Noah's first birthday party!!!

What a day! We had such a good day, but such a busy day!!! We started off the day early to ensure Noah would get both of his naps in before the party. Soon, several friends came over to help set things up and get the food ready. Part way through the day, all of us girls left to go to a baby shower and then came back to finish up the food and decorations and await the guests.

I think Noah knew something was going on because he couldn't sleep very long. He was really ready to get the party started.

The party was from 3:30 to 5:30 and the time just flew! I remember one moment, when we were singing Happy Birthday to Noah, when I looked out into the faces of everyone there and I remember thinking 'This is exactly what I wanted!'. I wanted a day when we could get all of our friends together and celebrate the "family" that God is granted us in this time of our lives. We are so blessed!

Noah was such a little social butterfly. He was crawling from person to person and several times got interrupted by when someone picked him up.

He ended up crashing. He did so good...no melt downs at all, but you could tell he was ready for bed when 8:00 finally came.

Noah walked the whole circle clinging to Ava's back. She is the only girl (and we can't figure out why) he kisses without us prompting him too. And not just kissing, but wide open mouth kisses. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?!?!?

My 2 plaid men...

We had a jungle themed party

And lots of yummy food

The cake was really yummy, although I still need someone to tell me why you would put flowers on a little boy's birthday cake!??!

Noah's leaning tower of chocolate:)

My silly friend Shelley. (sorry, Shelley, but I had to add this since it totally cracked me up!!)

Eve, Bill, Emily, Kaelyn and Ava.

VIEWS OF THE PARTY

THE BIRTHDAY CAKE
He also really enjoyed his cake. He wasn't sure what to make of it at first, but after sticking a TINY drop he got on his finger into his mouth, he came rushing back for more. Aaron helped him dig into the cake to show him there was something beneath the frosting. And thats when he went crazy! The 2 layers on the cake were probably close to an inch high each and he ate almost the whole top layer and would have kept going had Aaron not stopped him:) He was a MESS! But it was so cute. His little cheeks look even bigger with all that chocolate frosting on them:) Aaron finally took the cake away in the hopes that it would prevent a chocolate disaster later that night:)

Why is everybody looking at me and singing?

You really want me to do what?!?

Okay, this isn't bad...

Okay, okay, so its better than okay...this is GREAT!

Could you hold that shot for just a minute longer, I need somewhere to rub my hands...maybe Daddy's shirt?

UMMMMM...

Oh, Chocolate, yummy, yummy chocolate, why have I just now met you, my dear sweet Chocolate...(add your own music here...)

I think the sugar is starting to kick in (atleast that's what everyone was saying...)

What's left of the cakes:)

There were lots of kids for Noah to play with

Opening presents

I don't get it Daddy...why do we have to hide the presents under paper first?

Towards the end, Noah got really bored and gave up...I finished unwrapping the rest of the presents with all the other kids who had come. PURE CHAOS!!

What a little LOVEBUG! Giving Daddy a hug.

Playing with his toys...

The boys were standing at the gate with Noah...he loves having buddies to hang out with:)

My little druid

A friend gave us this outfit and it has been so nice. For the days when I have many errands to run and I don't want to battle him and his coat, and my coat and my purse:) But in the process, he also reminds me of a little druid:) The hood goes really far over his face and the only thing you can see are his cheeks:)

Mr. Personality!

Baby Carseat

Today was the first day in Noah's new carseat. YIKES! Just one more reminder that my little baby isn't such a baby anymore! But so far, I think he likes it and we definitely like it since it is so much easier to get him in and out in his big coat:) Below are the first picture we took of him in his carseat and his last...goodbye carseat, you've been so good to us. (I think Noah is even waving goodbye:))

Tight spaces and time traveling

Apparently, in Noah's world, any tight space is open and available for his use. I wonder if he thinks this is his secret passageway?!?!:)

Uncle Phil, I hope you're okay...Mommy and Daddy were really worried about you!

Noah loves to stand at the gate at the top of the stairs and shout down the stairs. I don't know if he thinks that's where Daddy is during the day when he can't see him, but its kind of funny. And in the top picture, it looks like he's already planning how to break himself out of the upstairs. He's pretty clever...I can just see the day when he figures the gate out fast approaching! YIKES!

LOOK BACK IN TIME...

I have taken several photos recently that have reminded me of past Noah photos....see how much he has changed...

He loves to stand at the windows and look out. Pretty much every blind in the house has to be above his level during the day, because who knows when the next time will be that he will want to check on the neighborhood status:) (Check out the picture below! His hair really is growing, its just super slow!!!!) These first 2 pics are from May...

This is the latest and greatest window pic of my little boy:)

He also loves this chair. He has taught himself how to rock in the chair and every once in a while I'll put him back in there, but I definitely don't go very far:) These first pics were from Feb...

What a difference a few months make!! (we can't get over how round his head used to be!)

Thanksgiving

!!!HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

We had a very nice relaxing day. We hung out at home for the morning and then spent the afternoon with our friends Josh, Erin, Josiah and Locke and their family. It was a great time of food, laughter and planning. All the girls go out the day after Thanksgiving for the CRAZY shopping. Erin has been making claims that she gets unbelievable deals and since I didn't believe her, I told her she had to prove it to me. What an experience! I was up by 3:15 and fighting the madness for almost 6 hours!! All in all, we ended up at 9 stores (not including the 2 stores Erin's sister went to when she dropped us off at one store), met some interesting people and managed to fill the car. It was a good time, but I'm still not sure it was completely worth it. Sorry, Erin, but sleep just may overrule the savings. Maybe as Noah gets older it may be more worth it when planning for Christmas and birthdays. But since we were ahead of the game this year, there really wasn't much we needed this year. So, I suppose I could say I earned my crazy shopping day Mother's badge this weekend. I can't wait to see which badge comes next:):):)

Josh, Erin, Emy & Locke

Noah liked to push around this Fisher Price garage.

I was torn between these 2 expressive pics of my boys, so I thought I'd just post them both...they're best buds in the silly times and tired times:)

I was working around the house and heard Noah crying and came to find him like this. He had gotten stuck between the couch and endtable:)

The progression of a breadroll

Noah LOVES food (once we got him to start feeding himself:)) He especially loves bread of any kind, but then again, what child doesn't?!?! He shoves all that we put on his plate into his mouth and stuffs his cheeks and fists whats left over in his little hands. Then he looks to us to give him more. When he has all he can fit in his mouth, he then goes for the sippy cup to hopefully wash it all down without having to chew. We think he's forgotten how to chew and has decided that the way of the chipmunk is much smarter than those silly Mommy and Daddy ideas:)

When he reaches for his cup, he doesn't want to put down the bread still left in his hands, so he tries to grab at the handles or grabs it with his wrists:) Its quite the sight to watch...hopefully he'll be a little more refined by the time he has his first date (when he's 30 if Mommy has any say in it:))

Watch how fast I can make this disappear.

YUMMY!

Didn't you love my magic trick? Poof! ALL GONE! ( I have found this to be the best method to get Mommy and Daddy to give me more)

My favorite thing...

Okay, Mama...is the camera ready so I can show everybody?

No! I don't want you to show them, I want to show them...

Thank you...now I need to go over to where I keep it...

The drawer won't open!!!!

Sorry..due to some technocal difficulties (The drawer won't open and Mama keeps moving my stuff!), I may have to show you something else besides my favorite thing.

Oh, wait....I think I finally found it

And here it is...my remote!

Watch...

Wait, let's try that again...

Hmmm...what's wrong now?

Maa-ma...did you forget to put new batteries in here?!?!

Okay, here we go...now it should work. Isn't it cool?!?!?! Things just magically appear:)