a little bit of me.

{Nash's "First" First Day of School}

There's only ONE "FIRST" first day of school in your lifetime.

Today was IT for Nash.

And after searching the 2009 blog archives for pics from Evan's first-first day (for comparison purposes) - spoiler alert - I didn't blog his first-first day back then :((( - I'm making sure Nash's photos are logged here.

First day of what we call "pre-preschool" -- the ELP (early learning program) at our beloved preschool...

Both big boys spent their first year in the "Alligator Class" and I'm so excited for Nash to spend 3 mornings a week for the next school year in that very same room...

We visited the classroom twice this week (once on sunday with JUST our family, and once on Monday with the rest of his class).  Both times momma & daddy stayed while he played with toys.  Today I handed him off and found out later he "protested" most of the time I was away (8:45-11:45).

But at least he had a cool backpack.  :)

I can't wait to see where the year takes him.   It's going to be big.

:))

{at 23 Months...}

We're a week into "two" but I've had the notes on 23 months stored away in my phone for a bit, so I could document here -- I've done such a better job blog-doccing Nash's 2nd year and I want to keep it up ;))

so yay for posts whenever they happen to happen...!!!

Nash, at 23 Months you...

..."MOO" (or "mmmmmmm" in your case!) every.single.time we go through the chick-fil-a drive through and you see the chick-fil-a cow!  (which lets be honest is usually 2-3 times a week at least)

...cover your eyes and play peek-a-boo while I change your diaper (and LOVE when it makes us laugh!).

...still like to say "hhhhhhhhi" every morning when we walk in your room to get you out of the crib.  It's my favorite.

...give the BEST kisses with squishy lips - and want to kiss us all right on the lips.

...can finally walk into the gym/club nursery without having a temper tantrum - you don't bother to say goodbye, you just head straight for the playfood!

...are obsessed with the boys big basketballs, and demand your fave red/black ball everytime we go out.

...do a mean kick on the soccer ball around the house (evan taught you this!).

...give super-great hugs and will walk over to one of us say "huuuuuhhhhh" and ask for a hug.

...yell "OUUUUUUUUU" (aka out) when we pull into the garage or park in a parking lot.

...LOVE french fries.  We have to hold most of them back to even have a chance at getting you to eat the chicken nuggets.  And by the way you are super good at eating your nuggets/fries out of a little plastic container/bowl that I keep in the car for on the go situations.

...still really only like water and milk.  no juice.

...love to check the garden with me and run wild around the backyard.

...love playing with our play kitchen and play food - you take ALL THE FOOD out, look at each piece, say "mmmmmm!!!!" then throw it on the floor.  And you love to carry the ketchup bottle around by the string (=ketchup!).

...love trying to stick your hand under the watering can while I water the tomato plants (its the BEST game to you!).

...have a little temper.  You'll throw something across the room if you're not in a good mood and one of us does something or offers you something that you don't like...!!!!!

...will sometimes stand still and smile for my pics before we head off in the am -- it's adorable.

...LOVE the water table ESPECIALLY when I actually put water in it for you!!!

...are so so SO completely adored by everyone (including your big brothers who love you so SO much!!!).

We adore your crazy little cute personality...

xoxo.

{at 22 Months...}

Determined to get this one in...

((Even if we're a week into 23 months))

22 Months was one of the GOOD ones.

Nash, at 22 months you...

...are sweeter than sweet when you want to be.  You look up or lean in to someone and say "HUH (aka hug!)" then bear-hug your target!

...SCREAM "HAVE THAT" (but it's all said together and sounds like one word) about anything you want.  A snack, a show on tv, a variety of sporting equipment in the garage (ESPESH the black/red big basketball.)

...say dadda and momma and "guh-gah" a LOT.  AND we've finally figured out that "guh-gah" is your version of "kitty-cat".  AND you seem to think that dogs, cats, AND LIONS are ALL kitty-cats.  ;))

...have MASTERED a variety of animal sounds and like to SHOUT/SCREAM them as you read books (ducks, elephants, horses, mice, kitty-cats, & pigs).  And lots of these sound are "realistic" like your screaming neigh sound or snorting pig oink.  You also shout "RAFFFFFFF" for giraffes!

...QUACK at any bird you see (or anything you find that's the color yellow) -- and the comic looking fishman fish on the banner in carline bc Noah told you it was a quack-quack.  :/

...LOVE the Peek-a-Boo Barn app on my phone and on the ipad.  And ALSO pressing the home button then somehow deleting apps.  :(

...say "HI" to us when we come in to get you out of your crib in the morning.

...love rice krispie treats!!!!  (photo below after you tasted your first) -- You never really get to have cookies or treats, so this was a big deal for you!

...LOVE sesame street and that new "Letter of the Day" song (not even a thing when Ev and Noah were that age!!!).  Although you harbor some distrust for Count and when he sings the "Number of the Day" song you look around to make sure there's someone else taking it all in who can protect you.

...say "meh-mo" for elmo.  We think you say "Big-bird" too.

...love any and all animal books - especially the "Does the cow meow" book!

...are a total daddy's boy.  You love when he's home and usually go to him first.

...Discovered the "Cars" bin and LOVE to play them and also to just take them away from your brothers and ruin their races!!!  McQueen's a fave to carry around.

...want to play outside ANY chance you get.

...and you make us all laugh and appreciate you nonstop.

we ALL love you so so so much.

xoxo, sweet boy.

Save

{march 30th}

if i'm going to be honest >>> we've had a few non-stop, rough, temper-tantrum-crazy months around here.

like worse than I EVER remember it being with Evan and Noah.

Granted it's 5 years later and I've forgotten a lot -- but still -- Nash is opinionated, strong-willed, and he lets you know.  ;)

Today, however, was one of those really REALLY good days.  one of those days where even though he only had a 40 minute nap (before being grabbed from his crib to go pick up his brothers!), ate lunch in the car (chick-fil-a!) after running errands in the am with me, and was shuttled around non-stop --- he still was SO cute, and SO loving, and SO funny in the few hours that we did have at home in the afternoon to play.

...One of those days that I want to document (however quickly & however I can) --- so that he can find it later when we're looking for some sort of info about him on the blog!  :)

**Photos above ^^ snapped while we were cleaning out his closet and found Noah's old "mickey phone" in his closet.  I showed Nash how to say "hellloooooo" on it -- and he took it from there, stuffing the antenna in his ear and turning up his cute factor.

xoxox sweet boy.  (22 months).

{at 21 Months...}

Once again I'm posting the "Hello & Goodbye" edition of Nash's monthly update...  21 Months was a good one for us.

...

Nash, at 21 months you...

...are up to just about 26 lbs, and 32 inches.

...are getting FAST at your newfound walking/speed walking skills!

...LOVE trains!  We resurrected the thomas train table (dating back to Evan's 2nd Bday & long since used as "storage" in our playroom) and bins of trains and tracks in the garage - setting up a few favorite trains and a small track loop.  You like to organize and sort the trains (big surprise!) and transport them all over the house.  We found about 8 trains "stored" in the interior of our front window behind the plantation shutters (you had secretly put them all through the slots!).  And we can almost always find you carrying around the red train - James (your fave! see below!!).

...seem to finally have come out of your sullen, angry, annoyed, and generally devil-baby period (the 2+ months that preceded this month) -- I'm attributing it to complications from your ear tube surgery healing in one ear and the fact that the ENT cleared one ear of this mess (thus the better attitude all around after!!!).

...still think almost ANY animal that's orange or yellow or has a long neck or is a bird says "QUACK".  See below -- you were saying "quack quack" to the long neck dino...!!!

...LOVE being outside.  Especially when the big boys are out front playing (basketball!).  You point and make us bring out the baby hoop and a collection of "bahl-bahs" (balls).  And you love the water table (minus water!) too!

...love to watch Sesame and Mickey and you get up and dance (& look around the room to see if we are watching your cuteness!) anytime the Sesame "letter (or number) of the day" song comes on.

...are starting to make more animal sounds.  You've for sure got "quack quack" down & a realistic elephant noise, and you also will now "baaaa" for sheep and "Mmmmm" (moo) for cows and you still shout "guh-gah" about lions.

...HATE taking baths.

...decided that "fridge-shopping" is just as exciting as pantry-shopping, and will wait at the fridge for us to pick you up when we open it.

...ate TWO crayons this month (the points).  :(  SO we're going to hold off on those for a bit and focus on stickers as a fun diversionary activity while we're out.  ;)

...LOOOOOVE your orange tambourine.  It's a go-to carry-around toy.

...LOVE your big brothers, but refuse to stand with them for a photo...!!! :)

...and are just about the cutest thing we ever could have dreamed up.  It's so sweet seeing Evan & Noah appreciate your fleeting "baby-ness" and adorable antics as much as daddy and i do.

xoxox.

Save

{at 20 Months...}

(one more hour left in the day -on the last day before 21 months tomorrow- to get this post up...) >> insert 'crazy-eye-mom-emoji' ;)

Hello & Goodbye 20 Months...

...and now that you are totally mobile, we honestly can't get you to slow down for a photo!!!

Nash, at 20 months you...

...still weigh in at 25 lbs.

...love books.  love sesame.  love mickey.  love cheddar bunnies.  love pretzels.  love 'peekaboo barn' on the ipad/phone.

...say "mmmmmmmm" when you start to eat food that you think looks particularly good!

...point at the tv (and throw your arms in the general direction of the tv) and shout "Guh-Gah!!!!" -- this can mean either "Put on Mickey!" or "Put on Sesame!" -- either is acceptable to you!

...yet you ALSO shout "Guh-Gah" at any dog or cat you see (the pet-store or vet stop is a FAVE errand!).

...shout "QUACK QUACK" at ANY BIRD (and other animals like fish).  You also make a great elephant noise (just like Evan did!).

...walked (ran) around on the beach for the VERY first time ever.  Mostly chasing 'quack-quack' birds AND your brothers' football.

...throw some KILLER temper-tantrums.  LIKE stop wherever you are and lay down and scream for 15 minutes tantrums.  Daddy and I laugh (and take pictures/video).

...announce "Ouhhhhhh" (aka out!) when we pull into the garage.

...love to 'rock rock' on either daddy or i before bed.

...are a champion speed reader -- trying to page turn before we're ready (daddy allows this nonsense, i DO NOT).

...love to "play legos" by taking all of the duplos out of the bin and then putting them all back in when I sing the clean up song.

...love to play "food" and with the boys old play kitchen--which has found a new home in your play space.

...go "shopping" in the pantry any chance you get!  (evan named this activity -- basically you take out anything you can and line it up somewhere else in the kitchen!).

...try to make us all laugh, given the chance!!!

We love you so much little crazypants.

xoxo.

{Over the Hills: My 1st Quilt of 2017}

If you've followed my blog or checked in on my crafty endeavors periodically over the years, you know that I used to quilt A LOT.

AND THEN I HAD 3 KIDS OVER THE SPAN OF 8 YEARS.  And in the year after #3 was born -- while I was trying to keep up with big kids and big kid activities and playdates and fun stuff AND make sure my infant was fed 45 times a day (kidding but you know that's what it always feels like) and had a nap here and there -- I realized that I'd rather spend any "free time" sleeping not sewing.  ;)

I'm occasionally beginning to feel more in control of my extra time (& by "extra time" I mean 15 minutes here and there that should probably truly be allocated to doing something like laundry, hahahaha) - and I'm making lots of deliberate decisions to manage it the best way that I know how.  And I'm SO determined to quilt more this year...

...so I'm giving myself a few bonus points for finishing my first quilt of the year in January.  :)  >> It just took me a few more weeks to photo it and blog it!

This "Over the Hills" quilt pattern is by Suzy Quilts, and I adore the simplicity and wonkiness and imperfection that it embraces.  I started the blocks in the fall, set them aside during the holidays, and picked them back up around New Years to complete, sash and quilt.

I was able to use 24 different prints from my fabric stash on this throw-ish sized quilt, and bring them all together with a navy chambray background (purchased HERE).

I opted for simple straight-line quilt-lines, and one print (by Cotton & Steel) for the backing (simplicity!!!)...

Feels so great to be back at it again...  And back to buying (& hoarding) fabric in my other spare time -- aka after school car-line pickup of the big boys (with purchases taking place on my phone).  :)

I cant' wait to use this pattern again in the future - it was a fun one.

:)

{at 19 Months...}

Oh Nash --- Your 19 Month pics are starting to show your new-found "personality" and independent streak...

...and by "independent" I mean your decision this month to ONLY take your photos WITH your big brother's VERY prized Steph Curry UA basketball.

...You were so so SO proud of yourself for getting it after spotting him with it and pointing and shouting "bah bah bah" (ahem and crying when you didn't get it right away!).

Nash, at 19 months you...

...weigh 25 lbs.

...sleep really well - from about 7:30/8:30pm up until about 7ish when we toss you some milk (we call it delivery service with a diaper change) and some books and occasionally some Mickey on the ipad (strategically located OUTSIDE of your crib after you broke an iPad late last year) and let you chill while the big boys get ready for school.

...have the BEST "fake laugh" -- it's your attempt to mimic your brothers laughing when you want to join in - and it's HILARIOUS.

...JUST started to walk a week past 19 Months.  You took a few steps here and there last month, but on Christmas-Eve-Eve you really started putting it all together with Gramma & Papa (and Papa's cup of ice that you wanted and finally walked for!).  Your walking style a few weeks later (as I type this) is still so fresh - catching your balance and keeping your legs super-stiff.

...HATE baths for the most part and refuse to take a bath in a big tub.  You also really don't appreciate having your hair washed.

...LOVE watermelon, chick fil-a nuggets, french fries, momma's pancakes and banana muffins (egg-free), cinnamon toast, cheddar bunnies, pretzel sticks, graham crackers & PEAS!!!! - and you now tolerate apple slices and bananas (hooray!).

...SORT everything.  LIKE I MEAN EVERYTHING -- from the bags of snacks in the pantry to the blocks to the duplos to the instruments at music class to the food on your plate (plate = new milestone!).  I can usually find you making piles or lining things up or moving it methodically from one location to another.

...love play food and the big brothers old play kitchen!

...are a killer stacker (of blocks mainly).

...think it's a treat to play in your room (sadly we aren't back there a lot!).

...will "read" books for as long as I'll let you (speeding through each book at a rate of about 10 seconds a book!).  Dear ZOO is still the all-time favorite (plus we discovered Dear Santa this month!) with Pat the Bunny at close second.

...LOVE dogs and cats - will spot them and point and announce "guhgah".  LOVE mickey.  LOVE sesame.  LOVE big bird.  LOVE your blue push car ride on toy.

...WIN for most shy when compared to your brothers at the same age.  And you think hiding your face and eyes will instantly transport you out of the situation.

...& Love to give hugs but NOT on demand -- only on YOUR terms!!! :)

XOXO, we love you SO much sweet boy.

.

{Hello 2017}

Hellooooo Twenty-Seventeen...

...we are so SO ready for you.

(Nash thought the new years party horns were the FUNNIEST thing ever!!!)

We can't wait to see what the next trip around the sun holds for us...  Here's to a slower pace, enjoying more simple moments, lots of first words (nash), growing in some front teeth (noah), mastering dirt-biking in ACTUAL dirt (evan), keeping the bunnies out of the spring veggie garden (me), less conference calls (eric), and soaking in our baby AND big boys who are all changing daily.

xoxo.

{Merry & Bright}

Oh, Nash....

...so, SO glad we stuck lots of "shatterproof" ornaments on the bottom third this year.  I think that they're been "re-arranged" 4,537 times.

xo. (photos from nov 30th at 18 months)

Save