My Big One Year Old!

Sloppy Joes are simmering on the stove for Gospel Community tonight. The boy is sleeping soundly. And I finally have a moment to catch up my blog!

We had a whirlwind birthday celebration for Noah this year. On Wednesday the 12th we celebrated our little boy as a family with our GC at home. It was a modest celebration to say the least. Chris got some free balloons from Smiths and I baked lemon cupcakes. We sang Happy Birthday to Noah and he went at that cupcake with some serious fervor. It was super cute for us to watch!

The next day we drove to Idaho Falls and flew into Long Beach to spend a week with family in California. Amalia and Dad picked us up and my family was so sweet to throw Noah a birthday party on the 14th. Mom got pizzas and an ice cream cake and Heather decorated with Toy Story stuff. Again, Noah had some serious fun with that cake! He got lots of special gifts from Nana and Papa, Brad, Heather and the kids, Paula, Aubrey and Carol and Ryanne. So sweet! We had to leave some of them in CA because I couldn't fit them in my bag... but we are driving home at Christmas and can get them then.

As for life with a one year old... it is fantastic! Noah is getting more and more fun and entertaining. Just yesterday he started signing "drink." He's definitely in to everything now that he can pull himself up. He loves to pull down the books, the recipes, the candles, and anything else he can get his little sticky hands on. Some new words that he says: "Baba" when I get the bottle out, "Noah!" (though I'm not sure that he knows what it means), and "Nana" when he sees her picture. He does really well with other people and in the nursery at church and I'm super thankful for that! This month he experienced his first time at the beach and he absolutely loved it. Everyday when Chris leaves for work he gives Dada kisses, high fives, and then we stand at the door and wave bye bye and blow kisses. It's probably my favorite time of day.

11 Months

This post is coming a little late, but we have been busy! I was planning our women's conference with Martha Peace and now we are heading into another busy season...hunting and firewood. I don't hunt or go out and chop down trees. Being a helper suitable, I try to do what I can so that Chris can do those things. But, I digress. Let's get to the cutest member of the family...

Noah is fast approaching his first birthday! What happened? Have a really almost changed his diapers for 365 days? Was it almost twelve months ago that I told my midwife to "please stop talking"? Unbelievable.

Currently, Noah does these death defying acts of wonder:

Holds the cell phone to his ear (why does this feel like a milestone?)...

He weighs about 19 pounds

We have a CRAWLER!

He says All Done!, Hi, Dada, Nana, Mama

He signs please, more and all done

He sits by Frazier's dog bowl and shakes his hand and says, "no, no, no, no, no..."

Noah is such a joy to us! I know that I say that every month, but he truly is. He is inquisitive, affectionate, easy going, and content to sit and play by himself. We praise God for our baby boy!

My Noah Love

This is the little face that I get to see everyday. He is such a sweet boy! I am amazed at how teachable he is right now. I'm sure that his will will get stronger one day and he won't be so easily shapeable, but I pray that he is always so willing to learn!

I love Noah's adventurous spirit! I may not always love it when he comes home with scrapes and bruises, but I do love that he is a rough and tumble boy who has no fear.

Answered Prayer

Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed ; I cannot get up and give you anything.' "I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

Luke 11:5-13

I have had a hard time with this text in the past. Doesn't it seem weird to anyone that God wants us to be so persistent in asking Him for things that we begin to annoy Him? The Word of God even specifies that it's not because the guy was his friend that he got up and gave his bread, but because of the incessant knocking. He was persistent. "It conveys the ideas of urgency, audacity, earnestness, boldness, and relentlessness--like the persistent asking of a relentless beggar" (MacArthur). But, there it is. Plain and simple in the text. When you want something, ask for it... a lot.

I recently saw the kind hand of our loving Father who loves to give good gifts to his children. I have been wanting a DSLR camera. Since I have the most adorable child with the bluest of eyes who makes the most fantastic faces, I want a camera that will at least do the kid some justice. I looked at the Canon Rebel and thought it seemed reasonable but when I started adding it up it was going to be close to $800 for everything I would need. In light of the fact that our money is not our own but belongs to the Lord, I didn't feel like it would be a faithful way to be a steward of God's money. I started praying that God would give me a camera. Weird? Maybe. But, in light of Luke 11, I think it was appropriate! If God wants to give me a camera, He can do that. And if He doesn't want to, then I don't need it. Well, I wouldn't be writing this post if there wasn't an answer to my prayer. After months of praying and entering contests on the Pioneer Woman's blog, I get an email from Chris' aunt saying that they are going to buy a new camera and wanted to know if I would like to have their old Canon Rebel. Yes, really. What a kind Father we have who wants to give good gifts to His children (being evil as we are).

Answered prayer is a great motivator to keep praying.

10 Months is So Fun!

Noah's sitting on the ground in a mess of Cheerios, toys and dog hair chatting and clapping away. I just had to rescue him from the clutches of the evil book shelf. His transmission only slips into reverse and not drive so he tends to back himself into some precarious places these days. He is just too entertaining!

Every stage of life has been fun and every new stage I think, "This is my favorite!" He is suddenly doing so many things and it's so exciting to watch him experience life.

A few highlights...

Noah can sign "more," "please," and "all done."

He scoots backwards

He brushes his hair and knows that a hat goes on his head.

He weighs 16 pounds... just a string bean.

He went swimming at the rec center for the first time and had a blast.

Noah loves kids, puppies and snacks.

My Favorite Birthday!

Chris banned me from blogging intimate details of our life, especially the ones that involved him. As much as I want to tell the world all the wonderful little things Chris says and does, in honor of his birthday I won't do that. But I will say a few things...

A few weeks ago I asked him what his favorite breakfast would be and he said the following:

One egg, over easy. One piece of wonder bread toasted, buttered, and cut diagonally (so I can more efficiently dip it in the toast), two pieces of bacon, one sausage patty, three crepes. One crepe with butter and maple and syrup and the other two with some kind of delicious fruits and whipped cream.

He couldn't finish it all this morning.

Chris occasionally accidentally undresses in inappropriate places.

I will never understand his deep love of a good song, a profound thought, and a rare magic card.

If he could have dinner with any living person it would probably be John MacArthur and Maynard James Keenan at the same time.

They would eat ribeye and garlic mashed potatoes and drink Moose Drool.

The worst thing you could do on his birthday is sing to him or make a big deal in any way. He hates awkwardness.

There are so many things about Chris that I am thankful for! I never could have imagined what a joy it would be to be married to my very best friend. I will stop myself before I start gushing about his handsome face and nice legs (see photo above). Or before I say that he's my very best friend and I look up to him in so many ways. Okay, I'm done. Oh, and Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!!

Mom! I have so been looking forward to your birthday post. I just love you so much and I'm so thankful for you. It has been so beautiful to see how God has brought you through trials in the last couple years and you have learned to love Him and depend on Him like you never have before. I love that we have the relationship we do... open, honest, fun and Christ-centered.

So in honor of your fifty... er...fourty...something... birthday, I'm going old school and making a Barbara acronym!

B: Well, B has to be for Beautiful!

What I love about your beauty is not only do you have a fantastic smile and you still haven't seemed to lose your youth, but more importantly than that, you have biblical beauty. The Bible says that charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised. I have seen you grow more and more in your fear of the Lord. You have grown to take His instruction seriously and hold your own plans with an open hand. You have stood for what is true and you have humbled yourself in several situations to make more of Jesus. That is so beautiful! It's a beauty that the world won't see, but that God delights in.

A: Adventurous

You are not like other moms.. and you are certainly not like other Grandmas! You do crazy stuff. You take the kids hiking up a mountain looking for a geo-cache. You ride four-wheelers. You get dirty. You do wild stuff with flour and sugar in the kitchen. We had an adventurous childhood because of that fun and outgoing spirit in you, and I cannot wait for Noah to get older and enjoy the adventures that I know Nana and Papa will bring him on!

R: Ready to clean at all times

I think it's hilarious that you will say, "The house is a disaster!" and any other person would look at your house and think, "This place is spic and span." You just love to clean. I don't think I know of anyone that is more determined to have a tidy home than you... and Brad and I were just discussing how we have taken after you in this. What I appreciate too is that you are always up for cleaning my house when you come over!

B: Big heart

You love to give. You love to hear a touching story. You love your grandkids. You love your family. You just love.

A: Asking for trouble

Okay, maybe not asking for it, per se, but you definitely always seem to get in to it. I love telling my friends your stories. You would punch someone in the face if they came at you. I think you probably have done that actually. You chased a drunk driver down the freeway going 100 MPH. You have punched multiple dogs in the face, including a police dog. You got your skirt pulled down when you tried to fight with some crazy guy who was beating up his mom. You got sprayed with poop from the trailer on a camping trip. If someone is going to fall down, fall in, crash, tip over, get caught, or pee their pants, it's going to be you. And you are going to do it all laughing.

R: Recalls God's grace

You give credit where credit is due. God is the one at work in you to will and to act according to His good purpose (Phil 2:13) . In all these things, you give praise to God who is bringing you from glory to glory (1 Cor 3:18). It has been encouraging to see you encounter various trials and in your weakness, you are able to see that even the hard things come from the God who is working to make you more like His Son.

A: Attractive

You attract people to yourself. It's so funny how many people have wanted to be part of our family. You make people feel comfortable. You are outgoing and that serves people. People want to be around you. Even our neighbors who we have had a hard time growing a friendship with, seem to come around when you and dad are here. This a great quality to have.

So, cheers to you Mom! I'm thankful for the person that you are. You are dynamic. You are a huge blessing to Chris, Noah and me. We have been the recipient of much of your generosity and we are super thankful for that. It's fun to celebrate the fun and wonderful things that we love about you on your birthday!