The Hickoks

Super!

2011-08-25T22:43:00.006-04:00

I have been struggling lately with a few things; well maybe more than a few but this "thing" that I am struggling with is so heavy on my heart that I think writing about it will help. I am thinking that maybe if I write it down and see it then it will help me get over it (probably not though). I often find myself getting caught up in comparing myself to others; ignoring the girl that God created me to be. Sounds insecure, doesn't it?
I love being a mom to my two boys. But at times, lately too much I am faced with the challenge of questioning whether I measure up to those super moms. You know, those moms that have it all together-their house is perfect, their children are obedient... ALL of the time. If you know one, run far away in the opposite direction. On the outside it seems as though they can juggle it all. I am no where near the super mom status. My house isn't perfect. My children aren't perfect and I certainly fall short when it comes to parenting them perfectly. So why do I even try to compare myself to them?

Did mention I hate comparisons? I hate feeling like I don't measure up or even worse that my children don't measure up. I try really hard not to compare my children to other children. They are who they are each uniquely different and for that I am eternally grateful.

In a week or so I will be back in the classroom trying to do it all and keep it all together perfectly. Well, as perfectly as it can be in an imperfect world. I am going to constantly remind myself that my definition of super mom is much different that what the world defines as super mom. And if I am not so super all of the time that's okay too. These guys are convinced that I am super and I love that they don't compare me to anyone.

3 years old...already?!

2011-08-13T14:21:00.008-04:00

It's hard to believe that on August 19th we will be celebrating Noah's 3rd birthday. Time does pass quickly and I didn't realize this until I had children. Noah has accomplished so much this past year. He has learned lots of new words and songs. He can count higher, but don't ask him what color his shirt is. You never know what kind of answer you are going to get. He has developed quite the personality often leaving me to think, "Where in the world did this child come from?!" And then I recall all of the torture that I put my parents through and it's very clear to me where he came from. Noah has taught me a lot about patience. There are times when I feel like I have reached my wit's end, but he flashes me a grin or tells me he loves me and I can't help but smile.

Noah loves to start every meal by praying. We aren't sure exactly what he is saying, but God knows. And I am sure he is pleased when He hears that little voice.

Noah's big accomplishment this past year was potty training. I was beyond thrilled when he mastered this. He did it so quickly too. It's amazing how much he has accomplished in 3 short years.

Noah's name means peaceful. I am not so sure that adjective describes Noah. I would go with happy, strong willed, kind, loving, loud, passionate and precocious. And I wouldn't want him any other way. Happy Birthday Noah Johnathan! We are blessed to have you in our lives.

Summer...There is nothing better.

2011-07-29T22:31:00.008-04:00

It's already the end of July and I find myself thinking about fall. Before I know it I will be heading back to room 48 and greeting 19 brand new fourth graders. I have said this numerous times; I love teaching, but there really isn't anything like summer. I love running in the morning, taking my time with the boys, lunch dates with friends, and pool lounging. That always makes the list. I was a little anxious about this summer; thinking that the weather might disappoint, but it has been B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! We have been to a few lakes. I dread bathing suit photos, but I am mostly covered in this one so I will let it slide.

John and I have done a couple of 5Ks. (The Cakes did a major half marathon, which I need to blog about -soon!) My goal is to do one a month (5ks that is, not half marathons). There are so many benefits to running. I think one of my favorite things is meeting God first thing in the morning and enjoying His creation. There is nothing like it. Period!

Today, in honor of the big 35 (mine, not his) we brought the kids to Adirondack Animal Park and they loved it. I loved it too! Can someone please swap me out and put me on Green Acres? I don't think John will go for it but I can wish, it is my birthday... Sigh....

Couch to 5K...

2011-06-28T21:23:00.007-04:00

In March I started the Couch to 5K program mainly to get myself off the couch and moving. Being a working mom it's really easy to get stuck in the routine of work, home and bed. There were times this year (more often than not) when I felt like I was hanging on by a thread. I felt rushed, busy, frustrated, tired, anxious, and just plain unhealthy. My days consisted of waking at 5:30 a.m. leaving the house by 7:20 (on a good day), dropping the boys off at daycare by 7:45 and racing to the Shen campus to greet my cherubs by 7:55. After spending the day teaching my afternoons consisted of meetings (I signed up for two after school committees-what was I thinking? ), picking up the boys between 4:00 and 4:30, appointments, making dinner, baths, squeezing in some playtime, and bed. When I started the program I thought, how in the world is this going to fit into my schedule? I carved out time at 4:30 in the morning and made a commitment to make a date with the gym three times a week.

At first it was simple, I just wanted to get my body moving and get my heart rate up. After weeks of getting my body used to jogging I signed up for my first 5K. I had one goal in mind, jog the entire race without walking. On June 4th I accomplished my goal when I ran the Freihofer's race. It was an awesome experience. It's kind of amazing how good and accomplished finishing 3 miles can make you feel. After losing 10 lbs and one race under my belt I am hooked. I enjoy the peace and quiet my runs bring and the feeling of "I just completed a workout and I feel pretty good"! Yes, my body aches in places it's never ached before, but I am hoping that as the weight comes off the running gets easier on my body. And nothing beats hearing Noah ask if he can go for a run too.

Birthday Boy

2011-05-22T19:52:00.014-04:00

Eli Benjamin turned the big numero uno while we were sunning it up in Myrtle Beach. We celebrated his big day by taking him to the best steakhouse that we have ever been to. Talk about mouth watering meat. Yes, I totally love the carnivorous side of me. It was so good! Meat is brought to your table and sliced right onto your plate. Definitely a place that we will visit again when we travel back to Myrtle Beach.

After returning from Myrtle Beach we celebrated Eli's first birthday with family and friends. The theme was Peter Rabbit and it was very fitting for our little bunny. We enjoyed Italian food as well as salads and delicious desserts. The Easter Bunny got wind of our party and because he is a long distance relative of Peter he decided to pop (or should I say hop-that joke is free) in for a visit. Thank you Easter Bunny. You really made our party a success.

Eli has brought so much joy to our family. He is sweet and happy and I often find myself just staring at him imagining what he is going to be like when he is 10 and the kind of man he will become in his twenties. And then there are times when I wish I could keep him small forever. I love rocking him while he drinks his bottle and I especially love squeezing him. I love his sweet smile when he greets me in the morning and the sound of his little legs shuffling down the hallway. Feeling blessed beyond measure with the wonderful gift God has given us.

Vacation

2011-05-11T21:33:00.000-04:00

Vacation was wonderful! We set out in the middle of the night with a packed SUV (which I loved and could totally get used to) and traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We encountered some pretty scary weather, but let's just say that watching The Wizard of Oz helped us through a sticky situation. After spending 21 hours, yes you read that correctly it took us 21 long hours, we arrived at an awesome resort to start our week long vacay. It was totally worth it.

Very cute SUV

2:17 A.M.!!!

Did I mention that these two gems were priceless in the car? PRICELESS!!! They were champs and weathered the long car ride without one little fuss. And there was no duct tape involved. I knew those trips to the mall would pay off someday.

Our vacation consisted of waking up at 7:30 every day, exercising for John on most days, me on one day, (hey one day is better than no days), hitting the beach by noon and then back to the room for naps by 3:00. We usually set out for dinner by 6:30 and partied with these guys until 9:00 p.m. It was an awesome vacation (did I already say that?) and one we will never forget.

Looking forward to visiting Myrtle Beach again in the future. John and I both agree that it would be really fun to have another family join us the next time. Any takers?

Soon Enough!

2011-04-12T20:54:00.009-04:00

My to-do list says I should be working on these...

but there are a million other things that I would like to be doing like getting ready for this...

I am counting down the days until I have my feet in the sand and the waves at my fingertips. Hoping and praying for sunshine and warm temps. I cannot wait to seriously love on this guy...

(Seriously going to squeeze him the entire time we are away.)

And I can't wait to laugh, hug, smooch, tickle, read, play in the sand and just take my time with these two little loves...

What are you craving?

2011-03-22T20:31:00.006-04:00

I am a big fan of the radio station K Love. It's positive and encouraging. Not too long ago they had this lady promoting her new book.

Listening to Lysa (the author of Made to Crave) talk about her "weight" struggles instantly reminded me of my own struggles. How many times have I promised myself that Monday was "The Day" to start dieting? I decided to give Made to Crave a try. It's not a "diet" book. There are no recipes, no workout schedules but there are chapters filled with teachings on how to satisfy your deepest desire with God.

I started the Made to Crave Bible study last night with a friend. After we both decided that we want to look cute in the same pants Lysa was wearing, we had a good conversation about why we eat what we eat. And why we feel like we need it.

I can only speak for myself when I say this but.... I love food. Yes, I get that people love food, but I really love food. Like I get excited about food. I love going out to eat and I could easily list 10, no probably 20 foods that I absolutely adore. And that is so wrong on so many levels. I am tired of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. I am tired of thinking about food and hearing people talk about how "fat' they are (when they're not). One of the phrases that Lysa wrote about in her book is sticking with me. "We crave what we eat." Simple, yet so true. I am going to have to train myself to crave healthier foods. Difficult, yet not impossible.

I am not sure I could limit my cravings to just food though. The list of "things" that I crave is a mile long and much too embarrassing to write about. I am actually ashamed of many them. So I am thinking that I not only need a physical diet but a spiritual one as well.

And so begins my journey for I was made to crave Him.

Progress

2011-03-20T21:31:00.009-04:00

I love the word progress. When I think of progress I think of hope. There is lots of progress being made in the Hickok house and that leaves me feeling happy and hopeful. This past weekend was wonderful. There are so many neat little things happening. I really feel like we accomplished so much. So much that I needed to blog about it; even though I should be in bed sleeping resting up for my 4:30 a.m. wake up call to hit the gym.

That's my first progress report that I want to share. Tomorrow I am starting week 3 of couch to 5K. I am making progress with my three times a week walking/jogging workouts. And it feels so good. Yes, 4:30 a.m. is wicked early, but on the way home from the gym I feel so good for going. I am making progress which gives me hope that someday I will look like this again.

John feels really good about making progress on our addition. He spent the weekend putting up dry wall. I decided that he would probably get much more done if I stepped in to supervise. Not really. I only lasted with one part of the ceiling. But I was glad that I could help him with that.

Noah is making huge progress on the potty. He is doing so awesome letting us know when he has to go. I think I found a treat that motivates him which really helps with the whole potty training business. We are really excited for him and for us. The money will start growing back on the trees now that he is in underpants.

Eli is making lots of progress with crawling. We are so excited that he is on the move. He loves getting into E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! Most of the time he is content playing with Noah's toys. Noah isn't a huge fan of this, but he is making progress!

Thankful

2011-03-03T20:03:00.004-05:00

This week I was met with the worst sinus infection. It was terrible, and I felt like such a baby. I really wanted to stay in bed all day (correction - all week) and sleep, but that doesn't happen very often when you are mom to these two adorable guys.

J Cakes was out of town which made matters worse. Gone are the days of laying on the couch being waited on by mom and dad. However some really awesome people came to the rescue, and I am beyond thankful for their kind gestures. So rather than complain about how awful I feel I am so thankful that God sent these angels to take care of me while my husband was away.

The first angel arrived some time this morning and left chicken soup on my front steps. Thanks Mom M. for the soup. It was perfect at lunch today.

The next angel arrived at 3:45 p.m. this afternoon with a Frosty in hand. Thank you Amanda. I couldn't suck that thing down fast enough. Am I a selfish mom for not sharing it with Noah? What he doesn't know won't hurt him.

At 5:30 p.m an angel bringing pulled pork, fresh rolls and salad arrived. It was so yummy! Thank you so much Suki. I am really sorry that we weren't able to come for dinner tonight, but I really appreciate that you cared enough to feed to me anyways. However, I was feeling a little slighted that my favorite 6th grader didn't join you.

More angels arrived at 6:30 p.m. to help bathe the boys and play with them. Thanks Franklin and Mom M. I really appreciate the help and enjoyed the company.

I would be remiss it I didn't mention the text messages and phone calls from friends checking in to make sure that I was okay. You know who you are. Thank you.

Most importantly, thank you Jesus for the grace that you have shown me this week. It was a tough one, but the antibiotics have kicked in, and I am starting to feel well again. Now it's my turn to earn my wings.

Bathroom Business

2011-02-25T23:02:00.007-05:00

It's hard to believe that this little guy

is ready for this..

But at 2 1/2 years old Noah is breaking away from diapers and doing the potty dance with the rest of the kids on the Huggies commercial. And he has the Mickey underpants to prove it. We started the training last Saturday. After having three accidents I will admit I was a little skeptical. But on Sunday he got a little better and on Monday he seemed like a pro. Now I won't say there haven't been a few glitches. If you look at the potty picture you will notice it's in the living room next to the couches. Our boy likes to do his business in the company of everyone including these guys.

Not really a big deal for us because we are home, but I am wondering how things are going to go once he is at school next week. The big numero dos is another story. Oh, he does it on the potty, but it's a pretty huge production. Were talking, "mommy sit with me and hold my hand" production. I can't say that I mind, but I am wondering who is going to hold his hand on Monday.

He is loving the rewards he is getting for doing his business on the potty. We have almost emptied a bag of skittles and he loves the lollipops. We are really proud of him and excited about this new phase of his life. Who would have thought bathroom business would be so exciting?

The Race Is On... Bring It J Cakes

2011-02-24T23:09:00.006-05:00

After watching my husband work his.... well you get the idea from the picture below, I decided it was time that the Hickoks vacate. (Shh, about the pic... He seriously will kill me and cancel our vacation plans.)

Anyways, like I said we are outta here, packin it in, settin sail, leavin and quite honestly I can't wait. My husband works so hard and he deserves to put his feet up and relax with his wife and two boys.

I have done my research about places where we can travel with our little crew. I narrowed it down, talked to a number of "reservation specialists" and booked our plans. Can I get a "praise the Lord" on that one?! After I got off the phone with the "reservation specialist", a thought crossed my mind. It went something like this, sun, sand and bathing suit. I looked at John and made a little friendly wager with him. "We have X amount of time to get beach-body ready. Let's see who can lose the most weight before our trip." The clock is ticking and everyone who knows me knows that I don't take losing very well unless it's losing pounds and inches. So Mr. Johnny Cakes, bring it on!!

10 Months Old... Already!

2011-02-24T22:51:00.005-05:00

Eli Benjamin turned 10 months on February 21st. What has our youngest been up to?

-army crawling.... It looks really funny too. We watch him slither on his belly and elbows all over the house collecting dog hair as he travels.

-lots of yelling. He screeches at the top of his lungs. At Noah, at me, at Finn, at John...

-blowing raspberries. He loves doing this and it drives me crazy when he decides to do it when he's eating carrots. Blowing raspberries = orange carrots everywhere.

He's wicked nosy too. He only drinks a few ounces of his bottle at a time because he wants to sit up and see what everyone is up to. He has two teeth which he got between eight and nine months but he will be getting another one soon. Mr. Eli is getting over his first ear infection, make that a double ear infection.

Noah finally gave him the thumbs up to move into his bedroom and Eli was thrilled. We love this happy guy to pieces.

Totally loving his crib!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T09:36:00.006-05:00

It's Valentine's Day and normally on a Monday morning you would find me in school celebrating this day with my fourth graders, but today I am home recovering from the stomach bug and playing nurse to Eli. My valentine is at work and I can't wait until he returns so that we can enjoy a lovely evening with our two boys, two dogs and our pan of meatloaf. Thanks mom M. for starting the meatloaf tradition.

It's hard to believe that John and I will be married for 9 years this June. It may seem cliche to say this, but it does seem like yesterday that we were "formally" introduced. I say formally because I have known about The Cakes for quite some time. I grew up next to his cousin and thought John was the cutest thing ever, however; he didn't know a thing about me. When we were introduced I was in another relationship that wasn't right for me and meeting John was like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I feel lucky that I get to call him my husband and blessed that he is the father of our two boys. It hasn't always been easy, but I am grateful that God brought us together. John has helped me accomplish so much in the 13 years that we have been together. He is honest, hard working, strong and caring. But best of all he knows everything about me; my faults, my shortcomings, and he chooses to love me anyways. I am looking forward to spending many more Valentine days together. Happy Valentine's Day Johnny! I love you.

Bug Bites

2011-02-13T08:47:00.004-05:00

The Hickoks got an unexpected visitor this weekend.... the stomach bug. Can I just tell you how much I hate the stomach bug? (not that anyone likes it) It has to be the worst thing ever. Noah woke up on Saturday and the first thing out of his mouth was, "Mama, my belly hurts." So we weren't surprised when he tossed his cookies fifteen minutes later. Poor guy. I was bit by the bug a few hours later and John was soon tortured with it too. Eli is holding strong and we are really hoping that it passes over him.

Thankfully I am feeling better this morning so I can take care of this guy...

And this guy too...

24 hours!

2011-02-09T20:30:00.003-05:00

Well, it's been 24 hours since I have been off Facebook. I am not going to deny the urge to do a quick stalk, but for the last 24 hours I have resisted temptation. I have to say that I feel pretty good about it. Don't get me wrong, I do miss it but I am proud of myself for sticking with it for 24 hours. I have already lost 5 pounds. Not exactly but I will and when I do I will be sure to post it. So what have I been up to for the last 24 hours. Well I....

slept
showered
fed my boys breakfast
loved on my dogs (Yes, I do love my dogs!)
reviewed converting customary measurements with my fourth graders
attended a meeting
chatted with friends, rather than stalking them on Facebook
ate dinner with my boys
loved on my dogs again because I do seriously love them
sent text messages to my husband (Can't tell you what they contained)
bathed my boys
relaxed on the couch

Did I mention that it has been 24 hours?

Social Networking, Not So Much...

2011-02-08T19:55:00.006-05:00

I have been doing some serious thinking about taking a break from Facebook. This social networking thing isn't working out the way I had hoped it would. This afternoon I arrived at an appointment a few minutes early. When I sat down to wait for my service my body responded the way that it normally does when I have a free minute-I reached for my phone. I quickly realized that I left my phone in the car. Great, I thought to myself. What am I going to do for the next 10 minutes if I can't check Facebook? And then it hit me. When did I become so pathetically infatuated with Facebook? Before I signed on to Facebook, what in the world did I do with myself? Well for starters I was thinner. I wasn't sitting all night long playing bejeweled blitz and browsing through everyone else's photos. I was walking the dogs, cleaning the house (I still do this so this one doesn't really count), reading, shopping (not so sure I am going to be able to resume that activity)....

Don't get me wrong I love Facebook. Where else can you be completely nosy without anyone finding out that your being nosy?You know you love stalking too. I love being a wall post away from my family that I don't see on a regular basis and catching up with old friends has been great too. But when I weigh the benefits of Facebook I am not convinced that it always has my best interest in mind. I am sensitive, something that I never really thought I was. But my feelings get hurt really easily and to be honest I have read posts that haven't settled well with me (I am sure I am guilty of doing the same thing). And then I perseverate on that post and read it over and over until I am annoyed beyond belief. Then I get John involved and complain to him which just keeps this silly cycle going. And don't even get me started on the friend request dilemma. Questions like, should I request this person as a friend? Will they accept? If they don't accept, does that mean they don't like me? Ugh, as if making friends isn't hard enough, the people that are supposed to be your friends ignore you. Pretty pathetic! I am sure this doesn't even cross some people's minds or that it just rolls right off their back. Unfortunately it sticks with me like a new pair of Spanx.

So I think that for right now the best thing for me is break this cycle by staying off Facebook for awhile. I am not sure how long this will last or quite honestly if I have the willpower to do it. But I am willing to give it a try. I'll let you know how it goes. Here goes!

Death by Chocolate

2011-01-06T21:53:00.004-05:00

Lately I have been struggling with the fact that we have two dogs. Who am I kidding when I say lately? I guess the lately is, I have been struggling with this fact for 2 1/2 years, ever since I had Noah. I decided to title this entry, Death by Chocolate. When I googled that phrase some wickedly yummy recipes popped up with pictures of chocolate. So you may be wondering what that has to do with Finn. When I think of Finn I am reminded by the familiar phrase, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. But sometimes I really wonder if this dark chocolate lab is going to get the best of me, so I feel the title Death by Chocolate is completely appropriate. (As I am typing this he is standing at the back door ringing the door bell to go outside).

He drools... a lot! It's the kind of drool that can also be referred to as shoelaces. Yeah, he has shoelaces hanging off the sides of his mouth. When he shakes his head the drool goes everywhere; on the couch, on your pant leg, the baby! You never know exactly where it's going to end up.

He licks...everything and everyone. He licks my hands. He licks my toes. He licks the baby...everywhere. I think the thing that really annoys me is when he licks Toby's ears. As if it isn't difficult enough keeping her ears free of ear infections. Licking them doesn't help.

He barks...incessantly. You would think that a dog like him would love to run and play outside, but that's not the case. When I let him outside he barks and barks over and over standing at the back door wagging his tail waiting to come back in. Why? To torture me of course!

He paces...around the coffee table. We call it his evening laps. He usually does about thirty to forty of them in the evening usually with a stuffed animal crammed in his mouth, panting and pacing.

I found myself googling pictures of dogs today. I am not sure why. I typed in labrador retrievers and up popped the most adorable pictures of labs; chocolate labs, black labs and yellow labs. They were all so cute. I was quickly reminded why I fell in love with Finn in the first place. And regardless of how annoyed I get with him or how many times I scold him he still loves me.

I am not one for resolutions; however I am having a change of heart. I have decided to try and fall in love with Finn all over again. I am going to try and enjoy his wet kisses, try to laugh when he barrels down the hallway knocking everyone and everything over in his path and try to talk to him the way I once did. Besides I have always been a sucker for chocolate.

It Ain't Easy...

2010-12-29T19:38:00.004-05:00

It ain't easy... being a mom. There are days (like today) when I am cleaning the house and taking care of laundry wondering if I am ever going to get ahead. I have this week off and last week I couldn't wait for this week to come. Each day I added a chore to the mental list that I created weeks ago. Work on the basement, organize our closet, catch up on the laundry were some of the tasks that I wanted to check off my list. However, things aren't going as planned. I don't know why that surprises me though. With two kids, a husband and two dogs there really isn't much time left in the day to get everything checked off my list or even two things checked off my list. By the time everyone is fed and the house is somewhat put back together there doesn't seem to be much time for the extra stuff. And that drives me crazy.

So I have come to the conclusion that motherhood is quite possibly the hardest thing I will ever do. I love my boys and wouldn't want it any other way. But there are times when I wish I could clean an empty house, fold laundry in a quiet room and vacuum without running into our dog.

It ain't easy...

Six months Later...

2010-10-23T22:19:00.008-04:00

Six months ago John, Noah and I welcomed this little guy into our family.

Eli Benjamin has been a huge blessing in our family. Everyone warned me that having two kids so close in age was going to be really difficult. And I will admit that some days it is. Between juggling the house, my job and my boys it can get really hectic, but honestly I wouldn't have it any other way.

Noah is learning that Eli is here to stay and is starting to enjoy his little brother. Eli loves to watch Noah and laugh at him when he does silly things. There are the occasional moments when Noah pulls Eli's hair, but there are times too when he is so sweet with him. The other day while I was packing the boys up to go to school I looked over at Eli's car seat and spotted his bear. Noah loves to bring his bear to school and he thought Eli would like to bring his bear too so he placed it in his car seat. I love little moments like that.

Eli has made lots of progress since joining us on April 21st.

Eli's Timeline:
-at six weeks he gave me a smile
-started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks
-at eight weeks smiling became a routine thing
-four months he rolled over
-at four months I introduced applesauce and he loved it
-at sixth months he is trying so hard to get up on his knees.
-he loves to laugh and he smiles all of the time
-so far he loves peas and bananas
-he weighs 19 pounds!

We are really enjoying our family of four.

Hollywood?

2010-08-08T21:25:00.007-04:00

Today the Hickoks felt a little like Hollywood superstars. We had our very first family photo shoot this morning. Move over Brad and Angie. Our family pics would totally give the Pitts a run for their money. We met our photographer, Dan Cooper, at Yaddo Gardens and he spent 2 hours treating us like Hollywood's finest. Eli was really the superstar today and we decided to tag along and jump in the pictures with him. He was such a sweet baby and looked absolutely adorable in his little outfit.

I know I am biased when I say this, but I think Eli is absolutely precious. He just melts my heart. Everyone warned me that because Noah was a great baby that I would never get another one like him. I simply have to disagree because Eli has been such a blessing in our household. He is a sweet baby.

The photo shoot was a lot of fun and felt completely natural and right. I could totally get addicted to it. And did I mention that our photographer was amazing? Dan is creative and he was super patient with Noah. The setting was perfect. Yaddo Gardens is beautiful! I can't wait to see the pictures even if they don't make the latest issue of People or Us Weekly. I can honestly say that the Hickoks are ready for the paparazzi to come knocking on our door. Roll out the red carpet.

Is It Really August?

2010-08-07T16:36:00.005-04:00

It's August already! Where has the summer gone? I say that with complete astonishment as I do sadness. In just a few weeks I will be unlocking the door to my classroom and welcoming 23 students to fourth grade. It seems like yesterday was April 20th and I was pampering myself with a manicure and pedicure excited to meet Eli. That's when my summer vacation began.

Part of me is a little frustrated that I didn't conquer my list of "maternity leave do's." The basement isn't organized, there are a few cupboards that I didn't get to, and I have yet to lose those stubborn pounds that have become my unwanted frenemy. I guess there is a bright side to the unfinished list. I have enjoyed my time with Noah and Eli. We have attended play dates, lunch dates, shopped until we dropped and spent lots of time outdoors. Time does go by so fast though. And I am left to wonder if I will be able to be a successful mom as well as a teacher when September rolls in. Can I handle working all day and then come home and keep up with the house chores? I know it can be done, but I guess the bigger question is, do I want to do it? I am torn. Part of me looks forward to the daily interaction with adults and the highs of being with students; challenging them, laughing with them and setting goals with them. And part of me dreads the first morning when I have to hand Eli over to his daycare teacher. Noah looks forward to playing with children his own age and I really feel that the structure the daycare provides is wonderful for him.

So as we make our way into August I have a bundle of emotions that I am dealing with as I prepare to go back to work. I have enjoyed playing with my boys and spending time with John. Lunch dates, play dates and shopping sprees will have to be put on hold until next summer or at least until our first school vacation.

Lazy Blogger!

2010-07-14T15:16:00.008-04:00

I guess the title says it all! I have been a lazy blogger. I think I can blame it on Facebook though. It is so much easier to update my status and include pictures of the kids. And I just assume that people enjoy Facebook more so than blogs.

This summer seems to be drifting by quickly. These days I find myself chasing after Noah, changing diapers and cleaning the house. Did I mention that I feel like the house never stays clean? I don't imagine it would when you live with two of the hairiest dogs on the planet. Besides the cleaning and laundry we have managed to squeeze in time for the pool. Noah is not a huge fan of the water. He is content playing in the dirt and using the water table. He loves to be outside. He is chatting quite a bit too. We still aren't exactly sure what he is saying but he does a lot of babbling. This summer he had tubes placed in his ears so we are hopeful that he will have less ear infections. He is getting really good at calling for the dogs. He says Toby's name very clearly. She really doesn't pay too much attention to him but Finnegan loves Noah. Most mornings I find them chasing one another through the house. Finn is so patient with Noah.

Eli is doing wonderful. He is a great baby. I was a little nervous at the thought of having two children under the age of two but I can honestly say that it's not so bad. We manage to run our errands and still enjoy the same outings that I did with just one child. There are things that make it easier, one being the awesome double stroller I have. It's a lifesaver!

Eli is on a great schedule which includes him sleeping through the night. He is doing a lot of smiling and cooing. We are hoping that he holds on to his blue eyes. He is just precious, see for yourself.

Dare I say it?

2010-06-03T21:49:00.003-04:00

Dare I say it? I am afraid that if I say it then it won't happen again. Our newest addition has been giving his parents one of the greatest gifts that a newborn could give. He has been sleeping through the night. There I said it! Now let's hope that this continues.

Eli did his first "all nighter" (sleeping through the night) when he was 4 weeks week old. I was in my glory when I woke the next morning at 6:00 to find my sleeping beauty snoring away in his bassinet. If you're a parent you find yourself wishing, hoping and praying that your newborn will sleep through the night. And for all you moms that have never felt that way well, God bless you because you must be super mom. I happen to love to sleep. I treasure afternoon naps and get ridiculously excited when I get eight or more hours a sleep at night. Obviously I have had to put that on the back burner for awhile. It feels like it has been a long time since I have had a date with my pillow. But there is hope and I know I have hope that my eight hour nights will return.

Now that Eli is 6 weeks old I think it's time that he start learning about habits and I think that sleeping is one that he will enjoy. I have had many conversations with him about how wonderful sleeping is. I told him that although eating is great; sleeping through the night is way better. I think he is starting to see that.

So as I sit hear writing this Eli is sleeping soundly in his little baby recliner. We have one more feeding to go and then it's off to the bassinet for bedtime stories and sweet dreams. Let's just hope that Mr. Eli decides that sleeping is as wonderful as his mother says it is.

Eli Benjamin Hickok April 21st 2010

2010-05-13T21:58:00.000-04:00

He is here!

2010-05-10T21:12:00.002-04:00

I have not been a very good blogger. These past few days I have thought about blogging, but honestly I have been too exhausted. Not that tonight is any different from the past few weeks, but I figured if I didn't blog then I would be way behind. So here is the latest news from the Hickok family.

Eli Benjamin arrived safely on Wednesday, April 21st. I had a repeat c-section and everything went very well. I must admit that seeing Eli for the first time kinda shocked me. When I got the first glimpse of him I thought, "Holy cow, my baby is tiny!" However, he weighed in at 8 pounds and 6 ounces and he was 20 inches long. Not so tiny! He came into this world using his lungs. Hearing him in the operating room made me wonder if he was going to be a cryer, however he has proven me wrong-so far anyways. He is a sweetie! He loves to cuddle and he kinda melts into your arms when you hold him. He resembles Noah, however he doesn't have as much hair as Noah had and his hair is fairly light. He is absolutely precious. When I hold him I am reminded why this age is so awesome. I love cuddling with him.

So the past three weeks have been busy ones. I am really tired. I forgot how tired you are after having a baby. It has been kinda hard getting used to getting up in the night. I am so waiting for the night that he decides to stretch himself to the morning. I know, he is only three weeks old and that will come in time but I really miss sleeping. I was thinking to myself that it has been a really long time since I have had a night of uninterrupted sleep. When you are pregnant you are up during the night using the bathroom and now I am up feeding Mr. Eli. I try to sleep during the day but I often find myself doing other things like laundry or cleaning.

Noah is adjusting to the new member in our family. Noah has pulled and yanked on Eli but it doesn't seem to bother Eli. The first week was really rough but everyday it gets better. I know that eventually Noah will love having Eli to play with.

John is busy building an addition. Noah will be getting a new room and we will also be getting a new living room. I am excited about this and can't wait until it is complete.

We have taken lots of pictures and will be posting them very soon. But for now I think I may take a little nap before Mr. Eli decides he wants to eat.

Tomorrow is the Day!

2010-04-20T21:21:00.002-04:00

I should be snuggled under my covers right now drifting off to dream land. Tomorrow is our big day as we welcome our second son into our family. I honestly can't believe that I am going to be a mom of two boys. It seems like yesterday that we had Noah. Noah is 20 months and as I was preparing the bassinet today it seemed strange that he once fit in there. Now he is busy pulling everything out of the bassinet. I wonder how he will adjust?

Tomorrow at 5:00 a.m. John and I will make our way to Bellevue Hospital. Although I had a c-section with Noah I can't dismiss the butterflies I am feeling about my c-section tomorrow. I greatly appreciate all the prayers that people have offered. I have found myself waking early this week praying that all goes well.

We will update the blog as soon as we can. I can't wait to see Baby Hickok. I wonder who he will look like? I guess I will see soon enough.

It's Just "One" of Those Days...right?

2010-04-14T19:44:00.004-04:00

Today was one of those days where I felt that it couldn't get any worse! What started off as a great morning soon turned sour. Today John and I went to Bellevue for my pre-op. Everything there went fabulous. It couldn't have went any smoother. The nurses were all great, the office staff was very personable, and the anethesiologist reminded me of someone you would see on Saturday Night Live. He was hysterical!

I left the hospital in my husband's truck, which by the way I absolutely hate driving but he wanted to drive my car to the city and being the compromising wife that I am, I let him take the car. The sun was shining and I felt relieved that the pre-op was complete. Just one more thing that we could check off of our getting ready for Baby Hickok list. As I made my way up 87 I decided to pick up Noah and treat him to lunch. He had a doctor's appointment at noon so I figured we would have time for pizza.

Picking up Noah from daycare was a breeze despite the fact that he was outside playing. He loves being outside and usually doesn't want to come in. The daycare owner even took it upon herself to place Noah in his car seat. She must have noticed the dreaded look on my face about hoisting Noah into John's truck with this big belly of mine. The day was going perfectly. We enjoyed our pizza and I headed over to the doctor's office.

When we arrived at the doctor's I did my usual check in with the chick behind the counter business. Now, I am going to be completely human for the next few paragraphs. I am going to honest! I consider writing great therapy. So I am going to let it all out. Are you ready? I don't like the chick behind the counter, no not at all. She doesn't smile. She's not friendly and she's not helpful. She wears an expressionless look on her face regardless of what she is saying. And lately I feel like she is picking on me. She is so bossy! I say lately because we are there every fourteen days or so getting Noah's ears checked. Yes, he has chronic ear infections. I am ready to buy one of those ear checker tools and a script pad so I can start diagnosing him myself and writing his scripts.

At the doctor's office they conviently have a well side and a sick side. Where do think Noah traveled to as I was checking in? Yes, that's right. My twenty month old wandered over to the empty well side. When I say empty I mean desolate. It's noon, there is no one there and no one pulling in the parking lot. After I signed my initials on the check-in form the lovely receptionist reminded me that Noah needs to be on the sick side (she is starting to do her bossy thing). At that point I wanted to provide her with a snide Michelle remark, but I refrained. She is just doing her job which is to make sure that the sick team isn't fratinizing with the well team. I get that however, the well team hadn't showed up yet so she could take off the refuree uniform and relax. Besides ear infections aren't contagious.

Well Noah didn't want to leave the well side which turned into one big fat tantrum. Please picture this with me. A women (me) nine months pregnant trying to drag this thirty-three pound toddler who is kicking and screaming over to the sick side. I managed to get him over there but during that time he ripped my sunglasses off, pulled my hair and slapped me. Thank you receptionist girl for all of your help. Truly appreciate it. Now I know that my son is totally being disobedient. I get that it is not receptionist girl's fault, but at that moment I was at what I thought was my whit's end. Not true though as the story gets better.

Noah continued to scream and flop around the floor like a fish who had been taken out of water. The nurse came out and tried to escort us to a room. After what seemed like twenty minutes of more fish flopping we made it there without injury. As I sat in the room every bit of me wanted to break down and cry. The doctor came in and proceeded to ask questions about what was bothering Noah. This was not the doctor that Noah normally sees. I love his doctor however, she wasn't available.

At this point Noah is still crying. He doesn't want to take his shirt off and he certainly doesn't want anyone near his ear. The doctor tries to look in his ear. However, I am not much help. There is no room on my lap for Noah because I am huge. Did I mention that I am nine months pregnant? The doctor decided to leave to get assistance from the nurse. When she left, as hard as I tried I couldn't hold it in any longer. I was done. I was now officially at my whit's end. The tears came and as a pregnant lady ready to give birth, the tears fell and wouldn't stop. The nurse and doctor came back to the room only to find me sobbing with my twenty month old. I couldn't help it. They offered me tissues and hugs, but I couldn't stop crying. What had started as a wonderful morning full of excitement turned into a nasty episode at the doctor's office.

I did manage to compose myself long enough to provide them with my $15.00 copay. But as soon as a famiilar nurse approached me and asked if I was okay, I did what any woman would do and started crying all over again. You know what I am talking about. The type of crying where your chest is heaving up and down and you try really hard to make sense of what you're saying but it only sounds like a mufffled noise. Yeah, that was me. The look on Noah's face was a combination of bewilderment and disgust. Almost as if he was saying, "Pull it together lady and knock off the crying. I am the one with the ear infection."

I can honestly say that I have never in my life felt more like a D+ parent than I have these past few months. I mean lead me to the nearest parenting class and sign me up for the double session, "How to Raise Your Toddler" class. When Noah throws a tantrum I try to ignore it. I try to walk away. I pray for patience, but I can never really get over the fact that he has tantrums. I feel as though I have done something wrong as a parent and that's why he has them. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a push-over. I am a teacher. I am structured and strict but I am compassionate and kind. I don't let Noah get away with being disobedient and I feel like we are very consistent with him. But lately I have been questioning my parenting skills. Never in a million years did I ever imagine that Noah would act like me. When I held him for the very first time I hoped he would have my sense of humor but skip my stubbornness and definately skip my attitude of my way or the highway. I don't want him to have to learn the hard way or always have the last word. It's tough being like that. I speak from experience. We have so much work to do with him. He is a beautiful boy that loves to give kisses to his mom and can't wait to see his dad's face in the morning. But say no to him and all unpleasantville breaks out. So, as the day comes to a close I think to myself that there will probably be many more days like this one and some even worse. But honestly nothing beats pulling into the driveway, as I did tonight, and seeing my bright eyed boy grinning from ear to ear out the window as he sees his mommy climb out of that big obnoxious truck and waddle in to greet him. And then I remind myself, it's just "one" of those days.... right?

Update!

2010-03-12T19:44:00.004-05:00

As I was walking to my car this afternoon after leaving school I felt a little guilty for not updating this blog as regularly as I did when I was pregnant with Noah. However, I do have a reason. He is 31 pounds and an active ball of energy. Sometimes I look at Noah and think, where did you get all of that energy? And why on earth don't you just want to relax after being at daycare all day?

Upon entering the house today he stuck up his nose, took a big sniff and said, "mmmhhh". I had beef stew in the crock pot and I guess he was really looking forward to it. He is so hungry when he gets home and wants to eat immediately. If I am cooking and walk out of the kitchen, Noah stands in the kitchen and cries until I go back to the stove. I guess he likes me barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. Watch out ladies! He is going to be quite the husband someday.

Little Baby Hickok is doing well. He is busy kicking and practicing breathing. He has the hiccups all of the time. I am so thrilled that it is March which means we don't have much more time until we become a family of four. I am wondering how Noah is going to do with the adjustment. He loves to pat my stomach and say baby. But I am not so sure what he is going to think of the baby once he is here. Time will tell.

Well it's about time!

2010-02-18T21:01:00.004-05:00

Well it's about time! I have used that phrase more than once and definitely heard it more than once in my lifetime. It certainly has been a long time since I posted a new entry. But I do have some really good excuses as to why I haven't been faithful.

-Noah is a toddler and into everything. Today was no exception. I spent the morning washing walls and trim, doing the whole "nesting" thing and he wanted to sit on my lap as I worked. If he wasn't on my lap then he was lifting my shirt to tickle me and pulling on my overly tight sweat pants; as if they weren't uncomfortable enough. Kinda hard to get anything done. When he wasn't on my lap he was in Finn's water bowl or trying to pry open the dishwasher. Hands full!! That's how I felt today.
-Let's not forget the obvious-I'm pregnant! And I feel like I am expanding every minute. I like to compare my stomach to a hot air balloon. I feel as though any minute I will lift off. I am tired and by the time I get home from school and get dinner on the table the last thing I feel like doing is anything that requires me to use brain cells. You can call it laziness, but I feel knocked out at the end of the day.
-Dogs!! Need I say more. They drain whatever life is left in me at the end of the day. I am a slave to picking up dog toys and vacuuming the endless amount of dog hair that they shed. Actually Johnny does most of the vacuuming but watching him makes me tired. You can find their hair everywhere!
-School.... I love teaching and finding new ideas for my students, but I must admit I am looking forward to some rest. I know, having a new baby is not exactly a vacation.
-Household chores... John has been a huge help around the house. He is superman with the laundry. I can't compete with his speed in that area and like I mentioned above, he is doing most of the vacuuming. But there is the weekly dreaded grocery shopping, cooking, dusting, and general upkeep of the house that needs to be done. And by at the end of each day I look at our house and think, it's still not clean enough. It probably won't be either until after our little guy comes.
-Bejeweled... Need I say more. I'm addicted. And even when I tell myself that I am not going to play I find my fingers sliding and tapping the mouse to play another game. It's a terrible addiction.

But in all seriousness, everything is going pretty well for this pregnancy. Little baby Hickok is growing and all of my blood work has come back great. I am experiencing some pelvic pain and back pain, but that's to be expected when your pregnant. On April 21st we will welcome the newest addition to our home. And I honestly can't believe that we are going from a family of three to a family of four. For the past 18 months we have showered Noah with lots of attention. Soon he will be sharing the attention with his brother. Ahh and I will finally have some energy or so I think.

Baby Boy Hickok the Second

2009-12-01T20:30:00.005-05:00

At 5:30 this morning I was wide awake thinking about my 10:00 a.m. doctor's appointment. Today was the big day. We would get to see our latest addition in the comforts of my body and we would find out the brand. (Most importantly, we discovered that our latest addition is growing very healthy and is working on developing a full head of hair.)

For some strange reason I was really nervous about this appointment. Maybe it was because for the past 19 weeks I created in my mind a little girl and at 5:00 this morning it hit me that maybe it won't be a little girl and how am I going to feel about that? When we got the news that Baby Hickok was a boy and not a girl I was a little surprised. It's not very often that I am wrong; just ask my husband. However, I quickly changed my thoughts to Noah and how excited I am for him. I am the youngest of two and I love having an older brother. Growing up he was always there when I needed him and still is only a phone call away. Johnny is the older brother and so dependable and caring. I have always gotten the impression that older siblings look out for the younger ones. We certainly do need it sometimes. I am excited to see how Noah will interact with his brother and know that he has some pretty good examples to follow. So welcome Baby Boy Hickok the Second! We can't wait to meet you.

The Hostess but not with the Mostest

2009-11-24T20:58:00.006-05:00

I should be folding laundry, but for some reason I am not in the folding laundry mood. Actually I am never in the folding laundry mood. I realize that it is a chore that must be done; however it's not my favorite chore. In two days we will be hosting our very first Thanksgiving and I should be getting our house ready for that!

To some, hosting Thanksgiving or any holiday is not a big deal. How hard is it to throw a turkey in the oven and mash potatoes? I am capable of doing this and have served turkey to my husband many times. But this is different. I actually have guests depending on me for food. If the turkey is dry I can't suggest we order a pizza or throw a few boxes of cereal their way. They will be arriving at 2:30 p.m. and will be patiently waiting for the turkey to be served succulent and tasty.

Don't get me wrong, I am excited about this too. There is something about slaving away in the kitchen all day and then hearing your guests comment on how delicious the meal was. The leftovers are great and being able to serve your family in the comforts of your own home is worth the time and effort. But of course there is that nagging side of me that can't seem to shake off those annoying questions like:

What if I don't wake up in time to get the turkey in the oven?

What if the turkey is dry?

What if my gravy is too thin?

What if my stuffing is mushy?

What am I going to wear? ( I get hot when I cook so I can't wear one of those cute pregnant sweaters that I just bought.)

What if I forget something?

I am pretty sure the Pilgrims didn't worry about dry turkey or mushy stuffing. So I guess the best thing for me to do would be to make a list and really try not to sweat the small stuff. Besides there is more to Thanksgiving than the turkey and the trimmings; just ask the Tappletons (Thanksgiving at the Tappletons is a very cute picture book about the true meaning of Thanksgiving.) So on Thursday when you are enjoying your families and the wonderful Thanksgiving meal, please say a little prayer for my guests and me. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

The Latest...

2009-11-10T21:56:00.005-05:00

It has been awhile since I have updated our blog. It seems that these days I am finding myself very busy. Between Noah, my job, and the house I feel like I don't have enough time or energy to write an entry.

I am over the morning sickness. Thank God! It really wasn't that bad this time around. Maybe that had more to do with me focusing on Noah than focusing on how my stomach felt. I am feeling pretty good. I have been pampering myself by going to bed really early. The other night I was out like a light at 8:30. It was wonderful!

I am resting not only because of the pregnancy but also because I really don't want to get sick. Piggy flu has been oinking around in my classroom and I really want to avoid it as much as possible. It's kinda hard with the close quarters I'm in, but I am trying. We are washing our hands like crazy and sneezing and coughing into our elbows. I am constantly making announcements such as, "Please keep your hands away from your face, Don't forget to sneeze and cough into your elbow." I am pretty sure that my students are over my reminders. I decided not to get the vaccination. I just didn't have peace about it. So I am at the sink constantly washing my hands in between rubbing hand sanitizer through my fingers. And doing a ton of praying that this flu will pass me by and my family. I really hope Noah doesn't get it.

Speaking of my precious little angel, Noah. He is really going through a not so fun stage right now. I remember not so long ago holding him in my arms and thinking, this little guy could never be bold. He is just too precious. Boy, I was wrong. Noah is turning into quite the bully. He is hitting us all of the time. Now I realize that this is "his form of communication". But to tell you the truth I am so over that excuse. It is really embarrassing when he hits people and he is totally doing it on purpose. He gets that "John face" look and you know you better take cover. I say the "John face" because that's the look I get from John when I am doing something "inappropriate."

John has been really busy lately. He is constantly working. We are looking forward to his schedule settling down in the next week or so.

This week I will be going to see the doctor for a little visit. At this appointment I will find out when the "find out the sex of your baby ultrasound" will be. However, we haven't decided if we are going to be sharing the sex of the baby. Some of my friends don't think I have it in me to keep such a secret, but I think otherwise. I guess time will tell.

The Cat is Out of the Bag!

2009-10-17T16:21:00.004-04:00

Well if you haven't heard the latest Hickok news then you must be living under a rock or you just haven't signed up on facebook yet. John and I are having a baby! We are so excited to be sharing this news with everyone. I am 13 weeks and due April 24th. The other day we got our first peek at our new addition. This baby reminds me so much of Noah; bouncing around in its new home and covering its face the entire time. We don't know the sex of our little one yet but will definitely be finding out as soon as we can. Some people have been asking me how I am feeling these days so I decided to give you a run down. I am feeling:

- tired!! If you have ever been pregnant you know how exhausting it is to be growing a little one inside of you. I am usually sound asleep by 9:00 p.m. But I love to sleep.

- sometimes nauseous. This baby is behaving a little bit better. I am able to eat more and I don't toss my food as much (except for last night, went to the movies and came home only to give the toilet all of the popcorn I ate. It wasn't pretty.).

- bloated. I feel like I am totally showing already.

- nervous. I am not quite sure how this whole "taking care of two kids so close in age" is going to work out. But I figure that women have been doing it for centuries so I can probably handle it too. Besides I have 24 students and I take care of them all day. And I think my doctor mentioned something about a return policy with the baby.

-excited. Is this baby going to be a boy or a little girl? Will this baby be huge? Will he/she have tons of hair?

-shocked. I felt like it took me forever to get pregnant with Noah. Not the case for baby number 2!!

-hungry. I feel a lot more hungry with this baby. I am craving mostly the same foods too. So does that mean we are having a boy?

John and I are enjoying this process and are really excited to meet our new family member. We will keep you posted on all of the latest news. Some have asked how Noah is doing. Of course he is too young to understand what all of this means for him, but I did get this reaction when I told him that there was going to be a new little Hickok in the house.

Is He Walking Yet?

2009-10-02T19:48:00.004-04:00

The day is finally here!! The day John and I have been waiting for. People can stop asking me what has become the most popular question about Noah. "Is he walking yet?" The answer is YES!! When Noah got home from daycare today he showed me his walking skills by taking about seven steps across the living room. He is very excited about this new accomplishment. We both clapped and squealed in delight after he crashed to the floor.

Each new milestone is exciting for us. It's amazing how quickly our baby boy changes and grows. We are just trying to savor every moment; even the challenging ones. Way to go Noah!!

First Day Jitters!

2009-09-08T03:32:00.004-04:00

It's 3:30 a.m. and I should be sleeping. In two hours my alarm will go off and I will be getting ready for my first day back to work. But it's 3:30 a.m. and I am up, wide awake with a million and one thoughts about my first day back to school.

I have that same nervous feeling that I had last year in November when I went back to work after the end of my maternity leave. If your a mom you know the feeling. The feeling of dread about dropping your child off at daycare and heading into a full day worth of work. Don't get me wrong, I feel I have the best job in the world. I love being a teacher. I can't wait to get to know my students. I can't wait to see familiar faces, but leaving Noah is hard too.

Over the course of the summer Noah has realized how cool his mother is and because of this he has a really hard time when I leave him. So I am feeling guilty and sad about dropping him off at daycare today. As a former daycare provider I know he will be fine. I have witnessed the kids cry when their parents leave and then stop 10 minutes after they have gone. But I feel apprehensive about leaving him. I am going to miss our routines. I am going to miss hearing him chat before he drifts off to sleep during nap time only to wake 3 hours later chatting again.

And then there is the whole "me getting back into work mode". You know, how am I going to do this after lounging by the pool all summer? I have enjoyed basking in the sun with a Nicholas Sparks novel in hand chatting with Amy about kids, dogs and husbands. And you know how I feel about lunch dates. In two hours I have to pack all those memories away like my bathing suit and flip flops and join the work force again.

In two more hours my alarm will go off and I will be expected to be some where. I will need to blow dry my hair, apply my makeup, and grab a bite to eat all before 7:30 a.m. I know this sounds like a simple task, but I am a turtle in the morning. It doesn't come easy getting this beauty to look presentable. And to top it off I don't know what to wear. How casual should I go today? It is my first day back but it's not a "teaching day". Today is the day I see all my coworkers, mostly for the first time since the end of June, at superintendent's conference day. Am I tan enough? Does my hair look good? Does this outfit fit right? These are just few questions that are swirling around in my mind. I am not even going to the weight compartment of my mind. I didn't lose the ten or fifteen pounds that I wanted to but I did manage to drop four. Hey, that's better than gaining four.

So in two hours the school year begins for me. Back to packing book bags and lunches and picking out outfits the night before. Back to saying goodbye to the dogs and back to scrambling around the house in the morning and fighting Johnny for mirror time (we have plenty of mirrors but we always seem to pick the same ones). Back to kissing Noah and counting down the hours until I see him again. First day jitters have arrived!

Time flies!

2009-08-26T19:57:00.016-04:00

It's hard to believe that this time last year I was settling into my new role as a mommy. John and I were taking turns feeding, bathing and changing our newest addition. It is amazing how quickly time flies. It's equally amazing to see how much Noah has grown over the course of a year. No longer is he confined to a swing or an infant seat. These days he is scurrying around the house on his hands and knees, attempting to walk around the furniture, and drinking out of a sippy cut. He went from this...

to this... Noah turned 1 on August 19th. Time flies!

Gated Community

2009-08-09T21:37:00.009-04:00

Recently I decided to invest in something for Noah that I like to call his "gated community". Because Noah is gettting around the house really quickly these days I am finding myself chasing him around corners and down hallways. So we visited one of our favorite stores and bought one of these...

As you can see sometimes Noah gets a visit from his dad and sometimes his cousin, Tyler.

Sometimes when I am not looking Noah tries to take a little field trip away from his "gated community". And this is what I find...

He is using the fire truck to make his way over the gate.

Although he attempted to get over the gate, he wasn't successful. Noah does enjoy his "gated community" which comes equipped with music, toys and stuffed animals and his favorite - company.

Just one of those days....

2009-07-15T21:56:00.007-04:00

Today was one of those days where things really seemed like they couldn't get any worse. It's amazing what two phone calls can do! Realistically I know that things can get worse and that my problems are few in comparison to others and that I have a good life, a great life. But today was one of those days where I wondered why? Why are people mean? Why are people selfish? Why do people intentionally set out to hurt other people? Am I guilty of any of the above? Absolutely, but why? Without divulging too much information and getting really personal, today was ones of those days in which I had it with friends and others close to me. So rather than let all of this anger fester up inside I have decided to put my problems aside and the people that are creating them and think about my blessings; you know focus on what God has blessed me with.

Like this little guy. Who would have thought that ten little toes, a three teeth smile, and 27 pounds of energy could bring you so much joy?

And this big guy! There have been plenty of days when I have stopped myself from hanging a free sign on him and leaving him out by the mailbox. But really, what would the Hickok household be without Finnegan?

And then there's Toby. She is our peace and quiet, our "thank God we don't have two wild dogs."

Last but definitely not least, there is John. Thank God for John! Enough said...

To Do List

2009-07-02T21:08:00.002-04:00

Now that I am out of school for the summer, everyday life has comepletely changed in the Hickok home. No longer am I slapping the alarm clock begging for 5 more minutes. And I am not rushing out the door, praying that I make it to school before the buses beat me and before the principal stakes his claim at the front door. Life seems to be more relaxed. And I have decided to give myself a good break before I jump into this list...

-cleaning the basement... It is so dreadful. I am embarassed by the amount of "stuff" that is down there.

-lesson plans for next year... You may wonder why I don't use the same plans every year. Well, I do sort of but I need to spice things up or life would get too boring.

-tan... There is not much I can do about this one. The sun has decided to take a vacation too.

-being fit... I am so tired of being tired and out of shape. So I have decided to work out at least four, maybe five if I am really motivated, times a week. I have already started this and I am doing pretty good so far.

-cleaning the house... I am going to wash walls and trim, clean closets and cabinets.

-read... I have started about 4 books and haven't finished any of them.

My list isn't too long but it's hanging over me and I just want it to be done. I will update you periodically to let you know how it's going.

Slimmin' With Simmons

2009-06-29T19:17:00.008-04:00

Have you ever met someone and thought, wow,I have never met anyone so friendly and down to earth? Two weeks ago my class had the opportunity to travel to New York City to meet Richard Simmons. It was quite the opportunity for us and one that I will remember forever.

It all began a few months ago. My principal passed on the word that we would need to start exercising in the classroom as part of a district initiative. I will be honest, at first I thought how in the world will I ever be able to make time for exercising along with all of the curriculum demands that we have? But I decided to try it. I quickly realized that jumping jacks and "Mrs. Hickok says" were not exactly producing the results that I wanted. I really wanted the kids to be in to it. So I decided to introduce them to this guy.

My class was instantly drawn to his energy. So we started to work out to a few of his DVDs three times a week. On days that we worked out with Richard my students were more alert and ready to work. I also noticed that difference in me too. I felt like I had more energy which makes for a better environment for my students.

I decided to contact Richard. He has a website http://www.richardsimmons.com/j15/ and so I sent him a quick email sharing with him what my students do. I was shocked when he responded to my email. You know what I am talking about. How many times have you written to someone "famous" (don't lie, you know you have) in hopes to hear back from them and you receive a big fat nothing? I really wasn't expecting him to respond but when he did I was thrilled. So thrilled that I ran into the bedroom and jumped on the bed, talking a mile a minute about the email I got from Richard. Poor John! He hasn't seen that much excitement since our newlywed days. Just kidding!

In the email Richard offered additional DVDs and said that he would send a signed picture of himself and he did. About a month and half ago I received another email inviting my class and myself to New York City for a PE Pep Rally. The pep rally was held on the steps of City Hall and Richard introduced the City Council Resolution 1925/2009, which called upon the 111th Congress to pass the FIT Kids Act,federal legislation that would improve the standards for physical education. You can imagine how excited we were. So after a bottle/can drive and some very generous donations given by some pretty amazing people (mom-in-law, PTA, STA, and the principal) we hopped on bus and traveled to the Big Apple.

Let me just say that when my students got their first glimpse of Richard, you would have thought Miley Cyrus showed up. Richard greeted us with hugs and spent so much time with us. He was so interested in my students and just perfect! The day was awesome and one that I am sure my students will remember forever. Richard surrounds himself with pretty amazing people as well. Anne is one of "persons" and she is so super fabulous! Everyone was so friendly and kind. I was also able to speak at the press conference. It was the perfect trip for a pretty amazing school year.

So like I said at the beginning, have you ever met someone so friendly and down to earth? I have and after spending the day with Richard, I was sad to leave and so were my students. He makes you feel like you're an old friend. And as for Miley Cyrus, sure she's cute but she doesn't compare to our Richard.

Happy Birthday!

2009-05-19T21:45:00.002-04:00

Today we celebrated John's 35th birthday! I don't want to pick on Johnny about his age because my birthday is right around the corner which means I am catching up. We enjoyed salad, pizza and a really yummy chocolate cake (cake compliments of some great friends). I tried to build my own cake but I had to reach out for some much needed help. The company was great and Noah seemed like he really enjoyed his first party. He danced when we sang "Happy Birthday" to John and enjoyed a bite or two of the chocolate cake. We feel really blessed to be able to share our birthdays with family. Happy Birthday Johnny!

A few pictures!

2009-05-15T20:21:00.003-04:00

It has been awhile since I have posted a slide show of pictures. Noah is a lot of fun these days. He is beginning to crawl and he has one tooth. Time flies so fast. It seems like yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital. In a few short months we will be celebrating his first birthday. Enjoy!

True/False

2009-04-28T20:51:00.006-04:00

Let me start off by introducing myself, I am Michelle Hickok. Yes, I know I have been away for awhile and have not been a faithful blogger. But I can explain. I have tons of excuses. Now usually, I get frustrated with excuses because as a fourth grade teacher, I hear them often. But really, life in the Hickok house has been really busy. Rather than give you the list of Hickok Happenings I decided to spice things up, sorta like extra credit for being such a lazy blogger. Being the teacher I am I decided to create a true/false test for you. Let's see how many you get correct.

1. Noah had a four day fever. It wasn't pretty. The doctor had to catheterize the young lad and he wasn't in favor of it. I can't say that I blame him.

2. John has been busy working. But in his spare time, he writes me love poems and cooks fabulous meals.

3. We purchased another dog. It is the most adorable black lab we have ever laid eyes on. So cute!

4. Noah has been practicing crawling. He gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth.

5. Noah calls us by name now. He loves saying Ma-Ma and Da-Da.

6. My class is counting down the days until our baby chicks hatch. And when they do we are having a party, complete with peeps and Cadbury eggs.

7. Noah is going to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. When I pick him up from the daycare, it takes him 1 minute and 30 seconds to fall asleep during the car ride home.

8. John is working on completing plans for a pool deck. Hallelujah!

9. Noah tasted his first french fry. We visited McDonald's to support my school. Noah liked the french fry but not as much as he enjoyed putting his fingers all over my principal's glasses. Thank goodness he likes kids.

10. Richard Simmons came to my school to exercise with my class for our BEST assembly. Love that man!

That concludes the Hickok Happenings True/False Test. So how did you do?

Test Answers

1. True. Noah really did have a fever. We are not quite sure what it was but they did have to catheterize him and it was horrible. I never want him to experience that again.

2. Sorta True. John has been really busy with work but I have yet to see a love poem. I am not giving up hope yet though.

3. So False. Never!! We have two dogs, one guinea pig, and one fish. We have enough pets for now.

4. True. Noah is getting ready to take off.

5. True. Noah says Ma-Ma and Da-Da but I am not so sure he knows this blonde is the real deal yet.

6. True, well half true. My class did get baby chick eggs and we are anxiously waiting for our little babes to hatch, but I am not so sure we are having a party. But I haven't exactly ruled out the idea either.

7. Sorta True. Noah does fall asleep very quickly upon me picking him up from daycare, but Guinness hasn't contacted us - yet!

8. So True. Noah, the dogs, and I can't wait!

9. So True. Now relax all you health nuts. It's not like we're buying stock in McDonald's, not yet anyways. He was fussy and the french fry was there and he loved it. Besides when he was hibernating in the womb he ate lots of things. He wasn't 10.2 because I sat around eating rice cakes and carrots. And yes, he did put a lot of finger prints on my principal's glasses. Those glasses were greasy for days from all that french fry oil.

10. False. We have been doing Richard Simmons in my classroom. The kids love it, well, most of them. We invited Richard to come join us to exercise in front of the entire school. He couldn't make it, but we still love him.

As the school year winds down I promise to be more faithful blogging. You know how busy life gets. I will try to post pictures soon.

Happy Easter from the Hickoks!

2009-04-11T09:11:00.004-04:00

I can't believe we will be celebrating our first Easter with Noah tomorrow. Time sure does fly by quickly. Picking out a special Easter outfit gave me great pleasure and I can't wait to put it on him tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be a busy day for us. We will be going to church quite early and then getting ready for our dinner guests. I hope that as a family we will be able to set all of that aside and really reflect on the meaning of Easter. I have a habit of getting into that, "everything has to be perfect for the guests" mode when we have company.

Easter brings back a lot great memories for me. As a child some of my favorite memories of Easter were getting dressed up in a pretty pink dress that my grandmother bought complete with a purse and hat. My brother and I would stand outside and get our picture taken. I love Easter for many reasons. Easter brings the hope of warm weather.

As you are gathering with your families tomorrow, John, Noah and I pray that you will receive many blessings. Happy Easter from the Hickoks!

Johnny, Shell and Noah

2009-04-02T21:22:00.005-04:00

It has been 7 months since John and I welcomed Noah into this world yet for some reason it seems like ages ago. Seven months really isn't a long time when you think about it. But strangely enough I really feel like he has been part of our lives since the beginning of Johnny and Shell time (that is when John first laid eyes on me and knew he couldn't live one day without me). People often ask us how parenthood is going. Here is what I or we could say on any given day.

- Love it!
- Tiring
- Amazing
- Busy
- Fun
- Life-changing
- Simple (sometimes we feel really brave)

Sometimes I wonder how me manage to get it all done. You know, work, family time, dinner and all of the other things that pertain to life. However, when I look at Noah I can't imagine our hectic life any different. I can't imagine just a Johnny and Shell. It's Johnny, Shell and Noah.

Break is Over!

2009-03-18T21:19:00.002-04:00

It has been some break that I have been on. I haven't blogged in over a month. There has been a few blogging stories waiting to be birthed, however they just haven't quite made it out. Here's another update from the Hickoks.

Noah is rolling over! When Noah gets on a roll he will roll himself right into the kitchen. My only request is that he doesn't practice his rolling in the middle of the night. When he does that, he calls for his mommy to come and lay him flat on his back. I guess it's too dark in his room for him to do it himself. Men!!

Noah has been sick for about two weeks. He is much better but still has a runny nose and a cough.

I played in a basketball game for school. All I have to say is, wow, I am getting old.

John has been snowmobiling. I think those days are over for another year due to spring finally coming. Noah and I are glad to have Johnny back with us on Sundays.

We had visitors from the western part of our state. My Aunt Linda, Uncle Bill and grandparents came to town. We had so much fun visiting Lake George.

Finn is still working on finding a new home for himself. If he's not licking Noah from toes to ears he is stealing tissues from the garbage can.

Toby is her usual self, always obedient.

I have snapped a few photos that I will be posting soon.

Love it!

2009-02-14T20:57:00.007-05:00

All week I have been thinking about what to write for today. It is Valentine's Day so I thought it would be appropriate that the topic revolve around love. I decided to post some of the things that the Hickoks love, dogs included. I will start with Noah.

Noah is totally getting into the food thing. His favorite thing to eat is bananas. As you can see he "loves" it.

I have posted numerous stories about Finnigan. And although I get completely annoyed with him, I do "love" him to pieces even when he takes tissues out of Noah's wastebasket.

Toby just turned eight years old this past week. That would make her fifty-six in dog years. John just "loves" this older woman...

When Finn is not annoying me he spends most of his time with Noah. Whenever I put Noah on his little floor gym Finn is right there beside him. He "loves" to lick Noah and keep watch.

Toby "loves" the big guy in this picture and she is getting used to the little guy too. She has good taste. I "love" them to pieces too.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,

The Hickoks

The Day After...

2009-02-01T21:32:00.012-05:00

Back in December I mentioned that there was a contest at my school. My principal had a "decorate your window" contest with all of the teachers. Whoever had the best window display would win a wreath. The theme was, "capturing the holiday season." And I might have mentioned how competitive I am, just a little though. Anyways, I spent hours, days, weeks; thinking, designing, spending and just about every other "ing" word trying to decide what the classroom's window display would be. Well the thought finally came to me during the wee hours of the morning as I was reading Martha Stewart's magazine. The idea was simple yet I think it said it all.

I like to call it, The Day After...

Notice my Christmas list... the last line.

The last line on my Christmas list says, Christmas wreath from Principal Pace...

My class was pumped! We were sure that we would win. It doesn't get any better than a silver trash can with Christmas leftovers. However, shockingly we didn't even place. Nope, not first or second! Our principal did recognize our efforts by declaring us, "The Most Unique Use of Theme". Don't get all excited for us; everyone got recognized. So you ask, who won? Hmm... we were beat by Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch. The Grinch always steals Christmas.

When I gave Noah the news about the window this was his reaction...

Oh well, I guess there is always next year.

Hickok Happenings

2009-02-01T21:06:00.003-05:00

I have been meaning to get on this blog and update away on the happenings in the Hickok household but we have been busy and sick.

Noah has had it with the sickness. He has had a sinus infection and an ear infection. Poor guy couldn't catch a break for awhile. I am pleased to report that currently he is feeling good.

John and I had the "bug". It flew in on a Sunday afternoon leaving us on our knees making friends with the toilet bowl and scurrying for toilet paper. It was pretty awful. Thank goodness John's mom was available to help us out.

It is once again report card season. I am so happy that I finished them. Ahh, they take a long time.

John has been enjoying this really cold wintry weather. He has been snowmobiling a few times. Noah takes after me, he would much rather grocery shop and clean rather than spend the day outside in this weather. He keeps asking me when spring is coming.

Noah got a haircut. I was shocked when John showed up at work with the haircut results. I think it looks good but I will definitely have to get used to it. I feel like I went from having a 5 month old to a 3 year old.

The dogs are doing well. The only one that doesn't get annoyed with Finn in our house is Noah. Give it time!!

Perspective

2009-01-15T20:41:00.002-05:00

It's funny how your perspective changes about certain things. I was thinking about this the other day as I scanned our living room. A year ago I wouldn't have thought that I would be "okay" with baby items scattered all over my house. Now before you roll your eyes let me explain. I like things (things being my house) to look a certain way. You know, I want everything in its place. Every item in my house has a place. A place that I designated for that item. No one is allowed to move it except for me and I rarely take the items out of their place (accept to dust but that doesn't count).

Now my house is consumed with new things, baby things and while they have their place too they get moved much more frequently. I guess you could say that I like things to be neat and orderly. Well, I used to like it that way and for the most part I still do but I must admit that I have had to let some things go.

If you were to walk into my home unexpectedly (don't get any ideas) you might find a baby sock on the coffee table or a burp cloth jammed in the corner of the couch. You may find a teeny tiny washcloth drying on the sink or bottles drying on the counter top. A pacifier may be hanging from Finn's mouth or there may be an annoying loud toy singing while flashing bright colors. We have extra furniture in the living room but you need to weigh under 30 lbs in order to occupy it. But I am okay with it or I am learning to be okay with it. I think it's a day to day process.

After having Noah I thought I would be able to keep up the daily maintenance of the house. It would be a piece of cake. After keeping my head barely above water for the past couple of months I am beginning to realize that a sock here or a flashing toy there will simply have to be for the time being. There are way more important things to occupy my time. Hmmm perspective...

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2009-01-08T20:06:00.004-05:00

It has been a few busy weeks in the Hickok household. Christmas and New Years came and went and now we are left with the aftermath. You know the catching up from shopping all day on Saturdays and Sundays. We are busy packing away the Christmas decorations and getting caught up on laundry. Here is another update from the Hickoks

I am back at work after having a glorious vacation with Noah. We slept, ate lots of chocolate (not him, me) and stayed in our pj's all morning.

The entire family got sick. We like to do things together so when we get sick it's a family thing, everyone included. The docs treated Noah for a sinus infection, I have an ear infection and John has a cold. We are managing though and getting better day by day. Thank goodness for pink medicine. Noah has it for his sinus infection and I opted for the pink stuff too for my ear infection. It's not fair that adults get the bitter antibiotic pills. The pink stuff is way more yummy.

The dogs enjoyed Christmas. Christmas for them means new toys and new bones. Finn has remarkably been very kind to his toys. He hasn't pulled any of their squeakers out. Maybe that is his new year's resolution.

Noah is working really hard trying to roll over. I have been coaxing him by putting chocolate kisses on either side of him hoping that the smell will get him rocking and rolling. Maybe I should try another type of candy.

John is his usual busy self these days. If he is not plowing snow he is busy fixing something. He is a great husband.

I need to post some pictures of the little guy. Everyday he gets bigger and bigger and his smiles are brighter and brighter. Look for new pictures coming soon.

4 Month Update

2008-12-31T14:36:00.002-05:00

Yesterday Noah went to the doctor's for his 4 month checkup. It was supposed to be considered a "well" visit and Noah was scheduled to get some shots but that didn't happen. Over the weekend Noah caught a cold and hasn't been feeling like his old self. Therefore the docs decided to hold off on the shots and gave him some medicine for his cold instead. They did weigh and measure him. He is currently 18 lbs, 9 oz and 28 inches long. He is a big boy and growing like a weed. The doctor gave me permission to start him on solids. We will keep it a secret that Noah started on rice cereal a month ago. I wonder when we can start giving him pizza?

A Very Merry Christmas!

2008-12-28T22:57:00.004-05:00

This past week raced right by us here at the Hickok home. Seriously, when I left room 48 on Tuesday I had much left to do on my Christmas list and wondered if it was possible to complete.

I love Christmas. I love the anticipation of Christmas morning and I love giving gifts and get excited about reactions. This year was really exciting for obvious reasons. Even though Noah doesn't know what's going on it was still beyond great to have him with us. What a gift he is.

So in honor of Christmas I will give you the low down of our busy days, Christmas Eve included.

I love Christmas Eve. Yes, I usually wait until the last minute so Christmas Eve is crazy but it's my tradition to stay up extremely late on Christmas Eve to finish up what seems to be an endless list of things that need to be completed by Christmas morning. And somebody has to be up to tell Santa where to place the gifts under the tree and to also make sure he brought the right stuff.

On Christmas Eve we went to an awesome service at Temple Baptist. The music and message were great. And Noah looked so cute in his Christmas Eve outfit. He thought the music was fantastic!

After the service we enjoyed a very delicious meal at John's mom's house. After stuffing ourselves we headed home to do the annual Christmas Eve pajama swap. That's where John and I buy each other pj's that we wear on Christmas Eve. This year I asked for something that I could wear in the living room. We don't have curtains in the living room and I don't want to scare anybody off with the whole me in skimpy pj's post baby body. I think you can understand that. I was a little nervous when I saw the Vicky Secret's box but was pleasantly surprised to open up and find nice lounge pants with a cute shirt. Unfortunately the pants were not my size. Oh well the thought was nice.

On Christmas morning Noah was thrilled that Santa brought him new clothes. Noah is growing out of his 3 to 6 month clothing. I was thrilled that I received a Wii. I love my new toy. I was also shocked to find a new watch under the tree. Wow, is all I have to say about that. John liked all of his gifts too. One gift won't be in until a little later.

In no time at all my parents, grandfather, brother, sister-in-law and nephews showed up. We enjoyed a yummy breakfast compliments of John and many wonderful gifts. Then it was off to John's parent's house for another yummy dinner and more wonderful gifts. Noah is so blessed to have very generous people in his life.

Looking back it is kinda easy to get lost in all of the busyness of what the holidays bring. Every year I feel like I lose focus on the real meaning of Christmas(time to start some new traditions). But I am truly thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ. After all He is the reason for a very Merry Christmas.

True Story

2008-12-22T19:30:00.003-05:00

This morning I selected a warm comfy outfit for the annual fourth grade ice skating field trip. I love this field trip because it is quick and easy and the kids get really exicited about going. However I am shocked to learn that every year there are a handful of kids that have never skated before. Hello people we live in the northeast; there is not much else to do in the winter. Noah will know how to skate before fourth grade or at least he will have been skating before fourth grade.

So back to what I was saying about the warm comfy outfit; John did a double take when he realized I was wearing jeans. Here's how the conversation went...

John: "Jeans, on a Monday?"

Shell: "Yes, we are going skating today." (very matter of fact)

Pause for a moment...

John "Figure skaters wear skirts."

Leave it to my conservative husband to say something about my wardrobe.

Baby It's Cold Inside!

2008-12-15T19:29:00.003-05:00

If you asked Johnny who moved into the house this past weekend he probably would tell you that the Grinch moved in and that would be in reference to me. Yes, that's right I was pretty miserable this past weekend but I think it was for good reason. With Christmas days away you think I could find some joy but that wasn't the case. We had no power. Now before I get any further I should be honest and say that we had some power because John did buy a generator for the house to keep us warm but come on, it's not nearly the same as the luxury of electricity. We were blessed with a beautiful ice storm early Friday morning. Never have I seen my husband pace back and forth worried that a tree might decide to take a dip in our pool. I am pleased to report that the trees in our yard stayed in their upright position.

Never did I think that we would be out of power for 60 long hours. I was totally looking forward to my day off from school on Friday but was quickly dropped off of cloud 9 when I realized we were in for the long haul. So a lot of people have been asking, how did little Noah do with this storm? He really did great. We didn't make him do too much around the house because he's still so young. Just kidding!!

Here a few highlights...

John hurried to Home Depot to get in line for a generator at 5:00 am on Friday morning. He managed to get one. Thank goodness.

Noah screamed through his first cold bottle on Friday morning. I tried to tell him to pretend it was a milkshake but he wasn't loving it. Maybe I should add chocolate syrup next time. He doesn't know what he is missing.

He did however enjoy wearing his mittens all day on Friday. Baby It's Cold Outside has a whole new meaning.

We got to eat out a lot. I love not having to cook and then to have an excuse not to cook is even better. Now shedding the extra five pounds I put on this weekend should be fun.

Lots of family time. With limited electricity there was no doing laundry and we didn't have the Internet so we had lots of time for us which makes it all worth it. I can't believe I just wrote that.

With the ice behind us I have decided to let my icy attitude melt with it. Christmas you are so welcome in our household even with laundry that is piled a mile high.

Exhausted to say the least!

2008-12-10T21:11:00.003-05:00

I am not sure why but it has been an exhausting two weeks which probably explains why I haven't been so faithful with my blogging. Everyday seems to be just as busy as the day before and I am so looking forward to Christmas break.

People often ask how school is going and my answer to that is great. I love my students and my coworkers. However there has been some minor stress at work lately, nothing I can't handle though. My principal decided to start a contest on who can come up with the best window display that captures the holiday season (each classroom has a window and an area where you can display items). Well everyone who knows me knows that I love competition and can't stand losing. For two weeks I have tossed ideas around in my head trying to decide what my class was going to do. Well I finally decided and will post a picture of it soon. I like to call the window, The Day After...

Noah is doing well. I am in the midst of getting the Christmas cards printed so look for them in the mail.

Over the weekend we decided to get the Christmas tree. After driving around town for an hour and a half we ended up in Galway and purchased what we thought was a nice tree. Well after getting it home and giving it a little trim it turned out to be a not so pretty tree. So we did the only right thing to do, we purchased another one. We will be giving the first one to Charlie Brown.

Here is the first tree. Noah wasn't loving the cold weather. Maybe he will turn out to be like his mom and want to spend his winters down south.

Pictures!

2008-12-08T19:29:00.001-05:00

Weekend Wrap-up!

2008-11-30T21:36:00.004-05:00

It was one busy weekend in the Hickok household. Here is what we have been up to.

-Thanksgiving dinner was delicious. We were with both sets of grandparents and enjoyed a yummy meal together. Noah was a little cranky. Not sure if he was upset that we didn't somehow try to put the turkey and trimmings in his bottle.

-Friday was a day of top to bottom cleaning. Noah didn't get the memo. He had other plans which included me holding him for most of the afternoon. He also didn't get why I wanted him to take a nap. I finally enlisted the help of my mother begging her to come over and sit with Noah as I packed our bags (I didn't really need to beg).

-That's right I needed to pack our bags on Friday for an overnighter! On Saturday we were off to Rochester for the annual family Christmas party. It was great to see all my aunts, uncles, cousins and of course grandma and grandpa Bob. After that we (Johnny, me, Noah, my brother, sister-in-law and two nephews) spent the night in a hotel room. We had fun lounging in the hot tub and eating pizza until midnight. Noah was a real sport too because he managed to party with us until midnight. We are training him young.

-Traveled home on Sunday. Noah was great in the car. We didn't have to stop once. Love when we can get home without making a pit stop.

Did I mention I made a huge batch of corn chowder-yum, lemon squares (that no one ate), brownies (which mostly got eaten) and turkey pot pie which my husband loved (we still have leftovers, any takers)?

So it is back to work tomorrow. It was a good week. I will post some pictures soon.

The Happiest Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T20:22:00.005-05:00

Every Thanksgiving the family gets together to share our blessings over the past year. John and I usually sit down at the computer to type our blessings away early Thanksgiving morning. God has always been so good to us. So you can probably guess what I (we) are most thankful for this year; that would be our new addition, Noah. It shouldn't be hard to sit down at the computer tomorrow and write about what a blessing it has been these past three months with Noah. There are so many simple things that I am thankful for like...

smiles-I love that toothless grin he gives me when he hears my voice.

giggles-Love it when he giggles as I am undressing him.

bath time splashing-He is so happy in the tub kicking away.

stares-I love the way he stares at us. His eyes follow us across the room.

sleeping-Nothing beats watching your little one fast asleep.

singing-He is probably the only one that doesn't mind when I sing to him. I think deep down inside he knows his mom could win American Idol.

When John and I had a miscarriage last year we were devastated and I thought I would never be able to get pregnant again. Not because of any complications but because I just thought I would never be able to have a baby. Thankfully God had other plans for us. He knew all along that He would be sending Noah our way. I must say He sent us quite a big package too. So this Thanksgiving I am so happy and thankful that Noah is here and healthy. What could be better than that? Happy Thanksgiving!!

One Week Down, How Many More to Go??

2008-11-23T11:48:00.006-05:00

A lot of people have asked how Noah's first week at the daycare went and how my first week has been with my 21 fourth graders. I decided to break it down for those of you that may be wondering.

* Noah had a great first week. I drop him off and he is all smiles when I hand him over. When I pick him up he is usually sleeping. He doesn't sleep great there but at least he sleeps. He usually takes cat naps which I am okay with.

* He has a stuffy nose but I can't blame that on the daycare. He was coming down with something last week.

* When I get him home in the evening he usually has lots of stories to tell me like...
-All the chicks dig him. They are always commenting on how cute he looks.
-Everybody wants to hold him.
-They love his hair.
-They sing okay but not as good as his mother.
-They smile a lot.
-The day can get kinda loud because some of the other babies don't want to cooperate. I haven't figured out if he is stretching the truth on these things.

Overall, I think he is adjusting. Me on the other hand, well I am adjusting too but here are a few things that I am missing.

-Noah! I can't wait to see him at the end of the day.
-Lounging around in my sweat pants. I don't think my principal would go for it if I showed up at school with sweats on, a tank top and UGG boots.
-Reruns of 90210 and One Tree Hill.
-Staying in bed until 7:30 am.
-Playing with Finn and Toby.
-Shopping. Noah and I could hit three malls a day, easily.
-My mom. She enjoyed coming over for a visit or two.
-Lunch dates! Cafeteria food is alright but their burgers don't come close to Five Guys.

So we are looking forward to our future breaks together like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King Day, winter break, snow delays, spring break. I think you get the picture.

Big Day! Glad It's Over!!

2008-11-17T20:44:00.007-05:00

Today was a big day in the Hickok household. Yes, that's right a big day for all us because today was the day that I finally dragged myself back to work. It was tough and last night when I cried to John I thought for sure it would be impossible to make it through the day without breaking out of school and snatching my little guy from daycare. But I made it through and I am happy to report so did he.

As John and I made our way into the daycare with a tupperware container filled with sheets, clothing, bibs and burp clothes it suddenly dawned on me that this is what it must feel like when you drop your kid off at college. Yes, I realize that it is slightly different but there are some similarities. I do realize that when I drop him off at college I won't be going back in the afternoon to pick him up. Let's hope not anyways.

I am happy to report that I held back my tears this morning. I didn't want to embarrass Noah in front of his new friends. You know how easily kids get embarrassed by their parents.

Upon entering his dorm room we made our way to his crib and made it as comfy as possible for him. Of course there is no crib like your own crib but it works for the time being. Thanks to my friend Suki we managed to get the right sheets for his crib and they fit perfectly.

Kissing him goodbye was tough but I knew that there were 21 fourth graders waiting for me ready to show some love and they couldn't have made my day any better. There is nothing like 21 smiling faces racing down the hallway to see you. Upon arriving at school I was greeted with "welcome backs" and happy faces. Co-workers a.k.a really good friends came bringing gifts such as chocolate chip cookies-yum, hot cocoa, a blueberry muffin, and banana cream pudding. I felt really spoiled today. Thankfully my new pants still fit at the end of the day after eating all of that.

Overall, I will give our day a thumbs up. No, it hasn't sunk in that I have to do this all over again tomorrow but I am sure it will when the alarm goes off at 5:30 am. But for now we are going to take it day by day.

Thank you everyone for making my day a little easier. A special thanks to John for getting me through this time and helping me get Noah ready for his big day. Do I get roses everyday or was that a special treat because it was my first day back to work? It was extremely difficult letting go of Noah today leaving him in the arms of someone other than me but picking him up gave me such relief even if it only lasts until tomorrow morning.

Right Around the Corner!

2008-11-12T00:03:00.004-05:00

I should be sleeping right now but I found myself folding Noah's laundry and catching up on old reruns of TV shows that I used to love. I like folding Noah's laundry because it's the perfect size and I can get it folded so quickly. Tonight's load was special because I finally found the perfect daycare blanket for Noah.

Yes, that's right I went out and bought him special sheets and a blanket for his crib at the daycare. You would think this would be a simple task but let me explain that I have been purchasing sheets and blankets for the past two weeks. Crazy, I know but I really want Noah to be comfortable while he is hanging out with the other daycare groupies. Today I went to two stores and returned the blankets and sheets I didn't want in exchange for the one that I think will be perfect. It is a striped green and white blanket with a cute little lamb on it. I think Noah will be okay with it. The sheets are of course white (nothing like crisp white sheets) and really soft and comfy.

As I packed up a few of his things for daycare it hit me that in a few days we will be going our separate ways. I say that with much drama and sappiness. I am really going to miss my little guy. We have really bonded these past three months and I have loved spending my days with him. I love our little routines and being able to care for him.

My biggest fear about Monday is that I am going to be a complete mess at the daycare. You know the whole crying because I don't want to leave him thing. Of course the rational side of me knows that everything will be fine. Noah is being well taken care of and my day is only as long as I make it. I could go over on lunch and as soon as the kids leave to go home. But it will be a change and as my husband has reminded me often, I do not do well with change. I guess we will have to wait and see. I will keep you posted.

First Haircut!

2008-11-10T22:43:00.002-05:00

This is a video of Noah's first haircut. He did really well sitting on his dad's lap. He might as well get used to it because with all of that hair he will be visiting the barber a lot. I don't think his dad will let me drag him to the salon. However, Noah's cousin Kathy did a great job giving him his first haircut. Thanks!!

Future American Idol - Maybe??

2008-11-10T18:12:00.001-05:00

In order to hear Noah singing you need to pause the music on the music box. All you have to do is click on the pause button. I am sure you can figure out where the pause button is. Enjoy!!

First Haircut!

2008-11-09T21:23:00.001-05:00

Halloween Pictures

2008-11-09T21:10:00.000-05:00

Cool Video

2008-11-06T21:20:00.003-05:00

In order to hear this video, and you really need to hear it for the video to make sense, then you need to pause the music on your left. Just go to the music box on the left and click on the pause switch and enjoy this really neat video.

Dear Noah

2008-11-05T15:47:00.004-05:00

Snoring never sounded so sweet! John is resting on the couch as I am typing this and usually when he snores I shout to him to stop or give him a little shove; not today though. Today I am enjoying seeing his red truck parked in the driveway and loving the fact that he is snoring on the couch, and I don't even mind that it is "my" couch that he is on.

What brings me to say all of this? Well for the past 2 months or so John has been working so hard on the Sandy Treadwell campaign. He has spent hours working tirelessly to bring Sandy to victory. Unfortunately Sandy was not elected, but I really don't want to focus on that in this blog entry. What I really want to focus on is the hard work that John put into the campaign. Hopefully this blog will be around when Noah is old enough to read so he can read the letter below.

Dear Noah,

Today is Wednesday, November 5th 2008 -the day after election day. What makes this day so important? Well for the last two months your dad has been working so hard on the Sandy Treadwell campaign. You don't know Sandy and right now that isn't even important. What is important is the fact that you have an amazing dad who is an incredibly hard worker. He devoted so much of his time and effort to help another person. He spent many hours working well into the evening to try to get the job done. There were a lot of times that I missed him, but deep down I knew that this was something your dad wanted to do and more importantly made a commitment to do.

Commitment is important to your dad. Noah your dad is very committed to things that he believes in. You will learn that about him and it will probably be something that you respect and love most about him. Your dad will always work hard to give you a good life and he will always stay committed to his family and our needs.

I am really excited about the election being over because now your dad is going to be home more. That means he can spend a lot of time with you and me. We are going to commit ourselves to making sure that you grow up in a loving environment focusing on bringing you up in a home that is committed to loving God and His son Jesus.

Hopefully by the time you can read this you know how important our commitment to faith and family is. We are going to continue to teach you the importance of staying in it when you win and when you don't because when you have made a commitment to something, you follow through until the job is done.

Love,

Mom

Two Weeks!

2008-11-03T22:17:00.002-05:00

Today I did something that I haven't done in months - woke up to an alarm clock. I have to admit that I didn't love it, but I might as well get used to it because in two weeks I will be back to work. Just the sound of that makes me nervous. No more lounging around in sweats and t-shirts. It is back to black dress pants and khakis and those dreaded pointy shoes that I have a love hate relationship with.

As I drove to work this morning (yes that's right I went to school today to sit in on parent teacher conferences)I thought about the last few months at home with Noah and I can't believe how quickly time flies. I guess that will be the nature of the game from now on. People are constantly reminding me how quickly children grow up and that before you know it they have lives of their own. I think I have some time, but I couldn't help think that almost three months ago I was in the hospital giving birth to him and now I am getting ready to go back to work.

When I was getting ready this morning I thought about how organized I am going to need to be to make it to work on time. I questioned whether I would really be able to handle all of this. Between getting myself ready and getting Noah ready and of course dealing with the dogs I am going to need to have a plan in place so I make it to work on time. I know it is possible, but it scares me a little to say the least.

Then there is the whole leaving Noah for the day guilt. I know he will be fine, but of course I question whether I am making the right choice. I guess this is the first of many difficult choices I will have to make as a parent.

So for the next two weeks Noah and I have decided to make the most of our time together. We are going to go shopping at our favorite stores because I need some new school clothes. Of course we will have to have a lunch date with someone, and we will have to hit Target and Walmart just because we like to hang out there when there isn't much to do around the house. Napping together is definitely on the list of things we need to do together and going for walks. I am sure the two weeks will fly, but before I know it Thanksgiving will be here and John and I have much to be thankful for.

Let the Countdown Begin!

2008-10-30T21:53:00.003-04:00

Most of you are aware that my husband loves politics! I think I can officially say that he lives, breathes, and eats politics. Johnny by nature is a pretty dedicated individual. He is the kind of man that works really hard and puts his heart and soul into everything that he does. Sometimes I refer to him as my little perfectionist.

John has been spending a lot of time working on the Sandy Treadwell campaign and he is doing a great job of working really hard to make it a success. So while he has been doing that Noah and I have been up to a few things of our own. Let me fill you in... (and say thanks to all of the people that made life a little easier while John has been working)

1. John's brother Mike and his wife Andree have been keeping us company. Thanks Andree for letting me borrow your husband for a few things. Mike relieves me of doggy duty. You all know how much fun Finn can be and I totally love it when Mike takes Finn and Toby for the entire day on Friday. All I can say is what a relief!

2. Have I ever told you about my Bible study girls? Well if I haven't let me just tell you that I love them. We meet every Wednesday night and it is something I totally look forward to. One of the things that I love is the atmosphere in the house. It is the kind of house that is warm and smells yummy. I have a favorite spot on the couch and Noah I settle into an evening of funness(I know that isn't word but it describes our Wednesday nights perfectly). We laugh and talk and eat and laugh and talk some more. It is exactly what I need mid week. Noah loves it too because there are three ladies waiting to give him lots of love. Thanks girls for making our Wednesdays awesome.

3. Then there is the occasional drop in from Tom and Nancy aka dad and mom (and of course gramp). We usually catch up on our favorite game shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.

4. Of course this blog wouldn't be complete without mentioning my best girl Amy. She calls Noah and I everyday at 2:20 pm for the daily school update, and I love it. We usually talk for about 45 minutes discussing everything that I did during the day and everything that happened at school. Noah and I look forward to that phone call.

5. A week just wouldn't be a week without some sort of shopping taking place; even if it is something as simple as cute little pj's for Noah or for that matter cute little pj's for me.

6. Lunch dates - one of my favorite things. Sometimes Noah and I meet up with our pals Suki and Ruby.

In our household Noah and I have started the countdown until election day. We can't wait to resume life the way it used to be. Johnny you have been missed and we can't wait to have you at home. Tuesday can't come quick enough for us. So blog friends if you happen to stop by our house on Wednesday (I don't recommend that you do) there will be duct tape covering the front door. Nobodies gettin in and nobodies gettin out!

Bring it On!

2008-10-28T19:11:00.003-04:00

If you know me well then you know that I don't have a really good relationship with winter. I am not a big fan of the snow. It is too cold and wet for me. Don't get me wrong I love to sip hot cocoa on cold nights with the fireplace burning snuggled up to my sweetie. But who I am I kidding I don't even own a fireplace. If I did have a fireplace that is what I would do though. When I saw the snow today it started to hit me that winter is around the corner so I have decided to just go with it (not that I have the power to stop it).

I will prepare Noah for this winter by buying him a cute hat with mittens to match and of course no winter would be complete without a pair of Ugg boots. That's right, Daddy your son will eventually have a pair of Ugg boots. So bring it on winter. Bring on your 6 inch snow storms and sub-zero weather. We can handle it!

Five Fabulous Reasons to Have a Kid!

2008-10-25T21:48:00.004-04:00

While I was shopping the other day with my favorite shopping buddy I came to the conclusion that it is pretty cool to have a child. It is great for obvious reasons like he is this precious little person and we have been given this awesome responsibility to love him and raise him to be a responsible caring adult (and of course a few other adjectives). Then there are those selfish reasons that make having a child great so I have created a list of them.

1. As I was strolling through the store I thought, "This bulky mode of transportation could really do some damage if somebody got in our way." I must admit that my impatience isn't appropriate, but some people are so annoying to shop around. How many times do I have to give my "get out of the way look" for them to simply just get out of the way? A few taps from the stroller at the back of the heals will light a fire under them. Now you be don't have to ram them, just a few bumps will do.

The stroller is great for storage too. When I didn't have a child I didn't carry around anything while I was shopping, but now I have a cup holder on this stroller. It makes my shopping experience much more delightful with a diet pepsi. Perfect for those thirsty moments while we are racing through the mall between feedings. I can also hang clothes on the stroller so that means I can get more in the dressing room. Having this stroller also means that I get a bigger dressing room at the Gap. Perfect!

2. Shopping with Noah is great for various reasons. First he always loves everything I try on. He doesn't look at me weird when the clothes don't fit exactly the way they should. He just grins. I wonder what he is really thinking. Second he is always up for anyplace I want to shop. He just goes with the flow.

3. I think people smile more when you have a baby with you. Babies are cute in general, but with Noah we get a lot of buzz because he has so much hair. It's nice to have people smile and grin when they see him coming.

4. People are generally more helpful when they see that you have a baby. They get the door for you and sometimes will even trade spots with you in a long shopping line.

5. You always have someone to talk to when you have a baby. True they can't use words to express themselves, but Noah finds his ways to communicate just fine when he needs something.

This list could go on and on so if you would like to give your reasons please feel free.

It's Official...Again!

2008-10-24T18:27:00.002-04:00

Here are few things that remind me that it is official...being a mom

1. Finding dried boogers on my shirt. I never really thought he would have boogers. I don't know why, everyone has them.

2. Spit up-He doesn't seem to care whether I have a new shirt on or where we are when he spits up.

3. Pooping in public. Noah doesn't seem to have the same dilemma I have. He will poop anywhere.

4. Crying spells! They are rare but when they hit it reminds me oh yes, that would be my son.

5. More laundry-Although his clothes are small those cute little dirty outfits fill up the hamper quickly. I wonder when I can start teaching him how to operate the washing machine? Hmm, I am not quit sure John has learned how to use it, but you didn't hear that from me.

Fun Times with the Family!

2008-10-23T16:51:00.000-04:00

Wish List

2008-10-21T17:21:00.004-04:00

I would lying if I said that I don't dream about Noah's future. I am a mom and I do dream for my child like most mothers do. However recent events in my life have led me to think about Noah's future differently. So here are a few things that I dream about for the new man in my life. Kinda personal, but it has been on my heart and I thought I would share it.

Number 1 and what I would consider to be the most important: I pray that he will have a relationship with God and his son Jesus. I think about my own upbringing and I wonder where my life would be without my relationship with Jesus. It's not about "religion"; it's more than that. It is about a relationship with Jesus and I pray that Noah is strong in his faith and desires to have a relationshop with Christ.

Number 2 on my wish list for Noah is that he has a strong desire to put his family first. I want him to realize the importance of family and value the relationships in his family. I am not only speaking of his relationship with me but rather his relationship with every member of his family as he grows.

Number 3 is one that I consider really important and that is to be kind. As a teacher this is one that I am constantly encouraging my students to do. Sometimes being kind is so difficult, even for myself but it is a necessity and one that I hope he embraces.

Number 4 for Noah would be that I hope he surrounds himself with good friends. I hope that he chooses loyal people, ones that he can count on when times are difficult.

For number 5 I would hope that Noah would take care of himself. What I mean by that is I hope he makes time to participate in his favorite hobby and relaxes when he needs to. Hey, even God rested on the seventh day. All work and no play makes Noah a not so fun person.

Number 6 is all about time. So much is said about time and I hope that Noah realizes that time is precious. Make the most of it is what they say. I have been learning that these past two months.

So I do dream for my son and these are just a few that I dream about. I guess what parent doesn't share these same dreams.

Splish, Splash or Not!

2008-10-17T22:38:00.004-04:00

After spending the evening with a friend I decided the best way to relax before Noah and I head off to bed would be for me to have a nice hot bath. Hot it was, relaxing it was not. For the most part it was my fault. I know how my youngest dog is going to behave when I take a bath so why did I torture myself by letting him hang around while I was taking a bath? Maybe it is because I felt bad for him because he spent the entire evening in his cage while I strolled around Saratoga. I was so excited to take this bath. It was the first bath I have had in months. So I put Noah in his favorite seat in arms reach from the tub and sank down in the warm soapy water.

Well who do think joined the tub party? Of course it was Finnegan. Finn harassed me the entire 25 minutes that I was in the tub. He started off by licking my arm and then made his way to my knee and then topped it off with a big discusting lick on my back. I am sure this is way too much information to share, but I had to share it with someone. Of course I shouted at Finn to stop and beat it, but he wasn't listening. I think he enjoyed torturing me because some how he knew there wasn't much I could do about it.

I was much smarter for the "after the bath lotion time." Finn was locked in his cage and then released afterwards. Maybe I will get that hot relaxing bath in 20 days. That is when the election is over, and I get my husband back. Hmm, we shall see!

More Pics!

2008-10-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

Brrr!!

2008-10-16T21:07:00.002-04:00

I am not quite sure why I feel compelled to ask John if we can flick that little switch on the thermostat to create some tropical weather in the house but I do. Every time we approach cold weather I start asking when we can turn the heat on. As most of you know I am not a fan of the cold weather. I have begged and pleaded with my husband numerous times to move south, but I don't see that happening until I am 65. So I have managed to deal with it as best as I can. However, now that we have a baby I think Johnny needs to break the "no heat will be turned on to November 1st rule" What do you think? I think the picture below speaks for itself.

2008-10-16T21:06:00.000-04:00

Back to Reality!

2008-10-13T21:11:00.002-04:00

On Friday afternoon John and I set out on a little road trip with the newest member of our family. I was a little nervous about our adventure because I wasn't sure how the little man would do strapped in his car seat for four and a half hours. However I am pleased to report that the trip went very well shortly after we stopped at Walmart for duct tape. Just kidding! Noah was great on the way out to Niagara Falls and even better on the way back. We traveled to Niagara falls for two occasions-cousin's wedding and a baby shower for me.

My aunts gave me a great shower this past Sunday at a yummy Italian restaurant. We enjoyed delicious pizza bread, salad, and chicken parm which is one of my favorites. We topped it off with a cake which my aunt made. I felt really special this weekend. I guess you could say that I felt pampered.

This weekend was nice for various reasons.

1. No Finnegan-I love you buddy, but it was so nice to not be licked every waking minute.

2. Baby shower-The food was great and it was so nice to sit down with the girls in the family and just chat without having to wait on our husbands.

3. Noah-This was the first time that the family got to meet Noah and I loved introducing him to them. He received lots of hugs and kisses this past weekend.

4. Hot Tub-Need I say more?

5. Wedding-My cousin got married this past weekend. It was a beautiful day and it was so much fun to fellowship with family that I only get to see a few times a year.

6. Aunt Linda-If you have never met my Aunt Linda well then you are missing out. She is a great aunt and just makes me laugh. Actually all of my mom's sisters are pretty awesome. Seeing them makes me happy and sad. Happy because I love chatting with them and sad because I wish we lived closer.

7. Food-I always eat so much when I visit out there.

8. Four and a half hour drive-Normally I dread this part of the trip, but not this time. I had my husband all to myself and that made the four and a half hour drive totally worth it. No politics and no work. However he did manage to sneak in some phone calls and read a few emails on his phone. He did that until I threatened to cancel the phone plan. He laughed. It was better than the alternative which was throwing the phone out the car window as he was driving 75 mph.

So the Hickok's are back to reality this week. John is off trying to make a difference in the political world, Finn has licked me about 25 times since he has been home, Toby is staring out the window waiting for John to arrive home (I keep reminding her not to get her hopes up.), I am staring at the pile of luggage, gifts, and laundry wondering if they will take care of themselves and Noah, well the reality for him hasn't changed at all.

Me and my little guy!

2008-10-13T21:08:00.001-04:00

Finnegan!

2008-10-09T22:21:00.001-04:00

Lately I have been thinking about Noah's first words and what they are going be. I recognize that Noah won't be talking for some time, but I can't help wonder what his goos and gahs will become. I am thinking his first words will relate to Finnegan. I say that because I am constantly scolding Finn for his wrong doings. In the course of a day Finnegan gets scolded between 15 and 20 times (no joke). Now as a teacher I know the powerful relationship between positive reinforcement and good behavior; however I just can't seem to transfer that practice when it comes to my dog. Here are some of the scolding remarks Noah is exposed to. I hope he doesn't think his name is Finn!

Knock if off Finn!

Stop licking his face Finn!

Leave Toby alone Finnegan!

Stop eating Toby's food Finn!

Beat it Finn!

Go to bed Finn!

Stop barking!

Stop licking me!

These are not your toys! (He is obsessed with Noah's duck slippers)

Finnegan, get out of the dishwasher!

Poor guy can't get a break. As I was shutting off the lights in the house last night and checking doors to make sure they were locked there stood Finn at front of the hallway waiting. He was waiting for me as I completed my nightly routine. In the midst of all the craziness and regardless of how many times I scold him Finn always remains loyal. I can't always say that about human beings, but it can be said about Finnegan. So I love him just the same despite his wild nature and his annoying habit of sneaking a lick every time he passes by. I consider him our work in progress. We have high hopes that one day he will settle down, but for now we will just keep working with him, and I will probably continue to scold him.

Gotta run, Finnegan just got into my makeup brushes. "Finnegan!"

Finn stole Noah's bib

2008-10-09T22:19:00.002-04:00

Finn brought the bib to his "space"

2008-10-09T21:24:00.003-04:00

What's New?

2008-10-06T17:54:00.005-04:00

I haven't blogged in awhile and I must admit that I miss it. To tell you the truth I really don't know what to blog about. So I have compiled a list of "things" that have been going on in the Hickok house. Here they are.

First, Johnny is working tirelessly on the Sandy Treadwell campaign. Noah and I miss him so much, mostly me though.

Noah is smiling so much now. He has such a cute face, and when he smiles he sticks out his little tongue. I'll try to get a picture of it.

We, meaning Noah and I, visited school last week. The office staff are always thrilled to see us. Well they are probably more excited to see Noah than me. On the way to any place that we go I always talk to Noah about making good impressions. He didn't exactly listen to me because when my principal held Noah he spit up all over his nicely ironed white shirt. Sorry Greg.

I was almost on the Today Show last week. They were asking mothers to call in with questions about their child. I actually got through after calling for an hour. They loved my question and called me back when the doctor was on the air, however they ran out of time. My claim to fame was short lived, but I will get there one day.

I had my 6 week doctor appointment. All is well with me. In case your wondering I had the opportunity to be examined by the Sugar Nazi. She informed me that I need to be tested for diabetes. I guess you can never be too cautious.

Shopping, shopping, shopping!!

We joined John's family for The Capital Region Buddy Walk. You can check out that story at http://nathandanielterry.blogspot.com/

If you are wondering about Finn, well he is still living with us at the moment. Many families were interested in Finn, but after spending some time with him they soon realized he wasn't the dog for them. Just kidding! We haven't tried to get rid of him lately.

Stay At Home!

2008-09-28T22:16:00.002-04:00

I am tired! Although Noah is a great baby this parenting stuff is tiring. I have so much respect for moms out there with more than one child. One question for you more than one child moms, how do you do it? Actually I have more than one question. Here they are...

Why did you do it?

Did you always know that you wanted more than one child?

Do you miss sleeping?

How do you lug all your children around?

Do you get to leave the house much?

I do have a desire to have more children, but for some reason I am exhausted this weekend and I only have one child. So what is my problem? Maybe it is because I have dragged Noah all over God's creation this week. Let me tell you where we have been.

Colonie Center-twice!
Hannaford
Walmart
Garden Gate Florist
Brenda's house
Acura dealership
Panera
Wit's End
Visited both grandparents- a few times
Fairways of Halfmoon
Venezias
Church
CVS
Doctor's Office
Boscovs
Marshalls
Hair and Body Essentials-but only for 2 seconds. They wouldn't wax my eyebrows because Noah was with me. Ask me how irritated I was.

So what is on the agenda for this week? Hopefully some stay at home time. We shall see!

More pictures!

2008-09-28T22:13:00.000-04:00

Just a few pictures!

2008-09-27T00:06:00.000-04:00

Cut the Cord!

2008-09-26T23:45:00.003-04:00

Tonight was a big night in the Hickok home. I say that with a little sadness and a few tears. I said a few tears. It is not like I am crying a river here. Tonight I made the decision to put Noah in his big boy bed. Actually he is in his crib but it seems like a bed. Currently I have the baby monitor strapped to my ear so I can hear the slighest sound coming from the nursery.

I don't know what made me decide to put him in his room tonight. Maybe I just feel that he can handle it. He has been practicing by taking naps in there. He loves his big boy bed or I have just convinced myself that he does. To help him with the transition I turned on his turtle night light. I think he will appreciate that.

Of course I turned on his mobile, but personally I don't think it plays long enough. He cried a little after it went off but he is doing pretty good now. I am keeping everything crossed that all goes well for him. Before bed I had a conversation with him about sleeping in on Saturdays. Hopefully he will be a good listener. I will keep you posted on the big boy bed transition. I can't believe I am cutting the cord already.

Big Day for Noah J!

2008-09-23T20:59:00.003-04:00

Noah had a big day today. He had a doctor's appointment. At today's visit we learned that Noah weighs 12.8 lbs and is 24 inches long. He is growing like a weed. I had to chuckle to myself when the nurse asked how many hours Noah sleeps during the day. She said, "Does he do like two, four hour naps during the day?" I glanced at John, smiled and responded with, "He sleeps like 18 hours a day." I was beginning to wonder if that is what babies do. The doctor reassured me that it was perfectly normal that Noah sleeps 18 hours a day. Personally I love to sleep so maybe he is going to follow in my footsteps in that department.

Noah was a good boy during his visit despite the fact that they had to give him a shot. It broke my heart when he let out a scream, but John stepped in and calmed him down. Overall it went very well. I am told there will be many visits and shots to follow. Poor Noah.

So long summer!

2008-09-22T00:08:00.002-04:00

Summer is officially over. Writing that makes me so sad. Some people look forward to the fall but not me. It just means that winter is around the corner. I love the summer and everything about it. I love the hot weather, swimming in the pool, my birthday, ice cream, hot dogs and the warm summer nights. Next summer I have a few things to look forward to...

-teaching Noah how to swim and the art of sunbathing and how to not disturb his mommy when she is sunbathing. No task is too great. I think I can teach him.

-teaching Noah how to lick an ice cream cone from my favorite ice cream place-Rainbow Delights.

-our birthdays!

-vacation. We are going somewhere next summer.

-shorts. I hope I can fit into some of my old shorts, not that I minded the maternity shorts because they were really comfy.

-a nice tan.

-a deck for the pool. Please build us one Johnny.

-flip flops-need I say more?

So I say farewell to summer and all of its fun memories. It's time for me to prepare myself and Noah for the dreadful winter months. Winter gets kinda lonely in our house because John is either snowmobiling or plowing snow. This winter he thinks he is going to strap the baby bjorn on and take our son snowmobiling. I don't think so, but I will keep you posted.

Stretched to the Limit!

2008-09-18T21:21:00.007-04:00

I am not sure why I watch Runway Moms on the Discovery Channel. It is pure torture, however when I am flicking through the channels I find myself drawn to this program. I guess my infatuation started when I was pregnant with Noah. I have a love hate relationship with this program. What I hate about Runway Moms is that I cannot find one single stretch mark on any of these beauties out of all the episodes that I have watched. I stare at the screen intensely looking for one purple mark but I haven't had any luck yet finding one. Now finding one on me is pretty easy. I feel like you could spot them a mile away even with layers of clothing on.

Yes, that's right I have been stretched to my limits and have the beautiful purple marks to prove it. At least they come in purple rather than lime green or school bus yellow. I joke about this now, but when I spot them in the mirror tomorrow I will cringe because I know that no matter how much belly butter I lather over my stomach it still will not erase my stretch marks. I have come to the realization that no matter what I rub regardless if it is cheap or expensive won't erase them. These stretch marks are mine to keep but on the flip side so is Noah.

Some things to get excited about

2008-09-12T22:56:00.003-04:00

These days I find myself getting excited about the strangest things. I have composed a list of them. If you are a mom I am sure at some point you have gotten excited about these things too. Come on stop rolling your eyes and be honest with yourself.

1. poopy diapers - hey it means he is healthy, right?

2. one outfit for the entire day - less laundry

3. big obnoxious burp - I'm not referring to Johnny

4. sleeping through the night - Noah did that 3 times this past week and I didn't even have to add Tylenol PM to his bottle (Relax, I am kidding).

5. empty bottle - one content baby

It's Official

2008-09-10T21:19:00.004-04:00

After three weeks with Noah it has finally started to sink in that I am a mom. It's weird because when you make the decision to finally take the plunge and start a family you are never really prepared or ready for what lies ahead. I think it's a good thing that God gives you 9 months.

I prepared myself or so I thought I did for parenthood. I cleaned or should I say scoured the house for weeks to make sure everything was in its place when he arrived. I boiled bottles and pacifiers. I washed onesies and pajamas. Nothing could prepare me though for the emotional change that I have gone through. I often find myself thinking this is my son and I am responsible for him and what an awesome responsibility that is. I have turned into this person that I never knew existed within me. For some reason I feel that I am the only one that can feed him correctly or comfort him when he is crying. Of course the realistic side of me knows that family and friends are capable and do a good job caring for Noah but deep inside there is a part of me that clings tightly to my new role and I like it and I don't want to let go. I guess my apron strings are just beginning to grow. I love being his mom.

It is amazing that in three short weeks I have developed a relationship like this with this little person. I have learned so much about him, little things like what his crying spells mean though they are rare. So I guess it's official then I am now a member of the mom club. I like my new role.

Shopping trip Part 1

2008-09-06T16:20:00.004-04:00

I am pleased to report that Noah had his first successful shopping outing. We drove to Lake George to hit the outlets. First stop on our adventure was of course none other than the Gap. That is probably my favorite place to shop and how can you not love their prices? I must say that I was a little disappointed that they didn't have very many little boy clothes. Noah and I felt a twinge of jealousy at the amount of pink and purple clothing for little girls that lined the walls. We managed to get over it and purchase some very much needed cute little outfits. I say much needed because Noah has a lot of newborn outfits that don't really fit him anymore and some that didn't fit him to begin with. He is big boy!

After spending time at the Gap we hit some other popular baby clothing stores. I think we were pretty successful with our shopping. After all of that shopping we were starving, actually I was starving for lunch. We went to one of my favorite Lake George restaurants, The Log Jam. It was a yummy treat thanks to my mother-in-law. She joined us on the trip too and provided much needed assistance. Because I am a new mom it takes me a while to figure out how to operate the stroller. Sometimes it takes two heads to figure these baby gadgets out. Overall we had a great day so great that I think I am going to venture out next week for part 2 of our shopping trip. I would give Noah an A+ for his baby behavior and give myself an A+ as well because he made it home in one piece, and I never forgot him once in any of the stores.

I have been up to...

2008-09-03T21:07:00.002-04:00

It has been a while since I have posted and I must say that I have a really good excuse. He is a 10 pounder and consumes most of my time, but that is okay with me. Let me share with you what I have been up to. The list is not in any special order.

1. Pumping, pumping, pumping. I have decided to pump besides using formula. It is really time consuming and it looks very unnatural, but it works for now.

2. Staring. I find myself staring at Noah trying to figure out who he will turn out to be. He does a lot of staring too, almost like he is thinking, "Who in the world is the women and why is she always looking at me?"

3. Laundry. I love folding his little clothes.

4. Researching. I am constantly online googling information about babies. I must say that I am getting pretty good at it.

5. Yelling. Finn has heard his name more than he needs to. I am beginning to feel bad for him because I am always shouting, "No Finn!" Anyone want a chocolate lab for a few months?

6. Looking in the mirror. I am always checking the progress of my stomach and wondering if it will ever be the same again. I am praying it will.

Almost 2 Weeks!

2008-08-29T21:19:00.004-04:00

I can't believe Noah will be 2 weeks old on Tuesday! Time is going by so fast already. We have learned so much in the past 2 weeks in the Hickok household including the dogs. I have compiled a list for you.

1. Newborns don't sleep through the night.

2. Licking the baby is unacceptable! (Finn has a hard time with this one.)

3. Sleeping is overrated.

4. Burping out loud is appropriate wherever you are.(That only pertains to Noah.)

5. Formula is really expensive.

6. Take cover when Noah is completely exposed. You never know what will come flying out. We have been learning the hard way.

7. If people are willing to help, accept their offers. (Thank you so much family and friends. You have made the transition to parenthood much easier with all of your help.)

2008-08-27T21:22:00.000-04:00

Move Over Brangelina Twins!

2008-08-23T11:33:00.003-04:00

I can finally write that Baby Hickok has arrived and it feels so good! Baby Hickok's name is Noah Johnathan Hickok and he arrived on Tuesday, August 19th at 7:45pm. After a long day at the hospital the doctor made the decision to do a c-section. Noah did not want to come out. So at 7:00 pm they wheeled me into the operating room and prepped me for the big arrival. I must say I was really scared but I couldn't have asked for better doctors. They were amazing and put my fears to rest. John was able to hold my hand through the whole process and assure me that everything was going to be fine. The anesthesiologist was great. He was like the commentator through the entire surgery. He let me know what the doctors were doing at all times. My mind was at ease when I heard Noah let out a scream for the first time. When they held him in front of my face it was the most amazing experience. Wow, what a miracle!

The doctors couldn't get over his size and John and I were pretty amazed too. Noah weighed in at 10lbs and 2 oz. He is kinda short like us measuring in at 19 1/2 inches long. The doctors and nurses are really surprised by the amount of hair he was born with. It is jet black and looks as though he already could use a haircut.

So far so good with his eating. That doesn't surprise me though because I fed him pretty good when he was in the womb. He eats every four hours and sleeps in between. I am hoping we continue with this pattern.

Toby and Finn are doing good. Finn was thrilled when we brought him home. I think he was more excited to see the baby than he was to see me.

I will be posting some pictures soon. Thank you for all of your prayers. This has been some week.