Our Little Mini Model!

Professional Christmas pictures are always a dicey gamble with children, but luck seemed to be on our side yesterday evening. Last year we went to Sears and were not overly impressed with the photographer that took the pictures so this year I decided to try out JCPenney and their portrait studio. The photographer was very enthusiastic and bubbly right off the bat, which I believe contributed to our success.

On Monday, Noelle and I went to buy her dress. I gave her the choice between three dresses and after careful consideration she proudly proclaimed "this one SO petty" as she went for the red one of the bunch. I continued on Tuesday to talk up the pictures and kept telling her how much fun it would be. Wednesday, I had a bit of a schedule for myself to keep so that a good nap was insured along with a bath and some possible hair curling if allowed. Noelle was very cooperative and took a very good nap. After a refreshing bath she wanted to get dressed right away her pretty dress. I gave in and hoped a mysterious stain would not appear. She was so thrilled to put on her tights alone, then the dress came and a smile to rival all others appeared on her little face. She proudly spun around and said "Noelle Rose Roehrig so petty, beautiful!". I asked if she wanted me to put a few curls in her hair and much to my surprise she agreed. She sat still and I was very excited about the outcome with hair curled for the first time. She is a girly girl through and through! (The picture on the left is just a quick snap shot that I took right before we left to show off her cuteness!)

At the studio Tom met me to help make the possible disaster go more smoothly. Much to our surprise she posed in the exact spots that the photographer asked for. Although we had a few faces that were scrunched and one picture with the eye crossed, most of the pictures turned out very well. She even stayed in positions with her arms folded and legs crossed! She was truly a little mini model.

After ordering the pictures Tom took Noelle home and I went to meet a friend for some quality Mom time. Karen and her three little children were also getting their pictures taken and trying to wrangle three opposed to one is a lot more challenging! Next year with Noelle being almost three and then Max almost a year I don't' think it will be a walk in the park. Anyways, Karen and I had a wonderful dinner filled with much laughing and relaxation. We headed to the fabric store, after indulging in some shared dessert, where I was able to pick out some blue fabric that Karen will so magically turn into a wonderful baby blanket for my new little boy. We wandered around the store, talking and enjoying each other's company. I had a great time and really needed to get out, I guess that is why God gave us friends! It's amazing how just a simple dinner and some fabric shopping with another Mom can really rejuvenate a person!

Today Noelle and I going to put up some decorations and have a very low key day.

Turkey Bliss

It was one of those perfect Thanksgiving Weekends and a wonderful start to the Holiday Season. It all started Wednesday morning when we all woke up around 9am and took our time getting ready. We packed our bags, loaded up the car and headed out. Because Tom was able to take the day off of work we beat most of the traffic on the drive, and arrived in Traverse City around 3:30pm.

There is something about being Up North that puts a big smile on my face, especially when I woke up Thanksgiving morning and everything was covered with a beautiful blanket of snow. Noelle was so excited and kept saying "play snow please". We bundled her up, still in her pajamas, for her first tryst in the snow this season. She was immediately smitten with the beautiful snow and jumped right into eating it. She helped clean off the cars and even attempted to make a snow angel. When her little nose was red as a cherry and her cheeks boasted the same color we decided it was time to come in and warm up. She screamed and cried and just wanted to be back outside. The amount of joy that was brought on by just sitting in a snow pile and scooping up mittens full of snow was the perfect start to the Thanksgiving Day of 2007.

A 30 pound Turkey was cooking away in the oven, the side dishes were being prepared, and people began arriving. Charlotte woke up extra early and drove up just to spend the day with family! My Mom's sister and her family were staying at the Great Wolf Lodge for the Holiday and naturally headed over to my parents' house for dinner as well. It was so wonderful to have lots of family mulling around. Dinner was exceptional, my Mom really out did herself once again, even though cooking isn't her favorite thing to do she always pulls out the stops for Holiday dinners. After dinner everyone pitched in with cleanup and it seemed to be done in a blink of an eye. We plopped our turkey induced comatose bodies onto the nearest couches and chairs to watch the Detroit Lions finish losing to the Packers. An early dinner always is the tradition in our family so that the rest of the day can be spent recovering from all the wonderful food!

Dessert was calling our names within a few hours and we all dug into an array of pies. When that was complete we decided to take Noelle over to the fabulous water park in the Great Wolf Lodge. She, being a water baby, was so excited and wouldn't stop talking about the "Big Pool" on the way over there. We dressed in the room and headed out. Fred and Kathleen went into the water with Noelle and I. They both had formed a bond with Noelle over dinner and she loved playing with them in the water. The kiddie pool had a few slides that I was sure Noelle would not want to go down. Of course, I was wrong and after one time down the smallest one, she was completely hooked and wanted more, eventually insisting on the biggest slide! A trip down the lazy river was kindly given by Fred and Kathleen. After the river she was shivering quite a bit and I took her out to warm her up. She was not happy about this and protested greatly between shivers. After she was warm we left her go a few more rounds with the slide. This water adventure completely wore her out and we headed back to my parents house to put her down for bed.

Friday morning came and both of my parents went to work. I was not one of those people that wanted anything to do with the "Black Friday" shopping, keep me away from the crowds please!! Instead, Noelle and I went to visit a great friend of mine from college whose parents live just mere miles from my parents new house. Noelle was not a happy camper at first and just cried for Daddy the first couple of minutes. After being introduced to huge stuffed dog, she quickly warmed up and began menacing! We only visited for a bit, but it was wonderful to catch up with Jackie and show off my little pride and joy! After we came back Uncle Alex and Daddy took Noelle out to build a snowman. It was more like a snow midget, but Noelle had fun anyways! She loved just being in the snow again. Soon it was time to come inside so that Uncle Alex could get ready for his hockey game. She really had a ton of fun at the hockey rink; the metal stairs seemed to occupy most of her time during the game. Unfortunately, the Traverse City Central Trojans lost a hard fought game, but we were just glad to see Uncle Alex play! I'm not sure I will be able to see him play again for a while with the new baby coming, so for me it was a special game. I have always enjoyed watching my brother and anytime I can see him out on the ice it's worth it!

Saturday came and we headed back home. We wanted to avoid the traffic and spend one day recuperating from all the excitement of the weekend. It truly was a sensational weekend filled with many wonderful memories. I hope everyone else had a memorable weekend as well.

More Pictures and Stories

Here are some pictures from last weekend at Grandpa Roehrig's house and one I stole from Amanda Feyes of Olivia and Noelle sharing a goodbye kiss (pictured with Noelle are Grandpa Roehrig, Aunt Mary (Tom's big sister Mrs. Potts), and Olivia Feyes):
















This past weekend we attended the Mitzel's 5th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Dinner. This is our second year attending in which the Michigan vs. Ohio State football game is watched and then a wonderful potluck Thanksgiving dinner is had after the game. Unfortunately, this year we had to bring Noelle with us because our babysitter got sick. Of course we love our little girl, but we were looking forward to some time away from her! Luckily, she was well behaved and even took a really good nap. She loved seeing a few other babies that were there and enjoyed playing with toys that weren't her own! Tom and I enjoyed being around friends and eating a wonderful feast, the actual football game was the only negative...maybe next year.

Tidbits of Noelle:

When asked if she wants something, she always responds enthusiastically with a very loud "Yeah, Ok, I do"

Any sporting event viewed on TV is accompanied with hands thrown in the air and a great big "GOAL"...it doesn't matter if it is hockey, football, baseball or anything else

Our dog Zeus has been given a new name: "Zeusy Boy!"

Noelle's version of 'Ring Around the Rosie': "Ring round rosie, pocket posies, ashes, ashes all fall down" she then quickly gets up and spins around while repeating "ashes, ashes, ashes, ashes ashes, all...fall...down"

After hearing some suspicious noises in the kitchen I get up and walk toward the noises. Noelle quickly runs toward me, grabs my hand and leads me back to the couch and says "mommy sit on couch, stay" then she tells me "mommy play puter (computer)" and she runs back into the kitchen! I had to check out what was going on and I quietly sneak around the corner and there she was drinking juice out of her sippy cup and spitting it into clean pans, then adding some Cheez-It crackers to the mixture.

Any time she is put in time out, when she gets up all her little animals called "guys" and her baby take turns sitting in time out too.

I let out a very unlady like burp at the table and right on cue Noelle says "Cuse you Mommy".

Caesar, our cat, has become a favorite attraction in the house. When he appears from hiding Noelle loves to lay on top of him and basically crush him, like she does to Zeus. Obviously, Caesar does not like this and has bit Noelle a few times. When this happens she cries and points to the spot, usually on her hand and says "Caesar bite me". We then ask her if she was laying on him and we usually get a response of "yeah, I do". I can't blame Caesar!

For some odd reason Noelle smells everything. When I say everything, I mean it! From the cart in the store, to any food you give her, any toy she picks up, clothing, cups, literally everything gets smelled! She doesn't always comment on the smell, only if it is "yucky" or "Stinky" and the occasional "SO petty" when something like a flower or perfume sample is sniffed. I hope this habit doesn't continue too much longer!

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving filled with tons of turkey and all the trimmings! We are headed up to Traverse City and I promise to post pictures when we get back.

Swimming, Family, and Friends

Last Monday Noelle and I started to attend a local parent/toddler swim class held twice a week from 10-10:30. The first day was a hit. She talked about going to the "big pool" all day Sunday and woke up Monday yelling "Big Pool Please Mommy" from her room. She jumped right into my arms and loved the water. She even went under with no problem. After a half hour of kicking and slashing her lips started turning a lovely blueberry color and her speech was being hampered by the constant chattering of teeth. When we finally were all dressed Noelle continued to shake and was unable to talk for about an hour afterwards! Of course she had her hat and winter coat, along with pink and white night-nights to keep her warm. On Wednesday we went back and the aerobic class before us was getting dressed when we entered the locker rooms. Noelle did not like all the older women coming up to her. I think it was the fact that they were completely naked and kind of smothered her. She started crying and wanted nothing to do with getting undressed. I finally figured out that if we saw the pool first she was quick to changer her mind! I guess naked, old, loud women kind of get a little overwhelming to a tiny tot! I wish I had pictures but a digital camera, pregnant mom, a toddler, and water would probably end up disastrous for the camera.

Friday we headed into Sturgis to visit Tom's family. The two hour drive is so much easier than a five hour drive! Noelle instantly remembered how much she loved "Grumpa Roe-ig" and was smitten with him the entire trip. Mary, Tom's sister, and her husband Jasen also stayed the weekend.

Saturday we headed over to the home of Andy and Amanda Feyes. Andy is a childhood friend and we haven't seen them since Noelle was about a few weeks old and their daughter a few months. Olivia, their daughter, and Noelle are two months apart and so similar! After a few minutes of getting to know each other they seemed to hit it off. They have similar voices and vocabulary so at times it was hard to tell which one was talking. Olivia seems more outgoing than Noelle and definitely more brave. The men headed outside to tend to the grill and watch the girls and Amanda and I chatted inside as she prepared an awesome lunch. Olivia was so adorable and I couldn't get enough of the two of them playing together. It made me wish Noelle had a few more friends that live closer. When Noelle started to exhibit signs that her nap was close enough to grab we headed out. It was a very successful meeting of old friends and two little precious girls. In the ten minute drive from the Feyes's house back to Grandpa's, Noelle was out within the first five minutes, apparently she had had too much fun!

Back at Grandpa's house we enjoyed a lot of relaxation. Noelle loved to take walks outside and look for rabbits. Unfortunately, I have no pictures because our camera ran out of batteries, but I hope to get some from Mary soon.

Sunday morning we all slept in and had a great

breakfast of homemade sticky buns (thanks Mary). Tom's other sister Liz and her family came over for a big early dinner. "Grumpa Roe-ig" made a fabulous pork roast and all the trimmings to go with it! Noelle did her best to help out by rearranging all the can vegetables and wanting Grandpa to hold her while he cooked so she could keep a very watchful eye of things. We headed home after dinner so we could do some things in the basement, but it was wonderful trip.

In other Noelle news, she has found a new favorite song to sing. The First Noel seems to have been made for her! She only sings the refrain, but boy, she belts it out! It really is very cute.