HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I swear I didnt give him the candy......

Well, Its October 31 - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! I cant believe how fast this year has gone by already!! Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away - and then Christmas - ACK! I am getting really excited for the holidays though..I LOVE this time of year! And now that we have a happy little baby to share it with it will be even better....

We have been having a great time hanging out with other babies and new mommies with the MOMS Club I joined - I tell ya....its been a LIFESAVER! Well, maybe a marriage saver is a better description! HA!

We walk almost everyday with out new friends at a nearby park - we go to infant story time at the library and I really think Noah likes it - they read several short books and then we sing and dance along to rhymes and goofy songs like 'The weels on the bus" and Noah smiles through the whole thing!

Last night Noah was laying on floor on his play mat just sucking away on a new pacifier and it fell out of his mouth - and as I was leaning down to put it back in for him, he reached out, picked it up, and stuck it right back in his mouth all by himself!!!!!!!! I was shocked! And then so excited and impressed by him - and then sad....he is already beginning to not need me as much - its a small thing, I know, but it sure pangs the heart anyway. We get so excited for him to grow and learn new things...but when you actually see it happening you want them to stay a baby forever!

He is beginning to sit up better and for longer periods by himself - he reaches for and wants to explore everything. I held a peice of ICE to see what he would think about that and he sort of made a sour face when he touched it - I wonder what he thought???

He loves to pet Bandit - everytime Bandit comes close Noah reaches out for him. I encourage it because I want them both to get used to each other - but I think Bandit is sort of shocked by it - I can just see him thinking "Woah, it sure moves a lot more than it used to! Got any food on those fingers?" I put some sunscreen on Noah one morning before our walk - and Bandit tried to lick every inch of it off him - Noah laughed when his feet were being 'cleaned'! It was cute...

Noah is definatley more aware of who Mommy and Daddy are and who 'strangers' are - he will cry for a few seconds if someone new holds him - but once he figures out he is safe and new people are funny - he will smile and be just fine with it. Then he will spit up on them...thats when ya know you are really accepted! HA!

Anyway, we just wanted to say HAPPY HALLOWEEN to everyone! We sure miss you all and cant wait to see ya'll for the holidays!

4 Months

Well - we are beginning yet another month as a family! Noah is now 4 months old and its been exciting! He has started to experience solid foods - so far just oatmeal and squash from time to time. He loves it - we tried apple sauce and he didnt like that too much - he gave me the cutest sour face, gagged, and then out it came! It was a messy job at first trying to feed him completely dressed and with a bib on- all he wanted to do was put the filthy bib or his food covered hands in his mouth which just made the mess worse - so now he eats almost naked -and with all furniture draped in plastic shower curtains...kidding...but thats not a bad idea hmm...

As you can imagine Bandit is never very far away when Noah is getting fed - he just sits beside him and patiently waits for that little squash covered hand to fall into the perfect licking position. hehe

As the video shows below he can roll over - from belly to back and from back to belly. Sometimes he forgets and panics when he suddenly finds himself with a different view! And I know it may be early but I really think he has crawling on the brain already! He is trying with all his might to figure that one out. I wonder how long it will take??? Right now I think its adorable - well I think everything is adorable - but its scary to me too. I only thought I was tired now, I have a feeling that this little guy is going to run me ragged! With any luck at all we wont be the parents of the little kid wearing a helmet and leash at the playground!

I see YOGA in his future...I can't even do that pose!

Noah got his second round of shots this past friday and that was hard - he cried for about 2 minutes and then was happy again. I love his ability to get over things pretty quickly. Of course there is the rare occation when he cries himself to sleep, but we really are blessed with a happy baby - all we need to do is look at him and he gives us the biggest gummy grin and squeals in delight.

The BIG NEWS is that he is sleeping through the night!!!! I am now beginning to feel more like my old self - I actually wore make-up and did my hair the other day (WOOHOO!!) - we walk at the park several times a week - I am making lots of friends in my local MOMS Club...life is just wonderful these days!

Our little PUMPKIN

We went to a pumpkin patch this week. I don't know why really, we didn't get any pumpkins and Noah is WAY to young to appreciate the scraggely farm animals and rinky-dink corn maze..I guess I just wanted some pictures of him at an actual pumpkin patch for his first Halloween. It was a bit hot outside so shortly after this Noah fell asleep in his stroller for the remainder of the visit while I chit-chatted with other moms from my MOMS Club group. We actually ended up having a good time and I'm glad we went! :0)

Noah Rolling Over

Here he is ROLLING OVER!! He did this for the first time over a week ago but it has taken me this long to get him to do again in front of the camera....

Milestone Week!

Well - it has been an exciting week here at the house with Noah. He had his first real belly laugh on Tuesday (Oct 2nd for those keeping record)!! I was changing his diaper and he had his feet in the air - so I grapped his little toes and stuck them in his mouth! He thought that was pretty funny so we did that over and over again until I got teary eyed from listening to his adorable little laugh! hehe

THEN - we spent the day at the office on Thursday (Oct. 4th) and I put him down on the floor for some 'Tummy Time'. (I confess, we hadnt been doing that as much as we should) and after about 15 seconds of working it out in his head he rolled over all on his own!! And to my knowledge on his first try! We were so excited at the office we made him do it again! He had a surprised but very pleased look on his face - his little grin said " HA! I dont need no stinking 'Tummy Time' !!!" hehe

He gotta wear shades...

We went to the lake with some friends this past weekend and of course, I had to get the appropriate gear for Noah - little swim trunks, baby sunscreen, a hat, and some very cool baby shades. The swim trunks he didnt wear afterall for a couple of reasons - they ended up being WAY too big for him....and I really couldnt figure out if he was supposed wear a diaper underneath them...it said 'no additional diaper required'...but it just didnt look very leak proof so I just avoided it all together! What can I say, Im clueless...I just didnt want my friends to get pee'd on! BUT he still looked adorable. I learned that the lotion type of baby sunscreen is SO much better than the twist up stick kind - those take FOREVER to apply and are harder to make sure you have all areas covered well - but we stayed under the umbrella anyway so it worked out. We did let him put his feet in the water and he seemed to think that was pretty cool - well he didnt react to it at all really, but at least he didnt cry! He loves being outside and I think he had a good time....AND he slept like a log that night so that's a plus for me!

Daddy and Noah

Noah enjoying some play time with Daddy! Patty cake with his feet is a family favorite! hehe

3 Months

Noah passed his 3 month 'birthday' this past week! We are still working on sleeping through the night, though I think he is getting better, finally! I usually have to wake up only once for a late night feeding, but then after that he sometimes wakes up and just needs to be reassured that we are still here and ready to comfort him. He is SO alert and active its amazing to me! He can hold himself in a sitting position and tries with all his might to pull himslef up with anything he can grab onto...namely my hair! OUCH! He LOVES to stand up and face the world so he can see whats going on all around him. And he is really starting to enjoy bathtime and squeals in delight as he kicks and splashes around! He can also roll half way over - if he is on his back he will roll to either side ( I think usually his left side). AND HE FINALLY FOUND HIS THUMB and sucks till his hearts content!! We also have been able to enjoy the outdoors more now that the weather has cooled down to 99 degrees! HA! We go for walks and he LOVES it; he gets so wide eyed as he takes everything in. He can sit in is stroller like a 'big kid' and I think he really enjoys the new view he has of life now!

Its almost sad though....he is growing and changing so quickly. It really is true, it passes by so fast and before we know it he will be asking to borrow the car! I had to clean out his dresser and store all the clothes he has that wont fit him anymore and that was SO HARD! And to think that in just a few short weeks we will be starting him on SOLID foods!! Ack! Bandit cant wait to help 'clean up' the mess that will make! HA!

Kevin and I had our first 'date' since Noah was born. We had a friend watch him while we went to a movie and then to a Cardinals/Seahawks football game. It was nice to have a break from Noah but we both thought about him and I held my cell phone the entire time just itching to call Tonya and see how he was doing! HA! But I didnt and Tonya is SO good with him I knew everything would be just fine. Noah adores her too - we are very lucky to have a circle of friends like Tonya around us who love to help! THANKS TONYA!!

So thats the news around here - being a parent is the hardest job in the world and we are only just beginning! It is nothing at all like I expected it to be - I think we both had a romantic idea of what parenting and having a baby would be like. But the reality of it hit home hard and honestly its been difficult to get used to for both of us. But we are working it out and doing the best we can and thats really all you can do as a parent I guess! I dont know yet...we're still learning! :0)

But for this smile.......we'd go through anything!!

Congratulations!!!!

We just want to say Congratulations to Brian and Angela Jones for their new baby boy Caden Reed Jones! Caden was born September 21, weighing 6 lbs 9 oz and 19 1/4 inches long. Both Mommy and Daddy are doing well!! He is perfect and precious in every way!

Congratulations!!!!

To Gamma's House we go!

(Sigh) Yeah..Gamma loves me.....

Could these pants make him look any more like an old man!?!

Aunte Kristin and Daddy and Noah

Bathtime at Gamma's!

First Adventure

This is Noah and his GREATGrandpa!

Noah's first trip to Texas to visit the anxiously awaiting Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, and a whole slew of other family and friends was WONDERFUL......and a touch exhausting! Noah went on his first plane ride - I was so nervous but he did really well. He got to spend some time outside and feel the grass under his feet for the first time!

It was a trip BURSTING with firsts...he discovered his mouth and figured out that its a great place to put his hands - he almost figured out how to suck his thumb...which he is still trying to work out by the way...he began to really try to sit up on his own. He isn't strong enough yet, of course, but he sure puts in the effort! He spit up on almost everyone and even peed on PEARPAW! HA! Everyone just fell in love with him and there was rarely a moment when he wasn't being held and loved on by all the family! Even in his sleep we would just sit and watch him!

It was a long trip but it all went by too quickly - it was so hard to come home!!! But we just have to remember that we will be back to visit very shortly. I cant wait for everyone to see how much Noah will have grown and changed the next time we all see each other again! We sure miss you all and certainly wish we lived closer....but I suppose we all have to go where life takes us and do the best we can! Until the holidays...WE MISS YOU ALL!

(I dont have any pictures of his trip to Lubbock - but as soon as I get some I will post those as well!)

2 Months...

Noah was 2 months old yesterday - again, I cant beleive its already been 2 months but at the same time it feels like a lifetime! I already have a hard time remembering our life before we had him! As hard as these few months have been - its worth every second and I wouldnt trade it for the world! Noah gives us the biggest smiles when he sees us and it melts our hearts everytime. He loves to look at the world around him while being held with his back against our chests. Kevin is trying to teach him to make a clicking sound with his tongue...and I have actually heard Noah making that sound, but I cant say it was on purpose just yet...HA! I am currently reading up on how to start baby sign language with Noah. Sounds pretty difficult though so we will see how that goes.

Noah gets his shots tomorrow so wish us luck!!!

Are you ready for some football!?!

In the spirit of football season - I had to take this picture. It only took about 40 shots and one spit-up cleaning to get it even halfway decent! Some of the throw away pictures are pretty funny though - gives me a whole new respect for photographers, taking pictures of infants is not easy and requires LOTS of patience. But, for those of you who are still in Texas and Dallas Cowboy fans - this is for you! We cant wait to see all of you in Texas in just a couple of weeks!

Fits like these are pretty much few and far between these days...the only time we see this face is when we are not quick enought to put some food in that growing belly!

Both my kids

Bandit just had to be a part of the picture - and it was too cute to tell him to go away! This is pretty much how Bandit feels about Noah, he just likes to sit and look at Noah, sometimes getting close enough to sneak a small lick on the hands or cheeks! He has been so good with him....and of course we still take time to play with Bandit everyday and give him attention too! We love both our kids! hehe

As far as sleeping through the night...we are getting there!! There is hope for me yet! We finally got a routine down of a last feeding, bathtime, and then reading a book while being rocked to sleep - works everytime! Then we put him down for the night (IN HIS OWN CRIB EVEN!!) and he will sleep until about 2 or 3 am for a late night snack...but he goes right back to sleep until 6 or 7am! Its an inprovement and its wonderful for MOMMY! HA! I feel it wont be too long before he will be sleeping until 5 or 6am...at least I hope so.

Noah has really begun to develop a bit of a personality so far - he "talks" to us quite a lot now and is all smiles when he sees either of us for the first time in the morning...what a great thing to wake up to! I spend my days just watching him (and taking tons of pictures!!) and Im beginning to tell when he is learning something and really taking it all in - he likes to lay on the floor and bat at his toys and look at himself in a mirror. As much as he has changed since coming home from the hospital its hard to think of all the changes that he will be going through over the next several months!

THANK YOU!!!

A BIG THANK YOU to Brian and Angela Jones for taking time out of their lives to visit us here in the desert IN THE SUMMER no less - AND being 7 1/2 months pregnant themselves! Noah said he misses you and says thanks for helping us out so much! Angela, thanks for the movie date - I needed a short MOMMY break so it was perfect. Cant wait to visit you up in SC soon to meet the little Mr. Caden Reed Jones! After seeing you with Noah, its clear to see that you both will make wonderful parents!!! Not that I had any doubts before - HA! Good Luck and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help! :0)

I think Noah is beginning to discover that he has a VOICE! He made two distinct 'baby babbles' today that weren't crying! He was laying on his little tummy time mat and he made a single baby 'coo' noise! It was so cute! Kevin and I were eating and we both froze and listened to Noah try to 'talk' to us! hehe It was exciting...I can only imagine how cool it will be to hear him actually say a WORD!

Of course...

ARRRRG!!! Our little pirate has acne....neonatal acne as a matter of fact. I had no idea such a thing existed but apparently it does. His little cheeks are speckled with tiny little pimples! :0(

It will go away on its own in a matter of weeks but I hate that all these great pictures will show this and give him a complex!

Its ok Noah....happens to the best of us! :0)