The Boy and His Bed

As promised:

 

We will take down the crib this weekend and move things around... and have a little boy's room.  Crazy.

Introducing... Alice&Victor !!

Last week I mentioned that I was thinking about opening a shop on Etsy... Well, this past week I did it!

Alice&Victor

It took me so long to come up with a name... I love this one, though - it's the kid's middle names.  I'm excited to show you the shop header that I'm working on.  Hopefully soon!

That's why I haven't been writing much this past week; my spare time has been spent dreaming up this new shop and reading up on all the stuff I need to know to open.  I took the plunge and the first step of actually creating my Etsy shop the other day, and am in the process of coming up with the design / look and am starting to list some items. 

I just came in from a little product photo shoot in the back yard to get more pictures of my goodies - Madeline said she was watching me out the window for a bit and that I look like a pro!  Ha!  I did pick up two pieces of white foam board at the dollar store the other day for a makeshift lightbox; propping them up on a lawn chair together with the use of my reflector seemed to work ok - I'll know once I have a look on the computer if I need to adjust anything.

So mark your calendars and get ready to shop! October 10 is the date I am planning to launch this thing.  Thanks to so many of you for being supportive of me and my little shop in the past. (And another one - in the comments of my last post a friend said she found me another place to sell!  I appreciate you, Deb!)

Snow Shoveling in Shorts & the First Haircut

With winter turning to summer within days, there was a bit of overlap in the seasons!  Sean spread the last of the big piles of snow out so they'd melt faster, and Nolan was right in there with a little shovel helping.

Just like Dad!

Except with his own sense of style.

"I'll start this one, Dad!"

Ha ha - this one just made me laugh.

A good shot of his hair 'before'...

And a few days later - no snow and a little boy cut!

Photos

It's been a while since I've posted pictures because I got a new phone and have been taking most of my photos on that, and haven't got the system down for getting them on here yet. Glad to finally share these and give you a bit of a visual update on my awesome family.

Our biggest news this week is that M is now a glasses wearer!  She has always had 20/20 vision, but lately was having headaches, so we took her in to get tested and found she's farsighted.  So today is her first day off to school with this new look - hopefully she finds them easy to adjust to.  I think they make her look sharp.

Nolan had fun trying on the little glasses - he'd laugh and check himself out in the mirrors.

Here are Nolan's first paintings!  There is a new Early Years Family Center near us (a 12 minute stroller walk away!) that is full of neat stuff for him, it's open every morning and afternoon (M-F), and is free.  Beat that!  We went last week for the first time with friends, and yesterday afternoon walked over by ourselves.  An hour there sure went fast.

Some of Madeline's new talents - french braiding her own hair, and fish tail braiding.  She did a couple on me the other day, too - that's almost as good as a massage.  Apparently guitar is another new skill, but she just plays at school, so we are looking forward to getting her one at home so she can play more and we can hear her!

This is a typical morning in our house.  Madeline practicing, Nolan getting in her way, somewhere in between pjs and being dressed for the day, with his favorite thing to steal from the fridge - the mustard.

A new friend!  This cat has been hanging around for the last week or so, since I left a bag of garbage on the deck...  The kids both love her, and she's great with Nolan, but she's learned not to come meowing around at night...

Coffee.  Both our kids love coffee.  This one is empty, and decaf.  Should be safe.

This is another common sight.  I take Nolan swimming every couple of weeks, and Madeline has lessons Monday nights, which we all go to (as long as he's had a decent nap!)  At both pools he loves to play in the lockers.  Don't they all?

And snow.  It's going away, finally - from totally covering the swing last week, it's now down to the grass under the swing.  There are still a couple big piles, but I think spring has finally arrived.  Nolan loves being outside and doesn't mind the snow at all; it takes a lot for him to be too cold or tired enough to want to go in.

Have a great weekend!!

The Birthday!

Cakes decorated!

 

House decorated!

Presents out - just waiting for my friends!

We invited Anna and Ty - Nolan's two closest friends.

He liked the singing and that little bit of fire.

He got Dad's help to blow it out, and was disappointed when the fire was gone.

Ha ha - my own little car!

It's soft!

I squished it!

So strong!  This is how he treats other food, too.

What?  Eat it?  (Everything ELSE goes in his mouth...)

Try some.

Yep, I like that.

All done.  Nice beard.

So we had a fun little party with a couple of friends... that morphed into a houseful of family who came to help celebrate.  Thanks to all who came!

What Christmas Looked Like

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you all had time with family, time to relax, and time to think about the Baby who came to be Savior of the world; the Savior or you and of me.

We made it to Winnipeg for a few days and had a great time with all my family there.  Mom asked if I had any use for this old sleigh that came as a fancy gift package once upon a time.  I said no, but that we should do a little photo shoot with Nolan before she got rid of it...

I think this one was my favorite!

Have to get a cousin shot!

Fun to see the next littlest one playing with Nolan, and getting a glimpse of what he might be like in a couple of years.

Christmas morning!

Nope - didn't plan that.

Her best reaction may have been when she opened up this onesie - she's been wanting one for a while...

Here are the cousins from Sean's side - we had the Ward family Christmas yesterday out in Balgonie.  Sickness kept some away at the last minute, so we had only six of the 11 cousins.

I think he likes it!

A few family additions to announce!  This shot was taken two years ago; Lynsey found an engagement ring in the pocket of the jacket she got for Christmas, so this year, there is a new Mrs. Ward!

This is the other addition - sweet, hey?  Alexa was born November 13, and we were so disappointed to not get to meet her yesterday.  Hopefully they're all feeling better soon, and hopefully we get to meet her soon, too.

I'll leave you with this one that we used for our Christmas card this year - all the best to you and yours, and may 2013 be a great one!

And He Eats!

The latest in the "What's Nolan Up To Now" saga is this:  Food.  In the high chair.  With a spoon.

At his four month appointment last week, the doctor said he was ready for it, and we thought so too. 

Look what Mom got me!

She said I could eat it.

This is a fun spot!

This was on Saturday.  I'm 4 months and 1 week old.

Ummm... Not sure what to think of this.

I made some funny faces, but kept asking for more.

Today - my third day eating and I finished the whole bowl!