Happy Valentine's Day!

I Love Mommy (socks) from Grandma Noorman

Our Family :)

An Email From My Husband

Todd is always saying and writing sweet things to me. I wish that I had kept all of them. Anyhow, this is an email that I got from him today and had to share it. God has blessed me with a wonderful, sweet husband....

"I am so incredibly excited for you to bring our son into the world, Lisa.  To think that it could be as early as next week is unreal, and I still haven’t wrapped my mind around it.  I probably won’t until he’s actually here.  You will be an incredible mother, and although people tell you that all the time, I actually know you inside and out, and I can say it with 100% certainty.  There is no little boy alive who will be more blessed than Landon is to have you for a mommy.  (Grace already knows this. :))"

Ashley/Noorman Shower

Baby Shower - Take 2. After a couple of days and baby shower number 1 in my hometown, we drove over to the northern part of Michigan to Todd's hometown of Sparta (near Grand Rapids). Once again our family (namely my Sister-in-Law, Mother-in-Law, Grandma Ashley and Todd's aunts) outdid themselves and threw us a wonderful shower.

The love shown for our baby boy (who may be here sooner than we thought - post to come) and the generosity of those who attended, were more than Todd and I could have ever imagined. Family and friends of ours attended including one of Todd's college roommates and his wife and my suite-mate of three years (who I hadn't seen since my bridal shower 7 years ago!). We received our Boppy Newborn Lounger, picture frames, cute, tiny clothes and so much more!

My Sister-in-Law got us a scrapbook and had each table decorate different themed pages. All we have to do is add the pictures and text! PS - This is just a sampling - there are pages for his 1st Birthday to everyday to Family!

Erika (35 weeks pregnant) and I (21 weeks pregnant)

Chanter/Noorman Family Picture

Todd and I with Grandma Ashley

Landon is one loved baby boy!

Hand-made blanket from my Mother-in-Law

Wipp/Zill Baby Shower

Okay, so this post is only about three months late, but I thought I had better post about our first two showers now before our next two showers (which are next Tuesday and the following Monday). Yes, FOUR baby showers! We have already been blessed beyond belief by Michigan family and friends and now our Tennessee friends are throwing us baby showers. Amazing!

Our first shower was in my hometown of Royal Oak, Michigan on October 16 when we were a mere 21 weeks pregnant. My aunts and mom put it all together for us and it was way better than we ever could have imagined! Neither Todd nor I are 'theme' people so my poor aunt had to come up with something on her own and she did awesome! Todd and I are huge Detroit Tigers fans and so as you can see from the pictures the theme for the baby shower fit us perfectly!

We had family and friends from over two hours away attend as well as friends from my childhood. My best friend drove up from Ohio with her two boys, both under three, only to have to drive back to Ohio to be back for a dinner at her church that same evening. Family from both my mom's side as well as my dad's side were there.  People we hadn't seen since our wedding seven years ago were there. We were overwhelmed just by those in attendance so you can imagine what we felt like after opening all the gifts.

We received everything from our Chicco Travel System to cute, tiny clothes to homemade quilts. The pictures do not do the love and generosity of our family and friends justice. I have more pictures somewhere that I hope to find and post soon!

Each guest received a homemade bag (thanks to my Aunt Kathy filled with homemade goodies thanks to my Aunt Linda)

Landon's first Detroit Tigers gear on a cute coat rack from Uncle Ron

Todd and I still in shock from the love showed by our family and friends (this picture doesn't show everything)!

Our cake made by a childhood friend's mom (also a friend!). Everything is homemade and edible except the baby - The detail was crazy!

And last but not least, gifts for Grace from my aunts and cousins :)

*Post about the Ashley/Noorman shower to follow!

Home For the Holidays

This year was the first year since being married that it was just the three of us at Christmas. When we lived in Michigan we spent Christmas morning with my family and then drove over to the other side of the state to spend Christmas evening with Todd's family. Since living in Tennessee we have drove up to Michigan twice for Christmas and had my parents down once.

This year, however, with Landon coming in (a short) 7 weeks, and us needing to get things done at home (the nursery, for example) as well as at school (lesson plans for my sub when I am on maternity leave - 12 weeks off!), we decided that that we would stay home and have Christmas with just the three of us. It has been wonderful - not having to travel 10 hours in the car there and back and not having to entertain anyone, but it was also a little sad for me because this was the first Christmas that I did not spend with my mom. Luckily, Todd and I have kept busy so I haven't had time to think about it much AND knowing that next year she will be down here, I made it and was still able to have a Merry Christmas :)

Something else that was 'new' this year (or at least it hasn't happened since we have lived here), middle Tennessee had a white Christmas!

The first white Christmas in 17 years!

Here's to a Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

The last year for just three stockings hung by the chimney with care!

The real reason for the season - Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours!

*To check out our Christmas letter, please click the following link (and while you are at, check out our family's web page!) The Noorman Family's Christmas Letter 2010

2 Reasons for us to Celebrate on 11/29

 First, Todd and I celebrate our wedding anniversary - Happy 7th Anniversary to us! I love you, babe!

Happy Wedding Day - November 29, 2003

Second, we celebrate the birth of our baby girl - Happy 8th Birthday Gracie Ann!
*The past 8 years have gone by so fast and she is a dog, I can't even imagine what it is going to be like when it involves a human :)

Grace loves to have her picture taken!

29 Weeks

*How far along? 29 weeks

*How big is your baby? A squash (15.2 to 16.7 in, 2.5 to 3.8 lb)

*Total weight gain: 14 pounds

*Sex: It’s a BOY!

*Name: We know and you will find out in about 11 weeks :)

*Maternity clothes: Yes, but I am still able to fit in some of my regular clothes

*Stretch marks: Breasts - yes. Belly - no. I am using Burt’s Bees Mama Bee body oil every night

*Movement: All the time now!

*Sleep: I have been getting about 5-6 hours a night (and that might be pushing it!)

*Best moment this week: My mom getting to see her grandson for the first time!

*Food cravings: Grilled Cheese, French Fries, Chocolate Milk, Cherry 7 UP

*Labor signs: Let's hold off for about 11 more weeks!

*Belly button in or out: In
*What I miss: Being able to walk for more than 5 minutes without my legs feeling like they weigh a ton!

*What we’re looking forward to: Getting started on the nursery

Surprise for My Mom

My mom is here for Thanksgiving and tomorrow is our 28-week appointment so she will be coming with us. While she has seen pictures of her first grand baby, she has yet to see an ultrasound of him and not just of our baby either, but of any baby EVER. Seeing as how our pregnancy has been (thankfully) uneventful, there was no need to schedule an ultrasound, however, I wanted to surprise her so I asked for one. My doctor called yesterday and said we could have one! I am really excited that we are going to be able to share this experience with her....Details and pictures to follow :) Oh, and we are pretty excited that we get to our boy again, too!