Big Month for Our Family & Birthday Boy

Giving God Glory
Noah's Health - We thank the Lord for graciously protecting Noah's health throughout his 1st year of life!  The only time he went to the doctor was for his routine checkups.  Also, he never really got sick and only had a couple of runny noses (which may have even only been teething).  We are grateful!

"If only one person comes to know the Lord, it will be a victory!" - The Lord took a friend of ours (same age and season of life - married with a son only 1 year older than Noah) home to be with Him that we had been praying for as she had been battling cancer over the past 7 months.  We trust in God's goodness and perfect plans since it's difficult to understand from our earthly perspectives when seeing her die a lot earlier than expected.  We praise the Lord for growing her husband closer to Him during the past several months as they got involved in their church again; he got baptized; and he made the statement quoted above when we talked to him after her memorial service.  We pray that is true - the Lord uses her death to save others and glorify Himself!

What's on the Harrison's Hearts
The Brevity of Life - It's amazing how fast this past year flew by!  Everyone tells us to enjoy Noah because... "They grow up so fast!"  So, we've sought to cherish each and every moment - the little day-to-day things he does and ways he's changing, and we've sought to be intentional about making memories with him and together as a family.  However, it's still so surreal how fast time truly does pass and how quickly Noah continues to grow and change.  It saddens us when we dwell on how temporary everything is with him and how nothing stays the same (which I'm sure we may appreciate when he hits "the terrible twos" and "those teenage years").  We're reminded of lines from Ecclesiastes about the brevity of life and how we are to enjoy each moment in the present but also realize that this world is fleeting and to cling to the future of our eternal hope in the Lord.  That's a challenging principle to apply - living in the present but setting our hearts and hope in the future...  We're thankful the Lord has it figured out and that He helps us live it out!

Grieving with Hope - In light of the Lord taking our friend home to be with Him, we're grateful to personally know the Lord and be able to grieve with hope.  It's another challenging principle to apply - being sad at the loss of a loved one but yet also rejoicing that a loved one is in heaven with the Lord.  Reminds me of how I felt when the Lord took my Nana home to Him in 2007.  1 Thessalonians 4:13 states - But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who have died, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.  Wes and I can't imagine how people who do not know the Lord deal with the loss of loved ones...  We are thankful that we are still able to experience hope in the midst of grieving for the loss of our friend.

Praises & Prayers
Tami - Prayer for the Lord to give doctors wisdom in determining the cause of her short-term memory loss and that the Lord might graciously and miraculously restore her memory.
Paul & Amanda - Praise for the Lord blessing them with a little one on the way!
Theodore - Praise for the safe and healthy arrival of Theodore Jude Wyss; prayer for Shannon's recovery from the c-section.
MBC (our church) - Prayer for wisdom and God's guidance in whether we should relocate from an elementary school in Falcon to a store-front off of Platte.
Josh - God's will to be clear with the potential job with Covenant Eyes and God's continued provision for their family during this time of job searching.
Our friend - God's strength and comfort for him during this time as he grieves the loss of his wife and as he seeks to raise his son.
Our family - God would bless us with another little one in His perfect timing.
Wes - Strength as he finishes up another semester of classes.
Me - Praise that my body appears to be getting back to normal with my womanly cycle.
Noah - God would graciously save him; God would give us wisdom in loving Noah and training him to honor and obey us and God.  That Noah would do well driving to and from KS to visit Uncle Kyle, Aunt Kristen, and Cousin Sawyer for a weekend (5th-8th).  That he would also do well with Grandpa & Grandma Rush and Great Papa & Great Tache during his 3 day/2 night stay with them (19th-21st) while Wes and I enjoy a ski weekend get-a-way.

Marriage Memories
Going with the flow - It's a toss up of whether Noah or our "date nights" tend to require more flexibility. :)  We've started to get used to going with Plan B.  This month we went on a "day date" with plans to play raquetball, and come to find out that they had a raquetball tournament going on...  So, we ended up lifting weights together at the gym.  Yes, I'm sure that may sound like a lame date, but for those of you who enjoy working out and have kids of your own, you can probably understand how a great workout was a treat to do together.  Plus, I enjoyed getting to check out my husband all pumped up. :)  We also played some 1-on-1 b-ball (which you'll have to ask Wes about my secret weapon that gets him every time, even though it's unintentional on my part).  Afterward we enjoyed recharging with some good food from Applebees.

Homemade Valentines - Wes and I are pretty laid back when it comes to Valentine's Day.  We enjoy our tradition of making each other valentines.  This year Wes encouraged me with how I am a Proverbs 31 wife, and I made him a humorous and sweet acrostic poem out of his name.  Wes also blessed me with some beautiful flowers.  He is such a thoughtful and kind husband!

Family Fun

Our 1st Birthday - Not only did Noah celebrate his 1st birthday, it was also Wes' and my first time celebrating our child's birthday so it definitely made for some great memories and new family traditions!

Here's a list of all Noah's 1sts that he enjoyed over his birthday weekend:

Juice

Fried Food - Chicken Nuggets
Chocolate Milk

Cake

Ice Cream

Peanut Butter

Whole Milk

Birthday Breakfast - Noah got his birthday off to a great start with a delicious breakfast of blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, and juice.  I am sure that you can tell from the picture he was very excited about his birthday breakfast!  Courtney and Hannah, the girls I work with in the mornings before school, had fun helping me make it.

Fun Outing to Celebrate - Wes surprised us by taking the rest of the day off of work after lunch, so we went out to celebrate at one of Noah's favorite hang-out spots: Chick-Fil-A!  Noah had a blast playing away but didn't like his chocolate milk or chicken nuggets quite like we thought he would.  That's fine with us!  We're not big on junk food either...

Gift from Us - No doubt, we were definitely more excited about Noah's gift than he was.  As you can see from the photo, he loved the bows, which didn't surprise us. :)  Once he got to ride facing forward in his big boy car seat, though, he gained a new appreciation for his birthday gift.  Wes enjoyed hiding from Noah in the giant box, and Noah had a blast trying to pry open the corner to find Daddy!  The packaging almost always is the best gift of all at this age.

Cake - We saved Noah's birthday cake until the next day for a Skype date with Grandpa & Grandma Harrison in WI.  Like we thought, Noah tore it up!

Before - Where's my cake?

Devouring the Deliciousness

Sharing with Mommy...

...and Daddy!

After...and showing off his "birthday suit" booty before a bath

Fun at Focus on the Family - Witt's End

All Excited               Turtle Tongue

Puppet fun with Daddy

Playing & Hiking at Palmer Park

Snow or Shine - We still enjoy the outdoors!

To pound or not to pound?  That is the question... - This month Wes came pretty close to taking our dogs to the pound - between Honey's #2 explosions out of her kennel onto the wall and carpet in the middle of the night, Sierra's gagging lately in the wee hours of the morning, their inopportune barking that sends Noah into tears, their ripping up the grass and plants with chasing each other around, and more...they about lost their family member status in our home.  Fortunately, Wes' "bark was louder than his bite" for now, but he says they're "on a short leash" and likes to remind them of it.

Noah News

1 Year Old Check Up Stats:
     Weight - 20 lbs.  1 oz.     10-15%

     Length - 27 in.                     3%

     Head - 18 in.                   75-80%

# of Teeth - still only 2 on the bottom

It's official!  We have a walker on our hands!

Latest Loves

Reading books himself (turning the pages, anyway)

Favorite Book = Ten Tiny Tadpoles - Noah searches for the pop-up frogs at the end

Anything technology - remotes, approved cords, cell phones, laptops... 

Walking with objects - especially approved cords

Cruising back in the office, opening up the crayon drawer, and walking around the house with his crayons

Pushing things - often heavy things - high chair, basket of toys, big pots and pans, etc.

Opening drawers and pulling things out

Laughing, smiling, and making silly noises! :)

Interacting with other kids

Other Intriguing Info:
*Breath-holding - Noah has held his breath almost to the point of passing out a couple times. Apparently, it's a normal phase a lot of children go through, and to snap them out, you distract them such as blowing in their face. It seems to work so far.

*Lefty? - He appears to be a lefty (at least when eating); time will tell...
*No tears for Grandpa Rush!?! - Noah made it through a "date night" with Grandpa Rush without any tears!
*Just like Daddy - He twirls his hands and feet when excited to eat like Wes did when he was little - and still does. :)

Memorable Moment of the Month

It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to! - When we had Noah's actual birthday party with my family that's out here in CO, he had a rough time...  It seemed like every little thing made him cry.  He did so well a couple days prior when we Skyped Grandpa & Grandma Harrison and celebrated with cake.  We don't know what happened... Probably a stimulus and sugar overload.  Either way he shed some serious tears!  I'm sure the photos speak for themselves.  Overall, he did seem to have fun and enjoyed celebrating with everyone.

Celebrating the 1st year of our precious Noah's life

More Memories

Celebrating the arrival of Theodore Jude Wyss

My cousins (Derick & Shannon) with big brother (Asher)

February 23, 2010     8 lbs. 8 oz.     20 in.

Superbowl & pre-game wii bowling competition with family

Playing with Grandma Rush at Focus on the Family

I hosted "A Lovely Ladies Lunch" for my friends from MBC & neighbors