I was sad to ring in a New Year because I know my baby is growing up so fast and will turn 2 before I know it. We had New Years Day off and Noelle was climbing the stairs. She was acting like she was pooping so I asked “Do you have to go to the bathroom?” She went up the stairs (with me close behind) went into the bathroom where her little potty is. I helped her take off her pants and diaper. She sat on the princess potty and the next thing I heard is “Ta-Da-Da-Da!” The potty makes a noise when it gets peepee in it. I ran over to check and sure enough! She went peepee on the potty!!!! I called for Josh and he ran up with the camera, we were both so proud of her!!! Could not believe it happened, especially without any practicing! Later that day I had her sit on the potty before her bath, she sat for a while then stood up next to it and peed on it! I guess you can’t win them all. Before bed I took her up again to peepee, she sat down and peepeed right away. Twice on the first day! Not sure if we will get 100% into potty training just yet and I don’t want the novelty to wear off for her. I don’t think she would be able to tell me BEFORE she had to go potty and hold it just yet. So I guess there are a lot of things to look forward to in 2014 too! Noelle has been starting to asked questions “where’s dada?” she asks this one a lot. I picked her up from daycare. She told them “bye” and asked me “where’s dada?” and continued to ask about 30 more times on the way home. Didn’t matter that I explained “he’s at work” “we will see him at home.” A few times she has asked “what’s that?” So this will be the year of questions 
curious little thing and oh so sweet. VIDEO BELOW LEAVE DAYCARE AT 18 MONTHS
Why Time Flies After You Have Children
Newborn
18 months
This year has went by so fast. In fact, time has flown by since I had my daughter Noelle. People with kids always warned me “they grow up so fast” and I never realized how true that was until 2013 flashed by before my eyes. I often look at Noelle in astonishment “Where did my baby go?” “Where did that time go?” Why does time fly by so fast when you have kids? It’s because now it’s not all about you. Every year in your youth you think, I can’t wait until my birthday, Christmas, summer vacation, until I graduate, turn 18, turn 21, graduate college, start my career, meet the love of my life, get married and finally have kids. When you are pregnant you can not wait to have that baby in your arms and the time crawls by. Then you have your precious baby and you want time to stand still, you want them to stay small and innocent forever. You focus more on the kids than you do yourself and you often wish you could freeze moments of their babyhood. While you are not pay attention to the time it flies by and the next thing you know it’s 2014 and you have a toddler on your hands. I look back at pictures of Noelle and have a hard time remembering what she was like as a baby, maybe because I was sleep deprived but somewhere along the line the time went by and went by quickly. I study her really closely and try to burn memories into my mind. This is the happiest time in our life, where we have everything in this sweet little angel who lives with us. Even something simple as hearing her say “Mommy” makes my heart melt and makes my entire day better. I try to take lots of photos and videos to remember this precious time in our lives. It won’t be long before she too has a conception of time and starts wishing her’s away. Waiting for Christmas, birthdays, vacations and a life of her own.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Noelle on Christmas – 18 months
What a GREAT Christmas we had with sweet baby Noelle. Sitting at work and smiling thinking about how sweet she is. Last night we came back from Virginia after having Christmas up there. It was a long car ride in the dark but Noelle was in a good mood the whole way home. We stopped at a McDonalds for dinner and she insisted on holding both of our hands while we waited in line. She laughed and swung our arms back and forth. She wouldn’t let us go so we lead her around the McDonalds like that. She would look at the tables of people and say “HI!” as we walked by. She had a chicken nugget and she reached up for our hands as we were leaving. She walked between us to the door in her little red Christmas shoes and pretty pink coat, she said “bye!” to the same people at the tables and they waved bye bye to her. One older Grandparently couple said “You have got a cute baby there” I said “we think so!” She just warmed everyone’s heart. She reminds people of what’s good in the world with her innocents, happiness and friendliness. I kept thinking about that the whole way home and told Josh “We have such a sweet little girl.” I want to burn that memory into my head to keep forever. She would fuss a little in the back seat and I would put my hand back there, she would grab my hand tight and hug it to her face and even kiss my hand. Oh I love her so much!
Santa came for Christmas and even though she didn’t understand who Santa was she still enjoyed everything he got her. She came down the stairs and said “WOW” to her clip-clap pony castle. She played with that a while before she noticed her other gifts. She played with everything a while before she moved on the the next thing. She also got a doll house, a vanity set, an Abby doll & books, a sleepy Elmo doll, a Dora book, a lock puzzle board, blocks, clothes and a few other things. We went to Virginia and spent the rest of Christmas with the extended family. She liked her cousins Kate and Claire more this time. Was really interested in baby Kate’s hair bow. She kept pointing to Kates and feeling her hair for her own bow. In Virginia she got a baby doll, a Elmo bus, a Mrs. potato head, a book, a hat and a few outfits. It is so great to have Christmas with a toddler in the family, it puts the sparkle and magic back into Christmas. So good to have Santa Claus visit again
Surgery For Ear Tubes
Waiting for Surgery
Noelle had her surgery on Monday to get tubes in her ears. She had been sick for about a week and on antibiotic. She did great in the hospital and let them wheel her right away from me while she was laying in a hospital crib. The surgery only took 20 minutes and she was awake and crying when I got back to her. She was really out of it and even seemed like she was trying to nurse, going back to her roots I guess! After about 20 minutes of recovering I got her dressed and took her home, she fell asleep on the way and slept on me for 2 hours once we got home. Once she woke up she was in a great mood! Laughed a lot that day and she has been in a good mood ever since. Her ears are still draining and no wonder she was always sick, she had so much infection and fluid in her ears that could never drain. On another note Noelle is starting to play pretend. I was eating lemonheads from a box of candy when she caught me and wanted one. I gave her the empty box and she pretended to get candy out and chew it. Was so funny to see, I asked her if I could have some and she pretended to feed me her imaginary candy. We made a big deal out of it and how good her candy was and she thought that was funny, kept giving some to Daddy and I. So cool to see her little mind work. What a sweet babe.
An Early Christmas and Family Visit
The Girls!
Sick Sleeping Babe
Family (early) Christmas 2013
Noelle and Grandma
Early Christmas
Early Christmas
Aunt Lauren and Grandma left after a sad good bye but we had so much fun while they were here. We had an early Christmas so we could all see each other open a few presents, especially Noelle. She loved everything she got, several puzzles, books, pjammies, dancing snowman from Hallmark, Lego type people set w/animals, jewelry box, a singing purse with accessories and it’s not even Christmas yet!!! She was so excited the day they got here. I have never seen her so crazy, jumping, dancing, yelling and falling down laughing. She said “get down” From her highchair then went around the table telling the rest of us “get down” then she wanted everyone to sit on the floor to roll the ball back and forth. She told everyone “out” pointing to feet so everyone made a star sitting on the floor. Bossy lil thing but oh so cute! We made a trip to the mall but she cried terrible when sitting on Santas lap. Kurt and Lindsay came over for dinner and we were having a good time so Noelle stayed up until 9:30. She came over to my chair and said to me “night night” I guess that means she’s ready for bed. She doesn’t mind it one bit and apparently requests it now!!! Told everyone Night night, gave kisses and up she went, happy as a pea in a pod. She has been sick again this week since they left and she is getting tubes in her ears on Monday, fingers crossed!
When What I Teach Her Back-Fires
Lil Stinker
She has known the sounds that kitties and dogs make for a while now but as of this week she knows what sound the monkey makes, the elephant (does her arm in front of her like a trunk), the cow, the donkey and maybe more. I told her what sound a Dada makes and made a fart noise, something she loves to do anyway. We laughed and laughed and then I had her do it for Daddy when we got home. He got a kick out of it and said “what noise does Mommy make?” and she did the fart noise on that too! So I guess it back fired! We all got a big laugh out of it. She knows where all of her body parts are too. Hair, ears, nose, mouth, eyes, tongue, fingers, toes, arms and legs. At Thanksgiving they were asking her where everything was and she was showing them. Then Aunt Annie asked “can you stand on your tip toes?” and she did that tooo!!! wow They must be teaching her all this at daycare because it is getting crazy. My the time we left Roanoke she has said “DeeDee” “Aunt Aunnie” “Aunt Joannie” and “Matt Man” They got the biggest kick out of her. When she leaves home or daycare now she does a very loud and abrupt “bye” and that is cute too. Oh she is precious all around. Our Christmas tree is up and Grandma and Aunt Lauren are coming for a long weekend visit starting today. Going to sit on santa’s lap tomorrow, we will see if she is as friendly with him!
Noelle Is A Sponge
Noelle on Thanksgiving
Noelle is like a sponge, soaking up everything. She fell in love with Elmo this week. She has always had a slight interest in him, she has books, Elmo dolls and grandma and grandpa have an Elmo puppet. This week she started to take an interest in what was on TV so I put on Sesame Street and in comes Elmo… the new love of her life. Now any time I turn on the TV she says “Elmo” Last night she demanded it, “Elmo! Elmo” so I turned him on and as soon as he entered the screen she freaked out and screamed at the top of her lungs. You would have thought The Beatles entered the room. She danced to the opening song and was so excited. After a few minutes I put her on the couch with me and she started to point out Elmo’s friends. “Big Bird” “ookie” (cookie monster) and “baby” I told her “That’s Abby” so from then on she said “Abby!” “Abby!” I turned off the TV after letting her watch a while. We went upstairs to read before bed and got out her Elmo book. Now she can find Elmo on every page and point out “ookie” and “Abby” It is adorable. I asked her this morning “where is Daddy” and she shrugged her shoulders, I said “You don’t know?” and she said “Don’t know.” She is so smart – I love it!!
My Lil Turkey
Lil Turkey Hand
Noelle’s created her first piece of art at daycare. Her little hand print made into a Thanksgiving turkey with an adorable poem. I will cherish it forever and it is proudly displayed on our fridge. Going to Roanoke for Virginia, I will stuff my little Butterball with stuffing and anything else she wants to try
Putting Words Together
17 Months Old
Noelle is starting to put words together to make conversation. She loves yogurt and I even think it maybe her favorite food right now. She has started to say “ogurt” or a variation of it and once she sees it she doesn’t stop “yagurt” “ugurt” “ogurt” I say “no this is for daycare.” Last night we were sitting on the couch and I was feeding her yogurt she was sitting real close putting her head on my arm and she looked up at me all excited and said “MaMa! Yogurt!” She melted my heart, that sweet lil thing! I told her to put her shoes on for school this morning and she said “school.” Once we got there she was playing with the toys and me and the teacher were watching her. I said “she is changing everyday and is so sweet” She was pushing her toy over and said “mama” and put her little lips out for a kiss. Then she said “bye bye” Oh she in just so sweet. I wish she would stay this way for ever.
E-I-E-I-O
3 generations
Noelle & Grammie
I haven’t written in a while and I hate that! Noelle is changing everyday now and connecting words and meanings. She will hide under a blanket and look at me and say “Shhh” putting her finger up to her mouth. Daddy came home from work last night while she was in the bath tub. He yelled up “Hello!” and she said to me “shhh” like we were being sneaky and hiding. She would stand up and say “get out” I would say, “Ok you ready to get out?” She said “NO no no no” and sat back down. It was a fun game for her. She loves shoes and is always saying “shoe” even to socks. Mom came for a visit and by the time she left Noelle was calling her “mimi” even after she left Noelle will look up the stairs to the spare room and say “MiMi!” Today when I put her in the car she said “Bye bye dada” too bad he wasn’t there to hear it. She loves her Violet dog that sings when you push her paws. Her favorite songs are Patty Cake, Ittsy-Bittys spider and Old McDonald. She tries to do the hand motions for patty cake and ittsy bittys and says E-I-E-I-O to old McDonald. She stomps her feet to “When I am happy I know it” Last night at dinner we had McDonalds, I asked “do you like McDonalds?” and she said “E-I-E-I-O” She is so stinking cute and sweet. She loves to give her Mommy hugs and is always so happy to see me. She has made my life perfectly complete… for now… Until there is a sweet baby 2 
Can’t forget that future sweet baby either, just in case they are reading
Quote From Daddy
“I can’t wait for her to start talking, she is going to have lots of funny things to say.”
A Few Of Her Favorite Things…
Noelle is starting to have favorites. Her favorite book is Sleep Book by Dr. Suess, she doesn’t want us to read it but she will sit with it and thumb through the pages for at least 20 minute periods. Front to back, back to front and back again. She will grab it and find a good place to sit where she will be entertained just flipping pages. She likes the blanket she sleeps with. When I go up to get her in the morning she needs to grab her binky and blanket out of the crib before she will reach up for me. So cute the way she collects her things. This morning she thought she had a hold of her blanket but when I picked her up it slipped out of her hands, she said “ut oh!” so I would get it for her and she held it tight all the way down stairs. She gets so excited when she goes to sleep in her crib and I give her her binky and cover her with her blankey, she giggles. Such a happy baby, she even loves to go to bed…. will see how long THAT lasts! You are the light or our life baby Noelle xoxo
The Bell of the Ball
Baby Noelle you are the Bell of the Ball… I dressed you in a new outfit today, jeans and soft fleece top
Bell of the ball
and sneakers. I took you into daycare and they were like “look at Noelle!” “Look how cute she is, isn’t she cute?” “Shes adorable” Noelle just walks around oblivious to her admiring fans. I tell her “bye bye” and she says “bye bye” but then she says “Mama!” and runs over to give me a hug good bye. I hug her tight and kiss her, she leans back and looks at my face, points to my eyes and says “eye, eye” as I kiss her sweet lips good bye. Then she runs over to her teacher to be picked up. Everyone thinks she is so sweet and adorable, which of course she is! I am loving this sweet innocent age.
Ever-Changing Baby
Noelle at 16 Months
Sweet sweet sugar baby Noelle, you will not be a baby much longer at the rate you are changing! You are trying to say and sound out almost any word we ask you to try. You know what noise the kitty makes as well as a dog. You know where your eyes and nose is and often point to Mommy and Daddy’s eyes and nose and say “eye” “nose”. As you enter a room and see a total stranger you will say “hi” you crack everyone up, they think you are the cutest and of course you are! You like to walk by yourself now but will reach up to hold Mommies hand, it is the cutest thing in the world and you warm our hearts everyday with the new things you surprise us with. You love your shoes and can say “shoe” as you try and put them on yourself. You are throwing some minor temper tantrums now which we also think is adorable… we’ll see how long that lasts! You like to skype with your grandparents and you show off for the camera with all the things that you know. You really are changing everyday and we love seeing your mind work. The doctor even says “she is very interactive for a 15 month old” You love sitting and thumbing through your books, you like to be read too but prefer to turn the pages yourself. We went to the park on Monday (day off) and you learned to walk up the stairs and slide down the slide by yourself but you had to hold Mommies hand because you weren’t quite brave enough to go down all alone. Your mommy and daddy love you so much baby girl, you make us smile all day long.
All Moved In
We are all moved into the new house and almost completely settled in. Noelle LOVES it! When we first moved in she wandered all around the house jibber jabbering and swinging her arms. She like that she could hear her voice echo. She has been doing a high pitch squeal lately too, it is very loud! She is on the brink of talking a lot I think. She has said several words only once. Like “flower” and other bigger words that surprise us, but again she only says them once so they don’t stick with her. She has been saying “baby” a lot. She will see a picture of herself and say “baby” I say “that’s you, that’s Noelle” and she will say “no no” not sure if she doesn’t believe me or she is trying to say “Noelle.” She started saying “Luna” this weekend. She is such a smart girl. We went out to our back yard for the first time yesterday. She loved it! Walked and would hold my hand when she needed help. We sat in the swing for a while and she liked that too. She went to walk back into the house and walked right into the screen door, at least it wasn’t glass! Ha, you learn something new everyday little one.