Spending time with Papa and Noni

We had a great time with Papa and Noni this week! We just couldn't believe that it had gone so quickly! We enjoyed lots of relaxation, saw the sights and sounds and showed Papa and Noni all the latest tricks.
We arrived Sunday afternoon and spent the rest of the day settling in, buying food and getting used to each other again.
Monday, we spent several miserable hours listening to a "time share talk" from someone trying to convince us to buy a time share with them. Why did we waste that time, you ask? Well, thats easy...we got 3 two-day passes to Silver Dollar City for the price of one ticket!(saving that much money will encourage you to do just about anything:)) Afterwards, we went back to the condo and Noah and Papa enjoyed naps, while Mom and I hung out and played a game. We then went to the Dixie Stampede. It was a blast! Check here for information but it was basically a dinner show around a horse arena.http://www.dixiestampede.com/showtime.php Noah was enthralled the whole evening watching the horses and lights.
Tuesday, we relaxed around the condo all morning and then went to see 2 different singing groups. The first was what is left of the Branson Brothers group we loved when we first went to Branson years ago. The second was a family of 7 brothers and a sister who sang and played instruments. And Noah slept through most of both shows (normally, he doesn't sleep away from his crib-Thank you Noni!!!)

Writing it all out makes us look busy, but it was a nice relaxing time. I'll write about the next couple of days tomorrow...I've got laundry and a little boy waiting:)

Papa loved to feed Noah

During the week, Noah became a Papa's boy...even bypassing Mommy! (ouch!)

We loved to play Turbo Scrabble and of course, Noah wanted to be right in the middle of it all.

I love my new duck! Thanks Uncle Robb and Auntie Melissa!!!!

I'm making sure Papa doesn't go back to sleep! I LOVE MY JOB!!!

We went to Cracker Barrel where Noah charmed the waitresses and made himself completely at home!!!
I love my Noni!!

Just whittlin' away the day out here in the back country...how do I look?

For some reason, Noah really didn't like his bathtime this week....maybe it had something to do with being away from his Papa...hmmm...

My new best friend.

My little boy cracks me up! I got him up from his nap and he had his blanket like this in his mouth and for quite a while that afternoon, he kept a part of the blanket always stuffed in his mouth:)

He is definitely keeping me on my toes now! He finally is learning how to make himself mobile. Which makes him a much happier baby but means I have to be that much more diligent about what is out and where he is. He thinks he is invincible and finds himself in the most precarious positions! I found him this afternoon inside a tub and was trying to pull it and its contents on top of himself:)

I looked over at him while I was in the kitchen and he was sitting like this. Apparently he likes to ride side saddle.:)

This is where we keep his books from the library and I found him crying in frustration the other day and came over to find that he was trying to pull the book out from the narrow opening. Of course, it wasn't coming out but he was so sure it should:) In this picture he had just pulled his hand out.

Thanks for the puppy, Auntie M!!!

Yes, for you Colorado Fans, this is a Colorado Nuggets outfit from our wonderful friend, Steph C. Here is the permanent pose for Noah...on his knees ready to take off on his next adventure:)

Look, I can mess with Daddy even while he's sleeping:)

I walked in one day after Noah's nap and found him sitting up! He is all over the place and we have found bumpers untied, the netting around the crib pulled into the crib and pacifiers flung to the far reaches of the room:) Ahhh...the mobile Noah makes his move:)

I went to check on Noah after he had cried himself to sleep and found his foot sticking out of the crib under the bumper! It makes it look so tiny!

Swimming and Crawling

Noah learned to crawl this week! Look out, batton down the hatches, he's going to GO! But of course, you have to scoot before you can crawl, or for Noah...swim: And now, he is finally a much happier baby. He can finally go where he wants to go, it may be slow, but atleast he can get there:) So we already know our lives are about to change, but definitely for the better.

Blessed

I came to a realization this week. Okay, I've known this all along, but it became very evident this week...

God has blessed me with an amazing child!

Now, I know that God blesses every parent with this, but I feel particularly blessed. After having so many aunts, uncles and friends around to keep him entertained and happy, I was afraid of the after-effects...a screaming, unhappy child who would only be happy when I was holding him. But Noah has really surprised me this week. He has maintained that ability to entertain himself so I can get a few extra things done. The picture above is one such instance. I set him down with a basket of books and he had a ball. Yes, they ended up all over the place, but thats the only way to make it truely fun, right?!?!:)

Yesterday, Noah had his doctors appointment. He is right on schedule...in the 92 percentile for his height & 43 percentile for his weight. Which means he is a tall, skinny child. (Aaron can only figure that his stature comes from my side of the family:)) He did have to have blood drawn and I think this was the first time in all the poking and proding they've done that I actually got teary eyed. They took a while to find a vein and when they finally did, they stuck the needle in his arm and then started moving it all around looking for the vein. Noah was, of course, screaming bloody murder and I was in charge of holding him down. A job I hope I don't have to repeat all that often! When that didn't work, they used his toe. They squeezed for each individual drop! They put a bandage on his toe and as we were driving on to our next stop, I looked back and saw him trying to get it off with his teeth:)

Finally, let me leave you with a few verses that have given me joy lately....

James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Psalm 127:3-5
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Here are some pics from this week and also still from the Labor Day weekend. We had so much fun. We also managed to pack in quite a bit of running around. We went to the Notre Dame tailgating and pre-game festivities and there were SOOO many people there! We also went to visit a winery, attend the blueberry festival and get in a cornhole competition. It was so much fun having a houseful and even now, the house seems really quiet, but the down time has been good for us.

Thank goodness for our little go-with-the-flow boy! He was such a trooper through it all. I don't think we were home for naptime at all while everyone was here and yet, he was still smiling, happy and playful. Of course, it probably helped that there was always someone to hold him or pay attention to him:)

Aaron is off playing back in Colorado so the house is even more quiet. But I am beginning to really look forward to these times with just Noah and I. He is so much fun and we love to laugh together.

Noah now holds his hands when he eats...such a proper gentleman:) (I can just see this is going to last:))

Noah loves to help with the vacuuming. He'll grab onto the cord and follow the vacuum.:)

Little did you know that Chief No Clothes is also a chef:):)

One thing I loved about having everyone here is that we always all sat down for meals together. It was a great time of bonding.

Jeremy and Mary

Micah and Chicku

Steph and Dustin

The happy hosts!

Micah, Chicku and Shannon

Salve is Chicku's maiden name. This is in the front entry way of the Golden dome building.

We all loved to relax

Picnic after the tailgating/people watching

The 2007 Annual Labor Day participants

Noah requested pictures with each of his friends...

Steph and Dustin-thanks for flying all the way out to hang out with us!

Jeremy and Mary-it was so much fun, we should do it again sometime soon!!

Shannon-We're so glad you were able to come, and we had so much fun!

Chicku and Micah-What a great brother and sister!!

Flip Flop-You're as wonderful as ever!

We'll miss you all but come again soon!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICAH!!!

Labor Day ~ The boys and Noah

Of course, Noah got along famously with the boys...who couldn't like having 5 other guys to hang out with! Here are the pics from the boys...

My best bud, Uncle Phil
Uncle Phil got really good at making Noah laugh:)

Some quality bonding with Uncle Micah

He also spent a lot of time on their shoulders. He even fell asleep on Dustins shoulders for a moment:)

Uncle Phil helped me see the Notre Dame players as they walked by

Dustin made sure I had a first class ride on the way back to the car...

Even Daddy made sure I'd stand out...ahh..what fun to be part of the guys!

Who needs to crawl when you have someones shoulders!?!?!

Don't they look tough? (I'll let you in on a little secret...they're all a bunch of softies, especially with Noah-but don't tell 'em I told you!)

Labor Day ~ The girls and Noah

We had so much fun hanging out and having girl time. We drove to the outlets nearby and enjoyed spending time and money:)

On our way...Noah loved having so many people to entertain him:)

Doesn't he just look happy:)


Mary, our fearless driver:)

Miss Stephanie finally can read the book she bought for Noah to him!

Auntie Chicku is definitely a good friend:)

After the last couple of years of being the only girl at this annual Labor Day event, it was finally WONDERFUL to have other women to spend time with. Thank you Lord, for answered prayers!!!