Time Flies...

...when you're dippin' your pancakes in apple sauce. MiMi taught him how. She thought he needed a little something on his pancakes since I wouldn't let him have syrup.

...when you won't sit still for your 15 month red chair picture (taken nearly a month ago). It's hard to get a boy to sit still for a picture these days. He's much too busy for that sort of thing.

...when you're hanging with your buddy. Noah and Luke after "eating" dinner. They were both a little too busy to eat.

Speaking of buddies... Last week we were at the Hunter's. I set Noah down in front of Canon. Canon was looking at the floor, so Noah bent down so he was in his line of sight and said, "HI!" It was very cute.

...when you're climbing on everything. Noah started climbing on things long before he started walking. Aren't they supposed to walk first?

...when you're making a big mess, say, with sidewalk chalk. You can't tell from the picture, but he was covered in chalk. I do mean COVERED.

...when you're eating like a big boy. Noah is a pro with a fork. We're still working on the spoon. He doesn't quite get the scooping process. He just dips it.

...when you're getting into everything. Greg put "child locks" on the drawers, but they're too long. Noah can still fit his arm in. (These are bona fide locks too... Who engineered these?)

Last week he was getting into something he wasn't supposed to be in. I got down to his level to correct him. He put his hand in my face, push me away, and said "All done." I did what any good mother would do. I laughed.

...when you're eating popsicles in your underpants. He did not want to hold it. It was too sticky or cold or something.

...when you're "helping" mommy make dinner. (That's code for pulling everything out of the cabinets and throwing it about the kitchen.)

...when you're driving a truck. Some sweet friends from church gave this to Noah. He loves it! And look how cute he is driving it.

...when you're playing with poop. Thankfully it's not really poop. It just looks like it.

...when you're doing your computer work. Noah is obsessed with the computer. We bought him his very own. He thinks he's big stuff.

...when you're learning to walk. Although he's been able to do it for quite some time, Noah is just now starting to really walk a lot. When we'd try to get him to walk from one to the other, he'd say "Nooooooo" and sit down. It was pretty fun actually. Why walk when you can crawl really fast?

...when you're waking up at the crack of dawn...literally. Noah has decided if it's light outside, it must be time to get up. Do you know what time the sun rises? Between 5:00 and 5:15! I'm working on some black out curtains for him. Until they're finished a blanket seems to do the trick!

...when you tattle on yourself. When Noah is doing something he's not supposed to be doing, he either says "no, no" or "naughny." He's like his own babysitter. Sort of.

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.

A Theif, Easter, and Such

Once again, it's been too long...

Noah is getting into more and more and is quite the little stinker. I read something today that said sometimes you just have to deal with it. If you say no, they want to do it even more. Isn't that the truth!!??! One of his favorites is turning his cup upside down and pressing the spout on the highchair tray. His drink then squirts out...

...sometimes right onto his face.

Greg turned around the other day and found this...

He's already learned to take daddy's money. Now if he could just do it undetected...

This was Noah's second Easter. If my memory serves me (which it usually doesn't) he was only 5 weeks old last year.

Will I be getting this look a lot in years to come?

Such a sweet little face!

Trying to eat the Cheerios out of the egg.

He did not think this was as funny as we did.

It was much colder than I thought it was going to be... We weren't exactly prepared. Luckily Grandma let Noah wear her earmuffs. AND, he left them on.

Our Easter was great. Noah didn't quite understand the hunt part...next year.

Last weekend, we went to Georgia for Greg's cousin's son's wedding (flow chart?). Anyway, poor little Noah did get quite enough rest while we were there, but he did really good. Greg had a little work to do in Atlanta Monday and Tuesday, so we just stayed with him. We had fun, but we were all so glad to be home. I'm a really bad mom...I didn't take a single picture while we were there.

The Red Chair

As previously mentioned there were some technical difficulties while trying to download the video of Noah pushing the little red chair around MiMi's kitchen. Poppy used this little red chair to learn to walk.

Noah "helped" me take the cats to the vet today... I had 30 pounds of cat in a very flimsy carrier plus Noah in the stroller. It was pouring down rain. Truman usually gets car sick at some point before we get home. Today was my lucky day and he didn't!!! So, I can't complain!

Here is Noah with his buddies...

They were all three looking out the little part of the window that was opened until I got the camera...

April Fools Surprise

Last week, Greg was out of town for a couple of nights for work. So, Noah and I decided to surprise MiMi. She was very surprised.

Noah pushed this little red chair around the kitchen. My dad learned to walk pushing the same little red chair. It was very cute...see? Well, maybe not...technical difficulty... I'll work on it when I "fresh."

Anyway, MiMi doesn't work on Fridays, so she and Noah made pancakes. (MiMis let little boys do things their mommies wouldn't let them do...)

I conducted an experiment on the way home to see if Noah would have his nap in his new car seat. It didn't go well. He didn't go to sleep until we were about 10 minutes from home. He fell asleep reading his book. It was pretty cute. Although he doesn't look very comfortable.

MiMi had lots of ladybugs in her house. I kept telling her, at least it's just ladybugs. When we got home, we found ANTS! Every spring we have them. They make me crazy!! One year I had to resort to keeping my honey in the refrigerator. I might wear out my tile cleaning up under Noah's highchair. I've been mopping up every time he eats... MiMi, we'll trade you our ants for your ladybugs.

Noah's most favorite thing to do is read books. Sometimes, he'll just go into his room by himself and sit and read.

He's not walking yet...as alluded to previously. I'm certainly not complaining!! He gets into enough as it is. Yesterday I was in the kitchen tidying up and he crawled down the hall. I thought he was going into his room to read... I went to check just to be sure. He wasn't there. I followed the splashing sound to the toilet and found him playing in it! ICK!!! He lifted the lid even.

He recently found the laundry shoot, which we don't use because it only open about an inch. You can just fit a sock down. And, it's at the opposite end of the house from the master.

He also goes to the front door and yells because he wants to go outside. Lucky for me, he doesn't understand how the doorknob works...yet anyway.

Are these not the cutest socks you've ever seen?!?!?!? Greg calls them his tights.

Noah has a lot to say... He is constantly saying Hi, which is very cute. Especially when he knows he's in trouble. He tries to distract us with his cuteness. He also says, mommy, daddy, MiMi, Poppy, bye, done, please, turkey, teacher, ball, shake... He tries to repeat a lot of what we say, but it doesn't always come out right. It's still cute!

Noah Goes Green

I'm a little obsessed with reducing waste... I take my own bags when I shop; I recycle anything that can be recycled. I've thought about cloth diapers many times. I finally decided I was going to give them a try. Just look how cute he is!!!!

These are not like cloth diapers used to be... They are self contained...no rubber pants! There is an insert that slips into the inside of the diaper, which is shaped and contoured like a paper diaper. They even have snaps to adjust the sizing... I really like them.

Urp...

At long last, Noah has graduated to a "big boy car seat."

Trying it on for size in the middle of the kitchen

The first time he rode in it was on a Sunday on the way to church. The entire way (it's about a 15 minute drive), he was saying "Hi!" It was pretty cute! We have the seat in the middle, therefore he's able to see everything.

That evening, we decided to just go for a ride. The above picture was about 10 minutes before the very unfortunate incident...

We were just driving through some neighborhoods and then it happened... Noah got car sick. We were not prepared for it. We decided to just drive home and deal with it there instead of trying to clean it up with half a wet wipe. Do you know how hard it is to get stink out of car seat straps? I'll let you know once I finally get it out...

Spring has Sprung!

Noah is getting more mobile by the day...still not walking. He's into everything. He's also jabbering up a storm. Today he said turkey. He has a whole slew of words. He tries to repeat things we say too. He can't always quite get it out, but you can tell what he's trying to say.

He's also turning into quite the comedian. I used to be the funniest person I know, but Noah might be funnier. I'll say to him "Mommy's gonna get you," do tickle fingers, and then tickle him. This week, he started doing tickle fingers to me when he wanted me to tickle him. It's very cute!

On the way home from the grocery store. I looked back in the rear view mirror. He had his sock on his forehead...just sitting there like that's where it was supposed to be.

Noah's buddies the Hunters let him borrow this fun toy. He loves it! He would ride around in it all day if we'd keep pushing him. It plays music VERY LOUD. There's no volume button... Too bad.

Noah with his Hunter buddies, Atley, Avery and Canon

"Stuck" in Lily's crate (the Hunter's dog)

Helping with Laundry (or throwing it all over the living room)

Peeking through the cat door...a very common occurrence

"Eating" spinach...I kept telling him to put it in his mouth. Ironic, since when he's outside I'm always telling him to keep the leaves out of his mouth.

We've had some really nice days recently. Noah loves to be outside. He pitches a fit when I make him come inside. We've been taking lots of walks and playing in the yard.

I love outside!!

What is this thing? I like it, but I don't know what it is.

But, mommy, I'm not ready to go in.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Greg's birthday was on the 3rd. Noah made a card all by himself for his daddy. He also helped him open his present. (The card Noah made is sitting on the counter in front of the present.)

Daddy and Noah (Noah just got up)

Noah and Daddy reading the card from Mommy. It had sound...

...and scared him.

Noah and I planned a little surprise for daddy that night. We had some of our friends meet us at one of daddy's favorite restaurants. I forgot the camera... I can only remember so much. But we had fun.

I may have neglected to tell one of Noah's birthday stories in the last post. (By may have, I mean I did.) The day after his party, we had decided we weren't going to go out to eat after church. Once we got to church, we changed our minds. So, we're sitting at lunch and I look over. Noah is hanging over the side of the highchair. I thought he was playing. I said sit up and lifted his head. I couldn't really see his face, but Greg said his eyes were closed. For a brief second, we all panicked thinking he had chocked and we didn't notice. Turns out he had just fallen asleep. He was tuckered out from his party. He partied until he dropped.

CAT-astrophe

Monday afternoon, while I was nursing Noah there a horrible commotion in the hallway. When Noah was done, we went to see what happened. Jinx was laying on the floor in the guest room looking all innocent (which he probably was...this time). So, I looked under the bed. There was a roll of wrapping paper which was totally torn up and Truman was laying under the bed by a paper shopping bag. I went around to the other side of the bed to pull out the bag. It wouldn't come. Truman had his head hooked through the handle. It had previously been on top of the dresser. He was being nosy, I suppose. So he was freaked out because it was chasing him down the hall. He wouldn't come out from under the bed for 2 hours. He just moaned. Jinx kept sticking his head under there to see him, which made him madder. I put Jinx in the basement for a while. Eventually, Truman came out. When Jinx would get close to him, there was a huge fight. It was the most awful sound I've ever heard. There were clumps of cat hair everywhere. We talked about separating them for the night so we could get some sleep. We decided they would be okay. We got all snuggled into bed and they were at it again. They finally settled down. at 12:30a they started in again. So, I went down and separated them. Jinx then cried for about 20 minutes.

When they would fight it would scare Noah. He cried... Poor little guy.