A Month Of Firsts

Well it's been a month of first here in the Nesvold household. 

*Bjorn and I's first trip without baby.

*Nolan's first time at the fair

*Nolan's first tooth!  (well teeth)

*Nolan's first day of daycare

*Nolan's first swim lesson

                  and


*Nolan's first ear infection


Bjorn and I left over Labor Day weekend (Thursday-Sunday) and headed to Alexandria, VA for my friend Brittney's wedding.  I felt really good about the decision not to bring Nolan because I knew we needed a trip just the two of us and he would be in good hands with my Mom and Grandma (tutu) who were driving up to take care of him.  However, the day before we were supposed to leave I started to get sad!  Then I started to have all of these morbid thoughts about dying and how I would feel awful about leaving Nolan parentless....what?!?  Seriously, I've never been afraid to fly.  I've flown since I was little and have always loved it.  But this time, I was nervous.  During take-off my palms were super sweaty and I kept trying to distract myself by reading the 3 trashy gossip magazines I bought in the airport.  Obviously everything went fine, but is this what it's going to be like going forward??  Nervous nelly thinking death thoughts every time we leave??  Whew...this is going to be exhausting :) 

Anyways, we had such a fun time in Alexandria and really enjoyed having it just be the two of us.  It actually wasn't that weird not having Nolan there.  It felt just like any other time we traveled together...probably because we did quite a bit of traveling together before Nolan was even a thought.  On Thursday we walked around Old Town.  We shopped a little and bar/restaurant hopped.  Friday, we headed to Arlington Cemetery to visit my Papa.  It's the third time I've visited since he was laid to rest and I still get choked up.  He was such a wonderful man and was my best friend.  I know he would have been such a good Grandpa to Nolan.  We will make sure to tell Nolan all about him when he's older.  Saturday was wedding day! It was so fun being a part of such a great friend's special day as well.  The wedding was beautiful.  She was a beautiful bride and I'm so happy for her and Matt.  Can't wait for you to make some little leprechauns so Nolan will have some buddies :)

                                                

                                                             Clam shots at the Clam Bar

                                              

                                                        Visiting my Papa at Arlington

                
                                               
                                                       FaceTime with our little man

 

 

When we returned from our trip, we decided to make that Monday (labor day) a fun-filled family day and head to the state fair.  My Mom and Grandma were staying the rest of the week so they came with.  It was actually really fun!  Nolan had a great nap before we left and then was up for 5.5 hours straight...not sure how he did it and he was so happy the whole time.  Usually he is only up for about 1.5-2 hrs at a time, so we were impressed.  Nolan got his fair share of people watching and weird smells to last him the whole year :)

 

He was mesmerized by the cows

 

Haha..this makes me laugh.  

 

 

My Mom playing the 'shoot out the red star' game...her favorite :)

A few days after the fair Nolan seemed to be a little off.  He going crazy trying to chew on everything (even more than he already had been)  and just a little extra fussy.  He wouldn't take his bottle unless he was almost asleep, so I knew something was up.  My Mom put him down for a nap one afternoon and said she felt something sharp in his mouth and sure enough, once we he woke up, we could see the little tooth that popped through!  I was so excited!  A few days later the second one came through so now he has two cute little stubs on the bottom :)  I've heard horror stories about babies teething, so if this is how my child handles teething, I'm a happy Mama! 

 

Nolan's first day of daycare was on Monday, September 8th.  Unfortunately I had to work so I couldn't drop him off.  But Bjorn did a great job of getting him ready and his bag all packed!  Side Note: As Nolan has grown older, I've done a really good job of trying not to do everything and being okay with things done 'not my way' when it comes to Nolan.  Bjorn is really good at being a Daddy :)

 

Nolan doesn't do early mornings...

He had his first swim lesson the day after he started daycare.  We signed up at Foss in Woodbury for a 15 week long session Tuesdays.  He loves them so far!  We have only been to two because of him being sick but the second class he just splashed away!  My good friend Dana and her son, baby G are in our class so Nolan learns how to act like a big kid from Gary (Gary is 3 months older than Nolan:)

Hopefully we can snag some pictures during his next class. 

The last first...Nolan's first ear infection. :(  I knew starting daycare meant the introduction of new germs and I had accepted this fact.  I just didn't expect for it to happen this quick?!  It's not like I've had my son hibernating the past 6 months.  We go out all of the time.  I really let whoever hold him (including random strangers on the plane....I had to pee and figured the lady next to me looked pretty normal)  he chews on toys that were dropped on the floor (on accident) chews on our socks that are on the ground, people's fingers..etc.  I'm not saying that I let him do this stuff...I think it's gross but he's pretty quick these days and I can't keep everything out of his mouth.  Anyways, he went to daycare Monday.  First swim lesson Tuesday and Wednesday morning when he woke up, he was congested.  I suctioned him a few times in the morning and he seemed better so I sent him back to daycare so I could run some errands before I picked up my Dad at the airport.  When we picked him up later in the day, he sounded really congested and had a runny nose.  That night I ended up suctioning him out multiple times (with the nose frida!  best. thing. ever).  I pulled out his rock n play from storage and put him to bed in that.  Luckily the kid still slept 11 hours.   

This blog post was started a while back...now it's October 7th and I'm just finishing it...also, my child is still sick.  Just when he got a little better in late September, I sent him back to daycare.  When I dropped him off I noticed a few kiddos with runny noses and the teacher seemed to sound like she didn't have much for a voice.   I swear it wasn't 4 days later and he was at it again..coughing all night long.  That turned into a cough, sneeze and runny nose.  Which progressed to congestion in his nose as well as his chest.  The dry cough turned into a productive cough which he does not like the taste of the junk he coughs up.  His facial expressions are pretty funny.  I feel so bad for the kid, he can't catch a break.  I'm all about exposing him to germs, but the good ones.  Since he was a week old, I've been taking him to the mall, flying on airplanes, letting whoever hold him, doing so because I knew it was important to expose him.  But daycare germs are just nasty.  Plus, it seems like everyone I talk to is sick with the change of weather.  Sooo, we wait.  He has been to the doctor twice and the doc verified that it's just a virus...a really long virus.  Today is day 11.  The doctor said he has noticed this virus going around and on average it's been lasting 3-4 weeks...super.  At least the little guy is sleeping well.  Most days he eats great however there are times when he so congested it's hard for him to drink his bottle.  Despite all of this sickness, he continues to be his sweet little self.  I feel so blessed to have such a happy little boy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other little random bits about the little guy:

At his 6 month check-up (actually done at 6 1/2 months)  He weighed 17lbs 11 oz and measured 28.5 inches.  As of today, he weighs 18 lbs 8 oz. 

 

 

He loves to roll all over the living room hunting down his toys.  He loves the remote and recently gets a little angry when we take it away...not looking forward to the attitude!

 

 

He has been sitting up by himself for a while now and is almost able to go from laying on his stomach to sitting up. 

 

 

He is so close to crawling.  Right now he just uses his right arm to inch his way forward...your typical baby army crawl :)

 

 

He sleeps about 11 1/2 hours a night.  Naps are usually 1.5 - 2 hours.  And he takes 3 a day most days. 

 

 

He has two bottom teeth.  I haven't noticed any others that look like they are ready to make an appearance any time soon.

 

 

He LOVES puffs.  His favorite foods are green beans, peas and peaches. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

First Twin's game.  Trying to steal baby Everett's pacifier :)

Sleepy babies!

 

 

 

That's it for now! 

 

 

5 Months And Counting!

I can't believe our little guy is already 5 months!  Some days it feels just like yesterday I was holding him for the first time and other days it feels like we've been doing parents for a year!  Recently we've really been able to see his little personality start to shine through.  He seems to have such a sweet demeanor.  He can just lay on the floor or play in his jumper and entertain himself.  He laughs at his toys and is fine when I leave the room to do laundry, wash my face, etc.  I purposely try to do this multiple times throughout the day so he doesn't get used to me always being there playing with him. 

I really like this age and I think it's only going to get better from here.  He has mastered rolling over both ways and now (as of a few days ago) rolls all over the carpet to get to the toys he wants.  It's so fun watching him learn and really take in everything that is going on around him.  I actually enjoy watching him struggle as he tries to hard to reach for the toy he wants.  He looks at me like "mom help!" and sometimes I do, but usually I let him whine and eventually he makes his way to whatever he wants.  He is so close to sitting up by himself.  He can do it with support from the boppy or one of us but usually ends up leaning or falling forward after about 20 seconds.  I'm beginning to wonder if we will have an army crawler before we have sitter.  He is also reaches for everything!  Whatever you have in your hand or in front of you, he wants it.

This month's "photo shoot" was a little more difficult.  He just wants to move!

Sleep/Naps:  We have figured out a good schedule with him.  He usually is only up for about 1.5 hours at a time.  Sometimes he will go 2 hours but by that time, he's usually overtired.  Bedtime is between 7:30-8.  The older he gets, he seems to like more of a 7:30 bedtime.  Since week 2 we have had a pretty consistent bedtime routine:  We get in our jammies and nighttime diaper, read goodnight moon, say prayers, eat our bottle and go to sleep.  Most times he falls asleep after the bottle so we lay him down asleep.  If he wakes up, we let him put himself back to sleep.  If he is awake after the bottle, we lay him down and let him settle.  If he goes for longer than 20 minutes, we will go check on him, make sure he doesn't need to burp, didn't poop, etc. Rock him for just a few minute and then lay him back down.  He only gets one time of us going back in for both bedtime and naps.  Naps most days are good.  They are about 1.5 hours on average, sometimes 2.  Sometimes he will wake up after 45 minutes and act like he wants to be awake but I know he needs more sleep.  I don't go in and get him, he cries it out.  I had read this in "Baby Wise" and they call it the "45 minutes intruder".  It's so crazy how spot on they were--it's usually exactly 45 minutes when he wakes up!  They say don't go get them and let them settle on their own, so that's what we do!  Sometimes it's 20-30 minutes before he goes back down but he's not screaming the whole time so I figure he is fine.  He just talks and fusses here and there.

Food: He eats 6-7 ounces and 4-5 bottles a day depending on how much he eats.  We started solids a few weeks ago.  He has been eating oatmeal for about a month but now he's on to sweet potatoes, pears and peas.   He loves his sweet potatoes and pears.  He will eat the peas but not as fast as the others.  Today I made the squash and avocado - it was super easy!  It only took 45 minutes from start to finish.  This will give us 10-12 meals for squash and 7 for avocado and all of it only cost $8.  I am all for buying baby food but now that I'm working part time, making the food is easy to fit in the day!  Plus, it keeps me from shopping at the mall ;)

                    Don't judge me on presentation..the avocados were a little difficult to pour ;)


                                                

 I am done breast feeding so he is only eating formula which he doesn't mind at all.  I do miss breast feeding because he was always such an amazing eater.  He was sleeping 12 hours a night on just breast milk!  Around 4 months, the little booger started getting so distracted while eating.  This turned his 10-15 minute eating times into to 45+ minutes and a struggle for us both.  I was trying to force him to finish and eventually he would just get mad.  So I started just letting him hang out and not force it...well then he started to play and laugh...yeah, not happening.  Haha.  So for the last month I have been strictly pumping and then this past week I gave it up.  I'm sure fellow mamas will agree that going from getting 8 oz. in 10 minutes to 3/4 of an oz. in 20 minutes is the most frustrating thing ever!  A part of me feels sad because it went so well for 4 months but the other part of my feels relieved!  While I loved nursing, I hated pumping.  Sending that sucker in storage was a wonderful moment ;)


US:   We are doing great!  Work is going well for both of us.  We have been able to get out and golf here and there as well as squeeze in some dinner dates.  Bjorn has been golfing a ton this Summer.  It's interesting how all of these day long golf tournaments are "for networking purposes"..... ;)

We celebrated Bjorn's 30th birthday this past Saturday!  I threw him a surprise party and it turned out great!  We saw friends that we haven't seen in a while and it was so nice catching up with everyone!  Bjorn was surprised and I know he had a great time.  I can't believe my love is 30!  I LOVED getting to spend most of my 20s with Bjorn, but I'm thinking the 30s are going to be even more special! 

In lieu of a birthday gift for Bjorn, I asked everyone to bring a gift to donate to the Child Life Department at Gillette Children's Hospital.  The hospital did wonderful things for Bjorn's cousin Corbin throughout his life, so giving back to them is important for us!  The turnout was awesome!!  Thank you to everyone who brought a gift.  I dropped them off on Tuesday and they were all super excited and so thankful. 

 

Party Favors for our guests

 

 

Child Life Donations!  So many great toys!

 

 

Really thinking hard about what is going on...

 

Warming up to the idea of laying in the water

 

 

We have our first weekend away coming up over Labor Day.  We are heading to D.C. for Brittney Pierce's wedding!  I'm super excited for all of the wedding festivities, but of course it's sad to think about leaving Nolan for 4 days.  My Mom and Grandma are coming up to watch him so I know he will be in good hands :)

We are really enjoying our lives as parents.  It's truly a love so deep that it actually hurts sometimes and now I can't imagine my life without the little guy.  He is just so much fun!

Love to all..


                                                

                                                             

Celebrating Life

This morning I attended the funeral for a friend for his beautiful little girl, Isla Paige.  To be honest, attending the funeral of an infant is something I'd hoped and prayed I'd never have to do, well...ever.  Not because it's sad...of course, it's sad, but because the thought of a parent burying their infant child makes my stomach turn.  I felt this way prior to having Nolan but since having my baby boy, this feeling has only intensified.  Now it pulls at my heart and I literally cry every time I think about it.    Knowing that these wonderful, faithful people will never get to hold their baby the way I hold Nolan breaks my heart. 

Last week Nolan hit what seemed to be a mix between the "4 month sleep regression" and a growth spurt.  There were two nights he woke up between 3-4 to eat but went back to sleep until 8:30 or 9.  Then it stretched to wanting to eat at 5:30-6:30 and going back to sleep until the same time if not longer.  I complained at this new change in his schedule (he had been sleeping 12 hours straight for the last 5 weeks) and found myself annoyed with having to get up in the middle of the night to feed my baby.  On Monday morning, he woke up at 6 and something was different.  I thought of baby Isla and suddenly realized, I needed to stop complaining.  I have a healthy, beautiful little boy who is smart enough to let me know he is hungry.  I should feel blessed that I am able to walk in his room and snuggle up while I feed him.  That he is home with us and I can hold him whenever I want.  In the celebration service today, someone said "Isla showed us what is important in life".  I couldn't agree more.  This beautiful little girl that I never met has changed the way I look at life.  She has strengthened my faith in God.  She has helped me to remember to cherish every single day I have with my son as well as my family.  And she has reminded me to never take anything or any time I have here on Earth for granted.  Thank you sweet little Isla Paige. 


Seeing the incredible strength Mark and Melissa showed today just confirms my belief that God is so good and mighty.  Watching Mark walk down the aisle carrying the casket of his baby girl is an image forever engraved in my mind.  The celebration of life service was so beautiful and a wonderful way to honor such a sweet baby girl.  To all my friends and family that read this blog - please pray for this family tonight. 

If you care to look back on Isla's story, visit her caringbridge website:  www.caringbridge.org/visit/islapaige.

A website has also been created to help with medical and funeral costs.   https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/c5z4/isla-paige-10-000-warrior-memorial.   Also, hot pink and black bracelets are on their way (arriving July 10th) to help raise funds for the family.  Wait until you see how cool they are...you will DEF want one :)

Hold your babies close tonight...I know I did :)

 

 

Nolan giving Isla kisses :) 

 

 

Nolan Update!

I can't believe our little boy is 8 weeks old today!  Sometimes it feels like we just brought him home from the hospital and other days it feels like it's been 8 weeks...hehe :)  He really is just the best baby.  He seems to have such a sweet demeanor already and is so smiley.  I'm really feeling I've got the hang of this Mom thing!  It's helped having nannied all of those years.  When I went back to RT school, I started doing overnight nannying for Moms of multiples.  I would come in usually after the first week and help Moms get the babies on a feeding/sleep schedule and of course do all of the other nanny duties.  It was a perfect job while I finished school and gave me some much needed experience with newborns. 
Updates on Nolan:

He has been smiling up a storm!  I get some great smiles.  They are very flirtatious smiles which just melts my heart.  There is something about a mom and her boy...he has me wrapped around his finger already!  Bjorn gets all of the really great gummy smiles.  Nolan just loves his Dad!  It's pretty adorable to watch. 

Petri has been great with Nolan.  Usually he just ignores him however, every once in a while he decides he just has to lick his face.  He likes to cuddle up to whoever is holding Nolan and of course he likes to dress up like his little brother! 

See how happy they are?!  I finally had some extra time on my hands and this seemed like a fun idea :)  One thing I find super cute is when Nolan cries and Petri hears him over the monitor, he will stop whatever he is doing and stand in the hallway and stare at his door.  He follows me in the room, wagging his tail until he sees the little guy...so cute. 

Since he has been doing so well in regards to holding his head up, we have been trying the bumbo!  I think he likes it :)

                            People have asked what the nursery looks like so here is a picture!

 

 

 

 

Getting ready for Florida!  Haha

 

 

 

He loves his car seat!

Food/Sleep:  Nolan eats 7 times a day and still between 2.5-3.5 hours.  The average is 3 and I don't let him go longer than 3.5, even if he is napping (with the exception of nighttime).  He is a great sleeper so far.  His bedtime is between 8:45-9:15.  Ideally I would like it earlier but until he goes to 6 feedings, it's hard to up that time (because I don't want him getting up at 12am to eat).  After bedtime he does his long stretch which is usually between 7.5-9.5 hours. Then another 3-4.  He still isn't quite ready to get up so he will fall back asleep for another 45 minutes.  Then he is up for the day!  During the weekends, Mom and Dad stay up longer (like 11:30..woo hoo!) but usually we try to be in bed by 10.  I do the dirty work in the middle of the night.  Honestly, it just works better that way.  It's easier for me to change and feed him then lay him back down, rather than wake Bjorn up to help.  I'd rather him be rested to help out more during the day (on the weekends) and since he is working, it's nice to be rested... makes for a much more enjoyable day for him.  All in all, we are making it work and just love that we have such a sweet and happy boy!

*Update (since I started this blog on Saturday)  He did a 10.5 hour stretch Saturday night!  Got up and ate and went back down for another hour AND last night he did an 11 hour stretch and went back down for another snooze.  Someone may be growing!  Oh and I got 9 hours of sleep...I feel like a new woman!  Unfortunately, he got his first round of vaccines today so I'm not sure if this nice little streak will carry over to tonight...one can hope though!  :)  Side note: saddest cry ever!  My doctor recommended nursing him while the nurse gave the shots and while it didn't stop him from crying, it calmed him down fairly quickly.  Poor little guy. 


He had his first plane ride over Easter weekend.  We flew to Kansas City...Petri included!  We traveled with the stroller, the car seat, the base, the kid, the dog, the doggie carrier, a backpack, a briefcase, a diaper bag, a purse....and checked two bags and a set of golf clubs.  We were the people that you look at going through security and say "whew, I'm glad I'm not them!"  Both flights down and back went great.  I fed him on the way up and on the way down and he mostly slept other than that.  It was so great to be back in Kansas City and to introduce him to my family! 

Uncle Cameron meeting Nolan for the first time!

 

Street tacos for lunch!

Enjoying my morning coffee on the veranda. My favorite view when I'm "home"

 

The weather was beautiful and on Easter Sunday, Bjorn and I went golfing with my Mom, Jigger and Cameron while Great Grandma Tutu watched the little guy.  It was perfect.  Those two got some quality bonding time and Mom and Dad got to have a few hours away which was great! 
We also got in a family photo shoot while we were visiting.  Elizabeth (I still prefer Liz :) Koehler does amazing work.  She took my maternity photos as well and I just love her 'vintage' style and of course spunky personality.  Thank you Liz for the great photos!  www.loveelizabethphoto.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                 My momma and Nolan :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Wednesday Nolan and I will be heading to Florida to see my Dad and brothers but most importantly, to see Josh graduate!  I can't wait!  Pray for me as I will be traveling alone with the little guy...is it okay to have a cocktail on the plane while holding a baby???  I'm kidding.....maybe

That's all for now!  Enjoy the week! 

Danielle


P.S.  A tip for any expecting mommas - a good friend of mine told me about this product called "The Milk-Saver".  Here is the link below and it's seriously amazing!  I usually get a little over 1/4 ounce from it but this morning I got a whole ounce!  It's definitely worth buying.   http://www.mymilkies.com/milksaver


P.S.S.  I'm attaching a link to my co-worker and good friend Mark's blog.  He and his wife need prayers more than ever for their miracle baby, Isla.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/islapaigeoira