Happy Christmas Eve

As usual, there are a lot of new pictures to share of our sweet Noah, but this one is especially near and dear to our heart.  Here is our little Noah admiring the baby Jesus at the Christmas party/nativity that we went to tonight.

"And they came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."  Luke 2:16

~24 December 2012 ~

First kiss, already??

I knew this day would happen... my baby boy would grow up and find a new girl to love more than he loves me.  I just didn't expect it to happen quite so soon.  But alas, I can't compete with Charley and her super awesome hair.  Noah has found his first true love.

Going in for the kiss

Aren't you supposed to hold hands before you kiss a girl?!

Because one just wasn't enough

Well, at least he doesn't try to poke her eyes out anymore.  He has mastered the art of "Be soft, Noah."  I have to be proud of him for that.  Oh, and I hope Charley's parents aren't afraid of a few new germs.  :)

~ 13 November 2012 ~

Yummy!

Nothing says "delicious" quite like a face covered with Chef Boyardee mini raviolis...

~ 10 November 2012 ~

First snow

We had a huge snow storm a couple of weeks ago and got quite a bit of snow.  We were excited for Noah to experience this new "first," so we bundled him up in his new coat from Grandma Lou, and headed outside.  He didn't really know what he was supposed to do at first, so he just sat there for a long time.  But as he saw Steven and I making a snowman, he started playing with the snow and crawling around.  He actually seemed to really like it for about a half an hour... then, I'm pretty sure his hands were frozen and he was more than ready to be done!

"I can't put my arms down"

Helping Daddy make the snowman

Getting more used to it, but about to hit freezing point

~ 10 November 2012 ~

No more mullet

Noah got his first haircut shortly after his first birthday.  I'm not going to lie, it was kind of a sad moment for me.  I was sad to see his mullet go; plus, it seemed like one more step that proved he's no longer my baby, but my little boy.  At any rate, he did fairly well during the cutting.  Our neighbor Brittni, who has two boys and knows how to cut hair, offered to do it, which was great!  She was fast and did a wonderful job!

A little hesitant, but being good!

Thinking of escaping

Content with the camera lens cover

~ 9 November 2012 ~

At ONE year

Yup, it's true.  One whole year.  And still, he's cooler than your baby.  Here's the latest and greatest:

- He weighs 22 lb. 9oz. (50%) and is 29 1/4 inches tall (30%).  So yet again, he's a short chubby little thing. He comfortably wears 12 months clothes.
- He walks!  He officially can walk about 10 or so steps at the year mark.
- He likes to talk like a pirate.  Really.  All we hear is "aarrrggghhhh" all day long.
- He is working on growing his top 4 teeth.  We haven't really seen anything yet, but his gums are super swollen and the pediatrician said they will probably all come in at once.  Lucky us!
- He has adjusted well to life with a part time "sister."  He loves Charley and can recognize her cry at church!  He always looks really concerned when Charley is crying.
- He waves "bye-bye" and signs "all done" and claps.  (He's actually been doing all three of those since about 10 months, but I think I forgot to write it down.)
- He says Dada and Hi, and a whole lot of other jibberish.
He loves to be sung to at bed time, and sounds like he is humming to himself most of the day.

And as of writing this post, two weeks later:
- He gives kisses... and loves it!
- He walks more than he crawls.

I really can't believe my baby is a year old.  Now that he walks, he really is not even a baby anymore.  He brings us so much joy and brings such an amazing spirit into our home.  Steven and I are such blessed parents, to be able to raise such a sweet little boy.  I hope he will always know how much we love him and that he will stay sweet throughout his whole life.

I won't be doing a monthly update anymore... maybe every 3 months? As that is when the Dr. appts are.  We'll see.  It's been a fun year though, and I'm glad to be able to watch him grow and develop each month!

Picture (stolen from facebook, until the originals come) taken 12 November.  

~ 5 November 2012 ~

Birthday!

Noah turned ONE.  I know, I can't believe it either.  Grandma came to help celebrate his birthday, and we had a fun little party.  No one else came (no one was really invited, 'cuz I didn't really plan a party), but I felt like he deserved streamers and balloons, so we had fun decorating the house anyway.  And Noah did notice, as soon as he woke up and came upstairs.  So, it was worth it.  :)

We had his "party" after his nap, and he started by opening presents.  It was kind of amazing because he totally seemed to know what to do with the wrapping paper, and he loved his presents!

(By the way, get ready for picture overload!)

First present from Ma and Pa

Hooray!

New cars, also from Ma and Pa... but mostly Pa :)

What fun stuff is in this bag?!

Oh - clothes... Thanks Grandma.  ;)

Okay, now this is more like it Grandma!   So excited for his new tractor!

After that, we went straight to the cake.  I was SO proud of myself for making this cake and actually having it turn out.  (There have been a few disasters with Steven's cakes the past two years).  We could hardly get a picture for how much Noah loved the cake though!  He wanted to dig right in!

Check out the feet - so excited he couldn't hold still!

Here we go...

First bite.

Very tasty!

Two hands

Yup, that's the stuff

Proud parents with the ONE year old!

After he was all sugared out, it was straight to the bath and then back to playing with his toys.  I think he really enjoyed his big day!  Happy birthday to my favorite little man!

~ Party on 3 November 2012 ~