Little Baby Morgan

In August, when we were at the beach, Chad and I were on a breakfast date when I started telling him about my dream- we had kept Reed at our house while Matt and Danielle went to an ultrasound and found out they were having a girl. Considering they weren't even pregnant, Chad didn't take this dream too seriously, so I decided to text Danielle and tell her the news. She responded that in about 16 weeks, I could keep Reed while they went to find out... she had just taken a pregnancy test and had just found out they were expecting baby #2!

So fast forward a couple months-- Matt and Danielle decided to have a gender party to reveal if Reed would be getting a brother or a sister-- they invited all their family and close friends over and we were to dress the part-- were we team girl or team boy?

Naturally, after my foreshadowing dream, we were all team girl:

Does Jack make a pretty girl? Chad came down the stairs and said "Who is she, and what is she wearing?" And Eli kept calling him Jackie... but I thought he was cute :) No, we don't own any pick shirts, unfortunately, but we borrowed them from Lizzy and Evie because the Bowmans were team girl, for sure!

Earlier in the week, during the 20 week ultrasound, the ultrasound tech had written on a card whether the baby was a boy or a girl.  Then the Morgans dropped the note, along with a big empty box off with friends who would handle the reveal... and the wait was on!

Once everyone arrived at the party (and in between the first and second quarter of the SEC Championship, Go Dawgs!) everyone headed out to the yard...

Reed is having a.............

SISTER!!!!

We're so excited about baby girl Morgan-- and we can't wait for her arrival in April-- but for now, we just pray for her safe baking... and thank God for this little blessing!

Welcome Lil Pumpkin!

I've got lots of new babies that I'm really looking forward to in the  next couple of months... and none of them are growing in my own womb, thank you Jesus. (We'll hopefully do some more growing in the future, but for now, me and my womb are on extended leave.)

In April, my wonderful friend Danielle (Reed's mom) is having a baby... gender to be determined this weekend at their gender party!!
In March, Angela, Gabe's mom, is welcoming a little girl: Kimbrel Lynn-- Lord know we needs some girls around here!
In February, sweet Lisa (Haven's mom) from our small group, one of the most "would do anything for you people" in this world, is bringing sweet Calder into this world

AND
In just a few weeks... maybe a few days... or maybe even a few hours with how quick she likes to pop babies out, my dear friend Jill, will be having sweet Grant Henry-- and I canNOT wait for his arrival. I've mentioned his big bro Hudson a time or 29 on this blog- I've loved that kid since his conception and his personality and how sweet he is to Max just makes my love grow and grow- and now, I am so eager to meet the next Spiva baby that I get tickled and giddy just thinking about it! I can already smell him, yummmm!

Obviously, as these little people arrive, I will gladly supply you with pictures so you too may gawk, but for now, check out the cute baby shower we had for Jill and Jonathan and baby #2... it was thrown by the Porton Posse ladies (minus Caroline who had another engagement) and took place on a crisp (ok downright freezing) fall night. I even got a little crafty, which hasn't happened that much since I brought my own small people into the world.

Here's the entrance:

Setting the stage... can you tell what our theme was?

We served chili, the fix ins, apple cider, and pumpkin cupcakes... naturally!

Here is the drink station

And last but not least, the fire pit, the eventually roared and kept us all cozy while we chatted and hung out

Of course, there were s'mores as well.... and maybe Ruth and I ate 10 (each) but hey, you only get to have a Welcome Lil Pumpkin shower for baby Grant once, so let's live it up!

And last but not least, mainly because I forgot to take a picture of the adorable pregnant lady, here is a picture of the hostesses (without the guest of honor, ha!)

It was a wonderful fun party-- I think everyone had a blast-- but now all that is left is the birth, wahoo!

From Thanksgiving to Christmas...

Over Thanksgiving, we loaded up the minivan and headed to Indiana to visit my parents. It's an easy 8 hour drive (plus an extra hour for stops/meals/ potty breaks/ and feeding the babe) and the boys did great but they were sure read to exit the van by the time we arrived. We enjoyed our time with my parents- the boys were spoiled and loved and cuddled and held, and they were not required to sleep if they didn't want to, they even had Christmas with Uncle Sam since we won't see him in December. We visited the children's museum and then had a house full at my uncle's house for Thanksgiving-- my Mamaw and Papaw had all 5 of their children, all 9 of their grand children, and all 5 of their great grandchildren present and accounted for-- and naturally there was great food and dessert.

My post-Thanksgiving nap time looked like this:

I'm pretty sure it was my best one yet.

We came home on Black Friday when all you other crazies were shopping and managed to have the roads mostly to ourself and get Eli back home in time for his last week of LSAT class before the big test.... duhhnn duhhhn duuhhhhhhnnnnnnn!

Naturally, with a full weekend at home, full of nothing, it seemed like the perfect time to pull out the Christmas decor-- we got a wreath on the door, and Christmas mat to wipe your feet, the mantle is decorated, and of course the Christmas tree.  Gabe ran the decorating show, Chad taught Max how to hang ornaments, and I wrestled with my inner-control freak and watched in happiness as my wonderful and very handsome family scattered about.

Baby Jack slept through the actual decorating, so I did what any other mother would do and made some special time to decorate him! In cute Christmas clothes of course :) My Mom got that Santa suit before we even knew that Jack was a Jack... we've been waiting very patiently for this time of the year to debut it!

This year, I'm thankful for a lot-- and not just because it's Thanksgiving. I'm actually overwhelmed by my blessing my right-- and I'm just trying to practice living "here" and not looking forward or borrow trouble...

Here's the top 5 things I'm currently thankful for (I could go on, but I'll spare you!)
1) All of my boys-- their hearts, their brains, their strong bodies, and their health
2) My hard working husband and being a Stay-at-home mom... it's not easier than what I was doing before, but it's WAY better
3) The opportunity for my brother Eli to live with us right now-- it's fun and I wish I could build him a room off the back of my house to give him privacy and entice him to stay forever
4) My Dad's new job that's bringing him and my mom to Atlanta to live and be a part of our lives almost daily
5) My Jesus, His love, God's gift of salvation, and Grace

Praise God from whom ALL blessing flow!

Adventures With Dad...

Do you remember way back, when Chad put Max in the bathtub with his socks on? Like he filled the tub, put him in, THEN noticed that the child still had his socks on?

Well, he was at it again last week when he put his dinner, Lasagna, right on his place mat... you know, no plate!

Men!!

But if I'm honest, there is just some things that Dad's do that a mom (or this at least this mom) would never do... for instance, building a fort!

A couple weeks ago, as I was heading out for a girls night and leaving Chad with all three boys for the evening, they were dragging out every blanket and pillow that we owned. Naturally, the control freak/bossy pants in me wanted to give them a few pointers, such as:

1) Scotch tape, really? On my finished chair?

2) Why use my perfectly nice and breakable flower pot for weight when there are 100 other choices?

But really, who can argue with such great fun? And only with Dad, would you lay in here, and play with your toys while carrying a flashlight and wearing a head lamp.

And they were even sweet enough to make a space for baby Jack :) No boy left behind!

And that is why boys needs Dads... to show 'em fun stuff and totally goof up and do it "wrong" so that they'll know that despite what Mom says, doing it "wrong" isn't necessarily the end of the world-- and even with Lasagna NOT on a plate and even with socks in the bathtub, you might still learn a thing or two... and you'll definitely have fun!

Now you want to know why boys need moms? Obviously there are 700 million billion trillion reasons,  but in this case, they need moms to fold all the blankets up and put everything away the next morning, because that task is obviously not enough fun or excitement for dads. That way, everyone is ready for the next time that a fort is necessary :)

Happy 6 Months!

In all the hustle and bustle of having our small group over for Thanksgiving last week and packing for our trip to Indy to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, I never posted about Jack's first 6 months of life. But they were not forgotten!  He had his lovely visit to the doc and I kissed his sweet cheeks 6 months worth, all day long!

It's crazy to think that this little bundle who caught us off guard by arriving 5 weeks early, who came home so tiny and so full of reflux that he would projectile vomit all over me every feeding, and who caused me the most pain I've ever experienced in my life (I still hate the word and the thought of "thrush") would turn out to be the most sweetest, cuddliest, best baby. But that he is! My Jack is so laid back and easy-- I wish I could claim this trait as my own, but that wouldn't be further from the truth! He's full of laughter and smiles and he's always up for being held, rocked, snuggled, carried, kissed, and/or all of the above :)

His hair is finally coming in with a vengeance... but it's white and see through, so pictures make it look like I'm lying, but I do have witnesses that can attest to this fact. He loves playing on the floor, but will flip himself right back over and scream if he ever accidentally rolls to his belly. He loves overhead toys and batting them, he loves rattles on his wrists and shaking them, and he can scoot off any blanket, regardless of size and location in about 3 minutes. He has even ended up under the couch! But his favorite thing to do? Suck on his big toe-- seriously! Like for long periods of time-- it makes Gabe and Max (and me!) giggle every time. He can even get his socks off and his foot to his mouth when he's in his carseat. Now that's what I call flexible! And although his head is still big (that is my trait, sorry Jack!), he's losing a lot of his chub and rolls. His torso is very thin, but there is still a leg roll on one leg, and his cheeks are still full of goodness, Praise the Lord!

I love how more and more of his personality is coming out-- he wants to be part of the action and in this house full of boys, there is lots of action! He doesn't really want to be left alone, but doesn't need much attention if he's in a position just to sit and watch. But if something ever doesn't go his way, he has this scream that lets everyone know. It's not a cry at all, but instead this high-pitched pterodactyl-like noise. It translates to "fix this situation or give me what I want (aka food) right this very minute. And it cracks us all up. I usually look at him and say "AT-TI-TUDE!" and he smiles and my heart melts and we all live happily ever after.

On Jack's 6 month day, he was 26.5 inches long (50th percentile), 15lb 15oz (which has actually fallen to the 25th percentile) and his head was 17.5 inches (which is close to the 75th percentile). The doctor actually questioned if he was getting enough food-- then turned from her computer screen to glance at him and answer her own question with a grin-- then said "I guess he's just leveling back out!" He loves eating solids-- although I have to hide green beans among orange veggies because they literally give him the he bee jee bees! His favorites are acorn squash and butternut squash and anytime he gets in his chair and can see the bowls of food he starts dancing and cooing and whining from excitement all at the same time. He is nursing again in the middle of the night- it started with his last ear infection and has been part of his routine since- but he eats like he's starved around 3:30/4am so I'm not really fighting it. Plus, due to being a stay at home mom, if just doesn't feel like that big of deal, and it takes 7 minutes, tops, so I'm going with it for now. During the day, when it's time to eat, he gets very distracted-- he'll eat for a few then pop off to check out the world-- the only time I can tell if he's getting a full feeding is if I put it in a bottle- but he never cries for food early, so I guess he's good?! But honestly, I'm sure this newfound nosiness is the reason for the middle of the night feed. (Anyone have any secret tips for this??)

Jack still wears size 2 diapers- we'll be in those for a while! And he's still rocking the 3-6 month clothes, although the length is going to eliminate the 3's and send him just to 6 months within a couple days, for sure. Jack is also sucking his hands a lot and has had a couple low grade fevers over the past couple of days- so he may be getting ready for a tooth-- but who's to say for sure?!

Jack loves his brothers- I can be holding him on my hip and all of a sudden he's cackling-- I look up to see that Max or Gabe is doing something that is cracking him up. They both still ask to hold him regularly, Gabe will actually carry him around, and they both stop to give him kisses throughout the day too. Chad has started sneaking off with Jack, to a quiet room with a bed and laying there talking to him- I think he's taking in his coos and wonderfulness. Jack still prefers me, Chad, or Eli over everyone else- but he's doing much better with his separation anxiety. The past 2 weeks at church have been great and I'm going to take him to the gym today... we'll see if I make it through my whole class :)

Jack you are one loved little boy-- from the top of your mostly bald head to the bottom of your little clammy roll chubby feet. You make my heart swell with pride and gratefulness every time I see you. Your smile is absolutely amazing and your sparkling eyes continue to dazzle me daily. You are such a precious gift to me and our family that I seriously spend our prayer time every night solely thanking God for you and kissing your nose. Thankfully, God doesn't mind me pausing the bedtime prayers to kiss your sweet face. I keep trying to wrap my mind around the fact that He loves you even more than I do-- then I remember that He gave his son's life for you-- and that says it all. I couldn't do that. Just loving you reminds me over and over again what Christ did for us on that cross. God loves you immeasurably more than you and I will ever be able to understand, He gave of his son so that He can spend forever with you- and there is NOTHING you can do Jack that will make Him love you more or less. You are fully, completely, and wholly loved by the amazing and Holy God of the Universe.

I love you my Jack, sweet as sugar baby Jack, my Jay Bay! Happy 6 months!

Max is funny

Exhibit #1: He loves his vitamins and he tells me that he "needs" one everyday... except that he calls the spidamins... and anytime he sees his Spiderman slippers, it reminds him of his spidamins... but they don't have Spiderman on them, they are Flintstone Vitamins!  Funny!

Exhibit #2: I usually strive for a healthy pantry but sometimes Publix puts things on sale that make me buy them... like say Chocolate Lucky Charms... but they promise whole grain, that counts, right??

Anyway, Max eats them, dry, on the couch, and he picks out all the "flashmillows"-- yep, the flashmillows. And he leaves the chocolate part. Who leaves chocolate?

This guy!

He's funny!

Exhibit #3: One of Max's favorite things is his bicycle. He rides it pretty much anytime he's awake and home. But when he gets sent to bed or nap, you can always find funny things in his trunk-- check out the random junk in his trunk:

Funny!

Exhibit #4: In true Noblitt form, Max loves shoes. He gets this from me and I got it from my Dad. It's hereditary-- the boy can't help it. All his shoes have names and purposes, and he'll tell me which ones he "needs" each day, depending on the activity. And when he gets new shoes (usually from my Dad, which makes them "Pop shoes") he is very proud and point his toe and twists and turns his foot to display them to anyone who will look. He also likes to wear any shoes that he finds lying around, and if I'm feeding Jack on our bed, without fail, Max will head into my closet and try on all my shoes-- mainly the high heels. And his favorite ending point for the shoes that he is currently in love with is at the base of my shower... again, Funny!

And I pretty much find myself cracking up all the time... even though I've threatened to put him up for sale lately, I think I've decided to keep him :)

From the Wagon to the Water

I mentioned that last week, Chad went to Texas to visit his grandmother, who is known to us as Yang Yang. We knew she was close to the end of her life and while he was there, she actually went to be with the Lord. She was a wonderful woman, who lived a very full life, which leads us to Chad's first guest appearance on the blog. Max and Jack are so young, that they won't remember this dear woman, so Chad put his memories into writing to share it with them:

My last grandparent went to be with Lord on November 2nd.  We called her Yang Yang, and she was my mom's mom.  She was born in Pittsburgh, PA in a wealthy family. However, after the great depression, she lived in the typical middle class family.  I always thought she carried herself like royalty.  She was a career woman, before it was popular.  She spent almost 40 years in the insurance business, with the same company.  She was the great woman behind a good man for over 50 years.  

I have a lot of fond memories of Yang Yang and Pap Pap.  That is what we called my mom's parents.  During the summer time, from about age 5 through age 14, I spent just as much time with them as I did my parents.  They had a lake house on Lake LBJ, in Granite Shoals, TX.  It was paradise for me and my two brothers. We would usually leave around 5 o'clock, after they got off work and stay the weekend.  It was about 90 miles from their house.  We would pile in the green station wagon and head up, listening to big band music and hopping all around the back of the wagon.  Yang Yang loved to sing to us.  When we arrived at the lake, we would run straight from the wagon to the water.  Half of the time I was fishing, and the other half swimming.  I usually  spent the mornings with Pap Pap.  He would always get up at the crack of dawn and make his eggs and potatoes with coffee.  We would go rabbit hunting, take a ride on the scooter, or just go for a nice walk over the granite hills and through all the blue bonnets. 

I remember the house was always so welcoming when we ran in from the lake.  Food was always ready, or it was delivered to the dock in the form of a pyramid of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cut in fourths. She made the best spaghetti on the nights when my friends would come over and play cards with us.  She was very competitive and she loved to play cards!  She taught me and my brothers how to swim, because she was amazing in the water. 

Well, as time passed, the lake house got sold.  Yang Yang and Pap Pap continued to travel a lot, and we got very involved with high school sports.  They always showed up at my games to cheer me on, through high school and college.  After I graduated from TLU, I moved to Orlando, FL.  They came out one time and visited. I was working at WDW, so I took them to the Magic Kingdom and we went to dinner at some really cool places.  Over the years, I would see them about twice a year.  Pap Pap went to be with the Lord in 1998, and Yang Yang moved up by my parents in the Texas hill country.  It was great to have her so close when we went to visit.  She would always call me to talk about the Spurs. I remember when they won their third championship, Lauren and I were on our way to Los Angeles, and I couldn't wait to land to talk to her about it.  

We try to always make it back home to spend Christmas with my family. My mom called and said I might want to come home early because Yang Yang was not doing well.  Lauren started looking at flights for us to go out in a couple of weeks, Gabe just returned from a TX about a month earlier, so he was going to stay home.  After talking to my mom several times, we decided that I should get there asap.  Lauren and I thought it would be best if I got there and talk to her, then she could bring the family for the funeral.  I arrived in TX on Tuesday November 1st and was at Yang Yang's bedside at 12:25 pm.  I immediately told her how much I loved her.  We starred at each other, smiles on our faces.  I ran my hand through her hair as she asked me about Lauren and the boys. We sang a song that she used to sing to us as we were driving to the lake.  After about 2 hours of sitting by her side and having visitors in and out, she needed a nap.  We went to lunch and she closed her eyes for the last time. Me, my mom, dad, brother, and sister in law we standing by her side and holding her hands when she took her last breath. I learned more about her in the last two hours of her life than I did the previous 25 years.

One of my favorite songs is "Blessed be Your Name". It talks about the ups and downs of life, and how the Lord is steady.  No matter what happens, Blessed be the Lord.  It says that every blessing poured our, should be turned back in praise.  So, I want to praise the Lord for Yang Yang's life.  She was a blessing poured out on everyone she encountered.  Thank you for her dignity. Thank you for her talents.  Thank you for her generosity.  Thank you for her strength.  The way she lived her life was an inspiration to me and my family.  Thank you!

In Honor of Ruth Mae Lehner... December 19, 1920 to November 2, 201, We love you and are so grateful for your life!

(This picture was taken at her 90th birthday party last year- can you see where my boys get their beautiful blue eyes? :) )