Christmas

Noa had fun helping Uncle Tommy and I put lights up at YaYa's house.  Here at home, she climbed all the way up the ladder... she is such a dare-devil! 

We hope everyone had a nice Christmas!  Noa was very good about leaving the tree alone.  Grandma bought her an inflatable, light up, SpongeBob and we kept it next to the tree.  Along with SpongeBob, grandma has a Santa that moved it's arm back and forth... Noa learned to say "HoHoHo" for Santa and loved to help mom turn the switch on... seeing Santa and SpongeBob come to life was so exciting!

Of course she had no idea what to do with her presents, I said, "sit down, we open your presents" and sat on her present with a huge smile... she is just so darn cute!!  Mommy helped her open a baby stroller from our neighbor, Perky.

We tried to take a picture with Santa at the mall (he was the worst Santa ever... lets just say the mall wanted to show diversity amongst the Santas) but she wouldn't even sit with me next to her!  People from all over were talking about this Santa ... he sucked:-(

Santa Barbara Zoo

Uncle Tommy, Noa, and I went to the zoo.  Noa fed the giraffe, saw the elephants, gibbons, and flamingos.  Unfortunately, the train was closed but next time we will ride it! 

Halloween!

I'm a little behind in my posts but wanted to share a pic of Noa at Halloween.  She was going to be Spongebob but my sister and her kids dressed her up at a Kitty Cat and she looked super cute!  We went to YaYa's house to show her your constume and went trick-or-treating on her block.  Trick-or-treating was cut short since it was too difficult to get your stroller up and down the stairs and all houses in that area have stairs... sorry, but mommy didn't think of that.

It didn't take Noa long to realize there was candy in the orange pumpkin... "yum-yum!"

Plan of Action for Puke

I went to check on Princess Noa at about midnight... poor Monkey was sleeping in Puke.  It's probably my fault... she has been sleeping in my bed for about a week as she wasn't feeling well.  In preparation for going back to work, I decided that she was going to sleep in her bed last night, no matter how long she cried!  Unfortunately, I think she cried so hard until she puked but who knows?! 

I took her out of bed, put her in my bed, and she went back to sleep.  Her room was so stinky that I had to get laundry started... luckily we had enough soap for one load.  She puked again at 4 a.m. so now there are no beds left.  I figured there has to be a better way to deal with puke!  I googled 'how to clean-up after puking' and found the following idea:


Double sheet the beds. I never thought this would be something worth sharing, because I thought everyone knew it, but last year at a friend’s twin’s baby shower I discovered that almost none of my friends knew this trick. For quick and easy clean up of not just throw-up, but baby spit-up, wetting the bed, and poopy blow-outs, double sheets are imperative. You can get a messy crib ready for a fussy baby with one hand within 15 seconds. Please don’t think I’m speaking down to you when I explain exactly how this is done. Again, I wouldn’t do it if my dear friend and mother of three hadn’t said, “Double sheeting never works for me because the pee always goes through to the second sheet anyway.” Dear friends, you need TWO waterproof pads. This is key.

What a genius idea... thanks Kaite!  Ah, don't you just love the Internet?
Take a look at Katie's website: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/

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Green Poop?

After a few days of green poop I thought I had better do the research.  Blue food makes green poop!  She loves go-gurts and this box happens to be blueberry... the yogurt itself is blue.   How's that for the fun fact of the day! 

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Happy 16 months!

Happy 16 months, my big girl!  You are so smart!  You have already pee'd in the toilet once,  and pee'd beside the toilet 3 times... you aren't even using a baby toilet!  You love to brush your teeth!  You understand so much... you know where your 'beep-beep' (belly button) is because grandma taught you that, and you know where your ears are too. 
You watch and listen to nursery rhymes on the computer ... you say "baa baa" at the beginning of Baa Baa Black Sheep,  and you say "e-yai-o" to the ending of Old MacDonald.  Itsy Bitsy Spider is a song you love because mommy always tickles you during that song!
You aren't wanting me to rock you before bedtime... now you lay on mom's bed, watch tv, drink your milk and go to sleep in your crib.
You have 4 top teeth and two bottom teeth.  Chicken nuggests, mac-n-cheese, and go-gurts are your favorite foods, and you love "yum-yum" (milk).  Sometimes you hit mommy but then you show me "gentle hands" by lightly rubbing my skin.  You love to climb on the kitchen to chairs to sit on the table just like Katie does.  Auntie Jayme watches you while mommy is at work.  Just thinking about how much you've grown, and how much you are loved, brings tears to my eyes. 

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Costume Time

I'm ready for Halloween!  I think Im going to be SpongeBob but I don't know... I look pretty good in blue too!

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Moms Not Looking

Its true... when they're quiet they're up to something!  Here is a new box of tissue!   I just stuffed it all back in and continued to use it!  She had a good time!

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Home Sick

Both Noa and I stayed home on Friday.  Work has been so taxing ... staying home was the last thing I needed but I had no choice.  Noa was running a fever, had a runny nose etc... pretty sure it's teething.  She let the doctor take her temp., check her ears, listen to her lungs, oxygen level... only cried when she stuck the stick in her mouth to look at her throat.  She weighed 26lbs. 

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Mommy's Stressed Out!

I've had a major shift in classes at work and have been extremely stressed.  The only reason why I'm leaving work when I do, is become I have to pick Noa up at 5 p.m.  Thankfully we have a 3-day weekend so I can have a much needed break.
This picture makes me so happy!

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Quality Time

Watching SpongeBob with uncle Tommy!

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Heat Wave

It has been HOT in Oxnard ... in the high 70s! Noa loves to play in her pool.

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Tough Love

I think Noa's been manipulating me with this bedtime nonsense. She knows I don't let her cry, but I think she's taking advantage of it now.
Last night I picked her up a couple different times because she was crying. By the time I got her to bed it was ten. After talking to a few moms I decided I better try not to give in but damn it's so hard :( I came up with a plan so I wouldn't have to hear her cry. Tonight, I followed our normal routine of bottle and dvd, and put her in her crib with her blanket, another bottle, and her movie. Then I went in the bathroom, turned on the radio, and took a hot shower. I wasn't able to hear her cry, but I was hoping she'd be asleep by the time I was finished... and she was. I went in to check on her a couple of hours later and I found her bottle and blanket thrown on the floor ... it completely broke my heart. I know she threw them out in a fit of rage, cried herself to sleep, all without her blanket.
I love my baby so much ... but she is stubborn. I hope tomorrow night is better. Tough love sucks.

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Departing to Oregon

Uncle Tommy, mommy, and I are flying to Oregon today for a little vacation! We will be driving to Washington tonight to stay a few days there.

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Big Smiles

After Noa and I have returned from being out in the car, I have a routine of how I unlock the door, turn off the alarm, etc... before getting her out. Noa knows the routine and without a doubt, each time I look into the car as I'm getting her out I see a big smile. She is so cute!

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Noa Pukes, Mommy Pukes Too

Just as I was putting Noa to bed, she threw up all over herself, me, and the floor. This is only the second time she has thrown up like this, and I tried, I really tried not to throw up but I couldn't help it... I puked on the carpet too. Before I could even stop her, Katie was licking all the throw-up off the carpet... eew! Thankfully Grandma was able to help us.

I'm not sure why she threw up but it must have been something she ate. She did wake up about 1:30 a.m. crying, but I gave her a bottle and she went right back to sleep.

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Garage Sales

Yeah found a great find at a garage sale today... sand/water table w/ lid for $8! I hope Noa is frugal with her money too!

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Toy Heaven

Uncle Tommy found this bus at the thrift for .99 cents. This bus played Wheels On The Bus loud and clear... it was such a good buy! Of course it got on all of our nerves but watching Noa push the button and move to the music melted our hearts... in the end we all loved the bus.

The bus starting playing music all on it's own today... wasn't a good sign. Next thing I knew, Noa was pushing the button over and over and nothing. The bus was silent. Noa and I changed the batteries but the bus didn't come back to life.

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Naps

My monkey will not take a nap in her crib. Rita has an electric swing that she naps in when she's there... she sleeps for 2 hrs. I found this great swing at a park so I took her to swing and afterwards she crashed in the car.

Until I find an electric swing we will continue to nap in the car, its what works... even if gas is $3.85 a gal.

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Visiting Marina

Uncle Tommy took me for a walk near the marina today and I saw the boats and a dog. I love Uncle Tommy.

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Happy First Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter... mommy loves you so much! You are such a good baby and I've enjoyed watching you grow. You had two personal cakes today, one from Brian, and one from Perky. We all sang Happy Birthday to you but you got scared... and wanted me to hold you.

Brian bought u a pair of Nike's and grandma's friend, Liz, bought you a sterling silver spoon and fork with an 'S' engraved on each.

You will have your birthday party at YaYa's house in about a week.

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Beginning to Walk

Last weekend my cousin, Karen, was visiting from Arizona. She saw Noa take a couple of steps and didn't think anything of it because she didn't realize Noa wasn't walking yet. She took a couple of steps towards me today so she is definitely headed in the right direction... such an exciting time.

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Bedtime Babble

I've broken all the rules and put a t.v. in Noa's room. Her bedtime routine was getting tricky so my mom thought it might help and it seems to have helped. Right now I can hear her through the monitor, she is babbling away and it's one of those moments that I know I'll miss.

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No More Formula

My pretty princess is on milk now... I've started her on organic but I'm not going to be a fanatic over it. It'll be interesting to hear the doctors take on it. She isn't taking a sippy cup yet so I'm still washing 5 parts to every bottle but that's ok... in her own time.

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Playing Dress-up

Noa loves to play throw beads around
... it's something fun to do with mom!

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Sundae

I love spending time with uncle Tommy... we're having lunch with mom at Pizza Kitchen.

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Who Broke The Cookie Jar?

There's no denying Noa broke the cookie jar, and stole one of Katie's cookies!

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Rainforest Visit

Noa and I walked through the rainforest last weekend and looked at all the plants... she doesn't really know it's Green Thumb Nursery.

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Uncle Keith is Visiting

My uncle Keith was visiting from Arizona and we are always so happy to see him... Noa warmed up to him and he got to hold her long enough for me to take a few pictures.

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Noa Stands!

Noa can pull herself up to a standing position while holding onto her activity center! The activity center has a steering wheel in the middle - a great place to hold Cheerios... as long as Katie doesn't get them.

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Happy Ten Months!

Noa turned ten months last weekend! She has just started to stand up while holding on to furniture. She is eating Cheerios, when I saw that I felt like she went from a baby to a kid. We can't go anywhere without people commenting on her chubby cheeks and gorgeous blue eyes.

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Easter Bunny

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Happy Easter

Cousin Jen is in town for Easter with girls, Megan and Lauren. We are getting together at YaYa's house for dinner and an egg hunt. Noa loves playing with plastic eggs and attempts to 'crack' them on the floor. Jean sent her a lottery scratcher... that was fun! Of course if she won we'd put it straight in her bank account! I love my little Easter Bunny!

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Mommy and Me Day in Santa Barbara

Noa and I had such a special day today.  Our friends, Rachel, Sarah, and Emily invited us to Putnee's Music Class and we had such a wonderful time singing songs and meeting many new friends.  After we went to lunch and Noa had seared ahi tuna and avocado for the first time... she loved it!  Then, we went to Nordstrom's for a diaper change... of course, that was her first, and last, time in Nordstrom's... everyone knows I'm not a shopper. 

The music class was super fun and interactive, and for $7, it's something we will continue to do over the summer. 

Book Review

I read Jenny McCarthy's book, Baby Laughs... she talks about the first year of mommyhood and it's meant to be funny. It was a mindless read, nothing of intellectual value... the kind of book you can put down and pick up from anywhere. Good thing I don't believe in buying new books.

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Noa's Crawling!

Noa is crawling! Look at the video my sister took!

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Happy 9 mo. Birthday!

My sweet Noa turned 9 mo. this week. She still has the same tiny tooth, she can sit up, but is not yet crawling, and she says, "a-da." For months, she has been glued to SpongeBob Squarepants and Baby Einstein's, Baby Beethoven video... thank goodness Cousin Tommy and family bought her a SpongeBob video!

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Sitting Up In Crib

Noa was sitting up in her crib this morning when Grandma and I went to say good morning. I noticed the other day she was able to get from her tummy into a sitting position by pushing up on her arms. She is so smiley in the mornings... it's such a special time to peek in her room and wait for her to see me:)

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Breakfast In Bed

Noa's having breakfast in mommy's bed this morning... she's such a big girl, I just love her so much!

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Finally... Noa's Tiny Tooth Arrives

Jayme called to tell me Noa's tooth had broke through and just that morning I hadn't felt anything. I was such a proud mom, I had the biggest smile on my face and a tear or two of joy! All u see is a little white line along her gumline, and you feel a little tiny top of a tooth. There were no "obvious signs of teething" so thankfully my sister noticed her first tiny tooth. She is almost 8.5 months old.

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Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I had Noa's ears pierced for Valentine's Day. I bought her a See's sucker thinking it would distract her but she was way too smart for that... she screamed for just a second and then she was fine. I did feel bad though, perhaps I should have let her make the decision. She is wearing little purple daisies in her ears.

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Under The Weather

Noa's been under the weather all weekend with a cold. She's sneezing, has a runny nose, and a bad cough... at times she coughs so hard she throws up. Thank goodness Grandma does all our laundry!

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Camp Indigo Fieldtrip

At doctor appt. with Cousin Tommy...

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No More Baby Swing

Noa was just too big for her infant swing so I had to pass it on. It made me sad to get rid of it but I bought her a new one for older kids! Uncle Steve has it and he pushes her when he comes home from work.

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Merry Christmas

Noa had a great first Christmas though she slept through most of it! I was excited to open all her toys and touched by all the friends and family that thought of her. She got Sophie the giraffe which is the hottest (most overpriced) teething toy out, a super cool ball that encourages infants to crawl... it lights up, rolls, and plays music. My sister bought her a book about tractors which is what our dad worked on... that was a special gift.

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