18 Months Old

Did you hear the news???

"What?"

Nolan is 18 months old today!

"Who, me?"

Yep, you!

"Sweet!"

What a fun-filled 18 months we've had in this household! Nolan is getting very big, and we love all the new things he can do. It is great that he has really become Daddy's little buddy lately. The two are almost inseparable.

Nolan has been working on talking for a long time, and we recently have crossed that two-word bridge. Last night, unsolicited, he said, "Love you Mama." I will proudly admit that he brought me to tears. (Ok-that may not be too surprising.) He says bye-bye to everyone and thing. We are working on "Miss you" for Grandma and Papa in Minnesota. Aside from that, he has over 100 words. He is doing great and we love every word.

Physically, he has been improving his utensil usage. He has mastered eating Cheerios with milk for breakfast. And by mastering, I mean he still gets a nice pile on his tray, but most end up in his mouth. He loves to "run," throw and kick all balls, and try to catch about 3 seconds after the ball has been thrown. He drives his trucks all over the neighborhood, and tries to go downstairs to play with his trains first thing every morning.

The newest fun we have is swimming outside. We go to our buddies' "Memma" (Emma), "Yi-yee" (Lily), and "Beebee" (Phoebe) house to play in their little pool. Or we just fill up some bowls and splash around our front yard. As long as we are wet, we are cool!

We go to the doctor next week for his well-child visit, so we will update size then.

Here are a couple pictures from today.

Phoebe and Nolan

Hey bud, 18 months NOT 18 years!

Happy 18 months Nolan. Mom and Dad love you so much!

Creativity

When my sister Melissa visited in April, she helped me with a couple of cute, easy, creative decoration ideas. I am not good at starting projects, but somehow, finishing them seems to be even more difficult for the ADHD ridden Kristina. (Can I really use that as an excuse?)

The first project is super cute, and super easy! I saw some prints I wanted for our new basement, but they were $225. Not in our budget. Melissa showed me a super cool site (Just a Girl) with tons of great, really cheap decorating ideas. She suggested I try this great "canvas" idea!

It was so simple! All you need is: 12"x 12" scrapbook paper, a 12" x 36" in styrofoab sheet, black cardstock, and a glue gun. Cut the styrofoam in thirds, glue on your paper, trim the cardstock to fit on the edges, glue on, and voila! Designer beauty! I am really loving it, and it makes the basement so much more homey.

The next project is St. Louis style cherry blossoms.

Melissa and I went on a stick hunt in my neighborhood. We just got random, nicely angled sticks off the ground. Take pink and white (or light pink) tissue paper. Cut out 5 petal flowers (does NOT need to be perfect! The best part!) out of both together. Grab the center and twist into a flower. It was suggested to put floral wire around to hold it, but that was a big pain. Hot glue worked fabulously. Then apply to sticks. Another great project!

As I mentioned before, I have a hard time finishing projects. This week, I went crazy! Melissa was here for Easter and we started both these projects together. I finished the cherry blossoms last week and just hung the pictures today. Huge slacker, I know. Also, when my parents were here and they painted my house, they left a TINY spot for me to put a second coat on. Well, They came the first week in March and I finally painted Monday. Sheesh. So embarassing. I am hoping that fessing up to blogland, I may improve this weakness. Probably not, though.

Now I am just waiting for a sister or parent visit so I can start my next project.

Graduation

The day has finally arrived...TED GRADUATED!!! After 4 years (5, if you count St. Lawrence University right out of high school) of hard work, perserverance, determination, and a lot of sacrifice, he has earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Affairs/Public Policy from St. Louis University. We are so proud of him, and are happy for him to be finished.

We have been lucky to do quite a bit of celebrating so far. Yesterday, Ted's work gave him a nice luncheon to celebrate, and they invited Nolan and I to participate as well. He is a lucky man to have such a great job filled with caring and supportive co-workers.

Last night we went to dinner with his parents, little sister Jody and his grandmother. It was delicious and nice to be together for celebrating.

Today, we had a fun-filled afternoon down at the SLU campus.

Lunch at a campus hot spot
The really old church where the ceremony was held
Nolan trying to find his daddy

Proof

More proof

Daddy and Nolan

Us

Nana, Nolan and Wada

Cute group

The handsome graduate

So, what next, you ask? We have been married for 4 years, 2 months and Ted has been a student for all but the first 4 months of this time. We aren't even going to know what to do with all this extra family time. I guess that now we can tackle those yard projects, organizing our house, camping, hiking, biking... I think we'll find some great things to keep us occupied.

Thank you so much to those of you who sent cards, phone calls, or kept us in your thoughts today and over the past 4 years. It has meant a lot to Ted and me. I am married to a college graduate! Yipee!

Catching up

Another span has passed in my non-blogging life. But I think we can now safely say that we are moving forward positively. Our computer has been replaced, the camera USB cord has been located, and I am back in the spirit of blogging. To begin this new chapter, I first have to share a little of what you have missed.


My pictures are backwards, so you get the mixed-up version.

Phoebe, Lily and Nolan

(GREAT neighbors!)

Ted graduates from College on Friday. That in and of itself is a beautiful thing, but I will post on that when it happens. With energy focusing away from school things, we have been enjoying some more family adventures! We went to Forest Park and had a nice picnic. It was a gorgeous day and such an ideal location for a picnic.

6 turtles!

Nolan and me infront of the art museum

Oreos are yummy!

"Art Hill" and the lake Nolan got caught
(Notice a toothbrush in each hand? Great dental hygene!)
My 30th birthday-at the Cardinal's Game

Right behind home plate!

My sister Melissa and her family came to visit from Colorado. We had so much fun and it was hard to see them leave. She did a much better job recording our adventure on her blog. Her kids are a blast, and Melissa and I did a ton of shopping. Sisters are really quite wonderful.

Kids on Easter

Lucas, Isabel, Nolan and ConnorNolan, Ted and I at the top of the arch Connor, Melissa and Isabel on top of the arch
Nolan and Lucas climbing a volcanoSisters and kids at the zoo

Well, you are mostly updated. I have to really complain for a minute about this horrible formatting thing with blogger lately. Rearranging pictures has become impossible! And I can't ever get my spacing right. I hate auto formatting!!! Big things are happening in the future, and I will keep you posted. (I am so funny!)