The Host

So I read a good book this past week. I didn't think it was fabulous, but it was highly enjoyable, a good escapist book. It's called The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I found it to be creative and well written, but the ending seemed too contrived, so perfectly ended. The tone of the book was rather dark, and then this happy little ending came. Oh well. Like I said, it was a good read, and I enjoyed it. I realized I said I was going to be using just formula with Noah, and that is out the window. He's back on breast milk full time after one week of formula part time. He did worse on it, although he did sleep well. He seems to be getting better, but we still are having a hard time. Thanks Mom Hunt for the advice, it has really helped, he's now able to go #2 on his own :) Thanks also to Dad T. for being my stand in doctor/advice giver/all around great Grandpa! Anyway, Noah fusses all evening, but does well in the morning and night. I know the older he gets, the better it will be. He now weighs 6.2 kg as of Monday, so he just keeps getting bigger, and he's up to 22.5 inches, so he's gained 2 inches since birth. He's doing well.Obviously my days are pretty monotonous, sorry there's no more of interest to add. I got another book while we were up in the States, the Golden Compass trilogy. I'll be interested to read it.

More Memories

We wanted to remember how Owen says "To Infinity And Beyond!" his favorite saying by Buzz Light Year. He says chewy boba, and we love to hear it. He repeats this at least five times per day! A funny thing about Buzz, we bought Owen a Buzz doll to try to help with the potty training, so now he tries to tell me he's poopy when he's not, and doesn't want me to check since he's not, and won't get off the toilet because he wants more Buzz time. Silly monkey. Here's an older picture of Daddy and Noah sleeping together, Noah is doing better, and I'm so grateful. Afternoons are fussy time, but the rest of the time he seems to be doing well. Hopefully it will last.

Also, here are some cute pictures of our trip to the park in Sierra Vista on our spur of the moment trip. Noah was eating, so I didn't get to be part of it. Owen was terrified of the swing, but so cute. Notice the Cars ensemble that Oma buys for him. :)

Hope everyone is doing well!

Owen's Giggles

Owen thought this was the freaking funniest thing ever. He couldn't stop laughing, and wanted to watch it over and over and over. We loved it! He has the most infectious giggle.
Enjoy!

To Remember

So I use this blog as kind of a journal, it helps me remember things, and keep up on things. One thing I definitely want to remember is something that happened a few nights ago. Aaron has/had a water bottle he used every day to brush his teeth and it had a top that you had to suck on to get the water out. Owen loved to drink out of this, and pretend to be like Dad. Well, the other day, he took it around the house with him, and then put it back where it belonged. I didn't think anything of it, since he does that all the time. That night, Aaron tried to use it to brush his teeth, and nothing would come out. He looked in the opening, and Owen had jammed bunches of pill bugs in the opening. Perfect fit! I grossed out, but Aaron just thought it was hilarious. We threw the bottle away, obviously, and I am no longer allowed to let Owen play with the bottle. Poor kid :) Anyway, I just want to remember these things to torture Owen with when he is a older and bringing dates home :) Noah is doing better, it looks like he'll be on formula full time, we were alternating formula and breast milk, and he's decided he likes formula better. I'll keep working with him, but it doesn't look good. Oh well. It'll make my life easier in a lot of ways. Noah is up to almost 13 pounds, so even though he wasn't digesting his food properly, he still seems to be healthy. Owen is doing well, and being so sweet, especially now that Noah is napping, we all get time off from him and the crying. I love my boys!

More Pictures

Here's cute pictures while Grandma and Steve are here...

There's me really looking old...being tired definitely doesn't help me look young and beautiful :) but isn't my Owen adorable?

Pretty Grandma

He's definitely getting cuter, we think

Mother's Day

In my perusal of the internet this morning, (Aaron is sleeping with Noah, hence the break) I saw all my favorite blogs were talking about Mother's Day, food ideas, honoring mothers, etc. It so touched me, especially as right now, being a mom of two seems so difficult. Noah is doing better, but still we struggle. He's putting himself to sleep more often, but we can't seem to lick the problems with his pooping time. I'm sure I just alienated all but the most devoted of my readers, but oh well. That's my life right now. Potty training and constipation with my two boys. Anyway, back on topic, I was so touched by people's comments on mothers, and I went to this link from another blog, and was so inspired. http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-27,00.html
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-37,00.html

These are both talks that touched my life, making me want to do better, be better, and endure. I love all the mothers in my life, and want you all to remember that Heavenly Father loves you too. Some days it is difficult to remember, but we really are doing the Lord's work bringing beautiful children into this world and teaching them to be the best people they can be. To my mother, mother-in-law, step mother-in-law, sisters, sister-in-law, and friends, I want to thank you for being the amazing women and mothers you are, whether you have children or not, you still influence my children through your contact, and I appreciate and love you. Thank you for being you and have a wonderful Mother's Day. I am thinking of you all! Yay for Aaron for giving me a break too, being married is so wonderful :)

May Birthday

Well, we're already well into May, but I have to post a Happy Birthday to our single May birthday boy. Happy Birthday Ian!!! He's 11 now, I can't believe how old he's getting! He had just turned 5 when Aaron and I were dating/married. Hope your day is great Ian!!!

Noah's Blessing

Well, today was a special day, we were able to bless Noah here at the house, and have some friends and family with us. Thanks to Eric and Kim, and Dad and Mom for sacrificing and coming down. We are so happy to see all of our family. Aaron blessed Noah, and it was so special to have the blessing in our home. Thanks Kim for the beautiful blanket you made, and Dad T thanks for the shirt donation so Kim could make us such a great blanket for Noah.

Also, Owen got some new ties, and we just couldn't believe how cute and grown up he looked.

Can anyone say US citizen? Noah is now official, and here is one of his passport photo shoots. We thought they were so funny, and on his passport he will stay 22 inches long until he is 5 :) I just got such a kick out of that!

Hope you are all well, we love all of you!

Recent Pictures

It's been a while since I updated, Aaron actually did the last two entries. Oma has requested pictures, not surprisingly, and so I am updating. Those of you few who actually check here, like two of you, will get to see Noah. Sorry for those of you who don't, I won't be sending anymore email pictures unless you specifically request a picture, too much work! Hope you are all well, one of these days I'll get enough sleep to function properly :)

pictures

Noah K Tunell

Welcome to the family little guy! 9.25 lbs and 20.5 inches. Born cesarian yesterday at 8am.
Mom and he are back at the house now and doing great!

arrrrgh. blogger won't let me put a picture in, i'll try again tomorrow.

New Find

I just wanted to post about this cool software I, yes I Vicki, found. Usually Aaron is the one who is up on all this techno gadget stuff, and while admittedly photography software is not that gadgety, still, it's computer stuff and I found it. Yes, I just had to brag there a little. Anyway, it's an Adobe product called Lightroom, and I downloaded a free version of it for a 30 day trial. Aaron and I spent last night playing with it, and we love it. Unfortunately, the version we want is not yet available, so Aaron said I was in trouble for getting him so interested in something we can't have yet, but I'll live with that. I found Lightroom so much easier to use than Photoshop, and you can download free presets (like actions in Photoshop) on line, although the program comes with presets already. Here are a couple of pictures I messed with, I love how they turned out, although Aaron doesn't like how I did the first one very well :)

I'll say again, this is a great program, so easy to use, great interface, totally made me feel confident. Version 2.0 is way better than the ones available, so save up and buy it when it comes out, or try the trial version like we are, and see if you aren't impressed. Plus, the price tag is much nicer than Photoshop.

April Birthdays

To continue with the monthly tradition, just wanted to say Happy Birthday to Noah on the 12th (sorry no pictures :))


Erin on the 13th





and Aaron on the 19th!

This is a special month for our family, and I'm so glad we made it here :) Sometimes you think April will never come. Hope you have a wonderful birthday, we'll be thinking about you!

And The Date Is...

April 12th!!! Okay, I freaked out a little when the doctor said he wanted to do the C-section a week early, but well, we now know when Noah is coming. I'm freaking out, I thought I had more time, but I'm glad as well, because I am tired of being pregnant!!! I'll be just over 39 weeks when they do the section, so I'll be plenty safe. Anyway, just thought we'd let you know. Keep us in your prayers, and hopefully all will go well!

The Name

So we decided on a name, finally, after much discussion and persuasion on my part. We are going to name the baby Noah K Tunell. K is for my Dad, and also for my brother I guess, but we didn't choose it because of you Shawn, sorry, as much as we love you :) Now we just have to wait for Noah to show his face. Hopefully he won't wait too long.

Also, I read a good book this past week, called The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It's been out for a few years, but I really enjoyed it. I haven't been able to spend as much time as I'd like reading, but I take what I can get.

Owen finally has decided he likes nursery again, and although he doesn't seem to want to stay the whole time, he has fun, and goes in there with out crying. Hooray!

Aaron's work is going well, he really is enjoying what he is doing, and it's fun to have his projects working so well. Unfortunately, he loves bringing his work home, because he gets so focused, so I often have to work hard to tear him away from his projects.

We're excited for this month (April) and hope to have lots of good news.