Noah's New Wardrobe

Noah will be looking like quite the Cowboys fan, thanks to some new Christmas clothes from Grandma Lola, Grandpa Abby and Great Aunt Jani and Great Uncle Dan!

Merry Christmas

What a wonderful year! Noah's first Christmas has been so special. We love getting cards from friends, reading their letters, and covering our refrigerator with Christmas photos. This month, Noah and I were able to visit my sister Suzanne and her family in Arizona with Grammy and Grandpap. Charlotte and Jack are so much fun and full of energy. Noah just loved watching them and learning a few new tricks.

On Christmas Eve, we attended church with several couples from our Bible study, including Noah's buddy Ethan Foulke. Today we will be having dinner with Grandma Lola and Grandpa Abby.

Noah's Christmas present to us was learning how to crawl yesterday. It's not the most elegant crawl, but we are happy with forward progress.


Click here for a couple more videos.

Merry Christmas to all!

Fun with the Doggie Towel

Portraits of Noah at 9 Months

Bad Mood Baby

Noah really wants to crawl - I think his frustration is making him cranky. He'll get it soon.

You Gonna Finish that Pie Daddy?

Noah is 9 Months Old, Yipee!

Noah turned 9 months old last Thursday, on Thanksgiving Day. He is so big and growing more independent. He rolls easily and scoots around on his belly. He is just starting to push back onto his knees, so maybe crawling is just around the corner. He eats many different types of food but turkey and chicken are his favorites. He also enjoys puffed cereal. He is able to stand with just a little support, clap, and point. He now sleeps through the night and seems to prefer sleeping on his tummy. Noah likes to show off his two bottom teeth with his big smile.

He is very happy and sociable most of the time, but has been going through a phase of being a big clingy to Mommy. There is no clear winner for a favorite toy, but Noah is drawn to anything red.

At his 9 month check-up his measurements were:

Weight: 18 pounds, 7 ounces (18th percentile)
Height: 28 1/2 inches (60th percentile)
Head circumference: 44 1/2 cm (28th percentile)

Washington Monument

From Washington Monument

After 29 years of living in Virginia, I had never visited the top of the Washington Monument, until today! And I have to say, it was worth the wait. The views are fantastic and the elevator ride is very interesting. On the way down, they stop at several places so that you can see some of the engraved plaques on the inside of the monument. There are also photos below each of the four windows of the view from different points in history, so that you can see changes over time.

We also visited the newly renovated and recently reopened National Museum of American History. It was alright, but not great. I think we were a little too rushed to see everything. The first ladies exhibit has always been a favorite of mine, but it is not yet ready.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Noah's first Thanksgiving holiday was a success. He ate his own turkey dinner and applesauce, took a long nap and joined us at the table for a taste of sweet potato puffed cereal and a green bean. We celebrated at Grammy and Grandpap's house with Grandma Lola and Grandpa Abby.

Reading Time

Noah's Getting Ready for the Holidays

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Happy Anniversary Suzanne and Rich!

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Little Popeye

Noah tried his first spinach this evening - and LOVED it! After finishing his spinach, he grew giant muscles, gave Bluto a knuckle sandwich, and rescued Olive Oil.

Buddies

We visited our good friends the Howells and the D'Agostino's this weekend in Harrisburg, PA. Noah learned a lot from observing Ethan - they are going to be good buddies.

Tired Grammy

Babysitting is hard work. Grammy and Noah wore each other out!

Happy Halloween!

Scary, huh?

Grammy and Grandpap's New Hobby

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Napping with Daddy

Peg-Leg Iguchi

Here's an example of Daniel trying to get Noah dressed. Ah well, at least he tried.

Noah is Learning to Clap

Yoga Baby

Noah has started doing this weird yoga/pilates move during tummy time. Maybe he thinks he's Super Baby!

Watch Out Calvin Klein

We think Noah may have a future in diaper modeling, if rocket science doesn't work out.

Seven Months Old

Noah is seven months old today! We just got back from vacationing with my family at Myrtle Beach. Noah changed so much in just one week. He finally mastered turning from tummy to back and is very close to rolling from back to tummy. Noah was constantly entertained by his energetic cousins Jack and Charlotte. He also enjoyed strolling with Grandpap on the beach each morning.

Vacation Fun

Football Season is Upon Us!

Big Guy

Sleep Jumping

6 Month Stats

At six months old Noah's stats were as follows:

Weight: 17 lbs 1 ounce
Height: 27 inches
Head circumference: 42.7 cm

Noah's First Football Game

Noah and Daniel enjoying a pre-season Cowboy's game...

Noah seems to have the makings of a fan, but like Mommy, has not yet mastered the art of staying awake during the entire game.

Buddies

Here is Noah and his pal Ethan - both growing so big and strong.

Big Boy

Noah is getting so big - 26 inches last week. He is very social, smiling at everyone and laughing all the time. We are continuing to work on the cereal and rolling over. He loves to study his hands and grab his feet. We go to the pool with Grammy and Grandpap several times a week - practice for our big beach trip.

Newsbreak....As I write this, I glance over at Noah, happily playing in the exersaucer, clad in only a diaper. When suddenly, I catch the first glimpse of brown goo slowing oozing up his back! I swoop in, saving the exersaucer seat from almost certain peril, and run to the diaper changing station, calling out for reinforcements. Daniel springs to the rescue, holding Noah upright so that I can remove the poopy offender and wipe like mad, hoping to reduce the rapid spread of what can only be compared to nuclear waste from it's travel further down Noah's leg, making a mad dash for the white changing pad. It's us against the poo, in the fight of our lives. With lightening movements and about fifty wipes, we save the pad from all but two drops of the offending substance.

Since the introduction of cereal, Noah's poop has taken on new character, a life of it's own. While the poop is less frequent, it is proceeded for several days by a pungent ominous gas - a warning as if to say, "Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but I'll get you, and soon!"

We've defeated the diaper this time, but I can almost hear his whiny voice calling out from the diaper pail, "I'll be back."

More Sitting

Such a happy guy!

New Tricks

Today Noah rolled over two times by himself and he sat up!

Noah at 5 Months

Noah was five months old on Sunday and got his first taste of cereal.

The Boys

We just love having our nephews Roman and Elijah in town. But, trying to take a picture of all of Grandma Lola's boys is not easy!

Poolside Baby

Noah's new hobby is relaxing at the pool in his baby boat. Now that's a cute baby!

Fun! Fun! Fun!

Daniel and I took the boys out for some ice cream and water fun. Roman and Elijah are such wonderful boys - so sweet!

Ice Cream

Hello from Noah

Noah is a week shy of 5 months today. He is such a happy guy - always smiling and laughing. We introduced him to the pool this weekend, which he enjoys!

Here's Noah saying hello - hi to everyone he forgot :)

Noah's Favorite Toy

Noah's favorite toy right now is this doggie, a present from Aunt Carolyn. It's both a blankie and a stuffed animal and apparently tastes great as Noah always has it in his mouth. We never leave home without it.

Roman and Elijah Visiting

Noah's cousins Roman and Elijah are visiting this month. They have gotten so big during their year in California! It seems like just yesterday that Roman and Elijah were Noah's size. In these pictures, Roman is in red and Elijah is wearing black.

4 Months Old

Noah is now four months old - time flies! Although in some ways it seems like I've known him all my life; four months doesn't seem nearly long enough.

His four-month checkup was great. Dr. Cross said he looks wonderful. He received another round of vaccinations, but only cried for a moment - what a trooper.

Dr. Cross gave us the go ahead to start rice cereal any time we would like in the next couple of months. I think I am going to wait a while; Noah still feels so little to me to be eating. Although we have already bought some organic rice cereal from Whole Foods, so that first meal will be fun.

Here are this month's stats:

Weight: 15 pounds, 6 ounces (62nd percentile)
Height: 25 inches (55th percentile)
Head circumference: 42 cm (44th percentile)

Mambo Noah

Play Time

As Noah gets bigger, he is spending more time at play. He enjoys the play mat shown here where he can gaze up at birds and butterflies and particularly a bluebird that flaps his wings and sings a song when Noah touches him.

Beauty Shop Baby

Noah's scalp has been really dry and flaky lately, so we did a little bit of a deep conditioning treatment before bath time. Daniel and I couldn't stop laughing. Hopefully Noah will see the humor in this when he is older. Daniel says Noah's head still smells like olive oil, but I disagree.

More photos here.

Charlotte and Suzanne

Here are some photos of my sister Suzanne and her beautifuly baby Charlotte.

Great Grandma and Baby Charlotte

My grandmother visited this weekend with my Aunt Jennie. We had a lovely visit topped off with a cookout with Abby and Mary Beth Butts, Jessica and Pete Daniels, the Strobecks, Marin Weaver and Laura Iguchi. Jack really enjoyed his first home-made icecream.

Cousin Jack

First Big Laugh

Noah had his first really big laugh today and we got it on tape...

Mr. Grouchy Pants

It's hard to be happy all the time.

More Mr. Grouchy Pants here.

Our Special Girl

This is our sunbathing beauty Charlotte - Noah's cousin is quite the little lady. I could just eat her up, she's so super cute.

Mommy and Noah

Three Year Anniversary

Daniel and I celebrated our three year anniversary with dinner at PF Cheng's and dessert at Cheesecake Factory. Grammy was kind enough to babysit and Noah gave her a run for her money by flipping out when he realized Mommy was not around.

I'm so thankful to be married to Daniel - he is the most considerate and kind person that I know. God has given me so much more than I deserve.

Three Months Old

Three Months Old

At three months Noah is very interactive - he "talks" with us often and likes to study his toys. He has a soft barnyard set with a cow, chicken and pig that live in a barn - he enjoys staring down these animals. He sleeps for longer periods at night frequently, but still often wakes for a 2 or 3 am feeding. During the day he eats every 2 1/2 to 3 hours and has no problem expressing himself when hungry. Noah is very attached to Mommy and always prefers to be in eye shot of us to being alone. He takes longer afternoon naps in the swing, although the length of daytime naps varies from 30 minutes to several hours. We love to watch him smile and laugh.

Noah and Grandpap

Noah and Grandpap watching TV.

Noah and Grammy

Sunny Day, Sunny Smile

It finally stopped raining in Virginia - here are pictures from a sunny day in Grammy's yard.

Buddies

Noah's buddy Ethan Howell visited us several weeks ago, not that they were at all aware of each other. Ethan's daddy was the best man in our wedding, Justin Howell.

Mothers Day: Noah Didn't Get the Memo

On Mother's Day, babies are not permitted to do the following things:

-have a cold
-cry
-shoot green poop out the top of their diapers
-projectile vomit into Mommy's face
-cry
-wear out the batteries on their swings
-leak and/or hurl snot from their noses
-cry
-keep Mommy awake the night before Mother's Day

Unfortunately, Noah is a baby and cannot read this list. We will try again next year.

Noah Slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Falling Asleep: The Epic Journey

Yes, this video is long - and to most it will be boring. But the grandmas will like it.

Double Leg Kick Sneeze - Hiyaa!

High Chair

Noah sat in his high chair for the first time today while Daniel and I made brownies in the kitchen. What a big boy!

Welcome Ethan Robert

Our dear friends Jake and Melissa welcomed Ethan Robert at 10:08 am on May 3rd, 2008. Ethan weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 21 inches long.

Praise God for a healthy baby and Mommy!

You can see more pictures here:

Welcome Ethan Robert

Little Rascal

This is our nephew Jack. He's what you might call a rascal. I know that whenever my sister tells me that Jack has gotten into some trouble I will wind up on the floor, doubled over in laughter. According to Jack, all this trouble is actually caused by a new imaginary friend known to us only as "the brown boy." I'm proud that my nephew is open to such imaginary friend diversity at such a young age.

Carolyn's Birthday

Thanks to all who sent me such warm birthday wishes! I had a wonderful day - Noah and I went to the movies in the morning. Then I got a massage in the afternoon while Daniel babysat. The evening was spent with Grandma Lola and Grandpa Abby. Daniel's mother is a wonderful cook - it's always a treat to eat with them. The day was topped off with my FAVORITE dessert - Laura's flan...I believe that flan is the closest I will get to heaven here on earth.

A Day of Milestones

Milestone 1

Today I tried on a pair of my pre-pregnancy jeans - and they fit!!! This confirms the power of prayer.

Milestone 2

Noah's two-month checkup went very well. We are so happy with our pediatrician, Dr. Cross, and she continues to be satisfied with Noah's development. Noah tolerated his shots fairly well - his screaming was easily soothed with a light afternoon snack. On a side note, on this rainy April day, I love that our doctor's office is in the Fair Oaks Hospital complex because they provide free valet service - a lifesaver when trying to get the car seat, stroller, and massive diaper bag out of the rain as quickly as possible.

His measurements today are:

Weight: 12 pounds 6 ounces (74th percentile)
Height: 23.5 inches (73rd percentile)
Head circumference: 15.7 inches (52nd percentile)

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

After church this morning, Daniel, Noah and I took a leisurely afternoon nap. In fact, father and son are still snoring away. This nap was on top of a nine hour marathon sleep last night - I'm now so well rested I don't know what to do with myself. If find that one extremely good night of sleep is followed by several so-so nights, so my expectations for tonight are not high. But, I find that I welcome any sleep I can get, so no complaints.

Noah is two months old today. At two months, he enjoys looking at his crib mobile, sucking his pacifier, snuggling with Mommy, going for long walks in the stroller, or just being out and about in general. Both the car seat and the baby swing are hit or miss - sometimes putting him in either results in a long peacful nap, other days painful wailing insues.

Noah continues to fall asleep easily at night, though he has started to resist sleep more and more during the day. I think he is fearful of missing out on anything exciting that may happen during a nap. Bath time is still not popular, though much more tolerated. As long as the pacifier is in his mouth, Noah can handle a few minutes in the tub. In the last few days, Noah's eyebrows and eyelashes have gotten thicker and longer; he maintains a head full of thick brown hair. At times I think both his hair and eyes are getting lighter, though it's still tough to predict what color either will be. The jury is still out on whether Noah looks like Mommy or Daddy - we've heard people say both.

Noah and Mommy - Just hanging around

Bobbing Bear Toy

This week Noah has become much more aware of his surroundings. He has starting gazing at the Dallas Cowboys mobile over his crib and today he was mesmerized by the toy shown in the picture. When he kicks the ball the bear's head bobs and plays a song - Noah just loves it!

Emril at Whole Foods

We ran into a taping of Emril at our local Whole Foods yesterday. Right when I took this picture, the guy in the blue shirt walked right in front of him - then Emril's security guard said we couldn't take any pictures. But, I swear that Emril is right behind the blue-shirt guy :) Emril is much fatter in person - his belt is kicking it up a notch.

Mad Scientist

Auntie Marin

I love this picture!!!

Girlfriends are coming to town...

Noah is looking forward to a visit from Lauren Vance (left) and Angela Paull this week, along with their mommies Angelica and Amanda.

Future girlfriends???