Today... We Went to Target

We pretty much go to Target every day, but today was the first time Noah sat in the shopping cart. I am pretty sure he liked it. Not as much fun as the Baby Bjorn. He didn't laugh a lot, but he definitely was checking it all out. So serious.

Happy Birthday wishes to Grammy! We hope you had a happy day.

A New Place to Play

There is a bouncy seat permanently set-up in our bathroom. Since Noah's birth, it has come in handy. I have been able to plop him in it. Take a shower. Put on my makeup. Dry my hair. Maybe not all at the same time, but throughout the day, it gets done. Noah is as happy as can be to play and bounce. Let me rephrase that... he WAS as happy as can be. Since he has begun to sit up, he is so over being strapped into his bouncy seat. He arches his back and wants OUT! So, today I had to improvise. It seemed to work out pretty well.

It Never Gets Old

Can you ever get enough of messy eating shots? Noah seems to like any food I give him to try... even prunes. I promise this post will not resort to a discussion of baby poop, but let's just say... problem solved.

So This is Christmas, Part Two

We drove home on Christmas Day, and lo and behold, Santa had made a stop at our house. Momma and Daddy let Noah open these presents himself. Noah got some new books, stacking blocks, and some huge foam shapes for when he decides to get mobile. Right now, they make great teethers... definitely not a choking hazard.

Momma must have been very good this year because I got an iPhone and a new digital camera. And, you just thought I took a lot of pictures before. Thanks Santa, what great gifts!

P.S. - Santa was good for Daddy too. Anyone interested in trying out for our Rock Band?

So This is Christmas

And, what have we done?

Noah was such a good boy on our trip to Louisiana. He napped and slept very well. He was a little grouchy in the evenings, but only because we kept him up a little past his normal bedtime. You can't go to sleep at 6:30 PM during Christmas!

Noah got to spend some quality time with all his cousins. They were really excited to see him, and they all took turns holding him.

Noah also got to hang out with his friend, Little Miss Madison. Noah thought she looked adorable and tried to tell her so by grabbing her face. Noah still needs a little work in the romance department.

The big event was opening presents at Grammy and Papa's on Christmas Eve. Noah missed the entire thing. Yep. He snoozed right through it. It was fun and definitely chaotic. Daddy and I decided to open Noah's gifts ourselves. We knew he wouldn't mind. We loved all the gifts, and I know that Noah will too. Some of our favorites: puppets, Wee Sing DVDs, and Infantino blocks from Grammy, flash cards from Uncle D, Aunt Sarah, and the girls, jock in the box from Nanny Aunt Mo, Uncle Jeff, and the boys, and a Spiderman bib from the boys.

Noah woke up from his nap merry and bright... totally oblivious to what he missed during his long snooze.

Happy Christmas!

Twas the Week Before Christmas...

I wish I had something really fun and exciting to post, but the fact is that nothing fun and exciting has been happening over here lately. We have been gearing up for Christmas. All packed and ready for our drive to LA tomorrow. We did have a couple of fun outings this week.

On Tuesday, we had a play date with Claire at the children's museum. It was definitely fun and thankfully, not as exciting as last time. My how they have grown!

We met Daddy for lunch in the medical center on Wednesday. This outing did have a little excitement. While waiting for Daddy outside the med school, Noah got fussed by a security guard for sitting too close to the fountain. Also, he almost wasn't let into the building because apparently babies need a special permission slip. Who knew? It sure was difficult getting in to see Daddy. Maybe we will just wait for him at home next time.

And, today we went to my work Christmas party, my old work. Noah got to take another picture with Santa. This time, he was a little more interested in the tree than Santa.

After chatting with Noah today, Santa decided to stop by tonight and drop off an early Christmas gift, TMX Elmo. Apparently, Noah got his list in too late this year, and Santa had to wing it. Noah definitely did not ask for this toy. If I had to guess, Santa's thinking pattern in deciding on a gift for Noah went something like this... Noah's favorite book is about Elmo. Noah's momma kind of sounds like Elmo when she talks. Tickle Me Elmo Extreme is supposed to be the hottest toy this year (or was that last year.) Anyway, let's just say... Noah hated it. I know hate is a strong word, but I couldn't think of a stronger one. At least, I now know what Noah looks like when he gets scared out of his wits. Sorry Noah. Better luck next year Mr. Claus.

Mmm... Delicious

Noah is loving his rice cereal. We have even thrown a little carrots and bananas into the mix. He is getting really good at eating, and he is quickly working his way towards feeding himself. It is a little messy, but it sure is cute.

Isn't She Lovely

Noah and I were out and about today picking up a few things for Christmas. He was in a great mood and was happy to interact with anyone interested in talking. This is what Noah was wearing today.

Cute, huh? Blue. Such a great color... for BOYS. It amazes me how many people think Noah is a girl. "Isn't she a happy baby!" "How old is she?" "Isn't she lovely!" Seriously. He is wearing blue! I maybe can understand the mistake when he is dressed up in a little bubble or jumper. I mean, he is a pretty baby, but he was wearing blue today. Not just blue, but blue overalls. With all the adorable girl clothes out there, why would I be dressing my baby girl in blue overalls? Why do people ignore this? Maybe they are color blind. Sigh. I got tired of correcting people today, so by the time, the third friendly lady came along, I just smiled and moved on because really, does it matter that some stranger thinks Noah is a girl?

Sniff Sniff and Christmas Cheer

The deed is done. Noah has officially been moved to his very own room. I had to pick up the Pack 'n Play to resist all temptation. He is doing great with the transition. He had a really good night last night 6:30 PM to 4:30 AM then 5:00 AM to 6:30 AM. Ahhh... I think we have turned a sleep corner. For anyone wondering, Momma and Daddy are also doing OK with the transition. Maybe not as well as Noah, but we are doing just fine.

On a happier note, Noah and I helped our friend, Jessica trim her Christmas tree today. Noah was looking particularly festive in his reindeer jumper made by Grammy. Thanks Gram... it fits perfectly! Noah thought decorating was so much fun and was laughing and talking the whole time. I just know he was trying to say, "Mrs. Jessica, su árbol de Navidad parece encantador!"

I Love This Picture!

If you read my blog, you more than likely got a Christmas card from me, and if you got a Christmas card from me and you read my blog, you pretty much know that I used the same picture that was posted here. I tried to take another one. I really did, but I just couldn't recreate the moment. It is my favorite picture of Noah to date. I love it so much that I have it everywhere.

I mean everywhere. Not only is it on our Christmas card, but it is posted on our refrigerator. It is the wallpaper on my cell phone and on my computer. It is framed in our dining room. It is even the gift tags for all our Christmas gifts. Like I said, I am totally addicted to this picture. The funniest part of the picture is what was happening outside of the frame. This is how Noah was dressed that day. I mean... it was game day!

Smarty Pants

Noah first rolled from his back to belly at around 2 months. He first rolled from belly to back at about 3.5 months. I could probably count on one hand the number of times he has rolled over since. It isn't that he can't do it... it is more like, "been there, done that." Perfect example. This morning, in an attempt to encourage him to roll over and reach for toys, I put all his toys next to him on the floor. I put them just out of arms reach, so he would have to roll over to get to them. Do you think he rolled over? Of course not! He instead pulled the blanket closer to him, and in doing so, the toys moved closer right with it. Same outcome, less energy exerted. What a smarty pants!

Solid Success?

Noah had his six month doctor's appointment today. He is still all over the place on the growth chart. 60% for length, 25% for weight, 6% for head circumference. Tall and skinny. Go figure. He had to get more shots, which he was not happy about, but after a good, long nap, he really didn't seem to mind.

The doctor also gave us the go ahead to start solids. I think it went alright. He really enjoyed the spoon and got really upset when we took it away. I think he was ok with the cereal, but I am really not sure if it would have mattered whether the spoon had cereal on it or not. After a while, he just plain got mad about the whole thing. I figured it was time to stop and to try again tomorrow. Here are some pictures from our first attempt at the good stuff.

Noah Meets Santa

Noah had his first run in today with the "man with the bag." I think he enjoyed the visit. Momma made sure that Santa knew how very good Noah had been this year. Noah thought Santa was pretty great. He especially loved the fuzzy trim on Santa's coat. Noah was dressed to represent in his cute Santa smocked jumper. Lucky him, he matched Santa's chair too.

One More Thing

Oh... yeah. Can I have a national championship game too please? Geaux Tigers!

All I Want for My Half-Birthday...

Is an SEC Championship. Can there possibly be any more headlines, drama, and distractions (and more headlines) surrounding this game?

Noah turns 6 months today, and it is so hard to believe he has only been here a half year. Dean and I both said recently... "what did we ever do before little Mister No?" I have vague memories of a full night's sleep, but other than that our house must have been so empty without him. He is the best thing ever. Happy Half-Birthday Noah!

Can You Feel the Love?

I snapped this shot of Daddy playing with his little guy in our backyard. Thanks Daddy for the nap this afternoon. I definitely needed it. In case anyone is wondering, 5:00 AM is still early.

Naked Sam on the Loose

On Nanny Aunt Mo’s last visit, she gave me some great ideas to help Noah work on his sitting and crawling. Basically, some helpful hints to get him off his back. Noah is doing great. He is getting really good at correcting his balance, and today, he sat up in the Boppy for about 5 minutes without my help. I have found that his best time for play is in the mornings. And, he plays the longest and has the most fun, if he is… naked. Naked except for his diaper, I mean.

Rise and Shine

So, we kind of, sort of, maybe, possibly have a somewhat, slight sembalance of a sleep schedule. Is it the perfect sleep schedule? Not really. Is it still taking place in our bedroom? Of course, but that is a whole other post.

Noah takes a nap at 9:00 AM for 1-2 hours. He takes another nap around 1-2 PM for 1-2 hours. He has a bath between 6-6:30 PM, and he is down for the night at 7:00-7:30 PM. I use the term "down for the night" loosely, since he has been waking up several times during the night. However, it is such a great feeling to know that I can put him down at 7:00 PM, and I have about 5 hours of me time. I even went to Target one night this week for about 2 hours. Aaahhh.

Now, our next obstacle is figuring out how to solve these nightwaking problems. Last night, he woke at 12:30 AM, 3:00 AM, and 5:00 AM. And at 5:00 AM, "hello, my name is Noah, and I am ready to start the day." I was able to catch about 30 extra minutes on the couch while Noah played on the floor. I actually think he was watching Iron Chef America instead of playing, but he wasn't crying, so a quick snooze for me. Gotta love the Food Network.

Brrr... It's Cold Out Here

The temperature has dropped. I guess to remind everyone that it is the holiday season. Although it will probably be in the 80s for Christmas Day, right now, I am enjoying the change in temperature... who am I kidding? It is freezing, and I hate it. Today was even worse because it was cold and raining. The best part was this super-cute, adorable picture I snapped of Noah with, sadly, the camera on my phone. Otherwise, it would have definitely been our Christmas picture. So, due to the low resolution, it is now blogged for everyone to see. Enjoy!

P.S. - I am done with my Christmas shopping, and I didn't even have to shop on crazy, black Friday. Yeah Momma!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dean and I have so much to be thankful for this year. If you are reading this post, there is a good chance that when we count our blessings, we think of you. We wish you a beautiful, happy, and peaceful Thanksgiving!

Raindrops on Roses

Here are a few of Noah's favorite things:

So Big. Noah loves this book. The opening line, "how big is baby Elmo," brings a big ol' grin every single time. He sits through the whole book, and if I try to move on to a different book, he starts to fuss... serioulsy. If I read it once, I read it at least three times.

Shopping. OK. I guess I should be more specific. It is not really the shopping that he likes. It is being carried in his Baby Bjorn. Shopping just happens to be what is going on when he is in the carrier. His arms and legs dangle in the air, and there is a lot of laughing and leg kicking going on. Although it is hard to forget that he is strapped to the front of me, it is a little unusual to have everyone smiling at you as you walk by. I have to remind myself; ahhh... it's the baby. The Bjorn is not the easiest thing on my back, so I may be investing in one of these or maybe even one of these.

His Feet. Noah found his feet at about 4 months, but it is just recently that he has become a huge fan. They are always close in hand, even during naps. And, just like anything else Noah likes, guess where his feet end up... right in his mouth. Delicious.

Sonic Drive-In. Oh wait... that is Momma. But, it is worth noting. Did you know that Sonic has a happy hour every day? Unsweetened lemon iced tea with extra ice, please.

Outside. It is where we go to regroup. When Noah is fed, changed, rested, but just plain grouchy, outside makes everything better. He really loves to go strolling. We have even made it to the park a couple of times. Sorry, Noah... still too little.

Bathtime. As far as schedules go, I am sorry to say that bathtime is pretty much the only thing that is a constant from day to day. Noah has his bath every evening around 6-6:30 PM. He loves bathtime. We use the Safer Bather, and it is perfect because it keeps his head above water, but if you fill the tub enough, his body is submerged. He is really into kicking his feet like crazy. It is only a matter of time before I am going to get drenched during baths. This picture was taken on our recent trip to Napa. Daddy did bathtime sans mat, and Noah thought it was awesome!

All Things Momma. I mean, really, what's not to love.

[Writing this post got a certain song stuck in my head. Dean thinks nobody will get the title. You get it, right?!?]

Slurp Your Blog

One of my ongoing projects is going through all my pictures of Noah, backing them up, and creating a "best of" folder, so I can print some for family, put some in frames, and finally get some into a photo album. I've beens searching the best options to print an album online, and I found this website. You can create an album from your blog. The website is called Blurb, and it "slurps your blog" into a hard bound book. How easy and fun is that?

Geaux Tigers!

Real Men Don't Wear Red

Seriously, it's the holiday season. I would think that anything red would be a big seller this time of year. I am trying to find a red sweater, shirt, something for Dean to wear for our Christmas picture, and I can't find one anywhere. And, when I say anywhere, I mean in a 5 mile proximity of our house. Target, Old Navy, Kohls, Marshalls, Ross... nothing. Do men really not wear red? I guess I will have to venture into the city. Sigh.

Put the Baby Down

From these pictures, wouldn't you think that Noah just loved playtime? Um... not so much. I am afraid he is suffering from a bad case of ARMitis these days. Luckily, I managed to catch a few cute pictures before he decided he had enough, and Momma picked him up.

Baby Steps

Have you seen Noah's nursery? With our flagged and earmarked Baby Bargains book in hand, Dean and I meticiously picked out each piece of furnitue for Noah's nursery. The crib, mattress, bedding... "shiny and new" awaiting the arrival of our baby boy.

During his 5 months of life, guess how many times Noah has slept in his "shiny and new" room? Um... zero. Zilch. He spends his nights in a Graco Pack 'n Play in our room. (Thank you Gueniot's for the Pack 'n Play. It is by far our most well used baby gift). So, it is time for Mr. No to transition out of our room. Today, he took not one, but two naps in his very own crib in his very own room. Hooray for baby steps.

Where's Noah?

Nanny Aunt Mo came to visit, and you know what that means... time to shopping! Noah had his first experience with power shopping, and he did his best to hang with the girls. Here he is taking a snooze in his stroller. I was using the Hooter Hider to block out all the extra stimuli from the Saturday mall crowds. Check out his cute little feet.

Good Night, Sleep Tight

Noah has not been the best sleeper lately. I've read several books on the subject, (Ferber, Weissbluth, Karp, West) and I was so ready to whip him into shape when the perfect moment came. I didn't have a firm action date, but I tentatively set it for this Sunday. While waiting for this perfect moment, I continued to perpetuate these the bad sleep habits (nursing to sleep, sleeping in our bed, etc.).

Well, yesterday, Noah was a TOTAL bear. He didn't want to be put down, and he didn't want to be held. He was not happy in his stroller, and he hated his car seat. He was not happy eating. He didn't like his bath. By 7:00 PM, when Dean got home, I had enough of Noah, and I am pretty sure he had enough of me. After his bath, I fed him, and I was hoping that he would fall asleep, and I could sneak him into bed. See what I mean, bad habits. Well, he didn't fall asleep nursing, so I decided to put him down awake for once. So, at 8:20 PM, I laid him down, snuggled him in his blanket, kissed him goodnight, and left the room.

OK... he didn't fall right asleep, but he only cried for 6 MINUTES! Don't get me wrong... it was a painful six minutes, where I stood in our kitchen, ear to the monitor. But after only 6 MINUTES, he was asleep. And, the best part, he slept until 2:30 AM. 6 HOURS! 6 minutes of crying for 6 hours of sleep. I'm in. When he woke up, I fed him, and then I put him right back down, and he cried again for about 8 minutes or so, and then asleep. He woke up talking to himself at 6:30 AM. Happy as can be.

You know what he is doing right now. He's napping. My little baby boy was exhausted, and I was stopping him from getting his rest. Now, it is like a sleep bonanza. I am sure that there will still be some sleepless nights in our future, and I am sure our sleep problems are not all solved, but it is so nice to have a good night under our belt.

Wedding Weekend #3

So, wedding weekend #3 had us heading west to California. We flew into San Francisco and spent Friday morning walking through the fog of Fisherman's Wharf. Daddy and Noah stopped for this adorable photo op outside an art gallery.

We also walked around Pier 39 where Noah really enjoyed the sea lions. If you haven't seen them, it is a pretty cool site. They are noisy and stinky, but full of personality. We were there early, so I think the smell didn't have quite enough of a chance to fully permeate the air. Most of the sea lions were still snoozing and a few were acting as alarm clocks by jumping on top of the sleepy heads. It was pretty funny.

We drove up to Napa Valley that afternoon to get ready for the wedding festivities. The weather was perfect, and the location was beautiful. The wedding was held at a gorgeous resort in Napa, Auberge du Soleil.

The bride and groom looked very happy, and Dean and I were so glad to be there for their big day. Noah was really good at the wedding, so just ignore the grimace in this picture... it was getting close to nap time.

Sunday, we had plans to tour a couple of vineyards. We only made it to Sterling Vineyards for a gondola ride and a quick wine tasting. Noah really wanted to join in the fun.

So, that is where our fun ended. I started feeling a little queasy at the vineyard, and I just thought it was because of one too many sips of wine. However, the stomach bug hit soon after, and well, if you've had a bug, no need to go into details. The ride back to San Francisco from Napa Valley was so not fun! To make matters worse, we had put the scenic route in on our GPS, so we could go over the Golden Gate Bridge.

When we finally pulled up at our hotel in San Fran, I barely managed to punch into our GPS the nearest Walgreen's, so Dean could buy formula. I sent him and sleeping Noah on their way while I checked in and moved my illness to our hotel room. Dean definitely earned his Daddy merit badge this weekend because I was totally out of commission. We missed our flight, and we didn't make it back home until Tuesday. OK... Uncle! We are so happy to be home with no travel on our agenda for quite a while.

Ch-Ch-Changes

Today Noah is 5 months old. My oh my... how time flies, and how he's grown! This picture was taken on the day Noah arrived home from the hospital, weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces. He was 3 days old. Those first few weeks passed by in such a blur that I can't remember him ever being this small. It is so overwhelming being a new mom.

Now that Noah is not so new, I feel like we are settling into our roles as momma and baby. This was taken today as we were getting ready to leave for the airport. He is now weighing in at about 15 pounds. He has changed so much in 5 months. I can't wait to see what's next.