Breastfeeding Diaries

Hello Everyone!

 I know its been awhile since I've had a post or update but I'm super excited today to be linking up with Julie and joining her Breastfeeding Diaries. It feels like forever ago when I asked her to be a guest blogger and January 15th was her next available date then I swear I blinked and the day was here. So without further adieu head on over to hear about my breastfeeding journey!

A glimpse of my guest post...

"Meet my daughter Miss Noelle who came into this world 14 months ago. She is full of energy, abundant joy and has quite the attitude already. After struggling for 18 months of infertility we finally found out that we were expecting. I knew right from that moment that I looked forward to my own breastfeeding journey..."

 Continue my story over at Julie's blog!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 

Hope everyone enjoyed celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus! 

1st Birthday UPDATE!

I wanted to give everyone a quick update of how Noelle's first birthday went. We celebrated with her a little bit on her actually birthday and then we had her party on November 16th. We don't have a huge immediate family so we kept it small with grandparents, our siblings and close friends.

As far as the food went I kept it fairly simple with wraps, dips, fruit, cheese and veggie trays.  For dessert I made her smash cake which you can see below along with cake pops and oreo balls (MY personal favorite).

I didn't go with any particular theme instead we just did PINK with just a handful of decorations. Her adorable outfit and tutu was from Etsy (Here and Here). Overall we had a splendid time and I was extremely relieved when the day was over so we could kick back and relax.

Her big gift from us this year was the hot pink Cozy Coupe and she has sat and played in it everyday since we gave it to her! She absolutely LOVES it! She was spoiled rotten for sure. She also received precious UGG boots from her Aunt and Uncle, some beautiful outfits, a baby doll, a rocking chair, and several leap frog/Vtech toys! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Will post about our adventure out to Harrisburg shortly!

Winter "wONEderland"

What what a wild and crazy ride these last few weeks have been! It seems like we have shot through fall and landed right in the middle of winter. I have noticed with the shorter shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year it seems like the season is being thrown upon us!

Quick and belated update on Noelle's FIRST Halloween! It was a great whirlwind of a week and though at the end we could barely drag ourselves to bed we all had a GREAT time!

Trick or Treat Favors

Our Teeny Witch 

Aunt Sissy and Uncle Luke

2012 Pumpkins

2013 Pumpkins

Starting right around 11 months Noelle began to take a series of steps on her own but now she has been full blown walking/running for a couple of weeks or so and as you can guess  we are approaching her FIRST birthday this week! Stay tuned for a 1 year update soon!  So many exciting things are upon us right now and each day goes faster than the one before it! This past weekend my husband (aka Clark Griswold) spent a frosty afternoon on the roof getting our Christmas lights in order! Only a few more decorations to hang and the outside is done. Then after her birthday party and Thanksgiving we can transform the inside to our winter wonderland! On this years agenda in addition to our usual Christmas tree we will be heading out into the elements to cut down a REAL tree for the basement this year! Can't wait!

However right now on my mind is Noelle's first birthday party this weekend. While it will be relatively small gathering, it will be exciting to have everyone gather to celebrate her wONEderful first year!

As her birthday has rapidly approached I started the weaning process of nursing her and now just days from her first birthday she is only using a sippy cup and the bottles have been packed away. While I had tons of anxiety over our nursing journey ending the transition went extremely smooth! Coming soon to the blog, tips and tricks I found that led me to a successful first year of nursing and also my breastfeeding journey will be posted on Julie's blog: The girl in the red shoes! She does a wonderful breastfeeding diaries and it is so inspiring, look for that post in January!

The day after her party we are heading east bound to capture Noelle's first year and our family Christmas pictures with the extremely talented Courtney Katherine. Her work is so amazing and I absolutely love getting them done, it is always such a joy!

We have since finished our Financial Peace University series, it was packed full of great information! While it has taken some time and months to adjust our budget we are heading in the right direction of being debt free (only 1 car loan and 2 student loans to go)!

Today on November 12th we officially have our first blanket of white snow and its SO beautiful outside. A great day to make hot chocolate, turn on the Christmas music and snuggle up with my precious little one!

I have so much to catch up on there will be several posts coming soon in regards to nursing tips, Noelles first birthday and what I as a parent learned in the first year, our Thanksgiving adventure (including heading out to Harrisburg to visit family and the Hershey Chocolate World, Christmas including the great reveal of Noelle's homemade gift, and my breastfeeding journey plus many stories in between!

Port Farms- 2013

We had a wonderful time this past weekend exploring Port Farms in Waterford, PA. There was so much to do and while Noelle was only able to participate in a small amount of the activities it was still so much fun watching her explore and smile. Here are some pictures of our trip! Thankfully we were able to beat the rain!

Awesome GIANT corn pit!

Such a lovely day and experience, I also can't forget to mention what we had for lunch afterwards! Who doesnt love Chipotle? Seriously?! I think my husband and I could eat it everyday!

I think we will be making this an annual trip and hoping to drag our family and friends along!

Noelle: 11 Months

Dear Noelle,

Its so crazy that this will be my last monthly update before your first birthday! This month has had its up and downs but you've have certainly come into your own little personality. Since last month a couple new things have happened, you had your first day with Missy at an in home daycare. You absolutely love going there and interacting with all the kids, not to mention that she spends lots of her time teaching you little ones and singing you songs! It is such a relief to be able to drop you off and know you are being well taken care of.

Secondly this month you have developed your first real cold, your dad and I ended up taking you to the doctor together resulting in fluids, rest, sucking out your nose and breathing treatments. Finally today after a week or so you are finally feeling better and back to your normal self.

Lastly I have recently started the weaning process very slowly. I have eliminated your pre-nap and afternoon nursing sessions and filling those in with breast milk in a sippy cup. I think its harder on me than you but today you just took the sippy cup SO easily. It has been such a joy to nurse you over the last year and as I'm sad that its coming to an end, I look forward to the next adventure together!

As far as development goes I would officially consider you a walker. You can stand and walk several steps at a time; however if you want to get there fast you hit the floor and crawl. Up next ...Potty Training ;) You can say words like Mama and Dada, you know what it means when we say give it to Ryleigh (You give her a toy). Your favorite cupboard ( and the only one we really let you play in) is filled with tupperware and everyday you pull it all out and we put it back in! As far as food goes you may be the pickiest eater alive, you hate all textures, you really give us a hard time with the solid foods (except for your puffs)  and I swear if you could you would just live on eating a baby yogurt for EVERY meal!

We are looking forward to planning a small first birthday party for you here at our house with some family and friends. I can't even believe I'm saying that! Heres some pictures of the last month...

And always remember that for all the happy smiley pictures that I get, there are several that look like this...

All because I took the toothbrush out of your hand, your temper is too much like your Mama's!