Thursday, Thursday

It's 9:30, I just got the kid in bed and still have yet to get anything to eat for myself. So you all better appreciate this ;-)

From what I've just said it should be more than apparent that it has been a ridiculously busy day. (When isn't it a busy day around here) Work was crazy again today (if people in Peoria want to stop dying that'd be great) which took up the majority of the morning. Then I spent my afternoon making my grocery list for tomorrow night. The Florida family is coming over for some homemade pizzas. I'm kind of excited, trying my hand at something new. I've never made homemade dough before (how hard can it be? famoust last words, I know) and I'm going to try a couple of different kinds of pizza. Should be a good time.

Then tonight I actually got a few hours to myself to go grocery shopping while Grant stayed home with the kiddo. It was really nice to get a few interrupted hours to myself. Not that I don't enjoy my kiddo, but every so often it's nice to not have to drag him in and out of the car with me and have to take him absolutely everywhere with me.

Alright, well I need to find some food and maybe get some sleep tonight. I'll take pictures of the pizza tomorrow, but just know that I might not post 'til Saturday morning. Until then, enjoy the pictures!

Noah close-up

He was literally climbing up things today

He really was excited about the mobile

Back from hiding

I sincerely apologize to anyone who has been missing all the updates lately. I have been in a bit of a funk as of late and haven't been much up for sharing it. But things are starting to look up, and I have been missing the blog, so I'm back :-)

Nothing ridiculously exciting has been going on around here. This weekend the kiddo and I went shopping at the outlets with Kristina. He wasn't really cooperating unless we were in a store specifically shopping for him. It was like he had this sixth sense about who we were shopping for. So in the end Noah got tons of new clothes and I again went home empty handed.

Work has been crazy nutso lately! I have been absolutely swamped. I actually worked a full day yesterday. I know that doesn't sound like much to all of you who normally work an eight hour day, but try working an eight hour day with a nine month old. Come on, I dare ya ;-)

Otherwise, nothing too exciting. Oh, the cable guy came on Sunday. We now officially have more channels than any normal person needs. And if it's not enough that we have all these channels, we also have "On Demand" for some channels so you can watch some stuff whenever you want. I'm telling you, it's crazy.

Alright, I promise promise promise I will keep up with this from now on and will try and find some more interesting things to talk about. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures!

Mmm, snack!

The cheese monkey

Hi Mom!

My little boy who loves to play with remotes

More TCBY please!

I'm so innocent Mom

People watching at the outlets

More toys than he knows what to do with

Climbing

He was spitting up a storm for some reason

Saturday Morning Type By!

I do have pictures from yesterday but I unfortunately don't have time to post them right now. (Silly Saturday morning house cleaning...) I will definitely post yesterday and today's pictures along with an entry later tonight.

Also, just wanted to remind everyone that there is a new poll up. I extended the time frame 'til Sunday night at 11:59pm. Make sure you vote!

So just a quick funny, I originally put this post up as "Saturday Morning Quickie." I went back to see how it looked posted and it's didn't dawn on me until then that probably wasn't the best title to a blog post. Hehe...

Alright, more tonight. Have a great Saturday!

A few more changes...

Enough with all the changes already! From my kiddo not really being a baby anymore, to new furniture, to a new TV, I've had enough! Apparently not quite enough, though...

I was feeling somewhat inspired today to rearrange all the furniture in the front two rooms. I suppose the arrangement before wasn't quite conducive to optimum TV viewing. (Obviously that wasn't too important to me when I rearranged the room a few months ago. It's still not, but I was beating my husband to the punch ;-) ) So me and my little old self rearranged the entire living room and front room this afternoon while the kiddo protested his nap. Check out the pictures below to see what I did :)

I'm not that great at the interior design thing. I know that, I'm OK with it. I guess it's just not that important to me. But I do appreciate it when it looks nice. And I appreciate others who have that knack. It's just not me. I like to have thing in straight lines surrounded by my very favorite momentos. And lots of pictures. Lots and lots and lots of pictures. When you have a kid as cute as mine, can you blame me?

Anyway, after I rearranged I ran around like a crazy person cleaning the house and all those other things that I need to do. I managed to even run to the store. Which brings me to a point. Return your cart. Do not leave it in the middle of the parking lot. Seriously, I know it's a little thing but dang does it get under my skin. True story; I first knew I could fall in love with my husband when he returned a shopping cart to it's stall even though it was pouring rain. Just that little bit of extra effort was all it took for me to know he was it. Silly but true.

Alright, enough of my rambling for the evening. I will try my best to keep things up to date this weekend. Enjoy the pictures!

Noah checking out the new chair

He did not want to nap this afternoon. He finally fell asleep sitting up and then fell over into this position. The little grey thing to the right of his head is actually his foot. Hehehe

The new front room

The newly rearranged living room

Living room from another angle (Hey Mom, don't know if you can see it, but I put the cardinal from Aunt Gladys right next to Noah's picture so she'll always be watching over him :) )

Another picture of the changed living room

And then....

Whenever my Mom tells a story that goes on and on, she tells about one thing and then says "And Then..." indicating that it just goes on and on from there as well. Today was an "And then" day. It was just one thing after another!

Noah went and saw the pediatrician today. Of course, me and my big mouth annoyed the doctor. (I'm such a crappy mom ;-) ) I am a little concerned about all the vaccines Noah is getting. I'm not worried about the fabled autism link, but I am concerned about the huge amount he is getting. Do you know that by the time he turns two he will get more than double the vaccines I got before I was two? Yes, I understand that since then vaccines for things like chickenpox and Hep B have come out, but more than double? Come on! And yes, I'm aware that they break some of them into multiple categories. Trust me, I've done the research. I just think everything they get in so short a period of time is a lot for a developing immune system. My opinion, I'm entitled... And I know that everyone and their brother has a concern about vaccines right now due to the myriad of reports that are circulating about how the "cause" autism. I'm not buying into that at all. But the sheer number matters to me! Isn't that what the doctor is there for? Apparently not so much. I was just one more of those parents reading an article, freaking out and then demanding that something be done about. Oy vey...

Noah otherwise is just perfect, though. He is still in the 80th percentile for his height and 25th percentile for his weight. He looks beautiful, has a great personality and is doing all the things he is supposed to. Couldn't ask for a better kiddo, right?

Grant brought the TV home tonight. Don't worry, I've included pictures for everyone. (And pictures of my new stand which is really the important part, let's be honest) I'm hoping he's thrilled with it. All I can say is that it's big.

Right after Grant got home (before he was even able to get the TV out of the box) we went and got my chair! WOOOO HOOO! I've included a couple pictures of it as well. It's not as green as it looks in the pictures. Hopefully tomorrow with some better lighting I'll be able to get some better pictures.

And I have to add a special Thank You to Chris. We'd never have gotten the chair home tonight if you hadn't come and taken Noah and I home so we could get the chair in the Rav. Thank you thank you thank you!

And then...

See what I mean about it being one of those days? Usually I would have been working on this post three hours ago, but I finally got to feed the kid, eat something myself and then finally sit down and blog tonight. I hope you all appreciate this ;-) (hehe, just kidding)

I'm glad to see that everyone either likes or is indifferent about the changes to the blog. If you have any other thoughts or opinions let me know, I'd love the feedback. Otherwise, like usual, enjoy the pictures!

Banging with pots and spoons

Hi Mom!

Hey Bella, do you see Daddy yet?

We'll watch together... (How cute are they?)

It's HUGE!

My TV stand (what I really care about)

Yeah new chair!!

Another Tuesday

So tomorrow Noah goes to the Pediatrician for his nine month check-up. Nine months, can you believe it? Anyone have any "dumb" questions that I should ask? Last time I asked about ADD, I'm sure I can somehow top that ;-)

So the sad news of the night is no chair tonight. Grant got home late and there just wasn't enough time to go and get it before Noah needed his bath. I guess I can hold out for the chair if it means not having a stinky baby. *Sigh* the trials of being a parent...

The kiddo, dog and I went for a long walk again today. It's been gorgeous here the past few days, just in the low seventies. Perfect for an hour long stroll with my two kiddos. Bella is in doggy heaven getting all these really long walks lately. We worked with her a lot before Noah was born so she would walk next to the stroller and she has been doing a fabulous job. It is not nearly as much as a handful as I anticipated taking both of them. Plus the sunshine does us all good.

Sorry, but I'm going to cut this short. I haven't talked to my Mama in a few days and I'm thinking I need to get on that here shortly. Three or four days without a long chat with my Mom is pretty much torture for me. Don't forget to check out the post below about the new changes to the blog. Enjoy the pictures!

Cheerios!

What a face!

Mom, can we go for another walk? (He pulled himself up there by himself)

The blog gets a makeover!

A lot has been changing around here lately and I figured that the blog was due for an update as well. But I want your opinions, too! So here's a little about the changes.

On the right sidebar, you'll find a new "poll" This first poll is asking if you like the new blog layout. Answer early and answer often, people. You reading in Illinois should be plenty familiar with that concept (hehehehe) I'm planning on changing the poll every couple of days. Play along, it'll be tons of fun.

Secondly, you know (for some of you at least) when you open your explorer window every morning and pull up the blog that it makes you just so happy that there's a new post? That's how I feel about comments and other feedback. At the end of every post, there's a "Leave some love for the Gatchel's" link. Click on it and leave us a message, comment on my post, tell me I'm crazy whatever floats your boat. Tell me to stop rambling about whatever I've gone on about and what you'd rather be hearing about.

Thirdly, if you really like to read the blog daily, become a follower! Your cute little picture will show up on my blog and I can finally feel like someone other than my sister and Jo Ann Fabrics loves me. (Silly stalking craft store...) There's a link that enables you to follow the blog on the right sidebar.

Alright, I promise a post and pictures tonight, just wanted to point out some of these changes. If you really like or dislike some of the new features or color scheme let me know! Oh, and all the fam has new pictures of the right sidebar as well, just in case you forgot who we were... More tonight!

The Gatchel's stimulate the economy...

First off, apologies for not posting last night. I'm aware that it is the "Florida Gatchel Daily" and I do try my best but sometimes it just doesn't happen. Hopefully all the pictures from the zoo on Friday held you over until tonight ;-)

So Saturday was Valentine's Day. How did you spend your day? Me, I think I should get the best wife of the year award. I went shopping with my husband to (small sigh of despair) finally purchase the TV. It has been purchased, but it needed to be shipped in, so it will officially be in the house on Wednesday. For anyone curious, it's a 46" Samsung LCD. And that's all I know about it because I've officially distanced myself from the whole thing. My husband is thrilled, I'm happy he's happy and now we can move on ;-)

On a happier note for me (but us still continuing to stimulate the economy) we also purchased a new stand for the TV. That I'm excited about. Furniture, that's cool. Plus we got to go chair shopping for the front room! I think I've figured out what I want and I think we're going to go get it tomorrow night. So Uncle Sam, thanks for taking too much of our money this year so we could spend it all at one time without too much guilt...

So today, I had a huge accomplishment. I am horrible at starting things and not finishing them. I recognize it as a problem, I'm trying to work on it. When I first found out I was pregnant with Noah I really tried to start working on it because it is not a habit I want to teach my kids. Painting his room last year was a big part of that. I know some people thought it was silly that I insisted on doing it all myself without any help. But it was really important to me that I do it from start to finish.

Anyway, a few weeks ago when I was cleaning up my mountain of crafting supplies, I decided to start a kind of "scrap" blanket. Kind of start to use all kinds of odds and ends and just get rid of some of the yarn I have purchased for past projects that I never finished up. And today, I finished the blanket! I know it sounds corny, but I'm proud of myself. It's not the cutest blanket, there's no real color scheme to it, but I think it'll be a great throw or something to cuddle up with when it goes below 40 in Florida again ;-)

Alright, I should head out and check on the husband and the kiddo. Plus I've got to go pick my next project ;-) Enjoy the pictures!

Thanks for the Valentine Grandma Caren and Papa Tom

Mmm, yummy Valentine

My Bella

Noah likes the new blanket!

Woo hoo - I did it!

*Kristi does a little happy dance*

It's a double strand blanket, which is why there's all the two-tone squares

Peek a Boo!

Bella kisses!

A trip to the zoo!

For Christmas, my parents got us a family membership to the zoo. We have so been looking forward to the opportunity to take a trip as a family. Grant did go in and work all morning (even on his off Friday) but we couldn't ignore the gorgeous afternoon and decided to head up all together.

Noah had a FABULOUS time! When we went in November he enjoyed himself but he was so much more alert this time. He loved the monkeys! He also really enjoyed the deer, the ducks, the jaguar and the crocodile.

Grant did a great job taking some pictures, so I will cut this short and just tell you to enjoy the pictures!

Mommy said when Daddy gets home we get to go to the zoo!

Is he here yet, Mom?

Gettin' ready to go

Such a cutie

I'm ready to go, Mom!

But I don't want to be a turtle!

OK, I'll be a turtle...

We (as members) got to check out the new section of the zoo (it doesn't officially open until tomorrow) and Noah got to go in the petting area!

Soft!

We actually got to see the giraffes this time!

Yay for giraffes!

Me and my bestest buddy

Kangaroo!

The baby warty pig (I love warty pigs!)

A crocodile

I'm ready to keep moving, Mom

Doe, a deer...

The deer really liked Noah and Noah really liked the deer

He was enthralled

And there's a gallows in the zoo because...

Bald eagle

More birds

Another bird (sorry, not good at remembering what kinds these are)

Alligator!

Another alligator (And we learned all about the differences between an alligator and a crocodile)

The jaguar. Noah could have watched him for hours

Little monkey!

Anteaters!

Really creepy scale that tells you how long your body would last before being devoured down to the bone by vultures... Poor little Noah only a 1/4 of a day

Family of escaped monkeys!

What a happy family!