1st Time to the Dentist!

Noelle had her first trip to the Dentist and she did fantastic, as I knew she would. I did a couple of things to prepare her for the appointment. First, I bought her a new Ariel battery-powered toothbrush. She absolutely loves that thing - she brushes several times a day with it. If we would have stuck with a manual toothbrush there is no way that she would have let a stranger stick a buzzing, rotating metal rod in her mouth. No chance. She also started to let me floss her teeth.
Second, I showed her a few pictures online of kids at the dentist. I used google images. That way she had an idea of what to expect.
Lastly, I bribed her with a special treat. :)

I went first and she sat in the corner of the room with a magazine and her Rapunzel doll. I looked over at her a few times and her eyes were as wide as gumballs. She was taking everything in - and loving all of the attention from the office ladies.

When it was her turn she jumped right into the big chair and giggled in anticipation.

Dr. Peterson counted all of her teeth - 20, I believe.

Then Mrs. Stephanie cleaned her teeth. Noelle did not care for the watermelon flavor.
"It's crunchy!"

The "sucky straw" was pretty cool.

I could tell she was getting a little anxious so I rubbed her legs during the cleaning.

Mrs. Stephanie finished with a good flossing and Noelle was done!

A Beautiful Smile!
(she chipped her front tooth by falling on a water bottle when she was 18 months old)

Noelle got to pick a few treasures from the pirate ship. She chose a notepad and a bracelet. 

We'll be back in 6 months!

Way to go, Princess!
You make me so proud.

{Kid}ding Around Friday *LINK PARTY* - 8/18

Welcome to {Kid}ding Around Friday

{Kid}ding Around Friday is the place to share your kid-related posts about:

Crafts, Milestones, Homeschooling, Kid-Friendly Food, Pregnancy, Decorating, Photography, 

A Funny Story, Great Deals, Organization and more!

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{To Join the Party}

1. Follow your hosts, Katie & Amanda.

2. Link to a specific kid-related post.

3. Grab our adorable little button - seriously, isn't it darling?

4. Enjoy reading through some of the other posts and make new friends!

Each week we will feature 3 of our favorite posts from the previous week.

By submitting a link, you are granting Katie and I permission to use the photos from your post.

A FEW GREAT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

Chalkboard Shark Wall

by Blissfully Blessed

I love this! Such a fun and inventive way to use chalkboard paint. Any little boy would love to 

have this room.

Family Goal Chart 

by Doodles and Doilies

I really need to get started on a goal chart for Noelle. 

Goal #1 - no whining for 2 minutes straight. :)

Melted Crayon Artwork

by That Gives Me An Idea

I love a good craft for Noelle!

If you're new here, let me know so I can follow you back.

Thanks for linking up!

Gardner Grub - DIY Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

Olive Garden is our family celebration restaurant. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Graduation, Date Night, etc. We go to Olive Garden. Everyone loves it and it's relatively inexpensive. Plus, we usually get Olive Garden gift cards as presents which makes it free or cheap.


My favorite item on the menu is Chicken and Gnocchi soup. Those little dumplings are irresistible. 

{DIY Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup}
2 cups chicken breast, cooked and chopped (I prefer to use a rotisserie chicken)
1 Tbs olive oil
4 Tbs Butter
4 Tbs Flour
2 quarts half and half
1 14 oz can of MSG Free and Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely shredded (I used my peeler to make thin ribbons)
2 minced garlic cloves
2 cups fresh spinach
1/2 tsp parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1 box of potato gnocchi

Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add butter and saute the onion, celery and garlic. Add the flour and make a roux. Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding half and half.
Cook gnocchi according to package.
Transfer roux into a large pot. Add in the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick, add the chicken broth. Once it thickens again, add the gnocchi, spinach, and seasoning. Simmer gently until soup is heated through.

Serve with buttered bread.

Oh Snap Wednesday {linky} - 8/17

{Oh Snap}

My Big Boy. Did I mention that he's six months old? :snicker:

Our neighbors down the road stained their fence a bright redwood color. It's hideous.

But I knew it would look great as a backdrop. Behold my little tree hugger.

At our favorite local burger joint.

{Link up your photo post}
Leave me a comment if you're new here so I can follow you back.

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Noah. 6 Months.

My boy is 6 months old today.
He's amazing. Always happy. Lovable. And melts my heart.

Noah's hair is getting longer and also lighter. I'm guessing he's going to be a blondie like his sissy, at least for now. His eyebrows have also umm....grown in. I love how expressive they are. He gives expressions that are far beyond his years.

{Here's what Noah has been up to lately}

• Noah is breastfed, no bottles yet. I've started spoon-feeding him once a day. He has tried rice cereal (hates it), avocado, carrots, peas, and butternut squash. 
• He has been sitting up by himself for a couple of weeks. 

• He rolls over.
• He loves bath time. And naked time. And play time. 

His favorite part of bath time:

• He does not like tummy time. 
• Noah found his voice when we were in San Diego last weekend. He just looooves babbling away.
• He thinks his sister hung the moon. He always looks for her and smiles whenever she is near. On our evening walks they hold hands in the stroller and I'm pretty sure it's his favorite part of the day.

• Noah naps 3 times a day. At 11am, 2pm, and 6pm. 
• He wakes up once a night to nurse. The time varies but 3:30am seems to be the most consistent. 
• He's a giant. Every single person we come across mentions how big he is for his age. That's my boy :)
• His favorite game is peek-a-boo.
• His favorite toys are Sophie and the Elmo remote control.
• Noah and daddy are best buds.
• Noah usually puts himself to sleep after he nurses.

• And he is always happy when he wakes up :)

I've been feeling completely guilty about Noah's pictures being erased so I've been a crazy lady with a camera lately. Trying to capture each moment to make up for all the ones that have been lost. 

I love you, Noah. You bring me so much joy. I can't wait to see your smiling face beaming up at me every morning. I love your belly laughs and the way you kick your legs wildly when you're excited. I hope I can remember how sweet it is when you fall asleep nursing. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it is so precious. I am so thankful that God trusted me with you. It's hard to believe that someone loves you more than I do, but He does. I pray that I will make you and Him proud.
Love,
Momma

Noah's Birth - In pictures

Earlier this week I opened iPhoto and all of my pictures from the last 8 months were gone. I cried. Every picture of Noah's life was erased but I was mostly devastated with the thought of loosing his birth pictures.

The next day I went to see a Genius about an Apple. His name is Luke and he is an angel. Luke was able to recover all of my pictures up until March, which was the last time I backed up my time machine. Everything after March has disappeared - Noah's first trip to San Diego. Easter. Mother's Day. Father's Day. Noelle's 3rd birthday. Fourth of July. :sigh:

But, happily, Noah's birth pictures are back and I'd like to share them with you in honor of his upcoming 6 month birthday (on Monday). You can read his birth story HERE. This is a short cut version.

 My water broke at 5am, February 15th. The day after his Valentine's Day due date.

Mr. G and I moseyed over to the hospital around 10:30 am.

Noah sounded great on the monitors (even though the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice).

Noelle wasn't too sure about the hospital room.

Especially the beeping monitors.

I can't believe how small she looks here. 

 Noelle was able to hang out with us for most of the day. I tried my best to hide the pain of the contractions, but as it looks, I didn't do that great.

I finally got an epidural at 3:00 pm and Noah was born at 5:13 pm.

Our first picture together.

So in love.

Noah weighing in at 7lbs, 8 oz. 

Noelle meeting her little brother. 

She was curious about his "bracelet."

Proud daddy.

Noah brought Noelle a baby brother doll, a princess dress and wand. 

My boys.

My mom and dad - Mona and John (Noah John's namesake)

Two of the happiest people on earth.

Three Generations of Gardner boys.

Noah

First bath sometime that night/early morning. From what Mr. G told me he didn't enjoy it too much.
The only bath Noah hasn't liked.

The next morning.

I have so many mixed emotions when looking back at these precious moments. At first I think there is no way it could have only been 6 months ago. Both of the kids look so small. Could they have really grown that much in such a short amount of time?
Then I stare at and soak in the pictures of Noah's fresh face and I cry because I can't remember how small he felt in my arms or what he smelled like or sounded like. And suddenly it seems like so long ago.

{Kid}ding Around Friday *LINK PARTY* - Diaper Wreath

Welcome to Kidding Around Friday

hosted by

Growing Up Gardner & Love, Lattes & Lullabies

{Kid}ding Around Friday is the place to share your favorite kid-related posts about:

Crafts, Milestones, Homeschooling, Kid-Friendly Food, Decorating, Photography,

A Funny Story, Great Deals, Organization and more...

<center><a href="http://growingupgardner4.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Growing Up Gardner" src="http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/gardnerfamily2005/securedownload-1.jpg "/></a></center>

{To Join the Party}

1. Follow your hosts, Katie & Amanda

2. Link to a specific kid-related post.

Up to 3 entries each. No shops please.

3. Grab our adorable little button.

4. Enjoy reading through some of the other posts and make new friends

Each week we will feature 3 of our favorite posts from the previous week.

By submitting a link, you are granting Katie and I permission to use the photos from your post.

I hope you had a good time linking up last week. Katie and I sure had fun. Here are a few of our favorite links!

The How To Mommy - How to Potty Train

She Calls Me Mama Leisha - Honesty is such a lonely word?

Lines Across My Face - Lyla's Sidewalk Chalk Photoshoot

DIY Diaper Wreath

Our next door neighbors welcomed a baby girl on Friday so tonight I brought them dinner and a little gift. I made a diaper wreath, inspired by the Diaper Life Preserver my sister made for my Nautical Baby Shower. I used the color scheme from little Mayce's nursery (black, white & yellow).

Supplies:

Foam Ring

Size 1 Diapers

Flowers

Ribbon

Tape

Any other accessories that you want to add

Wrap the diapers around the foam ring and secure with ribbon.

When you get to a spot where you want to put flowers, lay them flat on the foam and tape the stems down. Then wrap the diaper over the stems.

Add some ribbon and a tag:

I decided to add these little red shoes from the present. I think they give the wreath some personality.

Happy Linking!

LInking up the Diaper Wreath at
Six Sister's Stuff
Craftomaniac
Lines Across My Face
Doodles & Doilies
Help a Momma Out
Whatever Goes Wednesday
36th Avenue