News from Noelle

It's been an exciting 2 weeks for me...

* Dad has been staying home with me 3 days a week. We are having lots of fun together and I've learned how to drink out of a sippy cup. I still hate taking naps, though!

* I got my first 2 teeth! Can you see them?

* I've been eating rice cereal and oatmeal...yum!

* I turned 7 months old.

* The UCLA Bruins are going to the final 4!!!

Come on guys, when are we going to visit Grandma & Grandpa in Hawaii?? I'm ready!

Look What the Easter Bunny Brought Us!

We had a fun Easter with the cousins. Noelle enjoyed her first Easter egg hunt by sleeping through the whole thing. Brianna, Reece and Ben were nice enough to find a few eggs for her.

First Solid Food

Noelle got her first solid food today....rice cereal. She didn't know quite what to make of it this morning. She only took a few bites. This evening she got more into it and ate every spoonful. It's a slow and messy process!

End of Maternity Leave

My maternity leave ended and I went back to work yesterday (sob). Kirk is staying home 3 days a week and I am staying home 2. Noelle still refuses to drink out of a bottle, sippy cup, regular cup, dropper...you name it. Kirk has the unfortunate task of trying to get Noelle to eat while I'm at work. The 6 1/2 months went by so fast. Noelle and I had lots of fun.

ZOO

Noelle took her first trip to the Zoo with her friends James and Dillon. The babies were a little unfazed by the animals, but what did we expect... In any case, the Moms had fun! The stroller gang
The elephants put Noelle to sleep
Now we're having fun!

Music Class

Noelle and I have been taking a couple different music classes since she was 2 months old. She really enjoys the class we're taking now where we sing songs, dance and play with instruments. She's all smiles. Kirk got to join in on the fun this week.

Noelle loves swings

With the bay area weather so beautiful, we headed out to the park to hang out. Noelle took her first ride in a swing and LOVED it!

My Grandma is running for mayor!

My Grandma Ann Johnston is running for the Mayor of Stockton. She has been busy campaigning and planning fundraisers. The primary election is on June 3rd so she only has 3 months to go. Send good thoughts (and maybe money) her way. :)

Here's her website:

www.johnstonformayor.com

Love, Noelle

hernia no more!

Today was the big day for Noelle to get her hernia fixed. She wasn't too happy about not being able to eat before the procedure. Grandma and Grandma Johnston came over to give some moral support while Noelle was in surgery. The surgery went well and Noelle was back in our arms a little over an hour later. The procedure was done laproscopically so there is only one incision about 3/4 inches long just below her waist. When we first got to her in the recovery room she was pretty groggy and making a sad little cry. But after about 30 minutes she was more like herself and smiling. After getting fed by mom we got her dressed and made our way home. She has been cranky a bit this afternoon and catching up on the lost eating, but doesn't seem to be in too much pain.

Waiting to get into pre-op and filling time by chewing on fingers.

Sporting the new hospital gown infant fashions, no pink available

Just waking up from the anesthesia and happy to see mom and dad again.

Catching some much needed rest on the drive home with a gift from the hospital (the bear not the scar)

first vacation and trip to the beach

We just got back from a 4 day trip to Monterey where Noelle got to go to the beach for her first time. The weather was perfect, nice and sunny every day. Noelle wasn't quite sure what to think of the sand between her toes. She kept wiggling them and rubbing her feet together.

Getting sand between the toes.

We also went to the Monterey Aquarium. Sometimes Noelle was interested in the fish, other times she was just interested in sucking on her fingers or sleeping.

Checking out the fishes with dad.

Mom giving a closer look at the sardines.

Noelle also got her first experience hiking when we went on a couple of small loop trails at the Point Lobos State park south of Carmel.

Having fun on vacation...