If I were ever on The Actor’s Studio, and James Lipton asked me, “What is the best sound in the world?” I would have to say this:

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Nate took this picture of me when I was in my 9th month of pregnancy with Noah.

I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I miss being pregnant. No, really. I keep randomly seeing pregnant women [and not so randomly, since my sister-in-law is pregnant], and it makes me really miss that time in my life. That magical time not too long ago, when I felt Noah kicking and rolling, tucked up inside, right under my heart. Well, he’s not physically there anymore, but he will always be there, tucked inside my heart.

I write about it as if it were long ago – some distant memory – instead of 6 months ago. It feels like so much time has gone by. We’ve been through major upheaval and heartache and adjustment. We’ve also had a lot of joy. There have been a lot of tears and a lot of laughter. Noah’s first five months have felt like years. But in a good way!

I almost can’t wait for number two. Almost.

We had a lovely Christmas holiday. Two days off work, two days of food, family, and love. I took a ton of pictures.

On Christmas Eve, we went over to my parents’ house for appetizers and games.

Those creamy shrimp on the top were really yummy! Stuffed mushrooms is one of my all-time favorites. And you can never go wrong with shrimp cocktail!

Mushrooms stuffed with crab and cheese. Delicious!

The boys eating the yummy finger foods.

Mom has some cute ornaments on her tree.

Mom’s mantle with some of the Christmas cards she received this year. There’s our card right in the middle.

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Later that night we headed to Midnight Mass. Noah was awake for almost the entire Mass. He was mesmerized by the candles. I only took a few pictures before Mass started.

The altar covered with candles and poinsettias.

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The next day we went to mom’s again to open presents. It was Christmas pandemonium over there. Kids and presents everywhere!!

Nate and Noah hanging out before presents.

Lily is so cute.

Stephen getting out his video camera for gift-opening time.

Shane and Jacob trying to relax in the middle of the mayhem.

Time to open presents. Ready, set, go!

Christmas Craziness!

Sarah and Shane’s 3 oldest children, all opening presents at the same time.

Elliott thinks, “What is going on here?”

Evey looking over Lily’s shoulder at one of the presents.

Isaac got a lot of Transformers and Iron Man action figures.

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Friday we went to Nate’s parents house for another round of gift-opening.

Mom and Dad opening one of their gifts.

Tyler loves his new guitar!

Nicholas and beer.

Tyler smiling for the camera.

Andrea posing with her spice set.

Alexis waiting patiently to open one of her presents.

Kristin with that pregnancy glow.

Kaitlyn looks confused. Should I chew the bows or what?

Nate helping Noah open one of his gifts.

Noah chewing on his gift from Aunt Amy and Uncle Stephen.

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Noah got a lot of nice things including warm jammies, a fleece outfit, toys and rattles to chew on, a Dr. Seuss book, a truck with sounds, a playmat with hanging toys to reach for, and the cutest giraffe that he can play on when he gets to be a bit older.

Here’s his new giraffe under our tree at home. Isn’t he adorable?

I hope you all had a beautiful and blessed Christmas. Have a happy and safe New Year!

This is for all the nursing supermoms out there. It’s so true!!! I thank God my Noah is a breastfeeding champ.

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How to Prepare for Nursing

Forget that old advice about “gently rubbing your nipples with a towel.” If you really want to feel ready to breastfeed, here’s what to do.

Day 1: Gently rub your nipples with sandpaper.

Day 2: At bedtime, set your alarm clock to go off every two hours. Each time it rings, spend 20 minutes sitting in a rocking chair with your nipples clamped in a pair of chip clips.

Day 3: Draw branching lines all over your chest with a blue-green marker, then stand in front of your bathroom mirror and sing “I Feel Pretty.”

Day 4: Open your already-crowded freezer and make room for five dozen plastic milk bags.

Day 5: Fit the hose of a vacuum cleaner over one breast and set on “medium pile.” Turn off vacuum when nipple is three inches long. Switch breasts.

Day 6: Obtain “DO NOT CROSS” tape from your local police station, then wrap firmly around your chest. When your spouse asks about it, say, “Get used to it.”

Day 7: Tape a water balloon to each breast and squeeze into a maternity bra. Repeatedly hook and unhook the nursing flaps with one hand while using the other to balance a sack of squirming puppies.

Day 8: Dine in the fanciest, snootiest restaurant you can afford, making sure to arrive with a big wet spot directly over each nipple.

Day 9: Record your mother proclaiming, “Just give the baby some cereal like God intended, and she’ll sleep right through the night.” Play in an endless loop at 1 A.M., 3 A.M., and 5 A.M.

Day 10: Slather your breasts with peanut butter, top with birdseed, and stand very still in your backyard.

Day 11: Go someplace public — a museum, a courthouse, the steps of your office building — and stuff a lifelike baby doll under your shirt. Use the doll’s arm to suddenly hike the shirt up past your collar bone. Lower shirt. Feign nonchalant smile.

Day 12: Suckle a wolverine.

Congratulations! You are now ready to nurse a baby. Maybe.

Melissa Balmain, a freelance writer living in Blacksburg, Virginia, is a two-baby nursing veteran.

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Since Noah is only 4-1/2 months old and won’t remember this Christmas, we decided to get him something practical instead of buying him a lot of cute toys. We ordered a high chair, and it came in the mail today. He loves sitting at the table with us instead of sitting on the floor in his bouncy seat.

Hello, blue eyes…

Speaking of toys, I really want to get him a Little People Noah’s Ark set once he’s old enough to play with it (he is going to end up with so much Noah’s Ark paraphernalia because of his namesake).

I have probably taken over 1000 pictures of Noah now. Tonight I came across the very first picture I ever took of my sweet baby. I was so tired that night, I don’t think I could’ve held up my camera. I took this first picture with my cell phone while he slept in the clear plastic bassinet next to me. My perfect, beautiful baby boy.

I can’t believe he was ever this tiny. I can’t believe how big he has grown. He’s almost five months old, about to have his first Christmas.

Noah, I’m so in love with you. I promise to love you forever.

I just found this picture on Nathan’s flickr. Nate took this while I was holding Noah in the hospital.