Noah loves cake!

 Noah loves cake!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Therapist, heal thyself

I realize that, even though I didn't think that we were going to have a baby girl, I already had a baby girl name that meant a lot to me. There is no mistake in that, only in not having any baby boy back-up names. I realize that I've been grieving the name I wasn't able to give, so I decided to do the therapeutic thing...acknowledge it and call it the griefwork that it really is. It took me a couple days, but the therapist figured herself out.
The name that I would have named a girl is:
Anne Marie (Michael's Mom's name & My Mom's Name)
Elizabeth (Michael's Grandmother's name & My Best Friend's Name)
McBride

That would've been our girl name, and at this point, I'm still clueless as to what our boy names will be. I've mentioned a few things to Michael, but he thinks I'm nuts...even though one of the names I mentioned was in the 2nd place running next to Noah last go round. Unfortunately, I wasn't blogging then, so I can't show him the post where I wrote it down! For some reason, boys don't seem too concerned over something as significant as a name. Back to the drawing board.

Baby-On-The-Way...It's a BOY!

This is the story of how we officially learned we were having another son. My friend was supposed to keep Noah, but she got her days mixed up so I just took Noah with me to the Dr.'s office. He was quite excited, and was saying, "Doctor. Belly," all the way to the office. Unfortunately, the dr.'s office was the most crowded I've ever seen. There was literally ONE parking place and NO places to sit in the waiting room. The FIRST hour was o.k. Noah entertained everyone in the lobby by giving high 5's, saying, "How you?" and even doing forward rolls on the carpet. However, there was only one sonographer that day, and Michael became increasingly irritated, and left to go see a patient. Not a good moment. Noah became increasingly upset and we wound up in my car watching videos for another 40 minutes while we waited. Michael came back just as it was time for our appointment. Noah, again, was excited about going to the doctor, until the sonographer took us into a little, dark room. Noah didn't want any part of that room, but we didn't have any choice, so we pretty much forced him to enter. During the next 30 minutes, Noah proceeded to throw the biggest public fit of his, thus far, 2 year & 4 month old life. He was screaming, kept trying to leave the room, and I couldn't even hear the sonographer telling me what was going on with the baby. She'd say, "This is the spine. Looks..." And that's all I could hear because the noise of my screaming son was so loud. By the way, the spine looked good she said. Nothing worked. Not the magic iphone, treats, nothing. At that point, we'd been at the Dr.'s office for 2 hours and he was just DONE and to make matters worse, it was nap time, too. Noah proceeded to hit Michael and then was put in time out DURING the sonogram...THREE TIMES! During this 3rd time out, the sonographer said, "Do you see that?" Michael said, "That must mean you see something, right?" The sonographer proclaimed, "It's a boy!" as Noah was in time out and screaming. I looked at the ceiling and prayed for God to somehow give me the strength to get through the rest of the appointment. It's not that I was surprised we were having another boy. It was that the moment that I was OFFICIALLY told the news, my eldest son was throwing the biggest fit ever, and I didn't know how I'd possibly have the strength to do this with two! When I got home, I vented to a couple of friends, and decided to do some maladaptive coping with some cookie cake and then sleep it off with a nap. I decided after that, I'd get it together and everything would be fine. And it was. I guess God is just going to surround me with handsome boys and have me be the princess of the house. Here are the goods. Definite boy parts. Throughout the sonogram, the sonographer said, "He sure is trying to make sure that I see that he's a boy!"

Baby #2 waving hello.

Profile pic

3-d.

Outdoor Fun

Father's Day 2010 was spent outside. In between swimming sessions, Noah played with his new bubble maker and splashed in the waterhose while Daddy was watering plants.

Father's Day Celebration With Paw Paw & Granny Meg

Paw Paw & Granny joined us for swimming and cookie cake Father's Day afternoon. Daddy's cookie cake

Noah & Paw Paw

Noah had so much fun playing the game of "Pass the Noah," which was basically, Paw Paw passing Noah to Michael.

Noah took the first sample from Daddy's icing on the cake.

Daddy's Father's Day Card

This are pictures of Michael's Father's Day Card this year. I thought this would be a good way to remember the card, since it very may get lost in the shuffle of our busy lives!
Happy Father's Day! On the front cover, Michael & Noah sharing a kiss.

Top inside of card---pictures of Michael & Noah...+ some crayon decorations from Noah.

Bottom of the card

Father's Day 2010

Happy Father's Day 2010

Happy Father's Day 2010!
This Father's Day would best be described as "Fun In The Sun!" We probably spent 4-5 hours outside playing in or near the pool this Father's Day! Of course, Noah was up at 5:40 am, so I let Michael sleep in and Noah & I went and got Daddy's favorite donuts, pigs in a blanket, and breakfast tacos. Noah & I headed outside and Daddy was able to get up on his pace. He met us outside and we took a family swim. I feel like the only pics I post these days are swim pics, but it's just a reflection of our reality right now! And frankly, I love it! Noah loves jumping to his Daddy!

He's not even scared to go under! That's great for only being 2!

This is the money maker picture! Is this a great pic or what?!?

Noah & Daddy

Noah laughing while he & Daddy practice his floating.

Daddy got a Drimmel for Father's Day, not that I have any clue what that is...some tool thingy that he wanted. Later, Granny Meg, Paw Paw, & Sarah came to swim and we did more Father's Day swimming and gave Paw Paw his cards and present.

It was Daddy's day, but I think Noah had more fun than anyone! He was exhausted by bedtime.

Noah, I hope you know how lucky you are to have YOUR Daddy. He is one in a million. Don't ever take that relationship for granted. Most sons would give anything to have a Daddy like yours.

Noah's 1st Back Float By Himself

Daddy taught Noah how to float on his back tonight all by himself! I am always amazed at how brave my 2 year old has become. As soon as he can, he tries to do everything himself. He's such an independent little fellow!

He was loving the back float!

As if he'd been an old pro at floating, Noah waved at Michael, and said, "Hi! How you?" What a ham!

Walking In Mommy & Daddy's Shoes

This morning, Noah thought it would be fun to walk in Mommy & Daddy's shoes. I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed that he was not only able to get my 3 1/2 inch heels on, much less walk in them! But he did! (These shoes do have a thicker heel than most of my shoes though). Then he took Daddy's shoes for a run. MUCH easier!

I know 30 year-old women that can't walk in heels this well! Funny!

Walking in Daddy's shoes.

Daddy has big shoes to fill, in more ways than one...because Daddy is such a great father.

Sprayground, Park, & Pool Fun

This morning I thought it would be fun to take Noah to Faulkner Park & Sprayground. It was fun...for about 15 minutes. We arrived about 9:15, and there was a nice family on the sprayground. Noah wasn't too sure about it, though, and hesitantly began to play in the water. Shortly after, about 3 daycare buses of rowdy kids arrived, and Noah didn't want any part of them. He went and played on the playground for a few minutes, but didn't want to go back to the sprayground. I asked him if he wanted to go swimming. He said, "Swimming," and walked to the car & gave me NO troubles! It's great to have the best park you could ever want right in your backyard! I love it! Noah briefly played on the sprayground...

Then played at the park for a few minutes...

But was happiest at home floating in his pool! Look at how the water sparkled this morning!

He was fascinated when he saw his shadow. He thought it was pretty cool that I brought a bag of Cheetos outside. He swam, snacked on Cheetos, and got good and wore out! We were at Faulkner Park about 30 minutes total. (About as long as it took for us to get packed and ready!) We played outside in our own pool for 2 hours! That's the way to go!

After all this fun, it took less than 5 minutes for my sweet Noah to fall asleep. Good night, Angel!

Noah Masters the Floatie

This morning I just decided that it was going to be Noah & Mommy Day. No cleaning, no make-up, no "to do" lists other than spending time with my favorite 2 year old. Noah & I were at the pool early this morning, and he mastered his floatie suit! These pics are all taken in water where he CAN'T touch! I was so proud of him! He went out on his own, and if he started sinking or getting anxious, he'd ask for me. I'd try to help him if I got nervous, and he'd tell me, "No," unless he was in trouble, he'd say, "Mama." He's already got such a sense of himself. I love that. Look at Noah floating

He would turn from his tummy to his back all by himself and thought that was great!

19 weeks pregnant

Today I'm 19 weeks pregnant. A week from today we'll have our big ultrasound. I'm excited to see the baby and hear that everything is ok. I'm also excited to have a definitive answer about the baby's gender. One more week!


Brenda Joy McBride

Noah's Conversation...With Himself

This morning, Noah got sent to time out for hitting. He was unaware that I was watching him from the kitchen. I'm so glad I was because I got to witness him have a conversation with himself! He has become increasingly verbal this past week, and it's so fun to watch. Whenever Noah goes to time out, I tell him why he went to time out, and after his 2 minutes, I explain again the reason why he went to time out, he apologizes, and we kiss. This is the conversation I heard Noah having with himself this morning as he was in time out:

Noah said, "No hit. No hit. O.k? K. Sawee. Kiss? Kiss. MMMMMMUH!"
It was much funnier in person, but I just had to write this down! Even when he is in time out, he still cracks me up! Love you, Noah.

Setting up Rebekah's Blog

Poor Rebekah had 1,917 pictures on her memory card, so it was clearly out of space. But they have another week of vacation to take, so I ended up putting all her pictures on my computer because I was so worried that this 1 1/2 inch memory card would get lost between now and all the travel they have yet to come, and she'd lose her memories from October of 2009 to June of 2010. That just wasn't acceptable. When I looked through the pictures, I started to cry, because I felt like I've missed out on seeing so many memories. Rebekah said that she would do a blog, but she didn't know how to set it up, and what really made me laugh...she said that just thinking about the title of the blog would keep her from doing it at all. (She has a tendency to over-think things-her words, not mine.) Anyway, so I spent the last several hours trying to make her a blog & make it cute...something that she won't have to do a lot to. She's officially set up @http://rebekahcarlile.blogspot.com. We'll see how it goes!

Noah & Mommy Swim

While getting Noah a new floatie suit this morning, I GAVE IN & BOUGHT A MATERNITY SWIMSUIT! I thought to myself, "What could be worse than trying on swimsuits? OH, I KNOW---TRYING ON MATERNITY SWIMSUITS!" Horror of all horrors! I literally walked through the maternity section at Target, threw a suit in the cart, and got the rest of my things. I DIDN'T even try on the swimsuit! I've NEVER bought a swimsuit without trying it on, but I figured, "What's the point in feeling even bigger by looking in 3 mirrors?!?" All in all, it worked out fine, and I'm actually proud that I got one. BIG step for Mama! Oh, the things I'll do to play with my son!

Daddy & Noah Swim

I got Noah a new swim floatie because his other floatie was riding up above his chin & was uncomfortable. This is a better floatie, but it took a little getting used to---as Noah would sink just a little bit lower in this one! It's fun to watch Michael teach Noah how to kick and float. Love, love, LOVE my boys!

Noah closing his eyes as he's experimenting with his new floatie! Cute!

After he got used to it, the paci came out & he became pretty adventurous!