Valentines Day 2009

On Valentine's Day, our family went to the hockey game. The team had a really good promotion called "Wedding Rink on Ice." Couples could sign up to be married or to renew their vows. Over 100 couples signed up to participate in this event as evidenced by the picture. Whomever thought of this promotion was brilliant. The house was packed, and the game was exciting so I am guess there were many new hockey fans born that night!

Garrett and I also bought candy and cards for Valentines Day (Garrett picked them out himself!). Garrett has been writing his name. He practices every day day so he signed his name to the cards. When were all finished putting out the cards and the candy, he asked "How many more days until Christmas?" He did not believe me when I replied about 300!

Noah's First Birthday Party

Noah turned 1 on January 31, 2009. I cannot believe that it has already been a year. Noah is a wonderful little boy, and we are lucky to have him in our family. He is very loving, friendly, and always happy. His attitude and love for life are infectious. It has been an adjustment for Garrett because he has been the only child for so long. He is learning to share and really loves his little brother.

We spent the day cleaning and preparing for the family party. Noah loves spicy food so we decided to include a Mexican dinner for those who came to his party. He really liked his chile verde and beans! After dinner, we sang happy birthday, and Noah had fun eating his own cake. Then it was time for Noah to open his presents. He really did not know what was going on, and he liked the paper more than presents. However, Garrett really loved his brother's presents and would have played with them if we did not need to leave to go to the hockey game.

We then went to watch the local hockey team play a game. Uncle Mike, Aunt Mary, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Amanda, Maya, and Marisa also came with us. Earlier in the week, Daddy went to the main office of the hockey team and arranged to have a happy birthday message to Noah put ont he jumboo tron. We have included the video we took of his birthday message!

Noah is 1, but what can he do?

1. Noah can crawl really fast.
2. Noah can sit up and pull himself up onto furniture.
3. Noah can stand a few minutes by himself.
4. Noah can walk along the couch and Garrett's bed by himself.
5. Noah can sit on his knees.
6. Noah likes to be held and cuddle with mommy and daddy.
7. Noah can feed himself puffers, cereal, rice, meat, fruit, and vegetables.
8. Noah only has four teeth (two on top and two on bottom).
9. Noah loves spicy food like taco soup.
10. Noah likes to look at family pictures.
11. Noah can smile and say "mommy" and "daddy."
12. Noah likes to turn pages while we read books.
13. Noah can brush his teeth.
14. Noah can take off his shoes and socks.

We love Noah!

2008 In Review

I thought the first post for this year should be a review of 2008.

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Jordan and I decided that we were going to tile our entire house. This meant putting all of the furniture in the shop, ripping up the carpet and linoleum, laying ply wood upon ply wood, painting and refinishing walls, knocking out other walls, putting in new blinds and baseboards. In general, creating chaos in my house only two months before Noah was to arrive. We finished laying the tile on Friday, January 25. We still had to finish some texturing and painting. Jordan wanted to put new base boards, and I wanted new blinds (I really wanted plantation shutters but next time). We figured we had enough time to finish the remodeling projects, move all of the furniture back into, organize our clutter, and put the nursery together. The following week, there was no school on Wednesday because it was in-service training for teachers. I decided to go because there was nothing for me to do at home or any way for me to be comfortable with all of the construction going on in my home. I attended my meetings, and I went back to school to make copies of my exam and prepare my classroom for the next day. On the way home, I stopped by Dr. Fernandes, my allergist, to get my allergy shot. I went to bathroom while waiting to see if I had a reaction when my water broke. At the time, I was not sure that it was my water because it did not gush. I knew, however, I had not wet my pants. I called my doctor’s office, and they told me to go the hospital. I then called Jordan who was on the way to professional basketball game and told him that he needed to go the hospital. (In hindsight, I should have picked up Garrett from daycare and gone home to pack my hospital bag). Jordan went home and picked up a change of clothes for me, picked up Garrett from daycare, and bought dinner. By the time he arrived at the hospital, Dr. Scott had already been in to see me. He conducted an ultra sound and found that I had plenty of amniotic fluid so he thought I had passed vaginal fluid. He sent me home. The nurses thought Dr. Scott was wrong because I was having contraction that I luckily could not feel. I got up to change my clothes, and the leak happened again. This time the nurses took a sample. They wanted to see it under a microscope. Amniotic fluid looks like ferns. Well, the nurses were correct. I was in labor 4 weeks early. My mom came to pick up Garrett who really wanted to stay in the “hostipal,” and Jordan went home to get my bag. Of course, we forgot my phone recharger and the camera recharger. This was no easy feat as many of my things were in piles. Jordan did a great job finding what I asked him to find. Luckily, I had eaten really well due to sugar problem and had lost 15 pounds. I also exercised throughout the pregnancy. I really felt so much better during this labor than I did with Garrett. Jordan was really tired so I entertained myself by watching three episodes of NCIS, talking to friends on the phone, walking the halls, watching episodes of 7 Days and CSI Miami, and sleeping. About 3 am, I asked for some medicine. They gave me a dose of fentanyl. I was able to sleep until about 5 am. I asked for a spinal bloc since Doctor’s Hospital does not give epidurals. It took about 2 hours to get an okay from the doctor, for me to go the bathroom, for me to be checked, and to find the anesthesiologist. About 7:00 am and dilated to a 6, the anesthesiologist came to give me the spinal block. I sat up and had the needle in my back when I could feel Noah’s head drop into the birth canal. I had gone from a 6 to a 10 in 15 minutes. The nurses delivered Noah before Dr. Scott arrived. Noah was born healthy at 7:11 am and weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and 19 inches long. Despite the drama, I was glad I did not have to endure the last four weeks of pregnancy and that Noah was healthy.

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This month we adjusted to having another child and baby in the house. Noah did have to return to the hospital because of jaundice. He only had to stay one more day. We also spent this month putting the house back together and the finishing the house remodel. I sure enjoyed being off work and spending time with my family!

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During this month, we celebrated Garrett’s 4th birthday party. We gave Garrett a new bike. It is green, and it has a red bell. Garrett also picked out a bright orange helmet. He really enjoys riding his bike up and down the street while Noah and I walk behind him. He also enjoys riding it on the bike path near Grandma Jeanne’s house.

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This month, I went back to work for the last 5 weeks of school. I really wanted to nurse Noah for a year, and I did not want to run out milk. By the end of this month, I had filled the freezer door with compressed backs of breast milk. I was pumping 30 ounces a day. Uncle Jimmy also married Aunt Katie this month. Much of our family came for the wedding.

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We celebrated Rachel’s birthday this month. It was also the end of the school year for her as well. Summer is just around the corner!

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This was the first month of summer. We enjoyed going swimming at the local aquatic center. Garrett also took swimming lessons this month from the local high school. He is really doing well in his quest to learn to swim.

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We took our family vacation to Idaho and Utah. We went to Rexburg to visit Jordan’s family. We went to the Rexburg Temple, and I saw our rentals for the first time. We then went to Bear Lake to visit more of Jordan’s family. We camped, swam, and ate good food. On the way home, we stopped by my grandmother’s home. I was really glad I did because she died the next month. I was really glad she was able to meet Noah. We also celebrated Jordan’s birthday.

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This month we went to my grandmother’s funeral. It was very hard to see her at the viewing. However, all of her children, grandchildren and their spouses, and all of her great-grandchildren were in attendance. The services were very beautiful. I really admired my grandmother, and the way she lived her life. I hope I can be half the woman she was.

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During this month, our new water vending machine arrived. However, we have had some problems pulling our permit. It has been sitting in our goat pasture since September. We are now waiting on PG and E. Once they have told us how the electrical end will be handled, we are good to go.

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This month is Halloween. Garrett was a dinosaur and Noah came along for the ride. We went trick-or-treating at Uncle John’s house. We are the only family (on our block) that has young children so no one buys candy for the kids.

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This was Noah’s first Thanksgiving. We ate dinner at Uncle John’s house. Grandmother Robison came to dinner as well. She spent one day with us. We at chicken soup, played games, and went to church. I also made my first turkey dinner. It turned out fabulous.

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This was obviously Christmas. This is my favorite holiday. We went on a hayride at Jackson Rancheria, made a gingerbread house, made treats, went shopping, and decorated the tree. We definitely had a good holiday season.

Christmas 2008

We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma Jeanne and Papa. My brother (and his family) and my sister (and her husband) were also in attendance. We ate dinner, read the Christmas story, sang songs (while Grandma Jeanne and cousin Lindsay played the piano). Then it was a free for all while all the of the young cousins opened their presents. To the left is a picture of Noah, Garrett, Molly, Natalie, and Aunt Mary. We had a great time. This was Noah's first Christmas. He really did not understand what was happening. All he wanted to do was crawl under the tree and play with the presents. I think he had more fun playing with the wrapping paper and boxes than he did with his own toys. Although, Garrett seemed to think all of the toys were his even Noah's toys. I do not remember doing that when I was Garrett's age, but I would have to ask my mother if I kept all of the toys for myself!

We went home and put the children to bed. Garrett really didn't want to go to bed until we told him Santa would not come until he and Noah were asleep. The next morning, the boys actually slept until 8:00 am. I should probably count my blessings because the older they are the earlier they will get up. Santa brought Garrett a light saber and Noah an explorer walker. The boys really liked their presents.

Noah enjoying his new discovery walker!

Garrett enjoying his light saber!

Since my family does not really do anything special on Christmas Day (all activities are done on Christmas Eve), I decided to make a Christmas dinner. We had turkey, rolls, salad, homemade mashed potatoes, homemade stuffing, corn, and dessert. My sister, Mary and her husband, Mike came over to help. We were cooking and watching the first season on NCIS on the computer, when I discovered the dogs had escaped the backyard. Since they are miniature dachshunds, they usually do not stray from the yard. However, I could not see them anywhere. We drove around our country neighborhood and could not see hide nor hair of them. I even checked the goat pasture. No signs of the dogs chasing the turkeys, chickens, or goats. Jordan even began walking the levee. Garrett and Aunt Mary started walking the fence. They were spotted hiding under the Mr. Zippy's machine. They knew we were looking for them. They didn't want their adventure to end so soon. Needless to say, dinner was a little late. We had a great Christmas Day!