ETHAN'S ROOM

MORE MONKEY PICTURES.

Doin' a lil' monkey dance or something.

CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL

He loves the bounce house.

And he's done.

THE CUTEST MONKEY EVER!

Noah's halloween costume

I don't think I've ever laughed so hard as I did when I put this on him. It was just so funny to watch him moving around in it and going about his business like nothing was different.

When I went to get the monkey costume of course I couldn't find it, so the only thing I could find in his size was the duck. It was cute too, but I really wanted the monkey. I went to several different Targets before I finally found it.

WALDEN FARM PUMPKIN PATCH

I apologize for being such a slacker lately. I realize it's been awhile since I've posted anything, but hopefully this will make up for it. Today we made it to the pumpkin patch and it was a perfect fall day for it. The Walden Farm is really popular around Nashville. They have all kinds of things like a petting farm, corn mazes for kids and adults, hayrides and all kinds of food. Noah was a bit crabby for awhile, but then he really seemed to enjoy it.

And he's off! Mr. Independent.

And now he's not happy. A good nap makes a world of difference.

Noah wasn't really cooperating at this point.

Oooo...lots of tractors! He actually tried to sneak off with one.

Checking out the calf...

...the sheep...

...the bunny...

...the pig...

...and the goat.

Oh boy! Look at the size of this wheel.

He was even making the sounds as he was steering.

Group photo with Mike and Tristan.

Checking out the corn maze.

Old time water pumps.

Going on his first hay ride.

Warning: Do not leave child unattended!

I had just finished shredding up a bunch of papers and dumped it in the trash. I left Noah alone for a few minutes and could hear him getting into something. I followed the sound of trouble and found confetti all over my kitchen.

The lil' stinker thought it was hillarious.

I couldn't even get on to him. I just laughed and ran to get the camera.

Play Date at Monkey's Treehouse

Shoveling some tire bits into his wheel barrel. He did this for awhile and then starting shoveling the stuff outside of the sand box all over the carpet.

He and Benny loved the ball pit.

My friend Amanda (Benny's mom) spinning them round and round.

Apparently he likes to grocery shop. He played with the buggy for the majority of the time.

Support for a great ministry

Recently my girls Bible study group hosted a "baby shower" for the Hope Clinic here in Nashville. We all brought gifts to donate to the clinic and the CEO came to the shower to tell us all about their ministry. They help pregnant women who feel they have no where else to turn to. I was really impressed with their program and the way they help them. It's a lot of counseling of course, but they offer a variety of classes for the mothers like basic parenting skills and even Bible studies.

Our Sunday school really wants to get involved with them by volunteering at the clinic and raising money for them. They are hosting a 5k Run for Life race on September 26th. Our Sunday school has put a team together to represent our church and Josh is going to be participating. I would really like to be a part of it as well, but don't think that is best considering my condition.

So if you feel led to contribute towards this ministry then you can sponsor Josh in this race. All you have to do is click on the link below and it will take you directly to Josh's page. Simply click on "Sponsor Me Now" and you can donate online. We appreciate it. http://www.firstgiving.com/joshualafave

Oh boy!

Every Sunday after church service is over, Noah immediately heads for the stage and all the instruments. He particularly likes the drums. Uncle Jeffrey you would be so proud. He looks like a pro already.

I think I have the world's pickiest eater as my child. It has been so frustrating trying to transition from baby food to toddler food. I have found very little that he will actually eat. Forget the fruits and veggies. Apparently he has texture issues. Anything wet and slimy he won't eat, he just plays with or throws it across the room. Although, we did have a break through yesterday. He ate several blueberries!! Yay!! Anyways, I tried a new one with him today. Pasta pick-ups. Ravioli or something. He started off pretty good and I got all excited. I left the room for a few minutes and came back to see what kind of progress he had made. At first I saw that his tray was cleared off and thought he ate every last bite, then I looked in his lap and saw the mess.

If anyone has any advice on how to get him to eat healthy things like fruits and veggies, let me have it.

Sweet Vacation

Josh and I just got back from our first trip to Destin, FL. We decided to take one last trip by ourselves before Ethan comes along and things get really hectic. We had such a great time and absolutely loved Destin. It's a great family beach with lots of things for kids to do. Noah stayed home with Oma and Aunt Ashli (Josh's mom and sister) and I don't think he really missed us all that much. I know I missed him terribly. Every little boy I would see I would be like "Ahhh...I miss by baby". We hope to make it a regular family trip from now on. I think Noah would love it.

We definitely got spoiled with all of the amazing food and even had great weather. It was only in the mid-high 80's and very little humidity. Not normal for FL. It was hardly crowded and we had a lot of beach area all to ourselves. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

Me and my big o belly at 26 weeks.

Ahhhh.....doing absolutely nothing!

Josh dug a hole in the sand for my belly so I could lay on my stomach.

It was quite comfy.

HarborWalk Village. I love this place. Lots of great restaurants, shops and live music right on the bay.

Harry T's. Great food and great atmosphere.

While having dinner at Harry T's, some old World War II planes put on a show followed by fireworks off the bay area. We could watch all of this from our table.

These are fried green tomatoes with crab meat and creole sauce on top. They were oh so good.

Our last night at Pat O'Brien's restaurant. It was a Louisiana style restaurant with Beignets (a famous New Orleans dessert) and gumbo and everything else.

Looking down HarborWalk Village from our table.

My Baby Is Graduating

Today was Noah's last day in the babies class at our Mother's Day Out and will be moving up with 4 of his friends to the 1yr old class. He started out in the babies at 3 months old. I can't believe he's a big boy now. This is one of his girlfriends Maddie. She is a total instigator and going to get Noah in so much trouble I'm sure.

4 of 5 of them. Evan, Lilly, Noah and Maddie. Their new teachers are in for it with these guys. They're trouble together.

This is Noah's 1st love, Lilly. As you can see he is a flirt. His teachers use to tell me stories about how they were in love. They would take stroller rides together and share the same seat. One day they decided to go steady because they traded pacis.

Lilly is such a sweet heart. I think I'm okay if he wanted to marry her.

He played so hard and didn't take a nap all day until we got in the car.

Monday nights are boys night so I can go to a girls bible study. I guess Josh was getting Noah ready for bed and this is what happened.

He was watching some neighborhood kids playing outside.

Shoe Fetish

Lately Noah has been obsessed with putting our shoes on and trying to walk around the house in them. Don't worry he doesn't just go for the girl shoes, he puts daddy's on too. Mine are just smaller and not as heavy.

A day at the zoo.

Watching the giraffes from afar.

He liked the meerkats.

Our attempt to get a picture of Noah, Emma and Benny.

Close enough.

The lazy cougar.

Petting a few goats.

Noah chasing Benny.

Noah and Benny playing peek-a-boo with the shade on the stroller.

22 Weeks and Growing Fast

At 11 inches and almost 1 pound, our baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside the womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

My Baby Bump

20 Weeks. Half way there!

Our trip to TX for the 4th of July

Here are just a few photos from our time in TX. We had a great time with family and eating lots of great food. Noah got all kinds of attention and got to meet lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mom and I went to the mall to do a little shopping and they had a huge playground that we had to try out with Noah. He had a blast climbing up and down and through things. He always seems to make friends everywhere he goes because a couple of little girls and boys kept following him around. I finally had to tell them to stop touching him and to back off. Who knows what kind of germs he picked up.

Noni

Hanging out with Popi at the airport before we went back home.

Pool Time

Dad, Josh and Jeff having water gun wars.

He could float all by himself.

My dad has the Caddy Shack gofer that sings and dances. Noah absolutely loved it.

Noah got to meet cousins Abby & Carter.

And some more cousins Ally, Emma & Aiden.

Fireworks at the Woodlands

A rare family photo of the 3 of us.

Uncle Jeffrey, Popi & Noni

Not quite sure what to think about the fireworks yet.

Oooooh....

Yeah, I like 'em.

Happy 4th of July!!!

My lil' patriotic boy!

Not only was it 4th of July but also his 16 mo. b-day.

Watching Noni put up some festive decorations.

Surprise!!!

Well to our surprise (mine anyways) we found out today we are having another boy!!! All along I just knew it was going to be a girl because of these different tests you can do. They worked on Noah, but this time they were wrong. It's slowly sinking in and I'm realizing that I'm going to have double the trouble now. I love that Noah will have a buddy so close in age (20 mo. apart). Most importantly, the doctor says he looks perfect and healthy.

Just Because

We were hanging out on the front porch and watching Sophie.

Checking himself out in the door.

Discovering his laugh.

This is his latest thing, cracking himself up.

17 Weeks and Counting

Our baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Our baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

15 Weeks

Here's what this weeks update says: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam.

Church Preschool Picnic

I love this picture.

The slide was really hot so Josh was a good sport and burned his butt instead of Noah's.

Josh said Noah looked like a girl with this hat, but I thought he was adorable.

I think he is going to be a sports lover.

It's hot! Gimme some water man.

After the picnic, we came home and tried out his new pool.

Of course I "had" to get in and play too. If you look closely, you can see my "bump".

2nd Trimester

I get weekly emails from a web site that lets me know how the baby is developing and what's going on. Here's what it says for this week:

I am now 14 weeks and officially in the 2nd trimester. Our baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck her thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, her facial muscles are getting a workout as her tiny features form one expression after another. Her kidneys are producing urine, which she releases into the amniotic fluid around her — a process she'll keep up until birth. From head to bottom, she measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and she weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

Noah's new game

Noah randomly started this new game. He loves to through himself backwards whether on the ground or on top of Daddy, which of course is his favorite. He will do it for as long as Josh lets him. My camera ran out of space and so you will only catch a few seconds of it.

Steve and Rhonda came down from MI for a quick visit over Memorial weekend.

Here Grampa! Someone is on the phone for you.

It's hard to read a book to Noah because he wants to tell the story and turn the pages himself.

Hanging out with the guys while they were grilling out.

Granma & Grampa LaFave

Our church had a Memorial Day picnic and had a couple of bouncy houses for the kids. Once most of the kids cleared out of there, Noah and I tried it out for ourselves. He loved it!

Oh boy!

Ummm...I think girls are suppose to be icky, but I kind of like her. I know she likes me, but what girl doesn't?

What trouble. He loves getting into my kitchen drawers and pulling everything out.

Trying to look all innocent.

Peek-a-boo!

Carrots?!?! Yuck! We tried out a new dinner that had chunks of carrots and he did not care for them. Every time he would spit them out and try to put them back in the jar where they came from.

He can finally use his mower the correct way instead of sitting on the floor while pushing it back and forth. It's so much better this way.

Well here we go again!

Some of you may have been hearing rumors that I have another bun in the oven. I can now confirm that this is true. We went to our first Dr. visit on Friday and got to see our little bun on the sonogram. "She", as we are already calling it, was very active and squirming about the whole time. Looks like we will have another busy one on our hands. The doctor said everything looks great. I am 10 weeks and due on November 26th, Thanksgiving day. We already know that I will be having a c-section again due to my last attempt at delivery. My doctors exact words were "you're a crappy candidate to try and have a natural delivery". I said "gee thanks". Apparently God chose not to give me child-bearing hips. Anyways, we will most likely be taking the baby a week before the due date. I really don't want hospital food for my Thanksgiving dinner.

So here is the first picture of the baby. I know some of you may look at this and say what the heck am I looking at. Her head is in the right bottom corner looking towards the feet. Her little hand is up to her mouth and you can kind of make out her legs and feet. The live sonogram was so much more clear. We could see all 10 little toes. Even though we've experienced this once before, it still amazes me how God forms this tiny human in my belly. I don't really care for the nausea, tiredness or the aches and pains that come later, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

More daddy!