Christiansen Chronicles

So this was our first Christmas to spend without any family around and it ended up pretty fun. Christmas Eve we drove around and looked at lights. With each house we drove by Gage would yell from the back "LOOK!!!" He must have thought it was pretty fun. We then came home and read Luke 2 together and showed Gage the nativity scene with this Precious Moments Natvity set that I have. We then told him to go put it back on the shelf how the story went....this picture is how he told us it went. According to Gage poor Baby Jesus doesn't even get to sleep in the stable!

I thought it would be fun for the boys to have special Christmas Eve jammies. Since they both had red jammies I thought those would be appropriate and besides, they would look GREAT for the pictures in the morning. They would have, neither jammie made it until morning because of throw up and a diaper blow out!

Santa brought Gage a train table for Christmas this year. When he came down the stairs Christmas morning he was speechless. Literally. He just stood and looked at it for the longest time.

The best part came later, after he had opened his stocking (and of course we had turned off the video camera) he looked at Wade and I and said "I am SOO happy!" I guess all that hard work Santa did assembling did pay off!

Of course, what would Christmas be without Thomas the Train.

Noah gave us one of the best Christmas gifts ever. He slept in 4 hour intervals that night, so I got 6 hours of sleep total! After I woke up at 6 to feed him, I was so happy with his sleep I gave him a big kiss and told him Merry Christmas. He then gave me a big grin - another great gift. This is how he looked the rest of the day!

We spent the morning together playing and had friends over for Christmas ham at lunch time. Our bishop then had a bunch of students over to his house that afternoon for hay-rides and noodle dinner. Gage loved seeing his tractor collection and the train they had under their tree. It was such a fun day, we hope you all had as much fun as well.

We went to dinner with friends to celebrate a birthday last night and it made me think that my own birthday will be coming up soon and I will be 27 years old. That means that next year will be my ten year high school reunion! 10 years! Wow!

So I got to thinking about it and that means: 9 years ago at this time I was a junior in high school. At that time my teachers were big into having us make portfolios of our work. I clearly remember (to bad I can't actually find it, that would be funny!) a portfolio I made for my chemistry class and we had to have a section about ourselves and our goals for the future. What this had to do with chemistry, I'm still not sure. Anyhow, I wrote down goals of where I would be in 10 years. I'm sure if I were to find that notebook none of them would included the following true life examples of where I actually am today:

1. Using vocabulary such as:
"Do NOT spread your cheese on the tv"
"Hands out of your diaper"
"Do NOT lick the tv"
"Eat 5 more of your green sticks (green beans) and then you can have that cookie"
"Do NOT hit the tv"
"Give the tv a hug and tell it you are sorry"

2. Memorizing the Thomas the Tank Engine theme song. Then singing it to your newborn in the hospital because it's all you can think of for a lullaby.

3. Graduating in something besides journalism and then leaving the marketing field to be a stay at home mom and really loving it....also driving a mini van!

4. Helping my husband with medical flashcards that I cannot read. Yes, I try to sound it out, but that doesn't always work!

5. Finding out that your stomach really does feel like unbaked bread dough after having kids. They should tell all the girls THAT in high school instead of having them carry around those babies, I bet that would work wonders!

6. Knowledge that hindsight is 20/20. I'm sure I had good intentions 9/10 years ago, but I'm pretty darn happy with my life now. I am blessed to have a family, a roof over my head, food on my table, health, an education, and much more.

So we had an appointment today where Noah was weighed and to our surprise he was 10 pounds 12 ounces, which put him in the 59% for weight! (he was 7.5 at birth)

I know this might not sound like a significant amount to most of you with big babies, but for me I was ecstatic! Gage never got over the 15% - and once he was over 6 months old he formed his own line right along the 3%.

Noah is our little grunter and that is Wade has given him as a nick name. He grunts when he wants to eat, he grunts when he is tired, he grunts when he has to go to the bathroom, he grunts in his sleep.

I don't have any great new picture to post but he is losing his hair and following his brother in his "male-pattern-baldness" look. We think he is cute either way. I'll try to get some pictures of the little grunty porker posted soon!

So here is my pet peeve of the week....delivery/installation people.

So I decided to upgrade our cable to digital for part of Wade's Christmas present. He was really missing ESPN and I thought it would be fun to have some movie channels. I called and was on hold and on hold with the company trying to get it set up for at least an hour on Tuesday. They said they would send someone out between 1-4 Wednesday. I sat at home all afternoon. The guy finally came, set up the box and left, however, he didn't install it right and so instead of a surpise when Wade got home, he found me, on hold with the company for at least another hour. I held ANOTHER hour the next day just to be told that they would send someone else out to take a look...between 1-4.

Now this time I didn't mind sitting at home so much, see our washing machine broke this past weekend and we had to buy a new one, and I was supposed to sit at home and wait for the new one to be delivered Thrusday, so at least this time I was sitting for two things, right? Well both things got delievered and Wade really does love ESPN....but the washing machine doesn't work.

SOOO, here it is Saturday and I have to sit at home again for the company to send a "repair" man to my house to fix my brand new washer...which has never been used! I want a new one, I don't want this one repaired.

Now even if I hadn't gone out all week anyway, (it is negative one degree with the wind chill) I don't like the fact that I had to sit here to wait on people. I just got a call that they will be running late today! Fantastic!

Ok, I'm done - I just needed to vent to someone taller then 3 feet tall and over two years of age. So to all the midget toddlers that read my blog - please ignore this post:)

I finally got the pictures to work! Take the quiz and see how you do - the above picture has two of Gage and two of Noah. Can you tell who is who?

Below are Noah's one month pictures. A pretty handsome devil - I must say so myself ;)

Well, Noah is one month old today. Wow, time flys! He has been a pretty good little boy so far and there seems to be no sign of colic - at least to the degree that Gage had!

With Gage I took a picture of him on the same day each month and it was really fun to look at after the first year, so I thought it would be fun to do the same with Noah and compare the two. It's amazing how much the two boys really look alike. I'm having trouble getting the pictures on, so hopefully I will get it figured out so you all can see!

Just a short story to share about what Gage picks up on...last night he was playing cars and trains with Wade and took his train to the other room and came back with imaginary Coke with ice for all the trains. He did it again this morning as well. For a kid that likes any soda he drinks watered down so he can't feel the carbonation, he sure does like to talk about coke a lot. I guess it's safe to assume that he get's his eyes from his Daddy and his drinking habits from his Mom!

I might be a little late on this but we should celebrate Thanksgiving everyday, so 10 things I'm thankful for this year are...
1. The Gospel
2. Wade - he's my best friend and the best husband I ever could have asked for
3. Gage and Noah
4. Health, mine and my family
5. The Bullards and Christiansens and all that they do for us and support us in
6. Wade's blessings in his school work and the opportunity we get to be here in medical school
7. The opportunity I have to stay at home with my boys and see them grow up
8. Freedom
9. Friends
10. Education

Here are some pictures of Noah, since I was feeling guilty for not posting any recent ones. As you can tell he really enjoyed taking his first bath at home. The second picture is about as good as it gets when you try to get him to open his eyes. The last one is the most recent I took it this afternoon.

I have nothing profound to say, I just wanted to post pictures and here they are! Enjoy!

So sorry I haven't posted in a while, and I apologize for the lack of pictures.

The other day while eating dinner, Wade was holding Noah and he (Noah) did something funny with is hands and I realized that with Gage I would have ran and got the camera and took at least 5 pictures, this time I just kept eating and enjoyed my food. Sorry Noah, but you are the second child and I guess that means you get less pictures.

Anyway, here is what has been going on in our life the past week or so. Noah had his 2 week appointment last friday and he passed....Boy am I glad he didn't fail, or else we would have to send him back! (as long as I make myself laugh I am perfectly ok with dorky jokes) He was 25% for height and weight, which I believe is bigger than Gage ever was. We are still working on telling days from nights, but I am trying to sleep more during the day so we can all be more happy and adjust to no sleep. So far, Noah likes to grunt and sleep and he does not enjoy opening his eyes.

Wade finishes with a test tomorrow at 10am and then he gets Thanksgiving break! YEAH for a break. He mentioned to me when he got home that he is really looking forward to this break because he thinks he has been around less since we had Noah than all semester. We knew this would happen, so it's been a real blessing that my mom has been here to help.

Anyway, that is what we have been up too. Gage is still talking our ears off and so far so good with the little brother issues. My dad flew in tonight and we are all looking forward to some great food together on Thursday.

My mindless typing has now lulled my baby Noah to sleep so I am off to snooze as well. I promise I will post pictures next time!

So my little Noah has decided to wake up from his 24 hour slumber land - and do it every night between the hours of 1 and 5. It's lovely, as I'm sure you can imagine. That is why it's 2:07 am and I'm updating my blog.

Wade came home and showed us a cool website the other day that I thought I would share. It gives you something to do at 2am. Check it out...

www.linerider.com

Noah goes in for his 2 week appointment tomorrow so hopefully things are ok with him and he is growing. Too bad I already know the Dr isn't going to go for the sedative medicine I had in mind :)

My mom is here helping and found this in in our newspaper the other day. To bad I just had the baby and wasn't at our Target that day, Gage would have loved to see this...

What do you get when you cross a Christiansen, a Bullard and a family history of jaundice?




Two little glow-worms! (can you tell who is Gage and who is Noah)


Noah is now four days old and yesterday we had to put him on the bili-blanket light, just like we did with Gage. This morning we took him in and did the sad little heel prick test again and hopefully it will come back with a lower score.

So far he is a VERY good sleeper and I'm finding myself bored with him. Gage never slept this much, even this young. I consider it a blessing. Last night Noah ate at 11 and slept until 4!!! We are still trying to figure out the eating situation but I'm sure it will work out with time.

It's really is amazing to me how much less you stress over your second.

Our little Noah Lowe is here. He was born Friday, November 3 at 12:03pm and weighed in at 7 pounds 5 oz and 19 inches long. Gage is a pretty proud big brother and very concerned with other people holding him.

My due date wasn't until the 15th, but my blood pressure had been up pretty high so I was induced Friday morning. It was a fast delivery and Noah has been a very good, sleepy baby.

Carving Pumpkins with Daddy


Gage at the costume parade at the library with his friend Elizabeth


At the church's trunk or treat


At DMU halloween party

So, if you didn't know, in Iowa they celebrate what they call Beggars Night instead of Halloween and they kids trick or treat the night before. We also took Gage to the toddler party at the library (last Thursday), our church's trunk or treat (last Saturday), and just because I believe that Halloween should be celebrated on the actual day, we went to DMU today for a trick or treating party (today). Here are some pictures from the past weeks events.
-oh, and he is Peter Pan, NOT Robin Hood, in case you were wondering.

Now that Halloween festivities are over I am ready to go and have this baby. Just not in the next 7 hours, let's at least make it into November!

So I should have seen it coming when we took Gage on his first bow hunt before he was 6 months old. Just so you know, I didn't dare post the picture of Gage, Wade and the deer Wade got, let's just say it wasn't a pretty picture.

Any way, back to the point...Gage is just like his dad.

This morning Gage has been walking around the house putting a kitchen spoon into this bubble blower contraption he has, throwing the spoon out at random objects and telling me, "I shot deer!" I kept asking him if he was hunting or if he was really saying other words and he would answer, "Deer, hunting."

Because of school, Wade didn't even go on the bow hunt the past two years; so I guess Gage is a true Christiansen at heart after all. Not that I ever doubted this, and not that it's a bad thing. I thought it was worth sharing.

So there is a group of us right now that are all pregnant and due in November, hence the name, the Novembers. I thought it would be fun to get together for some pictures so the other day my friend Erica took some great and silly photo's of us. So here we all are - windblown, big bellies, and having fun!

We are all pregnant with our second child and are standning in order of due date as well (L-R):
Amanda is due the 16th with a girl
I'm due the 15th with a boy
Allison S. is due the 10th with a girl
Allison B. is due the 3rd with a boy

We think it would be great if we were all together in the hospital at the same time -we even all go to the same OB clinic, so the Dr. on call would only have to show up one time!

I would like to ask everyone to take a moment out of their day to remember a dear friend to our family. Hoss.

While many of you might not know him by this name, I am speaking of Wade's dear truck Hoss, whom we sold last night and is now gone from our family. It was a sad night and Hoss will be missed greatly.

For my husband, who reads this blog, a few of my favorite Hoss memories are:
1. Alpine Loop in AF canyon
2. Boating trips with Steph and Greg, who bought the boat but needed Hoss to haul it to the lake.
3. Camping trips and cooking pancakes on the tool box...then leaving the butter out in the hot sun and having it melt all over the place.
4. Before we started dating having you take Tiffany Richins home and secretly hoping that you would drop her off first so I could still sit in the middle with you:)
5. Taking Gage for rides in it during the deer hunt.
6. Stories you would come home and tell me about your door falling off. They make me laugh now!
7. The sad day when you took the Hoss name off, I still am not sure why you did that, but I guess it was time.
8. Seeing Gage "help" you fix it. Then seeing Gage blow a fuse in it so you are stuck without a radio for a month. I'm not sure who will miss it more, you or him!
9. The fun (and sometimes scary to me) camping spots we could find all because you had 4 wheel drive.
10. Rocking out to Meatloaf, Monster Ballads or any of your other good old 80's rock music.

Even though Wade probably doesn't believe me, I really am sad it's gone. More sad that the guy that bought it wants to paint it, and even more sad that I didn't get to take pictures of Gage and Wade in it one last time. It was a good truck and it will be missed. It deserved it's own blog!

So today I let Gage play with finger paints for the first time (well, besides the ColorWonder kind that only paint on certain paper). He had a blast. Maybe it's because a lot of his friends are in pre-school now and I've seen a lot of there fun projects that I felt guilty, or maybe it's because I know in a few short weeks he will not be the only one receiving all of my attention. Either way he got to paint, and paint he did!

First we did two pictures which are now proudly displayed in our kitchen. Then I let him paint on of his pumpkins we got at the pumpkin patch. He would have painted all afternoon! I think this will now be one of his favorite activities and it's a good thing because cold weather has joined us in Iowa.

Two other funny things:
1. He keeps telling me that it is "winding" outside. He says it's raining and winding. Every time I try to correct him he thinks I'm talking about "Wendy" in Peter Pan.
2. This morning we were talking about what we should name baby brother. We have three names picked out, but Gage comes up with new ones every day. This morning he wanted to name our baby Buck.
Totally random thoughts of a two year old!!!

My mom sends me cards of encouragement and comics that she thinks I would enjoy. Today I thought this one was so great I had to scan it and share with everyone. I felt it was appropriate to share!

I went to the Dr. today.....
And while it's not November yet, let's all take a vote:
OB-GYN's should not be able to make a comment about your weight followed by saying "hum" without telling you what they are thinking.

If the vote is unanimous then we should write up a memo and send it to every OB residency program in the nation.

So when I was pregnant with Gage, I had a definite craving: Arby's roast beef sandwiches. I could eat there 2 or 3 times a day. Sometimes I would get it for lunch and work and then come home and suggest it to Wade for dinner without mentioning that I had ate there for lunch. This took careful consideration too, because I had to visit different Arby locations so not to be embarrassed!

This pregnancy I really haven't had too many cravings, but I do wish that my favorite fast food restaurant - Sonic - was closer to my house...Wade probably is glad that it isn't. I really like their onion rings, toaster sandwiches, tator tots, burgers...ok, who am I kidding, I enjoy almost everything on their menu. Maybe it's a thing from my past; Sonic was the "hang-out" place to be when I was in high school. (We didn't have anything else). My craving for Sonic isn't really because I'm pregnant, I would want it this much minus the extra hormones, but the 15 minute drive to the closest Sonic really makes me upset sometime. So....if anyone reading this has extra money they want to invest, open a Sonic franchise in West Des Moines, Iowa.

As for my peeves, I am now in entering my last month of pregnancy and it really amazes me what people say to you. I had a friend tell me this week that I've "really popped out there and that I look lopsided” It’s ok coming from her, because it was true. However, a stranger at the library told me yesterday that I looked great, besides that my ankles were swelling a little. I really didn't think my ankles had been swollen at all - and since she had never seen them before in her life, I didn't think that was her place to judge!

Sometimes I just have to laugh. Then I buy myself something from Sonic and I feel better.

Thoughts I’ve had today:

1. I shouldn’t be offended when my toddler says “Mommy big!!!” I should remember that I’m telling him to eat his food so he will grow big. He is in no way referring to my baby weight.
2. Nesting isn’t always enjoyable. The projects that I’ve started have been a lot more work.
3. Bathrooms should deep clean themselves if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or just breathing.
4. When you think your toddler is being good because he is quiet and watching a movie, it is a bad sign. He most likely (in my case) has colored on things he shouldn’t have, torn all the cushions off the couch and build a fort where he is hiding and trying to eat domino’s….yeah the game kind, not the pizza kind. Or he is standing in front of the TV licking it. Don't ask, I don't.
5. I go to wal-mart way to often.
6. Nap times should be minimum of 2 ½ hours, one hour for mommy to sleep and one hour to scrapbook or read. Half an hour to think about cleaning the bathroom (refer to #3).
7. Babies in utro should not be allowed to kick or stretch that hard.
8. Some days I just want to have a “piratitude”…if you watch Wife Swap you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, it just means some days I just want to be lazy.
9. Coke is good….especially the cherry kind.
10. It’s only 1:30 we still have 5 hours till Wade comes home and 7 till bedtime!!!

Yesterday we went to the Howell Tree Farm and Pumpkin Patch. Wade had finished a test and is starting a new class today and now has 2 tests a week - one every Monday from now until after Thanksgiving...so he wanted to get out and do something with us while he could. The benefit that he can walk now was a BIG bonus.


For $3 you get a tractor ride and to pick a pumpkin from the patch. Gage of course was in love with every tractor that he saw on the farm...there were lots of tractors, but the farmer let him sit on this one!



In pursuit for the perfect pumpkin and picking it.


Gage and Wade taking a stroll through the corn maze.


Waiting to head back to the barn so we can buy our pumpkins. We had to pick two, one for Gage and one for the baby.


Back at the farm we could pet the animals and the goats particularly loved Gage. I think they thought he had food with him, but we didn't. He liked the attention either way.

It was a really hot day to go out to the farm, I think the high was around 90 yesterday, but it was still a fun trip and I'm glad that Wade took some time off to go do something with us. We went last year with just the girls and kids, and I'm sure this year we will head back sometime with the same group, just hopefully with cooler weather. There is also a cool gift/flower shop that is open all year, so if any of you out-of-towners are in town sometime, this is a place you might want to check out!

So no pictures this time, this is just a teaser. We got the package from my mom in the mail today with Gage's Halloween costume in it and now I cannot wait until Halloween!

Gage is going to be Peter Pan, and let just say it's a very handsome costume and he isn't to fond of taking it off! I still have to buy him a few swords, and then it will be REALLY exciting for him. I might break down before Halloween and post pictures, but for right now, everyone has to wait and see! I was just to excited to not say how cute he is going to be :)

So I just got back from the maternity store, where I purchased two more shirts. I told myself, and Wade that I was done buying clothes, even though I was running out of things that were comfortable, that fit, and were the right season. However, I did it and bought two tee-shirts. I think most of you who read this will agree, that maternity clothes are such a rip off for the amount of time that you wear them.

Oh well, when I made the comment last night that I wasn't going to buy any more shirts, Wade said "Uh, if you really need to, I think you should." I think this is his secret code-nice husbandly way of saying "I don't think you look that cute in my big tee-shirts and sweats, so please go buy something cute"

I know I don't look huge in the picture, but I am - I am feeling it anyway. I know the baby is just as uncomfortable too - he kicks and squirms all the time - maybe this means he will want to come out faster.

At the most I only have 7 weeks left, I had Gage two weeks early, so that means it could be five! I've got my list of things to do before he gets here and I'm working on crossing things off every day. I washed all his clothes and got to fold them up and put them away. I always think folding the tiny baby clothes is fun....I know, I'm strange. We've also got the name narrowed down - but we aren't telling, so don't ask - it's just a few more weeks till we get to meet the little guy!

WOO HOO!!!
Eight weeks later – Wade is now free of all pins in his foot and can walk! He is supposed to use a walking cast for the next week but then he can move to just regular shoes. He is very happy and says he can walk without pain! Surprisingly enough he said it didn’t hurt at all when they pulled the pins from his foot, the Dr. said he might feel some pressure, or a pinch, but he didn’t feel either.

For those with weaker stomachs, this a smaller picture of what the pins looked like on Sunday…..the version of what they looked like the week of the surgery is much more graphic.



Now the only person with a “foreign object” attached to their body is me, and I only have 6 or 7 more weeks to go!