Our baby boy is 2 months old!

Our little guy had his 2 month check up on Tuesday! He did such a great job, even though I had to wake him from his slumber. He only let out one little yell with the first shot, and cried for about 10 seconds with the second shot (Elle got her flu shot and cried longer than Nolan). He drank the other vaccine with no problem and passed all the other checks with flying colors! Nolan weighed in at 12 lbs 1 oz (55%), his length was 22 1/4 in (25%), and his head circumference measured 39 1/2 cm (45%). He is 2 lbs more than his sister was at 2 months and 1 inch longer.

Nolan has been such a joy since the day he was born. Nursing is still going very well as he eats every 4-5 hours during the day and has recently gone 8 hours between feedings at night! He slept through the night last night for the first time - it's official! He ate at 8:30pm fell asleep around 9:45pm and woke up at 5am. I was ready to burst, with excitement and in other places! I was so happy, well rested and felt great when he woke me up, I was on the treadmill at 6am and got my 30 minute run in (I even got to shower - major score)! Not sure if this was a one night thing, I'm not holding my breath as he is still young, but wow, how great to get some solid sleep! Before last night he was going between 5-6 hours at night, which isn't bad at all. Elle didn't STTN until she was 8 1/2 months (and it WAS a one time thing until she was almost 2).

Nolan continues to spit up about every other time after he eats, but is not as bad as his sister was. He loves to eat and nurses almost exclusively - I've only pumped less than a handful of times, and when I do the breast milk must be left at room temperature and consumed in less than 4 hrs. I learned, after talking to lactation specialists, that I have a condition where my body produces too much of the enzyme lipase. (Lipase is a fat found in all breast milk) So, my milk cannot be stored unless it is scalded/pasteurized and even then some nutrients are lost).

Nolan has been in size 1 diapers ever since he was 5 weeks, and continues to fill them with ease! (Elle was in NB diapers until she was 2 months.) He has squirted me and himself/his clothes many times already - I'm getting better at being quicker and shielding myself, I call him "my little tinkle king"! (Any fans of the movie "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days?) He has also scared me with a few #2 explosions that have sprayed his changing table and the walls, but that was when he was a newborn. As far as his clothes size, he can still squeeze into some 0-3 month things, but can also fit in size 3-6 comfortably and even a couple 6 months things!

Bath time is still easy with Nolan, he enjoys just laying in the warm water as I clean out stuff from all of his chubbiness. It's really amazing how much lint can get into those little folds and creases! Nolan has been loving to look around lately and loves smiling at lights and artwork, ceiling fans, even door frames and windows. His neck strength is really improving and he is already able to face forward in the Baby Bjorn, which he also loves. We have also been getting so many more smiles from him lately which is truly one of the best things in the world. He has also started to make some little noises (coos) coupled with many punches and kicks which are all ways of him communicating with us. He also loves to watch Elle run around and smiles at her even though she doesn't even try to get a smile from him, so precious.

All in all, Nolan is such a good baby, he is pretty mellow and so sweet, he is the perfect addition to our family.

I just had to get some "diaper only" pictures to show off his chubbiness. Here he is with a smile and a band-aid on each fat thigh from his 2 month check-up.

An "open mouth" smile!
Extreme close up of his slate blue eyes and double chin

Another close up, another cute look

A laying down, full length pic, smiling at the window

A different angle of the cuteness

Comparison shot of Elle after her 2 month check-up

Nolan, being a big boy, sitting in his Bumbo at 7 weeks old (he spit up almost instantly, and then wanted out - I think his belly was too crunched)

A comparison pic of Elle sitting in the Bumbo seat (at 6 weeks old)

*By the way - I'm offiicially all caught up with my blogging !!!!

Big post (Zoo, Wausau, and around the house) trying to catch up - again!

Here's our only picture (forgot our camera, so this is a pic from J's phone) from our big family trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo. My parents have never been there, so Elle thought she would show them around. The highlight was the Endangered Species Merry-Go-Round, no surprise. Elle picked to ride the elephant and assigned me to the hippo next to her. She loved every second of it and yelled to Jonathan and my parents "Look at me, I'm on the elephant" every time we went around. We had a great day, we practically had the whole place to ourselves and a bonus, many of the animals were active and on display. Nolan was a champ and slept the whole time, unfortunately he missed the zoo, but we told him all about it and that we would be back!

Elle, Laurie, and Me

Pictures from our week vacation in Wausau:

My Aunt's hosted a little get-together at The Great Dane Resturaunt honoring Nolan (and me).

My mom and me with the kids

Me and my baby boy
Elle got some special "princess" shoes from my cousin Liz. She has been wearing them EVERY day since and "clip-clops" (Ellison's saying) around the house. She would wear them everywhere, but that is not allowed.
I had to do a little "photo shoot" of Elle since it is not offen that I get her hair looking this cute. She cooperated nicely!


Here she is with one of her Grammy's purses and her new shoes

I love this pose she struck


Here is Nolan and me after we got back from a little walk. He loves being in the baby bjorn. Also, look at my parent's beautiful back-yard - just through all of those trees is the WI River.


...Speaking of the river, we hung out quite a bit on my parent's pontoon boat. The weather was so nice and even on hot days there was always a little breeze to cool you down as you slowly motored around.
Uncle Erik helped Elle catch a "whopper," or as Elle says it, "whoffer". Erik hooked the fish and Elle helped real it in.
Erik, Elle, and the whoffer

The measurement...8 inches!

and they threw him back in to get bigger so we could catch him next summer!

Here's little Nolan over his grampy's shoulder

This is the "I want to eat" face!

Jer and Nolan by the sliding door watching the Humming Birds

The famous "laundry cart ride"! She loves helping her Grammy with the laundry because she always get a ride.

Elle helping Laur mix. She never misses a chance to help in the kitchen -and lick the beaters!

Here is my brother Erik and his girlfriend Brooke with the kids.

(The funny thing is, they got a family pic before we did).

Brooke and Nolan

Nolan and his Uncle Erik

-Erik was so amazed at how Nolan fell asleep and went completely limp

Back home...

Finally - our first picture as a family of 4!

Thanks to Dave Taylor and his awesome camera!

Nolan enjoying a ride in the baby bjorn as I cleaned

...moments later

Of course Elle wanted to help sweep, except there was more riding of the broom, than sweeping with it.

don't worry, she said she's a good witch

Elle dressed up her daddy with some new princess earings, necklace, and a bracelet. I think he thought he was a pirate - see the sword around his waist!

Big Sister an Little Brother in their pj's

Try to find the baby!!!

Hanging out in the Rainforest Activity Gym

Chillin on the couch

Elle was rocking Nolan in his carseat - I turned around to look and Nolan was smiling at her!Elle loving her halloween pj's, new cat ears, and a new purse - what an outfit!
our unicorn girl

I didn't have a mirror handy, so I took a picture of her so she could see what she looked like.