Nolan: Three Years!

Nolan's actual birthday was Monday, and we spent the day as a family celebrating by doing and seeing a few of the things he loves.

Bikes.
Chick-fil-a.
Fire trucks.

I love:
the way you greet Daddy whenEVER you see him.
the way you ask the cashier for a sucker each week at Kroger.
Dinotrux, too.
your love for Eiley Beth.
the fact that you don't need (or like) to be the center of attention in a crowd.
getting the first hug of the day when you wake up in the mornings.
running errands with you.
your determination and will (even though it tests my patience at times).
people's comments about your blonde hair.
that not a drop of ice cream is wasted when you eat it.
your tender heart.
the way you say gramorrah (granola) bar.

and SO much more.

Bottom line...I love all of y.o.u.

Happy 3rd birthday (two days ago), sweet boy!

A Fire Truck Party

A fire truck party. 

I can't think of a better theme to celebrate our truck loving, FIRE truck obsessing, THREE YEAR OLD.

Today is Nolan's actual birthday! (A separate blog post is coming soon about how we've celebrated his special day as a family.) I can't believe he's already three, and yet I feel like he's been a part of our lives for so much longer.

On Saturday, family and friends gathered at our home to celebrate our boy. I l.o.v.e. birthdays. I never get tired of the beautifully overwhelming sense of joy I feel as I watch our home fill to the brim with people who come from near and far to celebrate with us. My heart swells at the sight, and I take a moment to let myself stop whatever it is I'm doing to look around me and just take it in. 

Every. single. time.

I love our people and our village.

Thank you, Jesus.

We managed to squeeze in some backyard water slide fun and a grilled hotdog lunch before the rain hit. Then we moved the party inside for cake and hangout time. I wasn't even sad about the rain. It made being indoors for the second half feel so cozy.

Uncle Craig, did another AMAZING job of capturing sweet moments and memories from the party. That in and of itself was such a gift. Thank you again, Uncle Craig!

When being sung to is just a little too overwhelming.

Real. Life.
I promise he was happy again within minutes!

See??

At this point, all of the kids had left the table except for these two best friends who live in their own little world sometimes.
Quite possibly our future daughter-in-law, ladies and gentlemen.

Happy 3rd birthday, Nolan Dorsey!
We absolutely LOVE celebrating the gift that you are.