Gone Fishing

When it's the day after Thanksgiving and your staff tells you the schedule is light, why don't we go fishing... there is only one thing to do.

Go Fishing.

I Am Thankful

My family of 3 in Florida. My family of many in Louisiana. Tivo. The second cup of coffee in the morning. Hot showers. My soft and cozy bed. Snuggling with Noah. Laughing with Dean. Flip-flops year round. Quiet time after Noah goes to bed. Nightime prayers. My faith in God. All the moments captured with my camera. Texts from far away friends. My scrapbook pages. Pinot noir. One Duck Stuck in the Muck. Roast, rice, and gravy. Noah clapping. My CHI flat iron. Naps on the couch. Jack Johnson. My laptop. Watching Noah run. Reading trashy romance novels. Noah's budding personality. Comfortable silence. Health. Getting no arm hugs from Noah. Giving no arm hugs to Dean. Ham sandwiches. 5 months down. 7 months to go. Peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks. My IPhone. Grammy's backyard. Watching Dean live his dream. Boards in the door. Being done with my Christmas shopping. My hair in a pony. Noah dancing. Getting a break from bathtime. Dean being off. Definitely not a comprehensive list, but for all of this and every other big and small thing that makes my life so full, I am thankful.

Funny Stuff

Here are a few of things that made me laugh today.

I was sad to miss out on the annual "get your Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving" shopping adventure this year. Usually my sister and her friends head to Houston for the trip, but Miami is a little too far, and I don't think they could have afforded the cost of shipping back all their goodies. And really, I don't think there would have been room for me in the car. Way to help out the economy ladies!

Noah struggled going down for his nap today. His new thing, as he tosses and turns himself to sleep, is to throw everything out of his crib. Apparently today even his pants were a little too much to handle. This is how I found him a few minutes ago.

This one actually made me laugh yesterday, but it did make me laugh again when I was uploading my pictures. I dressed Noah for bed last night in a new pair of Saints pajamas in honor of Monday Night Football. Although a fan of the Saints, Noah was not a fan of the pj's. I had to change him before bedtime. He could not get to his belly button, and it caused much frustration. He refused to sleep until we switched back to pants and t-shirt.

Grammy's Backyard

Have I mentioned how miserable it is not having a grassy place to run and play at our apartment? On our recent visit, Noah had a blast playing in Grammy's backyard. After spending a week sick in our apartment, the freedom of the outdoors was just what Noah needed. The weather was a little chilly, but mostly sunny and beautiful. He ran. He swang. He slid. He climbed. He crawled into hard to reach spots. He picked up sticks. He picked up acorns. He played in the sand. He splashed his feet in the pool. He had so much fun!

Running with sticks.

Crawling under the tire swing.

Hiding out in the playhouse.

Playing in the sand.

Climbing up the slide.

Splashing in the pool.

Hanging out on the deck.

Noah and His Cousins

Noah and I spent last week in Louisiana. Daddy had a very busy week ahead, so it was perfect timing for us to get out of town. It was a great break for both of us. Noah really enjoyed playing in Grammy's backyard and spending time with all his cousins.

Noah and his cousins

The girls - Morgan, Brooke, and Katie

The boys - Seth, Blake, and Zachary

Sick Leave

Wondering where we've been? We've been sick... all of us.

It started with Dean. The day after our return from Boston, he left work sick. For about 24 hours, he felt like he was going to die. Nausea and headache. Luckily, by mid-week he had made a full recovery.

For me, over the weekend, I felt the stirrings of a cold (sore throat, cough) Dean let me sleep in on Sunday, and I think the extra rest saved me from the worst. I am still fighting a cough, and I am a little hoarse, but feeling okay.

Then there's Noah. On Monday, he had cough and diarrhea. I called my doctor's office, and the nurse said to just monitor him and no dairy for 24 hours. No dairy or juice. What is he supposed to drink?

On Tuesday, fueled by Pedialyte and water, Noah had a cough, runny-nose and 100 degree fever. Again, I called my doctor's office, and the nurse said to just monitor him and call if the fever goes above 103.

On Wednesday, it was runny nose, cough, and refusal to eat. I called my doctor's office again, and the nurse said if he is refusing to eat, he may be getting sicker. So, she scheduled me an appointment.

So, this morning, we left the house for the first time this week and went to the doctor. A nurse took us back to an examine room. She weighed him fully-clothed with shoes. 27.5 pounds. She asked all the questions Dean said she would. What are his symptoms? What is his activity level? She jotted all my answers in his chart. The doctor came in and did a quick examine. He spent some time listening to his chest. He said he had an idea for some medicine and wanted to see how he would do with a with a nebulizer.

To put it mildly, not well. The nurse came in, supposedly to show me how to work the machine. What she really did was tell me to hold his arms down while she flipped the switch and put the plastic mask over his nose and month. To say that Noah went ballistic would be the understatement of the century. And, the nurse... she left. Oh she did say, "it's okay baby, just two minutes," as she walked out the door that she left wide open behind her. So, here I am trying to hold poor, sick Noah's arms down while he kicks and screams with tears streaming down his face. All the while, the door is wide open with people walking back and forth watching me struggle. Apparently, I was at nebulizer boot camp. Noah manages to thrash the nebulizer down to his chin forcing me to release one of his arms, so I can move it back, and well, that was end of the nebulizer. He pulls off the plastic part, so not only am I trying to hold his arms down and hold it to his nose, I am also trying to put it back together. Finally, the nurse comes back, and turns off the machine and takes the damn thing away. I told her that this wasn't going to work for us. And, she tells me that we are just going to have to do it.

Thankfully, she was not my doctor. He came back about 10 minutes later while Noah was still hyperventilating from the neublizer trauma. He took one look at Noah, and he said, I think I am going to provide oral medication. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

We left the doctor with a diagnosis of bronchitis and two prescriptions. Noah seemed to perk up this afternoon, but he is struggling a bit tonight. He's already woken up twice crying, so I am not sure how things will go. Hopefully, a couple days of medicine, and he will be on the mend. It is no fun being sick.

Deciding to Pick My Battles

There is a lamp in the corner of our living room where we have our breakfast table. It is a floor lamp with a slight arch that holds a cream paper lantern on the end. It is not something that would have ever fit in our old house. I bought it on one of my first trips to Target here, and it gives our apartment a young and trendy feeling. Well, at least in my eyes, it does. It was an impulse buy, and I love it. Apparently, so does Noah.

He cannot seem to resist walking behind the table and shaking the lamp until the lantern falls off. I've told him no, moved him away, and blocked his path. There have been numerous time-outs, lots of tears, and several hand swats. I feel like I've exhausted all options, and still Noah is drawn to the lamp. So, yesterday, the lamp has been moved to the closet in our study. Oh, the things we give up for our children.

A Very Special Visitor

Grammy came to visit this week, and she brought a very special guest.

Noah's sweet cousin Morgan

On the first day, Noah needed a haircut, and Morgan insisted she wanted a haircut too, just like Noah. We convinced her instead of a haircut like Noah, how about a trim and blowdry just like Katie. Morgan said, "ooo-k." Beautiful.

On the second day, we went to the zoo. On our way to the Children's Zoo, we stopped by the bird exhibit. Noah and Morgan took a picture in the a huge bird nest.

We told Morgan that we would see Diego at the zoo, and we did.

Here is Morgan as she catches her first sight of Diego. So excited.

Back at the apartment, Noah and Morgan played out on the terrace. It was lots of fun until Morgan tripped and skinned her knees. Ouch.

On day three, Grammy spearheaded a major cleaning of the apartment. Morgan earned her keep and helped mop the floors. What a big helper!

Noah had so much fun playing with Morgan. We can't wait until she visits again.

And, she said she would visit again. Here exact words... "I'm coming back. With my Momma." We can't wait sweet girl! We love you!

I Think I'll Go To Boston, Part Three

Noah's visit to Boston included meeting up with not one, but two future, potential girlfriends. Not sure he succeeded in winning either one over.

First, there was Sweet Baby Amanda.

Noah barely gave Amanda the time of day. He was way to busy playing with her toys, sleeping in her room, and running wild in her apartment. Notice the runners stance in the picture above. I was barely able to get a shot of them together.

And, then there was his old friend Little Miss Madison.

Noah met her for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, and apparently he came on a little strong. Never a good thing to make the girls cry. Looks like Noah still has a few things to learn about the ladies.

I Think I'll Go To Boston, Part Two

We hit Boston at a perfect time of year. Fall. It was so beautiful to see the change of season. I am not sure the pictures do the colors justice.

Simply gorgeous. It must be God's way of easing the New Englanders into the harsh winter ahead.

This tree was behind a church near Jessica and Tommy's apartment. I counted four different colors of leaves.

On Saturday, we walked through a huge park that boarded the Charles River. We were headed for a playground.

After spending lots of time in his stroller, Noah was pretty excited to get out and stretch his legs.

Here is our attempt at a family photo. Noah was not interested, but instead wanted to walk around more.

We finally made it to the park where Noah enjoyed playing with Daddy.

On Saturday, Noah turned 17 months old. And, at just shy of three feet, he is getting to be such a big boy. No more baby. Sniff.

I Think I'll Go To Boston

Our family of three spent a wonderful weekend in Boston visiting our very good friends, Tommy and Jessica. Tommy and Jessica added a little one to their family since last we saw them, and we were all very excited to meet Baby Amanda. The weather was gorgeous although a bit chilly. Boston is a city made for walking, so we all bundled up and headed out into the cold.

Here is Amanda getting bundled up in her stroller.

Here is Noah all bundled up in his stroller.

It was so great to catch up with Jessica. We had lots of time to chat on our walks. Talking about babies and breastfeeding and how incredibly stylish she is and that one day I hope to dress just like her.

Our big outing on our first day in Boston was going to the New England Aquarium. Here is our crew all ready to head that way.

There is just something so sweet about Daddies strolling with their babies.

It is funny because every town Dean and I have visited with Noah, we've said we were going to the aquarium.We actually made it to the aquarium, and Noah had a great time. I had very few pictures come out since the aquarium was so dark. I really think the highlight was checking out the jellyfish. So beautiful.

We headed to lunch at a restaurant called the Green Dragon Tavern where the guys were excited to dine on lobster. Jessica and I were pretty excited ourselves to be able to eat our lunch in peace since our little ones were napping in their respective strollers.

We were even able to make a quick trip to a nearby farmer's market, where we picked up supplies to make some yummy guacomole back at the apartment.

Happy Halloween

We spent Halloween in Boston with our friends Tommy and Jessica. Noah didn't go trick or treating, but he did dress out, and he did eat candy. Although, he seemed to prefer taking the candy out of the bowl, throwing it on the floor, and walking away from it better than he did actually taking it out of the wrapper and eating it. No matter, our Halloween was a happy one.