Boys Just Wanna Have Fun

Noah has gone greener. He's been exclusively wearing cloth diapers for several weeks now. I really like them. They are so much healthier. We got them at this fun store called Cotton Babies. (One of my friends, Shelly, wrote a great blog about them. Why repeat what she already said??? Click here to read what she wrote.)

Shelly and I decided on Wednesday, we'd load all the babies in her car and go to Cotton Babies. (It's a little bit of a drive.) When I told Greg we were all going in one car, he said (and I quote) "Can you even put 4 car seats in a mini van?" Anyway, we kept looking into the back and laughing... Not the best picture, but here they are.

Noah has started saying "Mmmmm!" when he eats now. It's quite funny.

If he's not supposed to do something, he says "No!" and then does it anyway. (Is that progress or just disobedience?) He also tells the cats, Truman and Jinx, "No!" if they are playing with one of his toys. My mom and dad were watching him today and said Noah got close to the remote and said "No, no, no!"

He's started to climb... He was following me through the house this week and got sidetracked at the piano. I could hear him plunking at the keys. Then all of the sudden, he was crying. All of my Mother's Day cards, which had been on the ledge of the piano, were on the floor. He had climbed up on the bench, pulled them down, and then fell off. Later that day, he climbed up on the fireplace. My dad said Noah started to climb up on the fireplace today and my dad said "Ah, ah, ah" and Noah put his foot. (He minds sometimes...)

Noah likes to drag out as many toys as he possibly can. This week, I was making dinner and he pulled out just about everything in the kitchen he's allowed to play with. I had just touched raw chicken with one had and was headed to the sink to wash my hands. I stepped on a spatula and one foot went sliding across the floor. (Sometimes I fall down.) I nearly did the splits. I hurt my back and hip and got a huge bruise on my knee. Noah, of course, thought it was funny. I was trying to keep my salmonella hand away from him while he was hanging on me.

As mentioned, MiMi and Poppy are here for a visit. They took Noah for a walk this afternoon while I was gone. (It was a wee bit chilly today...) MiMi put Noah's infant foot rattles on his feet instead of shoes. She thought they were funny. They are a bit too small now. He has to hold the gumballs from the Sweet Gun trees.

Noah and Froggy driving Poppy's truck.

Post Party Ride Home

We stopped at Babies 'R' Us on the way home from dinner. Noah had to take his cup with him. As soon as we got him in the stroller and buckled in, he put his cup in the cup holder. Smart boy!

Jinx even enjoyed the balloon.

A Mother Is...

I never really knew what a mother was until I became one. A mother is compassionate and nurturing, you know, the things you think of when you think of your own mother. But then, there are the things no one tells you about becoming a mother...

You become a pack mule. A mother can carry 864 things and her baby without breaking a sweat. She can even open a door if she needs to. If she's really talented, she can also juggle a Starbucks. It's a really good thing I'm not one of those women who has a straight figure (you know, no hips). Noah would surely end up on the ground. He's learned to balance and hang on for dear life. (I did always envy those straight figured women before I became a mom; I thought they looked so thin.)

A mother is also a wrestler. I've master the art of a scissor hold while dressing Noah. He's generally too busy playing and exploring to sit still long enough to get dressed.

A mother is also a weightlifter. When you're carrying 864 things and your baby, you're bound to gain some muscle.

A mother also loses her identity. I get introduced as Noah's mommy. And, hey, I'm NOT complaining! Noah is pretty great. I think it's cute he's so famous.

A mother gets sneezed on, peed on, puked on, pooped on and she doesn't really mind. At least I've never had poop in my mouth like some people (click here for full story).

You become a master tricker when you become a mother. Noah doesn't so much like hard boiled eggs, but he'll eat it if I give him a fork and let him do it himself. He wants to brush his teeth himself, but he can't quite do a good job just yet. So, we use the 2 toothbrush method. He gets one and I get one.

Most importantly, when I became a mother, I gain a whole new appreciation for my own mother. She has always put the needs of her children above her own. She's the first to encourage. She wasn't afraid to discipline when we needed it. She doesn't take the easy way out. I could go on and on and on... But, mom, thanks for being so wonderful. Happy Mother's Day.

A Man of Many Words

*Pardon the back of Noah's head. He doesn't exactly sit still...EVER.

Happy Birthday, MiMi!

MiMi had a birthday on Thursday. Noah decided he should surprise his MiMi. So, off we went. Her birthday lunch was at a Japanese steakhouse. Noah was the entertainment! I wish I would have videoed it... MiMi was very surprised and we all had a great time.

While at MiMi's, I tried to teach Noah how to go down the stairs on him tummy, feet first. After we were home, I was in the basement. Usually when I head up the stairs, Noah is looking through the cat door. I could hear him fussing as I can around the corner. I saw a foot through the door. I guess he thought he was coming down after me. Unfortunately, he just got his foot stuck.

Noah has become quite the stinker... When I tell him no, he says no back to me. If he knows he's not supposed to do something, he says "no" and then does it anyway.