Sledding in the Snow!

Noelle and Daddy's Big Adventure

Noelle and I headed off to the midwest together. Kaitlyn had to stay back so that she could rest and make sure baby girl #2 stays where she belongs. We went on the trip to connect with some of our family we do not get too see very often. We spent a few days with my grandparents, birth father, half brother, and other family members on that side then we headed over to Wisconsin and met up with my Mom and some of our family members out there. It was quite the adventure for Noelle and I. We endured 4 hour plane rides, long car trips, freezing cold weather, unfamiliar sleeping places, Airport chaos, and much more including unloading all of our stuff in 12 degree weather and beginning to check into our hotel only to find out we were at the wrong hotel (there were two Hyatt's on the same block).

She did great and to be honest at times she handled it better than me. Despite the hard stuff of traveling we had a blast as it was her first experience with snow and she loved it! Here are some pictures of family members and fun times in the snow. For me it was a great experience and I learned much about Noelle, myself, and my family. It was fun to allow family so far away to see us face to face and enjoy Noelle. Noelle had a great time at "great grandma" and "papa's" house playing with toys that have been in the family for 40+ years, reading with new people, enjoying the love of Aunt Lisa, playing with Bigggg Bear and Conner (who I think was her favorite on this side), sledding with Grandpa Brad, and just being the star of the show. In Wisconsin Aunt Joan, Grandma Julie, and cousin Meggie provided some great relief for me as they loved playing with her, bathing her, painting her toenails, doing her hair, and even changing poopy diapers. On this side I have to say cousin Meggie was her favorite, thanks cousin Meggie, you were great! Once we finally made it home we slept for 3-4 hours and then just enjoyed the love of Kaitlyn that we both missed so dearly while we were gone!

Christmas... and Noelle's Favorite Present

We had a wonderful and mellow Christmas. Christmas Eve was at my parent's house with my dad's side of the family. We spent Christmas morning at home, breakfast at my parents and then headed to Temecula to have dinner with the extended family.




Uncle Brian and Great Grandma got this "jump jump" for Noelle. Boy, does she love it. Brian downloaded some videos to youtube so I thought I'd embed one. This isn't of her jumping as much but it was really cute. I didn't know that she could count this high. She's always amazing me.

ABCs

She is one smart cookie!

5 Year Anniversary

This weekend Ryan and I got away for our 5th Anniversary. We headed up to Big Bear and stayed at the Knickerbocker Mansion Bed and Breakfast. It was a pretty amazing cabin, one of few built with vertical logs, with excellent food. It was a pretty mellow weekend as skiing, sledding, etc. are out for me but we actually found plenty to do and enjoyed the little village. The weather couldn't have been better. It had snowed the weekend before, so was covered in snow and yet sunny and warm during the day. Every anniversary we have the opportunity to reflect upon how faithful God has been to us in changing us and drawing us together. We also kept thinking about Noelle and all the funny things she say/does and the reality that we will soon have TWO little girls running around. Another girl... we can't believe it. Oh the fun we are going to have with these two little ones. I'm only 19 weeks pregnant but I'm already ready for her to be here :). She's already kicking around in my belly - I'm predicting another busy one!

Boo Boo

Noelle was playing, turned around and lost her balance and bent forward right into the corner of the toy box. It really wasn't too bad as far as boo boo's go but we got this great picture so I'm posting it. For the week or so after she would see her reflection and make me kiss the boo boo and she felt very important when we put "corbin" (that's what she calls neosporin) on it.

Ballet

My Minnie Mouse!

I got her ready and just couldn't get over how cute she looked. I loved the way she pranced around in her outfit and shoes too. It was so great. I was trying to get her to smile in these pictures and all I got were these raised eyebrows!

Hullabaloo!

Our church, along with two other churches, put on a carnival like event at the fairgrounds on Halloween. Noelle, and therefore her entourage (me, Ryan, Grandma and Grandpa), had so much fun! She played a couple carnival games for some candy. I think it shocked her but pleased her greatly that people were just handing her candy all night long. She got to ride a pony, which was so cute because we couldn't go in, so a lady took her and put her on the horse. She was all about it and you could see her talking to the lady and just totally confident. Then round and round she went. We were just laughing watching her. Off to the bounce house she went and jumped and jumped, although she didn't like it when a little boy kept trying to hug her. She even got a balloon turtle. It was such a fun night!

Growing!

That's right, Noelle is going to be a big sister! She says to my tummy, "growing" and "new baby" but really has no concept. The baby will be due May 8th and we are very excited! So far everything has been going really well. I'm twelve weeks and just about to enter the second trimester which I am hoping will bring an end to the nausea. We will keep you posted about this new little addition to our family and of course with lots of updates on Miss Noelle.

Nursery Rhymes

Noelle has a Mother Goose book that she loves to read. She has started to memorize many of the rhymes and wants us to read them over and over. My mom said I was the same way.

A Beautiful Fall Day at the Beach!

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch

Ryan, Noelle, Grandma Julie and I went to the pumpkin patch and rode the choo choo train. We all had a really great time!

Quick Runner

Noelle is very proud of her running ability. Today she thought it was hilarious to say "come here" and run away from me. Then I would yell, "come here" and she would squeal with delight and run at me and then away. Who knows what goes through that little mind of hers. It seems like shes coming up with a new game every day and picking up on our lingo as she plays.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND ON YOU TUBE...

Today I was sent a link to a YouTube video that was a tribute to my dance teacher who passed away a year ago. She was an incredible woman and dance teacher! I looked at more videos by the user who sent the video and found a video of me and my cousin Dean dancing at the US Open Swing Dance Championships when we were around 8. I thought you all might get a kick out of it. And yes, that is my real hair. Enjoy!!

VISITING WITH THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GIRLS

Halle Ganyo

Noelle and Macy Pray

Macy MacDiarmid, Halle Ganyo, Noelle, and Macy Pray

"Quick Runner"

Noelle and I flew to Sacramento and spent a long weekend with Grandma Julie and my girlfriends from college. We went to a baby shower celebrating the arrival of Cameron Pray. I also got to attend the MacDiarmid's church and got some good hang out time with Erica and Halle. It was really fun to spend time with my friend's kids and get to know them better. Noelle is incredibly busy these days (as everyone that was with her this weekend could now attest for) and is learning something new everyday!

Mustard Seed Ranch

I know that I don't usually include much writing in my blog but I wanted to share about our most recent experience as a family.

This past weekend Ryan, Noelle and I, in a family first, had the opportunity to go to Mustard Seed Ranch with a group of people from Rock Harbor to lend a hand in tending to the needs of this ranch. Although we went with the mindset that we were here to serve the staff and this ranch, we left with the understanding that they had poured so much into us.

The ranch is affiliated with the Orange County Rescue Mission and provides a safe place for emotionally hurting kids to go to bond with the animals in a way that it might not be safe to bond with humans just yet, because of the difficult things they have experienced in life. I can imagine that the staff really loves on them as well, now that I've met them. Many of the workers on the ranch are in a recovery process themselves and you can see that they live in community with each other, seeking God and loving one another. It is really an incredible place.

There were many moments before we left that I was concerned about bringing Noelle and thought what even is the point? I am so thankful that we did, because although she did slow us up a little, we still had wonderful interactions, got some good work done and had this wonderful experience as a family. I realized that it could potentially be a good thing for me to be stretched when it comes to mothering Noelle and not being in an environment that I could control and one that was hot, dirty and with animals :), but I didn't really want to be. God helped to prepare my heart and we ended up with great accomodations, room to play and had a lot of fun. I also saw how others enjoyed Noelle and I loved having her there to share in it with us.

I'm so thankful that Rock Harbor created some family friendly trips this summer and opened up the reality that even with a little baby there are exciting ways to serve and love others. In the back of my mind I thought that our trip seemed a little insignificant because there would be no kids there, it was only a weekend, and would some ranch work really make a difference? I left feeling like God made a difference in our hearts and with our presence and it was exciting.

Here is Noelle on the "Neigh, neigh" swing. It was made out of a tire and swang back and forth. How cool is that?

Ryan did some dirty work (really dirty!) and layed new floor for the two fattest pigs I've ever seen.

The Orange County Fair

Here are some pictures of Noelle's first trip to the fair. She was really too small for any of the rides but we did get on this one. Grandma and I played the fill the clown's mouth with water and pop the balloon game and won Noelle a monkey. She loved it and then stopped trying to chase down kids carrying stuffed animals.

N-O-E-L-L-E

I never realized that Noelle is such a difficult name for a baby to pronounce. She never really says her name but today she was going for it. It came out a little different each time.

Visiting Elmo with Grandpa!

For Father's Day I gave my dad tickets for us all to go to the sesame street exhibit at the discovery science center. There was so much for Noelle to see and do even as young as she is. The highlight was getting her picture taken with and meeting ELMO! I know she doesn't look very happy in the picture but she ran right to him and put her hands on his knees and gave him a kiss when we had to leave.