Wow! It's amazing what the beautiful, warm, sunny weather does for a mood. The last few days of sunshine and warmth has lifted my spirits and made my already smiling face a little brighter! I have been looking forward to this kind of weather for some time. True, yesterday was a bit warm at 91 degrees, but I won't complain since we had blue skies and beautiful sunshine! God sure has given us a beautiful place to live!
Jacob had his 4 month checkup and vaccines this week. I can't believe it's been more than 4 months since he joined our family. Like I've said time and again, time sure does fly! He weighed in at 14 lb. 14 oz. and was 25.25 inches long. He's actually only in the 46th percentile for weight and 59th for height. It's nice having a 'little guy' since Emma was always in the 90th percentile for height and weight. Our pediatrician is pleased that he is growing well and so healthy. I still say we have a beautiful, sweet little boy and have been blessed time and time again! Jacob can roll over from his tummy to his back and from his back to his tummy. He doesn't do it all the time, but he's probably just stubborn like his sister. Jacob has been working hard at cutting his first tooth. Teething is proving to be a little harder on him than it was on Emma, but I'm looking forward to seeing that first tooth pop through. These days, jake enjoys sitting in his exersaucer, eating rice cereal while sitting in his Bumbo seat and being outside (in the shade of course) with the family!
Emma has only two more months as a two year old. I can't believe my first baby will be 3 years old. She is growing into such a wonderful little girl but the sad thing is, my 'baby' has been left behind. She's outgrown the baby look, the baby face, the baby words. I'm glad she still has chubby little hands and feet, they're my last bit of baby left in her. Emma has really been enjoying play dates with her best friend, Addy (who is only 2 days older), being a big sister and a great helper to Mommy and Daddy. Emma loves helping us in the yard, playing with the dogs outside, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk and causing mischief right and left. This week we will start ballet lessons and a local community center. We'll see what she thinks and whether this is something she will enjoy or not. This summer she will also run in a track meet, just like her Mommy, Auntie and Papa did for many years! Yet another outlet for her energy and maybe something she'll enjoy...we'll see.
This blog could probably go on and on. You know Tim and I, we're busy people and enjoy being out and about. We're looking forward to our first camping trip (coming up at the end of May) and many more fun activities in the beautiful weather. Stay tuned to see what we do next and how the kids grow and change. We love you guys!
The Nold Family 4!
May 18, 2008
May 5, 2008
Things I Want to Remember...
...about Emma: the way she looked at me with her big, dark eyes right after she was born; the way she felt so safe in my arms; how peaceful she is while she is sleeping; the softness of her little, chubby hand touching my face; the way she would say "peas" (for please) and slide her hand across her chest with such enthusiasm when she really wanted something; the way I felt when I saw her first smile, heard her first laugh, saw her crawl for the first time and take her first steps; the unbelieveable joy I feel just watching her be a kid, blowing bubbles, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, playing with friends; the way she sits, looking at books and recounting the stories, with toddler-like accuracy; he tiny, chubby little feet, how soft and precious they are; her innocence; the sound of her saying, "I love you too Mommy", "I sure do love you", "Mommy what can I do to help?" and "I love Jacob, he's my best friend"; watching her read a book to her newborn brother; the sound she makes while sucking on her 'nana' right after falling asleep; her honesty and curiosity; listening to her sing "tinkle tinkle little tar, how I wonder what you ahh..."; listening to her sing "you are my sunshine"; the feeling of her sleeping soundly, peacefully, in my arms;
...about Jacob: the quiet peacefullness he had when he was born; his big, dark eyes when he was born and finally opened them; the way he chews on his hands like there is nothing better; his first gummy smile; his first little laugh that I just couldn't get him to repeat, but that brought happy/sad tears to my eyes; his snorting, snoring and loud breathing; the peacefulness he exhibits while he is sleeping; his smell; his skinny, tiny little feet; his skinny little butt; the 'mmm, mmm' sound he makes when he is eating, like he was starving; the monkey-like screach he would make when he was a newborn (I lovingly nicknamed him Monkey because of this and his long fingers and toes); the newborn curiosity and awe he exhibits when he watches Emma play; the joy I feel when I think of how blessed I am to have my little boy, when every fiber in me thought we would have a girl and thought I wanted another girl.
Time passes so quickly and memories slowly fade. My children are precious and my heart so wants to hold onto these memories, for them to never fade. I can only take so many photos, not every memory can be recalled as if it just happened. Maybe noting these will help them remain vivid in my mind, as the hours, days, years pass, new events take place. I can only hope that I will never forget these little things that bring me such joy.
...about Jacob: the quiet peacefullness he had when he was born; his big, dark eyes when he was born and finally opened them; the way he chews on his hands like there is nothing better; his first gummy smile; his first little laugh that I just couldn't get him to repeat, but that brought happy/sad tears to my eyes; his snorting, snoring and loud breathing; the peacefulness he exhibits while he is sleeping; his smell; his skinny, tiny little feet; his skinny little butt; the 'mmm, mmm' sound he makes when he is eating, like he was starving; the monkey-like screach he would make when he was a newborn (I lovingly nicknamed him Monkey because of this and his long fingers and toes); the newborn curiosity and awe he exhibits when he watches Emma play; the joy I feel when I think of how blessed I am to have my little boy, when every fiber in me thought we would have a girl and thought I wanted another girl.
Time passes so quickly and memories slowly fade. My children are precious and my heart so wants to hold onto these memories, for them to never fade. I can only take so many photos, not every memory can be recalled as if it just happened. Maybe noting these will help them remain vivid in my mind, as the hours, days, years pass, new events take place. I can only hope that I will never forget these little things that bring me such joy.
April 19, 2008
I can't believe we're past the middle of April and we're getting snow! Tim, of course, loves it and I'm left rolling my eyes wondering what kind of weather to expect next. Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. Time flies even faster since we welcomed Jacob into our family, more than 3 months ago!
Jacob is getting so big and is so much fun! He smiles often and coos all the time. You can tell when he is really getting into something because he kicks his legs like crazy! He's getting used to sitting in his Bumbo seat and is getting better at tummy time. He still seems so little to me but is so strong and I think he'll roll over, sit up and crawl before Emma did. Jacob loves Emma and watching her every move. Emma is still a great help and an awesome big sister.
Tim is looking forward to opening day of fishing season next weekend. He has 5 days off and is planning to take Emma fishing Saturday morning. She is such a daddy's girl and loves every minute they spend together! We are all looking forward to our first camping trip next month! We have a trailer this year and are excited to get to use it. We're also looking forward to taking the kids to their first Mariner's game this season. Tim has been honored by being selected to go to a chief's conference in Denver this August. Tim has worked so hard this year, going above and beyond, and is hoping to get a chief promotion later this year. This invitation to the conference is a big deal and we are all proud of him!
We're all doing great and loving every minute of family life! God has blessed us and we are so thankful for our continued good health and the opportunities He blessed us with. We hope this update finds all of you doing well too. Until next time...
Jacob is getting so big and is so much fun! He smiles often and coos all the time. You can tell when he is really getting into something because he kicks his legs like crazy! He's getting used to sitting in his Bumbo seat and is getting better at tummy time. He still seems so little to me but is so strong and I think he'll roll over, sit up and crawl before Emma did. Jacob loves Emma and watching her every move. Emma is still a great help and an awesome big sister.
Tim is looking forward to opening day of fishing season next weekend. He has 5 days off and is planning to take Emma fishing Saturday morning. She is such a daddy's girl and loves every minute they spend together! We are all looking forward to our first camping trip next month! We have a trailer this year and are excited to get to use it. We're also looking forward to taking the kids to their first Mariner's game this season. Tim has been honored by being selected to go to a chief's conference in Denver this August. Tim has worked so hard this year, going above and beyond, and is hoping to get a chief promotion later this year. This invitation to the conference is a big deal and we are all proud of him!
We're all doing great and loving every minute of family life! God has blessed us and we are so thankful for our continued good health and the opportunities He blessed us with. We hope this update finds all of you doing well too. Until next time...
April 5, 2008
Blank Slate
When I was pregnant with Emma, I distinctly remember a phone conversation I had with my mom. I was crying, emotional and overwhelmed at the prospect that God was blessing us and entrusting us with His child. He had given us His child to care for, to love, to raise as He would raise His child. That thought is overwhelming and amazing! Again, when I was pregnant with Jacob, I was in awe at the thought that yet again God had entrusted us with one of His children. What a gift!
Although I enjoy hearing what he has to say, I don't often watch Dr. Phil. I just don't have the time. But last night I had it on briefly and something he said caught my attention. Our children are born a blank slate and every day we write on it. What a powerful statement! Having it expressed in that way really put it all in perspective. We are fully responsible for shaping our children, for molding them and making them who they will be. Genetics plays a certain role, but when they are born they are blank slates. Think about that...
Although I enjoy hearing what he has to say, I don't often watch Dr. Phil. I just don't have the time. But last night I had it on briefly and something he said caught my attention. Our children are born a blank slate and every day we write on it. What a powerful statement! Having it expressed in that way really put it all in perspective. We are fully responsible for shaping our children, for molding them and making them who they will be. Genetics plays a certain role, but when they are born they are blank slates. Think about that...
March 17, 2008
Time Flies - Jacob is 2 Months Old!
Time really flies when you hardly have time to eat and shower each day! Ah, the joys of motherhood!
Jacob is 10 weeks this coming Thursday and had his 8 week checkup early last week. He's just a little guy compared to Emma at this age. He is now 11lb. 8oz. and 23.5 inches long. He is in the 45th percentile for weight, 60th percentile for height and 53rd percentile for head size. Emma was in the 90th percentile for everything until she was 2 years old. I like having my little boy. I have one of each and am so thankful for that!
Emma is a wonderful big sister and a great helper. I think she has pretty much adjusted to having a brother and now we're just dealing with her being a smart 2 year old. I can't believe in just a few short months my first baby will be 3 years old!
We're looking forward to spring and summer and all the fun things we enjoy doing during those months. We have some camping trips planned and dozens of days spent hanging out and BBQing. Next month is the tulip festival that we love going to. It's a great backdrop for family pictures! We're looking forward to taking the kids to their first baseball game and Jacob's first camoping trip in our trailer thanks to the Eikums! I'm sure to post more pictures and updates, so check back!
Jacob is 10 weeks this coming Thursday and had his 8 week checkup early last week. He's just a little guy compared to Emma at this age. He is now 11lb. 8oz. and 23.5 inches long. He is in the 45th percentile for weight, 60th percentile for height and 53rd percentile for head size. Emma was in the 90th percentile for everything until she was 2 years old. I like having my little boy. I have one of each and am so thankful for that!
Emma is a wonderful big sister and a great helper. I think she has pretty much adjusted to having a brother and now we're just dealing with her being a smart 2 year old. I can't believe in just a few short months my first baby will be 3 years old!
We're looking forward to spring and summer and all the fun things we enjoy doing during those months. We have some camping trips planned and dozens of days spent hanging out and BBQing. Next month is the tulip festival that we love going to. It's a great backdrop for family pictures! We're looking forward to taking the kids to their first baseball game and Jacob's first camoping trip in our trailer thanks to the Eikums! I'm sure to post more pictures and updates, so check back!
February 12, 2008
One Month Already!
Time has never flown by so quickly as when you are a parent. The days used to drag on into weeks and a year seemed like it took forever to pass. Once they place your child in your arms it seems time switches to warp speed and a year is over before you know it! It still seems like yesterday that Emma was born, but she will be three in a matter of months. Jacob is already a month old and changing more every day. It's amazing and makes me cherish each little moment.
February 4, 2008
Reality Check
I'm playing single mom right now. That's what I say when Tim is away. He left yesterday for PA for training (for work) for a week. And, of course, Emma got sick yesterday too. It never fails when Tim is away for more than a day, Emma gets sick. So, mom and dad move out tomorrow (their house is finally done being built), Tim is away, Emma is sick and I am learning to be a mom of two! Talk about a reality check :-) I pray each day for patience and grace, a couple things I think all moms could use a lot of. And, I'm trying to enter this week with no expectations. So, if I don't get things accomplished that I want to...no big deal. If the house is a mess all day long...no big deal. If I don't get a wink of sleep, because Jacob eats every 3-4 hours and Emma is coughing all night...no big, wait that's a big deal. But, you get what I'm saying.
Two kids is a lot different than one. I knew that going in, but it's still a big wake up call. Double everything, twice the demands, twice the love, double the joy. We're adjusting well I think and we're all settling in to our new roles. It's already been a month (well, on Thursday) since Jacob was born. I can't believe how quickly that time has passed! It's seems like it's gone faster than when Emma was born. Maybe it's because we're busier. Jacob is doing wonderful. He's a big eater, but not the best breast feeder, so I've resorted to pumping. He's growing well and thriving. He's really paying attention to when we talk to him. He looks at you with his big, curious eyes and you can just tell he wants to talk back to us! He lays on his activity mat and watches the little bird fly back and forth and really likes the fish mobile that rotates on his swing. It's amazing how much he has changed in one month and I look forward to (though not rushing) all of the milestones he will experience in the future.
Emma seems to be adjusting well to her new role as big sister and mommy's helper. She really loves Jacob and can't wait to see him in the morning or after her naps. Emma is learning to be gentle, which she never really had to do before. She is also in the middle of potty training and is doing well with that too. I wonder what their relationship will be like and hope it's not like my sister and mine was when we were growing up. We weren't best friends until I was an adult. I'd really like Emma and Jacob to be close for their whole lives, even as children. I guess we'll see what the Lord has in store for us and what new adventures He leads us on.
Two kids is a lot different than one. I knew that going in, but it's still a big wake up call. Double everything, twice the demands, twice the love, double the joy. We're adjusting well I think and we're all settling in to our new roles. It's already been a month (well, on Thursday) since Jacob was born. I can't believe how quickly that time has passed! It's seems like it's gone faster than when Emma was born. Maybe it's because we're busier. Jacob is doing wonderful. He's a big eater, but not the best breast feeder, so I've resorted to pumping. He's growing well and thriving. He's really paying attention to when we talk to him. He looks at you with his big, curious eyes and you can just tell he wants to talk back to us! He lays on his activity mat and watches the little bird fly back and forth and really likes the fish mobile that rotates on his swing. It's amazing how much he has changed in one month and I look forward to (though not rushing) all of the milestones he will experience in the future.
Emma seems to be adjusting well to her new role as big sister and mommy's helper. She really loves Jacob and can't wait to see him in the morning or after her naps. Emma is learning to be gentle, which she never really had to do before. She is also in the middle of potty training and is doing well with that too. I wonder what their relationship will be like and hope it's not like my sister and mine was when we were growing up. We weren't best friends until I was an adult. I'd really like Emma and Jacob to be close for their whole lives, even as children. I guess we'll see what the Lord has in store for us and what new adventures He leads us on.
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