November Wrap-Up

November was a big blur for us!  It was a busy, but not a terribly busy month if you know what I mean.  We were pulled in so many directions and had so much going on that it felt more chaotic than it really was.  Thankfully with the holiday placed perfectly in there, we were able to slow down, relax, and take some time to enjoy the season.

Noah decided to park his butt in the packing box


Tubby time in our house is quite the wet experience.  Noah loves to splash and Hannah loves to help do whatever her brother is doing.  Beware! in this house if you are in the bathroom during tubs, it WILL get messy :)
 
 

This kid!  Smiling all the time, even when he is eating!
  

Uh-oh!  Someone got some extra snuggles in mom and dad's bed this morning!


Noah really loves walking back to Hannah's room and playing in there.  He especially loves her Minnie chair and we find him sitting in it constantly.  When he is "missing" this is the first place that we look.


Watching the leaves blow by on the deck


Behind up in the air, snoozing!


We attended Silver Bells in the City, downtown Lansing this year.  It was COLD, as in freezing!  The Vogel family, and Heather & Kyle came along with us this year.  We were lucky to be able to park at John's office and spend time inside his building to stay warm.  We all took turns rotating outside with the kids to watch the parade and look for Uncle Tom's float to pass!  It looked beautiful this year, complete with a waving Elf!
Hannah and I, Ben and girls, and Heather & Kyle checked out the lighting of the State tree and watched the fireworks set off.  It was a fun night!  (and someone took some pics of Hannah and I with the fireworks that I will find!)
  

Afternoon naps for both of us complete with snuggles


Noah loves climbing through the tunnel we have set up.       I also can't get enough of his cute face :)
 

Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year!!  So far 2014 has blessed us with good health, happiness, fun times shared with friends and family, new opportunities, growth, and plenty of new memories.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at my in-laws and the company as well.  Thanksgiving is a day we should have  more frequently!  (good food, relaxation! what more could you want?)

 

                                                      Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! 

Noah 11 Months

My almost-one-year-old baby boy!  This has been the fastest month yet I believe.  It still amazes me how quickly you've grown and how much you look like a little man now.  (but you will always be my little boy)  

 

It is getting much, much harder to keep you still to take a picture.  These are the best we could get!  You didn't want to stand still so I had to grab some walking pictures instead, but it works. 

  

What you've been up to this month: 

You are WALKING!!  And walking EVERYWHERE!!  For the past 2 weeks or so, you have just decided to do it.  We can't believe how well you keep your balance and how quickly you are taking steps.  You seem so tiny to be walking, but you were determined to keep up with your sister.  Hannah loves the fact that you can follow her around and see what she is up to.  And we have to keep close tabs on you because you are into everything that you can possibly reach.  (including one of our plants that sat in the living room- daddy sure loved cleaning up all that spilled dirt)

You are a little piggy boy!  You are eating so much food, pretty much anything we put in front of you, you are eating.  You have completely transitioned to all table food, no more baby food for you!  It makes meal time so much easier because we can just give you what we are eating, and you eat it all.  For breakfast you are eating waffles, pancakes, raisin toast (is your favorite), cereal, or oatmeal.  For lunch you eat grilled cheese, grilled turkey/or ham and cheese, snack on yogurt, goldfish, animal crackers, teddy grahams, pretzels, etc.  For dinner you love sausage, chicken, pork, not crazy about salmon yet, but eat veggies (if they are cut up very small), rice, noodles, and all fruit (of course).  You really are a good eater.  

We have been teaching you how to sign "more" because you keep screaming and squealing when we feed you.  It seems as if we can't feed you enough or fast enough!  

You are still drinking 4 oz of breastmilk about every 3 hours.  You are taking all bottles now as Mama decided to stop pumping and nursing.  We have enough frozen milk stocked up to get us through to one year (and then some) and also you have become much more distracted that nursing has become too much of a challenge.  

Sleep, oh glorious sleep!  Thankfully you have decided to sleep better.  The few times that you have been waking up, we are able to hold and rock you for a few minutes and put you right back into your crib.  You are more consistently sleeping through the night now.  And if you do wake up, most of the time you will cry for just a few seconds and go right back to sleep.  We are all thankful that you have figured things out.  Sleep is a good thing :)

You aren't saying too many words yet.  You are trying to say Hannah and it comes out sounding as "Hey-na", still say Dada (for practically everything), Ba-ba when its time for one, and wave and say buh-bye.  You also have these hilarious screaming bouts where you are telling us "I'm so happy!"  You will scream and smile, then we start laughing and it fuels you to scream even more.  Hannah will scream back to you sometimes and you think that is hilarious and you will scream back at her.  We all get a good laugh out of this scene from time-to-time.  

You have picked up on the not-so-fun-habit of starting to scream and cry when you are told No or don't get your way.  You will pout and put your head down on the ground/couch/our body to show us how pouty you are.  Even though that part is adorable, you still need some limits and don't understand why you can't do certain things.  

You are enjoying sitting and playing by yourself much more lately.  Stacking blocks, solo cups, putting toys into boxes or inside other toys completely fascinates you.  You also enjoying knocking towers down whenever you get a chance.  Any toys that sing you have fun with.  You will "dance" to the tunes and we all can't help but smile at how cute you look shimmying your little body.  

You are also enjoying "reading" books while you flip through the pages by yourself.  You can sit for a few pages when we read to you, but then you want to be yanking the pages or on the go.  I haven't noticed any books in particular that you seem to go-to, but you have fun with whatever book you find.   

You are such a cuddly boy and love sitting with us and snuggling.  It is one of the best things to look forward to after a long day, tough day, or just as things wind down.  We love that you are snuggly.  You are also very attached to your "blankie".  You will hold it up to your cheek and say "ahh" and snuggle with it.  Thankfully the blankie is easy to wash and we have 2 currently.  There is nothing special to the blankie but certainly gives your comfort when you sleep.  

Big sister Hannah and her "baby brother No-e" (as she calls him)

Trip to PA

Hannah, Noah, and I had a wonderful opportunity to take a trip back to PA and spend a nice, long weekend with family.  I found some ridiculously inexpensive airline tickets on Frontier airlines flying out of Detroit and into Trenton, NJ.  I was a little hesitant about Trenton, but only because I wasn't aware they even had an airport.  But nonetheless, it was a great chance to get out of Lansing and visit family.  

We left on a Thursday from Detroit at 5pm.  We got there with plenty of time, just to give us/me a little less stress while navigating through the airport by myself.  This wasn't my first solo flying trip with the kids, but now with Noah being much bigger and more mobile, I didn't know what to expect.

I was once again amazed at how helpful the other travelers can be.  In this world where you don't always hear the positives and it doesn't seem that people care, I am always so thankful for those willing to help without being asked.  There were so many people asking if I needed a hand, helping to lift or adjust a bag, or just offering, it was very encouraging.  

Once we were through security there was a wonderful kids play space directly across from the gate we were scheduled to depart from.  It was absolutely perfect and exactly what my kids needed after the drive to Detroit in the car, and the upcoming need to sit still in their seats on the hour and a half flight.  They were able to run, jump, and play and let off some steam.  We pretty much had the play space to ourselves so they would be pretty "wild" and not worry about anyone else.  

 

Once it was time to board the plane, we got on loaded with snacks and dinner to occupy our time.  Half of the flight was spent eating and snacking, another 1/4 was spent playing with toys, reading books, and coloring, and the final 1/4 was spent sucking on lollipops as we descended and finally landed.  Both kids did great, no screaming, crying, whining, and therefore no upset or complaining passengers around us.  (not like it would have bothered me anyway) 

  

My dad make the snowy/icy drive to pick us up and we were all tired and ready to be finished traveling for the day.  It was about an hour drive back to their house.  We visited for a little bit before we drove to Pam's to unload and settle in for the weekend.  

On Friday morning, Hannah was so excited to spend the day with Bryn.  Bryn was certainly attacked with hugs and lots of playful Hannah energy.  Poor DD missed the brunt of it as he was at school, but Hannah certainly made up for missed time once he got home.  

Amy, Matthew, and Ava spent the day on Friday with us at Pam's as well.  This was my first time meeting my newest niece and I couldn't wait for the snuggles.  Just look at those chubby cheeks!  

  

Hannah just loved holding her and had to give Ava some kisses, and of course read her a book.  

 

Always crafy-Amy brought an activity for the kiddos to start making for our "Thanksgiving" dinner the next day.  They colored noodles so they would be able to make necklaces.  They also decorated turkey plates with feathers and filled the inside with beans.  

 

Saturday was spent relaxing and trying to take it easy.  The whole family was coming over to Pam's and we would celebrate "Thanksgiving" a little bit early, but it was nice to have a big get-together.  

       The boys (minus Noah and Austin who was sick)                                       The girlies 

 

The kids were busy making those colorful noodle necklaces                           MomHerr & Ava

 

These silly kids!!  SOOOOO much energy                                                 My handsome bubba boy!  

 

  MomHerr & MeMom with their great-grandchildren (minus Austin)             MomHerr, Grace, & Noah

 

                   Love my kiddos :)                                                                        Mr Noah is very curious

 

                 Bubby and Noah                                                      MomMom & Poppy with their grandchildren (missing Austin who was sick) 

 

                                             Proud Grandparents!!  12 total grandchildren so far!                     

On Sunday I went to a little brunch get-together with my lovely best friends from high school.  These girls have been my friends since 6th grade!  It's never a dull minute with these ladies and I'm so thankful they are a part of my life.  The group is continuing to grow and expand, it is so fun to see our kiddos play and interact together.  I just wish we could do this more than once/twice a  year.  

                                                           

                  Hannah & Noah, Emma (who now has 2 twin baby sisters), Davis, Logan & Keegan, and Delaney  

                                                                       (Missing Ms Lar and her darling Hailey)  

On Monday we spent the day with MeMom and PopPop as well as MomMom who had the day off.  The kids had a fun time playing and we enjoyed the company of Kim, Lola, and Lilly who stopped by. 

 

 

Both Hannah and Noah were ready for naps this afternoon.  Both took over 2 hour naps as well!!  Noah was on a make-shift "crib" and Hannah slept on the "special water bed".  

 

On our final night with Pam, Jason, Dylan (DD), and Bryn we watched some TV, ate some popcorn, and just relaxed.  It was a fun, but exhausting whirlwind of a weekend, but we wouldn't have traded it for the world! 

Tuesday morning we headed to Mom and Dads to spend the morning before it was time to head back to the airport.  Noah got some extra snuggles from MomHerr and Poppy.  Hannah was able to play and get some energy out with Lilly and Aunt Kim who quick stopped by to say goodbye.  

 

  

Hannah wearing Aunt Kim's glasses                                        Lilly was being a little stinker-butt!  

 

We had a great trip to visit everyone!  We were sad that Austin wasn't feeling good and we couldn't see him or Kate.  But we can't wait for our next trip in the summer!  

Hannah and Noah did pretty good on the plane ride back to Detroit.  Noah decided to fall asleep as we were practically descending into Detroit.  He wasn't very happy with his teeny cat-nap.  We arrived in Detroit and were welcomed back with FREEZING cold weather and SNOW!  We were certainly not expecting that.  Both kiddos fell asleep for the entire drive back to Lansing.  It was a nice, quiet, enjoyable drive spend listening to music and reminiscing about our fun weekend.  (dead iphone can't hold a charge!)  We already can't wait to see everyone again!