Life's a journey, not a destination.

Happy 3rd Birthday Noah!

2012-01-28T19:35:00.007-06:00

I cannot believe my little boy turned 3! He is so grown up now. So grown up that he was able to tell me all that he wanted for his party. This year he requested a fire fighting party. Therefore, that is what he got. He had a fire truck pinata, his cake had a picture of him holding his fire truck, and all of his friends made foam fire trucks while wearing their fire hats. It was cute to watch all the "fire fighters" run around and play. I had fun with the food for his party too. He had blueberries (coal), strawberries (fire), hot tamales, red licorice (fire poles), black licorice (fire hose), bagel bites (truck wheels) and hummus/chips (fire extinguishers). He had a great time and got lots of great presents. Happy birthday to my big boy!

Maleah sits up on her own

2012-01-28T19:31:00.004-06:00

It only took Maleah a week to figure out how to hold herself up. I think she was really ready to be able to sit up and play with her toys without using the bumbo, which she didn't seem to like anyway. Here are a couple of shots of her in action!

No more toothless grin

2012-01-20T19:55:00.002-06:00

Maleah's two bottom teeth finally broke through and you can see them well! I cannot believe she is already getting teeth. She is growing up to fast. I want to keep her small. Now that she is getting teeth she is really enjoying her food and chewing on everything in sight. So far the only veggie She doesn't love is green beans. The first couple of times I gave them to her she would scrunch her face as if I gave her a sour candy. It was really funny to watch!

6 month stats

2012-01-12T19:31:00.002-06:00

Well, it's in! Maleah had her 6 month appointment today. She is...

22lbs (99%)

27in (90%)

She is a perfectly healthy girl!

Also, today she cut her first two teeth! I cannot believe how much she is changing. As soon as they come in enough, I will post some pictures.

Spending time with uncle

2011-12-30T20:53:00.000-06:00

I think she likes him...Uncle Christian got to spend some time with pretty lady and here is a snapshot of the two of them.

Maleah is 6 Months Old

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Maleah,

You are 6 months old today. You have brightened our lives with so many smiles, giggles and squeals. I cannot believe that you only entered our lives 6 months ago as it feels like you have always been a part of our family.

Here is you right after we got home from the hospital:

And, here is you now at six months and over 2o pounds:

To date, here is what you have accomplished:

-You roll over both ways and are able to grab toys

-You love to jump in your jumper

-You have started drinking juice from a sippy cup

-You have started solid foods. So far you have eaten rice cereal, oatmeal, squash, carrots, bananas and prunes. You don't seem to mind whatever it is you are eating as long as I shovel it in fast enough. You are extremely interested in food and will grab at anything that you can reach. I think, if you had the chance you would be eating even more!

-You have found your voice. You love to squeal and talk to us. You especially love to squeal at brother because he cries about it hurting his ears.

-You pretty much sleep through the night. You go to bed around 6pm and sleep until 6am with only one waking at 3-4am. You are a great sleeper.

-You love to interact and play with your brother. No one can make you laugh and smile like Noah.

Well, my sweet baby girl, I am enjoying every second of watching you grow. I love our cuddles, putting bows in your hair and watching you experience the world. Happy 6 month birthday.

I love you!

Mom

Christmas 2011 Continued

2011-12-29T20:46:00.003-06:00

Here are some pictures taken before church on Christmas day.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-29T20:32:00.002-06:00

Noah putting out cookies for Santa

Maleah opening her gifts

Oh boy! A doctor kit!

Check out my pearls!

The kids had a great Christmas. Christmas Eve, Noah put out a cookie for Santa in great hopes that Henry had been giving good reports to Santa. Christmas morning he was overjoyed to see that Santa had filled his stocking. He got lots of goodies! Also, the kids got some great gifts from relatives, as you can see above. Maleah loves to sport her new pearls and Noah will not go anywhere without his fire truck!

Portraits

2011-12-29T09:32:00.001-06:00

Noah drew a picture of mommy (right) and daddy (left). He was very proud of his art work and so am I!

Sibling Rivalry

2011-12-29T09:21:00.002-06:00

All the beatings that Maleah has taken from Noah have not been forgotten. I think Noah is going to get a taste of payback a little sooner than we thought. All I could think about while watching their interaction during this is how much Maleah was enjoying herself. Though we don't quite understand her words, I imagine it went something like this: "Hit me in the head...AHHH...pull my hair...AHHH...Take my toys...AHHH...wake me up from a nap...AHHHH..."

First time with a sippy cup

2011-12-29T07:34:00.003-06:00

Now that we are on solid foods, I thought I would just try a little juice in Maleah's sippy cup. It was a hit. She loves to hold it herself and drink her juice. Yum!

Henry

2011-12-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

This year we have started a new tradition, Elf on the shelf. Noah and Maleah have a new friend named Henry (Noah named him) that arrives after Thanksgiving and stays over the month of December to watch the kids and report back to Santa. Each day he reappears in a different spot in the house after returning to Santa to report our children's behavior. They are not allowed to touch Henry as his magical powers would be taken away, so they are only allowed to talk to him. Also, if there are good reports to Santa, when they wake up, Henry has a special treat waiting for them in their advent box. Noah has really taken interest in Henry. Each morning when we get out of bed he runs around the house looking for Henry. Then, he checks his box for a treat, and finally runs to Henry to say thank you. Here is a picture of Noah and Henry.

Early Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa

2011-12-18T09:30:00.002-06:00

Since Dave will be gone over Christmas, we decided to Skype with Grandpa and Grandma and have Christmas early before he left. Noah, of course, did not object! Here are a few pictures of the big day. The kids made out well, including some super cute PJ's made specially by grandma. Noah is in love with his remote control monster truck and Maleah is enjoying her new dolly. Thank you for everything grandma and grandpa!!

ps...I will take some pictures of noah in his pjs...they look so cute on!

Nightly Prayers

2011-12-17T09:21:00.002-06:00

Last night when I was putting Noah to bed, he said "mommy, I want to pray this time". So, here is what he said:

"Dear Jesus, thank you Lord, thank you for a wonderful day. Thank you for daddy. Thank you for mommy. Thank you for sister. Amen!"

I couldn't help but cry during this prayer. The sweetness in his thoughts and voice was so touching. Thank you Lord for my wonderful children!

Santa!!!

2011-12-17T06:58:00.003-06:00

I took the kids to Dave's work to see Santa. Noah was very excited to tell him all that he wants for Christmas. This year, he anxiously waited in line to tell him that he wants a dump truck and a huge fire truck. (hmmm...santa better get moving on this!) They had a photographer there, so I will get the picture soon, but here is a quick snapshot that I was able to grab. Oh, and Maleah didn't seem to mind the man in the big red suite either.

A New Adventure

2011-12-12T15:11:00.005-06:00

Well, we have made it one week tomorrow since Dave left for Afghanistan. I have to say that the Lord has given us so much strength. Each day the kids and I are getting into a better routine, and it truly is getting easier. Dave seems to also be adjusting over there. We are able to Skype with him each morning and night which is such a blessing. I am truly thankful for technology. The kids are adjusting well with Dave being gone, which was something that I was worried about. Noah likes to tell people that his daddy is in "a-fa-ganna-stan" or sometimes...the North Pole! We look forward to reuniting with daddy on January 5th. Until then, we are just praising God for his grace and goodness. If you are out there reading this daddy, we love you so very much and are proud of what you are doing. Come home soon!!

Noah's construction business at your service!

2011-11-26T13:17:00.006-06:00

So, I thought I would keep a log of the reconstruction going on in our house due to Hurricane Noah. Here are the projects from last week:

1) Clean Maleah's Room. Need I say more? The house got quiet and Noah was no where to be found...he was in Maleah's room "cleaning" AKA emptying a bottle of diaper rash spray on every thing. When the clean up crew (me) arrived with back up (dad) the furniture, carpet, blinds and bedding was covered in this greasy mess and he had moved on to polishing with a tube of desitin. Needless to say, we have a very shinny room!
2) Add design to mom's new furniture. Ball point pen + new leather couch + creativity= Noah. Furniture stores carry an amazing product that actually removes ink from leather...only $1.99. Must buy more.
3) Repaint kitchen walls. After filling up noah's dry erase board with beautiful art, he moved to the walls. Wiping the board off is over rated. Thankfully, crayola makes such wonderful washable material!
4) Steam clean walls. While mommy is busy speaking to the alarm company during installation, Noah decides to do some steam cleaning by pulling out the steam mop and banging the walls with the hose. Lots of black marks from this one...poor wall took a beating. Thank you Magic Eraser.
In conclusion, this was a busy week for Noah's business. (And mine) So, as I make my Christmas wish list, I think I will just ask Santa for more cleaning supplies. Thank you.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T09:09:00.007-06:00

We had a great thanksgiving this year! We celebrated this festive holiday with our friends the Sittersons. Of course we had lots of yummy food and fun! Maleah got to celebrate by eating rice cereal, though I think she would have loved real food. She kept reaching for my plate! Noah enjoyed all the fixings-mostly while I chased him around as he was having too much fun playing! I love thanksgiving as it reminds me of how blessed I am. I have such great friends and family and always a warm home and food on the table.
And finally, here is what our holiday ended with...one very tired boy!

4 Month Stats

2011-11-23T13:36:00.002-06:00

So here are Maleah's 4 Month stats: (Keep in mind, this is one week before she will be 5 months)
Weight: 19 lbs 3oz (99%)
Height: 26 1/4 (90%)
Head: 40 1/2 (25%)
Since Maleah's 2 month appointment she has grown over 4 inches and 6 pounds! That is a lot of growing! She is currently scoring at the 5-6 month level. Now I know why she is wearing 9-12 month clothing!

Talk to Jesus

2011-11-22T18:49:00.003-06:00

This morning while getting ready I was having my prayer time talking with Jesus. Noah came in the room and said "mommy, who are you talking to?" I explained to him that I was praying to Jesus. He looked around a bit confused and then responded with "But I don't see Jesus, where is He?" After explaining to him that Jesus was in heaven and that we could talk to him and he would listen he told me he wanted to talk to Jesus. Looking up at the bathroom ceiling, he calmly stated "Hi Jesus, thank you for my sister, mom and dad...and my toys!"

Guess the weight

2011-11-18T13:26:00.001-06:00

I took Maleah to the doctor yesterday because I thought she was getting a sinus infection and while there they weighed her. She weighs 19 pounds! I knew that my little girl was getting big as I have to put her in 9-12 month clothes, but I wasn't expecting 19 pounds. She has her 4 month check up next week (just a week before she will be 5 months) so I will post the rest of her stats.

Prayers

2011-11-17T08:36:00.002-06:00

Every night when we put Noah to bed we all say a prayer. Noah always folds his hands together, closes his eyes real tight and bows his head. It is such a sweet moment each day for us. Last night I asked him if he would like to say the prayer as he has not ever done it before. So, he bowed his head and said "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for a wonderful day! Amen." It was the best prayer I had heard all day. I just love the tender heart that our little ones have. I am so thankful for the blessing of my beautiful children!

To My Vet

2011-11-11T13:17:00.003-06:00

Dave said to me the other day that he doesn't make choices in life based off of "fears" or "what could happen" but rather on opportunity. Here is a big opportunity that I believe changed his life. I am proud of him for serving our country and for making the leap that I don't think I would be brave enough to do. I love you!

Yum... Cake

2011-11-10T10:00:00.001-06:00

While mom was here we made a pumpkin bar cake. Of course I had a hard time staying out of it, so I decided to store it in the oven which would keep it out of sight. A few times I have caught Noah opening the oven and getting a taste of the cream cheese frosting. This morning, however, while we were in the living room enjoying our coffee, Noah decided to take it a step further. I heard some banging in the kitchen, which is normal for our house so I didn't think anything of it. When I got up to get a coffee refill, I stumbled upon this:

He was really enjoying the last piece of cake. I was surprised that he was able to lift the pan out of the oven, and then find a fork all on his own! What a clever boy!

Dress Baby Maleah

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

My wonderful friends at church threw us a "Dress Maleah" baby shower. This was such a great shower as we were really needing clothing for her. She is growing so fast, that she has outgrown all of her clothes. (She is now moving into 9 month clothing!) We got so many wonderful outfits and it is so much fun dressing her in them. I was going to post some pictures, but sadly my camera flash wasn't on and they didn't turn out. However, you will see these great outfits in future pictures. Thank you to our wonderful church family!!

Maleah Rolls Over

2011-11-09T20:05:00.002-06:00

This afternoon I set Maleah on the floor to do some tummy time and before I realized it she had rolled over. It took me a few seconds to register what had happened and then I reset her on her tummy. Flip! She rolled again. It was so exciting to watch her do it. There was no fussing or straining, she just flipped over. What an exciting time for our little girl!

Jump Jump

2011-11-09T19:28:00.003-06:00

We finally dusted off the jumper for Maleah since she seems to be bored with the swing these days. At first she just spent time figuring out the toys on it. Then she started shifting her feet from side to side. But, then yesterday it finally clicked for her. She started jumping like crazy! It was priceless to see the smile on her face as she realized she could jump in it. I think from this point on she will be my little jumping jelly bean, just like her brother was.

First Bite of Rice Cereal

2011-11-07T09:44:00.000-06:00

For some reason, because Maleah is my baby (and my last) I have had a hard time with offering and encouraging new milestones. But, because of a recent growth spurt and her need to eat all night, I have decided it is time for her to be introduced to rice cereal. I think she was ever so grateful as she loved it. We dusted off the ole' high chair and like a big girl she sat in it with her spoon ready to go. Here is a picture of her getting her first taste.

Maleah's Baptism

2011-11-06T13:34:00.003-06:00

Today Maleah was baptized. She did great until she realized her hair got wet, and then she wasn't too much of a fan. It was a sweet moment for us to dedicate our baby girl.

Maleah is 4 Months Old!

2011-11-06T09:30:00.000-06:00

Maleah,
You are 4 months old! When I look at you, you no longer look like that tiny little newborn that you once were. You now have a personality that shines with grins and giggles, and are becoming ever more independent each day. Here are a few things about you at this time:
-You can almost roll from your back to your front (I think you would if you really wanted something)
-You have started rice cereal
-You went on a nursing strike right at 4 months, which led you to the late night doctor visit because I thought you had an ear infection. But, nope, it was just you showing your stubborn side
-You are starting to teeth...you chew on everything!
-You LOVE your big brother. He can make you laugh at any given moment. It is so sweet
-You are quickly moving into size 3 diapers and 6-9 month clothing. You are so chunky with lots of rolls it is hard to get clothes to fit your legs!

Nana visits for Halloween

2011-11-05T09:30:00.000-05:00

Nana came to visit and join us for the spooky holiday of Halloween. We had so much fun! We went to Noah's school to do trunck-or-treat, to the pumpkin patch at Tate Farms, and to the park. During Nana's visit Maleah got her first taste of real food (rice cereal) and is almost rolling over and Noah has fun pretending to be a police officer and firefighter with Nana. We always enjoy her visits and have been lucky to have her here. We will be sad when she leaves.

Halloween

2011-11-04T09:07:00.004-05:00

We had a great Halloween this year. Maleah posed as a penguin, though she was a little too chunky for her costume, so I gave in to her grunts and let her go with the orange shirt for trick-or-treating. Noah decided he would like to be a fireman. (His new obsession since the fire truck came to visit him at school) We started off going to trunk-or-treat at Noah's school where Noah made out with some candy and toys. Then, we met up with some friends on Halloween night for some trick-or-treating in the neighborhood behind us. Maleah sported in the baby bjorn and took a quick nap while we racked in the candy. By the end of then night, we had some tired kids. Finally, after eating a few pieces of candy, Noah left his bucket of loot for the candy fairy. She so wonderfully left him some fun toys in in bucket the next morning. Noah thinks this is pretty amazing!

Super Mom...

2011-10-22T17:13:00.002-05:00

Well, that is what I feel like these days. Kidding. For as long as I can remember I have struggled with the joy of cooking. I LOVE to bake everything and anything, but cooking has just not been my favorite thing to do. Then came Noah. It got not only tough to find things to cook for two picky eaters, but finding the time was hard. Now, with two kids I find time to be even more scarce. So, I have looked at all my options: Hire a personal chef, order in daily, freezer cook, or just stop eating. Hmmm...tough choice. I chose the personal chef, however my checkbook reminded me that I should probably choose again.
So, I began the journey of dabbling in crock pot cooking. The problem for me is that most of the recipes I found online were just not something my family would eat. In conversation with my dear friend Sandra, she handed me a book that changed my (and my family's) life. It is called "Fix it Fast, Cook it Slow" Apparently this author devoted herself to crock pot cooking for a whole year and started a blog to track it. Now it is the most visited site for crock pot users and her book is full of the best meals. All I can say is AMAZING! Each week I pick 7 recipes and we try them out. I have yet to find something that my family won't eat. We have done chicken pot pie, pulled pork sandwiches, spaghetti, cheeseburger soup, chicken tacos...and so on. I truly can say I have not turned on my oven in over three weeks. It feels so good to know that when dinner time comes around in our house I have something warm and yummy to offer, and a variety at that! I have found a new passion for cooking...well crock potting that is!

Auntie Chrystal Visits

2011-10-20T12:51:00.000-05:00

Aunt Chrystal came to visit us and to meet Maleah. We spent some time hiking and going on the Huntsville Ghost Walk. We had such a great time. Noah loved it when Aunt Chrystal would sing "pee pee on the potty" and Maleah liked wearing Chrystal's sunglasses. We are so glad that she came to visit!

Backyard Camping

2011-10-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

Ryan came over and joined us in our backyard camping adventure. We pulled out the fire pit and pitched the tent in the backyard. Noah loved it! Especially the smores by the fire! He also loved sleeping in the tent in the backyard.

Tate Farms

2011-10-13T13:43:00.006-05:00

We to the kids to the Tate Farms Pumpkin Patch. Noah, of course had a blast. There were tractors everywhere and tons of things to play on. It was a beautiful day and we were able to enjoy all that it had to offer. Maleah also enjoyed her time, short of all the crazy pictures mommy had to pose her for! In the end, we came home with two very tired kids and a bunch of pumpkins to be cooked and carved!

Noah's Fort

2011-10-06T16:20:00.001-05:00

Noah decided to build himself a fort in his closet. I thought he was building a store to sell diapers.

Pretty Girl

2011-10-06T16:13:00.001-05:00

Here are a few shots that I took of my pretty little lady. She is getting so big, and I am having so much fun dressing her up!

Argh!

2011-10-01T15:42:00.002-05:00

Noah has been into watching "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" on Disney in the mornings. It is a very educational show that our whole family enjoys. However, Noah has realized that Captain Hook is not very nice and takes whatever he wants. So last night while talking about going to his friends birthday party we had a discussion like this:
Mom: Are you excited to go to Maddy's party?
Noah: Yes, I want to blow out the candles on her cake
Mom: Well, you won't blow out the candles on her cake because it is Maddy's birthday and she will be doing it
Pause--
Noah: Well then I will be like Captain Hook and take her candles away!

3 Months Old!

2011-10-01T14:56:00.002-05:00

To my dear sweet girl,
You are 3 months old already. You have grown so much in the past couple of months it is hard to believe. I love your marshmallow cheeks and rolly legs. You have moved to 6 month clothing and size two diapers. You have started trying to sit up on your own, straining so hard to lift our head in your car seat. We like to call it "sit up till you spit up" because you will actually make yourself spit up trying so hard to sit up! You have also found your thumb. I guess that means that you might be taking after your mommy. I try to give you a paci and you will take it, but soon after I will find your thumb in your mouth. You have started to smile and giggle more than ever and you just love your big brother. Finally, you are starting to hold your head up during tummy time. I have a feeling that you will be crawling before I know it. It is hard for me to even think of you growing up as I want you to stay my little baby girl forever. I love your mellow happy personality and look forward to seeing how you will progress. You are such a great joy to our family and we thank God everyday for you.
Love.
Mom

Bing! Clothes are done...

2011-09-24T13:09:00.000-05:00

Noah has decided that this is his favorite place to hide...and scare me!

Funny Sneeze

2011-09-23T12:29:00.003-05:00

Maleah thinks it is funny when you sneeze. Check out this video and pictures of her reaction to a sneeze. She is pretty cute when she giggles!

My Precious Babes

2011-09-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Noah loves to hold his baby sister and share his toys with her. Today we let Noah sit next to Maleah and every time he looked at him she smiled. I think this is the beginning of a precious relationship...I think they like each other. Noah has started asking where Maleah is when he doesn't see her around and when she cries he loves to give her a paci. And, she loves to watch Noah when he plays.

Shots of our growing girl

2011-09-12T10:00:00.001-05:00

Noah's Big Boy Bike

2011-09-11T19:15:00.003-05:00

Noah finally earned his big boy bike by not having any accidents. He has mastered potty training and therefore got to pick out a bike. So, here is our big boy and his bike. He loves it (and his new helmet) and would ride it all day if we would let him!

Nana's Visit Continued

2011-09-09T15:22:00.003-05:00

I am a little late on this, but I finally found some more pictures of when Nana was here to meet Maleah. Looking at these pictures, I cannot believe how much Maleah has grown since then! We sure had a nice time with Nana here!

1st day of Preschool

2011-09-06T19:56:00.002-05:00

Noah started preschool today. He was very excited to wear his new clothes and use his cool new lunch box and backpack. When I pulled into the car drop off line I told him that I would be back to get him in a few hours and he seemed to be receptive. The teacher took him out of his car seat and he walked hand in hand with her. I was told he only got sad for a short while. His daily report said that he had no accidents at potty time, and that he learned about the color yellow, the circle and letter A. He has been talking all afternoon about his new friends and the song 'ring around the rosie' which he sang at school. I think he is going to enjoy this school year. He was pretty proud of himself. He wouldn't let me change him out of his school clothes and at dinner, as I ran my hand through his hair, he informed me "not to touch his hair because he has hair gel in". My big boy!

2011-09-02T16:51:00.001-05:00

I still can't believe that I have two cute babes! Here are a couple updated shots. They are both getting so big!

Masterpiece

2011-09-02T14:52:00.000-05:00

Noah loves to paint. And even more so, he loves to make a mess! What a big boy!

My Babes

2011-08-31T14:50:00.001-05:00

This just warms my heart!

Maleah's Two Months Old

2011-08-31T14:42:00.003-05:00

Dear Maleah,

What an exciting time for us. You are growing so much everyday and we so enjoy watching you change. You are steadily growing out of your clothes, as I am trying to hold on to your 3 month clothing, not ready to move you up a size. And, you are much more awake these days. You have longer wakeful periods in which we enjoy your coos and smiles. Nothing warms my heart more than to watch you coo and then give me a great big smile. You are starting to get your own look and I find myself wondering what you are going to be like someday. You have started sleeping in your own room this month too. I think this has been just as hard for you as it has been for me. Each day you are getting more confident in sleeping on your own. What a big girl! I think you have lots more in store for us in the coming months.

I love you princess!

Love,

Mom

My Growing Girl

2011-08-22T10:01:00.003-05:00

Maleah is starting to be more alert and enjoys cooing and kicking. Her favorite thing to do is tummy time and lay in her bouncy seat. She loves to kick her feet and make the seat bounce. Often she gets her chair going enough that I think big brother has been after her. Ha! She is also starting to enjoy her swing some. Yesterday she started responding with smiles to daddy and that was neat to see. I just love watching her grow and change everyday.

Look! I wiped myself!

2011-08-22T09:58:00.003-05:00

The house was just a little too quiet...Noah had decided to unroll a whole roll of toilet paper to wipe his bottom. He was so proud that he wiped by himself. Thank goodness I caught him before he flushed!

2 Month Stats

2011-08-21T13:15:00.003-05:00

Maleah had her two month check up and here are the results:
Weight: 13lbs 3oz--Off the chart!
Height: 22.5in--85%
Head: 37in--25%
She is a growing girl!

Potty Training Update

2011-08-21T13:09:00.002-05:00

Well we are just about a week out from when Noah decided he was no longer going to wear diapers. It has been amazing! I was really worried about this process as I have heard so many terrible stories. But I guess Noah has truly decided he was ready. He has been going #1 and #2 on his own with no accidents. I have even ventured out of the house a couple of times with him and he has been good telling me that he has to go. And, last night he woke up and came in our room to tell us that he had to go potty and then he ran into the bathroom. So, even at night he is not having accidents. I am so excited!!! Noah has set his mind on getting a big boy bike with training wheels and is not far from getting one. His chart is quickly filling up with stickers! I am so proud of my big boy!

Family Day at the Zoo

2011-08-15T11:05:00.004-05:00

This weekend, we took the kids to the Birmingham Zoo. It had been a while since we have been and it was a blast! Noah got to ride the train with Daddy and most of the animals were out. Noah especially enjoyed seeing the Lion. Maleah also enjoyed the ride as she got to both sport the Bjorn and her new double stroller! Noah also got to feed the giraffes. The zookeeper gave him pellets to throw and she was amazed at how far he could throw them. Noah actually had a small audience watching him throw the pellets to the animals. We were told that he is going to be a baseball player. Ha! Maleah enjoyed some fresh air and sun and I suspect she also enjoyed all the attention she attracted for being so cute and little. I can't wait to go back when she is a bit older to see how she responds to the animals!

Potty Training

2011-08-15T10:57:00.004-05:00

After a visit last week from a friend whose daughter is potty trained, Noah decided that he also wanted to use the big potty. He told me that diapers were for babies like Maleah. I have tried over and over to introduce him to either the portable frog potty or the big potty and usually he would just pee in front of them. So, when he initiated it, I thought I would give it a try. As soon as I pulled out the elmo toilet seat, he was ready to roll. I know I have a ways to go with this potty training, but so far he has practically done it himself. In four days he has only had one accident. He wakes up dry, and will go straight to the potty in the morning. And, today he started pooping in the potty. We told him that he could have the big boy bike that he has been wanting when he no longer uses diapers and he seems to be responding to that very well. He now has big boy under ware-spiderman by request. This surely has been an exciting month in our home with Maleah joining us and Noah growing up on us!

My Engineer

2011-08-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

Who needs toys when you have kitchen gadgets. Noah got into my utensils this morning and decided to build a tower. I was amazed at his ability to stack and balance these spoons. After he spent a few minutes building them he asked me to take these pictures and then proceeded to "make them fall down" with his tractor. He had a lot of fun and I enjoyed watching his creativity.

Growing Girl

2011-08-11T09:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Maleah,

It is hard to believe that you are already a month old. Time is going by so fast. You are growing like crazy and as of yesterday you were already 12.5lbs. Hard to believe. At your three week appointment you were 10lbs 6oz and 20 3/4 in. You certainly have been doing some growing. You now have legs full of rolls. Your doctor asked me what formula you were on and when I told him you weren't his jaw dropped. Obviously a good sign. You have struggled with acid reflux like your brother, but you have been a trooper. You are good sleeper, actually a very sleepy baby. I have a hard time getting you to stay awake. You are also learning to be a tough girl as your brother likes to be a bit rough with you. I think it will be fun to watch you hold your own with him someday. Imagine the surprise when you are able to move around! For this reason we decided to give you your own room. This past weekend, we began the "pink explosion" in our third bedroom. I think you will like having your own space. Your brother also enjoys his own room and his new big bed. I am looking forward to watching you grow and seeing your personality. I feel so blessed to have you and I will never forget the sweet words that were announced on June 30th: IT'S A GIRL! I love you so much!!

Yum!

2011-08-10T09:49:00.000-05:00

And more melons from noah's garden. Yummy!

G&G Parker's Visit

2011-08-09T09:43:00.003-05:00

Grandma and Grandpa Parker came to meet Maleah and spend some time with Noah. Here are a few pictures from their visit. We had lots of fun playing outside in the hot heat, visiting early works, and holding Maleah.

Nana's Visit

2011-08-09T09:39:00.004-05:00

Here are a few pictures from Nana's visit. Maleah enjoyed her first bath and lots of snuggles. Noah also enjoyed his time playing with nana!

Adjusting to two

2011-07-24T20:28:00.003-05:00

Well, my mom left yesterday and now I am officially on my own. (Pictures of nana's visit to come) I would have to say that adjusting to two kiddos has been harder than I thought. Though Noah loves his little sis or "poopy princess" as he calls her, he is just too rough. I cannot leave her in site of him in fear of what he will do and I have had to go to great measures to train him to leave her alone. Her swing now sits in the living room with blue painters tape drawing a box around it so he knows his boundaries. And, we cannot have any hard toys near her as he likes to take his hammer and screwdriver and "fix" her. He has also decided that he needs to be a baby too. So, during meals, he wants to be fed and he loves to pull the outlet covers out of the wall and suck on them as he calls them his "paci". I am so glad that I didn't potty train him as I think he would have put himself back in diapers anyway. Needless to say, it has been quite the adjustment. I think this is one of my greatest challenges yet, as I feel terrible that my little man is jealous, but I just don't have it all down yet. I am praying for guidance and patience for each day as we all adjust to our new family unit.

Check out my melons

2011-07-24T20:25:00.001-05:00

Noah is growing cantaloupe in his garden and as you can see he is very proud of his harvest. So far he has 9 large ones almost ready to pull and eat. Here is the proud farmer and his produce!

Big Brother Love

2011-07-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

Noah loves to hold his baby sister. He showers her will kisses and loves to rub her hair. Today he asked to hold her all by himself. So, we set him up on the couch with her and let him have some quality time. She stayed awake most of the time and it was so cute to watch them together. At one point she started to fuss and he looked at her and said "what's wrong with her? She needs her blankie. Nana, go get her blankie please!" It was so cute! I am so grateful that we have not dealt with too many issues and that he is taking to his sissy well. They are such a cute pair!

One Week Old

2011-07-12T13:00:00.001-05:00

Maleah is a week old and we are all adjusting well. She is a very easy baby so far. Our biggest problem is getting her to wake up to eat. I believe that if I didn't wake her, so would not wake during the night. This is such a contrast to her brother who woke to eat every hour and a half! She loves her snuggles with all of us as she never gets put down! Big brother is also enjoying his time with her. He loves to shower her with kisses! And, nana and mommy are having fun dressing her up with pink and bows! I LOVE all her hair!

First Bath

2011-07-11T20:51:00.002-05:00

Nana gave Maleah her first bath. She didn't mind her hair being washed, but was not a fan of having her body washed. She sure smelled good afterwards though!

It's a girl!!

2011-07-02T09:34:00.004-05:00

Well, ladies and gentelman, we have a new member to our family! Maleah Kailey was born on June 30th at 1:28pm weighing in at 7lbs 15oz and 20 inches long! (The best birthday present mommy could ever ask for!) She has a full head of hair and is just wonderful! Labor and Delivery was smoother than I could have ever expected. They started my potocin at 5:30am and by about 8:00am I got my epideral (which was heaven!). At 1:00pm Maleah was station 3 and ready to be born. After 20 minutes of pushing, she was born!

Nana and big brother came to visit Maleah and Noah did really well. He wanted to hold her all by himself and did pretty well other than wanting to poke her eyes and head. Here are a couple of pictures we took. Also, you can go to http://www.bellababyphotography.com/login and use the password 0630 to view her professional pictures. We will get them posted as soon as we get them.

Lock Out

2011-06-29T08:31:00.003-05:00

Yesterday while cooking dinner I stepped out the back door to grab some veggies from our garden. As I was approaching the door, Noah, who was still inside decided to lock it. Somehow I knew this day would come. It just so happened that I did not have an extra key and my neighbor who has the spare was not home either. As I banged on the door, Noah would stand there and laugh at me. Then he would run to the playroom, grab toys and bring them to show me with an occasional wave of hello. As I begged him to unlock the door, he would say "I can't unlock it" and run to the chair in the living room and just laugh at me. So, there I was, 9 months pregnant standing in my husband's flip flops and my 'kiss the cook' apron staring through a glass door as my dinner sits cooking on the stove and my son giggles at the site of locking me out. What a site. After about 20 minutes, long enough to let me imagination run wild, Noah came back to the door. I finally was able to convince him to unlock the door. To my surprise, he had also dead bolted me out. I had no idea he even knew how to work the locks, let alone reach the deadbolt. He surprises me with new things everyday and teaches me great lessons such as hiding a spare key somewhere!

Our Growing Family

2011-06-29T07:48:00.006-05:00

We recently got together with an old co-worker of mine and he took these pictures. This is Noah at 2.5 years old as well as a couple family shots including the baby belly. We went to a place just down the road from our house that was really cool. The property had a grape vineyard, barn and old chimneys. It was perfect!

Less than 24 hours to go

2011-06-29T07:30:00.002-05:00

For weeks now I have been dreaming of the day I could not only hold my sweet baby, but regain my body back. Now here I stand just one day, less than 24 hours, until I start the process of labor. And honestly I am a bit overwhelmed. Maybe this is why God created labor to be mysterious, so that you wouldn't be in control of when it would happen. From my experience with Noah, once you are labor, you just plug through and don't have a lot of time to be anxious, which was nice. On the other hand knowing the date has helped us plan and prepare. I guess there are perks to each side. It is just so hard to wrap my mind around that fact that sometime tomorrow I will be a mother of two, responsible for double diaper changing & feeding. And, that this will be my last time pregnant. With all the challenges of being pregnant and uncomfortable, it is truly the most amazing thing I have ever gone through. And, for that I thank God everyday. Not just for my beautiful children, but for the opportunity to feel them grow and move inside my belly. And to see what a miracle having a baby is. I imagine as the day comes to a close tonight, these emotions with continue to stir. But, I am comforted that my heavenly father is in control of this great miracle and that tomorrow everything will go smooth. I am excited to share the news, so please keep us in your prayers.

Awaiting Peanut

2011-06-24T17:04:00.002-05:00

I had my 37 week checkup last monday and I am still 2cm. I feel like baby is working on getting here as I am very uncomfortable! Dave and I decided that we would opt for the induction for June 30th. That way my mom will be here (she arrives the night before) and we can make better arrangements. I had a very rough labor with Noah and I really want to make sure that this time my doctor is the one to deliver according to my birth plan. Also, I think it would be very special to share my birthday with baby. What a great gift! So, as of now, I am scheduled to start the process at 4am on June 30th. My doctor said baby should arrive no later than dinner time. (Sounds too good to be true!!) Now that we have set a date, I am just waiting for the surprise labor like noah. He decided to come a day before we were going to induce. So I have been frantically packing and organizing everything. The past two days I have been getting strong back pain which has made it hard to do anything...maybe it's a sign!

Garden Progress

2011-06-13T18:21:00.003-05:00

My lettuce is getting big!

My garden is growing like crazy! I now have little tomatoes starting to sprout and so far about 7 cucumbers on the vine. Last night I got to eat some of my lettuce and radishes. Yum! It is so much fun to see my hard work pay off. Now I am just hoping that my carrots and cantaloupe give me a chance!

36 Weeks, 3 Days

2011-06-13T17:05:00.002-05:00

Went to the doctor today and had an ultrasound done. It was so awesome to see the baby!! It certainly has done some growing since the 20 week ultrasound. At one point we got a really clear picture of the face and baby was sucking it's fingers! I really started to tear up at that point. There was my baby!! The ultrasound tech said she could see the sex, which was harder for me than I thought. Good thing Dave was there to keep me honest! Anyway, baby is healthy and measuring in at 6lbs 14oz (+/- 10%). This was encouraging to hear as they are saying that maybe this baby won't be THAT big! They are saying it will be close to what Noah was, and he was 8.5 lbs. So, I think 9lbs. I was also excited to find out that I am now 2cm along...so at this point I am making progress towards labor! Yay! So, for now I will just keep on with my crazy list of nesting projects and wait. I am looking forward to holding my baby in just 3.5 weeks. Yay!

More Noah Quotes

2011-06-07T14:44:00.002-05:00

Well, the language just keeps exploding and when it does he says the craziest things. I love seeing his little personality come out. Here are a few of the newest ones:

-While driving downtown one morning I was drinking my coffee. Noah sat in the backseat repeating "Mommy put your coffee down and put your hand on the wheel." Finally to appease him I did so. He then responded with "Thank you. Two hands on the wheel!"

-Mommy, I need ice cream cone. (Thank you grandpa parker for introducing that one. lol!)

-While playing Lions, Tigers and Bears I told Noah that I was scared of the lion. He replied with "Mommy, lion not scary. He just eats food and water!"

-"Mom, let's sing the poop song." I don't even know what the poop song is.

-If Noah doesn't like what he is eating he responds with one of these: "I don't like it, there is..."
a)bugs in it
b)pee in it
c)its just yucky

-I am still "pissing him off." Any suggestions for removing words? I can't seems to figure out where this one came from. Urg!

-While I was cleaning the kitchen, Noah took the broom and started cleaning the floor. He said, "mom, I am sweeping the yucky crumbs up." When he was done he handed me the broom and said "That was easy!"

Baby Shower for Peanut

2011-06-07T14:38:00.003-05:00

My friend Erin (above picture) threw me a shower for peanut. It was so lovely! We stuffed our faces, enjoyed yummy cupcakes, and shared labor stories. We got lots of great things, like diapers and wipes. I am so thankful for all my friends who joined me and can't wait to share baby with them.

35 Weeks and Some Days

2011-06-07T14:27:00.004-05:00

And the bonding begins...

Well, I feel like I could burst! As you can see, my belly is no longer small. Though it is fun to sport the swallowed watermelon look, I am truly uncomfortable. This Alabama heat hasn't helped either. With being in the high 90s I am swelling up like crazy! It's terrible how many times I have to change my clothes during the day. I went to the doctor yesterday for my first weekly checkup. My regular doctor wasn't in, so I saw a new one in the practice. She measured my belly and then said "so you are 39 weeks then, right?" When I told her no she quickly looked at my chart and her jaw hit the floor. I am still measuring 4 weeks ahead. Just like I did with Noah. So, as much as I would love to believe that my due date is wrong, I know it is just a big baby brewing in there. She has scheduled me for an ultrasound next week as she would like to look at the due date again. On the other hand, I was already 1cm dilated, so maybe I will luck out and go early. (Crossing fingers!) I truly hate to complain about the discomfort as I do still remember what life will be like with a newborn...and now with a toddler in the mix. Yikes.

My first garden...progress

2011-06-07T14:16:00.003-05:00

Lettuce...I have three heads even though they are not in season

Looks empty, but it won't be for long. This bed has lettuce, cantaloupe and squash

This bed has radish, carrots, tomatoes, beans, cilantro, basil, cucumber and peppers

Well, I don't have the best green thumb, but I have been dying to have a garden. Nothing is better than fresh veggies and fruit. So, my friend and I are trying the square foot garden method. This is where you section off the garden in one by one foot squares. Through this method you will be able to plant more variety all year long. It looks neat too. Though I am new to this, I have already found that I put way too many seeds in the ground so I just recently learned how to "thin" my garden! At 35 weeks pregnant and with some Alabama heat, it was quite the experience! My radishes are almost ready to eat and I have been loving the basil. I am looking forward to eating the rest!

Happy Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T19:11:00.002-05:00

We had a wonderful holiday enjoying the warm (um, HOT) sunshine. We decided to go to Ditto Landing with Uncle Christian and Ryan. We lit up the grill and enjoyed watching all the people in their boats going down the river. Noah was really into the fact that Christian was fishing and wanted to fish too.

34 Weeks

2011-05-29T15:04:00.002-05:00

Well, I am at the home stretch...6 weeks to go. (Or less!) At this point in the game, I am still measuring 3-4 weeks ahead indicating a big baby-no surprise there! My doctor seems to think I should be fine to go on my own since I did with Noah, but there is still some talk about being induced a little early. So, we shall see. Baby is very active, which is getting tough for me with there being not so much room in my tummy any more! And, with all the heat that we are getting I am starting to swell up, which is not so comfortable! I am still making it to the gym, but slowing down. I think I feel more like the turtle than the hare. We have finally started preparing by pulling out our neutral clothing and all the baby gear. It is getting exciting! I am starting to to get anxious to see our baby and find out if peanut is a "he" or "she".

Safe Room

2011-05-24T19:10:00.002-05:00

Introducing our new Tornado Shelter! It was delivered and installed this morning. After the storm we were on a waiting list for over 3 weeks waiting for ours to be made. It is bolted through the foundation of our garage, and will not be going anywhere. (Unless we opt to move it someday!) This shelter will hold five people and is strong enough to withstand a F5 Tornado. I was told that you can stack 10 cars on top and it will still stand! I am so much more content to know that I have a place to take my family during the storms. And I have to admit, I never thought this would be something that I would own!

Short Stories

2011-05-24T18:56:00.005-05:00

The other night while eating dinner Noah got out of his chair and started running out of the kitchen. We asked him where he was going and he said "My phone is ringing". We then told him that he would have to let it go to voicemail and to come back to the table until he asks to get down. He then climbed back up on his chair and said "May I get down please? My phone is ringing and I have to get it".

Noah is really into cake right now. He likes to pretend that he is making cake, then he gives everyone a piece. While I was pretending eat my piece with Noah I asked him if I could have more. He replied "No, you have had plenty!" Wonder where he has heard that!

While shopping at Target for a birthday present for one of Noah's friends, Noah decided that he too should get a present. He spotted a toy that he wanted and asked me for it. I told him that it was not his birthday and that he would have to wait. He replied "Darn it mom, you are pissing me off!" This was not a proud moment for me as a mom....it was quite embarrassing as onlookers stood by!

31 Weeks

2011-05-06T11:37:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I went in for my 31 week checkup. It's hard to believe that the longest part of my pregnancy is now behind me and I am down to 9 weeks! Everything is looking good with baby so far. The heartbeat is steady around 140-142. And, to wreak my fairytale dream of having a small baby, I am measuring 4 weeks ahead. LOL. This baby feels solid...so much bigger at this point then I remember Noah feeling. They have decided that at 36 weeks they will do an ultrasound to see if they can get a better guess at size. With Noah, I predicted his weight perfectly at 8.5 lbs and with this one I will go ahead and venture to say 9.5 to maybe 10lbs. Yep, kinda starting to freak me out! Guess I better just pull out the three month clothing, as there will not be any newborn stuff here!

2011 Tornado Outbreak Cont

2011-05-03T17:41:00.003-05:00

Well, after the storms were over we were not only left with a path of destruction in the community but with no power-in our case for about 6 days. We were very lucky that right after the storms Dave was able to locate and purchase a generator. One of the best investments we have ever made! It kept our fridge cold and our sanity intact. Short of not having hot water, we felt somewhat normal. We were also blessed with several days of beautiful weather so we were able to just relax outside in the yard. We used this downtime as "urban camping". So, we pulled out the fire pit and roasted over the fire and used candle light at night. The stars where so beautiful! The chaos was another story for the first few days though. The day after the storms hit we thought we would pack up and stay in Tennessee until we heard it was bumper to bumper for hours to get out of town. (This is when we got the generator) Then, we had to locate gas....with racing to the border with hundreds of others it was hours of waiting and disappointment as stations ran out. After a long afternoon we were able to fill our cans and return home to ride it out.
I want to say that although there was so much devastation and hundreds of people lost their lives, there was some good that came out of this. Good that I think only can come from bringing people together through a disaster and softening of so many hearts. Here is what I have seen out of it:
-Communities pulling together to get the work done
-Neighbors taking the time to greet and meet each other without the distractions of the world
-People ready to give you the shirt off their back
-Less tempers--more eye contact and understanding
-Prayer and thanksgiving
-A feeling of calm and peace...there was nothing to do but relax and help your neighbors. No Internet, phone, bills, work, shopping, soccer games....just peace and quiet
Finally, I just hope that as the power is starting to light our community again, it will not take these things away. I pray that we all remember these days and let the impact sink in moving forward. When the day to day to do lists start calling us, I hope that we are able to stop and take a breath and realize that each day is a blessing and there is much to enjoy about them. Our family has vowed to start a family tradition in honor of this storm outbreak. Every year on this date we will shut our breakers down and urban camp for the night to remind us of all that we have.
"Thank you Lord for protecting so many of us and letting us see the good through it all." Amen.

2011 Tornado Outbreak

2011-05-03T17:13:00.007-05:00

This is what a F4 Tornado will do to your home

Big trees down everywhere

This field is full of debris from what use to be a near by neighborhood

This use to be a grocery store about a mile from our house

Our new fence was having a hard time standing

All the rain started to creep up to our house

On Wednesday, April 27, 2011 our lives were changed forever as a path of storms took its toll on our city and state. I have always had a fear of tornadoes, but we have been so lucky that we have not had too much trouble with them. In the past six years I have seen funnel clouds and heard reports of a few here and there, but nothing like this. I know like many we had become complacent and had not prepared as we should have for such a tragedy. That morning as the storms rolled in I began to feel a bit uneasy...especially as we lost power and I realized I didn't have a way of knowing what was going on. As the rain pounded the ground I would call dave at work to find out the status of the incoming storms. Dave came home early, around 3pm, and that is when we had a return of power for a short time. We cooked dinner, and while doing so, I looked out the window and the sky was green. Then, the hail started. (See picture above) At that point we convinced Noah that we were going to camp in the closet with our flashlights for a while. This is apparently when one of the F4 tornadoes hit about a mile from the house. Once the storm had passed we got word that three tornadoes had passed through the area. Once seeing the devastation left behind we realized how lucky we were. If those tornadoes had just went straight and not turned we would have been in their paths. Our home suffered no damage other than a close call to flooding and a leaning fence. So many people lost their homes and businesses from these storms. Our community, however, was lucky to have not lost too many lives, though other parts of our state where not that lucky. I have posted a few pictures of the devastation that we could catch near our home. Driving around in days after there is so much more. I pray that through this we will all take the weather more seriously in the future. There will be a long path to recovery for all of us in many ways. I know for my family, it has left a lasting impression.

Happy Easter 2011

2011-04-26T14:51:00.008-05:00

What a great Easter we had this year! It started off with Noah sleeping in and then with the sound of his bedroom door shutting as usual he instead found his Easter basket than our bed. After a few minutes of wondering where he had gone, we found him in the living room enjoying the goodies that the Easter Bunny brought him. He especially enjoyed his new bulldozer! We then had some great fellowship time with our church family and Uncle Christian. When we arrived home it was time to color eggs. Noah LOVED this part. He put on his new apron that the Easter Bunny got him and had a blast dropping the eggs in the to water. At one point I asked him if he would like to make an egg two colors and he looked at me and said "Ohh wow! " It was very cute. We then moved outside (with our 80 degree day) to find eggs that mommy and daddy had hidden. I didn't put anything in the eggs as I figured he wouldn't know any better. To my surprise with each egg find he would say "There nothin in it...I don't see candy" and then proceed to shake the egg. It was quite funny and we all decided that the Easter Bunny must have been hurt by the economy. Noah asked for a new bunny for next year. We are currently interviewing for new candidates. Finally, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with the Klein family. We have been so blessed to be included in their family and so enjoy our time with them. I think Noah was tuckered out by the end of the day, as it only took him five minutes to fall asleep in the car on the way home.

Playtime

2011-04-17T19:08:00.002-05:00

Today was a beautiful day. We spent the afternoon relaxing in the backyard. Uncle Christian came over to visit too. Noah had fun blowing bubbles and riding his "monster truck". He loves to load scrap wood and sand in the back of his pickup and drive it around.

Noah and Peanut

2011-04-17T19:05:00.002-05:00

Noah seems to be getting more excited about being a big brother. He now comes up to me and hugs my belly and gives it a kiss (hence the pictures) and says either "hi baby" or "baby wanna come play with me?" It is heart warming to see the love growing already. He is going to be such a wonderful big brother!

7 Month Belly Pictures

2011-04-17T19:01:00.003-05:00

Well, here it is...28 weeks and growing!

12 weeks to go...

2011-04-15T11:30:00.004-05:00

I cannot believe that I have only 12 weeks left until peanut gets here. Ironically, I have not even started to prepare! I promised Dave I would be more laid back with this baby (as in not having all details planned out the first trimester!) I think Noah has helped me in this too. I guess it makes it easier since we a) don't know the sex and b) the kids are sharing a room. Pretty much other than stocking up on the basics and picking names, I suppose there isn't much to do but wait. Oh, but even a simple task of picking names is difficult. I believe, though this is so out of my character, that we will be arriving at the hospital with just a list of names and not more than that. I have been praising God lately for such a wonderful pregnancy, as my first was not so great. It has been easy to enjoy and fun to watch Noah experience the growth of his little brother or sister. He has become much more protective of me and his "baby sister" as he calls it. For some reason he seems to think it is a girl. He is so funny! Lately he has been very concerned with my belly and how the baby is doing. At night before bed, he hugs my belly, gives it a kiss and says "goodnight baby" It almost brings tears to my eyes. I cannot wait for them to start bonding! But then there are the moments of pure panic where I start to realize how busy I am about to be. It was easy to catch a nap while Noah was sleeping, but now I have a two year old who doesn't nap. Yikes. I guess that is where my prayers lay now. I am going to need a lot of grace! Thankfully so many women do it, I know I will be okay. For now, I am going to just enjoy my time with my boys as we countdown to becoming a family of four.

A few of my favorite things

2011-04-14T13:46:00.005-05:00

This face...it's just too cute Noah has become his own person. He is great at expressing himself and being independent. Here are a few of my favorite quotes: The random "soooooo, spaghetti for dinner?", "Mama, what you doing?", "That sounds good" And during our struggle to maintain nap/quiet time, I hear through the monitor "Mom I made a pine cone. Mama...come get the pine cone!" As I walk into his room he stands stark naked handing me a dirty, yet empty diaper. I ask where the "pine cone" is and he states, "It's dirty...I put it in laundry." (I earned my hard earned dollar that day!) Finally, while grocery shopping Noah stops a clerk and says "Lady, I need a sprinkle cookie please".

Daddy's 34th Birthday

2011-04-01T09:15:00.004-05:00

I think Dave had a fun filled birthday this year. He certainly had lots of love from both friends and family! Noah and I made him a special birthday cake, which Noah was convinced that it was for him. All day he sang "Happy Birthday to Me" and told me how he was going to blow out the candles. Finally by the time we took daddy out to dinner, Noah had decided that daddy could have his birthday and then he was able to sing "Happy Birthday to Daddy". He did insist on blowing the candles out though. We also had a special treat. Grandma & Grandpa Parker joined us via skype to enjoy some Cake and fellowship. We had such a great time seeing them and Noah enjoyed sharing his cake too!

Noah's Recovery

2011-03-18T09:43:00.003-05:00

Well we have passed the two week mark for Noah's surgery. It was a tough recovery the first week. There was nothing that the doctor didn't warn us of, but I don't think you can ever prepare for how your child will respond. Noah was such a trooper, but after over ten days of no sleep in our house and our poor baby being in pain it can wear on any parent! To date, he is now finally eating and drinking (to catch up on all the days he missed!), has a new found love for ice cream (good luck to me on breaking that one!) and is sleeping well. We always take for granted how important air and sleep is. But, now for the first time I have a child who is sleeping through the night without a peep and is sleeping in to 7:30-8:00am! Noah has also started his medication for Acid Reflux, so I am not sure whether I should thank those meds, the surgery or the combination. But that is okay with me, whatever works! We will be heading back to the doctor on April 4th to see how his progress is with the reflux. I am still hearing some 'snorting' in his breathing and am praying that this will all disappear soon. I am so thankful for the advancement in technology and the wonderful doctors that we have so that my little man doesn't have to suffer!

75 Degrees + March + St. Patricks Day

2011-03-18T09:32:00.005-05:00

What is one to do with such a beautiful day here in Alabama? PLAY! Not only was is St. Patricks Day but the weather was awesome!! Noah and I headed downtown to Big Spring Park for the morning to feed the ducks & fish. We also packed a picnic and had a little date. I love dates like this where both the company and weather are fantastic!!

Craft Time

2011-03-18T09:25:00.002-05:00

Noah loves craft time. His favorite thing to do is paint. He doesn't like mommy to help him. As you can see from the pictures, Noah has it all figured out and does a good job. For this craft time he decided to make binoculars for bird watching in the back yard and for bear hunts. And, he made a guitar to rock out. It was a lot of fun!

6 Months

2011-03-13T20:06:00.002-05:00

I think that recently I have had a growth spurt! Peanut is getting so big!! Here baby belly is at 23 weeks. It is going by so fast!

Fresh Air

2011-03-13T19:56:00.002-05:00

Noah having reading time

Riding his bike

Well after 10 days of being housebound from Noah's surgery and having many days of being fussy, we thought we would get some fresh air today. It was a beautiful day so we went to the park down the street from our house. I think it was a great distraction and we all felt relaxed afterwards!

Noah's Surgery

2011-03-03T15:03:00.003-06:00

Getting Noah prepped for surgery

Napping with Daddy after surgery

After some apple juice, a Popsicle, and two cups of Ice cream

Noah was scheduled for his first surgery this morning at 8:45am. He had his tonsils and adenoids taken out. I think the process was more devastating to me than him. Though he was not happy that he was not able to eat or drink anything for breakfast. The surgery itself was about 30 min and they did a great job of taking care of him. Interesting enough, I found that my mother's instinct was again correct. The ENT said that he was surprised to see that Noah's esophagus was swollen and red. He came out after surgery and asked me if Noah had reflux. I explained to him that I was convinced that Noah had it as a baby and had to BEG his doctors to treat him. However, after 6 months (when most babies would outgrow it) they stopped treatment and that was that. It turns out that Noah did have it and he is one of the few that didn't outgrow it. My poor boy. So, they are starting treatment for that and will be watching him to see if it begins to go away. If not, we will start heading towards a specialist to get that resolved. It made me feel good to know that all that research and fighting was for something. As for the huge tonsils and adenoids that Noah had, they were easily removed and we are now on the road to recovery. He is sore and not feeling great as expected, but is doing well. He is loving the fact that he gets to eat ice cream. Right after the surgery he inhaled two bowls! That said, we were able to leave recovery early--he was eating and drinking fine. Now we just pray the next 14 days of recovery will fly by with little discomfort. This was quite an experience and we are so proud of our little trooper!

Peanut's first trip to L&D

2011-03-03T10:42:00.004-06:00

The other day while outside playing with Noah he ran down a hill in our front yard to a ditch. As I followed, my feet quickly lost grip and moved out from under me. Before I knew it, I was on my bum at the bottom of the ditch. In shock I look up to see Noah laughing and asking for me to "do it again!" Since it was almost 5pm I called my OBGYN just to make sure that I knew what to look for. They suggested that I go to L&D and have the baby monitored and check the heart rate. So, assuming it would be a quick trip, I loaded the boys up and headed to the hospital. Oh, how wrong was I! After an hour wait I was placed in a room and hooked up to check for contractions and fetal movement. Everything came out fine for the baby. It looked as if I was just going to walk away with a bruised tail bone! However, in order to be released the on call doctor had to see me. The problem was that she kept getting called into deliveries! So after 4 hours and some convincing that I didn't need to stay overnight, I was released. The ironic thing to me is that part of the reason we went in was that I was not feeling our baby move, but once they got me all settled in, the baby kicked like crazy! Noah and Daddy had fun walking the hospital and Noah loved playing with all the buttons on my bed...including the call button!

Breakfast time at the parkers

2011-03-01T09:39:00.002-06:00

Noah loves to be my big helper, especially when it comes to cooking. He wants his ladder pulled over to the counter so he can help. I love it! This past week we have been working on mixing/stirring ingredients together. So, now he has it mastered. He will hold the bowl with one hand and mix with the other. It is so cute! His favorite thing to make is Waffles. It is so much fun to have a buddy while cooking!