Thanksgiving Then and Now

2010 ~ Notice how many times we had to roll up his pants and sleeves?  So what if he was still too small for the clothes I bought.  He still looked cute :)

2011 ~ His clothes fit him so much better this year :)

My baby sure has grown fast!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Our family did.  My sister, Julie, sister in law, Laurie and niece, Kirra surprised the family and showed up at the door the Monday before.  It was a WONDERFUL surprise!

12 Months of Cuteness

2 Days Old - In NICU

1 Month Old

2 Months Old

3 Months Old

4 Months Old

5 Months Old

6 Months Old

7 Months Old

8 Months Old ~ One of the best days ever!

9 Months Old

10 Months Old

11 Months Old

12 Months Old ~ Happy 1st Birthday Little Dude!

Baby's 1st Halloween

Happy Halloween from my little biker dude!





Baby's 1st Pumpkin Patch

We took Alex to a local nersery to purchase his first pumpkin and to take pictures.  Here are just a few of the ones we took:



(I wish he only cost us $12.99 :) )



How did this happen??

My little dude went from this:



(2 days old)



To this, OVERNIGHT!! 



(9 months old)

 Here is another "How did this happen?" moment

The progression of  the car seat:

This was taken the day he came home from the NICU

(9 days old)

This was taken yesterday



 

This was also taken yesterday

He loves his new car seat.  We were able to drive to The Woodlands for dinner without whining from the back seat and made it almost home without whining.  (But, in Alex's defense, he was only whining on the way home a little because it was really close to bedtime) 

I can't believe my little baby is 9 months old!  Time sure has flown by.  We are so blessed to have him in our home.  He has brought us so much joy.  We sure do love him!  

11 More Days....

till Alex is Eternally Ours!

(officially anyways)

(This is a copy of the invitation we sent for the Sealing of Alex. It looks grainy here, but it's because of the scanner. It looks much better in regular print)

May Happenings

May was a big month for the Norman family.  Here are a few of the highlights:

   Alex turned 6 months old and started sitting up.  He didn't need support too long.  He is sitting up like a champ now.  When he was first learning he looked like a Gorilla.

We were bathing Alex in his baby tub in our kitchen, but he would splash too much and soak my floor.  So we decided it was time for the duck tub.  I got this tub from a very good friend of mine as a shower gift and we are just now able to enjoy it.  We all love it because Alex can splash his little heart out and I don't have a very wet floor anymore.  Josh loves it because he can play with toys while giving Alex a bath. 

Alex got to meet his cousin Kirra for the first time.  It was also my first time meeting her as well.  She is such a cutie.  Kirra is a good combination of her mommy and daddy. 

Had a couple mini photo shoots with Alex.  My friend took these:



And Josh took these:

(One of my most favorite pictures)


But, the BIGGEST thing that happend in May is that our Adoption was finalized in Court on May 20th!  We will be sealed on July 9th in The Houston Temple.  We are so excited!

Alex the Water Baby

Since the weather has been rather warm here in Texas, the swimming pool at my parents opened up a whole month early this year.  We usually don't start swimming till atleast May or mid-May.  Since last Saturday was a rather warm day, I decided it was time to test Alex in the pool. He LOVED it!  I'm so happy he will be a water baby just like his momma! Here are some of my favorite pictures of him in the pool.  




All smiles in the pool





My dad and I went swimming and decided to try Alex in his floating device.  He was so relaxed it looked like he was going to fall asleep.  He was chillin' for atleast 15 mins in this thing.  He loved it!



Handsome boy in swimming attaire.  He wouldn't let go of his paci for anything.





Swimming with mommy





Cool picture taken with my brothers underwater camera.



Probably my favorite picture of my mom and Alex together.

Just a funny picture taken with my brothers underwater camera.  He think Alex's face looks pretty funny.

Just The Same

This poem was in this month's Ensign after the wonderful article called Faith and Infertility

Just The Same by Diana Lynn Lacey

Sometimes -

God sends rain

Straight from the sky

To nourish the young flower

and it grows.

Sometimes -

God sends rain from the sky

To the mountaintops,

Then over hills and through valleys

Until it reaches the flower

and it grows, just the same.

Sometimes -

God sends a child

Straight from His realm

Into a mother's arms

and love grows.

Sometimes -

God sends a child

From heaven to another's arms,

Then over hills and through valleys

Until he reaches the arms of his mother

and love grows, just the same.

Even though I didn't physically give birth to Alex, my love for him is Just The Same. I Love You, my sweet boy!

My Chunky Monkey

Just a few pictures of my Chunky Monkey. When he went for his 4 month check up, he weighed 12 pounds 10 ounces and is 22 inches tall. We have a short and chubby little guy on our hands.

3 Months Ago...

The love of a young girl gave Josh and I the best gift ever!












(so in this picture it looks like Alex has facial hair or a dirty face-- he was sucking on his paci so hard it left a mark. He only spit it out long enough to give me a little smile)


We Love You Little Dude!