Happy Easter from the Hickoks!

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

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!

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!

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...

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

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

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...