Big Boy at Dinnertime

Noah has started sitting in a highchair now for supper... he LOVES sitting up, rather than laying back in a bouncy seat, to eat his cereal. He's now eating veggies and fruits too, liking peas, squash, sweet potatoes, (hates beans), pears & applesauce. We haven't tried the bananas yet, but I'm sure he'll follow Ben's lead, and gobble those right down as well. Matt's anxious to feed him fun stuff like yogurt or jello, but I have to remind him that babies can't digest all those things quite yet. I know, I KNOW, it's not going to kill him, but that's the beauty of raising a child... you get to do it YOUR way. ha. I don't have to allow others to give him the junk or treats, until I'm ready for him to have them. He'll grow up fast enough, and be able to try new things all along the way, but for now, it's Gerber's Baby Foods 1 for Noah! :)

Four Months Old

As you can imagine, there's no way I'm going to be able to tell a little darling like this "NO" about anything! ha. He is just such a charmer... he stops traffic everywhere we go ~ the stores, baseball games, work, daycare. He really loves to interact with everyone we encounter, and everyone naturally loves to stop and talk to him too. Most always, he shows off by giggling and smiling for them, and then he plays "shy" by snuggling his face into my shoulder (oh, now if THAT doesn't melt my heart too!!!!)

You know you're in love, when you are in the middle of your workday, and all of a sudden have an unexpected ping in your heart, and just have to open your phone, and ask the daycare to send you a picture of the one who holds the key to your heart... that's what she did yesterday. The picture above was accompanied by the caption "hi mommy, howz ur day" . I was so thrilled when I received that text message, that I laughed out loud (so what if the people in the parking lot outside my office thought I was nuts?).

When Ed and I ventured into this journey of adopting Noah, we knew, in our heads, that we'd be able to love our new baby, just as we love our biological children. But I NEVER dreamed my heart would fill to overflowing like it has, with the love for this little person!!! Words can't even describe how full of joy I feel each time I walk into Noah's room, and hear his little sleeping noises; or how much my heart leaps each time I hear him giggle from the other room when his daddy or brothers play with him; or how much I hate having to leave him each morning as I head off to work. I knew how it felt to be a mom before, but something about the passage of time, and the kids growing up, must fade the impact or the direct impression these little baby moments leave on one's heart.

I hope you, too, can feel the unexplainable joy that the LOVE OF A CHILD can bring to your life! If you have children, and they're growing up too fast to appreciate the little things (like teenagers wanting gas money, or jr. high kids forgetting to pick up their room), stop what you're doing and take the time to hug them. They were once that small, innocent, and wonderful age where your heart leaped with joy..... they're still that same source of wonderment, (just covered in reality) ha. Bless you all, and have a great weekend!

Month Three... where'd the time go?

Noah "talks" to us every day... sometimes telling quite the stories (ok, not really, but that's what we say). His dimples really come out when he's laughing and talking. Everything has started going into his mouth... even the hanging toys that he loves playing with.

Our neighbor's daughter had a little boy just 4 days after Noah was born... so we love having the two boys "play" each time Kara brings Drew home for a weekend. Even at this young age, it looks like we can predict who might pick on whom.... Drew's trying to mess up Noah's hair, and Noah just looks annoyed. ha. We look forward to watching the two boys "grow up together" (on occasional weekend visits, anyway).

Noah likes to have "tummy time" and is really lifting his head up more and more.


His hands are ALWAYS in his mouth... usually just a finger at a time. His long (piano) fingers are so long and strong he often gags himself.

I can't believe how much he's grown, when I look back at his first month pictures (look back to February or March), and he was just a little peanut in this bouncy chair... now he tries to roll around and wiggle out of it... but it's still a good "hang-out" for him, as he loves the music that plays. He's such a happy baby, as you can see his dimples really popping here!

We hope you have days that are so filled with joy, that you have "dimple-popping" moments in your daily routine.

Luvin' Bathtime!

In preparation for a sudsy playtime, Noah and I did a little photo shoot in the bathroom mirror! He hasn't figured out yet that it's himself he's looking at, but he sure likes the little guy he sees staring back at him. Look at those big eyes!!!

Just as I get Noah to bust out laughing, and I raise the camera to capture the hilarity, he stares in stunned amazement at the lens, usually fading the giggle. So I assure you that he DOES laugh a lot, and smiles even more, it's just hard to get it captured, and shared here.

Except here, that is.... as long as Noah isn't aware of the camera, he laughs with abandon! I wish all of us could bust a gut like that, and have a good ol' belly laugh, every night! Isn't that what life is all about after all? Laughing at ourselves, and enjoying the sheer JOY that life can bring in the little things!! Here, Noah laughs as I clap his hands together, and simply say "Yeah, Noah!" Even Ben (the brace-face kid in the background) loved the moment, and laughed out loud.

Jr. Prom!!!

Remember that cute, cuddly little baby I had 17 years ago? The one that I bought that little Fischer Price phone that you pulled the string, and it rolled along behind you, with the eyes on the front of the phone fluttering? Why did I EVER get him that little cute phone toy? Look at him now!!! He's NEVER off that cell phone! ha. He tells me it's a sign of being socially well-adjusted, and being fortunate to have so many friends (yeah, and he doesn't have to pay the cellular bill, either) hahaha. He is a great kid though... if talking on the cell phone is his worst offense, then I consider myself lucky!!!

His date, Sarah, is a very sweet girl. They're good friends, and they made an awesome looking couple that night! (I asked her dad if he was headed for therapy after seeing his daughter in such a knock-out dress though). I don't think I EVER had a body like that (not even at her age).

Ben wasn't interested in willingly posing for a photo with his big brother, but I'm GLAD I got him to cooperate, so I can keep this moment in time into the future.

A cool "family" portrait..... Ben, Kylie (the daughter I never had... our neighbor for years, and Matt's best friend), Matt, and Noah. Kylie's a senior... we're sure going to miss her when she's off at college (even if it is just up the road at UND)! She's been just like a sister to Matt & Ben.... and they're truly like her little brothers. So we couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap a picture of all of them together (even though Noah had fallen asleep during the Grand March).

Fun Times in the Spring Time

As I try to get myself in shape (haven't been in the pool all winter... needing to exercise SO bad), I got a jogging stroller. Noah LOVED the run, and he was a great little passenger. Our weather here had a set-back, and it's cold again now. But that can't last forever. So hopefully soon, Noah and I will be running on the streets of town again!

Noah loves his new exersaucer!!! He is starting to stare at the toys, and wants to reach out for them. He smiles when he's in it... so much so, that I think we're starting to see a sign of DIMPLES!

Noah and daddy played on the floor tonight, as they watched tv (ok, so only Ed was watching tv). But it didn't take long, until brother Ben joined in...

Daddy was feeling the weight difference in the two boys! haha!! Noah had a smaller surface to balance himself on, so biggest brother Matt had to stand near for added stability. PIG-PILE!!

A Night of Noah...

An evening at the Hippen house... we come home from work, and try to unwind with the family. Noah gets out of his car seat, we assess if it's bottle-time or not, and go from there. Tonight was no different... although Noah put us through the paces. We went from one activity to another this evening....

First, we couldn't resist the photo opportunity... his adorable polo shirt and jeans (first day wearing "real" jeans) and his willingness to sit for the camera, produced a couple great shots. (I didn't cross his legs, he does that all the time on his own, ha).

Then it was supper cereal time... messy face!!! He's still not high-chair-ready, so it's the bouncy seat that hosts his evening meals of rice cereal. He was easily distracted by the rotating toys overhead, and before he realized it, he had devoured his whole helping of cereal. Mmmm, Mmmm good!

Soon after the cereal, it was time for what I've begun calling his "NAP-ATIZER". We adults like to have "appetizers" in the evening, but for Noah, it's a snack of zzzzzz's. He naps just a little bit (usually less than a half-hour), and then is up for a few giggles and playing before bed. He's cuddling his fuzzy bear-blanket that his daycare provider gave him. He loves that soft furry guy!

Alas.... after fussing, and posing, and eating, and napping, here's the laughter that makes it all worth it!!! He giggles with us every day, but it's so unpredictable, it's hard to capture on camera so far. But I got this one!!! Our happy Noah makes evenings at our house so precious!!! (Ben and Matt are pretty cool too, but they're not as cuddly anymore. hahaha!!!

I hope your days are filled with the laughter and joy that comes with pure pleasure! Enjoy your week!!!