Johnny Appleseed

A few weeks ago we loaded the boys into the car and drove 45 minutes to Eckert's for apple picking. I bundled everyone up because it was a bit brisk that morning. We were hot... True to form, John pooped all over his clothes on the way and I discovered it when we got out of the car. Luckily it wasn't on the carseat, but we did need a costume change.

When we got there, we loaded onto the wagon and rode to the orchard. (Notice he has a tight grip on his bag.) He was all worried about us not letting him take his bucket to put the apples in. We had a very hard time convincing him they would have something there for him to put his apples in. Then he was worried about what color it would be.

When we got to the orchard, there were Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples to pick. Someone said to us we could get the really good apples no one could reach if we put Noah on our shoulders. (Not mine, of course! People can reach that high.) Greg put Noah up on his shoulders. Noah was holding onto to Greg's eye. He couldn't get him to move his hand elsewhere. (For some reason, I think it's so funny... And, Greg was not injured in the picking of these apples.)

John even got to pick one.

No matter how hard we tried, we couldn't convince Noah to pick the big apples. He picked lots of little ones. They were fair. The big ones were much better. They tell you to samples the apples while you're picking. That was a relief! I was worried about how we were going to keep Noah from eating the apples as he picked them.

They have a carnival type area for the kids too. Noah, of course, wanted to play. He loved this ride. They also had camel rides, pony rides, goat feeding, etc. He wouldn't get too close to any of the livestock.

After we got our apples home, Noah and I made Crispy (better known as Apple Crisp) and I made applesauce for John. We have a mere two apples left. I'm sure Noah is going to want to go pick more when they're gone.

Off to School

Sadly, my sweet little baby started preschool. He is enjoying it. He goes Tuesday and Thursday mornings. It's very strange pulling up somewhere and my baby jumping out of the car with his backpack. I was a little worried he might cry when I dropped him off. (He had been crying when we take him to the nursery during church.) No tears yet. Doesn't he look so big? It makes me so sad. Can't they stay little forever?

You Never Know What He'll Say (or Do)

Occasionally, Noah will take something away from John. I'll ask him to give it back. Noah will say, "I'm sharing." (He's been saying that for quite some time. It just occurred to me how funny that actually was.)

I asked Noah to put his shoes away. He told me I should just do it. Then he said, "Just listen to what I say."

Noah has become quite the staler at nap and bedtime. When I put him down, he always has something up his sleeve. His favorite is, "I want to get up because the sun's in my eyes and it's so dark." (All in the same breath.)

John has just started eating food. For a while, when I'd get the spoon to his mouth, he'd stick his little tongue out to sample and see if he really wanted to open his mouth.

Noah will ask questions (constantly). And sometimes I can't answer him. For example, when we're driving down the street and someone is walking or running he'll ask who it is. I say I don't know. He'll say, "Tell me!" Tonight I said, "Noah, I can't tell you if I don't know." Soon after that, we were talking about what mommy's and daddy's names were. I asked him what mommy's name was. He said I don't know. I asked him again and he said, "I can't tell you if I don't know."

A Photographer He is Not

A few weeks ago, we met my friend Julie for coffee. Noah wanted to take our picture on my phone.

Food Critic

John had his first bit of food this week. He had some cereal and did not love it.

Germaphobes and Public Transportation

Vacation when you have two little ones has a whole new meaning... Before kids, it was relaxing and doing something you love. With kids, it's so fun, but also a little challenging. We went last week to New York to visit some friends. We stayed with them in their one bedroom apartment. I'm not sure they knew what they were getting into... They were such great sports though. I hope we didn't scare them away from having kids.

The day before we left, I suspected Noah was getting a cold. I was hoping it was allergies or something. It was in fact a cold. We all had it before we got home.

We bought Noah a sleeping bag to take (at the wonderful suggestion of Shelly) since he's still in a crib at home. The idea was it would be something new and special and he'd stay put. He did really well with it. He did get up a little bit at naptime, but overall he did great.

Testing it out, pretending to be asleep

A few days before we left for our trip, the unthinkable happened. Greg announced he had a meeting in San Francisco the same day we were supposed to fly to New York. After much discussion, we decided I would go ahead with the boys and Greg would fly up after his meeting. As soon as we got buckled up, Noah unbuckled his seatbelt. Now, they aren't hard to unbuckle, but I thought I'd have a little time before he figured it out. He didn't see anyone do it. I have no idea how he figured it out so quickly. The boys did pretty well on the flight. Noah is hard to keep entertained for a long period of time. I was hoping he'd go to sleep since the flight was during normal naptime. He did go to sleep...as we were landing. It was hilarious! He was bobbing around. He hit his head on the window and the arm rest and just went right back to sleep. This is how he slept for a while. Poor little guy.

Our friend Paul met us at the airport to help get us to their apartment. He was so patient and helpful. By the time we got the their apartment, it was just about time to feed the boys and put them to bed. Unfortunately, Greg's plane was delayed and he didn't get to the apartment until 10:30.

I didn't take diapers with me. I bought them when I got there. They take up too much space and we were transporting a sleeping bag, remember. Noah still wears them to sleep. So, I bought one size and both boys wore them. How is that even possible?

Friday morning, we went to the Empire State Building. Greg and Paul have a client whose husband works in the building. He met us in the lobby and handed us an executive pass. We didn't have to wait in line to go up. We just flashed the pass and went right through. It was great. When we got to the observation deck, 80-some stories up, Noah looked up and said, "I want to go up there." Turns out we were able to go up to the 102 floor too.

On the observation deck

Seriously! What is it with people thinking it's okay to touch your babies???!?!? I can't even count the number of times someone touched one of the boys. I didn't even see this happen! After I decided I was going to put the kibosh on it, it stopped. It's really better that way. I don't like confrontation.

Our friends, Paul and Shannon (in their cute matching outfits)

After the Empire State Building, we decided to visit Times Square. Noah fell asleep on the way. We thought this would be good. Turns out, not so much. He had a really, really hard time going to sleep at naptime. I believe it was a four hour ordeal by the time he actually went to sleep and had his nap. Again, Paul and Shannon were great sports!

After naps, we walked to Central Park and Noah played at one of the playgrounds. He had a really great time. As we were walking up to the apartment building, three fire trucks pulled up. We waited to make sure it was okay to go in. Noah sat on the curb watching. Turns out someone had burned something.

When we walked into the lobby, we had to wait for the elevators. They were not working because of the alarm. There was a fireman standing there. Greg told Noah to go ask him if he could take a picture with him. I didn't think he'd do it, but he did. As soon as he asked him, the elevator door opened and Noah was surrounded by firemen. I couldn't snap the shot fast enough, but it would have been so cute! But, we did get a picture of him with one. The fireman bent down for the picture and so Noah bent down too. We did get him to stand up for the picture.

Saturday morning, we had tickets for a little cruise on the Hudson. The boat went down the river to the Statue of Liberty and then back. It was really cool.

Noah waiting to get on the boat

John sleeping on the boat

Noah hanging over the edge (he made me very nervous; Greg was hanging onto him)

Noah (with his M&Ms) and Mommy with the Statue of Liberty in the background

After the cruise, we walked to Bryant Park and had some lunch. Noah got to run around a little after we ate. When we were done, the boys headed back to the apartment and girls went shopping.

Paul wearing John

Sunday we went back to Central Park and did lots of walking. We stood for a little bit and listened to this man play his saxophone. Greg gave Noah some money to throw in his case... However, Noah put it in his saxophone instead. The man didn't care, thankfully.

As we were walking through the park, John started fussing. We stopped the stroller (which we had borrowed from my friend Shelly). I pulled John out to put him in the Baby Bjorn. As I was putting him in, I realized he had pooped everywhere. It was on the Bjorn, on my shirt and jeans, on the stroller (sorry, Shelly; it's been washed!). Big mess!!! Paul and Shannon entertained Noah while we cleaned up the mess. Always happens at the most inopportune time.

We watched the boats for a while at the boat pond. Noah was more interested in the ducks than the boats. Shocker... That boy is obsessed with ducks and geese.

Noah provided a commentary about duck hunting while we were watching...from sitting in the duck blind to the part where you "take 'em."

John's enjoying the park

We decided it might be best to stay at a hotel near the airport Sunday night since our flight was Monday morning. That turned out to be one of the best ideas we've ever had. I can't imagine what it would have been like trying to get to the airport with the boys and all our stuff during rush hour on Monday morning. I'm sure Paul and Shannon were glad to be back in their bed too.

When we got to the hotel, we ordered some pizza for dinner. While we were waiting, Noah stood up on the desk chair and jumped to the floor. He landed funny on his ankle. We think he just pulled something. It was never swollen or bruised, but he limped around for several days. He only complained about it right after it happened.

Resting his ankle

Eating pizza in his jammies

John has always slept in a swaddle blanket. He's always slept great in it...until recently. He's now strong enough to get out. But when he does, he gets upset. So we've had some long nights recently. I've decided we're not going to use the blanket anymore. We're 24 hours in and so far he's doing well with it.

When we put him to bed in the hotel, he was wiggling around and talking to himself. All of the sudden he was quite. I looked over and this is what I saw. So sweet!

Escaped from the swaddle blanket

At the hotel, Greg pushed one of the beds up against the wall and he slept with Noah. He said it was like sleeping with a fish out of water. John slept on Noah's sleeping bag on the floor.

Monday morning, we couldn't get out of the hotel fast enough. Greg was trying to keep Noah off the floor and from touching everything. It was definitely not the nicest place we've ever stayed, but that's what you get near the airport. And, it could have been much worse too.

When we got to the airport, I was so looking forward to Starbucks. There was no Starbucks in LaGuardia. Are you kidding me?!!?!??!??

We had so much fun on our trip, but there is no place like home.

Growing Up

On the 18th, Noah turned 2 1/2. It makes me a little sad. He looks like a boy now. Not a baby or a toddler.

John turned 6 months on the 25th. It's really hard to believe! He's such a sweet baby!! He had his 6 month check up and weighed in at 20 pounds, 11 ounces. He was 28 inches long. (Noah was a year old before he weighed that much.)

After Noah was born, I remember thinking "why would you need an infant seat that would hold up to 30 pounds?" Now I know why... John is one pound away from being too big for his. Good thing we got Noah a new seat...

Catching Up

I've always heard "they grow up fast." I never really understood until Noah was born. Boy did the time fly. But seriously it's like warp speed the second time around. Where has the time gone???

A few weeks ago, when it was unbearably hot, we were outside watering flowers...in the morning, mind you. Poor little John was so hot. He gets so red and flushed when he's warm.

Noah has been playing outside in his "special swimming pool," as he calls it. He pulled his safety goggles out of his tool box and said he needed them for the pool.

Noah had to get a new car seat. He's almost too tall for his old one. He's been playing in the box. He wanted John to get in with him. Not John's idea of a good time. Maybe in a few years.

Poppy makes this yummy trail mix ("mix" as Noah calls it). Noah always likes to help make it. Luckily, Poppy has lots of patience for the little helpers.

Good work, buddy!

Last week, our friends, the Hunters, came over to play. Poor little Avery had an accident on the way. She had to wear some of Noah's underwear and a t-shirt. (They will love this one day!

There really a no words to describe this picture...

The boys love to swing. Noah does a really great job holding on. I think they'd swing for hours if someone would just push them. We tried to teach Noah how to pump. He can do it, if you stand there and tell him which way to go. He'll get it before long.