Pics before they left

Here are some pictures from the airport before Levi left

Levi, Kim and Noah

Chad and Levi

Chad, Shelley and Noah

Some of the team getting ready

Silly Stork

For some reason, Noah thinks this stork that my mom keeps at their house is really funny. We tried to get him on video laughing as hard as he did the first time, but he was a little shy with the camera. I'm sure every parent thinks their own baby laughing is the funniest thing. You can also really hear how congested Noah is right now! We were in the process of putting on pajamas, that is why he is shirtless.

Compassion International

Compassion International is a program that exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. Levi and I have been sponsoring a child for the last 2 1/2 years. One of the really fun things about going to Guatemala is that you can meet your kiddo and hang out with them for a day. We got to do this last time we were there. Since then, our kid has graduated from the program and we got a new kid. Pedro is 11 years old and I can't wait to hear how their meeting was. They got to go to the zoo in Guatemala City and have lunch. For the last year we have been writing letters back and forth and getting to know him, so it was such an amazing opportunity that Levi finally got to meet him. That's why we love Compassion, because you actually get to SEE where you money is going and know that it is a legit company. Even if you don't get to meet your kid, you get letters from them regularly. And it's great to here how their whole family really benefits from the program and how drastically their lives are changed. I can't wait to see pictures and hear about their time together.

You should definitely check out the website if you are ever interested in sponsoring a child: http://www.compassion.com/. You can choose from many different countries and you can also choose the age/gender of a child. It has really been a very neat experience.

Levi left for Guatemala yesterday, and it was bittersweet. I know he is going to have an amazing time while he is there, but it will be so hard to be apart for 11 days without at least talking to him. Last time we got to go together and it was such a great experience. I'm so proud of him for still going even though I could not go this time. Even though I know he will miss me :) I think leaving for that long has a whole different feeling now with Noah being here. Right now, Noah is learning new things each day. SO, I told him I would update this blog regularly with pics and what is going on in our lives just in case he comes into contact with a computer and the internet. For the next 10 days, this blog will be dedicated to that purpose. So, for outside readers, it might be a little boring!

Please keep Levi and the Guatemala team in your thoughts and prayers. They will be working at the local orphanage, working at a high risk pregnancy center and women's shelter, and going to a local village.

Also, HAPPY 6 MONTH OLD BIRTHDAY NOAH!!!!

A busy few weeks

Wow! The last couple of weeks seem to have been really busy for us. I feel like the fall season really flies by, especially once all the holidays begin. I'm really trying to slow down and enjoy Noah, I know he is growing so fast and I want to cherish these months. He does new things each day, and it's so much fun. Right now he is really into blowing rasberries and sucking on his own tongue! Here are some pics of our last couple of weeks:

5 months old! morning ride in the jogging stoller
Monster Mile 2008

First Halloween

Noah and Hudson

Noah with Granna

Relaxing with Dad at Lake Whitney

CiCi introducing peas (we are still working on this one!)
cooking out at the lake

Some girl time

This weekend, I got together with some of my sorority sisters from college. Jill's parents are vacationing in France, so they generously let us stay at their beautiful house in New Braunfels. Due to feeding reasons (not having enough milk to leave him home), Noah got to crash the girl party. But, I think they had a fun time with him. Since 3 of them live in Houston, they have only been able to meet him once. It was so much fun just talking, relaxing, shopping and catching up. It was also wonderful to come home to a perfectly clean house (thank you Levi!). Eating lunch in Gruene

Noah hitting up the San Marcos Outlets

Lovers of Ice Wine!

Clairebones

Miss Claire Elizabeth Gambrell was born September 28. She weighed 7 lbs and is so precious. Nicole, Ryan and Reid are all doing great. Claire's nickname is Clairebones because when Nicole was pregnant with her, Reid would refer to her as Clairebones! Here are some pictures of that sweet little girl.