A long time!

Wow, it has been way to long since I have updated.  Did anyone notice that the last time I did an update was around the same time that I went back to work full-time? 

To say it has been a struggle to prioritize and make time to blog would be the understatement of the year.  I wanted to blog so that later in life my children can look back and have memories about Matt and I as parents and also the important events in their lives.  Let's face it, I haven't even started working on Noah's scrapbook so this may be the next best thing.  So here's an update to catch everyone up with what has been going on in our world.

Jackson turned 9, yes I said 9 over the Summer.  He had a fantastic pool party at the Tonganoxie Aquatic center.  He is now in the 4th grade and I would say in typical 4th grader boy fashion is not too keen on school.  He did inform me the other day that his favorite subject is recess and lunch!  Oh lordy, we are going to have a hard time once middle school hits and there are no more recesses.  Jackson also finished up playing Summer baseball, Fall baseball, and Fall football.  We are now on a little break before Winter basketball and possibly wrestling season starts.  Jackson is still our very caring, fun loving child as always.  I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Noah is now 8 1/2 months old and it just getting funnier and more playful by the day.  Everyday he is amazing us at what he has learned how to do.  He has said both mama and dada, he can feed himself the little gerber graduate snacks, just yesterday he really started crawling, he pulls up, walks around things, and can stand on his own for 30 seconds or longer.  He will be walking before we know it.  He is still a small guy for his age I believe.  Some clothes he still wears 3-6 months.  We are struggling in the teeth department right now.  We usually have a super fussy baby in the evenings, but this too shall pass (which I say over and over in my head daily).  Noah loves his baths now and makes "happy noises" when we take him to the bathtub.  He likes to splash and chew on all of the bath toys.  It's hard to believe in a couple weeks he will be 9 months old.

As for Matt and I, there haven't been many changes.  Matt is still going to school to try and finish up his degree and I am still daydreaming of the day when I can be a stay at home Mom!  Maybe once baby #3 comes.... :)

Daddy's Day!

Father's Day 2011 started out with a trip to Matt's Dad's house.  It was just Matt, Noah, and I since Jackson was visiting his Dad.  Matt's Dad made us lunch and we visited with his sister's Macy and Mollie and his Aunt Kelly even stopped by to say hi. 

Aunt Kelly and Noah

Papa Jim and Noah

Next it was off to visit my Dad.  We decided that this would also be the perfect day for Noah's first time swimming.  I had went out earlier in the week and purchased the "perfect" elephant swimtrunks and bucket hat from Gymboree for him to wear.  I am pretty sure that I was way more excited than Noah was!

That night when we got home we had another big change coming.  As much as I didn't want to I knew that at a little over 4 months old it was time to move Noah from the bassinet in our room to his crib upstairs!   Let me just tell you this was an awful night.  I think I went up to check on Mr. Noah four times before even thinking about falling asleep.  I also bugged Matt a few times and made him get out of bed to go check on him.  He did absolutely great though.  Slept all night up there by himself. :)

4 Months

Four months came upon us so fast!  It felt like the new "little man" in our house had just been born, but he has actually been with us for 4 whole months!  He is changing so much and learning so many new things.  Noah rolls from front to back, back to front, and back to back.  He can take his binky out of his mouth and most of the time get it back in there.  He giggles and just talks and talks all the time. 

At his four month check up he was 12 pounds 1 ounce and 23 3/4 inches long.  He has dropped from the 50th percentile down to the 10th percentile in both weight and height.  Noah has for the past couple months had a really hard time eating.  He wants to eat, but will only suck for a little bit and then turn his head away and then repeat the whole process.  I just thought it was a "phase" that he had been going through.  When the doctor saw that he really hadn't grown much from his two month appointment we discussed what had been going on.  She told us that he most likely had acid reflux and that we needed to change his formula back to regular enfamil instead of the gentle stuff.  We are supposed to call in a couple weeks and let them know how things are going.

A few 4 month pictures for you.  (I still don't have a new camera, so pardon the bad pics)

Meet Heather!

Ok, so this is a long over-due post which will be the case with several of my upcoming posts as well. 

Meet Heather, she is taking care of our precious little man three days a week.  Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday she is caring for Noah from 7:15-3:15 during the day.  Let me tell you the "hunt" for the perfect babysitter was rough.  And it wasn't until last week I finally gave in and realized that he is perfectly fine being left in the hands of someone else because although it is not something I was to do, but I have to work.  Heather is a stay-at-home home to 3 and 2 step-children.  So, yes that is 5 total and are you ready for this?  They are all BOYS!  Man, I am exhausted just saying that.  Her oldest just turned 4 and she has 18 month old twin boys. 

One of my favorite things about our childcare situation is that I always feel like I can call, text, or drop in at any time and it wouldn't be a problem.  Noah always comes home clean, happy, and very content.  I know that although she can't give him 100% of her attention 100% of the time but I feel like he is very well taken care of.  Her children also seem to love him as well. 

I am going to post below some of the random pictures and the text messages that go with them that I have received over the last month.  They are way too cute and way too funny not to share. (That was my plan, but my messages got deleted I had to fill in on some of them.)



"This boy makes me smile" - Noah



"I love my new friends" - Noah



Meet Miss Heather





Miss Heather put me in a PINK punkin' seat!  But I'm a BOY!





Mommy, I took my morning nap in the right place!  I was just relaxing... I didn't MEAN to fall asleep in there!



Handmade? Yes, Please!

The way to my heart is handmade items.  There is nothing better than knowing someone close to you took the time to make something for you/your children.  I received tons of homemade things when I had Jackson but just a few for Noah.  I am kind of weird when it comes to these things.  They usually go up into the closet un-touched because I absolutely don't want anything to happen to them!  Lately I have been thinking about my thought process on this.  What good is it doing in a closet?  This drives my husband crazy!  He has been wanting to use the quilt that my Grandma Winnie made us for our wedding well since- our wedding!  I say no every time, what if something were to happen to it?!  Well, so what right?  At least I would know that we enjoyed using it right?  I sure hope that I can overcome my fear of using all of our precious handmade things.  I have a few quilts, pillow cases my Grandma made for Noah and Jackson, and even a pack of burp clothes that I had embroidered with Noah's name before he was born!

So I took some time to photograph Noah and Jackson with their "handmade" items and now I feel as if I could let go a little and let the boys make good use of them.  Also, I took some pictures of Noah laying on the quilt that my Grandma Ruth made me when I was little.  Such precious memories in the making.

This is the blanket that my Grandma Winnie made for Noah.  She even in scripted it.

Next up is the blanket from my Aunt Sandy.  It is has crocheted bears on it.

This next one is from my Aunt Dorothy.  It is a patchwork type quilt and in the card my Aunt wrote:

The quilt pattern is from a book called "soft covers for hard times".  The fabrics are 1930's reproductions of the depression era.  Hope you enjoy.  Remember:

"He who sleeps under a homemade quilt sleeps under a blanket of love."

And of course this one was taken for fun.  This quilt was used by me, Jackson, and Noah.  My Grandma Ruth made it for me when I was a baby.

Now that I know I have the memories of the quilts in pictures, I hope that Noah will enjoy using them for many years!

A Day With Grandma

I am a little behind on posting this one, but a couple weeks ago Noah was able to spend the entire day on Tuesday with my Mom all by himself.  Oh, and Grandpa stopped in to play a little between his "hay raking" sessions.  I love the fact that both of my boys are able to have awesome relationship's with my parents.  Some of my fondest memories are the ones in which I spent time with my grandparents.  A few pics from the day below.  I made sure that I left my camera with my Mom so that she was able to take some pictures!



Starting the day off with a little nap.




But not for long, I am already awake!




"Thanks for playing with me Grandpa."



I love the toys at Grandma's, they all make noise and do things.



"I even wore my special tractor pull onsie for Grandpa.  Man, I am exhausted- time for another nap."

Thanks Grandma for a fun day.  I can't wait until next time.

Juggling Act

So as a Mom I know that I take on and have many different roles in life.  Since I have returned to work after having Noah and I am realizing now more than ever how important it is to prioritize and use my time very wisely.  The one thing that I was afraid of about coming back to work is that my baby will be spending almost more time per week with someone else instead of with me.  Noah is at daycare 3 days a week for 8 hours per day, and also with Matt about 12 hours per week when I am not there.  That is 36 hours of time that it being taken away from me and being used by someone else.  I am not sure exactly how I feel about this because I do understand the importance of my working for my family right now, but that sure doesn't make it any easier.  I know that for the next year or so I will need to continue working full-time to reach some of the goals that Matt and I have set for my family.  Now that it is Summer it's a little easier when I come home because we aren't having to take time to do homework, but we still have baseball practices and other events in the evening.  Call me selfish, and I don't know why I am still having such a hard time with this.  I am praying that going forward it will get easier with every day that passes.  I sure don't want to be the one who misses the first word, or step due to the fact that he is in daycare.

Life as a baseball Mom.

We had fabulous, wonderful, excitng, tiring, eventful weekend!  Where to start.  Friday night Matt and I had our first real "date night" since Noah has been born.  Grandma came over and took care of Noah and Jack for the evening while Matt and I went to a concert.  I had bought Matt Mumford & Sons (CAKE was also there) tickets for our anniversary.  The concert was at City Market so we went and so did about 10,000 other people (no joke).  Matt really loved it, which is all that Matters.  For me it made me realize something about my life now.  While 10 years ago going to a concert and being smashed against other people, having to use portable potties, and stand the entire time would have been an absolute blast.  These days?  I would much rather be home snuggling with my babies or watching a movie!  Although I will admit that it was nice getting out of the house with my husband. :)

Saturday started Jackson's baseball tournament.  It was in Oak Grove, Missouri so about 50 minutes from home.  He played 2 games, an 11:00 and a 12:30.  The Bobcats won one and lost one.  They were pretty excited about winning the one game though.  My Mom went with me to help with Noah (God Bless Her) because Matt had to work.  It was about 100 degrees and I am not exaggerating.  Noah and I had to go sit by the concession stands because that was the only place that I could find shade.



Aunt Kat and Noah must have been telling stories to one another.




"Please Mom, no more pictures!  I am hot, tired, and want to go home!"

 Later that evening we went over to a friend's house (a parent on the ball team) and had a bbq.  Matt had to work so he didn't get to come enjoy the party until about 9:30PM.  We had a great time and were so thankful for the hospitality.  Jackson and his ball friends played outside in the sprinkler and filled cups with water and dumped them on one another!  Who needs fancy toys anyway?  I think Noah really like the bbq too because he got so much attention!  Everyone held and played with him, which gave Mommy a small break because it had been a really long day.



"Hmm, who can I pour this cup of water on?"

 Sunday morning comes and we are off again, this time with Matt!  Games were at 11:30 and 1:00.  It was even hotter than the day before.  Matt did make one trip with Noah to sit in the car with the AC on, poor guy was getting a little heat rash.  Thank goodness some of the team parents brought canopies this time!  I really don't know what we would have done without those.  The Bobcats won their first and unfortunately lost their second and were out of the tournament.  They all played fabulous and in my opinion it was a great effort made by everyone for their first machine pitch tournament ever.  After the tournament we all went to Taco Bell as a team to eat some lunch!



Jackson and Adam before the game




Noah loves his sock monkey!



"My monkey is so funny Mom!" - Noah





This is at the end of game 2.  Tired, hot, sweaty, and clothes less!

After the crazy busy weekend we decided to stop by and see Matt's Grandma on the way home!

Grandma Shirley and Noah

 So, after the busy weekend I have come to one conclusion.  I wouldn't trade spots with anyone in the world right now.  I am so very lucky to have my husband and two boys and I will cherish every second I get to spend time with them.  Even if it is 102 degrees out! :)

Memorial Day Weekend

Wow!  What a fabulously wonderful weekend we had.  Friday night I dropped Jackson off at his Aunt Kat and PawPaw's house so that he could travel to Iowa with them for my cousin's graduation.  He was pumped about this because it was the first time he has really gone on a trip without my parent's or myself.  Jackson also got to experience staying in a hotel for the first time.  My first baby boy is just getting too big for his britches!

Saturday was sort of a dreary day for us.  It was cloudy, rainy, and a little chilly but that didn't stop us.  Noah and I went to a BBQ at my friends Curt and Sarah's house.  This was a special time for Noah because he was getting to meet a lot of people for the very first time.  He was really really good and everyone got to take their turn at holding him.  There were also two other babies their that were really close to his age so it was fun to talk with their mommy's and compare notes on how all of the babies are doing developmentally.

Please excuse the red eye on these pictures, I am in desperate need of a new camera!



Caycen and Noah- 11 days apart in age




Sara and Noah




Megan and Noah

Matt had to work at his part-time job on Sunday but after he got off we headed up to Lewis and Clark park to enjoy some more friend time.  We had a great time and it was so nice to get away from everything and just sit back, relax and talk with other adults.  We did take Noah with us of course but he did great and we were able to stay until about 10:30 or so.



Noah's new buddies- Skyler and Hannah

 The next morning we went to pick up big brother from his trip.  Boy did Jackson have a fabulous time!  He told many stories and showed us all the new jewelry he got out of a machine at a restaurant that they went to in Iowa.  Aunt Kat, Paw Paw, and Jackson brought Noah back a surprise also.  They got him a miniature sock monkey.  It is "Noah-sized" and he absolutely loves holding it and chewing on it.

He likes to hold on to the monkey's tail.



Or, just cuddle with it...precious!

 To end the day and also the holiday weekend we invited my parents over for a BBQ.  Matt grilled ribs, chicken, and corn on the cob and I made macaroni, baked potatoes, pasta salad, beans, jello cake, and strawberry shortcake.  So much food, but it was such a good time.  Mom and Dad were able to spend time with both Jackson and Noah and we were all able to enjoy a meal together.  Such a beautiful weekend with my wonderful friends and family.  I couldn't ask for anything else. 

Economics 101

So during the last week of school (last week) Jackson had to turn in his Economics project that we had been working on.  The assignment was to make something(s) that could be sold.  They were going to make a mini store and be able to buy and sell all of the different things from their classmates with their "fake" money.  Jackson was very much into this project.  In fact, he was much more excited about this project than any of the previous assigned ones.  Jackson decided that we wanted to make bracelets and necklaces.  So in my mind I was thinking how in the world are we going to make necklaces and bracelets for the girls AND boys? 

So, I was off to Wal-Mart to figure this out.  I bought quite a few supplies and brought them home to let Jackson decide which ones he wanted to use.  Jackson chose to use the colored beads, alphabet letters, and yarn.  We worked with about 5 spools of yarn and a ton of beads.  Over the course of 2 nights Matt, Jackson, and I sat at the table making all of his goods that he was going to sell.  He was super excited to take them to school.  They were made with sayings like:

-I "heart" Bieber
-KU Rocks
-Girl Power
-I "heart" shopping
-Bobcats (school mascot)
and many more....



Jackson working hard




Lots of beads!



Matt showing off his work!




Finished Bracelets




Finished Necklaces



More necklaces

I am pleased to announce that when Jackson got in the car last Wednesday after school he was super excited because ALL of this things sold!  Good Job Jackson!