It's a(nother) boy!

...and we couldn't be more thrilled!

We are happy to announce (to facebook land) that we are expecting baby boy #2 in July!

As we are both the #2 in our families we are excited to meet our 2nd born and become a party of 4.

Also, loving our siblings as we do…we are overjoyed for both our boys that they now have each other.

I am just about 20 weeks along and all is well. 

We have had a busy first half of this pregnancy with moving and musicals and keeping up with a toddling toddler. We are overjoyed with this blessing and now that we are (somewhat) settled we can focus on preparing our hearts and home for "brother" as we are already calling him. 

As for the streak of boys...

Yes, our son is the 8th Meredith male baby since Christoper was born in 1981 but did you know he will also be the 8th male Barber great-grandchild in a row! SO fun! :) 

Please pray for all of us as we go through this journey. 

With thankful hearts, 

Kate and JJ

Richard Scarry's Color Book

Noah's Book Club: February 2013

Title: Richard Scarry's Color Book
let's learn our colors

Author: Richard Scarry 

Why Noah picked it: My Mom brought this book home from Grandma's house...it was hers when she was little. I love it! In fact, just today Daddy has read it to me 5 times already. And guess what?? I am actually learning my colors! At the end of the book, there is a page with all the colors and I love to point to each one as Daddy quizzes me. I also love to see oranges (a favorite food of mine) and the frog on the green page. We have another book by the same author that I am enjoying lately called Best First Book Ever! it is big and full of hundreds of fun things to look at. Richard Scarry gets an A+ from me!

The Lion & the Mouse

Noah's Book Club: January 2013

Title: The Lion & the Mouse
an (almost) wordless masterpiece

Author: Jerry Pinkney 

Why Noah picked it: My Mom was unpacking books in our new house and I saw this lion book and because of my love of lions I got really excited. Much to Mommy's surprise I fell in love with this book and now demand it every day before nap or bedtime (or both). The book has almost no text but Mommy or Daddy narrate the illustrations for me. It has an owl, lions, and elephants so I am sold. Beautiful illustrations and a simple story have my parents retelling this fable again and again. I also highly recommend this author's Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star...another book I ask for by name on many nights. 

What I Learned While Moving

1. I have too much stuff. Way. too. much. Nothing puts your amount of belongings into perspective like having to put it all in boxes/bags/bins and asking your friends and family to carry it. I blame the amount of stuff I have accumulated on the fact that I have always been an "old soul". Which translates to having thoughts about what you should save for your future home/kids when you are about 12.

2. Before you buy a house you should open all the appliance doors all the way. That is all I am saying about that. :(

3. When you have a toddler whose favorite thing in the whole world in taking things out of boxes packing is hard.

4. We really have awesome friends and family. So many people helped us pull this move off in a variety of ways. It reminds me of why I live here...and sometimes that reminder is necessary.

5.  I hate moving. I've done it 10 times in the last 12 years. I never want to move again. (My husband says, I always say that.)

6. Stuff will get "lost in the move" - just accept it.

The Mitten

Noah's Book Club: December 2012

Title: The Mitten
A perfect winter tale...

Author: Jan Brett

Why Noah picked it: I love animals. Any book with animals in it I tend to enjoy but The Mitten is my new favorite. I bring it to Mommy or Daddy (ar anyone who is around) several times a day. I like to hear it again and again. The illustrations are beautiful and with the array of animals I am a happy camper. I also have learned to say "aaa-chew" just like the bear at the end of the tale.

All of Noah's New Doings

Well...it has been over 2 months since I have blogged. The reasons for that are a few blogs in themselves so I will just leave it at that for now.

An update on Noah...mostly so that I don't forget what he was like at 12-13 months!

Our little man is cruising like crazy but still loves to crawl. He stands on his own for a few moments when we needs both his hands for a toy or food. He has taken a few steps mostly when he misjudges the distance between two pieces of furniture and needs to take a step or three! to make it to the next one.

He is eating...and eating...and eating. I can barely keep him from making the "more" sign language sign which has come to just mean "food" to him. He is on all solid food and is completely weaned. He loves bananas, turkey, peas, baby snacks, milk and water, applesauce, oatmeal, and yogurt but honestly...he hasn't turned down anything...we are enjoying that while it lasts.

He is talking! And it is oh-so-cute. He says: Hi, Dad, Mom, Moo (boo), Whoo, Quack, makes a squirrel noise, Balloon (boo), star, car, boots, turkey and it seems like every few days he'll start to call something by its name....or something that sounds like the start of its name. ;)

He still loves books but also likes playing with cars (all vehicles are cars for now), balls, taking apart his puzzle, and throwing around his Little People nativity set. We only do an hour of "screen time" a day...most of which he plays during and ignores the TV but he has started to prefer Thomas and Friends to Sesame Street although somedays he still does pick Elmo instead of Thomas.

He is long and skinny and has some curls at the bottom of his neck. He wears 18 month clothing and lives a lot of his life in feety pajamas.  If you ask his "Where's God?" he points to his heart. He sometimes blows kisses, plays peek-a-boo, or will point to a correct body part when asked. He still does a lot of pointing and if you ask him to be "cute" he will tilt his head to one side in very adorable way. He and JJ play a game with our composer statues that is his number one favorite activity. He gives kissed and hugs once in a great while. He can show you how old he is by putting one finger in the air when asked "How old is Noah?" When he sees candles he blows in an attempt to blow them out...a trick we tried to teach for his birthday. The best part of his birthday party was his face while the room full of people were looking right at him and singing.

He is sweet and smart. He is determined and loves to explore. We love our little one-year-old.  

Big Red Barn

Noah's Book Club: November 2012

Title: Big Red Barn
A favorite book from the author of Goodnight Moon.

Author: Margaret Wise Brown

Why Noah Picked It: I have loved this book for a long time. Mom says the same women who wrote it wrote "Goonight Moon"...the book every new parent gets 3 copies of. This book from Ms. Brown is also a goodnight book. It tells the story of a busy farm and all the animals in and around the big red barn. It has all my favorite animals in it and towards the end of the book all the animals head to bed inside the big red barn. The book has a wonderful rhyme scheme and meter that makes it one of my parents' (especially my Dad) favorite to read to me at bedtime. It came to us second hand from a book sale and Mom says she had never even heard of it before. This sister book to the famous Goodnight Moon needs more air time! Give it a spin!