Sink Bath

He's not so sure about this post-blowout rinse off.

Chilling with Dad

He's just so cute. SOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE!

The Elusive Smile

Noah has been smiling for a few weeks now, but I cannot seem to catch it with the camera.  I either miss the smile or it's blurry or the lighting is wrong, blah blah blah.  Here are a few more attempts:

Goodbye to Dear Friends

Alan and Sam met during medical school.  They were two of the few married-with-kids-med-students in their class.  We got together for dinner one night.  Ella and Nate are only six months apart in age; they got along wonderfully.  Nate and Ella have been friends since they were two years old.  I think that Ella has been to every one of Nate's birthday parties since he turned three.  Ella says that Nate is her best friend.  Nate says that he is going to marry Ella.  

Rachel has been my absolute sanity through medical school and residency.  I can't even start to explain what it's like to have somebody living the same nightmare experience as I've had.  She was the one I called at 7PM when my husband wasn't home and hadn't called.  She was the one I called when Alan was doing 30 hours shifts every 3 days.  We have both been through serious medical issues during these years.  We've been SAHMs and wives to doctors.  We've done sleepovers and playdates and camping trips.  And then, after going through the last 6 years together, we ended up being due just days apart with our third babies, so we got to experience that together as well.  These are good people, good friends.  And now Sam has finished his FP residency (HURRAY!) so they are moving.  We went to the Memorial Union for ice cream last week to say goodbye.  We're already planning visits, though, so I'm hoping it's not goodbye, but just see you later.  I can't even start to express how much I'm going to miss these guys.

Playtime

Noah has started to enjoy time on his play mat.  He doesn't do the freak out-startle response every time he is unswaddled on the floor.  He likes to smile lots and is doing the excited-happy-leg kicking that I find so stinkin' cute.  Love this boy.

Still trying to get the smile.

Noah at 6 Weeks

So I'm obviously behind in posting.  Here are a couple of photos from Noah at 6 weeks, even though he'll be 8 weeks on Tuesday.

This photo shoot was a bit disastrous.  Noah's much more alert now and much less happy to let me pose him and spend lots of time shooting pictures.  Plus he pooped on the blanket...

Here are the less than fantastic shots:

So close to catching that smile

This looks ridiculous.  I know.

Come on, Mom. Seriously?

Kickball

This is summer to me--Friends meeting at the park on a Friday night to play some kickball. It reminds me of my childhood. These are mostly kids from Nate's soccer team, plus siblings and parents. We play kids vs. adults, though the kids get up to 12 outs per inning... Kickball is a fantastic way to learn the rules of baseball without having the actual skills to play it. It also gives the kids some practice on their soccer skills. 

Nate is such a rockstar.

They spent most of their time waiting to bat climbing as high as they could.

She's a serious heckler.

The Sweetest Thing

I asked Nate to hold Noah so that I could get ready to go to a kickball game last Friday night. Once I got the diaper bag packed and put on a shirt without baby puke all over the front, I walked into the living room to find this:

I also heard Nate speaking sweetly Noah. He told him, "I love you, little buddy. I love you, Noah." My heart just melted. That was probably one of the best moments of my entire life.

I love how Abbie's arm is around Nate and Noah.

Hard Day

Sometimes things are really hard.  Sometimes I just want to go back to bed.  Today is that day.  It started badly (after very little sleep) and I can't seem to make it better.  I knew we needed to get out of the house.  I got us all up, fed, dressed and out the door by 9:30.  Then Noah puked in his car seat, all over his outfit.  He cried all the way to the mall.  I changed his diaper and his clothes in the car.  Then the car seat wouldn't lock into the stroller.  Finally got that done, but Noah was unhappy.  He cried through the mall.  He finally settled down, but then it was time to go home.  Abbie was mad that she didn't get new shoes for church.  My back is killing me.  KILLING ME.  Got home in time to get ready for swimming, but the kids needed a snack.  Abbie threw a fit about wanting Cheetos (What?!).  Then she threw another fit because I found her standing on the kitchen counter and told her she couldn't do that.  I told them we all needed a time out.  She slammed her chair against the closet, so I went in to make sure she was okay.  She screamed at me.  Now I'm crying, she's crying and Nate is stuck in the living room, probably wondering why he has to live here.  And it's not even 11:30.  I can't win today.  I just can't win.

Better Baths

I discovered, by accident actually, that Noah is very happy in his bath with a blanket.  He is not happy (screaming) without that blanket.  See below:

I made this wonderful realization after Noah peed in his towel immediately after getting out of his bath. So I just dropped him back in the tub, still wrapped in his (pee-soaked) towel. To my surprise, he was nice and calm! So now this is how Noah bathes. This is how we bathed Nate in the NICU so that he wouldn't get too cold--I only wish we would have done this earlier for Noah.

I had planned on writing a nice long post, but since Noah has already started his evening nursing marathon and I have to type one-handed, I'll just comment on the apparent chub that's becoming visible on this boy. He now weighs over 10 pounds and his cheeks are finally starting to show it!

My Boys

I have found the way that Nate interacts with Noah to be one of the sweetest things. Just like his personality, Nate is not overbearing with Noah. He is so kind and gentle. Often I find Nate sitting with Noah speaking softly to him. I have found him trying to soothe Noah with a pacifier or song. Nate told me that he likes to call Noah "Little Buddy." How sweet is that?

He stares so intently at Nate.

100 Riesens

On July 27th, Alan and I celebrated noted our 9th anniversary. I spent the day dealing with my first ever clogged duct and bout of Mastitis (as horrible as everyone says), while Alan spent the day at work.  With the new baby and Alan's fellowship requiring 11-12 hour days, plus call Q T,W, R and some weekends,  we didn't have much time to do, well, much of anything.  So we fed the kids, put them to bed, got some takeout at 9:15 and both fell asleep during a movie.  Not our greatest anniversary ever, but I was glad that at least we got to see each other that night.

This is the gift that Alan gave me:

Each Riesen has a reason he loves me.

He's a keeper.  Most definitely.

I gave him a 2 year subscription to Motor Trend.  He wins,

Noah at 4 Weeks

He has long eyelashes just like Nate.

Cheeks!

Chins!

Basement Wipeout

How do Nate and Abbie occupy their time when I'm spending 10-12 hours a day nursing?  They set up their own Wipeout course in the basement, including the all important Big Red Balls.  I love that they wear their bike helmets.  I took these pictures camped out on the stairs before they could see me.  I need to get a video because they narrate their progress on the course, just like on the real show.  Hilarious.