Here comes Halloween!

 Look who came to see us!!
The beautimus Aubrey and the adorable Lydia Skinner came to enjoy this special playdate. In fact, they were a hefty part of why this Thursday was so special. Them, and the fact that this was a small celebration of the babies' first Halloween.Costumes were a must to get into this shindig, but only for the babies and only until they got too hot or cranky in them. Thusly, the costumes lasted about long enough to take dozens of pictures. I hosted this crazy baby-bash at mi casa, and Sheryl was kind enough to supply festive cupcakes and popcorn. Darn you, Sheryl! I ate, like five or six of those crumbly, delicious mini cupcakes.


Besides mommies and babies, this week we gladly welcomed soon-to-be-mommy Ashley Johnson. Too cute! I finally got to feel Johnsonette move (a good, strong kick!), and Ashley is pretty much glowing.   

 Now on to the main focus of these special get togethers, the babies! Again, and more so than usual, Noah was the only little man there, but I'm pretty sure he didn't mind. They were dressed to the nines and looked ADORABLE! we couldn't stop smiling and laughing at their sweet little get-ups!

 Miss Madi was a ladybug.  (Notice the sweet little bows that acted at her "antenna".) We laughed about how  she looked to have put on some weight in her hips. :D

 Noah, my precious boy, was a ferocious tigger! Ashley Johnson though he had actually gained a good deal of weight, 'cause the tummy of the costume was stuffed, making him look plump, indeed!

 Miss Lydia was a fluffy, little, long-eared puppy! Lucy loved her ears. Noah liked the texture of her 'fur'. I thought she was just precious!

And last, but not least, Miss Lucy was the cutest bee you ever did see! She even had a little bee nose! 

 As previously stated, none of the costumes lasted for too long, for they were thick and warm, and none of the babies really wanted to move around in them too much. Unplanned, all the babies were wearing white onsies underneath their costumes. That was a cute surprise.
Noah always loves to play with his friends, but I think he was specially glad to see Lydia!

 (She looks very Kevin-ish in this particular picture) I was pretty pleased to see Aubrey, too. She's still pretty neat. For a mom, I guess. Further proof and reasons as to why, when Daddy Skinner's stint in Missouri is over and done, the Skinner family HAS to move back to the Tyler, Texas area. 

    See? Doesn't she look so happy to be here? yay, Texas! Go Rangers! And God bless us, everyone!

Disney

I do enjoy digging out the old VCR, dusting off a Disney classic on VHS and enjoying a throwback to my childhood. Today's sweet memory? Tarzan!
Tomorrow is looking to be and exciting day, indeed. It's Noah's first time to dress up for Halloween, and all his girlfriends, including those yet to be born, are going to be there! (they, too, will be deck out in costumed cute-ery)
Now, I am going to grab a snack and enjoy my movie. Look forward to pictures, friends!

centinial! yay me!

100 posts since January of this year. Should I be proud or ashamed of my possible lack of doing other, more prudent activities than writing about my life on the computer? I'll go with the feeling of accomplishment. :D

Another milestone is drawing ever nearer, friends. Today, my loving husband

weighed my baby on the bathroom scale. My sweet child, who came to us at 6 lbs and 7 oz, weighed in at 18lbs, 2oz!! Noah almost weighs 20 pounds! Yes, I know that this is good news, as it means that he is thriving and I am doing a good job as a mother (thanks be to God), but at the same time, I almost want to rewind the calender, if only for a day, so that I can again hold my tiny, newborn baby and wonder at how small he is. Then again, I wouldn't change these past five months. Nor would I wish my child to be any different. Aside from my hope in Jesus and my love for Stephan, Noah is my joy in life. 

And then, while I'm all glum and bummed about how big Boogie-boy is getting, I look at him in comparison to his father, and, just as I did that second day in the hospital, as Noah slept in his father's arms, I say, "oh baby, you have some growing up to do."

He's still my little Choochie-face. Oh Lord, my Lord, how you have blessed me! Thank You!

deer!

I hereby dedicate this post of my blog to the Texas Rangers, may your swings be swift and true and may your homeruns be aplenty as you fly victoriously into the world series. I think I might cry

Last night was victorious, indeed. After leaving Noah in the loving arms of his Bebe, my husband and I headed out to the Randall's estate for our fall fellowship bonfire. There was a lovely turnout. I failed to get the memo for all wives to dress in sophisticated fall/riding attire, so I wore jeans and a t-shirt along with sneakers. I felt frumpy.
The fire was so hot, and for some reason, the stick to roast our hot dogs on were about two feet long so you had to just about hunch over the fire to cook your dinner. If I look sunburned today, it's not because of the sun, it's an actual burn. After hot dogs, we made DELICIOUS s'mores. After s'mores, we went for an epic hay ride. I'm allergic to hay, so the thrill of possibly causing harm to myself adds to the excitement. (not really. I just get itchy if I touch it for too long). After the hay ride, the Rangers were up 5-1 in the top of the 7th, and it was late, so we all said our goodbyes and headed home.
Back at mom and dad's, Stephan and I joined my father in watching the Rangers spank the Yankees all the way to the dramatic end; Feliz striking out A-Rod and sending the Texas Rangers into the World Series for the first time in the franchise's history. The celebration was glorious, and I was so happy when Josh Hamilton, who is married, apparently, and therefore cannot marry my sister, gave all the glory to God and Jesus Christ. all in all, a FANTASTIC night!
Now, Stephan is sweetly going to watch Noah as I crawl back in bed, for we got home at about 11:30 and momma's still sleepy.
  Good day to you, sports fans! 

workin' out

Noah's pulling down the vibrating moose, only to let it vibrate it's way back up to the play gym, at which time Noah tugs it right back down and repeats. He's workin' on his tri's and bi's. And he looks so nonchalant about it.

We got a bike trailer to tow Noah around in whilst we bike. I'm super excited about trying it out, which we will do when we find a helmet that will fit a 5-month old. My uncle and aunt, from whom we borrowed the bike trailer, also let us borrow their old toddler helmet. As adorably small as it is, it's not quite small enough. we might have to wait a while to take Noah biking.

We got to play with Madi and Lucy today. Some more cute pictures were taken, of course. Next week, our group will be expanded by three and a half! Aubrey and Lydia will be in town, so they get to join us (yay!) and Ashley Johnson and baby Johnson will be there as well!
Now, I must cook dinner. enjoy your evenings, friends!

das ZOO!!

 We went to the zoo last week. I didn't write too much about it because I forgot to take my camera, so Crisi took all the pictures on her camera and she e-mailed them to me, so I just got them, and therefore, I just got to posting some. It was supposed to be playdate, but only Crisi and I could make it, so we decided to take our babies to the zoo for the first time. It was a really cool trip, mainly because of the first stop (besides the otters) was at the mountain lion exhibit. He tired to eat our babies!

 See?

 We only had an hour to explore, as the zoo closes surprisingly early on Thursday afternoons, but we made the most of our time. 

 (Doesn't it look like they're at a drive-in movie or something? so cute!)

 Noah show a bit of interest, but he wasn't too overly excited by all the animals.All in all, it was beautiful weather and absolutely no crowds, thusly, it was as close as perfect as a trip to the zoo can be.
  I would update ya'll on more right now, but Noah is being very VERY loud, so I'm going to go walk him around.

Pumpuun

 Our first trip to the pumpkin patch!!
As you can imagine, this holiday season is super exciting for me, and probably for all other first time mommies, due to the fact that this year, we get to celebrate as families instead of couples. Therefore, I plan on taking way too many pictures of every event. First up: Halloween! Yesterday, (Friday) Stephan, Noah and I, Along with our friends, the Robersons, went to Pappy's pumpkin patch, or something along those lines, to select a pumpkin. We soon realized that this quaint, family-run business did not accept debit card, so we did not search for our pumpkin but instead, we searched for photo-ops!

 At first, Noah wasn't to sure about posing with large gourds.

 But we got some sweet smiles out of Boogie-boy in no time.

 Noah seemed to kind of enjoy posing.

 And he LOVED the bright orange pumpkins!

 We even found a kid that looked just like Noah! It's creepy, isn't it? Those two could be twins.

 Ugh, momma still has some slimming down to do, but our family looks so cute and had too much fun!

Madilyn Jane did some picture-posing as well. (In pictures following this one, Noah notices Madi and her bow and reaches for them. In response, Madi tries to suck on Noah's hand. adorable pictures.)

Needless to say, it was a successful trip, for I now have frame-able pictures of Noah's first fall experience. Also, one of those awesome, had-to-be-God type experiences happened to us as we were leaving. While exiting the little farm house, I asked Stephan on a whim what the word for pumpkin is in Afrikaans. He replied "pumpuun." We then proceed to our car where we load up the now sleeping baby and his stroller. As Stephan was finishing buckling Noah in, an older gentleman in a cowboy hat approaches Stephan and asks him if he said "pumpuun". Warily, Stephan replies affirmatively. The man then proceeds to greet Stephan warmly and happily in fluent Afrikaans. He and his wife were from South Africa and live in Lindale. They had heard our little conversation outside the barn and had to see if a fellow Afrikaaner was truly nearby. NEAT!
  Happy Fall, friends! God is good!   

holy smokes!

GO RANGERS!
For the first time in my life, my favorite MBL team has won their post season series. The magnitude of this event is grand. So grand, in fact, that Stephan was even into it. We watched the game last night at my parent's. it was exciting.

Today, I clean. Tomorrow is playdate at my house. Right now, Noah naps. I am eating a ham and cheese sammich. God is good. amen.

normalcy

Today is get-back-to-normal day. Yesterday was one of those fun days that throws poor Noah off schedule with his naps, so today I plan on having him in his crib for each of his naps so that he can be fully rested. As of right now, he is chiding me from his crib for this. He'll get over it.
I plan on grocery shopping and then, hopefully, going for a jog in the park today. Yes, you read that correctly, I typed jog. I'm stepping it up today. Let's break a sweat, people! Goodness, how I would enjoy having a live-in personal trainer.
As for right now, Noah has gone quiet, which means he is asleep, so I'm here for another hour and a half. Stephan's working from home today, so if you're a burglar and plan on targeting me, forget about it! My huge, muscular, beefy husband will beat you up!! I think I might nap as well.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. PEACE!  

meeeeYAAAAAH!

You know those days when you eat too much and then hate yourself for it?
Yeah
Those were some super tasty quicken wings! Home made almost always tastes better than the restaurant kind. Especially if your in-laws make it. Especially if your in-laws are my in-laws.

SUPER good sermon at church today. God has been so good to my church family in bringing us our new pastor. He preaches in a way that both humble and encourages me. Kevin Johnson also did a pretty good job bringin' the word in Sunday school. I'd like to be like John the Baptist; "Behold, the Lamb go God who takes away the sins of the world!"

Not to be gross, but I'm concerned about a beauty mark on my face that is a bit inflamed. I'm going to maybe go to a dermatologist tomorrow. we'll see.

I lost my tweezers again. poo.

Cherry slushie

...is what I'm drinking.
My hair and clothes smell like smoke after a successful night of s'more-making. Stephan played washers with the men as us ladies loved on the babies and kept the older children from catching on fire. I was hoping to join in the washers game after putting Noah down for the night, but by the time I was finished tucking him in, everybody was leaving. Fiddlesticks.

Tomorrow is Saturday. I have high hopes of visiting the zoo, possible maybe. Here's to high hopes!

I rock!

I made cookies.
No, not just cookies.
I made delicious, melt-in-your-mouth, chocolate no-bake cookies.
Therefore, I rock.

Good news, world!!! Previous to this historic, cookie-making day, Noah has almost rolled over and he has kinda' rolled over and he has rolled over with minimal assistance. But today, friends, today he rolled from belly to back TWICE while I was not even sitting near him. (OMAGAH!) I am SOO proud of him! Other, younger babies might already be flippin' this way and that, but today, my 5 month old, big-headed baby rolled all by himself. If I were any more proud it would be a sin.

I also washed Roxy today. (first time in months. needless to say, she needed it) And now, my two giant white dogs are resting peacefully at my feet while my rolling baby sleeps contently and my phenomenal cookies cool on the kitchen counter.
                                      Praise be to God, the giver of all gifts!

And now, a picture of Noah:

And perhaps a video?

And I say to myself, what a wonderful world

I'm starting to go the K-skinner way. Sorry, peeps, I've just been distracted as of late, hence the lack of constant updating. But, apparently, I'm the only one I know who updates their blog every other day or so. COME ON, PEOPLE! stay-at-home mommies need reading material!Help a sister out, will you? (I'm not just talking about you, Skinner, Ashley Johnson is working the 'dramatic pause' like crazy as well.)

Anyways

It's Wednesday, Noah's napping and I'm lacing up the old sneakers for half an hour or so of boring, redundant work-out video. I wish I had a neighbor who had a child close to Noah's age who was also in the process of loosing baby fat/weight who would want to go on long, energetic walks with me. ho-hum... 
Since it is Wednesday, I don't have any plans in the books, but tomorrow is Bunco night. (I do enjoy bunco night).

Well, I've postponed it long enough. Here I  come, stupid, annoying, good-for-nothing workout dvd, do your worst.

I am so sorry!

I just realized that I haven't updated since Thursday. Sorry, faithful few!

Noah, my big 'ole boogie-boy, is trying really hard to pull the squeaky triangle hanging from his play gym to his mouth. The little nut. Nope, now it's panda's turn. He likes chewing on poor panda's foot. Noah gulped down a jar of bananas and then had some of the usual for lunch today. I couldn't ladle the food into his mouth fast enough for him, he was munching so fast. And now the panda foot... my that kid is hungry.

We had a fantastic family nap today. Church was fun, then we went to lunch with my bro and sis at Pasados, (I'm still trying to get the taste of garlic out of my mouth), after which time we came home to change into our comfiest of comfies and nap for two hours. After nap time was the whole bananas thing, then all three of us went out back to play with the dogs (something we sadly hardly ever do), and now, since the weather is SOOOOO beautiful, Stephan fixed the screen door so that we can have the back door open without letting the hordes of mosquitoes in and yet still enjoy the delicious temperatures. Currently, I am updating, Noah is eating the panda, and Stephan cant sit still for too long, so he's working with power tools on something involving the columns out front.

Friends, all my friends had girls. This is a fact that I celebrate often, 'cause all babies are blessings and girls are so cute! Yet a small, tiny part of me worries for Noah's lack of little guy buds. Then I remembered that people can have more than one child and that there are, indeed, other boy babies out there. So I shall relax and continue to enjoy Noah's current status of "playa" due to his singularity as a baby dude amongst a tide of sweet little babyettes.

woo hoo!! The skinners are on skype!