Sarah's Saga

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!! 1-17-09

Okay, okay it's been too long!! I know and am sorry, but this little sweet baby is just so time consuming!! Haha! So I'll give a quick update and move right along to some photos to cover the highlights of the past 2 months since I've last posted on my blog... WOW a whole 2 months!

Nate is 7 1/2 months old, has two bottom teeth and is cutting his upper tooth. He has started saying "momma" and "dada", he waves hello (see video below!!), he passes out kisses and is a super happy baby! He just started with passing out kisses, but it is by far the sweetest thing ever when he opens wide and plants his little mouth on my cheek and goes "mmmmmm" while giving out sugars (that's what we call kisses). He moved to the big boy car seat (it's a convertible that sits up- not a baby bucket anymore), sits in the highchair at resturants, eats all sorts of veggies, fruits, and meat pureed meals along with the bite sized puffs. He sits in the shopping cart while momma shops. He plays with Prissy, months ago he didn't even know she was in the house. And he absolutely LOVES bathtime!! He splashes and splashes and could stay in the water all day long! He also does this little dance when his toys play music... it's the best ever to see him wiggle up and down and bounce when the music plays!!! LOVE it!!

So here are some photos...

NOVEMBER 2008:

Nate in his old baby car seat (the baby bucket) ready to go out... of course with his dinner close by in hand!!

Happy boy, Nate in his sweet little sweater outfit that Mommy loved till it came apart in the wash... opps it was supposed to be hand washed... oh well:

Uncle Sam feeding Nate his Thanksgiving day breakfast bottle:

Nate's thanksgiving nap:

Nate wearing daddy's badge:

Nate watching his 1st football game, Uncle Sam is #76:

Nate cheering for Uncle Sam with his Poppy's hat on:

Daddy's holding Nate at Uncle Sam's Football game:

DECEMBER 2008:

Nate posing with Santa, just some Christmas decor around the house momma was trying out as props for the Christmas card photo, this didn't get chosen - but you already know that from the card we send you... haha:

Nate enjoying Christmas time while mommy wrapped more presents:

Nate posing for some Christmas photos:

Nate opening some of his gifts:

Nate wanting to take a nap and get back to opening gifts in round 2:

Uncle Sam & Great Paw-Paw playing with the Guitar Hero guitars:

JANUARY 2009:

Nate's first boat show:

Nate & daddy at the water gardens:

Nate wearing his pants on his head... way to go daddy:

Mommy put some baby lotion in Nate's hair and made it stick up!!! HAHA :) we loved it:

Oh, did I mention that I had to have a root canal the very first of January?? It was horrible but I snapped some pics of me in the dentist's chair with my cell phone to show Chad... so don't look at how horibble I look this day, I was miserable in pain!!

VIDEOS:

Nate waving hi to daddy:

Nate squealing in between bites, then going "mmmm" once the food gets in his mouth... he does this all the time, it used to be cute...

Her heart gave life!! November 12, 2008

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Her heart gave another life for over 9 years! As many of you know Chad's sister was killed in the line of duty, well she donated her life giving organs to others. Specifically she gave her heart to Joyce. Joyce has had Tiffany's heart for over 9 years. I had the pleasure of meeting Joyce in person, May 2007, on the annual Tiffany Memorial Trip. Joyce was such a sweet lady, and it made me happy to know Tiffany's heart went to someone so wonderful. Joyce repeatedly said during our meeting how she was so thankful to have life because of her new heart she got from Tiffany. Joyce was so kind in that she let my in-laws, Chad and I listen to Tiffany's heart beating in her chest with a pair of stethoscopes!! I still remember the absolutely AMAZING moment I heard the thump-thump, thump-thump of Tiffany's heart beating away keeping Joyce alive and giving her life. I was so overcome with emotion I just cried & cried, it was such a moving moment. I really appreciate Joyce's kindness and allowing me to hear Tiffany's heart, it is a moment that will be with me forever!

Here's Tiffany:

Tiffany in her uniform:

Chad and I learned the news this week that Joyce passed away, she died due to other medical issues, but as her body died and she was gone, her heart kept pumping and was still beating!! What an amazing incredible symbol!! Tiffany's heart was such a healthy young beautiful heart that even as Joyce passed away Tiffany's heart kept on going! If you had the pleasure of knowing Tiffany or know about her, you know she was an INCREDIBLE person, so full of joy and so wonderful you couldn't help but be drawn to her and be blessed by her!! Even after Tiffany's life here on earth was over (cause she is alive and well in heaven now with our Savior) she continued to bless and change people's lives. Joyce was one of those lives changed by Tiffany!

My in-laws, Chad & I with Joyce, back in 2007 when we met her:

Chad listening to Tiffany's heart in Joyce:

Chad's mom listening to Tiffany's heart in Joyce:

Chad's dad listening to Tiffany's heart in Joyce:

Michael presented Joyce with one of the shirts from the memorial trip that year along with some other stuff, Joyce was so happy to have gotten these things:

Here's the back of the shirt that was given to Joyce:

Please keep my in-laws and Chad in your prayers as they experience new emotions that result from Joyce's death and the uniqueness of Tiffany's heart that gave Joyce life no longer being there. Also, as they travel out of town this week for Joyce's funeral please keep them in your prayers.

November 1st 2008

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So, I decided I am going to write a book... okay no... but at least a list. I will title it, 'Things I never thought I'd ever have to say' and the reason I have to say these things that are on my list is because I have a husband and a son.

Today as I was at work my husband calls me to fill me on the things he and Nate have been up to since I have been at work, he does this everyday. Today daddy had to sucker out some boogers from Nate's nose with the booger bulb sucker thingy - you know the one the hospital gives you when your baby is born. Well, daddy goes on to say they were too dry so he did the whole saline thing with Nate's nose which caused Nate to sneeze and therefore the huge snotty boogers came loose and flew out when he sneezed. First of all - GROSS!!! Secondly, daddy tells me he is saving the boogers for me to see the size of them, and I respond "No, don't save me any boogers" I think to myself I sure hope no one overheard my end of the conversation since I didn't think it'd make much sense for someone to overhear one saying not to save them any boogers. It was then that I decided I will keep a list, and I am sure it will take years to complete but I will add to it as I have to say things I never thought I'd ever say.

Speaking of saying things, Chad and I have heard Nate say some things... okay we know he really isn't talking but we could have swore he said, "hi" the other day, it seemed so clear and happy he was just a gibbering away with "oooo ya gunn goo aaahhhh bbliihhhth aaaa goo" when all of the sudden he takes a deep breath sighs then says, "hi" well it was more like "hiiiiiiiiiiiii" as he loves to drag out his words/sounds as long as possible before needing to take another breath. Anyway, another night I was putting him to bed and I always say, "mommy loves you, night-night" and with out skipping a beat he says, "nuh nuh" again not really thinking he did say his first words as I think he is too young but he is for sure testing out and practicing what to do, but he very clearly made two N sounds one right after the other just as I was telling him night-night... so who knows maybe we do have a genius on our hands here!

Alright, on to the good stuff - photos! Of course it was Nate's 1st Halloween, so we dressed him up and made a surprise stop at Nate's great grandparents to trick-or-treat. They were so surprised that we showed up, they had no clue we were coming! They were so excited about how adorable he was that we went down the street to John the Barber's house to show him and his family and to trick-or-treat at their place... just a side note here John the Barber has cut my daddy's hair since he was a little fellow, cut my brothers hair since he was a little fellow and also cut my Paw-Paw's hair for years and years and years. We also went to a few other houses on their street to show off Nate. We then hopped in the car and went to trick-or-treat at Chad's parent's house and to show them their little grandson all dressed up.

We ended up just buying Nathan's costume from the store but I really wanted to make him one, since that was a tradition my sister and I did growing up. We were so creative and came up with such fun sweet costumes, well more so my parents were creative and helped us make the costumes our selves, but I had a brain block and could not think of anything I wanted to make Nate into... well, no fear cause I finally had a GREAT idea - but it was too late to do this year, so I will keep it a secret until next year and do the whole great idea next Halloween.

Nate making his surprise trip to his great grandparents:

They LOVED it:

Nate snuggling into his Great Paw-Paw:

Still snuggling and getting ready to see their neighbors:

On our way to John the Barber's House to trick-or-treat:

Next great grandparents neighbors home:

Nate and his Great Paw-Paw posing in front of another neighbors of theirs:

On the way home we passed a Classic Car Show, Chad wanted to stop by since he is a huge car fanatic... so Nate had his 1st Classic Car Show on Halloween. It was pretty cool, each car had candy for kiddos to stop by and trick-or-treat at and they had really fun Halloween music playing, like the "Monster Mash":

Just a cute pic of Nate in his "This IS my costume" Halloween shirt:

Mommy just loves this ROCK shirt:

Nate swinging, he kicks the lap thing up now and plays with his feet up in the air while swinging (don't you just love his house shoes??!?!?!!!)

Here's a sweet video of Nate smiling with momma, we were in the car waiting on daddy and he was laughing out loud every time I said, "whoopsy" - but of course AS USUAL when I get the camera out he stops... but he did still humor me with some smiles - just not the full laughs he had just been chuckling out just prior:

Video of Nate talking to momma - I promise he is not always in his car seat, that's just when I tend to have my hands free for the camera and we are sitting still, so I can actually catch these precious moments, but this is a cute video of him just chatting away to mom:

We've been busy... but lots of fun! 10-14-08

11:12 AM Edit This 2 Comments »

We have been very busy these past few weeks, but its all been great! We found out at Nathan's 4 month appt that I was right, he is 16lbs .05oz so daddy was weigh off (haha way off)! He has grown to 24.5 inches!! Doc said he is right on track with all the developmental milestones and is doing super continuing to grow and learn! He did get another round of shots, poor baby! We stay amazed at his preciousness... if that's even a word.

At his 4 month appt the Pedi said we should start him on rice cereal since he is showing all the signs that he is ready for solids. So, mommy got him stripped down to his diaper and placed him in his high chair then let the fun begin! He was so cute, most of, it not all of the rice cereal came squishing right back out of his mouth and all over his hands and face, which then went all over his little body. He felt the need to smear it all over and under his high chair tray. He studied the spoon and liked to chew on it. I made the mistake of tasting the cereal to see what my baby was enjoying... ewww with a big ole EWWW GROSS!!! I almost gagged - baby rice cereal is icky, sorry Nate!

Here he is trying his 1st rice ceral meal ever! Now, since he's had about 2wks of practice he is doing really well with learning how to eat... now some of it actually goes down instead of out... that is out of his mouth and all over everything. Here he is getting ready to try the food:

Here he is mid meal eating away:

Well, at least he likes the spoon, more eating:

Here's a sweet video of his 1st meal:

So we went to the State Fair for the 1st time for each of us, Chad, Nate and I had never been to the State Fair before. We had fun and it will be even more fun when Nathan knows what is going on... haha! We went on a Thursday, that's a normal day off for us and we thought that it wouldn't be too busy, well it turns out it was "Senior Citizen Day" which meant anyone over 60 got in free... I love my elders and enjoy them, but who knew the area had so many senior citizens... the place was crawling with tons of them! Way to go! I was actually motivated by them all out and about doing something fun and young at heart!

We went to the auto show, which satisfied daddy's wishes. We went to the dancing dog show and that satisfied mommy's wishes, and we pushed Nathan all over the place and he loved it all. He was so well behaved and was just a perfect little man, no complaints at all and made the outing so fun! I had heard about all the fried goodies, and was apprehensive, but if everyone loves the fried stuff so much, why not try it out, right? It was after all my 1st ever visit to the State Fair. I had heard a bunch about fried Oreos and fried snickers candy bars, but couldn't find either. So, what my choices were included fried cheesecake, fried s'mores, fried chocolate chip cookie dough, fried chocolate truffles, fried banana split, fried Jelly Belly Beans, fried chocolate covered strawberry balls, fried apple pie, fried honey buns, fried cake on a stick, and fried snowball (cupcake)... okay I know what you are thinking... super gross!! Well, that's what I thought too, but I picked one and went with it. I tried the fried chocolate chip cookie dough... OH MY... people, this was a delicious mouth watering super yummy dessert, unfortunately I was sick to my stomach before finishing it and was having a super rich sugar rush... I could actually hear my arteries clogging... ok no on the last one, but I was sick. BUT it was delicious and a fun once in a lifetime 1st experience.

Posing for some pics:

We are clowns:

Okay, Nate's done:

Waiting for the Daredevil show to begin... ended up being too loud, too hot and no seats so we left:

Daddy wearing Nate at the fair:

Here we are at the car show, daddy's favorite. He was wearing Nate, and if you can see he was also pushing the stroller, what a great daddy - he does it all!

Look at all those blue eyes... Nate's are still blue at this point!!!! Daddy still wearing Nate at the car show:

Here Nate is waiting on mom's BFF, Heather, to come over. It was Heather's 1st time to see Nate in person since she lives so far away :(

Heather and Nate hit it off, right away and love each other:

Heather playing with Nate:

We met up with our other Bestie, Amy! Nathan was just a doll, he let us have a girl night with him tagging along, he watched us eat Mexican food and then go to Starbucks for more chatting. Nathan can't wait for Amy's baby to be born, she is carrying baby Ethan in her tummy... ok more like I can't wait for Amy to have Ethan!!!! Only a few more months to go!

Nate eyeing Amy's coffee:

We went to Nate's great-grandparents house for a visit! Here he is with Great Nee-Nee:

How many great-grandparents does it take to put Nate's socks on... hahaha:

Here we are, mommy & daddy:

Paw-Paw had the touch and rocked Nate to sleep... in the same rocking chair and spot he put me to sleep in... those same arms rocked mommy to sleep too Nate, enjoy!!