17 Months Old Today!!

Noah's 17 months old today and is growing and changing everyday. He climbs into his chair at his table with ease, he can get onto his rocking chair, has almost gotten onto his daddy's chair and of course he's trying to get onto the couch as well.

He loves playing with his computer. He knows how to turn it on and off and has favorite buttons that he likes to push. He thinks he's pretty big stuff typing on his laptop although he still loved to type on mine.

He's become a master at the phone. He had my cell phone yesterday and actually dialed Justin's cell!! I must admit we open the phone bill with caution, we keep waiting to see an expensive phone call placed to China!

"Must play trains!" is what this picture is saying. To say he loves his train set is an understatement. He loves trains and is developing a love for vehicles. His new favorite toy is his farm truck that Santa brought him for his first Christmas.

We thought he'd be walking by now but he's decided to remind us that he will do things in his own time. Jessica, his physical therapist, told us this past weekend that it's normal for babies to regress a little before they start walking independently. For a while he would walk back and forth between Justin and I without any help. Now when we try to get him to walk he'll lean against our arms or hang onto our hands. . . once we try to get him to let go he'll go straight to the ground. Like I said, he'll do it in his own time!

Look What We've Been Doing. . .

Practicing our walking!!! Noah is finally starting to take some steps on his own. He's really made a lot of progress the past couple of days. He's gone from me basically pushing him to walk towards Justin (and vice verse) to him standing against the couch and starting to walk towards me on his own.

And here's a pic of him walking with his truck. He likes to walk with this from one end of the house to the other. The problem is he hasn't figured out how to turn it around!
It was such a BEAUTIFUL day yesterday that we took Noah for a walk in his wagon to my parents' house across town. He loves to ride in it! I knelt down to visit with him at a red light and he quickly let me know that my job was not to visit with him but to pull him!Of course his favorite thing at my mom's house, aside from his cousins, is still the piano. I would love to have one. I'm pretty sure we'll be moving this summer, I'll have to put one on my "wish list!"I think this picture is too cute, he looks like he's ready for his own office, doesn't he? He loves that table. He loves to work at it. . . . And sit and play under it.
This is his newest climbing toy, our vacuum. He LOVES the vacuum. He chases after it when we're using it and stands on top of it when we're trying to put it away. Now, I just can't wait to teach him how to use it!!!

Noah's Two Favorite Seats in the House

1. In his blue pull wagon. He especially loves it when mommy or daddy pull and push him around in it.And it's also a great reading spot!

2. His daddy's lazy boy. Pretty soon we'll be calling it "Noah's Chair" instead of "Justin's Chair." And yes, that is a spatula in his mouth. Why we ever buy him toys is beyond me! :)

This is also a great reading spot!The rest of these pictures are "just because pictures":

Just because . . . .

He's so cute in his Cubs hat and t-shirt (thank you Grandpa Dean & Fran)Just because. . .

He got a hand-me-down toy from someone at Grandma Debbie's church.

Just because. . .

He and his daddy look cute playing with the toy.
Just because. . . .

He loves to play with his cousin Ellie.

Just because. . .

His Uncle Aaron is a goofball.

Just because. . .

Bath time is fun!

Happy Belated Birthday Grandpa Tom!!!

Happy belated Birthday Grandpa Tom. I have been a very bad blogger and should have posted this on Monday, Tom' birthday. In fact I have been a bad daughter-in-law. When I dropped Noah off that morning I forgot to wish him a happy birthday. I'm so sorry!
Things have been busy here. Both Justin and I are trying to get back into the swing of school. I have some grade level concerts that I'm starting to worry about. And of course we bought a Wii, so Justin and I have been playing that after Noah goes to bed. (I really am getting addicted . . . not a good thing when I have lesson plans and ironing to do!) Here's a picture of Adam & Leah playing it.

Noah, of course, is his ever wonderful self. I just can't get enough of him. It was so hard to go back to school after break, I would so love to be a stay at home mommy. He loves that Brio train set that Santa gave him. He "helps" me unload the dishwasher. I guess he helped Kathy load the clothes into the dryer earlier this week.

I love watching his personality develop. He has the best laugh, which I think has to be the most wonderful sound I've ever heard. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we are so lucky he is our son!

Happy Birthday Papa & Happy New Year Everyone!

Today was my dad's birthday. After lunch we headed over to my parents' house where we spent time with my side of the family, had a yummy dinner and ate cake & ice cream to celebrate his day. Here are a few pictures. The first is my dad with all his grandkids, Noah, Ellie & Mary. Below Mary & Ellie are helping blow out the candles.

Noah & Papa.
Noah & Ellie sharing the rocking chair.

Janis, Aaron & my dad
One of Justin's and my projects this break was to make homemade spaghetti noodles and homemade ravioli. We also made homemade sauce. All of these were Granny's recipes. We invited our families over for dinner on New Years Eve to partake of our feast. I must admit it was quite yummy. From the picture you can see that Noah agrees. (We've learned to strip him down before adding tomato sauce!)

Here are some pictures from last night. First, my baby playing with his train set:

Kathy, Seth, Mary, Ellie, my mom & Janis playing "Sorry!":
Tom, Justin (with a very tired Noah) and Aaron playing on Aaron's gang's Wii. Very fun, I think Justin has talked me into getting one!

This one is not from New Years Eve but is just a cute, funny picture of one of Noah's favorite things to do: sit under his table that Santa brought him. Funny boy!

I hope you all had a great start to your new year!

Can It Be? Noah's 16 Months Old!

I can't believe that my baby boy is another month older (and yes, I do say that EVERY month!) It is so fun to see his personality developing more and more each day. Here he is in the snow boots he got for Christmas. He had SO many presents and was more interested in playing with the toys than opening more packages that he opened a couple of them the day after Christmas. The snow boots were one of those packages. Once he saw them he wanted them on and didn't want to take them off. Too bad we don't have any snow to play in right now!

We were lucky that Grandpa Dean's present arrived today, it spread the present opening out a bit more. From Grandpa Dean and Fran Noah got a CUBS batting hat, soft bat & ball, a CUBS shirt, a Disney outfit that had a coat and a winter shirt. He looks so cute in the batting helmet, he even tries to put in on himself!

The girlies spent the day with us today. It's always great to see how Noah loves to spend time with them and they are so loving and good with him! Here are the "three amigos" on the couch:

Here are Noah and Ellie in his wagon. We gave it it's inaugural ride to King Soopers today, Ellie and Noah rode in it while Mary and I pulled it. It rides well!

We took the kids to the mall for dinner tonight and of course that meant spending some time in the play area. Here's Mary, the future babysitter, helping Noah walk through the crowded dinosaur lair.

Last night Kathy and Tom came over for pizza and afterwards played Texas Hold 'Em and Noah wanted to be part of the action. We tried giving him his own cards but of course he could tell the difference even though both decks were red. He also wanted the poker chips, which are too small, so he had to settle for the dealer chip. What a silly baby! And he's all ours! :)

T'was a Mighty Fine Christmas!!!

First of all, Merry Christmas everyone! We're had a very busy and joyous two days spent with family that is very dear to us.

We'll start with some pictures from Christmas Eve at the Shoemaker's:

Here are Noah and I, Noah is holding the blocks that Uncle Seth and Aunt Julie gave him. It was too cute, he hugged them after he opened them!

Here's my little man:

The newly-engaged couple, Leahna & Adam:

Julie & Seth:

Kathy & Tom:


Here are the presents that Santa left last night!

Here's Noah this morning checking out his stocking stash!

He LOVED the balls that he got in this stocking and the Cubs rocking chair that Santa gave him! He didn't want to get out of it!

Here he is sitting at his new table with one of the books from his stocking:

Sitting on his "Bounce & Spin" Zebra:

This is what he had the best time playing with this morning: our electric steamer and mixer!

We couldn't pass up getting him this toy laptop! He loves ours so much it was a no-brainer gift!

Can you find our living room in this mess? If so, please give me a call, I'd love to know where it is! If you notice there are still presents unwrapped in this picture. And guess what?! There are still two presents that Noah has yet to open! He was much more interested in playing with the toys then unwrapping his gifts.

Here's Noah and his cousin, Mary:

Noah helping Justin put together the wagon that Grandma Debbie & Grandpa Jerry got him:

Playing with Ellie & her Polly Pockets Mega Mall- He LOVED this present, too bad it was Ellie's and not his! (That and it's a little "girlie", don't you think?!)

And here's Uncle Aaron and Noah playing with the Polly Pocket Mega Mall, this present was a hit!

My lovely niece, Mary:

And my other lovely niece, Ellie, going for a ride through the house in Noah's wagon:

My family at dinner-

Here's Janis, Mary & my mom:

Aaron, Ellie and Justin:

And here's my dad, who made us all home-made fudge for Christmas. YUM!!!

We hope you all had a wonderful day! Merry Christmas!