California

We just returned from Southern California a few weeks ago. We had a great time visiting with family, seeing the sights, and enjoying being away from our normal responsibilities. Eric and I have talked since about how different our vacations are now that Nolan is with us. Instead of wanting to travel around seeing anything and everything California had to offer, we were content to stay put and relax in the (beautiful) vacation home all while trying to maintain a normal-ish schedule for our little one (so that when we wanted to venture, we would have a cooperative child...). It was perhaps the most relaxing vacation we have had in a while! Nolan did great on the plane, the 4-hour, non-stop plane ride, there and home! If he ever acted like he might fuss we simply read him books or fed him. He was in heaven! I think he did better than his overly nervous Momma (not sure what's up with my recent flight anxiety but ready to be over it!!!). Here are some pics of our trip, once we got off the plane...

We stayed in Temecula, the desert area outside of San Diego,
this is the view from the house.

If you look closely, you can see hot air balloons in the distance.
We would watch them take off in the early mornings.

Early morning sun outside on the patio.

Zoo Day! We all went to the world famous, San Diego Zoo!

I couldn't believe it, but he finally fell asleep!

That statue is the size of an actual polar bear!!
Nick and Jack were looking at what they eat in a day.

San Diego Zoo trip #2 for us!!

Winery day in Temecula, the "Napa of Southern California"
(this is the name I gave it...not sure wine pros would agree...)

Nolan with Uncle Al

I liked the patio area at this winery

Aunt JJ

This is at the second winery of the day, Eric is missing because
he was in the car with our sleeping child. No worries we drank his wine!

We made it to the beach!

When did he learn to drink from a straw?!

Toes in the sand...

Stopped at Hodad's-yes, you've seen it on TV
Best. Burger. Ever.

Hippie in the grass, she was singing. Not a bad place
to sit and be one with yourself though...

Not a great picture but this is The Del on Cornado

Family pic outside The Del (not sure why my mouth is open...)

Once again, it is obvious to me that I am not a great photographer! Nor do I remember I have a camera 5 of the 7 days of a trip! I really need to do better, maybe a new camera will help my cause...our anniversary is coming up....

July

July was a busy, busy month!!! First we celebrated Nolan's first 4th of July.

We spent the day swimming and eating at Grandma's house!

We also spent part of July in California!! Nolan's first plane ride and trip to the beach, we will have a separate post for that, no worries...

Nolan also met some more milestones this month, we are crawling, pulling up on everything(!!!), and we have 2 tiny bottom teeth coming through (do you understand why I haven't updated in a while?!)!!! Baby boy is growing up so fast! I haven't done this since he was 6 months, time to update, we now have a 8 month old!

Weight- Honestly, don't know...healthy for sure, I'd call him adorably chunky (especially those thighs!) maybe 20ish pounds...?
Length- Again, no idea, longer that's for sure, we have had to get new sleep suits recently...
Diaper size- still size 3
Clothes size- Mostly 12-18 month onesies, 9-12 month bottoms
Eye Color as of today- dark blue still
Hair Color as of today-Lots more hair! We may have to invest in a brush soon! Blond for sure, someone called him a toe-head this week!
Food- Eating solids 3 times a day now! Will eat anything, but we can tell what he loves or doesn't love by his facial expressions! Hilarious!
Sleep- Still sleeps like a rock star! Goes to bed between 6 and 630pm, no more waking early am, will sleep til 6-7am and is up for the day! Still 2 naps once around 9am and once around 1pm. Will sleep an hour or 2 each nap (most blogs are written at nap time you will notice) 
Favorite things- Loves books, music, Mom and Dad, his kitty's, pulling up on his book shelf and pulling the books off the shelf, and lately throwing toys, especially if someone will pick it up again and again!