Harry Potter and the Pumpkin Patch

Okay, I know I am seriously bias, but have you EVER seen a kid this cute in your life?!!



This pic was taken at our ward Trunk-or-Treat on Friday night. We all had a good time. Noah especially liked his cousin Taylor's ladybug costume. She had wings that he found particularly tasty.

The next morning some of us got together to go to Tate Farm. I had never been before so I was really looking forward to it. We made the plan to go several weeks ago and I suggested we go at 10:00am to "beat the heat". Well, we beat it all right. It was soo cold when we first got there. We were all bundled up and had our babies wrapped up like burritos. But, in spite of the crazy fridgedness (that is so not a word), we all had a great time.

Bedhead Duo

When Noah woke up this morning I just had to laugh. Because his hair is so long and curly it can get pretty out of control, especially when he sleeps. But, his hair was defying the laws of gravity this morning. I proceeded to take him into the bathroom to show him how hilarious he looked and to my dismay I discovered that my beauty sleep wasn't so kind to me last night either. Aren't we attractive?!

He is making his "concentration" face in this one.


You have to see a profile shot to truly appreciate this.


It's a good thing I have Chris locked in for eternity, huh?!

I'm A Big Kid Now

My baby doesn't listen to me. I tell him everyday that he HAS to stay my baby forever yet he insists on growing up. BRAT!

Noah is getting 2 teeth on the bottom. Teething has gone pretty well so far but he definitely has his moments lately. I guess I have been so spoiled with such an easy kid that know that he has his moments once in a while that I don't quite know how what to do with him.

He had his 6 mos check up last Tuesday. He weighted in at a whopping 21 lbs 8 oz and he is 26 3/4 inches long. Just more of him to LOVE!

We started him on solids as well. We have started him out on oatmeal cereal and it is so funny to watch him. Here are some pics to demonstrate how he feels about it. (sneak a peek at one of his teeth on the bottom)


Chris wanted to feed Noah his 1st solids. I was bummed at first but he was so cute with Noah that I soon forgave him.



We got a good bit down but when Noah decided he was done he clamped his mouth shut tight.

Moroni, My Hero

Chris and I are reading in Alma 43-44 right now. Capt. Moroni is kicking some Lamanite butt and being an all around stud. He isn't fighting for power but, for their “wives, and their children, that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies” (Alma 43:9). I have read these chapters countless times but his integrity, devotion, and courage have really struck a cord with me over the last couple of days.

Zerahemnah, the bad guy pain in the tush, was “stir[ring] up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage” (Alma 43:8). Chris and I both have short fuses and these verses made me think of how often I have let myself get "stirred up" over the silliest things, namely my pride, and how that is its own kind of bondage. I read so much into some of the things Chris does or doesn't do and I am sure that 99% of the time he is clueless. I marvel that the cause that stirred the courage and determination of the Nephites to fight with their LIVES was the cause of their wives and children, yet I will let something as trivial as the garbage set me off in anger. 3 Nephi tells us (I changed "brother" to "spouse"):

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy [spouse’s] eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

“Or how wilt thou say to thy [spouse]: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

“Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy [spouse’s] eye” (3 Ne. 14:3–5).

It is amazing I can see at all with all the "motes" I've got yet I can always find something to complain about whether out loud or in my selfish little mind.

On the Title of Liberty, Moroni outlines the things that I should be focused on.
"...In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives {or husbands}, and our children...". Amazingly, nowhere in there does it mention the garbage or putting your socks in the dirty clothes hamper. I have been letting the little, insignificant things affect the things that matter most to me in this world. President Spencer W. Kimball counseled: “Don’t just pray to marry the one you love. Instead, pray to love the one you marry” . GENIUS!

So, THANK YOU!, Capt. Moroni, for the reminder.

Storytime

I LOVE to read. It is one of the most relaxing things to me. Chris marvels all the time at how quickly I can make it thru a ginormous book. My mom is where I got the love to read. Whenever she wasn't doing a million different things for us kids or dad, you could find her curled up in her bed with a good book. That was HER time. I hope to pass my love onto my kids. I think I have a pretty good start on that.



Noah highly recommends this book. He thinks it is really good.


All that reading can wear a guy out!

There's No Place Like Home

Noah and I spent a week in Destin with a few of my brothers and sisters and their families. Chris couldn't come with us because we are broke and because his company is moving so he had tons of work to do for that and couldn't get away. I knew I would miss him but I honestly didn't realize how much. It started to really get hard around day 4 when I knew I had 3 more days to go until I saw him again. It was really hard on him too, especially being away from Noah. So, I wanted to send him a message to let him know that we missed him so much.




Noah wasn't a big fan of the beach. I don't think he liked the sand in his MANY crevices and I know I didn't like cleaning sand out of his many crevices. He didn't like the water either. I don't know if it was the temperature of the water or the fact that it was crashing into him that he didn't like. He preferred the pool so most of my pictures are of him in the pool.




Notice the angle of the float. Heehee!


My sis, Misty, did get some cute shots of him on our last day.






He did much better on the trip down to Destin then he did on the trip home (don't we all!). So, being the good mom that I am, I tried anything and everything to keep him distracted.



A BIG thank you to all in the family who made it possible for Noah and I to go even though we jumped on board so late. We had a great time and can't wait til reunion next year!

I MISSED IT!

Noah turned 6 mos yesterday. I have been stressing for about the last month that he has shown no inclination to roll over. He HATES floor time, in fact, I have dubbed it torture time, it is that bad. I have laid in the floor for hours and hours trying to entertain him and entice him to roll over but no success. Every one has been telling me to chill out about it and he will roll over in his own time. So, I
finally decided to take the advice and just let nature take its course. Welp, I was packing today for our trip to the beach next week and I went out to the garage for the suitcases. When I left him, he was on his tummy on the floor of my bedroom. When I returned HE WAS ON HIS BACK and looking quite confused as to how he got there. I couldn't believe it. I screamed with excitement and scared the crap out of him. I tried and tried to get him to do it again but he just wanted to play with his soccer ball. That is soo my luck.

I had resigned myself to the fact that he may not roll over at all because he has started doing push ups. I try to show him to get on his knees but he always goes back to lifting himself up on his toes. My 6 month old can do WAY more push ups than I can. How pathetic is that.







He has also started to shimmy. I can't say it is crawling or even army crawling because he will scoot around on his hands and toes. But he usually only goes backward and gets pretty upset when he hits a road block.


I was doing dishes and all the sudden he started screaming bloody murder so I go running in the living room expecting blood or something and this is what I find. And, like a good mom, I left him in his misery long enough to catch it on film.

He is so amazing. Everyday he does something new. Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE BEING A MOMMY!!!!

P.S. My sis-in-law, Sarah, gave birth to Ava Brielle Mayfield at 8:30 on Oct 3. She is exactly 6 mos younger then Noah. She was 6 lbs 13 oz. She is insanely cute. She has the tiniest nose I have ever seen. She looks a lot like Georgia. I am so happy for James and Sarah. Mommy and baby are doing well.