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!")

A wee bit chilly.

Saturday it nearly hit 80 and yesterday and today it barely hit 60....our bodies are in shock and are saying "Hot dog...it's COLD!".   We bundled up for baseball tonight in jackets and hoods and still were cold.  This is cold enough for me personally, at the start of fall I am all "YAY winter"...and then it hits and I quickly remember why I am positive I would never survive living any further north (aside from TN of course).   I like a good snow but then I am good to go....bring back my sunshine and warmth!
I am up to my rerranging antics again, I am wondering if this is seasonal thing for me...temperatures change and I need to change things up in the house....ready the house and furniture for fall?  I moved the boys rooms around a bit.  Jakeb requested no more bunk beds and I agree it looks better with out the clutter in his little room.   Today I struck in the "hearth/toy room" and moved the chair from one corner to the other until it finally landed in the same corner it resided in 6 months ago...back to it's apparent "winter" location.  Our living spaces down stairs are not very smart--we have very little space to properly put furniture so I am always moving things around trying to find the best fit.   Though honestly even if it was a perfect layout I would still change things up a bit--because it's fun and keeps things new and different.
Nolan is snoozing beside me as I type--he totally should be in his bed but well he's not and I am not sure how to make that happen.  I talk a big game all day long and then night falls and I am tired and he wakes up and I just bring him here because it's easy and he's warm and snuggly and cute.  And then morning rolls around and I am mad at myself for not getting a good nights sleep again...and then I remember that I am pretty sure I won't stay mad at myself for snuggling this baby for longer than I should in our bed forever, so we just go with it.  Saturday Zachary helped another soccer team out by playing goalie--I didn't go because well I just didn't...I wanted to watch him play of course but had the other boys and we had been at a birthday party and I just was ready to be at home...so I went home with them...and darn if I didn't miss the "play of a lifetime" for Zachary.   He often plays goalie and has a mean punt--apparently the kid kicked the ball from his goal all the way to the other goal, thus scoring the only point for their team.  I reminded him he isn't allowed to do awesome neat things like that when I am not at the game.  He was in big trouble for that...or not.
Jakeb told me today that Robert inspires him...later he revised this statement to let me know that he inspires him in sports and things like that and that I inspire him in other things.  He was worried he hurt my feelings....he inspires me.
And also Nolan turned 11 months old today and I will hopefully discuss this tomorrow.

Better.

I haven't been here much lately...with baseball and soccer and all things..life.  The blog is not happening much there days.  Not that I wouldn't like to sit and hammer out a few hey how are ya's...but on top of all of that Nolan isn't much for just hanging out while I do my thing while on the computer.  Or rather he is but then I find him turning up floor cleaner like he's in a bar or munching on paper like he wasn't just fed 20 minutes ago or testing out the theories of electricity on his fingers via the outlets in the wall.  Needless to say the boy is busy...and it's wonderful.  Really...don't take the above as negative because watching him explore is just cool...albeit exhausting at times. He took his first few steps a month ago and basically took a hiatus from that since but in the last week or so he has stepped up his game and is getting braver and braver.   He's almost 1 and that's amazing.   Part of me wants to be sad but the truth is I, at least right now, am not sad--I am in awe and that a full year has gone by and love that we are fast approaching my favoritist of ages.  Toddler hood, the most trying at times but oh how I love a toddler...with their emerging personality and tiny little voice and curiosity.  Even the fits of the bizarrist of things...good times, I promise.
And one is SUCH a milestone...that first year.  Gone are the sleepless nights {in theory} the newborn worries and the baby blues.   And you are left with this little toddling baby full of wonder and curiosity and happy.  With each of my boys first birthdays (and honestly every birthday) I got the urge to fist pump the air and shout we made it.  That first year is full of so much, so much good and so much not so fun but just so much that I think an audible sigh is warranted--and yet those sweet baby days are gone.    Though truth be told I don't miss those when they are gone--at least not terribly.  I gobble up every once of those babies that when they are gone I know I enjoyed them to the very last drop.  Sure there are moments that I miss....that first moment that you look at that sweet face, those little sweet sleepy snuggles, first milestones...though I imagine I might feel differently in 10 years.  For now I am living it up with this snuggly baby who is fast approaching his very 1st birthday and keeping us busy enjoying every last bit of him.
And my 6 year old...fast approaching 7 and the losing of his first tooth.   My 8 year old who is closer to 9 than I can believe and is as feisty as ever.  And my oldest guy...who is 10 going on 32 and is my pal and my helper and the neatest 10 year old I know.

Tuesday Twelve

1.  I just wolfed down a bowl of kettle corn.   I found massive bags of it at Costco.  I love kettle corn.  A lot.

2.  We got a Costco membership a few weeks ago...I love costco.  A lot.  They have gallons of milk (in a funky shape!) for $2.19.  That alone is awesome sauce.  Toss in giant bags of yummy kettle corn...I mean really.

3.  Apparently this month is the month of "things that cost"...the boys have pictures, year books, field trips, spirit shirts, book fair, basketball signups, fall festival....Oy oy.  Not to mention Halloween and farm trips and then Christmas around the corner...our check book just had a heart attack.

4.  The boys and I made a quick trip to the beach for a long weekend with our friends...it was great!  I love road trips with my boysies.   Especially when they were as fantastic as they were.

5.  There is about 20 loads of laundry in our foyer....it always seems like a great idea to toss things over the banister upstairs, until I walk down and assess the mess I made.

6.  A big branch fell in our back yard and broke one of our adirondack chairs.

7.  I haven't heard any word about our dossier in country yet...

8.  Nolan is sleeping...after a epic'ish battle to get him to sleep.   My goal over the next however long it takes I guess is to get the wee one falling to sleep on his own--and also sleeping in his room all night.   I am not a fan of cold turkey tossing him in the crib so today was some crying, some content crib playing, and ultimately him falling asleep with my sitting by his crib with my hand on his chest--progress on both of our parts.  Sleep patience is not something I have much of...so we are both a work in progress!

9.  I think I need another bowl of kettle corn.....

10.  We have a tree we need cut down...feel free to come do this for us...

11.  Gavin is super dee duper excited for basketball....like REALLY excited.

12.   Gavin also pretty much taught himself how to play Twinkle Twinkle little start on the piano/keyboard...