Fabulousness

Ok my BFF MaryBeth awarded me. I figured I might as well accept the award and confess my addictions as well.

Here are the rules to receiving this award:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.

Here are my five addictions:
1. My morning coffee. I am not sure when I became a coffee drinker ( I am guessing when I went back to work after having Chase) but now it is a must first thing in the morning! It has to be strong coffee with lots of cream and Splenda.

2. Kissing Noelly under his double chin.
3. Laughing at/with Chris and Chase. Comedians those 2.
4. Bargain shopping. I pretty much refuse to buy anything that isn't on sale. This is a double edged sword because if I find something to be a great deal I simply cannot resist.
5. Books on CD. Between a full time job and full time motherhood that is the only way I read. If I find myself at the end of book without time to go by the library, I am totally out of sorts

Sadly, I could go on and on.

Here are the blogs I nominate:

Stacie at The Rowdy Rowleys

Gilly at JellyHamandCheese

Lindsey at Family Oliver

Amanda at Bonded in Byerly

Tara at Family Rowell

Eleven Months!

Mr. Noel is eleven months old today. I cannot believe how big he is and all the things he does. He is and has been so physically advanced my Grandmother complains he was never a baby but has acted like at least a 6 month old from the time we brought him home. So therefore we should put in our request for another baby right now (preferably a girl). Now with him running around, waving bye-bye and playing patty-cake the point is driven home even more.

He scoffs at being put into the exersaucer and walker, and baby food has been out of the question for 2 months. Last night we had pizza and I was tempted just to hand over a whole slice because he was getting so frustrated at my pinching off little bites. Other than not getting fed fast enough, he remains totally laid back and happy. And he actually has the hunger problem figured out too. I have noticed that when he is hungry he goes to the drawers where his food and formula are kept and starts pulling the stuff of the top. Even though his eating has not slowed, his weight and height are definitely more proportionate.

I can't believe a year has almost come and gone since we got that wonderful phone call. Chris and I were discussing Christmas gifts this weekend and when I commented that I had no clue what to get Chase he said "Well last year he got a Wii and a little brother. How do you top that?" I guess you don't.

Paging Moses

The title of this post is my attempt at a comical biblical reference because since October 29th we have been battling the plague(s) at our house. Granted there have been no frogs or famine at our house, we have been inundated just the same. It all started when I got a terrible cold, then Noel began to run a fever and Chase quickly followed suit.
Noel was terribly congested and kept tugging at his ear so I took him to the doctor. No ear infection just cutting six teeth at once. The doctor did not want to see Chase that day and assured me his symptoms were in line with a virus that was going around and he would likely feel better in 24 to 36 hours. For most kids that would likely be true but since Chase is so susceptible to ear infections we ended up there the very next day. He also had randomly begun vomiting and did so in our van on the way home from the doctor. He was so pitiful and kept apologizing repeatedly. Of course, it wasn't his fault but I think even he could tell that was going to be no picnic to clean up. Noel in the meantime was alternating between constipation and diarrea and those teeth weren't really making any progress.
Chase eventually got well enough to go back to school and this week started off fairly normal except my cold was trying to make a comeback. I valiantly tried to ignore that fact and press on, but Wednesday afternoon ended up at the doctor's office. She diagnosed me with a sinus infection but honestly I have not felt this bad in as long as I can remember. I had to just give up and go to bed. I have pretty much been there ever since and think in addition to the sinus infection must have picked up the virus Chase had.
I will say today my throat doesn't hurt like it did before, and I can stay up for longer periods at a time without feeling totally exhausted. Noel, however, has stopped alternating and now has constant teething diarrea. For the past two nights he has had to have a bath and bed changes at 3:30 and 1:30 am respectively. In short, I might prefer frogs.
I think at least two of the six teeth have broken the surface, so hopefully we are back on the road to wellness. I have learned the valuable lesson that sometimes trying to power through sickness isn't necessarily the most time efficient thing and willed myself to stay in bed all day despite the horrible state of affairs in the rest of the house. Hopefully, I will be posting Noelly pictures sporting a toothy grin and fun family stories in the very near future.

Getting his hair did

Oddly enough, the most difficult thing so far about adopting a child of a different race had been haircare. Poor Noel, not only was he adopted by painfully white people, but painfully white people with fine straight hair. So, after ten months of mostly avoiding the issue we took it "head on" last Friday. My dear friend at work put out a call to all the mothers of boys she knew to get me some info.
It will come as no surprise that washing it and putting some moisturizer in it did not suffice. I was going to have to suck it up and comb through it. Now that may not sound like such a big deal, but some of Noel's curls are the size and tightness of the spring in a retractable pen. Also, from fear of hurting him this is a task that has been majorly neglected.
Alas one half jar of cholesterol (didn't know there was such a thing) and a lollipop later, he was tangle free. His has was so soft and manageable until oh Sunday. I am thinking this will become a once a week event at our house. By the way, Chase took these pictures. I think he is probably the best photographer in our house.

Hey Buddy...

did you know it was National Adoption Month?

Noel surveys the pumpkin before the carving begins.

Dad and Chase working on their masterpiece.

As usual the Jack-O-Lantern began as a family project but quickly turned into a chore for Dad. He always does a great job, and this year was no exception.

I am thrilled to announce I got my wish and the boys did dress in tandem...

A storm trooper and Chewbacca.

Yes, he was even cuter in person.