California Friends

Surprisingly, I really miss California. But I think I'm starting to realize that while there are some aspects of California living that I really miss {and wish we still had, like the weather!}, the reality is, it is the relationships, the friendships, that I truly miss. But luckily, we're in Texas. And, since several of our friends who are PCSing {Permanent Change of Station} this year have to come right through Texas {or close enough} to make it to their new homes, we get to see them! Such is the case with Matt and Kristin, two of our most dear friends from Los Angeles AFB.

They arrived yesterday evening and Noah went right to Kristin - yay for remembering our friends Noah! He didn't want her out of his sight the entire evening... it was just adorable. Matt, you better watch out Buddy! We had a great visit and while we wish that it could have been longer, we're so glad that they chose to stop and stay the night with us on their big move to Maryland. Kristin, Matt, we can't wait to see you again soon!!

Snuggling with Kristin

Playing catch on the rocket with Daddy and Kristin

I think Matt was a little jealous that Noah just adored Kristin so much! ;)

Noah's gift from Matt and Kristin - a recorder! Noah made everyone play it for him.

Just Waiting

Noah and I spent most of the day today waiting... waiting for Daddy-Ben to get to come back home {he had to work today} and waiting for our dear friends, Matt and Kristin, who are moving cross-country, to arrive!

So, of course, we got quite a bit of extra playtime in. I love watching him play, especially lately. He's starting to realize how things work and that some of his toys even have "hidden" compartments! His newest fascination is the seat of his Retro Rocket - so far, I've found blocks, living room coasters, Piggy, and even a sippy cup stuffed inside it.

I'm already dreading the day that I start finding bugs and other live things hidden around his room!

Just Because I Love Them.

I love you both!

Twenty-Nine Years {Young}

Happy Birthday Dear Benjamin!

Today was Ben's 29th Birthday! We had thought that the festivities were going to start once he got home, but evidently, they started while he was at work. His co-workers surprised him with a cake, punch, and even gifts! Ben had mentioned a while back that he like the Peppermint Sugar Scrub from Bath and Body Works {I mean, seriously, who doesn't?!}, hence the "girlie" themed birthday cake and unicorn gift bag filled with none other than Peppermint Sugar Scrub! He took it all in good stride and even thought it was funny enough to take a couple of pictures to send to me.... which he knew would end up on the blog!

Once he got home, Noah and I were ready for him with one of his favorite meals {fajitas!} and a stack of birthday cards that had arrived in the mail. Ben had already opened up his gift from Noah and I {the Perfect Push-Up} and spent the rest of it at Circuit City on the Godfather series {on DVD} and other movies that he had wanted.

{My make-shift Happy Birthday banner until I finish my handmade one!}

Opening his card from Noah - Noah was trying to help him. :)

Birthday dessert - blackberry-peach crisp! Yum!

Happy Birthday Dear One. We love you more than words can ever say.

{Semi-}Wordless Wednesday

The kid loves his milk!

Bathtime with Daddy

I love it when Daddy has bath time duty! Mostly it's because I crack up watching them laugh, talk, and play while Noah is in the tub. {Though the extra time to do whatever I need to do isn't bad either!}

Thank You Oklahoma!

We did so much today and yet I took so few pictures again!

This morning, while I was getting ready, Mom was watching Noah. When I got finished blow-drying my hair, I found the two of them sitting on the bed, playing with the block and shapes... Noah was pretty determined to get all the shapes out with no help.

Before we met the girls for lunch, Mom, Ben, Noah, and I stopped over at Connie's to visit. Grami even stopped by too so that she could see her Great-grandson one more time before we left to go back home... too bad Noah was being clingy and wouldn't go to his Grami. :(

And, that is where my picture-taking ended. Which, is unfortunate, because while we were at lunch, we ran into Marlene, Lesa, and Addy and that would have been a fabulous photo-op! We'll just have to plan a play date for the next time we're in town.

Thank you for all the fun Oklahoma!! We love you and miss you already!

{A Not So} Lazy Sunday

I didn't take a ton of pictures today, mostly because we were running errands the majority of the day. Look what Noah got during one of those errands:

While we were at the mall, shopping at the GAP {can you believe that Abilene doesn't have one?!?}, we stopped in Old Navy to check out the sales and Nana and Papa simply had to get this jacket for Noah. He absolutely loves it! :)

And this picture of Noah and Great Aunt KK was too adorable not to share.

Valentine's Day

Last night, the three of us drove up to Oklahoma City once Ben got home from work. The drive is often pretty good, especially since we generally leave around Noah's bedtime. Last night was no exception - Noah slept beautifully the entire ride! But for some, unknown to us reason, once we get to Mom and Daddy-Man's and it's time to go to bed, our little sleeping-through-the-night champ goes berserk. Last night was no exception - I finally left the room and just went to sleep in the living room!

Despite the lack of sleep, Noah woke up at his usual time, ready to play with everyone. And to be spoiled rotten with Valentine's Day gifts!

Playing with his puppy and checking out his new shirt from Nana and Papa.

Playing with the "Love Bug" from the Aunts.

Reading his new Valentine's book with Great-Aunt KK.

Helping Daddy check out his new jump rope and card.

Us, just before Ben and I left for our Valentine's date.

Ben did really good this year - we ate dinner at Boulevard Steakhouse {my new favorite restaurant since The Gaslamp Strip Club is halfway across the continent now} and then we went to see Paris Rouge performed by the Oklahoma City Ballet. It was amazing! Dear One, I'll never again tease you about Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Send the President a Valentine

Seriously. You should. We are. We're sending him 12.

Typically, I delete forwards. But my aunt sent me one the other day that caught my eye, and after researching it to make sure that it was legit, I decided that this was too great of an idea to keep to ourselves. Check out the website: The Red Envelope Project and the decide for yourself. The project is going through the end of the month, so by no means do you have to get them out before tomorrow.

However, we're adding a line to our envelopes: "We know there is no God who condones the killing of innocent human beings. Barack Obama"

{Untitled}

I couldn't come up with a catchy post title, so, there you go: {Untitled}.

Which also means that these pictures need no words. :)

***

Elmo {and Zoe too}

Noah loves all things Elmo. Yesterday, we received a Valentine's package from Grandma and Grandpa Haze {thank you!} and in it they sent Noah one of those magic cloths {you know, the ones that are really tiny until you put them in the water and then they are a little bigger than a wash-cloth size} with Elmo and Zoe on it. He was very excited about and would have just carried it around in the square shape for days if I had let him. He was pretty pleased though, when he realized that it was bigger and had Elmo on it too! :)

***

We love our evening playtime with Daddy. Noah and Ben started playing a new game though, last night. Ben would stack up the Oreo cookies and then Noah would knock it down.

What a couple of boys!

14 Months Old.

Happy 14 Months Noah!!

I can hardly believe our little one is growing up so fast!

Things that you love at 14 months old:

* Walking, chasing and playing.... and walking, chasing and playing! You'd play all day with us if we could.

* Your Daddy - you get so excited when you see that Daddy is home and as soon as he is within reach, you are in his arms and don't want him to put you down! I love how much you love him.

* Pointing at things that you want or when you want Mommy to tell you what something is.

* Almost any food that we put down in front you, you will at least try - even ketchup and green beans. {Though, often times, the food ends up in the floor instead of in your belly!}

Dear One, we love you so very much and feel so blessed to be your Mommy and Daddy.

Feeling Better

I can tell that Noah is starting to feel better - he's starting to really get into things again.

Particularly Ben's Smart Money magazines... evidently he's a little worried about the state of the economy too and decided he should read up on the best money practices in these tough economic times.

***

In other news, evidently Oklahoma isn't the only state where the wind comes sweeping down the plains - it does in Texas too! Part of our back fence was knocked down thanks to some pretty serious winds last night:

Ah, the life of a homeowner.

Long Day = No Pictures

Noah woke up this morning at 5AM. Inconsolable. Not sick really, but nothing would make him happy except for snuggling on the couch with Mommy. So we had milk, juice, crackers, and watched PBS {who knew that Mr. Roger's Neighborhood still came on??}. Needless to say, we didn't make it to church {when Noah went down for his morning nap, so did Mommy} and the camera sat in the same place all day.

I'm really hopeful that this next week we'll have pictures and fun stories to share!

Michelley!

Noah was feeling a little better today, which was a good thing since one of my dear friends from college, Michelle, came out for a visit. We were so excited to get to see her, to show her around Abilene {okay, so really all we saw was Chili's}, and to just spend some quality time together getting caught up on what's been going on in each other's lives.

Noah got in some extra play time with Michelle just before his afternoon nap.

Michelley, we can't wait for you to come back and visit again! Bring Craig with you next time! :)

Still Sickly

No pictures today either.

Noah and I spent the majority of the morning in our PJs, snuggling and watching PBS. He didn't have any more "episodes", but he's been obviously tired and just not feeling well. And, after his afternoon nap, since he was running a slight temperature, we made another phone call to the pediatrician's office. "Lots of fluids and Tylenol or Motrin." Poor thing. I hate it when he isn't feeling well and it feels like there is little that I can do to help.

However, after he went to bed {an hour early again}, we had a couple from our small group, David and Steph, over for dinner and games. We had such a good time! And, we've created Euchre monsters. :)

Sick Day

No pictures today.

Noah woke up crying at 5AM this morning and when I went to get him, I almost got sick myself. The poor thing had gotten sick. REALLY sick. Ben gave him a bath in the kitchen sink while I stripped down the crib. Not fun. And the poor thing just clung to his sippy cup the entire time that he got his bath.

That was his first of three baths today.

He's feeling much better now... he was playing a little before he ate some crackers and a banana for dinner. But he went to bed an hour early. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a much better day.

A New Chair

I've {quite literally} been working on this chair for almost two years. I bought the fabric while I was still pregnant with Noah and have been attempting to put this chair together ever since. It's actually a gift for our nephew, but once Noah saw it all put together, he wanted to play with it! And don't let this picture fool you - it took everything I had to get him away from it so he could eat his dinner. I think this means that he needs one too.

Better pictures of the chair will be posted over at my craft blog once I get the finishing touches on it. And hopefully I'll have Noah's made in much less than two years. :)

{Bathtime} Fishies

Noah has two sets of bath tub toys that are fish.... and he LOVES them.

They are the first toys he grabs when he gets in the tub and the last ones he lets go of when it's time to get out.

And he concentrates, very hard, when biting them.

Where's Noah's Nose?

We've been working a lot lately with Noah on learning body parts {particularly eyes, nose, mouth and ears} and in the last couple of days, he's really starting to pick it up! {We're so proud, can you tell?} As a result, today, I spent a good portion of time trying to capture it on video and it seemed like every time I turned off the camera, he would point to his nose. Or, as in this video example, he decided that he would point to it right before I turned the camera back on.

Sheesh.

But I finally caught it. Behold, Noah: the Amazing Nose Finder! :)

Super Bowl

Our small group meets on Sunday nights, so this week, instead of "doing small group" we decided to just hang out and watch the Super Bowl {Commercials} and then, OF COURSE, The Office afterwards! I am slightly embarrassed to say that these are the only pictures I took during the course of the evening. So even though the pictures are not my best {and do not at all show all the laughing we did}, I'm posting them anyway!

Super Bowl cookie!

Stephanie and David cooking while Jordan oversees the progress.

I'm not sure if Noah is saying he is "all-done" or "stop taking my picture Mom"!