All is Right with the World

A Few of My Favorite {Baby} Things

So, since I haven't taken any pictures today and really don't plan to, I'm taking a cue from my friend Faith, and writing a post about some of my favorite baby gear. I figure I've got several friends who are Mommies-To-Be or who are {Brand-Spankn'} New Moms who could use this information and then even more friends who can remind me of things that I might have forgotten {or not known about} since Noah was little. I just wish I could give them all away to ya'll like Oprah does!

A Few of My Favorite Things for a Happy Baby:

The Miracle Blanket - I loved this blanket, Ben loved this blanket, and Noah slept like a baby {pun intended} when he was swaddled in it. I've even just ordered another one {pink!} so that I'll have two this time around. And, Mommas, if you can't justify the price, really big swaddling blankets work well too {not the smaller receiving blankets}.

Zippered Sleep and Plays - I can't say enough how annoying snaps are in the middle of the night. BTDT {been there done that} moms are sure to agree! Plus, I love how snugly it makes the baby and how everything is well covered. Noah practically lived in these for the first few months and still sleeps in them at night... I'm figuring Ellie will be the same way, especially since I've already stocked up on them! {I could totally make a list of my non-favorite baby clothes, but that would be a whole post in and of itself.}

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child - Sleep is so important to a happy baby. I can't recommend this book enough - for kiddos of all ages.

A Few of My Favorite Things for {the breastfeeding} Mommy:

PISA - Trust me. I've tried other pumps. This one is, hands down, the best. Enough said.

Nursing Covers - I used mine until Noah was weaned... and have already made myself a new one. Get one or make one that you really like - you'll be using it often if you ever want to leave the house!

Slings - I'm personally a Ring Sling girl {as is evidenced by my own collection of slings and by my teaching my friends how to make them as well}, but I do plan on trying out the Moby Wrap with this little one {making my own, of course, if I can find some suitable fabric}. It's great for times when you need your hands free or for quick trips into the store... and especially great for traveling or sightseeing!

So, BTDT Mommies, what are some of your favorite {baby} things? And Mommies-to-be, what can't you wait to try out?

Cars

Nearly all of my time this week, when Noah has been napping or in bed for the night, has been spent on the various crafty projects that I've been wanting to get completed before Ellie arrives. So, I was a little unsure of what to do with the painting project that I was working on when Noah woke up {early} from his nap. We barely let him watch that much TV and while he's watched portions of a few animated movies when we've started them before he went to bed, we've never just turned a movie on for him and left him to watch it. But today, I did just that. And, while I'm not particularly proud that I did it, I did love the response that came from him:

All I could hear as I painted in the kitchen was Lighting McQueen zooming around the track and Noah shouting at the TV "WHHOOOOO!!!!" and "WHHEEEEEE!!!".

Fun times indeed.

Crafts and Cheese!

Back in the "Acquisition" days, Ben went TDY all the time. And sometimes, it was really great because I {and once Noah arrived, Noah and I} would go with him, especially on the fun trips. But now, in maintenance, there really are not very many TDY's that he gets to go on {just deployments}. We both though, were a little bummed when we found out that he was going TDY this week to a class at Langley. Bummed because, well, there was little chance that I would or could go with him - despite the fact that we went on a cruise at about the same time during my pregnancy with Noah. I didn't want to have to fly with Noah {because of my big belly, we'd have to buy two tickets} and the thought of driving half-way across the country and back with a 30-31 week belly wasn't appealing either. We decided that it would simply be best if Noah and I just stayed at home.

So, just like I would do when he was TDY and I couldn't go, I made my {extra-long} "crafty" to do list! With a now clean house and mostly during his naps/bedtime, I'm finally making a dent in the list. And, as you can see, Noah is making sure that I do everything just the way he wants too:

Oh, and Noah's newest trick?? Smiling on request!!

"Say Cheese Noah!"

My Snuggle Bug

I love it when the munchkin will just climb up on the couch, sippy and blankie in tow, and snuggle with me before he's sent off to bed.

And with a cute little smile like this, who would want to make him go to sleep instead of snuggle?!

Quiet Time {with Daddy}

I came into the nursery after cleaning up the kitchen in preparation for Life Group to find the boys like this....

Quiet {reading} time with Daddy makes Mommy happy too.

The Bed-Head Boy and His Fort

Usually, you can count on Noah to wake up in the morning with a little bit of bed-head. But rarely is it this "bad" after just a nap:


It always makes me wonder what he is actually doing in his sleep.

This afternoon after Noah woke up from his nap, Ben {I helped... a little} put together a fort for Noah in the living room.


Noah was SO excited about his fort and stayed inside it for quite a while just laughing and talking and looking around.

And I think Daddy might have been just a teensy bit sad that he couldn't fit inside too.

A "Shower"

Just like I did last time with Noah, I did the "FF Shower" with the October moms this time for Ellie. My exchange partner had actually already sent me part of my gift last month, an adorable tutu that I can't wait to photograph Ellie in! The rest of the gift arrived last night and since I mailed her gift off today, I thought I ought to post what else she sent for Ellie:

I am just loving all the pink! Thank you Crystal!!

{Oh, and if you want to see the handmade portion of what I sent her, I should have it updated soon on my craft blog!}

A Quick Rest

Evidently, Daddy isn't the only one who can wear the Monkey Boy out by playing too hard...

This morning, in the midst of some silly tickle and chase time, Noah decided he needed to take a quick break and rest against the pillow he strategically propped up against the coffee table.

Thanks Buddy.... Mommy needed a rest too.

Music Time

Evidently Noah likes Toby Mac almost as much as his Mommy and Papa do:

I have some great memories of cleaning the house while listening to K-Love with Mom, of riding to school with Daddy-Man, listening to Big Tent, Newsboys, and DC Talk and rocking out to Three Crosses on the way to school with BB. And some of those songs just influenced my life so much. I can only hope and pray that some of the lyrics of these Toby Mac songs that Noah loves so much will influence him too.

Cucumbers and Waffle Blocks

We're finally starting to get some veggies from our garden! Ben and I were totally surprised when we went out to check on the garden when we returned from Oklahoma to find that we had several cucumbers that were nearly ready! We also have {at least} five watermelons growing and upwards of 15 pumpkins. Now if we could just get the tomato plants to start flowering, we'd be in business. {Michelle, you aren't the only ones who are having issues with tomatoes!}

After Noah's bathtime, I came into his room to find him playing oh-so-quietly with his waffle blocks... and putting them on the top of the box just like Mommy and Daddy do when we play with them with him.

He's just growing up way too fast!

#529,129,326 and #529,129,327

Reason #529,129,326 I love my husband:

During our trip to IKEA yesterday, we bought Noah a tunnel. I've actually been wanting to get him one for a while, but held out last time we went to IKEA since I felt like I was already buying quite a bit. But this time, Ben saw them too and well, we ended up coming home with one! I love it that I can count on him to get just as excited about things as I do. And he's already commenting on how he wishes we had bought two {and has plans to pick up another one on our next trip!}.

And reason #529,129,327 I love my husband:

He's not afraid to crawl into a tunnel with his son... especially when there's no way that Mommy could do it right now! It makes my heart so happy and full to hear the laughing and giggling that comes from BOTH of them when they are playing together.

The Long Way Home

I really hate the leaving part of visiting - whether it is us leaving or our visitors leaving. Today was no different, except it was even a little more difficult since we're not sure if Ben will be able to come back up to Oklahoma again before he leaves. And don't get me wrong, I totally know that his side of the family will miss him, but I also know how much my side of the family will miss him too. And how much our little family of {soon-to-be} four will miss him.

So, to keep his Mommy from being sad, Noah entertained us with his blanket:

He thought the way he was sitting was hysterical and loved the laughs that he got from all of us when he pulled his blankie down like a hood.



Enjoying Mulan with Aunt BB.

One last shot before we walked out the door for lunch!

Thanks for everything you guys and we can't wait to see you again soon!!

***

Instead of going home the "short way", we took "The Long Way Home" - meaning, we went through Dallas. First stop, IKEA! We had a list of a couple of things we needed so that we can finish up Noah's big boy room and, of course, who can go to IKEA without picking up a couple of things that you also just want! {I'm so excited about one of our "non-needed" purchases!} After we left IKEA, we met up with Nick, Lendy, and Baby Mack at Chipolte. I swear the little guy gets cuter every time we see him. Ben and I both are just head-over-heels for him and Noah even warmed up to him enough to give him a few high-fives.

And, because the closest Whole Foods to us is the one in Fort Worth, we also stopped in there - for dessert and so I could stock up on some of my favorite tea {for when Ellie arrives}. This isn't the best picture of the boys, but it was the only one where they were all {mostly} looking!

Ten hours later, we finally made it home.

A Simple Saturday

Since we got in late Wednesday and left for the movie Thursday night before Daddy-Man got home from work, Ben and I didn't actually get to see him until he got off work last night! Of course, Noah got to spend a little time with him Thursday night {he got to "stay up late" so he could see him before he went to bed}.

We made sure though, that he got a few extra hugs today:

We stayed in tonight and Grami and Papa Snow came over for dinner, so of course we had to get one last "pre-Ellie" picture with them!

Friday Fun

We were so busy this morning/afternoon {garage sales, lunch, hair appointment with Stacy} that I didn't take any pictures until late in the day {and Noah was already in his PJs} - but the ones I did take were pretty fun!

One of my favorites from the evening though, was Noah showing Aunt BB how to do Downward-facing Dog:

During our garage sale-ing time this morning with Mom and {her BFF} Marlene, Mom picked up this fun little motorized police bike for Noah so he'd have a fun ride-on toy to keep at their house. Noah wasn't too sure of it at first, but he finally warmed up to it.



He just looks so big!

Thank you Nana and Papa!

And, Noah's newest obsession...

.... trying on everyone's "sh-sh" {shoes}!

OKC, HP6, and BRU {among other ancronyms}

The three {four} of us arrived in OKC late last night for what will likely be our last visit before Ellie arrives. Since we'll {the kids and I} be spending quite a bit of time up here while Ben is in training/deployed, Mom has started investing in a few "baby" items of her own:

including gates for the kitchen!

{Way to go Mom!}

While Noah took his nap {and Ben watched Gran Torino}, Mom and I headed off to BRU {Babies R' Us} to pick up a couple of items that we still needed for Ellie. One thing that I really miss about living in a bigger city is having all sorts of stores to shop in - there isn't a BRU or TRU in town! We really don't need anything, but for the convenience of it, we invested in this neat little Graco "travel" swing that you can just snap the car seat into. We figured it'll save space when we're visiting in Oklahoma and having small group.

We came back home to find Jess and Noah playing.




And she found that if you ask very nicely, Noah will always share his Cheerios.

One of the great things about going up to OKC is the availability {and enthusiasm} of babysitters AND the Warren theatre just down the street. So, after Noah's bath, Ben and I left him in Nana and Jessie's very capable hands and headed out to see HP6 {Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}.

And, for the record, I think HP6 just might rate up there as one of my all-time favorite HP movies... and I can't wait to see it again!

{18 Month} Well Baby Check Up

Once again, we were a little delayed in Noah's Well Baby Check-up. This time, I can honestly say that I am glad we were. And I'm glad that Ben was able to go with us. Here's Noah's updated 18 month stats: weight 22lbs. 4oz. {6%}, height 33.5in {75%}, and head circumference 19.9in {97%}. Like his Mommy and Daddy were as kids, he's just a long and lanky kiddo. Dr. Naidoo said that everything about Noah looked great, but he was a little concerned that his iron might be low, so he wanted to have Noah's blood drawn to check {which, as I understand it, is a very common occurrence sometime between the 12-18 month WB}. In addition to his already scheduled shots. Yep. This Mommy was VERY glad that Daddy came to this appointment. Let's just say that getting two shots and then having blood drawn isn't fun... for Toddler, Mommy or Daddy.

And we've got the bandages to prove it.

Gated Off

Call me an over-protective Mommy {it's fine, I can take it}, but one thing I do not like nor handle well is children in the kitchen. I just simply don't think it's safe, even if the cabinets have been child-proofed. Especially while you are cooking. My greatest fear is carrying a hot pot/pan of food from the oven to the island or the sink and tripping over a child... which is especially dangerous when you consider how clumsy I am {even when not pregnant}. Since Noah has been able to get around, we've kept the kitchen, fireplace, and TV gated off so that he can't get to them. And, while the wall next to the bookshelf has now taken quite a beating from Noah knocking the gate over and from being lifted up improperly, Noah has remained safe. But as my belly is getting bigger {by the moment sometimes it seems!}, it's been more difficult for me to step over the gate. And I definitely don't want to try to do that with a newborn in tow.

A couple of weeks ago, Ben and I rearranged the "fence" into two different and smaller gates. One that went just around the TV and one gating off the kitchen. Noah has done really well leaving the fireplace alone. So, today, after his nap, I took down the kitchen gate... just for some practice. And so far, so good. He knows where his "do not cross" line is and I only had to get on to him once about going into the kitchen {before Ben got home, of course... once Daddy got home, it was a whole other story}.

However, the kiddo kept making me laugh {and giving me more work to do} by tossing a ball or toy into the kitchen and then just standing there pointing at it until I got it for him.

Hopefully the fun of sending Mommy after toys will wear off shortly and we can keep it like this full time soon!

When Dada Comes Home Tonight

There's this adorable little book called "When Mama Comes Home Tonight" that I just love. It's all about the things that the Mama and Baby will do when the Mama gets home from work. The first lines of the story say, "When Mama comes home from work, dear child, when Mama comes home tonight, she'll cover you with kisses, she'll hug you sweet and tight." And, even though I'm not the one working, I can totally relate to it...

... because it reminds me so much of what I see every evening when "Dada" comes home each night.

Hide and Seek with Daddy

I love it when the boys play "hide and seek".


All I have to say is: "Noah, where's Daddy?" and he runs away looking for him.

{Though he's usually hiding behind Noah's blankie!}

{OH! And Michelley, do you see what's in the background?? Thank you for the PINK!!}

19 Months

Happy 19 Months Noah!

Seriously, could this little guy be any cuter??

Things you love at 19 Months:

• Climbing, climbing, and climbing {and terrifying Mommy while you're at it}.
• Pulling all the pillows off of the couch so you can lay on them.
• Saying all sorts of new things, like "sh-sh" for shoe, "ger-affe", and "dunn".
• Wrestling with Daddy in the evenings before bed.
• Sleeping in your new "big boy" bed.
• Eating your favorite chicken nuggets with ketchup.
  
  

We love you, more than you know, Noah and just love the little man that you are already turning into.

28 Weeks {and 19 Months}

Today, Noah is 19 months old. It seems unreal to me that he is on the downhill slope towards "2". It also seems unreal to me that in ten weeks we'll be parents of "2".

Oh, and yes, that little extra bump is my belly button - it has officially popped also.

We didn't get a chance today today to take Noah's 19 month photos.... with visiting Ben at the base bowling alley during the squadron's "fun day" and him getting to come home a little early from work, we spent more time playing and being silly than we did taking pictures. We'll take them tomorrow.

New Crayons

Noah simply loves to have art time. He knows exactly where the crayons and paper is kept and if you ask him if he wants to color, he almost always responds by running to the closet door and hitting the door. And if we're at a restaurant that provides crayons and a menu to color, the kid is on Cloud Nine and will often barely even eat his food. The most annoying part about it though, isn't the fact that he barely eats, but that the crayons often roll off the table and Ben and I {or whomever is sitting next to him} get to dive under the table for them.

So this morning, while we were running a few errands, I found some new crayons for the kiddo. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Crayola {probably due to the fact that I'm a teacher AND they are non-toxic so I don't have to worry too much if they find their way to Noah's mouth}, so I was pretty excited when I found these crayons: they are the "fat" kindergarten style crayons and are formed into triangles so that they don't roll away! Awesome!

{Let me just make a recommendation as an elementary/early childhood educator, reading specialist, and Mommy: if you are looking for some crayons for your young kiddo, these are the type to get {assuming that you don't want to start with Tadoodles}. The shape and size of them are designed perfectly to encourage a proper writing grip, not to mention they are washable: a definite plus! Okay, plug finished.}

This afternoon, during art time, we tried them out. I'd dare say that he likes them.

{Since there wasn't any pictures or video for yesterday, today, you get both!}