25 Books, 3 Pair of Shoes...

A few outfits, handmade blanket, cake, punch and more!

My office hosted a shower for Noah this afternoon.

Party prep by Stacy

Nothing like a party with a conference phone

Is he having fun?
A gift specially wrapped (that's the word anyway) by cousin Tex

Kim & Noah

The kitty

I feel very fortunate to work with such a generous group of people. Noah will have the love of books thanks to them.

Bath time

This is a picture little guy will probably hate later in life...I have more revealing shots I'm not posting though.

Today

Noah at 38 days old

I don't know about the rest of you, when I shower - I shower. My darling husband likes to stack stuff! Admittedly it makes me laugh but doesn't he have better things to do?

T-Day Pictures

It wasn't until the day was coming to an end that I realized I hadn't photo documented Noah's first Thanksgiving.

What's Thanksgiving without football?

Happy Thanksgiving

A simple browse through the past year of posts will tell you what we're thankful for.

No pictures today...yet. The morning has been leisurely, focusing on the Black Friday ads.

Best wishes to all.

A Welcome Fluke

I say fluke because I don't want to count on it.

Infant eat, wake, sleep cycles are measured by the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next. This is not something I made-up - apparently there are "experts" who say so.

Anyway, Noah had gotten himself on the 3 hour cycle I mentioned in a previous post. In the past 48 hours he's had a few longer cycles and has seemed to have self adjusted his cycles. He ate at 8:45 PM last night, slept and didn't wake until 1:45 AM!!! Woohooo!!! Then he slept until 5:45 AM and again until 8:45 AM!!! I don't even need coffee today!!

Nap Time

Busy few days

We were lucky enough to get a visit from Noah's Birth Mother and Birth Grandparents this weekend. It was a lovely visit. We feel so lucky to have been matched with this family, we can't imagine going through this process with anyone else.

Noah and his Tummy Mummy

Sadly this is our first family picture. It was relatively early in the morning (considering my nights) and I don't think I was fulling awake. Hopefully there will be more to come that are much much better. For now I will take what I can get.

Today we had our first post-placement visit with Betsy the social worker in town. She was here about an hour and a half, we had lunch and visited. She asked all sorts of questions about parenting and bonding and how things have changed or not. We don't have any issues with the aforementioned so all is as it should be. We'll have our final visit in the spring.

One Month

Stats

* 22 Inches
* 11.5 lbs
* Eating 5 oz every three hours
* Average schedule 9:30, 12:30, 3:30 & 6:30
* Loves the mall
* Is working on a smile, eyes light-up and mouth goes kooky
* Practically out of 0-3 months, plain o'l 3M seem best (note tautness of 0-3 Onesie)


Our photo shoot

Totally going to be a ROCK STAR!!

Missed Celebration

November 11th was the first anniversary of my blog. I can't believe I missed it...why o'why was I preoccupied? Anyway, Happy Anniversary Blog!

You can't really tell but he's wearing an Adidas warm-up suit

and his bodysuit says - I Love My Mommy!

I know, I know, can't get much cuter!

Birthday Celebration!

Dear old (yet new) dad had his birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Mike aka Daddy!

Who says once you have a baby it's not about you anymore?

Birthday Cuddles

What's left to wish for?

You may think he's cooking...think again! One of the many pluses of having a pharmacist in training in the house is his at home compounding skills. Who needs a stinking prescription for diaper rash cream? Not this family. Haven't needed it yet, just good to have on hand

Just Pictures

Love, love, love baby overalls!

Thumb sucker?

That's it!

I just love this bodysuit! I think all babies should have one.


No chance of going to my Mom...she and my Dad are in Mexico celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary (Monday)!! Congratulations Mom & Dad. Mikes parents will be making their way here in just a few weeks to meet the little guy.


I find it amusing Noah always sleeps with his arms up - no matter what. We can only swaddle armpits down or he is a force to be reakoned with.

So peacful

Last night neither DH or I wanted to put any effort in to making dinner so we decided to got to Five Guys Burgers & Fries (yes I know very healthy). This was our "first" family outing to eat just the three of us - very fancy I know...Anyway, DH was so nervous - he kept saying "I don't think we should take a baby to a place like that" as if it was some sort of underground illegal burger joint. Very amusing to me. Thankfully there were several other families there with their little cherubs too. It put him at ease. It is so funny what Dads (or at least this dad) worry themselves about.

No longer a Newborn

DH and I both had one of those moments yesterday...We're parents and couldn't be happier, prouder, more shocked, more ready, all around just amazingly fulfilled. We always said we were so happy just as we were and if for some reason we never had children, yes we would be sad but we would still be happy. A child was not to fill a void but someone we could share our happiness with and teach and show the world to.

Noah has shown and taught us a love we could never have imagined. He's truly a blessing. We feel so lucky to be able to give him our love and the world.

Last night as DH was rocking him and I was cleaning out his dresser...he was born bigger than the "newborn" size but was still able to wear most of it, we discovered as DH tried to put a NB sleeper on him...they no longer fit. Anyway, at this moment we realized we both had the same ahha moment yesterday. It was pretty great.

Stats Update
By my very precise and scientific measurements...Noah weighs 10lbs and is 21 inches.

I know grandma you want sweet perfect pictures but I tend to favor the goofy ones...

3 Weeks Old

It seems like Noah as been part of our family for 10 years and at the same time it's hard to believe it's been 3 weeks already!

He can hardly believe it either!!! What a face!

Noah has been on a two hour feeding schedule for the past two nights which means he's eating two additional bottles each night. Growth spurt already? All I know is when I put him in the Bjorn this morning is was very snug, I assure that doesn't have to do with my weight!

His leg rolls are no longer just skin, they are starting to fill out in a BIG way. We got him a little baby gym and he loves laying on his back and batting at the hanging bear and monkey. I'm certain he mastered the task of batting the bear to make it sing because that's what happens. He's so smart!

DISCLAIMER:

I have been sternly encouraged by grandma to post daily pictures. I will do my best but can't guarantee anything. You may be seeing pictures of Noah at nauseum. Then again he's so adorable who wouldn't want to see daily pictures I ask?

Sleeping through the night

What does that mean? When does night begin and end? When someone says "My son Billy Bob Roy Smith slept through the night" what does that mean? Is night ruled by the clock? The sun? The moon? The tide?

I'm wondering because I want to know how many times Noah is getting up "in the night". If he goes down during the 9 PM hour and up a couple of times, one being in the 4 AM hour - is night over at 5 AM? Is it over when I want it to be? When he wants it to be?

I'm so confused!! One thing I'm not confused about is how adorable he is!!!

Growing-up

I can't believe how much Noah has changed in the past 16 days...he's outgrown newborn sleepers! I may have underestimated his size for Thanksgiving - looks like we will have to go shopping for a new outfit...

Milestones of the past 16 days - Noah's 1st's
Birth, poop, Macy's, Starbucks, dog walk, snow, rain, party, pimple

On day 15 - he has a belly button!!

By request (Heidi) a picture of Me & Noah

Our final leg - Arriving home

After leaving Billings/Laurel with Noah we weren't sure how far we would get or how well he would travel. Naturally, Noah's perfect in the car and we were able to make it all the way back home. It was a long day but were glad not to have to spend another night in a hotel.

We thought it was a little odd our porch light was on when we pulled into the neighborhood...things turned from odd to delightful. My dear girlfriends, decorated for Noah's arrival, warmed up the house and even had a meal in the refrigerator for us. Our home coming was better than we could have expected!! Thank you Hill, Jen & Julie!!!

That is it...the rest as they say, is history. Well, actually present.

Two Weeks

We had Noah's follow-up Dr. appointment yesterday...our little guy has gained 11 ounces in a week!! He was 8 lbs 12 oz's and doing wonderfully!! His cord is nearly done healing, he's got himself on a pretty good 3 hour routine, obviously eating well and sleeping well.

These pictures are from the past few days. Grandpa flew in on Saturday, sadly he and grandma flew home this morning. Noah gave grandma a lovely urine bath as a parting gift! Good boy!

10 days old

Grandpa

There's a little debate amongst the family...will he be a 49er's fan or a Colts fan? Sunday's game was supposed to determine Noah's loyalties but it was just to close to call.

Grandpa loving him even though he's not wearing red & gold

Dad and Noah having a very serious conversation on the merits of being a Colts fan