'Twas the night before Christmas...

Here is the famous Toy box that we bought Nolan for Christmas.. We had it custom made and hand painted...




Play'in with my new tigger...


Look at those curls!


Zak's new plush bed

A Couple More....

Winter Wonderland with Nolan and Maysen

Merry Christmas Family and Friends

Dashing through the snow... On a four wheel black stroller... Over the ice chunks we go... Laughing all the way. Hats, mitts, scarfs and boooots... Making rosy cheeks... oh what fun it is to ride in a one man pushing stoller... oh Jingle bells, Jingle bells... Jingle all the way...

Wishing you all a very warm and healthy Christmas Season. I feel somewhat embarrassed for not having the blog updated regularly. December has been a very busy month for the Pearce household. With all the desperate overtime hours I have taken on more shifts at both the Stollery and Royal Alec Hospital, so working full time. Keith has also been busy playing a huge role in looking after Nolan during the days and nights- where I work 12 hour shifts and by the time I come home, I've been away for nearly 14 hours. It's hard on all of us. Tis the Christmas season, and therefor I've been busy shopping and of course decorating this huge house of ours! I was able to get all of our Christmas cards and letters out before the second week in December, so that was surprising. And as always, our Christmas tree was up before December (I am a christmas nut... as soon as halloween is over, it's time to get ready for Christmas :)) We recently had a Christmas party, which turned out to be quite a shaker! So, we're unsure if we'll have another one quite as big... It took awhile to clean up and we will be in need of replacing a few lights (as they got broken). Apparently it was an awesome party, I was a little nervous of all the more than tipsy people along with our sticky floors. Geeze... maybe it will be outside next year.

Nolan is getting older and bigger (well maybe not so big.. just older)by the day. We are having so much fun playing with him and watching him become more independent and develop into a little boy. He has an abundant vocabulary, most of course are in another language and there are now about 12 english words that we recognize. His hair is now thick, curly and blond, we have yet to cut it- although we love the messy, skater boy look- It's the new thing these days. He is as cute as ever, still just shy of 18 pounds, just over 28 inches long.. and yes, still in a rear facing carseat! Just 2 more pounds to go!!

I will be working this Christmas day at the Stollery Hospital, It is always nice; Although, Christmas at home would be better. Keith, Zak and Nolan will be at Gramma and Grampa Pearce's and then I will join them as soon as I'm off. We will be heading to Kamloops on Boxing day to visit my parents and see Steve. I can't wait... The slopes await my weak, out of shape legs... hopefully I'll be able to make it down the hill in one piece... It's shameful, but soon enough we'll be living in BC and then I'll be the ski junkie I used to be.

I'll leave you with a few pictures... Merry Christmas, and a Happy new Year... Love the Pearce's

Our new fireplace

Our little helper

Curious



Get me outta here

Price family come to visit

November Already?

That's right I started work at the Stollery- my new position. Keith went off to the Eastern States for victaulic training... Which left Nolan without child care. Thankfully my mom and dad came up for a week to help around the house. Pheef!! What would I have done without them??

It was absolutely wonderful to have a nice long visit with my parents. Nolan really enjoyed all the extra attention too.

Nolan is now 11 months adjusted, and is doing very well. He still has only 5 words, but he is using them more frequently. He has not started to walk on his own but walks with a walker and has started to stand for longer periods of time. He is now very independent and only likes to feed himself- without any help from mommy. His favorite foods are waffles, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, hamburger and hot dogs.

It is more difficult to get him to eat his whipping cream, so we have had to mix his homo milk with 2-3 tablespoons of whipping cream (34%). This is going well. Nolan still refuses to drink from a bottle, but is quite happy to drink from a straw and his sippy cup.

We have now started to take Nolan to a day home. This is going very well. Nolan has adjusted to a new home and a new care-giver; he also enjoys playing with the other kids.

Here are a few pictures of Nolan...

Early morning looking out from our kitchen window


Burrrrrr...


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Look at all my toys


Vroom Vroom

More Pictures

One Year Old...

"Happy Birthday to youuuu.... Happy Birthday tooo You... Happy Birthday to Nolannn... Happy Birthday to you"!

Our little miracle is one today... Wow! All those stresses, worries and teary hospital visits one year ago. It seems like just yesterday when I got to hold him in my arms, then within an instant he was whisked off to the Stollery Children's hospital for surgery.

Keith and I are so very proud of our little man. Each day he really starts to look more like a toddler and less like a baby. His curly golden blonde hair, his little double chin... Big curious blue eyes... lightly tinted eye brows, a big courageous smile with six little teeth. He gets around pretty fast on his hands and knees and has started to venture onto his feet. For sometime now, he's been walking around furniture, but recently he has begun to stand by himself for a few moments. I think he is well on his way to cruising around on his feet... Yikes!

Here are a few snap shots of our toddler this morning...

Nolan's Halloween Birthday Bash...

Hutterites and Chickens, Turtles and Hippies, Pirates, Shrek, Dracula and witches, Princesses, Kings and Queens... Oilers fans, Nurses, Bob Marley, Ballerinas and bikers... Welcome to Nolan's fabulous Halloween Birthday Bash. Our house was full of laughter, halloween screams, and lots of hussle and bustle on Saturday October 27th, 2007- Nolan's first birthday party. We had lots of presents...goodies, chips... Juice and of course a Sesame Street chocolate birthday cake. What a blast it was. Our house was full of family and friends for three hours where we celebrated Nolan's 1st birthday.

Nolan received plenty of wonderful gifts... which I had to go and buy storage containers for . Nolan especially likes the toys that make noise... (That pretty much means ALL OF THE TOYS... Especially the gift from Tammy and Paige... Geeze thanks Tammy!)

Here are a few pics from the weekend extravaganza

Pirates


Our Chicken Little


Tammy and Paige (the witch and the turtle)


The Hippie and Chicken Little


Nicole... The nurse is in town

Pumpkin carvings...

Keith's skeleton pumpkin- Good job!



Last night Keith and I carved out our pumpkins. Keith took the initiative to carve out a skeleton... while I, (once again) carved a happy pumpkin with 3 teeth and a big smile. I had to scoop out the pumpkin goop for Keith- as he has a "texture issue" LOL... Whatta guy...

This past weekend Keith, Nolan and I spent our Saturday morning outside gathering rocks from between the neighbours house and ours. After picking up thousands of rocks, we were able to stay very warm despite the cold weather. Nolan, however, had to go inside after less than two hours for chilly hands and feet.

I spent the latter part of Saturday working at the Alec. It was a good assignment which made my four hour shift even faster than usual.

Nolan's first birthday party is on Saturday. We have quite a few cousins coming, so it should be lots of fun. Keith will be leaving to Pennsylvania on Sunday for his intense 11 day training camp. It's his last leg of the main training program for Victaulic. So far Keith is really enjoying his new job.

My parents will be coming up this way to spend a week with Nolan and I while Keith is off training. It will be especially nice for them to spend some good TLC with Nolan as I will be starting my 12 hour position on the 5th of November. I am really looking forward to seeing my parents and have them help out with Nolan while I'm at work.

Hang'in outside chillin in the playpen



"Okay... I've had enough... get me outta here..."





Just chill'in

"D...O...G" spells DOG

Bath time

I'm trying to whistle here...




My toes


Yes, that's right Nolan has expanded his vocabulary- Another word... DOG. He now can say momma, dad-da, Zak, Ball (although he has yet to say it again) and Dog. He was completely focused on his new word all week. We spend last week in Grande Prairie with Tina and Darren. I was able to spend an entire day (mind the feedings, crying and entertaining Nolan) scrapbooking. Unfortunately when little children are present, there is little time for oneself. I was able to get a few pages done for our family scrapbook. Next time Chantal and I will be heading off to a scrap night (away from the little ones... It's your turn daddy).

It's back to work for me... Yes it has been an entire year... whoa it went fast. I officially went back to work last Saturday for four hours but will be going back now more frequently and for longer hours. I have a position at the Stollery Hospital in the NICU starting November 5th- whoo hoo. I actually am very excited to start a new challenge.

In just over a week, we'll be having Nolan's first birthday party... That means, cake, presents and candy. Whoo hoo. It's a dress up party- Yes adults too!

Family...

Gramma and Nolan


Our Family


The Pearce- Wedman Gang

Hmmm, Family... That sounds nice, doesn't it? Keith and I are so fortunate to have a nice family. Our parents, brothers and sisters are so wonderful... We have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for the wonderful care and support that we have had with our son; I am thankful that our son is healthy and is curious like little boys should be. I am thankful for having a nice, warm house with plenty of food on the table. I am thankful of having a wonderful husband who helps out around the house. These are just a few things that I am thankful for... but the list could go on forever.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving weekend. The sun was out... the wind was minimal and we spent our days visiting with family and friends. I had my first shift back in the NICU on Saturday afternoon. It was great to get back and see my co-workers, babies and get back to my daily routines- of working in and out of the home. On Monday, Keith, Nolan and I went to the pool. We had tones of fun. Nolan loved the bubble pool and floating down the current. We spent some time splashing in the hot tub and blowing bubbles. After swimming, we went out to the golf course and took some family pictures. It was nice... but pretty chilly... definitely hat, scarf and sweater season... Dress Up- It's cold outside!

The Wedmans

Gramma and Grampa Pearce