The Perfect Storm

Another week already behind us. I left for an overnight stay in LA on Tuesday and returned Wednesday. I had to go up for a Pizza Hut co-op meeting Wednesday morning. It was a long trip for such a short meeting, but it was nice because I got to have dinner with my BF Christy! It was so nice to catch up and share stories about our kids. Christy's daughter, Sloane, is just a few weeks younger than Noah (and already walking, I might add!) so it's great to share the things they are up to. I think my meeting was considered successful so I guess I did my job. Mike was great on dad duty while I was gone. When I got home Wednesday night, Noah was so happy to see me. He got up from where he was laying with Mike, crawled over him to me, plopped in my lap and began jabbering away! He was telling me all about what he did while I was gone. It was so cute!

It wasn't until Thursday that we had some drama. Noah came down with a 103.2 fever around 4:15pm. I picked him up from daycare and since he still had an appetite at lunch, even though he was pretty tired, I figured the fever was due to his 1 year shots. When I called the doctor, they basically confirmed as much. With Noah's fever, he's not allowed back to daycare so I stayed home with him Friday. He was fine after Thursday night although whiny most of the weekend. I think it's been a combination of things: fever from shots, teething, and growth spurt. He's been really fussy lately, very clingy and very tired. He always wants to be held, still not walking on his own and lots of drool. And I mean LOTS of drool. He's taken to chewing on his pacifier (or whatever he can get into his mouth - he prefers our fingers) but that also seems to be the only thing that keeps him calm.
Saturday Mike played golf so Noah and I spent the day with his Aunt Dana. Sunday Mike had a soccer game so Noah and I were again attached at the hip. Before Mike's game and while I was at church, Noah was already exhausted (its no wonder since he woke up at 4am - I think because his gums hurt) so he passed out on his make-shift bed. We figure, if he won't nap in his room, maybe he'll nap on the floor. We'll take it when we can get it!

Sunday evening we enjoyed catching up with our friends, Kerrie and Kyle, along with their twins, Maddie and Lilly. It was so nice to see the girls - they are now 2 months and getting so big (although still tiny when compared to Noah). He was so taken with the little human beings. It was fun to watch his face when looking at them!
Hopefully this next week will go a little more smoothly for Noah (and his parents - talk about trying our patience!).
Have a great week!
xoxo,
Corri, Mike and Noah

Happy Monday! I'm a little delayed getting out this week's blog. I was just too tired last night to get it done.

Let's start with earlier this week...Mike ended up ill Sun.-Tues. so it made for a busy few days. I give so much credit to single parents out there. It's hard work!
Noah has transitioned well to the toddler room. I think its definitely good for him to be around kids that are walking. For some reason, he's regressed a little bit - he no longer is as willing to walk on his own. Only when Mike and I "pass" him to one another; otherwise he still wants to walk holding on to one of our hands. We're trying not to push and figure he'll do it when he's most comfortable. Here is Noah playing dress up this week.

I spent a lot of my time working on the Childcare center parent's fundraiser here at the office. The parents raise money for the center in order to get some things for each of the class rooms that the teachers request. We sell Valentine's balloons every year (with candy tied to them) for people in the building. It's a pretty big hit - who doesn't love getting a Valentine? We make good money for the kids too. It was fun to get involved and I met more of the parents in the building which was nice.

Friday night the daycare centered offered their monthly "Parents Night Out" where two teachers will take care of any kiddos whose parents want to go out (for a small fee). The hours are 6:30-11 and they were short a kid in order to make the evening work so Mike and I decided to take advantage and enjoy dinner and a movie. Mike surprised me with beautiful red roses (that are blooming so nice!) and an awesome steak dinner! We also went to an 8:40 showing of He's Just Not That Into You, but by 10:45, the movie wasn't over and we were in Plano. We ended up leaving the movie early in order to get Noah by the designated time. Looks like we'll have to rent the movie when it comes out so we can catch the ending! Noah did really well according to the teachers. When he was tired, he climbed onto his cot and went to sleep. We have such a big boy! If only he would do that at home! We continue to have sleep troubles with him. He gets so upset when we try to have him nap at home. So much so he gets himself worked up and sometimes won't sleep at all because of it. Even at night when we put him down, he'll cry anywhere up to 30 minutes before he gives in. He also still wakes up sometimes at least once and a few times has woken up at 5am or earlier. I hope this is just a phase! It appears that he's teething again (the drool is insane) so maybe that's a part of it.

Saturday was supposed to be relatively low key. I went to get a much needed massage but got very sick afterwards. At first, I thought I might have the flu. I went home and went straight to bed. Since I woke up feeling pretty good on Sunday, I determined that it must have been food poisoning. So maybe I shouldn't have sampled the leftover food that's been sitting around for a week. I probably should have taken the hint when it tasted funny. Oops!

Sunday Mike had his first soccer game and while they didn't win, I know he enjoyed being back on the field. Sunday evening we had dinner plans with friends, who informed us of their new arrival expected in August! We are so excited for them! We took advantage of my cousin Jessica's generosity as she came over to babysit Noah so we could have a nice, quiet, adult dinner. Hopefully Noah behaved enough so she'll be willing to come over again sometime! It never hurts to have an arsenal of babysitters!! I know we take advantage of Dana and Matt too often so "sharing the wealth" is probably not a bad thing.
Love to all,
Corri, Mike and Noah

PS, sorry for the non-existent pictures this week. We just didn't get around to taking any!

Noah's 1st Birthday!

Its hard to believe, but my little baby is no longer a baby anymore. Noah is officially a toddler! He's been doing so well in school. His teacher tells me he has just been longing to be with the other toddlers (he's still with the infants) so it's obviously time for him to advance! Thursday they celebrated Noah's birthday at school. We took in cupcakes and they decorated the table for him!

Monday morning he begins his first day in the toddler room and with his new teacher. I'm so sad because Noah loves his current teacher Ms. Penny. At least he'll still get to still see her but it won't quite be the same. She was wonderful and Noah received lots of love from her!

Grandma Blick got in Thursday and Noah immediately wanted to show off his walking skills with her!

Friday was picture day! We took Noah's 1 year pics and that evening celebrated his uncle Matt's 30th birthday (which was actually Feb. 8).

Here is a picture of the handsome duo.

Saturday we celebrated Noah's birthday in style with family and friends. Here are just a few pictures of the special day.

The rest of the pictures can be found at: http://picasaweb.google.com/creichert06/NoahS1stBirthdayCelebration?authkey=SAD82CkqX8Q#

Noah loved spending time with all of his grandparents and friends. Maddie Hundley seemed to take a special interest in Noah. Its so fun to watch them interact now! We do have a few pictures of Noah with cake on his face, but I'll have to wait until I get some from the family. Our camera ran out of room. :-(

It was a very special weekend and we are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives! I couldn't have asked for a better weekend or celebration for Noah! Can't wait for what's in store this next year!

Love to all,

Corri, Mike and Noah

Yes, We've Got Walkin', People!

I can hardly believe it, but Noah finally took his first steps alone! Mike and I have been practicing with him but it wasn't until Tuesday night when we tried to get him to walk between Mike and I that he did it alone! It was just a few steps at first but by Thursday, he took 12 steps alone at school!! He's still a bit wobbly but the confidence is growing. We continue to practice with him daily and we know it won't be long before he starts taking off completely on his own!

That was pretty much the highlight for the week! I spent my Friday night with my Poker girls - where I lost but I did get to play the Wii for the first time. It was so much fun, but I was so sore today! Who knew it could work muscles I didn't know I had!

Noah has really been taken with Peek-A-Boo and shutting the doors. Here are a few pictures of that.

Mike was busy hanging our new ceiling fan and Noah thought he'd keep daddy company. This is the tail end of Mike and Noah going back and forth saying Dada. It was so cute! Noah enjoyed the sound of the ladder as well!

Matt and Emily graciously watched Noah for Mike and I Saturday night so we could have a night alone together. We enjoyed a new Sushi restaurant and took in the movie, Taken. It was entertaining but I probably would have been ok renting it.

So, the next time I write, Noah will be 1 years old!!

Have a great week!

xoxo,

Corri, Mike and Noah