Sleeping like a baby

Noah is really an excellent sleeper.  I shouldn't brag, because as surely as I say that, he'll prove me wrong.  But really, he's been a fairly good sleeper all his life.  Especially at bedtime.  Naps have been been a little trickier throughout the months though.  For the last couple of months, I've given him a bottle to lull him to sleep, which was working great.  I knew that someday I'd have to break him of the habit, but why mess with a good thing.

Well, in the last few days, the bottle has stopped working.  Great.  So like it or not, it is time to teach Noah to fall asleep on his own.  Well, the gods of sleep must be looking down on me (realizing that I go crazy when the kid doesn't sleep), and have taught Noah how to sleep on his own without me having to work hard at all!  I can put him in his bed, wrap him up, give him his pacie and monkey or cloth or book ~ whatever he wants at that moment ~ and walk away.  Within a few minutes, he'll be asleep.  (Well, mostly.  Sometimes a few minutes means 45).

It really is a miracle.

With this new sleep pattern, comes all sorts of new sleep positions.  On his side.  Legs up on the bumpers.  Monkey over the face.  You name it.

And this is my personal favorite.  Sideways.  I came in after his nap the other day and found him sideways in his crib with those big blue eyes looking straight up at me.   What a silly boy!

~ 10 June 2012 ~

Grandma and Grandpa

Steven's parents came into town this past weekend.  They said it was for a funeral, but I think they just wanted to spend time with Noah.  :)  Okay, that's probably not accurate, as we were planning on heading down their way so they could see Noah anyway.  I was less than happy all weekend, because Noah missed his naps during the funeral which made me crazy.  And yes, I realize that shouldn't affect my whole weekend, but alas, it did.

At any rate, Noah was a big fan of Grandma and Grandpa, and we finally got some pictures with them!  Wahoo!  :)  So glad they came to visit!

Playing with Grandpa

~ 10 June 2012 ~

Eating lately

We are getting a bit more adventurous with what we will feed Noah.  (Read: root beer float at boy scouts.  It was just one taste!)  Now that he can hold onto his food, he has tried all sorts of different fruits.  He also likes to try and grab his spoon while we feed him.  Sometimes that creates a problem.

Watermelon

Messy face after trying to grab the spoon

Orange

Probably should have used a bib for that one!  Silly mom.

Surprising Grandma!

My good friend Brittany was staying with us for a few weeks before she decided to move back to the ol' stomping grounds to follow the love of her life.  So when she packed up to leave, Steven had this brilliant idea that Noah and I should go with her and surprise my parents.  Luckily, I remembered that they were going to be camping over the weekend (Memorial Day), so I called my dad to see if he could meet pick us up as we drove through town.  He was excited and surprised, but promised not to break the news to my mom!

So, we hopped in the car at 5am and started the 12 hour drive back home.  Brittany said she prayed for patience the night before, assuming a 6 month old baby wouldn't be a great traveling companion.  Probably a wise move on her part, but alas, Noah was AWESOME!  We only had to stop twice for him, which was great because it was the same stops Brittany and I needed.  

We met Papa and headed up to the campground.  He had told Grandma that he was going to buy wood, so when he showed up with a truckload of wood and a suitcase on top, she said to her friends, "Oh great.  What'd he do, buy a suitcase too?!"  Then I jumped out and yelled surprise!  She was so excited to see me... okay, that's probably not true... she was so excited to see Noah!  :)

Noah did AMAZING up camping!  He slept great and enjoyed being outside so much.  Plus, of course he loved his time with Grandma and Papa.  In true "awesome mom" fashion, I didn't get many pictures of the week.  But here are the ones I did get....

Waking up the first morning.  So happy!

Beautiful lake where my family has been camping for 20 years.

So excited to see Grandma!

Just playing

What, you don't let your baby drink Mt. Dew straight from the bottle?!

Happy Memorial Day Grandma!

After the camping trip, we had a few days before heading back home on the big airplane.  This allowed us to see my best friend Rachel's new little baby boy, and see Noah's second cousins, who have given him so many of his cute clothes.  Thanks boys!!

Whoa, Noah is finally the big baby!  :) 

Second cousins!

Riding home on the big airplane!  (Pretty good boy during the flight).

~ Memorial Day weekend, 2012 ~

At Seven Months

My little guy is growing up entirely too fast.  Here's his latest in a long list of awesomeness...

- He weighs about 17 lbs, which is a ridiculous increase if you ask me!  He still measures about 26 inches long.  

- With his increase in size comes the 6-9 month clothing achievement.  Yup, that's crazy big!

- He eats twice a day, breakfast and dinner, and seems to like bananas and applesauce best.  Although, he'll still eat whatever we put in front of him.  New things he's tried include watermelon and strawberries.

- He has mastered the art of feeding himself those little puff things that babies eat.  It is fun to watch him try to chew them up with no teeth.  :)

- He sits up like a champ.

- He can roll over both directions (belly to back, back to belly), but so far hasn't learned that rolling over can actually take him places, so he doesn't move around the floor yet.  Hallelujah!  (We don't want to childproof)

- There are no teeth and no signs of teeth, so he still has that great toothless grin.

- He is a huge talker!  He is constantly squealing and jabbering.  I swear the other day that he rolled over, tried to reach something that I had just moved and said, "I can't get it."  When I repeated it back to him, he looked at me like he had made a big mistake in talking so soon.  Ha!  

- He likes to read (eat) stories, especially ones where we have to make any animal noises and play with (eat) his toys.

- He LOVES to bounce!  Seriously, the kid bounces in his exersaucer for probably two hours every day.  

- And I am currently learning that he is fascinated by computers and all the buttons.

,. jiiiijngt rc  - A little note of love from Noah.  :)

He really is the best baby!  So happy and lovable all the time.  We sure are lucky parents!
And because I can't pick a favorite... here are a whole bunch of great faces.  Love this kid!

What Mom?!  

Oh, hi! 

Deep thoughts

(That's a shadow... not a unibrow!)

I probably should photoshop this one, so there isn't a white streak in the back. and the mat isn't there... then I think it's super cute!

~ 5 June 2012, 7 months ~

Mom wants to call this post "Hef" but it may be inappropriate

Everyone needs a good bathrobe.  Even at 6 months old.

Those are some ridiculously cute toes! 

~ 17 May 2012 ~

What happened to my baby?!

Noah is getting so big, all of the sudden.  We went to the doctor for his six month check up last week, and I told her that he could almost sit up by himself.  She said that's normal and in the next couple of months, his hips will develop and he'll be able to sit up.  Well, he must have understood her and decided to just sit up, because the very next day, he had it down.  I think in the week since, he has only fallen over three or four times, which is kind of amazing, if you ask me.  Something just clicked inside his head.

I'm not sure if I've said it before on here, but watching him grow and develop is the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my life.  I can't believe how fast he learns things!  At any rate, this new "trick" has brought even more free hands time to me, which I obviously love.  :)

He looks so grown up sitting on this little bench! 10 May

And remember when he was so skinny?  Look at that belly! 14 May

And just chillin' with his toys.  Amazing! 15 May