We're famous.

Jeff told me that we might be able to get on the Channel 7 news and we DID! We all got on at noon during the weather and again at 6pm. I called my family & they recorded us waving to them! We got to meet Aaron Mentkowski (although I'm truly a CH 2, Chesley, fan) I couldn't believe how CLEAN and HUGE this fair was. The Angelica Fair, which I grew up going to, does not even compare to this...

Noah loved the fair as much as we did.

Erie County Fair

Noah MUST peak around the corner...

Delicious

Last Tuesday, August 14, Jeff, Noah & I left for a mini-vacation. For dinner we had Red Robin for the first time. I had the Guacamole Bacon Burger - it was SO good. Jeff had the Sante Fe Burger & loved that as well. Noah enjoyed a little bit of everything & especially loved the steak fries. Jeff (Mr. Sweet-tooth) took me to his favorite spot in West Seneca: Antoinette's. We shared a Carmellow - the perfect mix of Carmel, marshmallow, ice cream & REAL whipped cream... Noah couldn't get enough!

The box.

My sister-in-law snagged this big box from her neighbors, who had bought a new TV. Noah will play in this box ALL day long - who needs expensive toys?

And on this note... we are all headed to the Erie County Fair tomorrow. Be back late on Thursday night - with pictures!

My Linus.

I am slow.

My friend, Abigail, had been nice enough to email directions as to how to get "titles" on my blog.

I felt stupid because I never had this "title box" above my "box I type in."

After tinkering around, I realized in my settings that I had this box "turned off" and that's why I never had one. (I really thought that something was wrong for...the past month or so, and I had some WEIRD blog template)

I'm excited - I can now title my posts!

My husband "tried" to help, while eating ice cream. He's saying he's going to "reply" to this to tell the REAL story. Little does he realize...the REAL story has already been told.

Here's a picture, just for your amusement - we had a fawn in our backyard the other night...

Look who's 13 months today!

On Monday, August 6th, we took Noah to Strong's Eye Institute, in Rochester, to have an ERG done. We had spent the weekend with Jeff's family (outside of Buffalo) and had just shy of a 2 hour drive ahead of us.
God is good. Noah wasn't allowed to have to have anything to eat or drink from midnight on - except water or apple juice. We had prayed that he wouldn't be fussy, as he is accustomed to having a bottle & a big bowl of fruit & cereal in the morning. Noah is such a content and happy child and was the entire morning.
When getting to Strong, Noah again was such a good boy. This ERG was obviously going to be much harder on Jeff & I then it was going to be for him. As we listened to the anaesthesiologist explain how Noah would be put to sleep, tears stained our cheeks. Noah would look up and smile at us, in question to our tears. I am so thankful for Jeff, as he helped hold Noah's arms/hands down as the mask was placed over his face to put him out - for I know I couldn't do that. I cried in the corner, as they whisked my son away in a metal crib. Jeff and I were in this together & comforted each other, but more so, could feel the prayers of others back home. What a gift to know we are lifted up in prayer during these difficult times.
It shouldn't take trying times like this to draw us closer to God, but these times do. We know He loves us, and loves our son, but I often think that WE love Noah more, that WE know what's best. I remember a friend from church telling me on the day we dedicated Noah that we have chosen to trust God & to raise him in the ways of the Lord - and during these difficult times we must lean on Him and BELIEVE that Noah is HIS, not ours.
After hours of waiting, we were able to be there when Noah came out of his anesthesia. There he was smiling & ready for his bottle. I was so happy to be able to hold him again & know he was alright, despite whatever results we would get.
That day we got the ERG results: Noah's rods & cones are A-OK. No problems were found & there are no deficiencies; his eyes are working as they should.
Praise the Lord!
To think that the Lord loves us more than I love my son is unfathomable, but yet comforting. I'm thankful that the Lord entrusted Noah to us.

We have had some VERY hot days recently. Noah enjoys playing in his pool... he'd stay in there all day if we let him. OH this is great!

I love my pool!

Ah, refreshing.

Last weekend was our town's Annual Balloon Rally. Last year, a balloon landed in my parent's backyard - and they won the "Home Owner's Balloon Ride." Since the prize was only for one person, we decided that my sister-in-law, Sherry, would take the ride. I was pretty excited to have a field pass this year, so I could take pictures...

That's Sherry's balloon - you can tell which one she is by her strawberry-blond hair and khaki coat.

That's Sherry and my brother AJ (in the blue sweatshirt) helping hold the balloon before take-off...

Sherry, waiting for her climb in.

Other balloons filling...

Where we stayed...

Bennington, VT - covered bridge & fly fishing...

Jeff & I just spent a week in Wilmington, Vermont on vacation. We were a mile from Lake Whitingham. We love Vermont...many, many pictures to follow.

Today (the 10th) is Noah's birthday. We celebrated with our families on Saturday. It's hard for me to believe that an entire year has gone by. I finally understand all that my mom has always told me: that you will love your children more than words. I love this little guy more and more each day. He is such a joy! Oooh, a candle for me...

CAKE!

Ooooh, this is good.

And I got to have some ice cream, too!

satisfied.

I made cupcakes of all varities for Noah.

Gift time... Noah was so good about looking at the bow and enjoying the paper.

And also enjoying the boxes...