Prayers.

No pictures today. I'm sick with a head cold, Ben left for Vandenburg, and Noah is cranky and irritable from his teeth/gums. It was all I could do to take Ben to work and make it over to Target to pick up some medicine.

But in other news, please pray for my Uncle Terry - he lives in Germany with his wife Bettina. This past Sunday, while Bettina went for a run, he went for a ride on his bicycle (evidently they didn't go on the same route) and someone found him unconscious. He can't remember what happened and they still aren't sure if he just fell or if he was hit by a car. He was in ICU and has just been told that he will need to stay at the hospital for ten more days because he has a fracture on his skull. (Personally, I would think he had to have been hit by a car to have a fractured skull.) Please pray for quick healing for Uncle T and that he'll recover his memory, for Bettina while she is caring for him, and for our family since we can't really be there physically with him. He's suppose to come stateside this summer for a class in Missouri and we're all hoping that he'll still be able to - he still needs to meet Ben and his Great-Nephew Noah.

One Year Ago Today.

One Year Ago Today:

Today:

What a difference a year makes. I can hardly believe that he is four and a half months old and here with us. It really only seems like just a month ago that Ben and I were in Oklahoma for him to run in the OKC Memorial Marathon and I was cheering him on, mainly because I wanted him to do well, but also so we could go buy another test to confirm what the one that morning had said! (And no, I'm not pregnant again, for those of you who still aren't sure.)

When I replied to this post by Amanda, I never expected to receive a package in the mail as a result! For those of you who didn't click on the link, Amanda's Mom use to make her finger paint soap for the bathtub and now she makes it for Deacon, her grandson. I posted that I would love to have the recipe to make some for Noah (and future kids and grandkids). Well her mom, Martha, replied with the recipe and then, today, I got a package in the mail with some finger paint soap for Noah!

It goes without saying that we had more fun with it than he did, but I have a feeling that not long from now, he'll be painting the bathtub red! Thank you so much Amanda and Martha!

And, to show what a good mail day it was, look what else arrived!!

I've been waiting so patiently for Minimed to finally see the light of day and know what the OneTouch line is much better than the BD meters that they originally sent with my insulin pump... of course, that's my personal opinion. And I'm also slightly biased towards OneTouch because my first ever meter some 12 years ago, was made by them. So last year, when they said on their website that all Paradigm users would be receiving a new OneTouch transmittable blood glucose meter (to replace the BD one that was discontinued), I was overjoyed! It finally arrived today!! Yippee for new diabetes technology!

Another Big (BUSY!) Day

Noah had his "Four Month Well Baby Check-up" today. He weighed in at a whopping 14lbs. 10 oz. and 25 inches long (though the Dr. said he might be longer since they often don't "stretch" the baby enough). He also got his four month shots... all FOUR of them (plus one oral one)! The poor thing. During his two months shots, I just fed him and he only let out one short scream when the needle went in, then resumed eating. This time, no such luck. Especially since he got two in each leg. It was no fun for Noah or for Mommy.

Angie, Katy and Grant came over for a sewing day today - I wish I would have taken a picture of the living room and dining room table covered with the various projects! Katy worked on a couple of pairs of pants, and mine and Angie's projects of the day were storage baskets and blocks/balls for the babies. I'm glad we started with the storage baskets because they took a while - the blocks and balls were so easy. We ended up having Angie (and Greg who came to pick her up) over for dinner because we ran a little later than we had planned.

I do hope that Angie will have (or TAKE) another day off from work soon so that we can do this again... maybe I'll finally be able to get caught up on a couple of projects!

Greg was even able to get in some Noah time while we were sewing. :)

And, finally, I was able to capture a good laugh by Noah on the video thanks to Angie playing Pat-a-cake with him. I took one of Ben playing with him a couple of nights ago, but missed the good laughing....

Lazy Sunday

We weren't really lazy today, I just needed an excuse to look up the "Lazy Sunday" SNL skit (I personally hope that he makes another one for the newest Chronicles of Narnia).

Ben, Greg, Matt, and Steven went golfing today and though I sent the small camera with Ben, I didn't get a picture. :( I wish I would have taken one before they left because Ben wore his "old man" hat, similar to the one that Mom got Noah. I always like it when he wears that hat.

Noah and I stayed home today and we were anything but lazy too! I worked on Ethan's quilt (wish I could show off the progress, but I want to see Angie's face when she sees it the first time!) and Noah was busy playing with his new caterpillar from Grandma Brenda and Grandpa Mike:

Noah says thanks!

Birthday Girl Revealed!

Today was a pretty busy and full day...

The day actually started with the three of us going to Starbucks and Target and as I'm sitting here typing this out and listening to SNL, it almost seems like a couple of days ago! We finally got rechargeable batteries for the Wii remotes... no more searching for batteries! Afterwards, I picked up Angie and the two of us left the boys behind for a couple of hours to do some shopping in the fabric district (primarily Michale Levine, my new favorite fabric shop) for a couple of projects, including the backing of her quilt. We walked by the Flower District and went in one of the shops... the smell was absolutely delicious!

After we finished shopping, I dropped Angie back off to her house and Ben, Noah and I loaded up in the car to go to the Birthday Girl's party. Happy First Birthday Ella!! I can hardly believe it! She was born just a couple of days before we found out that I was pregnant with Noah. She liked her cake, but she loved the crackers next to it and ate more of the crackers than she did the cake!
It was nice to be able to spend time with some of our small group outside of "small group" time. Heidi and Isabella were enjoying the afternoon at the park with the rest of us!
Noah loved being outside too...
After Gabriella's party, we spent some extra time with Doug and Heidi at their place and while the majority of the evening was spent playing Wii games, Ben had to show Heidi all about the Grocery Game! I love my good lil' shopper - he loves the GG. ;)

Wine, Gas, and Scrapbooking: All in a Friday, Sort of.

We actually had some of this last night, but I had already posted for the day and Ben really wanted me to put it on here since it says "Liquid Love". :)

I don't want to hear anyone else complain about gas prices... LOOK! And, the funniest part... literally right across the street at the Arco, the price was $3.75! I tried to get a picture with both signs, but didn't want to hold up traffic (I was at a stop light) and the guys in the car next to me were already laughing at me.

Most of the day was spent at Strictly Scrapbooking, at the Friday crop with Kristin, Katy and Angie.... and the little boys too. Noah was so interested in all the colors in the store and was easily entertained with a scrapbooking magazine in between walking around the store and taking a nap.

The best part was that we each had a table to ourselves for the first time since we've been going to crops there. It was so great to spend time with my girlfriends, get a few pages done and eat ice cream!

ETA: Ben said that you can't really see how much the gas is in the picture (which I agree, but I'm still working on figuring out PhotoShop) so, for those of you who can't see it like him.... it was $3.99 per gallon!!!

Mama taught me well.

Look what I finally finished! I made one of his "wee lil' gillies" (said with an Irish accent by Jessie) while I was in Oklahoma and finally got the other one finished up. I also finished the birthday girl's hat, so I had to try it on Noah.... it's a little big on him, so I figure it'll fit the recipient perfectly.

And, because I can't let the last picture of the day be of my son in a girl's hat... here's one that's all boy.

And, for the best news of the day.... check out Angie's post. :)

Yes, you can be ready.

Financial Peace + Baby = Happy Mommy.

Earth Day and other random things...

In an effort to help with the "green" movement and do what we can to be good stewards of this planet (isn't that what God has called us to do?), we (okay, I) bought a couple of canvas grocery bags at Wal-mart. I liked these the best because of the slogan on it....

I finally used them (for their intended purpose) today when I did my Grocery Game shopping. I'll need to invest in a few more though, before I can go completely green! Noah was pretty pooped out though, by the time we were done.

I also was able to get a couple of items marked off my sewing to do list:

An initial shirt for Carter and a new rice heating pad for me.

Anyone who has ever been over at my parent's house knows how important a rice heating pad is to an Akers. My mom keeps a basket full of them to be used by everyone for various aliments from cramps to headaches to just keeping you warm (seriously, that's what I use it for sometimes!). Mine was falling apart and looking pretty bad, so I threw it out and hadn't yet made a new one. Now I've finally got a new one. I used a different technique on Carter's shirt than I did on Noah and Megan's shirts and I like the way it turned out. I'm going to use it on Angie's quilt, which is next on my to do list... all the fabric is washed and ready to be ironed. This is the only glimpse you'll get of it until she opens it on June 7th!

And, a quick shout out to my graduating girls - I'm so proud of you Jessie and Michelley! We really, really, wish we could be at both of your graduations.... just know that we've been praying hard for this day to get here for you!

Bunco Babes and Boys

Today was a whirlwind day. Noah and I spent all day getting ready for Bunco at our house. We weren't suppose to host this month, but since the lady who was suppose to host came down sick yesterday, I, as the coordinator, needed to host in her place. Originally, Ben and Greg were going to watch Noah and Christian here at our house so that they could play Wii while the boys slept. Unfortunately, since we only have the one TV (we have a strict "no-TV-in-the-bedroom" policy), that meant no Wii and the boys would be confined to the upstairs. Thankfully, Ben and Greg are good sports and watched Christian and Grant, while Noah slept in the swing downstairs with us ladies playing Bunco (though how he slept with all of our screaming I'll never know!).

And lucky for them, Grant slept most of the time in Noah's crib, so they just played Memory with Christian (it was good practice for both of them).

Needless to say, they were so glad when Bunco was over and they could come back downstairs!

And, as I type, Christian is all snuggled up to Mr. Ben watching Ratatouille.

Constantly Amazed.

I really am. I live in a constant state of amazement. It's almost unbelievable to me that just a mere four and a half months ago, this little guy was still floating around happily in my belly and now, here he is, finding and playing with his toes like a big boy.

He found his feet this afternoon and kept grabbing them and then would look surprised to realize that he actually had them.

I'm so in love with this boy.

The Tate-r Tots

Ever since January (I think it was January), Ben and I having been trying to make it out to visit Jim, Nancy and Austin (cousins on Grandma Lucy's side), but every weekend, we've either been out of town or had a previous engagement. We finally made it out to Corona today!

We had a great time with them, just eating, talking and cutting up....

Nancy and Noah

Jim and Noah

Austin and Noah - he did so good with him and Noah really liked him too!

Jim and Nancy's "Fridge o' Magnets".... I had to have a picture of it!

And poor Maui.... had to stay outside while the baby was there.

One of my favorite things of the afternoon though, was Jim making Noah (and the rest of us) crack up with his duck calls....

This is the Best Game Ever!

While we did quite a few things today, the only picture that I took was while we were at the Cheesecake Factory with Matt and Kristin....

but doesn't Noah look happy sitting with Kristin? :)

This afternoon Noah and I spent some time with Kim and Mia. Kim was in our first small group that we joined when we moved here to California and she now has a six week old little girl, Mia. Somehow (I've NO idea how!) I managed to let them get away without a picture of her and her sweet little baby.... next time Kim! Beware! I will be the paparazzi!

We also met up with Matt and Kristin for dinner and then we played a few games with them at our house on the Wii. I also can't believe that I didn't get a video of us playing "the best game ever"! We were all in hysterics while we were playing a game on Sonic and the Golden Rings... good thing Noah was asleep in his crib or we would have woken him up!

He did it!!

Noah rolled over! However, I think it was an accident and I tried to get him to do it again, but he wouldn't. So, enjoy this video of him just enjoying (haha) some tummy time and know that just before this video was shot, he rolled over for the first time in his very young little life! I'll try to catch it on video, that is if he ever does it again.

Mirror, mirror on the wall....

who's the fairest baby of all?

A Surprise Diaper Pounding

Crystal and Jim, the hosts of our Small Group, are expecting their third baby in early June and we are all so excited for them. Since they really had all the clothes and toys that they need for little Olivia, we decided that we would throw them a surprise diaper pounding. (For those of you who are wondering what a diaper pounding is, it's basically a baby shower, but instead of clothes or other baby gifts, you "pound" them with diapers!) Needless to say, they were quite surprised when we all walked in with lots of diapers!

Noah and I spent most of the day preparing the things we were suppose to bring: a diaper cake and cupcakes. Noah sat in his Bumbo and talked with me and watched while I put together the cake and decorated the cupcakes. (And don't worry, the only time I stepped away from the table and didn't take him off of it was when I took this picture - the reason these were recalled was because people would put the baby on an elevated surface and leave them there while the parents were no where to be found. Trust me, I'm too protective to just leave him there without me in arm's reach!)

Here's the finished diaper cake and cupcakes...

Normally, by the time we get to small group, Noah is already asleep, but not tonight! I guess he knew that there was a party tonight. At least he got to enjoy some time with our friends - he really likes Heidi!

He did finally fall asleep though and of course, it was before we could get a picture of us with Michelle and Ella. I can hardly believe that she is almost one!!

And the star of the show: Crystal! Doesn't she look just beautiful?

If Olivia is just a cute as Isabella, I don't know what Jim and Crystal will do with themselves when the girls reach high school! ;)

LA's Fabric District

This afternoon Crystal, Michelle, Noah and I all loaded up in the Jeep and went to downtown LA to the Fabric District. How did I not know about this place and visit it sooner?! We had such a great time going through the shops and haggling with the vendors. Not to mention we got great deals on some nice fabric. I can't wait to go back (sans a cranky Noah) and get a few more deals on fabric for some of my upcoming projects!

This was just in ONE store!

Noah did not like the heat (it was kinda hot today) and wasn't feeling to great due to his gums so he was a little cranky at times. :(

This was one of my favorite finds of the day - Amy Butler fabric and they had so many more designs. I'm going to make myself a skirt from it! The picture just doesn't quite do the colors justice.

I love the fabric district. :)