Exploration

 

He is on the move now full force! 

 

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb272/noahsmommy1/?action=view&current=Exploring.flv

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE MICHAEL!

HAPPY BIG 20 MICHAEL!!!!  WE LOVE YOU!!

 

My mom and Jaime had a 20th birthday party BBQ for my brother Michael.  Gary and I are so sorry we had to miss it…but we wish you a very happy birthday and we will celebrate when you, dad , and Sarah are here this summer!  We love you!!!!!

 

Here are some pictures from the BBQ in Tucson…

 

Michael and his lovely girlfriend Sarah

Mom made this beautiful cake!  Nice job mom!

 

Ready for Hiking!

I am a part of an online group in our city called "Freecycle".  The point of this group is to keep perfectly good items out of landfills.  This group follows the idea that someone else’s trash might be your treasure! Basically people post what they have and you email and let them know if you want it…then you go and pick it up.   I have received some wonderful things through this group…lots of great kid toys, a toddler bed linen set, clothes for Noah and myself, the bicycle trailer, and the newest addition….a hiking backpack for Noah!  It is in GREAT condition!  Now we just need to get out and use it.    We hope to get up to Hocking Hills for some hiking very soon!

 

 For those of you interested…if you Google "Freecycle" you can sign up for a group in your city! 

 

Fun Friday!

We had a lot going on Friday at our house.     First…as most of you know we are co-sleeping with Noah and have been since he came home from the hospital.  It has been working great for all of us.  Lately though it’s been a bit more challenging since he is getting bigger and stronger…and loves putting his little fingers and feet in mommy’s face.  We decided to "extend" our bed to make  a special place just for Noah!  We took his toddler bed mattress, a crib bumber, a few strategically placed pillows, and the safety rail and made a special bed for Noah.  This way he can still co-sleep with us and we all have our own space!  We tried it out for the first time Thursday night and he did very well….actually better than I excpected.  The best part is that I can breastfeed him without difficulty since he’s close and he can hold my hand (he likes to do this while falling asleep) and STILL have my own space!  WOOHOO! 

 

Here are some pictures of him napping….

Noah discovered the doggie door Friday!  I knew it wouldn’t be long until he found it.  He was watching Ebony and Daisy running in and out and decided to give it a try.   Luckily I caught him before he fell out!

Friday night we went to our town’s first of the season "Uptown Friday Night".  It is located at the historic downtown main street and is really a great way to get out and meet others in our town.  There was great music.  We saw some neighbors and met some new people.  We enjoyed seeing all the vendors with their crafts and especially loved the samples of yummy cookies. They have a free jumping castle that Noah will love when he gets a little older!  Before we headed home we stopped at the park so Noah could do what he does best…SWING!

Just arriving at Uptown Friday Night!

Meeting Sparky the Fire Dog!

A view of some of the vendors…

You can’t really tell from this picture but Noah and I are sitting in a police car!  Then the whole family got in the police car and they took a poloroid of us (it’s going in the baby book since we KNOW this is the only time Noah will EVER be in a police car!!) (forgive the picture of a picture).  I have never been in a police car and have to say those back seats are VERY uncomfortable!  They are hard as a rock!

We got a swing in before it got dark!

 

 

10 months!

HAPPY 10 MONTHS LITTLE ANGEL! 

Mommy and Daddy love you so very much xxooxxooxxoo

 

Deceptively Delicious

 As some of you know I am working on my cooking skills.  I am not only working on the general process of cooking but am trying to figure out ways to make food more healthy.  Since we will soon have a toddler (perhaps a picky eater)  on our hands I thought I would start trying to figure out how to hide less desirable foods (spinach,  broccoli, etc.) in other food so Noah (and mommy and daddy) are getting lots of veggies without even knowing it! 

 

I picked up this book from the library…it is by Jessica Seinfeld.  It is a book all about hiding fruits and veggies, that your kids wouldn’t normally eat, in everyday kid friendly foods.  Basically you puree all veggies and fruits until they are creamy and smooth and then add them in 1/2 cup servings to tons of recipes…and the best part is the kids (and husbands) don’t know they are getting a meal packed with veggies and fruits!

 

Last night I tried a hamburger recipe…I added 1/2 cup of cauliflower puree to the hamburger meat before making the patties.   The burgers were really good and Gary and I both agreed it is a great way to get veggies!  For dessert I made another recipe for brownies.  These brownies pack a punch with a full cup of veggies in the recipe and minimal chocolate (only 3 oz!).  I added 1/2 cup of carrot puree and 1/2 of spinach puree….so they ended up being really good for you and low in calories!  Here is a pic of the finished product.  They were fantastic!  Very moist and dense and I couldn’t taste any of the veggies (Gary said he could faintly taste the veggies).  YUM!  Gary and Noah both enjoyed the brownies! 

 

 

 

What a life!

Noah and I stuck around the house yesterday for some good quality playtime!  We had a great bicycle ride too…he really loves the trailer behind my bike and I am enjoying the exercise.  As we rode down the street yesterday through all the blooming trees the breeze smelled heavenly!

 

Here are some pics of the blooms in our yard

 

A day in the life of Noah….playtime after breakfast. Check out his new tennis shoes!

 

Look what mommy built!!  I think I will knock it down and eat it!

 

I will get you crazy red monkey!

 

Naptime!  Talk about a bed hog!

 

Another naptime in the bicycle trailer

 

Playtime video! 

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb272/noahsmommy1/?action=view&current=PlaytimeVideo.flv

 

Look at me!

He is always trying to pull to standing…he will be walking before we know it!

 

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb272/noahsmommy1/?action=view&current=StandupVideo.flv

Random stuff….

As most of you know Gary and I are pretty hardcore Ohio State Buckeye fans.    Of course we are raising a son that will also be a hardcore Buckeye fan.  When you attend an Ohio State football game everyone in the stands spells out O-H-I-O with their arms.  We have started "training" our little buckeye early.  He can now do the letter "H" all by himself…we will have to work on the other letters now!

 

Look daddy………"H" !

 

Our neighbor was having a yard sale today and I got Noah a drum (bad idea now that I have had time to think about it!).  He wanted to take the drum sticks to dinner with him…so here he is rocking out in his high chair!

 

We had a request from Gary’s parents to post the video we took during the first haircut!  Here it is…

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb272/noahsmommy1/?action=view&current=1stHaircutVideo.flv

Fun Party!

Noah attended his first birthday party today.   It was a 2nd birthday party for my friend Defne’s daughter, Ayla.  It was very cute…there were lots of kids toys all over the floor and a big sheet of paper with crayons so the kids could color.  The party was topped off with a beautiful butterfly cake that Ayla’s mommy and daddy made for her!  Noah had a fun time playing with the balls, hoola hoops, and of course having some yummy cake!

 

Party time!

     

 

The birthday girl!  Happy Birthday Ayla!

 

What…did someone say something about it being cake time??

 

Ayla and her pretty cake! (Ayla’s daddy is in the pink shirt)