Noah - 1 Month Old

Ugh. I'm not liking the title of this post. I cannot believe my little man is already one month old.

ONE.

MONTH.

OLD. 

Baby boobies and Buddha belly all around :)

 Time just flew right on by. But then again, when you live life in 2-3 hour intervals - its really not surprising at all. He is all chubs but still has skinny little legs that I love to 'chew' on. However... his cheeks are most delicious!

He is liking tummy time more and more each day - especially loves it when he is propped up on his boppy. And he still loves to sit up - we have to go get a Bumbo seat soon... he holds his head up so well and loves being up high and looking at things from different angles - I think he will do fine with supervision... he is still a bit wobbly at times! Pillows can only prop him up for so long.

He is beginning to smile more - and I couldn't love that any more! He actually smiles when I smile or in response to something funny. Not all the time, most are still in response to gas - but there are a few true smiles every now and then!

 Last night was daylight savings and believe it or not... I got more sleep than I ever have (well since Noah has been with us) overnight! He went to bed at 11pm... and didn't get up again until 3am! Then once more at 5am then not again until almost 9am! I was so shocked. Although I slept, it was a bit restless with the monitor glued to my ear because I was so scared something was wrong - but when I would go check on him... he was just snoring away! I definitely think another growth spurt is happening. Which is fine by me, I much prefer the sleeping growth spurt than the eating every single hour one!

Noah and I have shared some special moments lately that I will forever remember. He loves to be sung to - and I actually sung him to sleep for the first time a few days ago. He was all big eyed and smiling - ugh, I lost it. Poor thing had tears falling down on him but he was still smiling! Pretty sure I cried the entire day - it was such a sweet, beautiful moment that I will forever cherish. If Tinkerbell ever asks me for my happy thought... that very moment will be mine.

There are also other points of motherhood that I am crying at - but more so from hysterical laughter. Some between Noah & I that I don't dare go into detail because I do have family members read this after all! But man... this adventure certainly is a great one. I wouldn't change it for anything. 

This week we also put up the finishing touches to Noah's room - sitting in there nursing him overnight made me figure out what exactly I wanted to finish the nursery and personalize it more :)

Another row of characters... the wall just looked to plain. We added Mr. Potato Head, Lotso, Rex and Jessie!

And we added his name above the changing table!

I love every moment. I live for every moment of being Noah's mother. There may be times when I'm stressed and feel alone in the world - but when I look in his eyes - everything is better. Everything.

Halloween 2012

For Halloween this year we went to my sisters house again. Last year and this year we decided not to hand out candy... but do something a little more different. Melissa & Bryan made Smore Popcorn... I don't really known the ingredients of it, well besides popcorn (haha) - but it was a huge hit both last year and this year! Alex & I saw this great thing on Pinterest with pudding and crushed up oreos in plastic cups that we wanted to make. Emphasis on wanted. After staying up until 1am drawing on about 120 cups (monster and pumpkin faces) I decided to try out the pudding... Well lets just say, one large box of Jello Vanilla Pudding didn't even fill up SIX cups half way! It was crazy. We bought 3 boxes thinking, "Oh that'll be plenty"... yeah, no. So we had to axe that idea pretty quickly because we wanted to save money - not waste it on a holiday we hardly like!

Our initial idea... FAIL.

On Wednesday morning I was browsing Pinterest for another idea that would still involve our cups... which limited out options to pretty much drinks. Which actually worked out great - the neighborhood loved it! So we made 2 batches of potion and served them up in our cups :)

What made this Halloween extra special? It was Noah's first Holiday! Alex & I went back and forth between what little man could be for Halloween - we had so many ideas. His hair just gave us so many options! However when it came down to it... We wanted to do a family Halloween theme with our costumes and on a low budget. And let me tell you, Halloween costumes are not cheap! It also doesn't help that we didn't decide until Monday while the Hurricane was hitting us that we decided - we would be the Potter family! My Mum came to the rescue once again and made scarfs in Gryffindor colors for Alex & Noah, I went to the dollar store and picked up some glasses (I took the lenses out) and viola! Costumes were complete :)

Noah as Harry Potter

Lily, Harry and James Potter! 

'Harry' and his Nimbus 2000

Oh... Just a Little Rain Here and There

So... life has been a little crazy lately! With Hurricane Sandy, Halloween and a everyday life.... we've been a bit busy.

I generally try to update this weekly when Noah is 'one week older' so I can remember to take a picture and then post it on here... it works out well. However on his '4th' week... oh you know, only the PERFECT STORM called Sandy was pounding half of the east coast - so I decided to lay off the computer and leave it charged for as long as possible in case the power went out.

4 weeks old!

Needlessly to say, we were fortunate enough to not lose power during the storm. The most damage that happened on our property were a few down branches and one of our cornstalks on our front porch went wonky (Alex was truly upset at the cornstalks haha). Because I am a little OCD, neurotic at times and oh just a bit hormonal - we were ready for the hurricane, and then some. So I wasn't worried about that, I was more concerned about trees falling down with the wind. That is something that is 100% out of my control and I'm not a fan of that. Again, fortunately nothing happened to us. Both neighbors to our left had two large trees down - none damaging to their houses, just left huge holes in their yards. My parents made at well in Easton (about 25 minutes from where Alex & I live), they never lost power either. My sister & her family stayed in a hotel over the bridge - power was lost there and Bryan almost got stuck in the elevator (can we say thank gawdddd he didnt?!), however they came home as soon as possible and all was well in the end :)

Once the rain and winds died down, we decided to scope out the town to see how Sandy treated everyone else. And really, nothing happened that we haven't seen before here with a hurricane or strong storm. There was flooding and downed trees - and from what I've read on Facebook some flooding in houses - but we really lucked out being that we live on an Island that sinks like an inch a year. We were very, very  fortunate.

Almost everywhere you see water in these next few pictures - not supposed to be there!

Tree that fell down just outside my sister and their neighbors yard! 

After a surprise visit to my sisters (the three of us totally bombarded them pretty much the moment they got home), a beat-up Uncle Alex session, an amazing brunch at Cracker Barrel... we carved pumpkins! Halloween was the next night after all.

Bryan & Melissa's (Funny Face), Elijah's (Wreck It Ralph), Ella's (Spider), Alex's (Jack Skeleton), Noah's (Alien from Toy Story), Elyse's (Funny Face), and mine (a CUTE face!)

Noah, 3 weeks old!

Well, technically 3 weeks and 1 day... Little man has been quite the hungry hippo lately. Nursing every 1-1.5 hours these past 2 days! Can we say growth spurt?! He sure is making me quite the living zombie - thats for sure.

He is practically as big as his crib now :(

When I look at him, its hard to believe he is only 3 weeks old. He looks SO MUCH older. It's got to be his luscious locks... right? He is just so big. So big in pictures, so big in his pack-n-play bassinet, so big in his swing, so big in MY ARMS. The only thing he still looks small in is his car seat! I know everyone always says it goes by fast... but this really is way to fast.

We've hit some milestones this week! Noah has learned that he can actually poop without nursing - which makes nursing more bearable. The lack of the toxic bubble certainly makes breathing easier ;-). Which makes me wonder... are all babies the 'same'? For instance, Noah is the loudest sleeper ever. Not only does he snore like a grown man, but he moans and stretches and makes such funny noises almost every 2 minutes.  He farts all the time (although I think Alex may be the culprit on some... Again, sorry babe - had too!) and is just 100% little boy all around. I often look at Noah and I just can't picture a little girl doing all the same things... after all, us girls are way more polite!

His eyesight is becoming more distinct each day. He has now started to play with the toys on his swing. He can see them now and will hit them and try to hold on to them. It's amazing to see him develop each day. He has also learned his name now! If he falls asleep while nursing and I say his name, he will now open his eyes.

This past weekend we also took Noah to his first trip to the pumpkin patch! We go every year... we have for, geesh... I don't know, at least 6 years? Fall just isn't complete without the trip to the pumpkin patch! I don't even like Halloween - but I get so anxious each year to go to the pumpkin patch with my family. My sister posted a picture of her children from this year at the patch and from 4 years ago... definitely made me tear up. Not only because WOW my nephew and nieces are getting big :(... but in 4 years... how much will Noah and our little family change?! Ugh. I don't want to get there yet - I'm still trying to digest that my 3 week old looks 3 MONTHS old.

Our little pumpkin :)

That same day, Noah went to his first birthday party! We celebrated Lauten's 1st birthday - and my oh my did the birthday boy look handsome! However... I must say, Noah definitely took second place! There were so many kids and people are the party - you could just see and feel all of the love radiating in the house. Also, I saw some girls for work - which is always fun - and allowed me to catch up on all the gossip ;-)

Like seriously... how CUTE is he?!

We have also begun to do tummy time with Noah. If he lays on your chest or you hold him towards you - he will definitely raise his head and hold it up. He has been that way since the day he was born! I remember the nurse being so shocked at this. When we put Noah down on the floor on his belly he isn't so sure... he will play along for a little while - and then he will get frustrated and of course, start crying - but hey, it's a learning experience! We are hoping to amp up the time more and more each day.

His little face red out of frustration.

Knowing that Noah is 3 weeks old... also means that I only have 3 weeks left with him until I go back to work. Like I've said before, I love my job and don't have a problem with going back what so ever... physically. Physically, I could go back today. However emotionally, I'm already dreading it. If only I could bring little man with me. I'm pretty sure I'll have a few panic attacks my first few days back at work. But he will be in the best of hands, my Mum's, so again... I don't have a worry in the world about his well-being... only worried about me and how I'll handle being away from him!

So far, we have had baby steps with separation haha. Alex took Noah to the grocery store this week.. WITHOUT me - and I survived! I kept my self busy haha. I also have a couple other things planned that Noah will not be attending with me... so, slowly but surely I'll become emotionally stable haha. 

Our first family pumpkin patch picture!

Cousins!

Elijah... ugh, he really is almost as tall as me! 

Elyse - she isn't far behind Elijah!

And then... there is Ella! Haha. 

Elijah & Alex playing bean bag toss!

The girls jumping!

Noah watching his cousins jump.

Noah waving to the camera! 

It was bright for him - So Daddy shared his glasses!

The whole gang! Well... minus Mum & Dad who were taking the pictures :)

2 weeks going on 2 years?

7 days old and sleeping in his crib all by himself. Yup, its true. The last few days between our 8-11pm "shift" Noah has been wide awake and quite the little fuss bucket. He wants to stay awake... but is so tired he just gets very frustrated. So last Tuesday when he was having a little episode and it was my "turn" to calm him down, I put him in his crib and turned the mobile on. He never had been in his crib before so I thought - why not?! Well now, mommy slightly regrets that decision :( He fell right asleep! And every night since then he has been in his crib, happy as can be. I really wasn't ready for that... at all. I was banking on at least another week sleeping with us before we began to slowly transition him there. Hmph :(

2 weeks old!

I feel like Noah is going through what I call second child syndrome. Where the second child as an infant wants to be big like their sibling so badly they are just blossoming so quickly. Maybe its just because I'm one proud momma or maybe he really is? I don't know. He just wants to sit up and roll over so badly. He absolutely loves to sit up - if only his poor little neck would support him. Alex holds him and sits him up and Noah gets so happy! We had his 2 week check-up today... little chunks weighed in at 9lbs 4.5 oz! I was expecting him to be back to his birth weight... and boy is he - and then some! He is healthy as can be and the pediatrician is still amazed of how happy both Noah and I are.  Like I told the doctor... when you have a handsome little boy that is as good as he is, you can't help but smile and be happy! Newborn clothes have become muscle shirts on him now... they still fit, but they are getting a little snug to get over his head now. I'd prefer to put him in 3mths just because the head opening is bigger and he doesn't get upset as easily.

I've noticed that his face is starting to change - I feel like he skipped right over the whole baby phase and truly is just a little man. I'm slowly starting to see a little more me in him... just a little. Enough for me to have some claim on my child ;)

Me as a baby :)

My Mum as a baby!

I still take a million pictures a day. I have yet to capture his huge toothless smile which melts my heart each time - I cry! I had my phone out trying to capture the smile after feeding him one night and Noah got so frustrated because he couldn't see my face and I was taking so many pictures... he knocked my phone right out of my hand! Okay... I know he had no idea what he was doing, but the timing was perfect!

His favorite face to make this week.

This past week Noah and I have been out and about almost every day. He had his newborn pictures taken on Thursday by littledunksphoto who also did our maternity pictures (see header photo above!) Brittany is amazing and truly has such a wonderful personality and soul - she is one of those people with just first meeting her you feel like you've known her forever. I'm SO anxious to see all the pictures - she gave us a sneak peak Thursday night and I'm pretty sure I look at them every 2 hrs - they are THAT good. But then again... there was a pretty cute baby being the model if I must say so myself...

After the pictures, we stopped by my work to say hello to everyone and he was such a hit! It was great to show everyone at work who has been growing in my belly these past 9 months. There is so much support and love at my work - I'm definitely going back before my maternity leave is up... I still have a few more people that have to meet Noah!

Friday Noah & I had our first mommy & baby date with my girlfriend Emily and her son Lauten who will be one tomorrow! Noah slept the whole time, but hey - I'm still going to count it :)

This Sunday we of course went to my nephews Flag Football game - and the weather was so beautiful, when compared to last week where I thought I was going to freeze to death. It was so nice that I even used our moby wrap with Noah! I was so excited, its such a great idea. To have your hands free and still have your baby nuggled up close to you - so many doors have opened up for Noah and I during the day!

Rooting for both Mommy & Daddy's football teams on Sunday!

My boys <3

Argghhh!

In One Way... Out the Other!

I can't believe our sweet Noah James is 1 week old today. In one way, it's crazy to think that I've only known him for only 7 days when it feels like I've known him forever, like he has always been with us. On the other hand, I can't BELIEVE that one week has already passed - I would really really appreciate it if time slowed down just a little now!

Noah James, 1 Week Old

Today is the first day with just me and the little man - Alex went back to work today and honestly, I'm looking forward to just a mommy and me day. We have been so blessed to be surrounded by loving friends and family this past week and couldn't be more thankful for them and all that they have done for us. But its hard to not just feel like a vending machine when you have to "share" the baby so much - so today, I am getting all the nuggles I can! I feel like I have to make up for lost time - he has already grown so much.

In a way, I feel like I'm dreaming. I just can't believe all that has happened - I'm truly just at a lost for words because I am so happy with my life. I married my high school sweet heart, I have a career that I love and look forward to going to each day, our families are so supportive and loving... Our life is beautiful - and one week ago today, all sense of reality left me as we welcomed our sweet boy into the world. I just can't wrap my head around him... I just stare at him in amazement. I can't describe it - just an abundance of an incredible amount of love, a mother's love.

I'm trying my hardest to not bombard social networks with pictures and updates of Noah for the sanity of my followers - but then again just thinking of it, they can always block or ignore me - so then it's a win win situation... hmm...

Noah as I write todays blog :)

I feel like I don't take enough pictures of him. I always have my phone near me and a real camera isn't far by. I don't want to miss a minute and with Alex going back to work, I don't want him to miss anything either. As like any new mom, I believe whole heartedly that my son is the cutest thing to ever be placed on this Earth and I'm pretty sure I'll fight you if you say different ;-)

Anyways... moving on from my sentimental, hormonal reminiscing....

Noah's first week! He has been wonderful. Alex and I have adjusted to parenthood so good - we really make an awesome team. I'll be honest, I was very scared, quite hormonal and doubted Alex a lot during my pregnancy... I mean, he yells and gets frustrated at me when we play Lego Harry Potter for the Wii because I'm so OCD and I have to pick up all the lego pieces... so how could we be a 'team' with a baby?! Well, he still yells at me when we play video games... but when it comes to Noah, it was just natural. We didn't even discuss it - we just have our routine and it couldn't work more perfectly. It also helps that Noah has been so good. He eats about every 2-2.5 hours and stretches it to 3 hrs at night. During the 8-11pm time frame we try to keep him awake as much as possible so he sleeps longer at night and it's worked so far!

The day after we got home from the hospital, Thursday, where did we go? Carter's of course! Yes, Carter's was Noah's first public outing! We had to return all of the girl clothing we got and because someone was a little chunky monkey.. we exchanged some newborn clothes for 3 month sizes. Newborn sizes at Carter's go up to 8lbs... Noah was weighed Thursday at the pediatricians office and weighed 8lbs even! He fits both sizes nicely, obviously the 3mth are a little big on him... but they will certainly last longer than the newborn sizes. We may or may not have gone a little crazy at Carters... I mean we have you over $200 in credits and coupons on top of BOGO deals... well, you can only imagine :)

First family outing!

Noah has welcomed me into motherhood properly. I've been peed on, spit up on, had poop on my shirt... all of it, and each time I laugh. I love every minute of it. Noah has got the hang of feeding very well - a little to well at some times, where I'm very thankful he has no teeth! Every time he feeds, little boy explodes in his diaper... every time. In one way and out the other! He is quite the little stinker - just like his Daddy! (sorry hunny... I had too)

His furry brothers have adjusted to him so well. Our cats aren't bothered by him - in fact, they are probably thankful for him because of all the new fun stuff they can sleep in. Our dogs reacted just the way I predicted with their personalities -  Popeye could care less, Sami is such a sweetheart and is every so gentle and Oscar... sweet Oscar loves him so much and is very protective over him. He (Oscar) gets worried when Noah starts to cry and we don't soothe him right away. It's precious. And more importantly, the puppies still get there time with me so they don't feel left out either!

Nap time with 4/7 of my boys! I'm a little outnumbered I think...

We've been out and about almost every day with him. We want him to get used to different noises, atmospheres and environments. I also think its good for me to get out and walk around, I feel like I'll heal quicker if I'm out walking about. My pace is still slow, but I can slowly feel my body getting back to "normal." People are amazed when we tell him how old he is... His luscious locks throw people off - its so funny. I love his head full of hair - love love love.

Mad scientist in the making?

He is getting more and more alert each day. He doesn't get fussy as long as after he eats he gets a few moments of cuddling. We are fortunate that he doesn't need to be held often. It's so hard to not pick him up at every moment - but I know that as we transition into his crib and develop more of a pattern with him - the less we need to rock him to sleep and soothe him the better the transition will be. But thats not to say I don't break the rules every now and then...

First bath!

At his first flag football game!

Can't forget our Sunday Tie-dye!