a little peek:)

We're in:) And lovin' every minute of it!

I had some requests to show pictures of our new place. I don't want to give the *big* tour until the outside is completed..which should be by the end of the week (minus landscaping that will be done with time)..but I thought I would give a couple of peeks in the meantime.

I absolutely love it. Inside and outside...it is just me. I know that sounds silly, but this house is exactly what I would want my dream house to be. Well, plus a little more room and a more updated kitchen situated right on the ocean if I'm really getting my ultimate dream...but who's complaining now? I am so happy...and I can't wait to make memories here:)

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Noah has thoroughly enjoyed having all of these boxes laying around! I know it has been said that boxes make the perfect toys because they can become anything a child can imagine, but who knew they could entertain an 8-month-old?!

He has loved playing with the flaps:)

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This was Noah's first meal in the new house.

See those little teeth shining?? Well..he's got 3 (maybe 4, I can't tell) more on the way. Two more on the bottom, on each side of the two already there, and one on top. But it's not either of his front teeth...it's one of the side teeth. I think they're called eye teeth? I'm confused...I thought the front teeth came first? The other one that may be coming in is the same one on the other side on the top. Oh well..I guess every baby is different. He's been pretty cranky today because of it. I would be too, though! He's taken lots of naps..4 today! Poor little guy...but he's been better this evening thankfully. 

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Today was my dad's birthday...happy 65th!..and we had a family cookout over there. I didn't take my camera though, so no pictures. Noah tasted some yummy red velvet cake with cream cheese. He loved it, of course..as did I:) 

He's getting really skilled at self-feeding with finger foods. He loves all varieties of Gerber's puff cereal and yogurt melts! We're also branching out into "real" foods. So far he has tried baked potato, several types of bread, and that cake tonight:) I'm hoping to incorporate more fresh foods now that he is more accustomed to chewing. Any ideas on good things to try? I'm thinking really well cooked veggies like carrots and very small pieces of firm fruits (he likes to squish things like bananas, so those are out for self-feeding).

Noah has also lately turned into a moving machine! He has mastered the army crawl, and pulls up to stand in his crib all the time. He is also starting to take a few steps while holding onto the crib rail. 

I can't believe my little Noah can do these things already...so exciting:) One of my best friends finally had her son last week (after going some 10 days overdue!!!) and it felt so strange to hold a newborn again. I think parenthood is a completely bittersweet experience, don't you? I feel torn much of the time..missing the real "baby" days, but longing for the future and all the milestones yet to come. 

I'm so thankful to have an outlet like this to record, and share, all of Noah's special firsts, as well as the ordinary day-to-day things too. And as always, thank you for visiting and following along in our journey:)

big changes..

Sorry for being so absent lately. I have some BIG news..

WE'RE MOVING!!!!! 

Can you hear the shouts of joy from my corner of the world?? :)

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If you know used to read my old blog, you already know about my family's current living situation - Jimmy and I have been living in my parent's basement since we were married. Don't think we were free-loading or anything...my dad has an incredibly severe case of multiple sclerosis and requires a lot of care. Seriously, the only things he can do for himself are feeding and minimal personal care (brushing his teeth, shaving, and such). He can't walk, sit, or stand on his own. He requires help with the most basic of daily needs. And because my mom has had her right hip replaced TWICE within the last year, she isn't able to take care of him on her own. He is a BIG man after all, so you have to be in good physical shape to move him around and all. That's where Jimmy and I came in. We got to live in a huge finished basement for a year and a half, rent-free, in exchange for helping my mom take care of my dad. 

And it has been nice, living rent-free and having lots of meals prepared for us and all. But it has also been hard. And stressful. And we just can't do it anymore..

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We are so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity we are taking. My grandmother has owned her mother's old home since she passed away many years ago. It had been rented for a long time by the same woman. But about a year ago, the renter decided to buy her own home, leaving my great-grandmother's house empty. I jumped at the opportunity..but we just weren't ready. Noah was about to be born, my mom was gearing up for her first hip surgery, and things just didn't work out. Not to mention that the house was in pretty rough shape.

My wonderful aunt Paula then decided to head up basically a whole remodeling job of the house (because my Mimi is not in any condition to do such work). And can I say just how AMAZING the transformation is?!?! Granted, not everything is updated, and there is no granite or stainless steel, but I think it is just a lovely little place. Perfect for, say, a family of three? :)

It has taken a lot to get us in there. I'll spare the details, but things haven't been all that smooth. We even took some time off, thinking we may not move there at all. That's why I haven't mentioned anything about this until now. But as of last night, Jimmy and I had moved in about half of our things across town to our new address at 24 Sunset Street! 

I tried really hard throughout this whole ordeal to have faith, knowing that God would put us in our own home in his timing. And the fact that we have reached this point in less than 2 weeks of actively discussing moving there again is proof that things will happen when God is ready for them to happen! 

We are hoping to finishing moving our really big furniture (bed, dresser, couch, etc) on Friday, and have our first night there on Sunday. In the meantime, I have no idea how often I will have the opportunity to get online and such. Actually, we may be living in our new home for several days before our cable and internet are hooked up. So just letting you all know, I haven't left for good...probably just until things get settled with the move. I'm sure you all understand:)

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And now, since this blog is really about Noah, I'll share a bit of what's going on with him. We've had another "leaps & bounds" week here! In the last few days, Noah has learned how to wave and how to successfully feed himself puffs/finger foods. He is very proud of himself for these accomplishments:) He has also learned what an echo is...in that when we were at the new house measuring and such, he could hear himself squeal and laugh in the empty rooms. So he now "tests" for echos whenever we enter a room by squealing as loud as he can. It's quite funny:) Sorry for no pictures...I'll be sure to have some new ones next time!

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Well..that's all for now, and probably for a while. I hope to visit you all whenever I have the chance. And I also hope to share some pictures of our new home whenever I return!! There is still some remodeling planned for the outside, and I'm not sure when that is going to be done. But the inside will hopefully be all clean and decorated very soon!

**Just a side note to my prim-decorating friends. This house does not really lend itself to prim style. Which is okay, because my style tastes are wide and varied (a result of being addicted to HGTV I guess!). I guess what I really want more than anything is a comfortable, inviting home for us, and our family and friends rather than a showpiece of a particular style or theme. But I do still love all of you prim girls and your lovely homes:)

Until next time,

Lauren

8 months update

Noah turned 8 months old yesterday, and I thought it would be fun to give a little overview of him at this point in his life:)

Eating

Here is a sampling of Noah's daily menu (what he ate yesterday):

• Breakfast: 1 jar bananas & strawberries (3rd foods), Gerber peach puffs
  
• Lunch: 1 jar winter squash (2nd foods), HappyBaby apple puffs
  
• Dinner: 1/2 jar chicken & stars (3rd foods), 1 individual cup YoBaby blueberry yogurt, Gerber sweet potato puffs, Gerber banana puffs
  
• Other: four 8-oz bottles of formula (in between meals and one before bed), about 3-4oz water in his sippy cup
  

Sleeping

• Usually 2 naps per day, ranging in length from 45 minutes-1.5 hours.
• He goes to bed around 10:00 or 10:30pm
• He wakes up around 9:00am
• He generally sleeps through the night, but lately has been waking up around 4:00am. We just give him his first bottle at this time and he goes right back to sleep.

Development

What he can do really well:

• Sit upright - on the floor, chairs, couches, etc
• Change positions
• Roll
• Scoot around
• Explore toys (pushing buttons, turning knobs, etc)
• Find hidden objects
• Say "mama" and "dada"
• Identify other common people/things (Granny, Papa, our dogs, etc)

What he is currently working on:

• Crawling without stomach on the ground
• Pulling up to stand
• Clapping
• Identifying objects by name (objects in pictures, puzzle pieces, etc)
• Following simple commands (handing me something specific, putting blocks in containers, etc)

General Favorites

• Toys: Thomas the Tank Engine-themed wood blocks, shape sorters (here and here), Melissa & Doug knob puzzles, alphabet spinner, learning puppy, exersaucer (though he is QUICKLY outgrowing it!), ride-on Mater, books, push-along Thomas, plastic spoons/pots & lids/other noise-making kitchen items, our dogs & his 4-year-old cousin Abby :o)
• Shows/Movies: Thomas the Tank Engine, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Backyardigans, Cars, Finding Nemo (I consider these favorites because he will watch them for 15+ minutes, or will return to watching them if still on while playing)
• Books: any of the Priddy Books (especially the soft ones like Squishy Turtle and Friends), lift-the-flap books (like Peter Rabbit - Peekaboo!), Get Dressed With Elmo, and really anything else I give him
• Other Activities: bath time & playing in his baby pool (fun with water), going for walks, sitting in rocking chairs
• Comfort Items: Murphy the monkey (plush animal), Oats the horse(blanket animal), my hair & a paci & a song from me :o)

Music Favorites

For fun:

• Songs with movements (like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "If You're Happy and You Know It")
• Songs from Thomas the Tank Engine (especially "Little Engines" and "Down By the Docks")...we love this cd!
• Most any praise music (like Chris Tomlin) and rock music (like Aerosmith)..what a combo! LOL

For sleep:

• Old standbys like "Jesus Loves Me" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
• New praise music like "Center" by Charlie Hall, "How Great is Our God" by Chris Tomlin, "Better Is One Day" from the Passion concerts

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I am absolutely amazed by my son. All he can do, all he has developed...and in just 8 months! He has such a wonderful, friendly personality...and rarely meets a stranger as long as Mama is by his side :o) Thank you for being a part of his life up until this point, and I so look forward to sharing more!!

leaps and bounds

When I think back about all of the milestones that Noah has reached so far, it seems like they come all bunched together. It really is like he grows in leaps and bounds....like he'll stay the same for a couple of weeks, then all of a sudden, here he is pulling up and standing on his own...

This was the BIG surprise I got while I was changing our sheets yesterday. I sat Noah in his crib to play while I did that (so at least we use the crib for something, since he still refuses to sleep in it!), and when I came back in, there he was STANDING all on his own!

He's been trying to do this for a while, but kept face-planting into the bars (which did not result in smiles!). I guess he finally realized that you hold onto those bars instead of the bumpers, which are much too short and flimsy..

I was absolutely amazed:) I cannot believe how much he can do...and he's still four days shy of 8 months!

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Crawling, on the other hand, is still not going all that well. He continues to just kind of drag himself across the floor on his belly. But it works, so whatever:) He also likes to scoot on his bottom. 

Noah has also gotten very good at climbing into laps. When I'm sitting in the floor with him, he'll drag himself over and pull himself into my lap. So sweet:)

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I wanted to try and get a picture of his two little teeth, too. I'm not sure how well you can see them, but here they are:)

He tried his first chewable food last night too...HappyBaby Apple Puffs. He was a little unsure at first, but he's been imitating chewing for weeks now, so I thought I'd give them a try. He did really great with them! I broke them into smaller pieces last night, but he ate whole ones this morning. He won't feed himself yet...the thumb-index finger grip isn't so developed, but I know he'll get there. In the meantime, I don't mind feeding him....I know the day when he won't need me for that is fast-approaching!

Will someone please tell me when my baby boy decided to grow up so much??