~Our First Day ~

Because of Gustav, I got 2 more wonderful days at home with my little man! It wasn’t hard leaving him at daycare, but it was definitely hard getting there for some reason. I was so tired the night before and that morning! I said that I was going to get up at 5:00 and when I put him back to bed at 3:30, I decided that I was going to let him decide when we got up since I was so pooped. I mean, I slept on the couch and put him in the swing at 3:30 because he acted like he was wide awake when I laid him down…I was that tired! So we woke up at 6:00, I fed him, put him back in the swing, washed my hair, dried it, put make up on, got clothes on, pumped, made sure I had everything in his bag, got his bottles made, packed up all of my pump stuff, put him in his car seat, loaded everything up (including his huge box of diapers and wipes) and still didn’t leave the house until about 8:00! Wow…..I will have to start getting up at 5:00 in the morning! As soon as we got there he smiled at Mrs. Dorothy, and I knew everything was going to be OK!! I didn’t think I was ever going to get to work though. I didn’t get there until about 9:00 after talking to Mrs. Dorthy and then trying to get a parking spot. Campus was a mad house. On the other hand, the day flew by thank goodness. I didn't really have time to be upset! I was busy! So when I dropped him off, I was did good. I missed him, but I knew he was in good hands. When I dropped him off, and he smiled at her, Dorothy was in love! I called about 1:00 to check on him. She said “Oh Jana, he is so precious, he is wonderful, but I have never seen a baby his age (6 weeks :()put down a bottle the way he does (6 oz), he didn’t want me to pull the bottle out of his mouth, but he burped a big burp. And he is doing wonderful, he had a good nap this morning and we just finished his second bottle and he had a blow out and we got him changed and he likes for me to talk to him, so since everyone else is napping we are sitting on the couch talking”

I have to say….I think he’s gonna be spoiled! She’s sweet and I think that he likes her…but he better know that I am his MOMMY, and I birthed his 10lb butt and he better act that good for me and daddy!

So as the day went by, I thought everything was going to be ok.....UNTIL 5:00! I was so excited it was time to go get my man, and I noticed that I didn't have my rings on! Yes including my wedding ring! So I rushed back to the office from the other side of campus and ran in to look.....NO RINGS ANYWHERE!! I'd gone to the bathroom that afternoon around 3:30 to clean off the pump, and I'd taken my rings off so that I wouldn't have water under them (yes I know I am weird, but it bugs me!). I walked right out and left them! I can't believe it...I'm SICK to my stomach!! Sore subject, can't talk about it anymore!

And then to make matters even worse-er, Noah had scratched his face again we decided to try and cut his nails. GO AHEAD...give me the worst-mommy-in-the-world award! I cut his poor little pinky finger and he and daddy made me feel horrible for it! Chris even said that he was going to call the child protection agency and let them know it was an accident so they won't come and get me!! I was doing it while Chris was feeding him his bottle, so he was highly ticked that we were interrupting and that he was bleeding on his bib! Mommy's so sorry!!

OH, what a day! I just had to go on to bed early and leave the feeding to Chris so that nothing else could possibly happen! Needless to say, today was better and I was only 15 minutes late. I can't wait to pick him up today and play with him for the weekend. I hope next week goes much better! I have lots of picks to put up, just haven't had a chance. I will get them up this weekend! Have a good one!

-Go Away Gustav-

Wow, another one! We can't believe it. We are praying that it will go away, or maybe lose a lot of it's strength. Grannie had to go back to work (hospital in NO) yesterday, and she was told to plan and pack for 2 weeks depending on what Gustav decides to do. And uncle Lance is headed down there in the morning with the military. Please keep them in your prayers.

A week from today.....

I will be going back to work. I love being at home everyday with Noah, but I think I'm ready to get him as well as myself into some type of routine or schedule. It's hard to believe that it's already been 6 weeks. Time flies when you're having fun...or extremely busy! Right? I'm sure that I will be upset after I drop him off, and I will probably call Mrs. Dorothy all day to check on him, but I know he will be in wonderful hands! Lately, Noahs been a little fussy in the afternoons and if you could only see Chris and I trying to make him happy. Chris even made the comment that he thought they should make flavored pacifiers.....only a daddy, right? Maybe chicken, pork chop or how about chocolate cake? I cracked up when he said that. Another funny.....every time Noah would let out one of his fake cries, Chris would cry back at him but he sounded more like a sick billy goat! And the funny thing was that Noah would stop crying. I think he would do it just to watch his goofy daddy! They went back and forth for about 30 minutes. I couldn't stop laughing. I wish that I could've gotten them on video. We got out today and had lunch with Aunt Jamie, Stacy and Cristy. It was wonderful and afterwards we visited Tech. Dr. Pumphrey (my boss) has been itching to get his hands on him. Everyone loved him and to my suprise he did so good. The only time he cried was when he was hungry (which he ate 6 oz.-OMG) and when he got tired. And that only lasted a few minutes. I stepped on the elevator on the 12th floor and by the time I made it off at the 2nd floor, he was out!! When we left there I still had to visit Walmart and the bank, and he slept the whole time. He hasn't slept very well these last few days, so he definately made up for it today. Isn't that weird, we're at home and he won't sleep, we out all day (11:30-5:00) and he sleeps the whole time! It's amazing!

~Happy Birthday Noah~

Yesterday was his 1 month birthday! ALREADY!! I can't believe it. He's grown and changed so much in 1 month, it's amazing. And although being "mommy" for the past month has by far been the hardest thing I've ever done, I wouldn't change it for the world. The long, sleepless nights, the feedings, the many, many diapers, and the crying are all forgotten when he looks up at us with those big eyes and ju-ju lips and grins. Everytime I look at him, I'm reminded of how much I love Chris and how I can't wait to make many wonderful family memories with them.
I thought I'd mention and few fun things about him...

• he snores like his daddy
• he's got his mommy's big eyes
• he loves to be outside...if he won't go to sleep, we hit the front porch rockers
• he's almost gone through 192 diapers in a week and a half
• he's got his Pops wrapped around his pinky finger
• he fights sleep
• he loves to take a bath
• he enjoys his daddy reading t0 him (not Harry Potter, thanks to mommy)
• he could lay on his changing pad all day and be perfectly happy
• he can't wait for his new baby cousin to join him in about 7 months (he hopes he's a she)
• he's a good shopper except he'd rather be carried than pushed
• he can't wait to play with Cooper, Marleigh and Kyla sometime

Aunt Jay Jay came out to see us the other day. She feed the litte man and then got him to sleep for us. Oh and, she called him Willis (her dog). We forgive her this time, she said that she calls Willis Noah all the time.

Loving Life

I thought I'd add a few weekend pics! It's just so much fun to hold and love on this little dude. I have to admit, it's been really hard for me to get anything done around the house. We just love to snuggle and coo! He's definately a morning person and I'm not sure where he got that from!

Getting all daddy's sugar

Wearing Pops colors

My brother-in-law (Bob) graduated from Tech last Thursday and on Saturday all the family got together to celebrate and have lunch. Congratulations Bob, we're so proud of you! Enjoy some of our pics from Saturday.

The 4 Thomas Generations(Papaw, Ronnie, Chris & Noah)

Me and Kailee bird

I don't think he liked his hat too much!!

~"Chunk"~

Noah had his first Dr. visit on Monday at 3 weeks old. Just as a reminder...when we left the hospital he was down to 8 lbs. and 14 oz., he was 21.5 inches long, and his head was measurig 14 inches. He's now 10 lbs., 12 oz., 22.5 inches long and his head is now 15 inches. He's in the 90th percentile for his weight and height and 50th percentile for his head. He's going to be a big boy! Dr. Stanley said that he was doing extremely good, and that mommy must be feeding him good groceries. He also said that Coach Dooley's probably got his eye on him as a linebacker. He's had a nasty, gunky eye, but he said that it was alright that it's probably just his tear duct not draining correctly yet. So if he has a nasty eye boogie in any of his pics, that's why. He did so good at the Dr.'s office, he didn't cry one time. And afterwards we went shopping and tried on shoes..check them out. Mommy tries to keep it clean, but he hates me to touch it. Speaking of clean, he does really good taking a bath. He acts like he's freezing to death and gets a death grip on my hand, but besides that I think he likes it. He loves getting his hair washed, he will just lay there and chill. He's an excellent night sleeper, and an absolute day sleep fighter. I can't believe how sleepy he gets and instead of staying asleep and when he's put down, he cries and cries. It amazes me. At night, he eats and goes right to sleep. We've been trying to put him in his big boy bed to get him use to it. Today he laid there for a while listening to his mobile and chatting with me. He's been doing a lot of cooing!

This past Sunday we rode to Gigi and Pops to visit with them and Aunt Kay and Whitney. Aunt Jordan wanted to hold him (she hasn't held him too much) and not long after she gets him, he passed a little gas on her, and left her a surprise in his diaper. We told her that whoever was holding him had to change it! Needless to say, she refused and her friend Halley changed it instead and she did a good job. She even added a little Boudreauxs Butt Paste. We also took a few family pics since my face is almost back to normal.

Granny and Aunt Jack came up to see us on Tuesday. Granny brought fabric to make him valances for his bedroom that mommy never got done. She did a good job and they just finish the room. We love them, thanks! And thanks Jack for your help also.

More Noah....

Here are a few more pics of Noah since we've been at home. We just can't get enough of him!!

Oh yeah and by the way....the Sunday after we got home with Noah, I woke up with Bells Palsy. I don't have a bad case luckily!For those of you who haven't heard of this.....maybe this will hep explain......"Bell's palsy is a paralysis of the facial nerve resulting in inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. Several conditions can cause a facial paralysis, e.g., brain tumor, stroke, and Lyme disease. However, if no specific cause can be identified, the condition is known as Bell's Palsy. Named after Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who first described it, Bell's palsy is the most common acute mononeuropathy (disease involving only one nerve), and is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paralysis.Doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory and anti-viral drugs. Early treatment is necessary for the drug therapy to have effect. The effect of treatment is still controversial. Most people recover spontaneously and achieve near-normal functions. Many show signs of improvement as early as 10 days after the onset, even without treatment. Often the eye in the affected side cannot be closed. The eye must be protected from drying up, or the cornea may be permanently damaged resulting in impaired vision."

All I can do is make the best of it and wait for it to go away! Chris says that I look like Popeye when I smile.....thank goodness for a sense of humor!!