seven (aka four) and counting…
Yep, Nolan the Bean had another birthday on Saturday. I had pictures all ready to upload but haven’t had a chance to post until now. He’s been out of the womb (OOW) for seven months, but I suppose we need to start getting used to referring to him as his “adjusted” age, based on what his birthday would have been if he were a term baby (mid-December). That makes him four months, adjusted… Gotta love it, just in time for tax season we start referring to Nolan like he’s a tax line item!
That whole adjusted age thang doesn’t really matter so much to all of us, who have been following Nolan’s saga for the last seven months, but it makes for fewer strange looks when someone at the grocery store asks how old Nolan is (”Oh, my eight pound baby? He’s seven months old.” and then you gotta explain the whole saga while your ice cream melts), and also reminds us that Nolan’s development won’t follow “normal” development guidelines — sometimes he’ll be ahead of his adjusted age, sometimes he’ll be behind his age… But, hey, we’re just thrilled Nolan has graced us with his presence!
Anyhow, on the subject of developmental milestones, Super Nolan (shout out to Alice!) is doing a pretty good job of holding his head up (better even than the picture shows) and he’s really moving his head around to check things out. He’s really interested in his hands: he spends a fair amount of time just watching his hands move, and he’s also working more and more on reaching for things, touching things, and generally beginning to use his hands.
He weighs 8+ pounds now, continuing the slow but steady progress that we all know and love. He’s still on supplemental tube feedings. He’s also starting to “talk” a lot at times.
I wanted to let all of you Nolans fans out there know that a subset of your number has been working tirelessly to set up a benefit auction for Nolan. More information is available at http://friendsofnolan.com, but here’s the teaser: these folks really have worked tirelessly to set up a great event — hundreds of pieces of hand-crafted artwork from artists near and far, with fabulous food and drinks, live music and a great auctioneer, and a silent auction before the live auction to get everyone warmed up. They’ve arranged for all donations to be tax-deductible, and the funds will be held for Nolan’s care and expenses, so you’ll be supporting a great cause (near and dear to all our hearts!) while you’re having a great time. You may get a great piece from your favorite artist, or you may discover a new favorite artist — since many of these donations are from Kara and Ronan’s colleagues, you know there will be lots of great work in there either way! You’ll also get a chance to meet some of those other Nolan fans whose names you’ve seen over the last months in the “recent love” column. All this fun will be had on Friday, May 4th, so get the date on your calendar (just a couple of weeks away!) and get the details, including pictures of some of the pieces to be auctioned, at the website…
More cute pictures in the gallery — they look best if you click through to the full picture and then use “next” to look at them all… The thumbnails clip parts of the picture so if you don’t look at the full picture you’ll miss, for example, the great look on Ronan’s face as he says hi to Nolan… Check it out!
Hope to see you all at the auction…
-Maria
Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 11:27 am
I am so-so sad that I won’t be able to make it to the gala auction celebration event, but so-so thrilled for the continuing good news of Nolan’s healing, recovery, growth and development. Visiting Kara in the hospital after Nolan was born is one of those vivid memories that carries with it all the sensory modalities, in full techinicolor: the scents and sounds of the hospital, the crisp sweetness of the grapes I brought, and the terrible heart ache of winessing what Kara and Ronan were going through. But I also vividly remember feeling in my heart an absolute certain knowledge that Nolan (aka Butter Bean) was going to be FINE, and feeling that the more strongly I held onto that knowledge, and said it every day, the more likely it would become truth. And then there was this entire spontaneous, diverse community of people who felt the same, that we could all come together every minute of every day and KNOW Nolan into health. Thank god, goddess and Buddah we weren’t wrong. Love to you all, Catherine
Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Holy moly, that little guy is looking so grown up in the new pictures! Big changes. Can’t wait to see him in person soon and I’m psyched for the auction and spreading the word!
Love love love youse guys.
kk
Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Blessed be to this miracle of life. Nolan represnts presistence, resilance, and a never ending love of his parents. What a cutie pie!!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Nolan, I am so glad you like your bib! I am still excited about it. The super-blanket is for you, too, maybe just for laying on the floor until you grow into it. I hope you enjoy them both. I am still blowing kisses your way. Tell your mom and dad to call me when you come to Alabama! Love you!
Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 2:28 am
Nolan continues to delight and amaze. Thanks, Maria, for posting such great pictures. They have been reassuring to those of us who have followed Nolan’s story from afar.
Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 4:27 am
Thank you Alice! I’ve been collecting paraphenalia along the same lines for my latest favorite superherobean but haven’t made it back yet across the ocean to deliver it. I’m loving the bib!