Our Trip

We just got back from Botswana. It is a country in the Southern part of Africa. We were there for Nicole's brother's wedding. His wife is from there. We had a great time and Noel cut three teeth while we were there. In case you are wondering there is NO malaria in Botswana. We also spent a few days in Cape Town at Thaala's dad's house. We enjoyed our time immensly.

We had a 15 hour layover in Spain, so we went out to tour Madrid. This is a Cathedral we happened upon.

We had another stop in Joberg (as the locals call it) for wedding fittings and a little modeling!

We tried on the clothes at Sephale's (Thaala's sister) house in Joberg. She lives in a gorgeous house!

This is one of the places we ate called Primi's. The food was excellent everywhere we ate.This is Grandma holding Noel in the place we stayed. The place we stayed was a golf resort in Gabarone. It was an extravagant place to stay and we loved it. Our place was called a Villa. It had 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths! They also provided a crib for Noel!

We went on a game drive and it got very cold. Noel is keeping her daddy warm! We had a great time and saw lots of animals. This place does not have carivores, but we saw a momma and baby rhino, elephants, wart hogs and many other animals.

The elephants came right up to the truck we were in. The elephants have trainers with them that lead them to the trucks.

On Sunday August 12th we met for a time of sharing. We were given traditional dress to wear for this occasion. This is my whole family dressed in the traditional dress after the time of sharing was complete

These are just a few pictures and few things we did. We will post more online soon. The total trip lasted 2 weeks, so we have alot to go through to put on the computer. If you want to hear more give us an email.

Hello Again!

This summer we have been busy! Noel met Aunt Betty for the first time, went swimming for the first time, and went to New York! We found out that Noel is a great traveler! Bobby went on a mission trip to Guadalajara, Mexico and had a great time!

Noel got to meet her Great Great Aunt Betty this summer!

This is Noel's First time in the pool! She loved the water!!

Noel and her Uncle Jesse took a nap in Battery Park.

We had such a great time hangin' out in New York!

Noel's Aunt Thaala and Uncle Jesse love her.

Uncle Jesse and Aunt Thaala want to look just like their "Marshmallow" niece!

Here is the most recent picture of Noel.
Yesterday she went to the zoo with her grandparents. They all had a great time.

Family Pictures

Last Saturday we went to get our first family pictures. Below is the link to look at them. In the blank for Customer Name enter Bobby Mercer.

https://www.smilesbywire.com/home.asp?AC=LTP68401003006JCP

Noel's First Play Day

After a long day of playing, It was time for a nap.

All the ladies better watch out, Eli is starting young.

Noel's First Coloring Project

Noel Helping with PowerPoint at Church

Noel with Grandma Loper

Noel at Christmas

Uncle Jesse & (soon-to-be) Aunt Thaala

Grandma "Mema" Mercer

Grandpa "Papa" Mercer

Great Grandpa Johnson

Great Grandma Johnson

Great Grandma Loper

Hospital Photos

Click Here to view the photos that were taken at the hospital by the staff.

The password is: mercer

Noel Has Arrived

Noel was born on Thursday, December 14th at 6:53 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and was 19 inches long. I will post photos within the next couple of days.

One More Week

We went to the doctor on Wednesday and the doctor said their had been little change since the previous week. So we scheduled to have Nicole induced on Thursday, December 14, which is one day after her due date. So unless something happens between now and then that is when we will be at the hospital. We will keep you posted on any changes.

Family Baby Shower

This past Saturday we had a baby shower at Sharon's new house. Thank you Sharon, Randi, Kandi, and Valeri for hosting the baby shower and thanks to everyone that came. We are so blessed to have such a great family.

Trinity Baby Shower

This past Sunday we had a baby shower at our church. Thank you Emily, Caroline and Kela for hosting the shower and thank you to everyone that attended. We are truely blessed to have such a great family, both by blood and from church. Below are some pictures from the shower.

This is Nicole at 31 weeks with her dad.

The Amazing Skidboot

Baby Shower

This past Sunday David & Janis and Ronda held a baby shower for baby Noel. Below are some pictures from the shower. Thank you to everyone that came and thank you David & Janis and Ronda for hosting the shower.

Baby Registries

Yesterday Nicole & I spent the day registering at Target, Babies "R" Us & Wal-Mart for baby Noel. I know that she will be excited, as much as Nicole & I are, about the gifts that she will receive, but more important than the gifts are the family and friends that will be there to love and support her.

We have also been working on Noel's room. I have been painting the woodwork and ceiling and changing out the electrical outlets and installing mirrored sliding doors for the closet. Nicole has been working on the bumper for the baby bed that Grandma & Grandpa Johnson purchased for all the great grandkids to use.

Week 21

Well baby Noel is continuing to grow. She is almost 1 pound. Nicole has felt her moving some. It seems like she is going to be a night owl because Nicole says she feels her moving around 9:00 p.m. I sure hope that she doesn't like to stay up too late when she arrives. I guess I will soon be on her schedule.

Halfway Point

Nicole went to the doctor yesterday and he said everything looked fine from the ultasound and the baby had a strong heartbeat. She will go back to the doctor in a month for another check-up.

It's a Girl!!!

We went to the doctor yesterday and had an ultrasound done and found out we are going to have a girl. Nicole is 19 weeks and is feeling much better.

You can see the baby yawning in this picture.

Week 12

Yesterday we went to the doctor and they did a Doppler on the baby. No there were not any thunderstorms in Nicole's stomach, but we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat. Nicole will go back to the doctor in four weeks for a check-up.

On babycenter.com it says our baby hit the 2-inch mark (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. The baby's face is beginning to look more human. The eyes, which started out on the sides of her head, have moved closer together on the baby's face, and the ears are near their final positions on the sides of the head.

Week 8

Nicole has continued to have morning sickness. I'm not sure why they call it morning sickness because it seems to go on throughout the day. Well, towards the end of the week she seems to be doing better. I think part of it is she is just getting used to being sick. I am ready for her to start feeling better and I know that she is ready to be done with the morning sickness. On babycenter.com it says our baby's fingers and toes are growing longer, the baby's eyelids practically cover his/her eyes, and his/her embryonic tail is just about gone. Of course, it's still too early to tell whether our kidney-bean sized baby is a boy or a girl because the telltale parts aren't visible yet. We are excited about the baby coming and can't wait to find out the sex of our first child.