Noah's November

November is a special month: It's the month of Thanksgiving, and, perhaps not coincidentally, it's also National Adoption Month!  We are so grateful for adoption, and we are so grateful for you, Noah.  To celebrate National Adoption month, I did a lot of posts about adoption on my blog, and Katie also wrote up her full story.  I know you will love reading her perspective someday.

To celebrate Thanksgiving, we went to Idaho to spend the holiday with Grandma and Grandpa Nielson.  Your Uncle Cole also got married the week before Thanksgiving, so we ended up spending 10 days with the family, and you loved every minute of it.  You were happier and smilier than I've ever seen you.  And why wouldn't you be, when you got to spend so much time with so many of your favorite people??

Your Uncles and Aunts:

Your Grandpa and Grandma:

Your Birthparents (we saw Katie several times, and we saw Drew for an afternoon when he was home for his college break):

I think you were sad that you couldn't join us in eating the ginormous FH'zookie.
P.S. I love this little frowny face you make.  It is precious. 

Your Mom:

Your Dad:

Matching cowlicks!

You had a very eventful November...and your December will be just as fun with your Westover relatives.  You are one lucky baby!!

A Family of Three

We got our family photos taken this past weekend.  I am thrilled by how they turned out.  You were super grumpy before the photo shoot began, so I was afraid that you wouldn't smile for the camera.  It took you a while to warm up...

You're not paying attention, but you're still cute as can be.

"Do I really have to do this, Mom?"

 ...but then Mom and Dad talked to you about it...

"Please smile, Noah!"
You look like you're thinking about it.

...and you decided to cooperate!  Once you got smiling, you couldn't stop!  You are so cute!

You love your dad!  And he loves you!

My very favorite shot!

Shoe Shopping with Mom and Aunt Laura

Please notice the stacks of boxes on your lap, and on the front of your stroller!  

Thanks for holding on to all those boxes for us, Sweet Pea!

You were a great helper for about ten minutes, and then, in typical male fashion, you got tired of shopping and started fussing.  Figures.

Nightly Tradition

Every night before you go to bed, we sit in your blue rocking chair and I sing to you.  It's one of my favorite parts of the day--I love snuggling with you.

I love to sing you "Edelweiss" and "Where is Love?" (the two lullabies that your Grandma Sally sang to me), "Abide With Me Tis Eventide," and "Hush, the Gentle Night is Falling."

When Daddy puts you to bed, he sings too.  Though he isn't much of a singer, you don't seem to mind a bit.  You are as content with him as you are with me.

Love you, Baby.

Running with Mom

Your mom is trying to get her chubby butt back in shape! We went for our first run together last week, and we've gone for several since then.  You seem to enjoy it. :)  I wouldn't mind running either if I got to do it in this kind of luxury...

Mother and Son

 

Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone,

But still miraculously my own.

Never forget for a single minute,

you didn't grow under my heart--but in it.

I love you, Sweet Noah.