Our Pea in the Pod is One Month!

Weight/Length:

I’m going to guess about 9 pounds and 21 and a half inches.We will know more on December 1st. This boy is growing like crazy. I swear he grows every time he sleeps. His eyes are looking more and more blue. Matt's are green and mine are brown, so I'm quite surprised/delighted. We will know more around 3 to 6 months, but they are definitely not darkening at this point.

Blue Eyed Boy!

Eating: Mommy’s milk

Bedtime/ Awake: We are still figuring this out. He always has a span at night where he is awake- usually from about 7 to 11. This is Matt’s shift. Matt is the night owl and I’m peppy Patty in the morning, so it works out well. Matt tends to our little fussy man at night and I get up when he wakes up, usually around 2 or 3 a.m. I feed him and hope that he will go back to sleep for another 3 hour span. On Friday night, I got 6 hours of sleep because I went to bed at 8 and he didn’t wake up until 2. Last night, he slept from 11:30 until 5:30! Both nights were GLORIOUS! He usually has a couple naps throughout the day. Sometimes they are long naps, sometimes they are cat naps. He’s been awake a lot more lately which has been so fun. 

Diapers: He is in newborn, but we bought some 1’s today. He is growing fast. The rolls are now on the legs and arms. I think we have quite the chunker on our hands.

Triple Chins- just like Dad!

Clothes: He is in newborn mostly. We do some 0-3 months. Just depends on the clothes. It seems like every brand runs differently.

Favorites:  SNUGGLING, pacifier, white noise, walks in the stroller, car rides, being held, “jumping” in our laps, tummy time and baths.

Plucky and Noah- hoping this device will help him not lose the paci so much!

Dislikes: losing his pacifier, if we try to cut him off with his food- he loves to EAT.

Tricks: Noah rolled over at 2 weeks. It was incredible. He has figured out his head is the heaviest part of his body, so he uses it to push himself over. He has been able to hold his head up since he was born, but he now can hold it up for really long periods of time and look around. He is really strong. I’m one proud MAMA.

Mommy and Noah Stare Down! I LOVE this Boy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble- that's exactly what we did this Thanksgiving. Let me start by saying this- boy- do we have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Noah is the most wonderful blessing. We could not be more thankful for a healthy, super cute little boy! This is a Thanksgiving I will never forget. It was full of fun, family, friends, and football.

The Clems and Boysens decided to maintain the turkey trot tradition despite having a 4 week old and ventured down to Auditorium Shores to master the Turkey Trot. I've always run it, but this year decided that I would walk- exercise has not been a priority since Noah was born. Matt, Mom, Noah, and I did the mile walk while Dad and Daniel did the five mile run. There was over 21,000 people there. We had a blast. At the end of the race, I ran into two of my besties who ran it in 53 minutes (studs)! It was wonderful to see them. Noah has so many amazing aunts!

After the race, the whole family headed to Fredericksburg to enjoy some delicious turkey with my grandparents and Tony. My grandma cooked the turkey upside down this year and it was so moist. I think all the family members went back for second helpings. My favorite was the pumpkin pie. Pumpkin flavored everything is the best at Thanksgiving and Christmas time.

Super Cute Outfit Thanks to Nana and Pop Pop

We then watched UT defeat the AGGIES! It was glorious and an incredible game- action packed to say the least. We are glad this rivalry ended the way it began. A very memorable Thanksgiving!

Peace, Love, and Turkey Butts,

Natalie :)

Noah, You are Loved

Over these past couple weeks, kindness has been poured out over my family-Noah has been showered with love. With the wonderful cards, encouraging emails, gifts, letters, phone calls, delicious meals and baked goods, we are floored by the amazing generosity of our community, friends, and family. Noah Walker- you sir are LOVED!

Here are some pictures of those who have stopped by to visit our nugget.




My Co-Worker and Friend Jaclyn who came to see Noah at the hospital the day after he was born.

Noah and Great Grandma Pat on the Saturday the hospital sent us home!

Great Grandpa Dave and Noah being boys when Noah was only 3 days old.

Best Friend from high school, Whitney, who stopped by last night- brought pumpkin bread and enjoyed some sentimental moments with us :)

The Baby Whisperer Dan- Noah fell asleep in his arms last night when Dan and Whitney came to visit! Dan always told me he didn't like babies, but Dan, you have a gift! Noah thought you were great.

Nana- Matt's mom who came to town these past nine days with Pop Pop (Matt's step dad) to hang out with Noah!

Matt's brother Aaron who came all the way from Radford for a quick weekend visit!

The Clems love visitors and can't wait to introduce our blessing to more friends and family. Thank you all for your prayers, love, and support. We feel beyond blessed to have such a healthy, strong little boy.

Love, Natalie :)

Noah Walker's Two Week Update

On Thursday, Matt and I headed to the pedi for Noah's two week check up. Boy, was it an adventure! He now weighs 8 pounds 3 ounces. I asked the nurse if his weight gain was normal and she replied that she was very impressed with how he was doing. The pediatrician hopes when babies come for the two week check up that they are at the birth weight (which would have been 6 pounds 15 ounces for Noah). Oh no, Noah is eating us out of house. He has gained over a pound since returning home from the hospital. Noah has also grown half an inch-he now measures at 21 inches. This puts Noah in the 75th percentile in height and 50th percentile in weight. Matt and I are proud of our growing boy!

To top this visit off, Noah decided to provide some humor for the office. As the nurse was carrying him (naked) from the scale back to the check up room, we hear one of the other nurses tell our nurse that she was too trusting of a naked boy. Yes, she was too trusting. Noah proceeded within two second of her saying that to pee all over her scrubs, all over the floor, and all over the check up room. I then casually say to the nurse, I'm sure this happens to you all the time. She looked at me with a huge smile and said that she actually had never been so soaked, usually, it's just a couple drops.  Nice job Noah. Way to leave a good second impression.  I think the nurse learned her lesson; I doubt she will ever be trusting of Noah when we go back.

Noah's Story- Recap of Our Past Week with Our Little Nugget

Noah is ten days old, and I can hardly believe it. He is growing a lot already and eats like a champ. He continues to amaze us by his personality that he is already displaying. He's quite the charmer if I do say so myself. Yes- once again- completely biased. Noah is a wonderful gift from God. We continue to count our blessings and praise Him for His faithfulness in providing such a healthy little boy.

Anyways, here is what our last week looked like. Matt and I stayed with my parents until Thursday. They were so much help- we are beyond blessed. During the graveyard shift, my mom and I watched probably 20 movies- E.T., Braveheart, Poseidon Adventure, Cool Runnings, you name it- we watched it. It was a wonderful stay at the "Boysen Hotel" and precious time with my family that I will never forget. My mom's motto was that her and my dad would take care of Matt and me, so that we could take care of Noah. They did exactly that. Since coming home to our apartment, Noah has been more fussy. I think that he was still tired from the birth and all the excitement of blood work, circumcision, and hospital time that he was all tuckered out the first five days of his life. Now, at day 10, he isn't as tired. He has developed this habit of wanting to be awake from 10 pm to 2 am every night. This makes it hard on the parents because of course by the end of the day, we are ready to sleep during that shift. We are working on trying to keep him more awake during around 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. so by the time that graveyard shift comes around, he's exhausted. It is a work in progress.Matt has been nothing but helpful. Last night, I was exhausted.  To be honest, I looked like a hot mess. Despite having class and tests and quizzes, Matt took the graveyard shift. Boy, was I thankful! I slept from 7:30 p.m. until 2:30 a.m- this is a lot of sleep for a woman with a new baby. It was blissful and wonderful. I felt like a new woman. Matt continues to change more diapers, wash all the dishes/bottles, and take care of me. I've decided that helpful husbands are key to making it work with a brand new baby.

Anyways, on Friday, Luke and Ashley drove to Austin to come spend time with Noah. It was so much fun, Luke even got to experience the joys of having a boy and changing a diaper mid pee. Noah has perfect timing and loves to pee while he is being changed- Luke thought this was hilarious. We can't wait until their little boy arrives- I'm sure he will be just as good at aiming as Noah. :) I loved getting to spend time with Ashley and discuss all the details of pregnancy and birth that nobody tells you. In February, Matt and I plan on being at the birth of their boy. I'm counting down the days until Noah's brother from another mother arrives. Click here to see her blog. http://lukeandashley.wordpress.com/ They left on Saturday morning to head to Waco for homecoming. It was a short visit, but we loved getting to see them.

On Saturday morning, my dad and Matt gave Noah his first bath. It was a successful wash with a very unhappy baby. He does not like to be wet or cold. Changing his diaper is probably his worse enemy, yet he hates when his diaper is wet, so he is fussy either way. Ironic- yes, I think so. On Saturday night, my best accounting buddy and her boyfriend came into town and got to meet our little nugget. Noah was an angel when they were here. He slept most of the time and even let us enjoy a delicious dinner at a new Mexican restaurant called Hugo's. Sunday, Matt and I hung out with Noah at our apartment and then headed over to my parents for dinner with my Aunt Angie. It has been wonderful to introduce Noah to all our friends and family and we cannot wait to continue to do so. Speaking of, tomorrow, Matt's mom and step dad arrive! Noah is very excited to meet his Nana and Pop Pop. We have another exciting week ahead. I will keep you posted!

 Isn't he a cutie patootie?! :) I was bad about taking pictures with Noah and our guests. I will get better!

Day 6- Loving our Little Boy!

Mom, please hold the flash! :) Noah and the cutest squint!

"Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys."

I love this song. We sung it at camp for years, and it brings back some of my greatest summer childhood memories. I guess I should confess that I actually want Noah to be a cowboy. I love the boots, the two-stepping, the southern manners, and the cowboy heart.  If I could change the lyrics, I'd say LET your babies grow up to be cowboys!

We have a baby picture that I have the exact look in the exact position. Noah is not TOTALLY a mini-Matt. I'm in there too!

Noah is quite the cowboy in my heart already. I know that all mom's are obsessed with their babies, so yes, I am biased but let me tell you why we are loving our little boy. Yesterday, Matt and I took Noah to the first pedi check up. This is the initial check up where they re-weigh him and make sure everything is going well since the hospital dismissal. First of all, Noah GAINED weight. Yes, when he was born he weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and lost some the first couple days while still in the hospital (which is totally normal, he was used to the placenta). When we went back, Noah weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and actually measured at 20 and a half inches. The nurse thought he probably was a squirm bug when they tried initially at the hospital to measure him, so I actually delievered a 20 and a half inch baby rather than a 20 inch baby! Who knew? Most babies don't gain weight initially, but Noah is an EATER. We constantly tell him to "slow down chief" because he acts like every meal is his last- which usually results in hiccups. These hiccups are precious. He doesn't get frustrated by them which is good, he just waits them out and keeps on feeding until they pass.

Favorite sleeping spot. I recommend one of these for all those moms to be! It's been perfect when I've napped on the couch!

They also told us Noah's heart, lungs, eyes, back, belly, and total body were looking so good. I asked her if how he had behaved these past 5 days were any indication of how our baby would be. She said that usually it was a good sign, but sometimes the babies can flip flop and become more difficult. So far, he only fusses when he is being changed, wakes up starving, and needs to burp. We are learning his different cries and figuring out his routine of choice. Mom and Dad are doing great. I'm sleeping while he sleeps and trying to nap when possible. I have a lot of energy despite the lack of sound sleep, but I also have a mom, dad, and Matt who continue to make my life easy by cooking, laundry, changing diapers, encouraging, andaffirming me.

More to come! :)

Love, Natalie and Noah

Noah's Halloween

BOO! Happy Halloween!

Matt and I had a wonderful Halloween at my parents. Matt and I woke up and watched Tarzan with Grammy Tammy and Noah-it had been years since we had seen it. We all love the part with the elephant that won't get into the water and so cutely says "Are you sure this water is sanitary? Looks pretty questionable to me?"

After we hung out for a while, Matt headed to class and my parents and I took Noah on his first walk around the block. He LOVED it. He's a great car rider and seems to enjoy motion so I wasn't surprised. He soaked up some sun and slept the whole way. Afterwards my family and I headed to Baby R US. We had a couple things to pick up that had been on back order, and I was going slightly stir crazy, so it was great timing. Noah did perfect. He slept the entire field trip until the very end when he got hungry. Mom and I headed to the car to feed him and the fussiness was fixed. He's the most patient, sweet baby. He is constantly melting my heart- along with Matt's.

After the outing, Matt came back from class. We had received some wonderful presents at the apartment, so he brought them to share at my parents. My firm sent us a precious cookie bouquet, Matt's aunt sent some cutie patootie clothing, and other family members sent the most thoughtful cards. To put it lightly, Matt and I have felt so loved. We feel like we are surrounded by this thoughtful bubble of friends and family who continue to go above and beyond to support, love, and pray for us.

Matt built Noah's new swing and we left him to enjoy that most of the night. Swings are a must for a new born baby, something I think that everybody should spend time to invest in. Swings provide great entertainment and rock the baby to sleep.

Noah is sleeping great. He needs fed about every 4 hours during the night. He's very patient and not fussy. We have had two hilarious experiences of getting peed on. It always provides laughter, and we are learning how to properly change a diaper without Noah getting the squirts. I'd say for day 4-we are doing just great.

Enjoy these pictures. Let's just say we have taken over 120 pictures in the past four days- all of Noah plus friends. We might be a little more than obsessed. He's just too wonderful and the Clem family now feels complete.