Today was an absolute blessing from God! First, we get a thunderstorm and much needed rain and then some wonderful temperatures. It was almost too good to be described by words :) We took the kids down south to Cox Farm to get some veggies to make salsa with our tomatoes rescued from the garden's wrath. We ran a few more errands and headed home for naptime. After naptime, Jared took Kieran out back to play. It was so nice to not have to worry about Kieran getting a splinter from the grass, hee hee! After dinner, Grandma Jeanne came over and took Kieran to the park. I have to say times have definately changed over the last few years. Discussions about what to do over the weekend have been changed with requests to "go poopy" and "I gotta potty, Mommy." I am very proud of our little man's potty training triumphs. We are in underwear all the time, except for overnight. He is having trouble telling us he has to poop before it happens. But everyone has to start somewhere. He is only two years old, so I am giving him props. He is 85% potty trained, LOL.
For some reason Kieran has really been digging going around saying "Trick or Treat." I don't know where he gets that from--we don't promote Halloween very much and we really don't watch much scary stuff/Halloween related stuff. I imagine he caught it from a cartoon, LOL.
It's been another great day and one more day closer to my return to work. Need to get off here and finish up my homework!
Team Nolen consists of myself (Hilly), my husband Jared, our son Kieran, and our daughter Lauren, and our newest addition, set to arrive very soon, Madeline!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Getting back into the world
Wow...today has definately been a wake up call for me and a welcome back to the world I left behind 12 weeks ago when I went on maternity leave. Jared and I took the kids to the mall and managed to tire Kieran out pretty well. After lunch we settled in for naps...well, the kids settled in for naps. I did homework. After naps we ran down to the chiropractor's office so I could get adjusted and Grandma Jeanne could see the kiddos. It was nice to go out to Wal-Mart and do a little shopping and go home and make some dinner. After dinner I made the kids' keepsake boxes which I will photograph when I am done. I finished my discussion questions and I think now I will close this up and go to bed because I am TIRED!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
What's for Dinner?
Well, Sunday is here and another week is rearing it's head. Our trip to Oklahoma City yesterday was awesome! We started out on time, grabbed some Shpangles for bfast and headed down the turnpike. After a slight detour...okay a major detour that took us through Nichols Hills in OKC and took us by some real awesome mansions, we managed to get to Grandy's. It was so nice to bask in its gravy goodness and enjoy chicken fried chicken and homemade rolls for lunch! They were even awesome enough to give us a discount for being world travelers and Grandy's SuperFans (okay, we gave ourselves THAT label!). After Grandy's we went to a cool store called Mardel's which is a Christian store. We headed south and grabbed a root beer float from A&W and checked out some children's resale shops.
We did make a quick stop at the Neighborhood Market store and Sonic for happy hour. I doooo love happy hour, LOL. We then headed to Moore, just south of OKC, to the Warren Theater to scope it out and catch a movie. The Warren was impressive, although it is very similar to the Warren Theaters here in town. It was just newer, cleaner, and bigger. We saw "The Switch." It was a cute little movie...definately recommend it. All in all, Karen and I gave the Moore Warren two thumbs and a cracked tooth up in honor of the Oklahomies. It was also exciting to note that there is a Furr's down there right next to the Warren...awesome!
We went to Ross and purse shopped for Pookie and headed to Taco Cabana for dinner before departing OKC. It was so nice to run all over creation without the little one's in tow, but we did miss them. I was happy to eventually get home after a "bug shower" and settle in to bed.
It was such a great day and I'm grateful for getting to spend the time with my BFF/Cousin Karen. I can't wait till we can do it again. It's always a great time!
We did make a quick stop at the Neighborhood Market store and Sonic for happy hour. I doooo love happy hour, LOL. We then headed to Moore, just south of OKC, to the Warren Theater to scope it out and catch a movie. The Warren was impressive, although it is very similar to the Warren Theaters here in town. It was just newer, cleaner, and bigger. We saw "The Switch." It was a cute little movie...definately recommend it. All in all, Karen and I gave the Moore Warren two thumbs and a cracked tooth up in honor of the Oklahomies. It was also exciting to note that there is a Furr's down there right next to the Warren...awesome!
We went to Ross and purse shopped for Pookie and headed to Taco Cabana for dinner before departing OKC. It was so nice to run all over creation without the little one's in tow, but we did miss them. I was happy to eventually get home after a "bug shower" and settle in to bed.
It was such a great day and I'm grateful for getting to spend the time with my BFF/Cousin Karen. I can't wait till we can do it again. It's always a great time!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I ran over a bloody bird, literally,
Well, today was an awesome little day. Miss Lauren had her one month checkup today. All was well. She's almost ten pounds and 22 inches long. The doctor was happy with her progress, too. After our doctors appointment, we ran some errands and came home for a nice lunch. Later in the evening, after Big Brother of course, we headed over to Arena Autos and mowed for my Father-in-law. While I was mowing, I ran over a fricken bird. Granted it was dead, it was still a bird. And it smelled, LOL. I've never managed to hit a bird or any other animal for that matter. Although, a couple of years ago I unearthed a rabbit den in our north forty. Thankfully I managed to leave the baby bunnies unscathed. With the bird, I just pushed the mower ahead and all the sudden feathers blew out the mulching attachment. What a foul way for a bird to die--oops, well, what a foul way for a bird to get spit out on the pavement ;-)
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. Gotta get the oil changed on the Trailblazer. We're also going to go mow for Jared's Grandma. She's just about the sweetest little lady either. Getting to spend time with her kinda eases the pain of missing my own Grandmothers. I sure do miss both of them dearly. I would've loved to go down to Oklahoma and play the slots with my Grandma Donna and I know Grandma Carter would've enjoyed helping me make quilts for the kids.
And in about 30 hours or so Karen and I are going to be headed to Oklahoma City...YAYAYAYAYAY! I'm so excited.
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. Gotta get the oil changed on the Trailblazer. We're also going to go mow for Jared's Grandma. She's just about the sweetest little lady either. Getting to spend time with her kinda eases the pain of missing my own Grandmothers. I sure do miss both of them dearly. I would've loved to go down to Oklahoma and play the slots with my Grandma Donna and I know Grandma Carter would've enjoyed helping me make quilts for the kids.
And in about 30 hours or so Karen and I are going to be headed to Oklahoma City...YAYAYAYAYAY! I'm so excited.
Finally Friday...oops ding dong, it's only Thursday!
Good grief...the days have really started to blend together. For some reason I was laying in bed this morning thinking it was Friday...Kieran would be spending the night with Jeanne and Karen and I would be departing for Oklahoma City early tomorrow morning. Then I awaken suddenly (even though I'm already awake, lol) and realize it IS only Thursday. At least I remembered Lauren's one-month checkup.
Speaking of which, Miss Lauren's officially one month old today. She's growing like a weed (and superstitionally she hiccups all the time so she must be growing!)and changing every day. She's become a lot more alert and more awake throughout the day. She absolutely hates "Tummy Time," but what kid really enjoys it?? She's starting to hold her head up more and more each day and trying to roll herself over too. I'm really going to miss this when I go back to work.
Watched a funny movie with the hubby Tuesday night. It's called Post Grad. There were some cliched moments but I really got a kick out of it. Definately recommend it...Redbox it, Netflix it, or whatever it is you do, lol. I'm currently waiting for Daria to arrive on DVD through Netflix. I loved that show!
School starts on Monday for me...it starts today for Jared. Also got to send off a book for half.com and run some other miscellaneous errands. Bubba is doing well with potty training. I think one or two more days of pooping in his undies might cure him of it. I sure hope it does. We've also been wearing big boy undies while we nap and he's been coming up dry! Fingers crossed, this could be closer to the end of potty training.
OKC on Saturday!! Grandy's here we come. Have your rolls and gravy ready...Karen and I are ready to clean you out, LOL. We are also going to go to a movie at the new Warren theater down in Moore. I am anxious to see what kind of monstrosity the theater actually is.
Speaking of which, Miss Lauren's officially one month old today. She's growing like a weed (and superstitionally she hiccups all the time so she must be growing!)and changing every day. She's become a lot more alert and more awake throughout the day. She absolutely hates "Tummy Time," but what kid really enjoys it?? She's starting to hold her head up more and more each day and trying to roll herself over too. I'm really going to miss this when I go back to work.
Watched a funny movie with the hubby Tuesday night. It's called Post Grad. There were some cliched moments but I really got a kick out of it. Definately recommend it...Redbox it, Netflix it, or whatever it is you do, lol. I'm currently waiting for Daria to arrive on DVD through Netflix. I loved that show!
School starts on Monday for me...it starts today for Jared. Also got to send off a book for half.com and run some other miscellaneous errands. Bubba is doing well with potty training. I think one or two more days of pooping in his undies might cure him of it. I sure hope it does. We've also been wearing big boy undies while we nap and he's been coming up dry! Fingers crossed, this could be closer to the end of potty training.
OKC on Saturday!! Grandy's here we come. Have your rolls and gravy ready...Karen and I are ready to clean you out, LOL. We are also going to go to a movie at the new Warren theater down in Moore. I am anxious to see what kind of monstrosity the theater actually is.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Bring on the Rain!!
OH MY GOODNESS...I think I am hallucinating. It is in the mid-seventies and it is also raining outside. I can hear it hit the roof and bounce off the front of the house. I am so happy words cannot seriously describe how I feel! Maybe cooler weather will help bring me out of the doldrums. I sure hope so.
It was an uneventful Saturday. I made my "Waffles of Insane Greatness" for breakfast-but please let me mention Miss Lauren slept from 11:30pm to 6:30am last night/this morning and it was absolutely wonderful!! Holy moly! We went to my friend Sarah's son, Hunter's birthday party. He's grown so much...of course, all three kids have grown like crazy! It was fun to see them all running around together. Hunter is pretty small compared to our big bruiser Kieran, but that's okay :) I imagine it won't take him too long to catch up :)
We made sloppy joes for dinner and just hung around the house waiting for the weather to eventually roll in. It's been so nice to feel cooler temperatures. I wish we could go straight to winter. I reckon, though, I had better keep my mouth shut because knowing my luck, we will get six inches of snow next month. At least it would be cooler and I wouldn't have to worry about my air conditioner going out on me!
It was an uneventful Saturday. I made my "Waffles of Insane Greatness" for breakfast-but please let me mention Miss Lauren slept from 11:30pm to 6:30am last night/this morning and it was absolutely wonderful!! Holy moly! We went to my friend Sarah's son, Hunter's birthday party. He's grown so much...of course, all three kids have grown like crazy! It was fun to see them all running around together. Hunter is pretty small compared to our big bruiser Kieran, but that's okay :) I imagine it won't take him too long to catch up :)
We made sloppy joes for dinner and just hung around the house waiting for the weather to eventually roll in. It's been so nice to feel cooler temperatures. I wish we could go straight to winter. I reckon, though, I had better keep my mouth shut because knowing my luck, we will get six inches of snow next month. At least it would be cooler and I wouldn't have to worry about my air conditioner going out on me!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Rocky Mountain High
It has been a nice day, all in all, here in the Nolen household. It was extremely uneventful which is perfectly fine for me, LOL. I did get officially registered for classes at Ottawa University this fall, so yay me! I love history and can't wait to get going with it.
I also took Lauren out to Sam's with me to hand out some thank you cards. I am going to get my cousin a special one for throwing the shower, but I'd like to do something special for her at the same time. I haven't entirely decided what I want to do :)
I was playing around on facebook under Jared's sign on and managed to see a picture of his grandparents which was very neat. I can see where Jared and Ryan get their looks from on their Dad's side of the family. I really wish his Dad would try and get to know Jared. I know it hurts his feelings, but he wouldn't admit it. But everything happens the way it's supposed to for a reason.
I am going to end this short tonight. The kids are asleep and I am ready to go to sleep, LOL.
I also took Lauren out to Sam's with me to hand out some thank you cards. I am going to get my cousin a special one for throwing the shower, but I'd like to do something special for her at the same time. I haven't entirely decided what I want to do :)
I was playing around on facebook under Jared's sign on and managed to see a picture of his grandparents which was very neat. I can see where Jared and Ryan get their looks from on their Dad's side of the family. I really wish his Dad would try and get to know Jared. I know it hurts his feelings, but he wouldn't admit it. But everything happens the way it's supposed to for a reason.
I am going to end this short tonight. The kids are asleep and I am ready to go to sleep, LOL.
Ready for bed
It has been a long day and I think the heat is making it just that much more LONG. We get out every other day or so in the morning time because it's just too miserable for two little ones in the afternoon heat. I kinda feel a little trapped in the house, but I am holding onto faith that it will get better. There are lower temps forecasted for later in the week, so I am going to hold onto that hope.
My Father-in-law Larry lost his best friend Rod today. It wasn't a shock as he has been in a bad way for a while, but it still tugs at your heart. Rod was a super guy and a good friend to Larry and Jeanne and many other people. I didn't really know him personally, but I feel their loss. His family and friends are all in our prayers and thoughts tonight.
Speaking of prayer, I am praying tonight we will have a thunderstorm. We have a 20-30% chance according to the National Weather Service. Again, I'm not going to hold my breath, LOL. I'm slowly learning....
My Father-in-law Larry lost his best friend Rod today. It wasn't a shock as he has been in a bad way for a while, but it still tugs at your heart. Rod was a super guy and a good friend to Larry and Jeanne and many other people. I didn't really know him personally, but I feel their loss. His family and friends are all in our prayers and thoughts tonight.
Speaking of prayer, I am praying tonight we will have a thunderstorm. We have a 20-30% chance according to the National Weather Service. Again, I'm not going to hold my breath, LOL. I'm slowly learning....
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thunderstormy Tuesday!
My babies...just about a week after Lauren was born. Kieran is a proud big brother!
Today was a pretty ordinary day for us in the Nolen household. Although we did discover our boy is perfectly happy waking up on his own and making himself at home on the couch in the middle of the night. Sometime before 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. when Sis woke up for her bottle, Kieran got up and went into the living room and fell asleep on the couch. Jared said he found him curled up in the Boppy pillow. It didn't take long for Dad to get him laid back in bed and he slept in a few more hours. We took the kids to visit Grandma's office and delivered some thank you cards for baby gifts. For lunch we visited Towne West's Gyro place. We enjoy eating there and quite honestly we get better service THERE than we do at certain Mediterranean restaurants here in town like LE MONDE...heifers. By the time we got back to the house it was nearly 2pm and naptime. Kieran woke us from our naps just in time to hear some thunder. We did get some rain out of it, which was nice, but all the good stuff went to the north. Why is it Wichita has a void around it right now, blocking out the rain?? The temps cooled dramatically, so Jared and the kids and I went to Target and enjoyed the weather. Too bad it isn't going to last. Jared and I joked about the cool temps being our one and only day of fall and winter! I guess we will just have to wait and see!
I'm still feeling a little homesick and could really use a visit back home in Ottawa. Fundages are a little short right now, so I fear it will have to wait till I go back to work and we get things back to normal. I really kinda wish I could go back to work, but I don't think I'm ready to lift a 100 lb case of meat for some goofy stinking member right now. I need to enjoy the last bit of peace and relief I can get while I can. I'm already thinking about the possible next pregnancy. I can only have one more safely, and I wouldn't mind having another baby. Except for the pain and extreme misery, I enjoyed being pregnant, LOL.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Kawaffee (that's Kieran for 'coffee')
Just heard a funny from our little guy. Coffee has a new spelling and pronunciation, lol...kawaffee. The weather is really getting to be depressing. Last night on the ten o'clock news the reporters told us there was only 46 days left until the start of fall. I have to say, this summer, I am officially counting down until the weather gets cool. And since I still have 22 days till I go back to work, I'll only have to be out in half of the hot days. Does that make sense?? :)
I really wish that we lived a little closer to Lawrence. I would love to take a morning stroll down Mass Street with Jared and the kiddos. I can't wait to take Lauren on her first walk down Mass. Kieran enjoyed it, though, I know for a fact he won't remember it. He was barely six months old! I love it in Lawrence. It's nice to get back to where I came from and share it with my family!
Of course, there are some serious times I miss SW Missouri. I had some great friends and some really great times down there. Sigh--I loved it dearly. Maybe it's the time of my life I will write about with great love and adoration when I am old and gray. Goodness knows, you have to try real hard to find beauty around here sometimes! God will give me the strength and the wisdom to seek beauty in my surroundings. I just need to have the faith!
I really wish that we lived a little closer to Lawrence. I would love to take a morning stroll down Mass Street with Jared and the kiddos. I can't wait to take Lauren on her first walk down Mass. Kieran enjoyed it, though, I know for a fact he won't remember it. He was barely six months old! I love it in Lawrence. It's nice to get back to where I came from and share it with my family!
Of course, there are some serious times I miss SW Missouri. I had some great friends and some really great times down there. Sigh--I loved it dearly. Maybe it's the time of my life I will write about with great love and adoration when I am old and gray. Goodness knows, you have to try real hard to find beauty around here sometimes! God will give me the strength and the wisdom to seek beauty in my surroundings. I just need to have the faith!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Settling in...
Well, tomorrow Miss Lauren Claire will be three weeks old officially. She's such a little darling and a very good baby! She's got a beautiful complexion and the sweetest, softest brown-auburn hair. All of her little features are perfect and sweet in every way. Of course, I am just her Mommy.
Kieran is doing well adjusting to life with his "baby girl," as he affectionately calls her. We are learning to adjust to parenting two children instead of one and we are doing a pretty good job. Of course, it will become more of a challenge as the kids get older and become more verbal among other things, LOL.
Life is getting back to normal around the house too, which is excellent. I am feeling 100% since my c-section and I'm kinda itching to get back to work :) Well, as much as one can really itch to get back to work. Last night I was able to mow the front yard with the rider and got some weed-eating and watering done. We've got about 20 tomatoes on the vine right now which is awesome. I didn't think we were going to end up with any! Kieran and I attempted to wash the Trailblazer last night. We did pretty well until Kieran decided to climb into the soap bucket and play in it. And that went south when he fell over in the soap bucket and got covered in bubbles and mud! It was fun to hose off and we got half of the vehicle washed. I reckon it was the most important half.
Lauren slept well last night. She went to sleep around 10pm after her feeding and didn't wake up till 5am! It was so nice to get so much sleep! I found a link for our Burd Family Reunion which was exciting. I haven't been in quite a long time. We are going to go and represent my Great-Grandma Mary Nancy Burd's side of the family, which hasn't been represented in quite a long time.
All in all, life has changed 100% from this time last year, but even with the struggles I love my life, I love my family, and I know it's just going to keep on getting better as time goes on!
Kieran is doing well adjusting to life with his "baby girl," as he affectionately calls her. We are learning to adjust to parenting two children instead of one and we are doing a pretty good job. Of course, it will become more of a challenge as the kids get older and become more verbal among other things, LOL.
Life is getting back to normal around the house too, which is excellent. I am feeling 100% since my c-section and I'm kinda itching to get back to work :) Well, as much as one can really itch to get back to work. Last night I was able to mow the front yard with the rider and got some weed-eating and watering done. We've got about 20 tomatoes on the vine right now which is awesome. I didn't think we were going to end up with any! Kieran and I attempted to wash the Trailblazer last night. We did pretty well until Kieran decided to climb into the soap bucket and play in it. And that went south when he fell over in the soap bucket and got covered in bubbles and mud! It was fun to hose off and we got half of the vehicle washed. I reckon it was the most important half.
Lauren slept well last night. She went to sleep around 10pm after her feeding and didn't wake up till 5am! It was so nice to get so much sleep! I found a link for our Burd Family Reunion which was exciting. I haven't been in quite a long time. We are going to go and represent my Great-Grandma Mary Nancy Burd's side of the family, which hasn't been represented in quite a long time.
All in all, life has changed 100% from this time last year, but even with the struggles I love my life, I love my family, and I know it's just going to keep on getting better as time goes on!
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