Nolan: 52 Weeks

A few photos to mark 52 weeks of life. If you want to know what a day shy of a year old looks like, just look at Nolan here:

I’ll save my long sappy blog for tomorrow. For now, let us recap the big party from Sunday and a video of Nolan taking his first few steps last week!!!

We started setting up at 10:30am for a noon time start at Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove. Rob and I have lived around here pretty much all our lives and only just found out about this hidden gem a few months ago. On a regular day it’s open to the public with a $2 entrance fee per person 3 years and older. During summer months a fabulous splash pad is on for the kiddos to run around and cool down in–such an affordable way to entertain the kids for the weekend. We were able to secure it for a private all day rental which gives us rights to the entire park for 8 hours (in whichever block of time we designate). Being a Garden Grove resident also entitles you to a discount. If you’re looking to host a private event here during the summer, you better do it months in advance. They only allow 2 private rentals per month and it books up quick! So glad we booked it cuz it looked like all of Nolan’s guests had a wonderful time. Thanks to everyone who came out to mark the grand occasion!!

Blessed to have such great help for the few, but crazy events I throw.

Doesn’t look like it but that cake was heavy! From Rebecca’s Cakes in Temecula. Yes, those are real LEGO storage boxes we used as decor.
We made the birthday banner and put together lego pieces to spell NOLAN.

We even made these cupcake toppers to go on these Sam’s Club cupcakes.

The numbers 0-11 were also made with lego pieces to mark each monthly milestone next to it’s corresponding photo.

Nearly 50 goody bags for all the kids in attendance. What’s inside? Each kid received a lego set appropriate to their age/gender. I was very particular about which toy each child received and was adamant that each name was typed up in the infamous LEGO font.

Yes, we also made those drink signs, but the lego brick cookies were ordered.

Some of the fun was “guess the # of lego pieces”, splash pad wetness to cool down and a photobooth, of course! Courtesy of Instant Party Pix.

Some of the cute, happy kiddos at the party.

A balloon artist was also on hand as well as a taco cart cooking up fresh tacos and quesadillas.

Popbar, newly minted in Anaheim, provided refreshing strawberry gelato on a stick. Pss..the owner is pictured below, spot her!

Singing “happy birthday” to Nolan. He was so confused so he looked straight at me instead of the crowd.

Nolan was kinda scared of his cake.

Me dishing out the cake while Rob passes out favor bags to the kids.

The grand finale was the pinata! We found a shady tree to hang it on so the adults could comfortably watch as the kids go at it.

It was Nolan + cousin Lorelai’s first time.

A few other cute kiddos giving it their best shot.

The knockout hit by an older kid of course. And the mayhem when Rob dumped the contents out.

The beheaded guy…poor dude. At least he’s still happy.

His gigantic mountain of gifts. Thanks everyone!

I had a lot of fun at the party but I’m so glad we agreed on just one party for him. Each of our kids will only get one major party–their 1st birthday. All subsequent ones will be small, intimate, affordable and stress-free for mommy and daddy.

We’re excited to say that Nolan took his first few steps on June 4th. Didn’t think he would for a while with that big head of his but I guess watching other kids his own size roam around freely has only made him more determined to learn how to use those legs. Since then he’s taken a few steps here and there on his own and stands for long periods of time.

Nolan also understood “kiss” for the first time and kissed us each 3 times on the lips. Too bad we were unable to capture that on video. He just wouldn’t do it again when the camera appeared.