Mountain Man

 Nolan has been full of "big kid" moments lately, but today was the biggest of them yet!  We invited PawPaw on a "hike"...aka...15 minute walk.  There is an wonderful walking trail at Warner Park that makes you feel like you are in the middle of the woods.  Perfect for kids because it is level.  Nolan is all boy lately so anything outdoors is right up his alley.  About 5 minutes into our walk, we came upon a trail head.  It was a rocky uphill climb...perfect for a photo opp!  Nolan climbed and climbed.  Dad mentioned a few times that he was impressed by his balance.  The kid was going faster than we were.  After 10 minutes or so, we had reached the top of the "mountain".  I suggested we turn around and go back.  Dad wanted to keep going.  He said that in about 15 minutes we could be back to the car.  It was an awesome hike.  Boo had sticks to find, rocks to jump off, and managed to take a few spills.  Of course, when he fell down I would help him back up with much annoyance by my father.  In his words...I can't pick him up his entire life.  At this point in the 15 minute walk, I realized he had been walking about 30 minutes.  I had to skool my dad on the fact that while Nolan speaks like a 5 year old, looks like a 3 year old, and acts like a 10 year old that he was in fact a 26 month old.  :)  He laughed and agreed!  An HOUR AND 15 MINUTES after our hike began we made it back to the trail head.  Dad said,"Wow, BuckyBoy you hiked like a big kid!"  And he did!  In that moment, I realized that my baby Boo was turning into a kid before my very eyes.  He kept up, did not cry, did not asked to be held.  He enjoyed every minute of our adventure...big kid style!  Here are some pics from today's hike :)

Getting started!  Notice the excitement...and the stick :)

 Right behind Nolan is a creek...or should be.  We have had NO rain in the past 6 weeks. 

 He saw this and yelled "BRRRIIIIIDDDDGGGGEEEE"!

 "Whatcha lookin' at?"

 Mountain Man and his log.  He tried to balance and walk across, but this is as far as he got :)

 He booked it up these rocks. 

 It made PawPaw a little nervous so he walked behind him.

 This was going to be a cut picture, but he sneezed as soon as I pushed the button :)

The boy and his walking stick PawPaw made him.  He never used it to help him walk.  He just carried it the whole way :)