oct 6th, 2007. What can I say? He's wearing my headband and lounging in little brother's buzzy/bouncy chair. He really does think he owns the place.

oct 4th, 2007. Noah weighed in at 11 pounds 8 oz. yesterday.

I really liked what he was wearing and I loved the denim background, but darned if I could get him to open his eyes!

E2 seems to think all this baby stuff is for him...Okay, so it was for him ORIGINALLY! He is in a serious copying phase and even wants to copy EVERYTHING little brother does. hee hee

This moment just had to be captured! E1 and E2 spending some quality time together.

sept 26th, 2007...starting to smile a bit

drunk from milk?

I have a new goal to add posts at least once a week. That's really funny considering all the other goals I'm not achieving at this time. Let's see if I can do it.

Noah is almost 8 weeks old, I have no idea where the time went. I think I'm in a time warp actually, because at times it feels like I've always had him, yet I know our world has changed drastically since his arrival. Eli now likes to torment his daddy by waking up at odd hours in the night and sometimes at 4:45 am to start his day. Nightmares? Adjustment to new baby? NOt getting enought attention? Too hungry? Probably all of the above. As a result we have to zombies trying to act like parents and we I don't know if we're doing a very good job but we're sure trying.

Just a little update here...



This pic is just a couple days after we brought baby home, but it shows the love the Eli has for Noah. He's still jealous and we're still trying to teach him how to be gentile, but when he gets a chance he loves to give kisses.

September 14th, 2007. Noah is one month old today. This is also the 36th anniversary of my parents' wedding. Some pretty incredible things have happened in those 36 years.

Not sure what this face means, but I think it's as close as we get to a smile for the camera these days. Kendall and I were watching a movie the other night and Noah started laughing right at a really funny part. It made us giggle too.

Sunday, September 9th...I think.

Finally transitioning Noah into cloth after about 2 1/2 weeks...love the fat bum!

Eli still thinks he's the center of our universe.

Darrin and Alex flew into Spokane on August 13th. The were kind enough to drive all the way down to Pullman (about 1.5 hours one way) just to see me and have lunch. I had insisted on this because I didn't feel like I should leave town since it seemed like I might have a baby soon. I was still 3+ weeks before my EDD. They came of course and I felt really great that day (yes, I know I didn't look so hot!) and I felt a little foolish for insisting they come to me rather then me meeting them in Spokane.

Well...my water broke early the next morning. I guess we were close after all!

E1 & E2 tearing it up to Billy Jean!

Good morning world!

Okay, well good morning to the one or two people who might read this....
I've been pretty bad about keeping up with posts and pictures. I don't know why...maybe it could be the fact that I have a 19 month old, a 3 week old, a 9 year old and a 33 year old that need my attention more than this silly computer? Maybe? The truth is that the baby takes up most of my time and I divide the rest between my other boys.

Noah is growing like a weed. He's alreay 9 pounds and looks completely different than he did at birth. I should have remembered that this happens (Eli did the same, of course), but it still alarms me that my baby will grow too fast and not be my "little" guy for long. I'm even having to come to grips with the fact that Eli is no longer my baby baby. He's still a baby technically. He's adjusting in his own way. We help him hold Noah and I think that is helping him learn a little better how to be gentle and soft. Usually he just wants to grab Noah's hands and feet. HE is obsessed with toes....everyone's toes! I think he doesn't understand why mine have this funky deep pink color on them. HE gives me a very quizical look every time.

Eric and Kendall are in school....thank goodness. As much as I love having them around, I really love that routine and structure are once again part of our lives. It helps me in huge ways.

love, me

Today is Noah's 3 day in this big bad world and he's just living it up. He is sleeping most of the time and eating really well. He doesn't fit into any of his clothes yet, so he mostly wears little gowns that don't have to fit perfectly.

Noah arrived about 3 weeks early, but is doing perfectly well. We left the hospital at about 11am yesterday (Thursday) morning. I think the hospital staff thought I was nuts that I wouldn't max out my stay there. I knew the rest of the family needed us home and I missed Kendall and the other boys so much. It is so nice to have a healthy and strong baby and to bring him home so shortly after his birth. This is such a drasticly different experience than what we had with Eli. So peaceful, so easy, so perfect. We are profoundly grateful.

His big brothers have mixed feelings about his arrival. Eric is so proud and comes to check on Noah in regular intervals. Eli is insanely jealous and it takes all the big people in the room to protect Noah from Eli's attemts at attacks. Eli is also so curious and facinated by this baby and wants to love him in his own special way too.

Snug as a bug.

I'm thinking about opening my eyes!

Okay, I'm really here!

What is this silly outfit?

I must protest!

Nap time once again.

Dazed big brother

Proud big brother

Official weigh in: 6 lbs. 15 oz. and 19.4 inches.

Yes, I've had lovlier moments, but none so precious.

Announcing the arrival of....

Noah Kimball Batson!
Noah was born on Tuesday, August 14th at 9:33 pm in Pullman Regional Hospital.
He weighed 6 lbs. and 15 oz. and was 19.4 inches long.
He has light brown (almost blonde) hair.

Thoughts and photos to come very shortly!

E1

dad and E2