The Vanderwalls: 1 Year!!!

Noah Baby,

Happy birthday, bud! It is amazing to think that you have already been apart of our family for a whole year. This has been the richest, fullest year of our lives and we are so thankful for the blessing that is you!

We've had another busy month at our house with many activities, not the least of which were all your birthday festivities. We started celebrating, (if Mommy has anything to say about it, birthdays at our house last for as many days as possible), your birthday on Saturday. During the day we went shopping with Auntie Kendra and Auntie Kristi to get your presents and all the groceries we needed for your party. After our little outing, we came home and made your robot cake, cupcakes, and put some other snacks and drinks together. We got all set up for the party. That evening, we had some family over to have a little celebration. Great Grandpa and Grandma Gibson came, and Grandpa and Grandma Larson with Uncle Josh and Uncle Aaron, and Grandpa and Grandma Little with Auntie Kristi, and Auntie Kendra and Uncle Nathan. Great Grandma Little was planning to come, but she wasn't feeling well.

Your party was a lot of fun and very laid back. We had cake and ice cream and then you opened all your gifts. You were spoiled!!! (As if this is anything new)! Auntie Kristi gave you 2 new onesies and a pair of shorts. Auntie Kendra and Uncle Nathan gave you a box of megablocks, (AKA legos). Grandma and Grandpa Larson gave you a little bouncy bike complete with multiple annoying sounds :) (Luckily for us, there are lots of sounds so we don't have to hear the same thing over and over again. Even better, there just so happens to be an off switch)! You do love to ride this little bike. From all the "Greats" and Grandpa and Grandma Little you got a high chair. It is a portable one this sits on a chair. It is perfect and Mommy and Daddy are so thankful to have it! Mommy and Daddy gave you a slide for the backyard, some toy cars, and the "Walkness Monster," a toy you push while you walk. If you feed it balls it will spit them back out. Its pretty fun. I think the rest of your family has enjoyed all your new toys just as much, if not more, than you!

Looks like you really enjoy your slide ;) (You don't like the feel of grass)

After you opened your gifts we looked at a bunch of videos and pictures from your first year. It was sort of bittersweet, but also a lot of fun to reminisce.

On your actual birthday, (yesterday), we had a family day. We did a little shopping for our newly weed-free, seeded backyard and went out for lunch at Red Robin. At lunch, the Red Robin employees sang to you and brought you some ice cream, which you loved! In the afternoon, we did some work in the yard and then Auntie Kristi and Grandma and Grandpa came over for awhile in the evening. It was a very fun, very relaxing day.

Out on the town on your birthday

Sporting your new clothes from Auntie Kristi

Eating your birthday ice cream at Red Robin

Amongst other exciting events from the past month were your first trip to the ER and getting your 1 year pictures done.

Friday night Daddy and I noticed you were running a fever. You had been feeling kind of warm for a couple days, but we hadn't had a thermometer read anything higher than 99. Not only so, you didn't have any other symptoms, not even fussiness, so we didn't figure there was much need for concern. However, that evening when we took your temperature, it read 104. Unfortunately, it was after hours for all doctors and quick care so we gave you a tepid bath and some tylenol to see if we could get it to come down. It only dropped by 1 degree. So, we called the on-call doctor and he proceeded to tell us that we needed to take you to the ER. An hour and half and $200 later, we found out you had some sort of virus, even though you were showing no signs other than your fever. The doctor told us to continue on a tylenol and ibuprofen regimen til your fever broke. We're so thankful that this took less than 24 hours and that nothing else was seriously wrong.

On a lighter, happier note, we took you to JC Penney again this month for your 1 year pictures. As always, they turned out great! Mommy is trying to decide which ones are her favorite so she can get some printed and hung up.

It has been so fun to celebrate you over the past few days. Mommy and Daddy's prayer for your next year, and always, is this: that you would come to a saving knowledge of God's grace at an early age, that you would adore and follow Him all the days of your life, and that you would be a light for Him in this dark world. We love you more than anything, little buddy! We are so proud you are our son!