Traditions

With the Holidays coming, I have been thinking a lot about family traditions. There are many that we have that I will pass onto Emma, and mnay that PJ remembers too! It has been fun to think about them all, and I got to thinking--I wonder what other people's family traditions are, as I'd love to add to our many wonderful memories in the making.

I would love to hear your traditions--if you read this and want to share a comment, or email me, I'd love it!

Here are some family traditions of ours:

*Open 1 Christmas gift Christmas eve. Then Christmas day, my grandpa had a bell, and the first grandchild to wake up got to ring the bell on top of his shoulders and wake everyone up!

*Your typical ones:big Thanksgiving meals and family walks after supper, Easter egg hunts and decorating the eggs, making Christmas cookies, Apple and Pumpkin picking--and making the pies, etc., Trick-or-treating

*They came out with an Advent Calendar for dogs with bones inside--this is great, and I have an Advent Wreath with bible verses, prayers or activities for each day

*Eating dinner together as a family each night

*Operation Christmas Child-shoe box gifts and now we also do the Advent Conspiracy through church!

Some that I want to start:

*Work a soup kitchen before the christmas season

*Special birthday dinner--your choice

*Each child gets a day alone with mom/dad

Well, hope this finds you well!

Fall is in the Air

Sorry it has been so long--we had a cold go through our house and, fingers crossed, are all finally over it. Emma was dedicated on October 10th, and it was a lovely service at church. She and 28 others kids were dedicated, all in a one hour service! We had a lunch afterward..and truely lovely day with family and friends! This weekend was Homecoming in Madison and a big game against Iowa--the game wasn't much fun to watch, but Emma and I got to hang out with Jazz, what a blast!

Today was a perfect fall day-crisp air, clear blue skies and a high of 60 so I decided it was the perfect day to go to the Apple Orchard, get some apples, my favorite apple butter--yum-o, and some pics of Emma! We got our apples the easy way (pre-picked and pre-washed) and I spent most of the time in the orchard trying to find perfect lighting to take pics. I plopped Emma on a blanket and got on the ground myself and shot away. It was so fun! Then there were a bunch of pumpkins leaning against the barn with a bushel of hay, so I sat Emma amidst them and started taking some pictures of her. 2 little girls came out of the barn and saw that I was taking pic

tures and got behind me and started dancing and waving to get Emma to look at them. It was so darling--then they said "we love babies, we love to take care of them!" What sweet girls, what a great day!

Dream Come True

What a week! Emma turned 7 months old on Sunday--such a big girl. Monday-after many attempts, we found our dream home! God works in amazing ways! It is everything that we wanted and more--we are so blessed. We sigend the papers on Wednesday evening--so now it's officially in escrow. Now as for Emma....

Emma has swimming lessons on Wednesday mornings, and she absolutely loves it-she's like a fish. Goes under the water, kicks a bit, so cute. Thursday, I go to a group at church with women, and they have daycare for the 2 hours-and I had my eyes on the nanny light the whole 2 hrs...but she made it, I was so proud of her! That afternoon she played with a Halloween Jack in the Box type toy, and the first 2 times it just kind of surprised her, but the third time, it freaked her out and she was crying-oh so sad. Today she discovered that her voice echos in our room, so she kept playing this screaking game over and over. Along with the echos--she has discovered she has a tongue and makes may lala, mama, dada, baba, noises! A new food was introduced yesterday:pear. I have heard that pear flushes babies out, and let me tell ya--it's true. 5 poopies today when she normally takes 1 a day...hmm, maybe I should pair pear (hehe) with something binding next time! We are looking forward to the "Border Battle" this weekend! Madison vs. Minnesota, and then Packers vs. Vikings--GO Badkers!!

The Past 6 months

Well, I really could go on forever about the last 6 months, all the changes Emma has gone through, all the amazing moments we have had-the laughs, joys, the "firsts", some frustrations-but overall motherhood is the richest blessing on earth. Emma will be 7 months on Sunday and a good friend asked what she is doing now, and I realized that although pictures are fun to see of her, they don't tell the whole story, and unless I sit down to write, all the memories tend to blurr. So, I will pick up where we left off...wow, day 25!--fill in some of the blanks, and help you "see" Emma! Maybe the easiest is to start with this week. So our lives are crazy right now. We listed our house 3 weeks ago Tuesday, and have an accepted offer, so this week has been consumed with that and house hunting. Showings, house hunting, etc has started to throw Emma a bit off schedule--so she caught up today by taking an almost 3 hr nap!! We've had playdates, a trip to the capital, plenty of walks, and some nice memories at home. On Wednesday, I was feeding her lunch, and she just started cracking up, which of course, made me laugh(she is like her daddy this way) and then she started laughing again because I was laughing, and this went on a good couple of minutes-it was bliss! Today she had another funny moment--I was burping her, and she grabbed my face, which is a daily occurance, and then proceeded to burp in my ear and laugh, it was hilarious! She is getting to the point now where she really loves to be on the ground playing. When you hold her she tries to "get down" by pushing agaist you with her arms and legs, and arches her back. Then gets all excited when she sees her toys! Her 2 favorite books are Goodnite Moon and Olivia.

I will update this once a week--as to not bombard-but rather collect the memories then share more at once! Until next week.

25 days old

Wow how time flies when you are having fun!  Miss Emma Lynn Noelke was born at 6:01 am Friday February 27th, 2009.  She was 8lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long--who of you guessed right on the blog poll??  We went into labor on Thursday--while I was at work and didnt realize that they were contractions!  I even ran some errands.  PJ met me at home about 2:30pm due to weather--and then we started timing contractions about 3pm.  By 6pm they were 6 mins. apart and lasting about 30-40 seconds.  We called the hospital and they said to labor at home as long as possible.  By 11 we decided to go to the hospital--the contrction were 3 mins apart and lasting a min.  When we checked into Triage I was 6 cm diaplated.  We had an all natural birth and it was a wonderful experience.  Ama and Baba (PJ's parents) arrived at the hospital shortly after 8am, and then my mom was there by 3.  Miss Emma did not sleep a wink almost her whole first day of life.  She was SO hungry(started rooting right after PJ cut the umbilical cord!).  She had her first bath at the hospital and hated it!  I knew that Emma knew when to be born-nurse Sandy who was my guardian angel through the miscarriage was our nurse on Saturday night, and only works weekends--so it was wonderful to see her!!  Fast forward to now!  We have been to the doctor 3 times, and as they say--"she is perfect!".  My dad sister and mom were able to come up to meet Emma and while they were here, her umbilical cord fell off on her 2 week birthday.  She is now 9lb 6oz and 22.5 inches long, and the joy of our lives!  Sorry it has been so long!

It's a Start

We had a Doctor's appointment today, and though not too much has progressed since last week, we are 1 cm dialated now! So that is a start to the process, and it made me really excited.  She says this is no prediction of when labor can start--she says as much as they know about labor, they really don't know much.  But, for me, that means things are starting, so my body is doing what it is supposed to do!

Pictures

As I reflect on our due date being 8 days away--it is hard to fathom that this day is almost here.  40 weeks seems like such a long time, and though it is--somehow it is already here!  We had a great week this week.  The doctor's appt once again confirmed that there really have been no changes--but the head has now descended to -1 position.  Wednesday night, Jazz came over with her Mary Poppins bag, and a professional camera, and we had a ball taking pictures of the-well, ball of a belly!  Jazz's creative mind amazes me.  I am really greatful to have these pictures as it will be so easy to forget the amazing transformation that the body goes through when I am not huge full of baby anymore.  PJ and I have been advised to do everything that we want to do now--before the baby comes, so we had our "Friday Night Fish Fry" date night on Friday.  I am at that point beyond people wondering if it is ok to ask if we are expecting, but rather--strangers ask when we are due, what we are having and if we have names.  Pregnancy is such a conversation starter-I wonder if the baby will be too!  We had such a wonderful time--and PJ is now in the so excited emotional state.  It is hard to fathom that you will be in the world with us shortly little one!  We got the car seat all positioned in the car today--and that was the last "big" thing we had to do.  So as PJ says "come on out little baby, we want to meet you!"

Baby's Noelke Shower

Sorry it has been a while! Last weekend was Baby's shower hosted by the Peckman's and the Noelke's--and it was a wonderful affair! We got to spend the afternoon with Ama and Baba, and cousin Ellen and Auntie Lynne and Uncle Todd. My how Ellen has grown! She has such a darling personality emerging, and I just can't believe what changes happen in just 3 months. We had wonderful weather, and a great turn out. Marcy and Paul went ALL out with food and planning. Baby got so many wonderful gifts--it is unbelievable how generous everyine is! At our check up this week, the only thing I learned was that baby is roughly 7-7.5 lbs--and with 2 weeks left and the baby gaining about 1/2 a lb a week--the baby will most likely be at least 8 lbs--so we shall see!(G-Marmy, my mom, thinks we will have a 9 lb. baby). I have begun the swelling, and it is scary at the end of the day to look at sausages for toes. I have taken my rings off, to avoid possibly having to have them cut off, and have a fun story--of course has to do with kids. A boy in my class this morning finally noticed that I am pregnant! When he left, he went up to one of the large group leaders and told her that his teacher Miss Amy was going to have a baby. Then proceeded to say that he was worried about me because I was not married. She replied, well, what makes you think she's not married. He said, well, because she doesn't have a ring on! It boggles my mind that he was that observant about my ring, but just noticed that I am pregnant--kids say the darndest things!

So Emily had another dream about our baby--it is so far 2 dreams girl, and this last dream boy (I guess we named him Nathan-her finace's name, and this did not make her very happy!). Is it bad that I have only had one dream about baby? I dreamt in the beginning of our pregnancy that we were having a girl, but have had no dreams since then--well, no dreams about baby, and no dreams that make any sense whatsoever!

PJ and I had a nice Valentine's Day. I got flowers and we ate a fancy meal by candlelight, and the house was so quiet. It was so relaxing. We talked about how we are going to be parents soon, and it is so hard to believe that our count down on here is down to 15 days. I honestly can't wait to meet our little miracle, and hug and kiss and love it unconditionally.

Certified:)

Our last class through the hospital was on Tuesday, and we passed.  It was on breasfeeding, and we actually learned quite a bit!  Positions for baby, correct latch, good bras and tanks, pumps, etc.  So much more to learn though--but this learning is hands on, so we just have to wait for bebe!  Not much to report from the doctor's appointment today--other than everything is just as it should be.  Baby's heartbeat is great, and baby is still head down.  My cervix may be 25% effaced, but that really means nothing.  She says to expect the baby sometime in March!  On Monday we will be considered full term, so that is a VERY exciting milestone for us!  The baby sure is getting big in there!  I became a member of Chapter DV of PEO last night--and another woman in the chapter is due March 22, and they had us take picutes belly to belly--the babies are friends already!  I really love the woman-and am so blessed that my grandmother got involved in this wonderful organization--for I get to be apart of a great group of woman!  

We are supposed to have a heat wave come through here tomorrow and through the weekend, it is to get up to the 40's--this is very exciting.  And on the other side of the country my sister is extatic that it is raining and cooling off in California--I wonder what that must be like!  Until next time!

Appointments

We had our 35 week appointment on Thursday of last week, and they checked the baby's position (it was head down!) and it was really exciting for PJ and I to see where she said the head, feet hands, bottom, etc were.  They did the Strep B test, and checked my cervix--nothing is starting yet, so that is good.   Today, PJ and I got to meet the baby's Pediatrician!  Dr. Kreckman seems to be a great fit!  She is really up front and honest, and has a 4 and 2 year old, so is really familiar with the things we may go through.  And she is a sports fan!  I am down to having an appointment every week now, so I will update on anything that we find out.  28 days from today-so this is the home stretch!

Mommies!

We all go through phases where we realize that we have the best parents in the world...1)when we are really little and grab for our safety-daddy and mommy's finger! 2) After about our first week of college living in a dorm 3) when college is over and we get the real world 4) when we get married and walk down the aisle gripping our safety again 5) when we are pregnant and know what our parents went through.  

This past weekend, my mommy was able to come up--the last weekend that she could come before Baby Noelke is born!  We had so much fun!  It started with Madi eating half a pan of brownies right before we need to leave for dinner at the Weaver's silly her!  We had a great time visiting, and little Elijah is getting so big!  They gave us a bassinet and infant swing--they are so neat.  Then we got home to Madi so wound up from a sugar/caffine high that she couldn't sleep-lovely! Saturday we were off to a jam packed day.  We bought all the cloth diapers--thank you to my work! On Thursday, they threw PJ and I a baby shower that we will never forget.  We played a game with a crying baby and they helped us to determine the correct ways to soothe the baby.  The last cry, they told be to get me and tell me that baby was stinky--so I go over change the baby, and there was a HUGE mess in the diaper--it shocked me to say the least.  Then we played another cute game--of keep or throw--and there were a bunch of diapers that either had something good in them, or something like I had seen in the previous game!  As a gift, they gave us a gift card to Happy Bambino to cover the cost of the diapers-PJ and I are still in shock by their generosity. 

Then got a dresser to finish off the nursery, and a bin for the diapers.  Then we came home and washed all the furniture and clothes and put all the clothes, sheets, blankies, etc away--oh it feels so great!  My mom also brought the 120 yr. old rocker that was used to rock her and her brothers, and me and Em!  My mom has so much energy-she wore me right out!  It is so funny because my mom has a hard time looking at my belly!  Though she has been pregnant before-it is just hard for her to look at her daughter prego with her grandbaby!  It is hard to fathom that soon it will go from PJ and I to three--and I have this baby kicking, moving and growing inside--I wonder what it must feel like for PJ preparing to be a daddy(he will be such an incredible daddy)!

Sunday, he got a huge kick to move his office down stairs, and turn his office into the guest bedroom.  So now we have a place for guests again!  He is really excited about the upstairs being about sleep and baby-no work!

Last night was our Newborn Care class, and PJ was out of town so my friend Holly was able to go with me!  We learned what happens the first few hours after birth--skin to skin, breastfeeding, sleep, and then learned how to clean the umbilical cord, and about shots, and about circumcision for the boys--and care, learned about the first bath and sponge bathing, learned the 5 s's, and were taught the correct way to swaddle, learned what an oz. of pee feels like on a diaper, how often to feed, how often they go potty and to change diapers, ways to minimize risk of SIDS, signs of illness, and car seat safety.  It made me so excited to meet our little one--those first few moments--I am sure there is NO better feeling than that here on earth--witnessing a MIRACLE!   

Cloth Diapering

Well, I just got home from this class, and I knew I was going to do cloth diapering before, but now I am SO excited about it.  I had no idea the "culture" that there is around cloth diapering, and how much people get into it.  The women that I met were amazing, and I am so greatful to live in Madison, with Happy Bambino as a resource.  We learned about how to use(there are so many terms--pre-folds, covers, Bummies, pockets...and different fabrics--cotton, fleece, wool, hemp!), rinse, wash, store, make your own deotorizers with baking soda, use real wash clothes--and the list goes on and on.  Just had to write because I was so excited about my knowledge!  I also learned some fascinating facts about Lotus Births--what you learn from others is remarkable!

Before and After

We had our third class this week, and it was about the medication that is availible during labor and then at the end we got to take a tour of the birthing center.  It is really nice up there.  They told us where to check in, and then showed us a room--they are quite large, and that is where you are during labor, delivery and recovery-and there is a pull out for PJ, so that is nice!  I am still wanting to do an all natural birth--but was glad to be informed of the options so I can make a decision if I desperately need them.  PJ was still out of town-so I got to go with a friend--Brit!  I have the cloth diapering class this afternoon, and am really looking forward to that.  

This week we had our 33 week check up--very routine still, weight, blood pressure, measure the fondus and we are right at 33 weeks--so all is well!  Next appt. will have a bit more "checking" so I will update you at the end of January!

I had a girls night on Friday, and am so blessed by these friendships.  They are so dear to my heart and have been a great source of support.  

Have I mentioned ever that kids sure do say the cutest things?  At Sunday school this morning, some of the kids finally realized that I am pregnant (i'm only 8.5 months in now!!)  One boy asked as he touched my belly " What is wrong with you Miss Amy?  Is there something in there?". ahah. I replied, "well, the

re is nothing wrong with me, but yes, there is a baby in there, do you know what that is called when there is a baby inside a mommy's tummy?"  And his reply--"Yes, baby Jesus!"(recall Christmas just passed!)  Kids sure do say the most innocent things.

Though the nursery is not complete, we have most of the major furniture in there now, so I have included a before (all of our guests who have stayed in there will recall these pictures), and now an after picture.  We have nothing on the walls, so it may appear a bit plain, but my mom is coming down next weekend and will help with all the final details--washing all the tiny clothing, sheets, towels, etc.

Project Nursery!

The furniture arrived on Friday!  Well, the crib was delivered in the morning, and the delivery guys brought the boxes up into the nursery.  This changing table/ dresser, however, was left in a 84 lb box on our door step in the snow, and PJ is out of town.  I was able to shimmy it inside, and then got all the wood pieces out and carried them upstairs, and that was my project today, put 20+ pieces of wood and screws together to make this.  Madi was such a good girl, playing and keeping me company.  It took a while, but I got it all done and here is a picture(yes that is Madi's tail in the corner-ha)!  I took the crib parts out of the box, but will need PJ's help with that one--definately a two person job, but seems way easier!  So when we have that complete, I will put a before and after picture of the nursery.

Happy New Year to everyone!  PJ and I made it to midnight, but not much after--it is hard to stay up that late(I'm so old!)!  Then had a relaxing day on New Year's Day--we took Madi to the dog park, watched the Rose Parade, and the football games, too bad the Rose Bowl was not more exciting.  We had a wedding on Sunday the 4th--did I ever mention how much I love weddings!  They are so powerful, and when we got home, we looked through our weddings pictures--reminiscing about our wedding day-what beloved memories.  

We have had two classes now, and we have learned some valuable information.  We do relaxation exercises and visualization techniques.  She the women hold ice in their hand for 15, 30, and 60 seconds and had us direct our focus onto something else.  This was to help us feel how long contractions are--now I DOUBT contractions will feel like holding ice, but I liked the concept.  We also had  different labor stations of positions, tools, etc for labor.  It was neat.  We watched an all natural labor video that was very empowering.  It made me so excited for the second we get to meet bebe!

PJ is in sunny Florida enjoying some golf before his National Sales Meetings start.  It is pretty quiet around here with just Madi and I but it certainly forces me to relax and live in this moment. Hope all is well with all of you.