Halloween Tricks and Pics!

All 4 of us got in costume to go to our friends, the Zeliasz's, Halloween Party!
From L to R...

Fairy Princess Ellison, Cowboy Jonny, Pirate Erin, and Nolan went as Baby Jonathan (he wore some overalls that Jonathan wore as a baby - so happy Marcy saved them for 29 years)!

Cousin Jack the Lion and Elle the Bee getting ready to Trick or Treat

Grandma Marcy and Nolan (wearing J's baby clothes). Marcy and Nolan handed out candy to the Trick or Treaters while we were out.

Nolan smiling in his sleep!

We went Trick or Treating on Saturday in DT Cary; here is Elle after we got home with candy in her pink pumpkin pail. Don't let that face fool you, it was all an act for the camera, she was actually very proud of her accomplishment. I was very proud of her too, she said "Trick or Treat and Thank you" to everyone!

This is a special Bee pose she hopped into before we left for Trick or Treating DT.
She picked out this sucker to eat after her lunch!Here's a picture from a Halloween playdate with our friends from the Cary Mom's Group.

Close up of Noli the baby bee

(a special thanks to our friend Jackson Foley for letting us borrow the costume)

The little head piece barely fit around his chubby cheeks and under his double chin.

Elle before the playdate, not wanting to wear the full bee costume, still looking cute.

Pumpkin carving...

Jonathan's famous "BOO Pumpkin" - I think his best ever!

The Jim Matta tradition lives on!!!

Helping mommy

scooping out the slop...nice face ElleEllison picked this out at Old Navy, and Grammy Laur couldn't resist.

We took Ellison to Rainforest Cafe when Jer & Laur were last in town. We had never been before, and decided to go only for Ellison's enjoyment. Turns out everyone but Elle enjoyed it...nearly everything scared her except for "frog man" and the fish. We ended up being asked to leave as Jonathan tried to wrestle the robotic alligator and sit on frog man's lap.

Grampy and Nolan. Grampy went through every shirt he brought with him in 1 day...Nolan loves spitting up on him!

Grammy and Nolan

Story time with Dad (note Ellison sitting in Nolan's seat)

Nolan James

4th visit to Lincoln Park Zoo this year. Nolan is absent from the picture as he was taking a bath in the hippo tank.

Ellison on her favorite thing...the endangered species carousel at LPZ. Special guest appearance by Dr. Cassandra (Erin's friend).

Ellison and the fish. The last 3 times we've been to LPZ the Hippo has been swimming around the tank constantly. It's great for Ellison to see, and as previously mentioned, Nolan and the Hippo have acquired a mutual admiration for one another.

So this explains a lot regarding Nolan's relationship with the Hippo...Jonathan sat on that Hippo for about 3 1/2 hours, and then threw an absolute tantrum when we threatened to leave him at the zoo. It was embarrassing. He tried to climb the bamboo poles and hide in the hut that is above him (not pictured). The zoo politely asked that we not return again this year.

Ellison enjoying the Hippo after Jonathan was "removed"

Look who's 3 months old

Here's our happy little guy on his 3 month birthday...

Comparison pic of Elle in the same chair on her 3 month b-day!

More Noli!

Lately Nolan has been very happy and smiley! When he is not sleeping, he is either eating or smiling. He is such a good napper; loves to sleep in his car seat or just about anywhere and nap from 2-5 hours at a time. He is pretty much doing the opposite of everything his sister did at this age. He travels well, she didn't (she cried in her car seat). He sleeps anywhere, she mostly slept in our arms. He sleeps for long periods of time, she was the queen of the 30 min. nap. He goes 4-6 hours (more at night) between feedings, she would eat every 2-3 hours. He's content just hanging out in a seat/swing, she would only sit for a few minutes and then need something new. He is wearing 6 months clothes and size 2 diapers, she was just into 3 month clothes and just fitting into size 1 diapers. Elle was rolling over at 3 months and could stand holding on to us with just one hand, and Nolan just likes to sit or lay (and watch us/his sister). We love how different they are and love them for who they are...so special in their own way.

They do, however, share one characteristic, chubby legs!

Elle at 3 months rolling around

and standing

Easy go'in Nolan!

Almost a "Sunken Ship"

First a couple pictures of the kids, then the "Sunken Ship" story...

Elle riding "Ozzy" at the Long Grove Apple Fest - definitely the highlight for her

We were in Wisconsin visiting my parents during the heavy rainfall that lead to extremely dangerous flooding conditions. We (especially my mom and dad) were so worried about their pontoon boat. It held on tight even though WI River was up over 10 feet.

The rushing water was tearing out trees and pulling docks and boats down stream. The plank that usually angles down (at a 45 degree angle) was inverted...everything that used to go down was going up. We usually can't see the boat from my parent's house since it hides down low behind the river bank, but since the water was so high, we all watched it and hoped it would hold on. We explained this all to Elle and would hold her up to the window to see the boat. Upon her review she proclaimed "it's not a sunken ship yet Grampy," trying to make my dad feel better.

The back story on the "sunken ship" that makes her comment so cute is that we had recently gone on one of our monthly Pet Store loitering outings and found ourselves in the aquarium accessories isle. She was fascinated with all of the fun things that went inside a fish tank, with pirate ship decor being her favorite. I showed her that they had a hole in them and that they were "sunken ships." So cute...she never forgets anything!

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 !!!!