Happy 1st Birthday

Noah's turns one today - we are absolutely amazed at how quickly the year has gone. We feel so blessed with what he has brought to our lives and what the future holds.

Let me tell you a little about Noah's 1st Birthday - Lesson #68 for Jesse and Sara - the Best Laid Plans of mice and men often go awry.

- 4:30 am - Birthday boy wakes up screaming

- 4:40 am - Birthday boy not going back to sleep, Mom goes to see what is up

- 5:00 am - Mom realizes it is teeth and a cold at work, not an attempt at early partying, attempts to put Noah back to bed

- 5:15 am - Mom realized, attempt is futile and gets up

- 5:30-7:15 - Rotation of screaming, eating, seeking out Mom if she leaves sight, go for walk to get screaming to stop

- 7:40-8:10 - Sit in car while very tired Noah naps before leaving at daycare

- 10:00 am - Mom calls Dad and apologizes for being snarky, Dad says thank you, Dad says I have to go now to get the live bird out of the house that Ethel brought in

- 11:00 am - Phone call from Dad indicating "nut free" cupcakes are not to be found at Freddies as indicated

- 11:30am - Mom and Dad rejected from taking cupcake to Noah due "nut free" zone at daycare; dejected Mom and Dad visit Noah for a picture

- 11:45 am - Mom and Dad have lunch and discuss where the reset button is

- 12:15 - run into Jordan, ask her about drawing on her arm, how applicable "stay in the present"

- 12:45 - confirm babysitter for evening - need to go out and have drink as a couple

Moral of the story - plans can be made but they almost never go as intended.....roll with it, learn from it, laugh at it - or when all else fails have a drink!!

Happy 1st Birthday Noah - you are the apple of our eye:)

Nearing a year!!

It gets more and more difficult for me to keep up with blog. But Noah continues to bring us so much joy each day. He is growing so quickly. He recently had his last fitting for his Halloween costume (first one at 9 months), Jody said he had grown two inches in his leg since 9 months. He is really stretching out. Noah started childcare at the beginning of September 3 days a week. He loves it. He is around other kids so lots of socialization. The teachers say he is very much a busy body and likes to be around everyone - I have no idea where this trait came from:) He is on the verge of walking - stopping occassionally to balance completely on his own, and when he realizes that is what he is doing, he sits down quickly. And so, he will be 1 year old in 17 days - so hard to believe!!

Vacation in Michigan

We are officially on our first family vacation in Michigan.   The weather has been absolutely incredible.  And we are doubly thankful to be here considering it has been over 100 in Portland.    We are sending cool thoughts to our friends and family in Oregon.

We have been spending lots of time with family.   Noah is just blossoming as he spends each minute with Aunts, Uncles, Grandma, Grandpa, cousins.   He loves his morning routine of waking up and eating a banana with the early risers sipping on OJ, coffee and whatever dessert is left from the prior night.   He relishes in the fact that his eating skills are in the likeness of a bigger boy.   He works his way around the ottoman - honing his walking skills.  This morning there was a surprise laundry basket which added another 15 minutes of fun.   We then make our way out to the lake and sit on the bench at the end of the pier and wave goodbye to Daddy and Grandpa as they go out for their morning fishing adventure.   He loves to look in the water, watch the seagulls and generally explore.   We have been hitting a nap at 9am like clockwork.   Then the rest of the day is filled with adventures like hiking, going to the beach, taking golf cart rides on the trails, sitting in the tube in the back yard or in the water, playing, you name it.   Noah is having he time of his life exploring with so many new faces and things to do.   

Just a couple of pics of our adventure.

First Summer - It's the best

I love summer - I especially like being naked in the summer.   My Mommy and Daddy let me play in my baby pool in the backyard.   It used to be Dugan's pool but he shares with me, he is a good dog.   I love my dog Dugan....I sometimes even trick my Mom and Dad and say, "Doog".   I'm tricky like that.    I like to crawl a lot these days.   It looks a little bit like an army crawl but I can get around.   I can also stand quite well when left to my own devices.....stairs, here I come.   I think I might be getting some new teeth soon.   I like to bite things right now - really anything, I'm not too picky.   But overall, life is good:)  

Father's Day

Our first father's day was pretty low key but all about family.   Noah and Mommy brought Daddy coffee in bed....well, a double shot americano.   We thought about breakfast but Noah thought it would be cooler to focus just on coffee.    Pops (Grandpa Sampson) came for a visit in (since Paula was away) and we took him to breakfast - Noah found his voice.   We took a family hike.  He loves the outdoors just like his parents.   And we ended the day with a wonderful meal:)   Family.

Just pictures

Delinquent blog updates

OK...well, we have been busy so our blog updates have been few and far between....but here are some new pics.

Noah is on the move these days.   He is not crawling but very efficient at the army crawl - he does laps around the living room.    He is also very verbal - I have no idea where that came from...   

The Sun is Starting to Shine

The old saying, April showers brings May flowers...we waited long and hard for some good sunshine in Oregon and the time has come.

We have been spending a good amount of time focusing on the yard and gardening this year - we have a mini-garden in the back yard and partially in the front with peas, beans, spinach, broccolini, squash, rhubarb, onions and many choices of herbs.   We've also spent a little time getting to get the yard looking a little better too.    So some of the pictures you will see were from our last trip to the nursery to pick up some shrubs and annuals for the front yard and our treat a fig tree!  

Noah is growing like a weed.   We had our first significant illness last week with a pretty good case of croup - I hope you never go through it.   If you have seen a barking seal at the zoo before, you will know what it sounds like.   He is feeling much better now and smiley as ever.   He is on the verge of crawling and loving his swimming lessons.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

The Hoosier State

Well, Jesse headed to Alaska - so Noah and I headed to Indiana to see the Stronczek family.

Highlights - Noah got a new top tooth, he started sitting up unsupported, he is trying to crawl, he didn't have to lay on dog hair, he traveled on the plane pretty well, he loves to play with a spatula, he saw almost all of his cousins, he loves being in the center of everything, he flirts with Grandma and remembers her on video chat.

We are now back in Portland trying to get our schedule back in order. But our family has been sharing a cold and Noah is trying to get the second of the top teeth....but there was at least a single day reprieve last night with a 7 hour stretch of sleep. I thanked the Good Lord above for that!!

Here are some of our latest pics!

Michael Phelps Look Out

Noah has begun to take swimming lessons.   Well, it is more an exercise of getting the kids used to the water.  It is pretty amazing just the same.   He goes under water and is beginning to understand the cues to hold his breath.   The water is about 92 degrees so it feels like a giant bath.   Happy weekend!

I'm growing

Leaps and bounds week to week - I am now able to sit up for pretty long periods of time, I've found my voice (in church of all places), I love the outdoors (even in the rain)....life is good:)

Growing by leaps and bounds

It is hard to comprehend how amazing the growth of a child is until you have one of your own.   Noah continues to amaze us each day.    He smiles, makes fun noises, mimics what we do, loves to watch us eat, wants to drink from our glasses, etc.   He is trying to break his second tooth - which we are anxiously awaiting for him to start sleeping normal again.   He just brings us so much joy each day.

Yesterday, we had the joy of watching Maya and Noah playing together.   Too funny - both of them were just trying to get a toy in their mouth.   

Time flies while you are having fun

For whatever reason, the blog is suffering from updates.   The next thing we know, it has been weeks since an update.  I guess that is life with kids:)

Noah continue to develop so much personality these days.   He gets more and more fun each day.  He loves to put his toes in his mouth.   I often tell him, how Mommy wishes she could do that.   His hair continues to fall out on the side - he is developing the opposite of male pattern baldness...go figure.  But one of his pics is like father like son - the morning where both of the boys hair is sticking straight up.   Other photos has Noah and I enjoying March Madness - our favorite time of year.   Noah is learning young how to be a point guard.   

We are extremely busy but enjoying life and waiting for some warmer weather to stick around - we are ready to garden!!

Keeps on growin'

The little man continues to grow by leaps and bounds.    We would love to post more pictures of him.   But he has recently developed a new phenomenon of not smiling when the camera is on him.   Oh, we try too....

Anyway, Noah is moving and shaking these days.   He can officially turn himself in a 360 degree circle while on the floor or in bed, roll from back to front on occasion, laughs when you cough or sneeze, stands steady with only a little support, etc, etc, etc.   

Each day is a joy to watch him grow - he sure puts life into perspective for us!   

Working Mom

Week 4 of work - well, so far the transition is going OK.   Lots of stuff going on right now too.   So there is no shortage of things to worry about.   Starting next week, I go back full time.   Overall, we are adjusting fairly well to the new schedule.   Noah enjoys spending time with his Daddy, Jody and grandparents.  

Noah is developing so much each day.   He might be developing a bit of the clown mentality - I think I'm nervous that he might have a little of my personality (3rd grade in the hall).   His new favorite thing is to do raspberries for everything.     We often hear him lying in bed doing raspberries over the monitor.   This seems to be a soothing technique.   

Noah does sure put things into perspective for us.   We are so thankful for such a loving human being to care for each day!!