Momma's Little Pumpkin

Grandma Theresa and I took Nolan to the pumpkin patch today... Okay... we just took him to Eckert's to the Garden Store, but he really doesn't know any better! Nolan had a great time at the pumpkin store. He was so interested in all of the people, the pumpkins, and the scare-crows. He even tried to pull some of the stuffing out of one of the scare-crows. I can see a destrcutive little boy emerging!! We tried to take some pictures with the pumpkin displays, but he was more interested in everything else surrounding us. Here are a couple of pictures. He was dressed for the occassion... his shirt courtesy of Haley says "little pumpkin"! Too cute!

Picture Day!

We had picture day on October 12... and it was so fun! Nolan did really well, but he got tired about half way through. Here are two pictures from the photo shoot! I swear I have the cutest kid in the world! What a ham!!

Feeding Himself??

Here are some pictures of Nolan holding is bottle for the first time. He always wants to hold his bottle and feed himself. We really need to work on teaching him how to hold it upright so he doesn't get so angry when no more is coming out! He also tries to feed himself all of his veggies and cereal... but he is really terrible with that task. We keep having to remind him that he is not that big!!

Nolan Goes to the Farm

This weekend I had my annual employee summer event. Every year we choose a different place to go and this year I decided on Eckert's Farm. Eckert's is a local farm that grows everything from pumpkins to Christmas trees to apples and peaches. They also have a ton of farm animals such as pigs, goats, sheep, etc. Gary's parents brought Nolan for a short bit and he was quite the ham! He was so excited to see all of the people and was so interested in the farm animals. Here is a picture of him just staring intently at the dwarf goats. He wasn't quite sure what to think of them. Also included are two of my favorite pictures of him. I think I grow more obsessed with him each day!

Family Update

Things have been really busy for the past couple of weeks in the Stein Household.

We are officially moved into our new house, although we still have a lot of unpacking and arranging to do. Being a homeowner is a wonderful feeling and we are happily settling in! Alabama is slowly getting accustomed to the house as well. She likes to be nosey and roam around each room, sniffing every crack and corner. She is not quite sure what to think about all of the hardwood floors throughout, but she will eventually get used to them. And she loves her HUGE backyard and is having a difficult time sharing with the squirrels and bunnies! Nolan loves his new home too... Well at least I pretend that he does! I am sure he will appreciate it as he gets older. His room is the only room in the whole house that is complete and it looks great! As far as Gary goes... he has been a work-horse trying to get everything done just the way I like it. What a great husband!! I have been hard at work supervising the projects and being a mommy! We are thrilled to have a place of our own and are looking forward to raising our family here.

Nolan is still growing like a weed. He is talking and laughing up a storm. He seems to think that monkeys (his room is based around monkeys) and Alabama are the funniest things that he has ever seen! Alabama tries to steer clear of Nolan as he has already gotten a hold of her hears and her paws. And let me tell you, he has a strong grip! He has been eating his big boy foods extremely well. So far he has eaten carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, applesauce, and prunes. His favorite thus far is squash. We try peas next week. That should be interesting! Every day that passes we are just amazed at how fast he is growing. There is no better feeling in the world than having a little baby that you love and that loves you.

Hopefully we will get some updated pictures up soon. We have just been extremely busy with the house that we haven't got around to it. Until next time!

4 Month Appointment

Nolan had his four month appointment last week, and as I have been saying... he is getting so big! I can not believe how stinking big he has gotten since he was born. Nolan is a big 15 lbs and 10.5 oz. now! Yikes! And get this... he has grown 6 inches; He is now 25 inches long. Lately we have been noticing that he is growing out of his 3 month clothes. Guess we will have to start putting him into his 6 month outfits! He had 3 shots plus an oral one and boy did that tick him off, but he survived!! Gary was shocked at how upset he got over the shots (he didn't go to the first appointment with shots).The doctor said that Nolan is an "over-achiever" with the way that he is almost rolling over, standing so well (with assistance of course!), lifting his head so well, and his coordination. I always new my baby boy was so strong and smart. More pics to come later!

Yum Yum in Nollie's Tum Tum

Formula just doesn't cut it anymore, but cereal and fruit sure do!! Nolan started on solids this last week, and boy does he LOVE it! The only problem... we can not feed him fast enough. He is such a big boy. He eats from the spoon like a champ and even likes to wipe his face with his bib. He is so stinking smart, or maybe he is just trying to eat the bib too. My baby is a hungry boy! This week we fed him rice cereal and prunes and apples. Hopefully after we see the doctor this week we can start him on veggies. We knew the prunes and apples would be fine considering he has been drinking apple prune juice for at least 2 months now! Enjoy the pictures... there are more updates to come!

Lesson Learned...

Well, today was supposed to be Nolan's 4th month doctor's appointment. We were extremely anxious to find out how big he is and to finally get him started on cereal. (The boy is starving!) Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the doctor today. Why, you ask? Get this... I forgot Nolan's insurance card (the same one that he used last visit) at home. I had just gotten back from Los Angeles last night and did not have my wallet in my purse because I was afraid that I would lose it in California. So, you heard right, they refused to see me. We had been there before and they had scanned his insurance card then, but that evidently was not good enough. They wouldn't even let me come back after his appointment with the card, or call my insurance company to have it faxed over. Completely ridiculous. So, the appointment is now rescheduled for next Wednesday. Grandma Theresa will have to take him because Gary works that day and I have a meeting. Ugh! So, what is the lesson learned? The lesson that I learned today is that Nolan's doctor's office is unreasonable and we will now switch doctors. Anyone could accidentally leave their insurance card at home...

He's Getting So Big!

With each day that passes, it seems that Nolan is getting bigger and bigger. It is so amazing to see how fast he is growing. He has a ton of personality and loves to talk. I have never felt a better feeling than that of when he looks at me and smiles or laughs. There probably is no better feeling in the world! He is such a beautiful and happy baby.

Nolan started daycare last week. It is an in-home daycare in O'Fallon, somewhat close to where we live and closer to our new home. He only goes twice a week because the other days Gary is off of work. He seems to be enjoying himself. The first day was rough... Miss Stephanie said that he cried a lot, but he has gotten better with each day. Miss Stephanie has commented several times about how happy he is and what a pleasure it is to have him in her daycare. The only problem we have run into so far... he does not want to take naps while there; I think he is afraid he is going to miss something with the other two little ones running around! It looks like this is going to work out just fun despite my hesitation to send him to daycare!

Well, here are a couple of recent pictures of Nolan. One is of him sitting in his Bumbo. He loves it and sits so well in it! The last picture is of him sitting in his swing. There is a mirror on the swing that he is extremely interested in. He just can't stop staring at it. Too cute!

We have Nolan's four month appointment next week, which means more shots. Wish us luck! Until next week...

Reunion of a Lifetime!

Here is the touching story... I grew up in California, along the Colorado River, from the time that I was 5 until 12 years old. While living in California, I became great friends with a girl named Anitra. She was from Los Angeles, but her grandfather owned a vacation home in the resort community in which I grew up. She visited the area every summer, at various holidays, and even lived there an entire year. Growing up, we were inseparable when we were together. I have great memories of playing with her grandfather's slot machine, riding around in the golf cart, and hanging out with our friends. It was truly a great time!

When I was in 7th grade my mother decided to move back to Illinois and I lost contact with Anitra. It had been 12 years and I had not heard from Anitra, although I did look for her. It wasn't until last year when Anitra found my sister, Michelle, and I on MySpace! She was looking for us, just as we had been looking for her. She is now living in London and working for Christie's Auction House; although she visits her home in Los Angeles often. This last weekend Anitra made the trip to St. Louis to see us! It was such a wonderful time! We seemed to have picked up right were we left off. Nobody would have ever thought that we had not even seen each other in 13 long years! We spent the whole weekend catching up on each other's lives and doing what great friends do.

I never thought that I would ever reconnect with any of my childhood friends from California. It is such a special feeling to have her back in our lives again. She is truly a wonderful person and a great friend. Thank you Anitra for visiting us and treating us to an amazing weekend. We miss you already and we can not wait to see you again!