Bath Time

Bath time in pictures.... needless to say, he likes bath time now. :)

Clean, swaddled, fed, and ready for bed!

All New

After Noah's morning nap, I pulled him out of the swing and laid him next to me on the couch while I was getting ready to feed him. As I was pulling the Boppy over and getting eveything adjusted, I was shocked at how quiet he was... and when I looked down, this is what I saw:

I definitely think we've got a thumbsucker on our hands if we're not careful! I've got mixed feeling about it: on one hand, if he does, then I don't have to worry about making sure I have his pacifier or get up to give it back to him in the middle of the night, but on the other hand, I know it might be a little more difficult to break him of that habit - the thumb is harder to take away. Either way, as long as he's happy, we're happy.

Noah and I did a little shopping today too - I got a flash for my camera! I'm SO thrilled to get it and am even happier that I got the less expensive (but just as good!) version. What a great way to use up my Christmas money, huh? (Thanks Mom and Daddy-Man!!) Even the picture of the flash box turned out better!

Normally, this picture wouldn't have looked this great!

And, thanks to the recommendations of Michelle and Katy (and from Consumer Reports) we ordered Noah's "big boy" car seat..... a Britax Roundabout:

Perfect for "Mommy's Little OU Quarterback", huh? :)

I hate packing....

I have these things for Noah....


these things for me....



and it all has to fit in these:



Not to mention that I still have other things to pack.



You would think I was moving in instead of just staying a month.

And, speaking of packing, Ben and I have found out where we will be PCSing to this fall....



Abilene, Texas!

We honestly could not be happier and while it is going to be so difficult to leave the wonderful and good friends that we've made, we're very much looking forward to being closer to home. It's really very bittersweet. And to think, I didn't want to move to California and now, here I am, three years later, sad to leave!



Here's a Noah picture for the day:

Noah now loves to be carried around in the sling in the "kangaroo carry". He gets so excited to see what is going on!

DADDY IS HOME!!!

Yippee!!!

One Froggie and a conversation

Daddy-Man is doing great - the surgeon told them today that unless something happens, he'll be going home tomorrow! We couldn't be happier!

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Remember the froggies from last week? The first one has arrived at his new home... go check out Amanda's post about how happy the froggie is with his new best friend, Deacon.

This video is actually from last night, but Noah was SO adorable and was having such a great "conversation" with Ben that I had to share it:

Only My Daddy-Man

Today it's only pictures of my Daddy-Man. I'm SO grateful to my sister (thanks Jessie!!) for sending these to me and can't wait to take a few of my own on Saturday. He's doing SO well! I know it's thanks to everyone praying so hard for him - God is SO good! He's expected to get out of the hospital as early as Wednesday - I'm so proud of what a trooper he's being!

In the care package that I sent him, I sent the sock puppy (the book was showcased on Martha Stewart today!) that I made along with a frame with several pictures of Noah. Daddy-Man loves my sister's dog, Pinny, so I figured he needed a puppy and it's about the same size as Noah, so away the puppy went to Oklahoma. I love this picture of him walking it down the hall (doesn't he look great?!).

His doctor gave him this heart pillow to use to squeeze when he stands up or sits down.

Please keep praying for a quick and speedy recovery!

More updates....

My Daddy-Man is doing really well! He's now in a regular room (email me if you need the room number) and is even sitting up in the recliner in his room! His doctors and the nurses seem to think he might even be able to leave before Friday! Keep up the good work Daddy-Man!

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While I was getting ready this morning, Ben took a bunch of pictures of Noah and since I couldn't choose just one to share, here's a mosaic of some of them:

Our yummy dessert! Homemade caramel macchiatos and a caramel dish from Whole Foods!

I also finished my Mai Tei - I think Noah really likes it too. Ben asked me why I need all the carriers for Noah... I think part of it is just me wanting to know if I can make them. That and I love the pretty fabrics! :)

(Noah looks really small in this one!)

Where's my Diet Coke?

An update on Daddy-Man: he's off the ventilator! His ICU nurse said that most people come off of it in 12 hours.... he was off in FOUR!! PTL! His nurse seems to think that he'll be in a regular room early tomorrow. After Mom and the girls leave for the evening, the nurse is planning on helping him get up and walk a little bit.

And, he's already getting back to being himself... when the surgeon came by to check in on him, he told Daddy-Man that there was five by-passes placed (which Daddy didn't realize until then, originally it was three, probably four). Daddy wasn't happy about that. But, to make it worse, he told Daddy that he couldn't have any Diet Coke until tomorrow - he was really upset about that! Now, for the pain, he's on a morphine drip, which, anyone who has ever been on one (me!) or has been around someone who is on one (my whole family) knows that it makes you very tired and very silly. While Mom and the girls were visiting with Daddy tonight, he was sleeping off and on. At one point, he woke up, looked around, said, "Where's my Diet Coke?" and went immediately back to sleep! That's my Daddy-Man!

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We spent most of the morning glue to my phone, waiting for news from my Mom and sisters. I was actually driving back from the post office (mailing a care package to Daddy) when mom called to let me know that everything went great. When I got back, Noah and Ben were starting Noah's morning wake up "routine". Usually, after I feed him in the morning and it's time to get up for the day, if he's still in sleepy-mode, I unswaddle him a little and lay him down on our bed to let him wake up a little bit more. I swear he could stretch for 30 minutes! He IS his Mommy and Daddy's son!

We had plans to meet the "Beverly Hills gang" for lunch, so we loaded up in the car and headed over to On the Border to meet up with Brooke, Chuck and Cody. It goes without saying that Noah was passed around the table and even gave them a couple of smiles.

Brooke finally was able to hold Noah - last time she was sick!

Uncle Chuck and Noah - he's a natural!

Uncle Cody and Noah. :)

After lunch, we headed back home and Angie and Greg came over for the evening. She and I worked on a couple of sewing projects while the boys fixed dinner (and it was very tasty!). Angie finished up her shopping cart cover and it looks great! I worked on another baby carrier but didn't get much done - I was having trouble concentrating! I'm hoping I can finish it up tomorrow though - I want to have as many options as possible to carry Noah around while we're in Oklahoma. So, no pictures of my accomplishments of the evening yet.

We finished up with the sewing projects and of course, played some Euchre. Noah was so interested in watching and I think he wanted to play too.

Update

I just got off the phone with my Mom and sisters and my Daddy-Man has come out of surgery and according to the surgeon is doing great! PRAISE THE LORD! He ended up having five by-passes placed. Mom and the girls are going to get to see him in about an hour, once he is settled into his room in the ICU ward. Many many thanks to those who have been praying and I'll give another update in my regular blog post later today.

What a day.

Well, Daddy-Man's angioplasty didn't go quite as well as expected. The cardiologist found that the blockage was much more severe than she had anticipated and my dear Daddy-Man is going in (well, staying in, since he's already at the hospital) for quadruple by-pass surgery tomorrow at 8AM. Please, please be praying for a speedy and quick recovery. I know that he is in God's very capable and very loving hands, I just hate that he is going through this and that I'm not there (though I will be in a week). At the present moment, he is running a low-grade temperature which will prevent him from being able to have the surgery tomorrow, so that's another prayer need.

In addition to doing what I could from here, Noah and I had a pretty busy day.... which all started last night when I forgot to buy batteries for the swing. Let's just say that the swing is a central part to our bedtime routine. Never again will I forget the batteries - I only needed one.

We had lunch with Tamieka and Christian at Lucille's (YUMMY!). We had a good time and it was helpful in getting my mind off the morning's events.

Then we headed over to Chrisi's house for Bunco with my school group - they all just love Noah and couldn't wait to get to hold him again!

Charyl and Noah

Chrisi and Noah during one of our breaks.

At the present moment, Ben has not yet returned from his banquet, so I don't have a picture to share of him dressed in his mess dress. :( If I take one, I'll post it tomorrow.

Socks and a thumb sucker?

This morning, while Noah was sleeping, I put my new Valentine's gift to work and made my first ever sock animal. (See, I knew there was a reason why I stashed a couple of Ben's old pairs of socks in my craft drawer... I just thought they'd be made into boring old puppets!) I think the puppy is kinda cute though Ben thinks he's oddly shaped... he's nearly as big as Noah!

And, it looks likes we have another thumb sucker....

(and please.... no comments on how hard it might be to break him of it... we're not encouraging it, nor denying him it...)

**My Daddy-Man is having an angioplasty done tomorrow morning in which we are expecting him to have another stint placed in his heart. Please be in prayer for him that all goes well and that he is back up on his feet quickly!**

Another Full Day

This morning, Noah and I went to his well baby two month appointment - he now weighs 12 pounds 6 ounces and is 24.5 inches long! (Funny side-story: If he hadn't of been crying when the clinic guy was weighing him, I probably would have laughed when Noah peed all over him. Good job Noah!) He had to get two shots and we'll have to go back for the third (they didn't have any in stock). Poor thing has been asleep most of the day and when he's not, he's whimpering.... thank goodness for the pain meds they gave me to give to him. Hopefully he'll be able to sleep tonight too.

Since we went to small group last night right after we ate dinner, we didn't get to have Ben's birthday dessert (we LOVE this dessert from Whole Foods), so I made him blow out the candle on it tonight, even though his birthday was yesterday. I love the look of annoyance on his face. ;)



My Valentine's Day gift from Ben arrived today in the mail! I'm SO very excited about this book and can't decide what to make first - either a dog or a monkey. But considering I only have a couple of pairs of white socks lying around, I have a feeling it's going to be a dog. Noah kindly posed for a picture with the book - one of the few times today that he wasn't upset from the shots.




And, last but not least, I found the pattern for these cute little guys a couple of days ago and couldn't resist making them. I can't wait to mail them off to two cute little boys who, though I haven't met them in real life yet, I have a good feeling will like them. Maybe once they arrive at their new homes, their mommy's will send me a picture so I can post it! Of course, they don't know yet that these little froggies are on their way to their homes. ;)

Happy Birthday Ben!

Happy Birthday Benjamin!! 28 Years Young!

For Ben's birthday, I made him his favorite meal - pot roast! (He's easy to please!) I don't have any pictures of him opening gifts because his birthday present from me this year is going to be a bike.... we just have to find one that he likes (and is within his budgeted amount). As soon as he gets it though, I'll show it off! And of course, he tore into his cards as quickly as possible - too fast for me to grab the camera.

I started working on my next baby project... sort of. I found these adorable cloth blocks (Noah can throw them and they won't hurt anything!) on another site, but there was no written directions on how to make them... just pictures. So before I could help Angie make them, I had to make sure that I could make them! They ended up being very easy and really it took more time to stuff it than it did to sew it together. This one is the sample (I'll make more later with Angie):

Ben thinks that I should make some bigger ones with velcro on them so he and Noah can build forts out of them. I think that sounds like a great idea!

Oh, and Noah has learned how to pull hair. Ben thinks that's pretty funny.

Another Craft Day

Angie and Greg came over today for another craft day. Ben and Greg were going to go play a round of golf, but since Greg's shoulder was still a little sore from skiing a Black Diamond slope and Ben was starting to feel sick, the boys just hung out at our house, playing Wii and taking care of Noah. Ben even attempted to teach Noah how to play! :)

(That's a Wii remote in the front pocket of the Snugli and Noah is trying to chew on it...)

Meanwhile, Angie and I worked on yet another sewing project! She worked on a car seat cover, while I worked on a highchair cover (for dining out). Basically, they are the same thing, mine is just a little smaller to fit the high-chairs at restaurants. We didn't quite get to finish them while they were over (they take a good while to cut out and put together!). I ended up going ahead and finishing mine after Ben and I ate dinner... the sooner I finish that project, the sooner I can get started on the next one. (I'm forcing myself to finish each project completely before I start the next one, otherwise I'll never get anything completely done! I get so excited about each project that I want to start it immediately! Here's my finished high chair cover and it's travel bag is behind it. Noah was asleep or I would have put him in it! :)

Going to the Computer

Until I am willing to relinquish Noah into the (very capable) hands of the Saddleback nursery or until it's a lot warmer, we've decided to "go to church" from the comfort of our home -- my Mom calls it "going to the computer". (Not to mention that we love the fact that we can stay in our PJ's, drink from a real coffee cup, and avoid the busy parking lot.) After spending the singing portion of the worship service in my arms, Noah spent the sermon portion snuggled with Ben on the couch.

They were so cute that I had to take a moment from Rick's sermon and get a picture of them listening (but not taking notes).

A smile and a spit bubble

To make up for no pictures of Noah yesterday, you'll see a small smile in the middle of this video:

(He did a big poop right afterwards, so that's what the look of concentration is about at the end of the video.)

And in this video, you'll see how much he is like his Mommy:

(Yes, that's a spit bubble and he is snoring... if you listen closely.)

And, I FINALLY finished his announcements... but I realized that I didn't order enough of some of the pictures, so there are two versions! He's nearly two and a half months old and I'm just now getting them sent out... maybe next time around I'll actually start working on them when I buy the supplies!

Skiing!

Ben and Greg had the day off and since they have been wanting to go skiing for some time now, they finally got to go today. They went to Snow Summit (near Big Bear), just a couple of hours away.

They had a really great time and the pictures of the mountains that they brought back were just breathtaking! The air is so much more clear there than it is near our home.

Here's Ben skiing and he asked me to mention that he attempted a jump at the end and that he and Greg didn't fall on the Black Diamond run that they skiied. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Ben came home this morning from his TDY to CO and spent the whole day with Noah and I! What a special Valentine's Day surprize! Here's a couple of shots of Noah in his Valentine's shirt (the one above I took several days ago so I could edit it) and snuggling with his Valentine puppy, Daddy and Mommy.

I also finished up Megan and Noah's shirts last night.... I still have to make her hat, but I wanted to go ahead and post the picture. And, good news! Megan is home now from the hospital!!