Noah's First Christmas

So much has happened since I last posted that I don't feel like I want to go through and write everything down. But this was Noah's first Christmas! Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the dude.

Here he is, opening his very first Christmas present ever. It was a laptop from Granny.

Check out the wooden train that Grandmama and Grandpapa got! It'll stay at their house as an heirloom piece (I don't think it'd quite fit in our luggage!). Also, Great-Grandma Tanner got Noah a really cute train conductor's outfit, and Grandpapa found an old conductor's hat that he pinned to make it small enough to fit on Noah's head. All of that made for a cute picture.

As Deborah was cleaning out her room and throwing some things away, she found an old plastic pirate sword. Nathan saw her throwing it away, and he said, "There is never a good reason to throw away a toy sword." Which is hilarious and just the epitome of Nathan, in some respects. Anyway, so we put the sword in Noah's toy pile, and of course it was the first thing he picked out. He wielded that sword for days. He is definitely all boy.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and celebrated the Lord's birth!

More Snow

So two days after I posted that last post, it snowed a lot more. Here are pics of that. I meant to get these up on the blog before we left on vacation, but it just didn't happen. Anyway, isn't it beautiful?


That picture with the lamppost reminds me of Narnia. :)

Sledding!

Before we moved to New England, I had never been sledding. Actually, before we moved to our current apartment in the suburbs (where there are more parks and hills), I had never been sledding.

The only time we've gone sledding was when all we had was a crazy little thin foam thing we bought at a discount store for like $2 after Christmas, and needless to say, it did not pad our little fannies very much at all. Add to that the fact that the snow at that time was really hard--it had snowed a ton, warmed up just enough to let it melt a bit, then it froze again. So the snow actually had a nice layer of hard, slick ice on top. Anyway, sliding down that on a really thin pad was not the best of conditions, yet we had the best time.

Last year, my parents gave Nathan a nice sled for Christmas. We didn't ever have the chance to use it last winter, because at first I was pregnant, then we had a little baby and I was going through postpartum recovery, and Nathan didn't think it sounded like too much fun to go sledding by himself. So Nathan comforted himself with the thought that he could take Noah sledding this winter, because he'd be big enough.

All of that to say that today has been a long time in coming!

So we pulled out the nifty red sled, bundled up (it hasn't gotten out of the teens today), and headed out. Nathan even pulled Noah and me down the street on our sled. It was fun to be pulled--a lot more fun than walking through 12"-deep snow, let me tell you. That is a serious workout! Especially when, like me, you decide that running through it is actually easier because you get some momentum going, doing those knee-high steps.

Once we got to the park, we sat Noah in the snow while we kind of worked things out. Here he is in his little snow seat.

Here's a shot of all the neighborhood kids who came out to sled. Doesn't it look like a winter wonderland? If the sky were blue, it'd make a good postcard. :)

Here's a little video of one of our trips down the hill:


And here's the three of us. I like the snow-covered tree in the background.

Anatomy of a Snowstorm

Right now, Nathan and I are sitting at our kitchen table having some hot tea, buttered toast, and McVitie's dark chocolate digestives. It is the perfect snack for today, considering that we are having a snowstorm! How exciting!

Well, hopefully it will NOT be exciting on Monday morning, when we are supposed to fly to Houston.

But for today, I love snow, and I'm so glad it is finally here! We did have a little dusting a few weeks ago, but nothing like the 10-12" we're supposed to get in Boston today. Lori's area in Connecticut is supposed to get the most snow, at 12-14". That is a lot!

Because it is miserable and dangerous to try to drive in all that snow, I went to the grocery store to pick up just a few items to last us until we leave town. Wow. It was amazing. It reminded me of Home Depot in Houston before a hurricane. I think the grocery store should consider letting only a few people in at a time, like Home Depot, because it was ca-razy. The lines at the registers were so long that they backed up into the aisles.

It occurred to me that it might be fun to post pictures of the different stages of the storm. It's fun to watch the snow get progressively deeper and to watch the world turn progressively whiter.


Here is our street at 2:00, just as it was beginning to snow. It's just a simple, gray day.

Here's our street at 3:00. The snow has really been coming down, as you can see!

Here is a little video I took at 3:00. I'm warning you, my narration is kind of retarded. Nathan teased me and asked me if I was really going to embarrass myself by posting this, but I don't care. I know y'all will still love me. :)


Here we are at 4:00. As you can see, it's beginning to get dark. I think sunset these days is around 4:15, as close as we are to the winter solstice. But you can definitely tell that the snow is getting deeper! I had to make this trip to the front porch a little shorter, because the wind was not so friendly, driving snow into my face like it was.

It's 6:00 now. Check out how the snow has gotten thicker on that minivan parked on the street.
Rather than showing you what our street looks like at 8:30, I thought the amount of snow piled on the trash cans would be more illustrative of what is going on:
Here is the result, as of 9:00am. As you can see, the snow plows haven't made it down our street yet, which is unusual.
Here are my feet. Well, actually, you can't see my feet. But they're down there. :) The snow is about a foot deep.
And here's Nathan, about to start shoveling. Believe it or not, there are stairs underneath that little hill of snow in front of him.

Later today we're planning to take Noah sledding! I'll post pics!

Ramen Noodles with Tomato Sauce and Greens

So today I was scouring the pantry for something to make for lunch, and all I found was Ramen Noodles. You know, that dirt cheap chicken-flavored noodle soup that you can buy in packs of like 6 for $1.00. Well, let me tell you something. I know what to do with Ramen Noodles.

Back in college, Sarah Fuselier (my roomie/best friend) and I made Ramen with Tomato Sauce all the time, usually alongside a grilled cheese sandwich. Granted, it's not the most healthy thing in the world, but it fit well in a college student's budget. Plus, it sort of makes you feel like you're actually cooking, which was kind of a novelty for two girls who hadn't done much cooking before then. I think this recipe originates with Sarah's mom, although I have attempted to healthify it a little bit with some frozen kale. I've also been known to throw in some sauteed carrot. It is actually pretty good (if you like salt, especially!), and it's great to have on hand for when you desperately need to go to the grocery store or are looking to save some money.

Ramen Noodles with Tomato Sauce and Greens

1 package Ramen Noodles noodle soup mix, chicken flavor
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
1-3/4 cups water
1-2 Tbsp. frozen chopped spinach or kale
*optional: a few drops Tabasco sauce

Combine the tomato sauce and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add frozen greens. Prepare noodles according to package instructions (usually you boil them for 3 minutes then add the seasoning). You're done!

Trendsetters

This was my Facebook status a couple of days ago:
Lauren is annoyed that "Noah" is the 7th most popular boy's name for 2008.

Before our Noah, neither Nathan nor I knew anybody whose name or whose child's name was Noah. We thought we were being all unique, and all of a sudden, everywhere we go there is a kid named Noah. In fact, in my mom's group, populated by a whole ten women, three of us have sons named Noah. Seriously!

Mmmm-ma

Noah is picking up a lot these days. For one thing, even though he is not saying a lot of words yet, he does understand quite a few.

When I asked him where the kitty cat was yesterday, he looked around to find her. When I ask him if he wants to read a book, he looks around to find one. He is finally learning what I mean when I tell him to be "gentle" with the cats. And when I ask him to turn the page, he usually does it. Also, he usually does come when I say, "Come here, Noah!" Oh, and he is beginning to understand that all-important word, "No."

As far as words that he actually speaks, it's pretty limited to Mama and Dada. But, lest you think that represents only a few words, let me quickly correct you. There are actually several versions of "Mama." Here they are:

Ma
Mom
Ama
Mama
and my personal favorite, Mmmm-ma, spoken as if it's two syllables.

Pretty soon he'll be reciting Shakespeare. . . . Or maybe Seuss. :)

What We Did

As Nathan announced here on the blog, yesterday was our fifth anniversary. Yay! (I think it's funny that he picked that picture of me!)

To celebrate, we went to Boston's Italian part of town, the North End, for dinner.

It. Was. Awesome.

I told Nathan that it was the best expensive dinner I've ever had. The restaurant we went to is called Mamma Maria, and it is across the street from Paul Revere's house. The food was so great, as was the ambience. We sat next to a window where we could see the quaint square and some Christmas lights.

They brought out pesto and olives with the bread, and I have to say that I have never had pesto that tasted as good as theirs. We also ordered an appetizer of some imported ricotta and mozzarella, along with a couple glasses of wine. I was already in heaven. The portions were small, but we were both pleasantly surprised that such a small amount of food was so completely satisfying. For our entrees, Nathan ordered the osso buco, which is a very traditional Italian dish that neither of us had ever had before. It was basically a lamb shank served over some risotto. I ordered the pork dish, which was pork loin served over broccolini alongside an amazing baked apple and a squash ravioli. My dish was definitely the winner. Nathan and I both loved it. We finished dinner with a chocolate tart and a cappuccino. It was an awesome dining experience!

After dinner, we thought about walking over to Boston Common to see the Christmas trees all lit up, but it was too dang cold. It was only a windy 20 degrees, and we hadn't bundled up that much, since we were dressed up. I mean, I was not about to mess up my little up-do with a hat. :) Vanity over comfort for this night.

---

So Kim requested (nay, demanded) that we give our top five marriage tips. Well, I'm not so sure that after five years you could call us experts, but here are some things that we've learned along the way or have been taught by others:

1. Fight well. Which means: listen to what the other person is saying and really try to put yourself in their shoes. In fact, restate their point to them before going on with your response. It is stinking amazing how much less elevated an argument gets when you know that the other person understands where you're coming from.

2. Leave and cleave. Genesis 2:24a: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife." God created the family unit to be strongest when you make your spouse your priority over your family of origin. Not that you forsake your family or disrespect it in any way; it's just that your spouse and the new family you create comes first. I would also add (and we are learning this as we go) that you can't let your relationship with your spouse suffer because parenting gets in the way. It's easy to focus all your emotional energy on your kid(s) and not have any left for your spouse, but your spouse will still be there in 20 years, after the kids are gone. So you have to continue to cultivate that relationship.

3. Praise in public; criticize in private. Make an effort not to say anything critical of your spouse to other people, but to praise him/her to others instead. If you have something to talk to your spouse about, deal with him/her directly. It really tears you down to be criticized in front of other people, especially when the person doing the criticizing is someone close to you, with whom you're vulnerable. Abuse of the gift of that vulnerability makes it hard to give it as freely after that. Instead, praise your spouse to other people. Not only does it cultivate respect from others, but it also cultivates it in you, because you are more actively looking for good things to say about them.

*Okay, it's late and I can't think of any more. :) Maybe I'll fill in the last two tomorrow. Goodnight!

4. Nathan says I should add "Have fun together." It's true. It makes for a good relationship when you can laugh together.

5. I think this one is going to remain blank. I am sure many of you will think of lots of good things to put here. In fact, why don't you do that? Leave a comment with your #5.

What I Did

I just ate way too many mini Funfetti cupcakes.

Way. Too. Many.

5 Years!

Happy anniversary to my beautiful and wonderful wife!

;-)

Love,
Nathan

I Am Jealous

I am jealous, because yesterday it snowed in Houston. Meanwhile, it was 61 degrees in Boston.

I love the snow! I do not begrudge my beloved Texans for getting some rare but magical snow. In fact, it's funny to read through people's blogs and Facebook statuses and see how everyone is talking about it.

It just makes me eager for a really nice snowfall here!

By the way, the weatherman pointed out yesterday morning that since it was 60 degrees, it felt 65 degrees warmer than it did on Monday morning, when the windchill was down to -5. Craziness!

Eleven Months Old!

Noah is eleven months old today. Can you believe it?

Some things about him:

• He hates order. If you put his blocks in a bucket, he dumps them out. If you stack his toys into a tower, he knocks them over. If you put his Cheerios in a pile in front of him, he spreads them out. He is very unlike his mother in this.
• He has been clapping for a long time, but he is just now learning to wave. He's been doing it off and on for a few days now, and it's cute.
• He will not pick up any food except for Cheerios, toast, and Gerber puffs. Forget trying to finger-feed him fruit, meat, or just about anything else. He just refuses--most of the time he doesn't even try. I think that maybe he doesn't like wet or squishy things. Which is odd, considering that if it's not food, he'll pick up all manner of wet and squishy things and put them in his mouth.
• He loves to play with water. Not just in the bath (although the splashing can sometimes get a little out of hand, considering the state of my clothes afterward), but in any context. He figured out that if he pinches the nipple on his sippy cup while water is in there, it will sometimes squirt him in the face when he lets go. He LOVES this. He finds it hilarious and exhilarating. So sometimes we just sit there at mealtime while Noah plays with his cup and squirts himself in the face over and over. He also really loves to be squirted with a spray bottle. By his reaction, you'd think it's the most refreshing thing in the world. His mouth opens wide, he blinks his eyes, and he says, "Ahhh!"
• He loves being allowed to do things that we do, and the most recent thing is drinking from a cup. Nathan's mom started giving him the last sip of her hot tea, and although I'm sure he liked that sugary last sip, I am really starting to think that the main part of the thrill is getting to wrap his little hands around a cup, put it to his lips, and do what we do. The reason I think this is that half the time he doesn't even drink. He just puts his mouth to the cup, then he backs off to grin at us really big. Cutie pants.

I cannot believe that Noah is almost a year old!!!

Christmas Joy

I just spent about 45 minutes on iTunes, downloading oodles of wonderful Christmas music. It makes my heart sing! I love it! Especially the choral pieces I've sung before.

I am now officially in the Christmas spirit.

I took a break from perusing iTunes because one of the songs jogged my memory, and I wanted to tell you this funny story--it's one of my favorite Christmas memories (there are a lot), and it happened just a couple of years ago.

Nathan and I were spending Christmas with my parents and my brother, Ken. Now, Ken was in seminary and was about as poor as you'd imagine a seminary student to be. His Christmas budget was something like $2 per person, which none of us minded, because if you know Ken, you know that he will do something really good with that $2 and at the very least make you laugh.

Like the year he gave everyone--everyone, no exceptions--a t-shirt with his face on it. He was smiling with his mouth wide open, giving us a thumbs up. It made everyone laugh, and we all wear the shirt proudly (well, around the house, anyway). That's just Ken's humor.

So one year, Ken gave Nathan and me essentially the same present, so he asked us to open them at the same time. We each got a DVD from the $1 bin at Target and a $.50 plastic recorder. (I'm talking the flute-like instrument.) My DVD was "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" (now we know what John Travolta was up to before "Saturday Night Fever"), and Nathan's was an old Godzilla movie.

But that wasn't the funniest part. The funniest part was when, immediately after tearing the newspaper wrapping off his gift, Nathan picked up the recorder and began to play "I Saw Three Ships." We all sat there gaping at him. It tickles me just thinking about it right now! Not only did he know how to play the recorder, but he had a song memorized, and it was a Christmas song, no less! What the heck?!

It turns out that they teach you how to play the recorder in elementary school in England. (Along with teaching you how to cross stitch--I totally have Nathan's sampler. I am not kidding.) And Nathan had freakishly remembered not only how to play, but how to play that song. It still cracks me up.

I want to hear your Christmas stories. Leave a comment if you'd like to tell one. (I hope you do! I want to read some good ones!)

Fun at the Playground

Yesterday, Nathan and I took Noah and Hannah (who we were babysitting) to the playground near our house.

It was a pretty cold day, so I bundled Noah up in his full winter gear. I mean, is this picture reminiscent of A Christmas Story or what? Check out those puffy pants!

Hannah had a good time running from thing to thing, sliding, swinging, climbing, and chasing dogs.

The funniest thing happened when Nathan walked up to her and said, "Hannah, would you like to go slide?" There were a couple of other girls near her, one of whom turned out to also be a Hannah, and she said, "Um, no. Where's my mom?" It cracked us up, and Nathan felt a little bad, but props to that little girl, who knew not to go with any man at the playground!

Noah loves the swing.

I love this picture. It just captures the pure joy of swinging.

And here's a great video of the two kids swinging. I started filming because Noah was laughing so hard at Nathan's antics.

Thanks!

Wow, guys, that was impressive. Fifteen comments!

Thank you for all your advice on matching ties to shirts. I learned a lot, as did many of you, judging by your comments.

Just so you know, Nathan and I agreed to return the tie but keep the shirt. We might find another tie to go with it eventually, but in the meantime, it'll look great with his brown corduroy blazer.

Thanks, guys!

I Need Your Opinion

NOTE: I really am asking for you to comment on this one! Don't leave me hanging! :)

Okay, so here is my little secret: I do not understand how men's dress shirts and ties are supposed to match.

I just don't get it.

I mean, they mix patterns (a big no-no when it comes to my own clothes), they sometimes mix colors in just the wrong way, according to Lauren, and so on. So I have always just avoided trying to pick out shirts and ties, and I always leave it to someone else. This is why about 90% of Nathan's dress shirts/ties are from before we were married. The bottom line is that I just need someone to tell me what the rules are.

Question #1: WHAT ARE THE DANG RULES?!

Question #2: Do these match?

Here's a close-up for you:

As I was Christmas shopping last night, I saw this shirt, and I was like, "Oh! I like that one! I'm going to get it for Nathan." I had his springtime job interviews in mind. Then, with great dread, I turned to look at the ties. This one jumped out at me, and when I put it next to the shirt, with an unprecedented thrill, I thought, "This MATCHES! I'm getting it."

Here's why I think it matches: it pulls out the blue stripe in the shirt, and the pattern is relatively similar (stripes).

But when I brought it home, Nathan said he didn't think it matched. He admitted to me this morning that he's picky about his dress shirts and ties, but he is bothered by the fact that there is brown in the shirt and no brown in the tie. Is this a rule? If it is, I didn't know. He keeps mentioning other things that rub him the wrong way about it, like that he likes gray instead of brown. I pointed out that the brown will look nice with khakis or brown pants.

Anyway, we have had so much back-and-forth about this darn shirt and tie that I need a little outside clarification. So I am looking forward to your comments. In fact, we are DEPENDING on your comments to settle this between us. Don't leave us hanging. :)

December Arbonne Specials

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Best,
Lauren
--
Lauren Benesh
Independent Consultant
Arbonne International

Magnificat

I was reading through a bit of Luke 1 yesterday, and the Magnificat really struck me. It's Mary's song, which she says after Elizabeth says to her, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me--
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
Luke 1:46-55

Giving Thanks

Before I move on to the Christmas season, I feel like I need to focus a little bit more on what I am thankful for. I was so busy with Thanksgiving preparations that I didn't really focus on the whole point of the holiday, and because there really are so many things to be thankful for, I wanted to write some of them down before I start thinking about Christmas.

I'm thankful for: being able to stay home with Noah; a great husband; wonderful friends in Boston, Texas, and a smattering of other places across the country; family; job prospects; all my handy kitchen utensils; Noah's face when he smiles or laughs; fall pears; dessert; a happy marriage; a festive tablecloth; our church; more perspective the older I get; and the wisdom in the Bible.