Cheeseburgers, nanananananana!

Noah has a new face to make:

 I haven't the slightest idea what this sour-taste face means, but he looks like he just bit into a lemon. He makes it mostly while in his high-chair, but we managed to capture the look as he was rockin' it on his changing table. Another cute photo op; we went to Target then Walmart to look over "big-boy" car seats. On the way home, Noah did his usual routine of getting fussy and then going completely silent, as though a switch had been flipped. When we got home and opened the car door, this is what we saw:

 

 He konked out in the middle of chewing on his book.
And then, friends, a final look at what happened this past weekend.

My sister was in town. We went to movies, chatted about lives, and ate some frozen yogurt. And then she made me a brunette. 

Disney scores again!

oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my

My sister and I went to see "Tangled" today. It's Disney's version of the story of Rapunzel. It was adorable! I laughed so much and I cried twice. It hereafter ranks up there with the Little Mermaid and, as hard as it is to believe, Beauty and the Beast. I loved it loved it LOVED it. It reaffirmed my belief in princesses and fairy tales and perfect hair in aforementioned fairy tales. And, as when I watch the golden oldies, (Beauty and the Beast) I am inspired to see Stephan as my handsome Prince Charming.

I love love! Love is the best! 

Snickerdoodles!

I dislike being a complainer, but I hate colds, so here goes:
I HATE COLDS! I hate having a cold. I don't even like being cold.
That's enough of that.
I hope that everyone's Thanksgiving was as splendid as mine was. That would mean that everyone had a huge turn-out with all their family there (except Taylor. *frowny-face* love you, cousin!) and that there was an ostentatious amount of food, including many incredible desserts. I was surprised that not too many family pictures were taken. Yes, there were several, but usually there is at least an hour set aside for the capturing of our massive family in pictures. At least we got our immediate family's picture taken. (Christmas cards, yay!)
Now, my family is coming to our house, from where we will set off to the Christmas tree farm. yay! more pictures!

SHOOT!

Well, friends, Noah has show his first sign of weakness and imperfection; He has a cold.
It's no more than a slightly runny nose and a irregular cough, but still, as a first-time mother, it is my obligation and duty to panic unnecessarily.
This post is dedicated to how cute Noah is. I give you photographic evidence:

Noah's first piggy-back ride. (footed sleeper)

 Again, the footed sleeper as well as the slightly orange nose.

 This is daddy's new toy. It's a man-trike, a tricycle for adults.

 Noah wanted that bell soooo badly.

He wouldn't look up even for a second to take a picture. And yes, Stephan is kinda in his undies.
I thank God for how wonderfully he has blessed me. Such good looking boys for me to love on!

trial stocking, take dueaux

SO,
As previously blogged about, I have a sewing machine. Today, the lovely, gracious, and adorably round Ashley "Ting-Ting" Johnson came by to help a sister out and figure out how to thread this thing up. (Bless you!) Once the machine was ready to go, I excitedly decided to attempt my first sewing machine-made stocking. My second stocking-making attempt resulted thusly:

Again, the materials used were fabrics I had lying around the house, specifically, a pillowcase. The red satin ribbon I bought from Walmart. This stocking took about an hour to complete, whereas the hand-stitched one took about four. However, this stocking turned out a lot rougher than the last. I have my suspicions as to why: firstly, the pillow sham fabric was much sturdier than the pillow case, allowing more structure and less give when being handled. Also, that sewing machine is strong-willed, and it will probably take me several more trail crafts before I can make those stitches as straight as possible.
Expect more pictures of my sewing adventures. For now, I leave you with another picture of my latest creation:

Notice the little photo-bomber in the background. :D

 

Cling-on

I have discovered something. I am a pretty social person.
sometimes.        mostly.

Blessed Sunday to you all, multitudes of readers! Church was moving, as usual, and now I am home by my lonesome because Stephan is helping somebody move. I dislike going to church by myself. I feel like half of me is missing. Well, I guess I feel that every time Stephan's not around, but it's especially noticeable at church. I hereby dedicate this post to my loving husband, the second best thing God has ever done for me.

If I had known the man that God had planned for me to marry, I would have never dated in high school, because all of those boys seem so silly when compared to my husband. I remember when I used to try to imagine who God had picked out for me. I wondered if he was someone I already knew, or someone I had never met before. I'm actually very glad it was the later. A large part of me wanted a foreign, exotic-type man. Isn't God neat? He brought Stephan from South Africa to a small church in Tyler, Texas for me to fall in love with!
By no means is my husband perfect. He is just as flawed and sinful as I. however, he really does complete me, as hokey as that sounds. He is driven, determined, a go-getter, pessimistic, realistic, and an entrepreneur extraordinaire. Whereas I am laid back, optimistic, idealistic, and not to sure of what I can accomplish. Stephan encourages (sometimes pushes) me to be better and try harder, so that I have done things that I didn't know I could. (keep an entire house clean. woah) I like to think that I have done and continue to do the same for him. Except, instead of pushing him to be more, I encourage him to enjoy life more? We go nicely together, and it's one of the things in life that assures me that God is sovereign and more than capable of running my life for me. Yay, God!!
And now, look at what we have made!

 Our little orange-nosed boy is a miracle! So much Stephan is in him! He already studies things as though he's trying to figure out how they work. And he's so handsome! (watch out, lady-babies) I am glad to see some of my qualities in him as well. (Noah's a snuggler)



So, thank you, Lord, for this family you formed. Thank you that, since before time began, you had us planned out and pieced together. I am definitely looking forward to what You have in store for us!

 

Must remain umble

I get annoyed when people pronounce humble wrong.
Pride can sneak up on a person at random times. For instance: I just brought home my mother's sewing machine (yay!), but while I was upstairs at the shop, I found an unused computer chair. I asked mother if I could take it as well, and she said I could. So, not only did I get a sewing machine, which I need Ashley Johnson to come over and show me how to thread up, but also, I got a computer chair, the likes of which Stephan and I have been wanting for years! Now I feel cursed pride welling up inside. "Won't Stephan be so proud of me?" I think to myself as I type comfortable at the computer desk.
What?? NO, COLETTE, BAD!
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God! Why on earth would I be proud of a sewing machine or a seat? I don't even know how to work that there sewing thingie yet. Let me refocus my thoughts. Yay, God! Your mercies are new every morning and you provided a beautiful day for your people to live.

I made sugar cookies last night. Now, I am handing them out to anyone and everyone who will eat them. Otherwise, I will devour them all myself. And get wider. boo.

Tomorrow, Noah and I will be receiving a visit from a friend who we have not seen since the day after Noah was born. Mrs. Reaninne and her baby girl, Claire, are coming over to visit, chat, and eat my sugar cookies. I bet Claire has gotten so big! It's crazy how it seems like a baby grows much more noticeably when you don't see it for a long stretch of time.

One last story before I sign off; I just switched Noah from his Johnny Jump-up to his exersaucer so that he could be closer to me. Now, he's trying his best to jump in the un-giving exersaucer, and the result is tragic and hilarious at the same time.

A blurry picture of how much Charlie loves Noah. (Noah's got Charlie by the scruff, and Charlie's all, like, whatev)

call me Martha!

I have some super crafty and creative friends.
These friends 'o mine are amazing women that posses the abilities that I envy, mainly a flair for arts and crafts. Not the noodle necklace, paper snowflakes-type arts and crafts, I'm talking about decorating and sewing and creating with other nifty resources. SO, as this Christmas rolls around, I set a goal for myself: make my family's Christmas stockings. Stephan and I have perfectly fine store-bought stockings. The problem was, how would we find a stocking for Noah? Should we search for a look-alike, or maybe just get a cutesy, childish stocking. No! From now on, the Du Toits will have hand-made (with love) stockings for us to cherish forever! And the great thing about this plan is the foresight! Now, with every addition to the family, I can make a new stocking to match the rest of the family's. Tomorrow I plan on fetching my mother's sewing machine, which she kindly offered me when she heard of my plan. Then, I need to find the fabrics to fit the plans I have mapped out in my mind's eye. As for today, and the reason for an early post about something not that important, I give you, ladies and gentleman, my free-hand, hand-stitched trial stocking:

Yes, it's rough. Yes, it's simple. And yes, I used a bandanna and an old pillow sham to make it. STILL, I'm ridiculously proud of my little stocking. I think I'll keep it. Toby needs a stocking.
I feel so house-wifey! 

My little man

Noah got an early Christmas gift from Bebe this past week: a pair of baby boxers.
Of course, Pictures were taken of my little redneck couch potato.

 Today, friends, I did something amazing. Before I got married, my mother gave me her recipe for lasagna. (my mother makes the best lasagna). Since then, I have repeatedly tried to replicate mom's delectable pasta, but have come up short. I have never gotten it just right, and I never could figure out what I was doing wrong. Then, tonight, I did it. I added more meat and sauce, I seasoned the meat and sauce more, and I made the layers thicker. The result was an delicious and hearty lasagna that will last me for a week! (maybe)
Then Stephan gave Noah a tiny jug. We've been working on the sippy cup, but this was just cute.

 I'm gonna go take a shower. later, friends!

well look at that, it's sunny

I am not ashamed to say that I am a fair weather cowboys fan. I will cheer with the rest when they are winning, and I could care less if they are losing. loosing? Wow, I don't know how to spell that right.
Tonight, I got to babysit my nephew and niece, as they were in town. Previous to that, I went to Sam's with mi madre. I LOVE going to Sam's club. Especially with my mom. That is a generous woman, right there.

Friends, if you ever think you are bad at grocery shopping, possibly even the worst, you are wrong. Stephan and I, mainly I, are horrible at keeping our fridge and/or pantry stocked to an acceptable capacity. Ramen noodles and condiments are the contents of the previously mentioned storage units, as well as Noah's baby food. ( I will NEVER let my baby go hungry. It's not even a possibility). This means that, in the very very near future, Stephan and I will be breaking the bank at our local walmart or Super 1. This might be the most epic shopping trip of our married lives thus far.

Now, I go. Goodnight.

MMmmmm, tuna

Tuna helper, it's what's for lunch.
(bleh!)

Mistletoe and Magic was fun. Saw the sights, smelled the smells, ate the samples, and enjoyed the company of, first, my mother and then later, Mrs. Lindsay Hammons. My mother and I found a plethora of goodies to buy for family and each other. (mostly for Noah). But it wasn't until I went with Lindsay that I found what I truly needed from that expo... a sock monkey hat.

Of course, it was the only thing I wanted that I did not actually buy. Now, I am saddened. Maybe I can find one on the internet. Or Santa might get it for Noah for Christmas.

I love my husband. He's a good man and a keeper, indeed. When he's not enabling me to be the best mother and Godly, caring woman I can be, he's making me laugh.

And then, because I'm sure everyone is wondering about him and why I have not mentioned him in a while, I give you my cat, the slob.

apparently, Mr. Charles Fluffo Du Toit had one to many last night and couldn't make it to the bedroom. We found him downed in the hallway. Don't worry, he slept it off and now he's right as rain, if not for a bit of a headache.

Now, off to feed me baby.

mamby-pamby

Excited about tomorrow!
I love the holiday season. I enjoy the festivities and the atmosphere and the smell. Yes, it may very well be a monstrously huge distraction from the reason for this whole season, but I still do enjoy it.
All this to say, the holiday season officially starts tomorrow for me. I am going to Mistletoe and Magic! a tradition dating back years and years, Mistletoe and Magic is the mothership for Christmas shoppers. It's essentially an expo for boutiques, specialty shops, and family-run-type stores from all over America. There are free samples, beautiful sights, and fantastically festive scents. I don't think I have ever actually spent money there myself, but my mom LOVES this place. In short, I'm super excited about tomorrow.
Today, Noah got to hang out with his friend Grayson.

That is special because Grayson is a rare anomaly amongst babies born this year; he, too, is a boy. Noah and Grayson are buds. And boy does Grayson LOVE the johnny jump-up.
Law and Order, SVU is coming on. I've gots to go!

Adventures in Aqualand!

 We went to see our cousins!
Stephan and I spent the weekend in Richardson with Paul and Erin and their young 'uns. Julia and Ashton have both grown way too much since we last saw them. We originally planned in staying for two nights, but that turned into three. It was fun, because Stephan loves to see his big brother and those two are ridiculous together.   
   As the men did manly things at Paul's work, we mommies decided to do something new and exciting. We went to the aquarium!

 I thought aquarium meant that we'd be seeing lots and lots of water. Not so in Dallas! Going to the aquarium was like stepping into the rainforest!

The top levels housed trees, vines, birds, monkies, "rivers", otters, ducks, swans, and the like. Noah, Ashton and Julia were entertained, but the most exciting part of that level was when Ashton go to feed a toucan. Then, we went "underwater"

 That was the part that the babies LOVED!. There were some massive fish and turtles and even a manatee!

 Noah was amazed!

 Julia, not so much.

 After a while, Julia got antsy, so she was put into the pouch. It might have been the cutest sight ever.

Aren't they a cute family? (Minus Paul). Here we got to check out a sleeping Jaguar with half a tail and then a random troupe of Mayan dancers performed. I did get pictures, but I'm trying to save space.
The rest of the weekend was dedicated to relaxation. I definitely came home interested in visiting more aquariums. or museums. or zoos, for that matter.

What a difference

I got to hold a sweet, day-old newborn today.
He was sound asleep and content as can be, bundled in his blankies and wearing a snug, little cap. This little baby was born a full pound and a half bigger that Noah was just six short months ago. Now Noah looked gargantuan next to that little bundle of lovin'. How (and why) do babies grow so fast?

In retrospect, if Noah had stayed a teeny newborn for longer than he did, I might have gone crazy or gotten very concerned. And, by far, I am not complaining about my baby as he is right now. On the contrary, I love how everyday he seems to find a new noise to make, or a new body part to inspect, and always, a new way to make me adore him even more.

I guess, then, that the lesson I should take away from this is that I must treasure every moment of everyday with my first child. More will come in the future, and I will get to experience newborns again, but, for now, I am going to watch my son grow with awe and wonder. And a whole lot of prayer.

mommy's gotta update

Sorry for the delay, ya'll, but it as been a pretty busy weekend. I'll try to sum it up in concise, brief bullet points:

• Friday, Noah took his second trip to the zoo! pictures to follow, but in short, it was fun!
• Friday night, Noah did something that made me cry; he grew  tooth!
• Saturday night was the 2nd annual Jimily Halloween bash. Stephan made some pretty sweet salt and pepper shaker costumes for us, but we weren't going to put them on until after we got there, 'cause they're pretty difficult to move around in or carry a baby in. That was an enjoyable night, indeed! (Rangers won)
• It's a good thing we didn't wear them, 'cause nobody else over the age of 12 wore costumes. That doesn't mean I'm not going to wear costumes in the future, though, that's for certain!

• Sunday, church was stellar, as usual, and then the Cowgirls, I mean boys, got smacked around like a gaggle of pansies. Without bothering to finish watching such a sad debacle of a game, The Du Toit family opted for a nap instead. (It was glorious) Then the Rangers lost, then I went to bed. 

  In summary, this weekend was a blast, but silly old me didn't stop to take pictures of the Halloween party, so no entertaining photos to add to this post. Sorry, world. As for tonight, BSF awaits me, and I am prepared. I know for certain that the God who created this universe is sovereign and can and does uses any means He wishes to for the advancement of His will and kingdom. Praise God that I'm not in control. That would be messy.

                                                  Zoo Pictures!

Noah was fascinated by Lydia in her carrier.  

 YAY ZOO!!

 A brunette and a blonde with an inseperable bond. and babies. cute, cute babies!

 Mommy, "Noah, look at the white tiger!"  Noah, 'oooo, Sonic cup!'

 I love his kissable head!

 Was Noah intrigued by the country scarecrow? Neigh! He was still looking at Lydia.

 Lydia, Lydia, wherefore art thou, Lydia? Art thou hiding behind this here carrier thing? Then Lydia was all like, flippin' the bird!
oh, babies

 I have never seen this behavior in an elephant, therefore, I had to document it. My hypothesis are thus: either he was warming up for his ballet practice, deep in a pilates stretch, or, he was trying to chew on his toenails.

 And this last picture is special because this is the first picture of Noah sitting up by himself. (!!) later that day, he sprouted a tooth. My baby's growing too fast!