Nolan joined our family May 26, 2011. So I've wanted to write this post for some time and others, so here it is!
Labor went smoothly. But if you can believe it, Stanford Hospital turned me away (third birth, dilated to a 3.5, strep B positive) at 2:30 in the morning to go walk around. Evan and I drove over the nearest grocery store; it didn't take long until we were back at the hospital. Next time (if there's a next time!) I am going to insist I stay. I wasn't able to get the two rounds of antibiotics before Nolan was ready to come. Fortunately he arrived safely and was healthy.
I love this one of Dallin and Thad looking at their new brother for the first time:
My mom stayed for two blessed weeks and shortly after the Gilstraps arrived. I won't ever forget the day I was having when Howard and Luana arrived. After being on my own with three kids for about 24 hours, Howard innocently asked how I was doing. I remember my response. "Ummm, I don't want to talk about it." and then I burst into tears. I'm still embarassed about it now. Oh, but the difficulty of my situation was very real in the moment!
So of course there are lots more pictures of those first few days at home, but I wanted to show where this little guy is now. Nolan is now 11 months old; crawling like crazy, trying to stand with help, eating like a champion (no purees for this kid, he went straight to adult food. Today he ate four entire chicken nuggets!) He loves strawberries, hates bananas and applesauce, is super mellow and pleasant but doesn't like to nap for me (just other people.)
Nolan has beautiful light brown/dark blond hair with curls in it. He's definitely got the lightest hair of all of us. Blue eyes, of course..
We love this little guy like crazy...
The name Nolan doesn't have any special significance, we just liked it. I don't even think I know any Nolans, except the famous baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan. Nolan's middle name, Robert, is after my mothers father. We felt like we should give him a good solid, "normal" name in case he hates Nolan. That, and my grandfather is a wonderful man.
