8 months!

Noah has his first little stomach bug :(
I'm very thankful for my sweet husband who took care of him yesterday while I was at work. Noah is snoozing as I type. It's amazing that he still has the happy-go-lucky personality though he feels bad! I'm so glad!!
This was a big week of firsts:
Starting back at daycare and meeting new friends
Crawling ALL over the house--watch out!
Getting a tooth (finally!)
Pulling up to stand (piano bench comes in handy for this!)

Book Worm

I think Noah likes his basket of books? What do you think?! I had fun taking him to the Fayetteville Public Library a couple of times for their baby book worm story time. Hoping he loves to read as much as I do!

Water Baby

Noah LOVES the water: Swimming pool, bath time, wading pool in the backyard, sink.... you name it and he loves to splash around! Can't wait to take him to the beach in a week and a half!

Fayetteville, AR

We have been in Fayetteville now for a little over a week! In same ways, it feels like home, and in many other ways, it still seems like we are here on an extended visit. It's a little strange to not really know anyone in the area... but I know as soon as I start work, Brandon starts law school, and we get involved at church, we will quickly find some friends! We did find a church not too far from our house that we really liked with lots of young families.
We are feeling relatively settled into our house--in a way, it feels like home since we are surrounded by the same furniture and decorations. We have met several neighbors--all very nice and welcoming. The family across the street had us over to swim in the pool on Saturday, and the next door neighbors brought us some yummy cookies last night, plus a list of good information about doctors, vets, places to eat, etc. All in all, I think we are going to really like it here.

 Kitchen--I am getting used to using the step stool in order to reach pretty much everything above the bottom shelves!

 

 Curtains to come for the dining area. Lots of light, and a good view of the backyard!

 Noah's room:

 Our room:

 Hall bathroom

 Guest room/Brandon's office/craft room (note, we have an extra bed--so come visit us!!)

Laundry room--my dad hung these great shelves for us!

Update.... Finally!

I am going to make more of an effort to make at least weekly postings to our blog, to try and keep everyone up to date on our lives!
As you most likely know, we are about to move to Fayetteville, AR-- Brandon will be going to the University of Arkansas Law School. I am super excited about the adventures that lay ahead for our little family of three:

It is definitely bittersweet to leave our first home, along with leaving family and friends. We have been blessed with so many great friendships here in the Dallas area the past seven years--and thankfully, with iphones, facebook, email, blogs, texting, facetime, skype, etc. (and I love good, old fashioned snail mail!) there are lots of ways to stay in touch!
So, as we embark on this new journey in our life, I hope to continue to be a part of your lives. Fayetteville, we will see you on Saturday!
On another note, we had a great first Fathers Day with Brandon. We celebrated by going to church with Alysa, having lunch at Agave Azul.... and... mostly packing! (We are almost done)
Its so sweet to see how Noah lights up whenever Brandon walks into the room.... he absolutely LOVES his daddy. I am so blessed by my two boys:

Update

Well, its been a few weeks since I have posted... a lot has happened!
Noah turned 2 months old--time goes so fast!

We survived our first cold. Noah had RSV, which sounds scary---but really, its a respiratoty virus. Thanksfully he never ran fever, and was still his happy normal self. We had to do breathing treatments, which he HATED the first one at the dr. office. Surprisingly, though, he didn't seem to mind the treatments once we were home. (probably helped that both mom and dad were doting on him the whole time. I think he was trying to be big and brave for his daddy--who he loves!)

Noah also started "school." I am really liking his day care--they take great care of him. They are such sweet ladies. Noah had a "welcome" sign and his crib and cubby was decorated with his name on a snowflake (yes-I love details like that!) I was a little teary eyed--but the transition back to work has actually been so smooth. Thanks for all your prayers! I feel really good about my decision to be a working mom at this point.

Noah is so happy in the afternoons when I pick him up! Its a great time of day to just play and chat. Its so fun with how expressive he is becoming. He LOVES to smile.
Noah got to hang out outside with dad, since we have had an unusually warm winter. Here he is overseeing the grilling while haning out in his bouncy seat...

Heading Back to Work...

So, I go back to work on Thursday... I have mixed emotions.... I really love my job AND I really love hanging out with Noah....

I am looking forward to being around my co-workers. I definitely feel blessed to work where I do! But at the same time, its also a little weird to think of someone else taking care of Noah during the day. I feel really good about the daycare center that we found--Its called Kids Kingdom, and I feel very comfortable with the care it appears they give the kiddos there. Its also good for me to think of it as Noah's "school" as he will be learning a lot while he is there!
I am interested to see what kind of schedule he ends up on for naps, etc. I imagine he will continue to be able to sleep though lots of noise (which he does at home---with Baxter, vacuuming, etc.)
All in all, I am anticipating an emotional few weeks as I get used to being back at work, and still being a new mommy. Thankfully, I have a fabulous husband who is very supportive and encouraging!
I know that in time I do have at home after work and in the mornings, I will need to be very intentional with Noah. Good thing there not much more I'd rather do than get to snuggle with my little boy and his daddy!
So prayers for a smooth transition are appreciated...
And now for the best part of anyone's blog...pictures!!

 Look at those chubby cheeks!! Baxter loves his little brother Noah :)

 Watching TV with Dad--gotta cheer for those Baylor Bears!

 My laundry helper... how soon can I teach him to fold?!

 Visit with Brandon's Grandma--so fun to spend time with her!

Don't you just love this little face?!