Eighteen Months Old!

So we're a little sad these days..... Noah no longer seems/acts like a little baby. He's somehow turned into a little boy right before our eyes. =(

So what's new with Noah and what are his "stats" these days?

Well..... don't hate us..... but he is STILL an excellent sleeper. He goes down between 7:30 & 8:00 and doesn't get up until 8:30 or 9:00. =) =) =) Also, if you will remember, he started sleeping through the night when he was just 8 days old. Yes, we are very lucky. He still loves his bed, loves his naps (even now has been asking to go "ni-ni" and will run for the stairs) and spoils us with that! However..... around the 16/17 month of his life has brought him to the point that he no longer likes to take 2 naps a day - just one. And sometimes it's not that long. BUT, when he's sleeping 13-14 hours a night, we can't complain!!

He is talking up a storm!!! He can say quite a few words with and without help, he mimics everything we do (gotta start being careful now!), and signs for quite a few things he wants/needs.

We brought out the potty chair last month and are in the very beginning stages of potty training. Isn't this kinda early, you ask? Maybe. But he DOES tell us before he poops sometimes and then points down to his diaper to let us know something's there. So we try to get him to his potty chair before it's too late - not often are we quick enough, but we show him where his poo-poo's go and let him flush them away. BUT, just a few weeks ago, he told Jen he had to poop, so she took him to his potty chair, and he pooped in it!! There was MUCH rejoicing in this household, and many text picture messages being sent out to family and friends. ;)

He is still healthy as a horse! Still is the epitome of health for someone his age. Hasn't hardly ever had any "medical" issues. Again, we are very blessed.

He loves to be SO silly and get us to laugh. Mostly when he's in his highchair or carseat. He also has been more content to snuggle and give lots of "loves" lately. L-O-V-E that!!

He's been SUCH an easy teether - has quite a mouth-full now - 16!!!

He did absolutely amazing on both of the 2 16-hour car rides to AR 3 months ago. He doesn't seem to mind car rides and adapts so well to whatever we're doing in life. Although nursery still seems to be a struggle..... :/

Lately.... he throws MAJOR hissy fits/tantrums when he's been outside playing and has to come inside. He is very much an outdoor kind of boy. This all started around the 16/17 month mark - and it's not JUST when he has to come inside either, but about other random things too!!! It's actually kinda hilarious, although we can't let him know that. ;)

Recently, we've been gifted with 2 large trash sacks of clothes for Noah!! And if you'll remember, before Noah was born, we were gifted with 3 lawn and leaf bags stuffed with clothes!! He's been spoiled with toys/baby gear galore from all kinds of friends. Everything looks SO brand new you'd never be able to tell! We love free toys, clothes and baby gear!! =)

We are celebrating his 18-month birthday with fireworks tonight. =) Tomorrow he has his 18-month well-child-check. At which "event" do YOU think he'll have more fun? ;)

Here's a few pictures over the past several months:

I Love My New House, Guys!

I love going up and down the stairs - I think it's funny to give Mommy a heart attack and try to go down forwards instead of backwards.

I love my new playroom where ALL my toys can be out and I can spread out and play with them everywhere and make a big mess if I want to.....

..... and I love having my friends over once or twice a week for all the playdates Mommy sets up for me!! (I love it when all of Mommy and Daddy's friends come over all the time too). ;)

I love the big open spaces where I can run (and have Daddy (and Mommy) chase me)! I love making BIG messes..... ooops!! I love helping Mommy clean up! I am trying to love my pool, where I can swim outdoors and play with the balls indoors.
I love my new room. I sleep SO good in here!
I love my backyard and being outside - there's SO many fun things to explore and pick up! My head hardly looks up!

I LOVE the train that comes by - although I can't see it from downstairs, I still run to the windows and try anyhow. It excites me very much.
I love all the railings - it's fun to be able to see everything!
I love Mommy's new washer and dryer - it's fun to watch the clothes spin around.
I LOVE living really close to ColdStone Creamery. Ice cream is definitely one of my favorites. =)

I love SO many other things about my new house - but as you can tell, I keep my Mommy and Daddy on their toes so they don't have much time to blog about all the other fun things that I love. =) Maybe someday. =)

Fun Day Outside

It was such a nice morning here in our new little city. So we decided to drag out our bikes, hook up Noah's new bike trailer and take a ride around the neighborhood and up the Santa Fe Trail.


While we were out riding around, the train came rumbling down the tracks, so we had to stop and watch it. Noah was in HEAVEN!! He is absolutely crazy about the "tain." =)


After we got home, we decided to fill up the baby pool and let Noah swim awhile. He was not a fan. Next time we'll fill it with pretty warm water - or just let him swim in the hot tub with us while wearing floaties. ;) He DID like to play with the hose and his toys and splash around outside of it though. Oh well, maybe next time. We tried.






While Noah napped after his big morning, Greg worked on some more of the upgrades around the house, Jen shopped for house things online, and we rested a little bit before N got up.

Later on in the evening, we went out to dinner with Cheryl and Bob and tried a new restaurant here in Monument. We even got to sit "outside" and enjoy the great weather! (As we were leaving the restaurant, Jen ran into an old friend from high school and had fun catching up for a few minutes. Can't believe it's been 11 years!!!!) Then we had C & B over to "play" and have dessert. Noah was being insanely silly and loved all the attention he got from them. =) They really are like a 3rd set of Grandparents to him. ;)

It's been a fabulous day. =)

Nomads No More

So about 6 years ago, we had our very first house built in Colorado Springs, CO. Cute little house on the outside, customized just like we wanted it on the inside, and set in the most ideal spot in the cul-de-sac with the second largest backyard in the neighborhood. We most definitely were spoiled.

It is much to both our excitement and through our tears, 6 years later, our very first little house has been rented out to some amazing tenants (we're landlords - eeek!!!) who plan to buy it in a year and a half OR keep renting it out on a month-to-month basis until it officially sells to someone else!! What a tremendous blessing, huh?

It is also much to our excitement to let you know we're the owners of a new house in Monument, CO! It's not brand new/built from scratch like our first house, but while we were in the "building process," we happened to run across THIS house for sale, and it just so happened to be the layout of a model we had looked at about 3-4 years ago and fell in love with! It's beautiful on the outside, customized and upgraded almost exactly how we would have wanted it on the inside (we do have a few more upgrades/changes to make though - but that's a fun project!), and it sits in a fantastic neighborhood! We feel truly blessed with this find and the awesome deal we scored. Now we can't wait to have all of you over! =)

Zoo Day

Today we decided to be skippers of church (ooops!) and took Noah to the little zoo we have here in town. His first time at the zoo, too! He didn't totally like it at first - was terrified of all the animals and animal statues - but ended up having a great time once he got used to his surroundings. :)

We saw all kinds of fun things today!

We touched a chipmunk (who eventually ended up in N's diaper bag in the back of his stroller - hilarious!)....

Tried to feed/pet the giraffes, but someone was afraid of them.... (we were lucky to get this picture before he freaked out!)

Eventually he warmed up, but still didn't get too close....

We played at the playground for a little bit....

Saw a photo opp for a family picture....

Saw a moose....

Saw some mountain lions....

Watched the fish....

Saw another photo opp for a family picture....

Took a picture of the most beautiful boy in the world....

Looked at the rabbits....

Saw a gorilla....

Had a snack while watching the monkeys....

He was exhausted at the end of the afternoon, but his behavior was beyond impeccable. Even though his nap was seriously being encroached upon, he did great! Even was good and being silly at lunch. Of course, when we finally got home, he totally crashed and took a 3-hour nap! :)

And so did we! ;)

It's been a good week last week and an exciting week to look forward to this week too. Last Monday we went to a Rockies game, ate at WhichWich for dinner beforehand, and got milkshakes for the drive home. It was such a fun date night. :) We went to some friends house on Friday night and were supposed to play a new game, but got caught up in just hanging out, drinking lattes and talking. That's always fun too.

This week, we're doing some shopping for new house things on Monday, celebrating Becca's birthday (surprise!) on Tuesday night, meeting her and having a picnic at her work to watch the AFA air show for the cadet graduation on Wednesday, doing some "business" on Thursday, and then will be crazy busy, sun-up to sun-down, the next 4 days.

We need some down time....will we EVER just NOT be busy? :)

My Papa

(By Jen)

2 weeks ago, on April 29th, I lost my spades partner. My driving teacher. My Dairy Queen/Taco Bell date.

The one who made me feel like I was pretty much the greatest thing in life, ever.

He was one of MY most favorite people ever too. So much so, that I named my son after him.

Just when I thought I'd already gone through the worst thing in life a kid could ever go though, I find out THAT didn't even hold a candle to THIS.

I miss him every minute of every day and I hate the ache and the hole I have in my heart. But I cling to the fact that I know he's with our Heavenly Father and that I'll get to see him again someday!

Beading

(By Jen)

For anyone who knows me well, creativity and craftiness are not one of my strongsuits. In fact, I have always been known to say that I'd rather pay someone to do something for me rather than to try to do it myself, have it turn out looking like crap, throw it away and waste all that time and money. =)

Well, things may have changed. A little.

Last year for Mother's Day, I purchased the bracelet below for my Mom. Before I even became pregnant, I always knew I wanted to give my Mom a gift like this on her first Mother's Day being a Grandparent.

Gorgeous, isn't it?

Well...... after getting together one night with a friend to "bead" and thinking about it more after having 2 seperate friends on 2 seperate occassions tell me I should get more serious about making jewelry, I decided to give it a try and form a new hobby.

Lemme tell ya, it's fun! So far, nothing's turned out looking like crap, and I haven't had to throw anything away! ;) As I get better, I will start making gifts for people. Until then, this hobby will just be for me to enjoy.

I am also throwing around the idea of doing some woodworking - like pictures with cute sayings on them and etc. If this idea ever comes to fruition, I will let you know. =)