatted and pulled and yelled and was very unhappy that he couldn't.  I was impressed with his attempt.  He isn't sleeping thru the night yet but is finally taking longer naps {hallelujah!} I just continue to chant "one day he will sleep...one day he will sleep"  He starts the night in his bed and anytime between 11:30 and 2:30 ends up in ours...I am so tired I just put him with us.  It works..for now.

He is still very chatty and very loud.  I frequently have people stop us in the store to comment on his vocal'ness.  Yesterday a woman thought he was a girl mostly because of how chatty he was--"boys aren't usually that talkative" she said.  This guy is a go getter my friend--that and he comes from a long line of talkers and he better take his place in line or thus get lost.
He loves outside and tasting rocks and dirt and leaves and sticks.   He is quickly learning that they aren't for tasting, I don't mind a few licks of outside items...for that very reason.  He knows it's yucky and doesn't want to eat those.   He yells and bounces around when he sees his brothers getting off the bus.  Yells hush at the dogs when they bark.  Loves to feed Maddie his food.  He is finally getting better about eating and true to form is avoiding veggies and much prefers Mac n. Cheese or chicken.  He loves black beans and pasta.   He loves to dance, dance, dance!  And bobs and sways around the second he hears music...he now has taken to say "dA, dA, dA!"  When he dances because I always say "Dance, Dance, dance" when he starts.
Nolie bear is still my snuggly guy.  He has however become quite the hitter--which is only encouraged by his big brothers who think it's hysterical when he bops them in the head while growling like a bear.   Though they are quickly learning he is getting stronger and is now resorting to hitting them with hard toys--not so funny.  We are trying to stop that...and not laugh.  But he's cute and a baby and our baby so we laugh...
The baby boy--is just wonderful.  He has brought so much to our little {big} crew of little {big} ones.  We are thankful everyday for him {all of the hims} and all the love and happy and smiley goodness he brings to each and everyone of us.   His feisty, happy all the time, loud boisterous self is amazing and awesome and wonderful.  Happy 11 months Nolie Bear!

His pictures this month really display this guys personality....and personality he has my friends...

(doing "so big!")