Sweet and Slobbery

 We finished October off with taking Noah Trunk or Treating. I was hesitant to take him since it was past his bed time but Dayne insisted and I'm glad he did, he was the cutest Woody around. I have to admit it was a little awkward collecting candy in his bucket that he obviously wouldn't be able to eat. Oh well...I ate it, and it was yummy. 

  Noah is constantly getting into sticky sleeping situations, which of course makes for some fun pictures!

Noah loves bath time! Especially when Dayne holds him up on the edge and helps him jump back into the bath... come to think about it that's probably not something we want him to learn in a bathtub. Well, I guess he's done that for the last time!

I guess he liked it! Just kidding, he desperately wanted a plate so we gave him one to play with while we finished eating. He is such a funny kid!

 He also loves looking outside licking the window, which kept him entertained for longer than you would think! 

He is a huge fan of baby food. (Don't ask why he's not wearing the bib that is inches from his head, I don't know)

 Noah helped himself by getting comfortable on Grandpa lap while we watched football. Would you believe me if I said he started up in Grandpa's arm? He's quite a wiggle worm. 

This year I was determined to make our stockings. I'm not even kidding, I did everything by myself, I still can't believe it! They are simple, but I think they turned out pretty cute. 

 We finally got our first big snow storm the other day... and it hasn't stopped snowing since. Within the last few days we have gotten almost 2 feet of snow! Let's just say my little Mazda and Dayne's Ranger are really struggling. Looks like I will be staying home and baking cookies, I can't complain. 

 The other day I took Noah to see Santa, it wasn't a total disaster although he definitely wasn't going to crack a smile in front Santa. He wouldn't even take his eyes off of him until we finally got him off of Santa's lap.

      Noah is 7 months, can you believe it? He's almost a year old (not really, but he's over the half year mark). This time last year we were days from finding out if we were going to be welcoming a baby boy or a baby girl into our family. I have to admit, we were both convinced we were having a girl (If you look at the number of boys vs. girls in my family, I should have known better.) But in that instance of seeing the blue balloons, I just knew it was meant to be. Similar to opening my mission call and reading San Diego, California, I just knew in my heart that's where I was supposed to go. I am so incredibly lucky blessed that Noah was sent to our family. We need him just as much as he needs us.  

      It is so easy to laugh with Noah. He makes things exciting, challenging at times, but eventful and memorable. I can't say I don't know what we would be doing without Noah in our lives, because we did it for 4 years while waiting for him. I'm sure we would both be working, planning our next big trip, making hot chocolate and playing in the snow. We would be happy. But I have to say, we are a thousand times happier. The other day I was singing him a song and as I was getting ready to lay him down in his crib, his head was resting on my shoulder and he turned face-to-face with me and planted the biggest, slobberiest kiss on my cheek. Then he laid his head back on my shoulder, turned and did it again. It was a moment that I will cherish forever. Life is so much sweeter with Noah in it.

Growing right before my eyes

      In September Noah and I had the chance to go to Washington to visit my brother and sister. At first I didn't even consider going since we would be away from Dayne for so long but also because it would be a 10 hour drive and I wasn't sure how Noah would do (I didn't want him to bother my Granny and Great Aunt who would be traveling with us). But the night before they were to leave I decided we would tag along with them and boy I am glad we did!

While we were there we were able to go to Billy's Berry Farm where my nephews went on a tractor ride, we made apple cider, went on a hay ride ate some yummy apple cider donuts and had so much fun that Noah passed out in Aunt Nora's arms half way through.

  

It was so cute seeing Noah's cousins be so eager to hold him. He was definitely spoiled by being held basically the entire time while we were there, and he was loving every minute of it! 

 

Recently Noah has loved sitting on my chest while I'm laying down. He just giggles and giggles, it's adorable. 

 While in Washington he was definitely showing a lot of interest in eating solids so as soon as we got home we started him on rice cereal and he just gobbles it right up. Seriously though, if we aren't feeding him fast enough he cries until his next bite.

  

 Noah loves every minute of bath time and I love how he puts his arms up, lays back and just chills. Although I'm thinking its about time we upgrade him to the bath tub! He makes the sink look petite.

 Last weekend Noah was watched for the first time by a babysitter! I was a little nervous, but he slept the entire time we were gone so I really wasn't too worried. Dayne and I were able to enjoy a night at the rodeo. 

 I can't believe our little Noah is already 5 months! It just blows my mind. I'm sure every age milestone will probably sneak up on me. I still find myself in complete shock that he's actually OUR baby! I feel like any day now his parents are going to come pick him up (Haha on the longer days I actually find myself wishing that were true! No, I'm kidding. I don't want to be doing anything else but being his mommy).  Noah loves to babble, play with his toys, play with his toes, chew on anything he can get his hands on, and reach up to whoever is near him. He is a growing boy and I love him so much!

 

Family makes the best company

 We definitely did not slow down in July and August. This summer has been jam packed with family, friends, and festivities; Noah was a trooper throughout it all! We celebrated the 4th of July by going to Red Lodge Rodeo. We prepared for it to be a 100 degree day, instead it was cold and rainy. Needless to say, we didn't stay long. 

This little boy just keeps getting cuter and cuter!

Mom makes it a point to cook with each of her grand kids whenever they are together. Noah helped Grandma make snickerdoodle cookies for the BBQ after his blessing.

Noah likes hanging out with Grandma, literally, he likes hanging out in her pocket ;)

We went out to eat to Fuddruckers and Dayne couldn't resist getting the hats for him and Noah. They were hanging out like this on the couch for at least 15 minutes and Noah was laughing up a storm! They are the best of buds.

 Rachelle and her boys came into town and Noah had fun with them at the splash pad. I thought it would be cute if Kharter held Noah in the middle of this fountain thing. After all, it didn't look like you would get that wet. Boy was I wrong, Noah got soaked and he was not happy about it.

  Kharter and Maddox were great at spending time with Noah and he was loving every minute of it.

 Maddox was pretty good with Shell holding Noah, he was only a little jealous. She did pretty great at juggling both babes!

 

With all of the playing and running around with cousins, Noah was tuckered out.

Noah was blessed on August 7th by his daddy. In the circle was Grandpa Shaw, Grandpa Miller, Joe Drasso, Garrett Madril, Beau Shaw, Eric Nygard, and Josh Cook. Dayne did a wonderful job and the spirit was so strong. This little boy is precious in every way. He truly is a living miracle. And his smiles! Ugh they are the best! It's like there is just so much happiness in his little body that he doesn't know what to do except to grin with his entire face! I just love him!

This babe has already hit the greens with us. Grandma was nice enough to push him in the stroller while the rest of us played. There were a few holes where there were a lot of ducks. Well this one hole in particular the ducks followed Noah from the tee all the way along the fairway down to the hole. It was adorable.

 Noah has even gone to the drive in with us! We watched The Secret Life of Pets... and he was asleep by the time the previews started. The rest of us enjoyed ourselves! 

Noah continues to out smart his swaddles, he's getting just too strong! He's too tall so I thought I would leave his legs out of the pouch, but he's just too tough and wiggled the swaddle all the way up. Caught red-handed!

We ventured out to Pompey's Pillar this week! One of Lewis and Clark's stops along their journey. We didn't plan very well and went at the hottest part of the day, we were sweating bullets! Although it was informative and kind of neat, I don't think it outweighed the slight sunburns and mosquito bites.

Yesterday we went swimming at our friends house and Noah wasn't too sure what to think. Pretty sure he just sucked on his hands the entire time! Yummy. We also ended up borrowing a little girls hat for Noah, he still looks cute, right?

One thing that I said when we talked about our future family was that I didn't want our babes to slow us down or prevent us from going on our adventures (we were able have a lot of them while waiting for this little miracle to come into our lives). Well, little Noah has certainly been amazing about keeping up with us! And now thanks to Noah, our adventures are even more fun and memorable. Don't get me wrong, he has his moments where he is a stinker, but for the most part he is a pretty happy camper (although we'll find out if he really is a happy camper next year).

Feelin' the love

June was filled with a lot of excitement and we feel blessed to have Noah here with us, especially just in time to enjoy all the fun things that summer brings! Noah makes the sweetest noises while he sleeps (and therefore has been sleeping in his own room since we brought him home from the hospital so mama can get some sleep too!) he whimpers whenever he gets the hiccups and it is too dang cute. I also love how he holds my hand or shirt. He really is so dang cute! 

We had a lot of visitors this month and Noah had fun meeting all of them. We definitely are feeling loved. We are grateful for so many wonderful people in our lives that support and love us unconditionally. I just wish I was better at taking more pictures! This is Grandpa Shaw holding little Noah.

Jana and the boys came up to Montana on their way to Washington. The boys were so sweet with Noah, as soon as one wanted to hold him they all wanted to hold him. It was a mad dash to the bathroom to see who could wash their hands first in order to hold him. Noah was loving all of the attention! He has some pretty awesome cousins.

This picture is because he is so stinkin cute!

We of course had to cheer on Brasil in the COPA America.

He always wiggles into some pretty bizarre sleeping positions. Don't even ask how he got the pillow on top of his head, I still don't know.

 

Noah with my parents and his first baseball game. A foul ball was hit down the line so the 1st base coach was nice enough to give it to little Noah.

This month we also had to make a quick trip down to Utah to a funeral for Dayne's Grandpa. It was sad to have him gone, but it was nice to have a lot of the family together again. While we were down there we were able to meet up with one of my mission companions.

On our way back to Montana we stopped off so Noah could meet his Great Granny. You know your baby is getting big when he's too heavy and wiggling for Granny to hold!

I couldn't resist adding a post bath photo of this little cutie pie!

We had to get a picture of Noah's first time to church.

  

 Noah is definitely the happiest when he first wakes up. All you have to say is "Good Morning" and he's all smiles and coos! I love to wait to get him from his crib in the morning because he'll just lay there talking to himself for the longest time, it's adorable! I cannot get enough of his toothless grin and dimples.