Noah, 4 and 3/4

I haven't given an update on Noah in a while and I thought it was about time!

He is an exceptional little boy.  He is still the spirited boy we know from birth but he has learned how to move in his world in a way that highlights his spirit and does not diminish it. 

Noah is incredibly compassionate.  He worries about people being included, about people's feelings and he cannot understand why anyone would want to hurt anyone else.  He was making Valentine's yesterday and he wanted to add extra candy to each bag so that the mommy's could have a treat too. 

Noah is an awesome big brother.  He is so in love with his little sister.  He calls her "little one" and he speaks to her so patiently, encouraging her and showing pride in her accomplishments.  He talks to her in a way that is very equitable.  He asks her if she likes his shoes or his coat, as if she is interested and he gives her very serious instructions about everything.  He tells us that he understands everything she says. 

Noah is very smart, but he is often impatient.  He is successfully reading level 3 of the BOB books which are early learner books.  However, whenever we do something new, he assumes he knows what is next without actually looking to see if he is right.  He reminds me of myself in this way, always skipping ahead even when I'm not quite ready.

Noah is incredibly loving.  He hugs with fierce abandon, almost to the point of knocking people over.  He is committed to marry his babysitter Miss Whitney who is 22 and out of college.  Paul even taught him how to get down on one knee.  But, there is a little girl at school who he says is his girlfriend, Zoe.  Today he shared that he is worried because Zoe wants to marry him but he wants to marry Miss Whitney.  He asked if he could marry them both and I explained to him that he could only marry one of them. 

Noah has an amazing imagination.  He creates all sorts of scenarios that just amaze me.  He plays forever with his toys and has them set up on all sorts of adventures.  He no longer naps but he has quiet time alone in his room from 12-2 each day.  We listen to him going WILD in there with his animals.  Today I went in to tell him he could come out and hundreds of dinosaurs were lined up watching one pterodactyl.  He told me that the dinosaurs were singing a song to the pterodactyl to tell him that they love him. 

Noah is a shopper!!!  Yes!  He loves to go shopping with me and he is very patient and interested.  He and I often going shopping together.  On Black Friday Paul's mom and I took him to the mall for 6 hours and he was a rock star.  He helps me make choices and he loves to look at everything.  And still at age 4 he rarely asks for items when we are shopping.  If he does I just tell him we have so many things already and he is fine with that answer.  I am amazed at his ability to swallow that answer and I hope it lasts for a while longer!

Right now, Noah does not want to go to Kindergarten.  He does not like the idea of going to school every day and he wants to stay with his friends.  He doesn't want to be away from me for a whole day.  But, I am 100% confidant that once this little one is in school he will love every second of it.


He'll be 5 very soon and I just can't believe it!!! Next thing I know he'll be off to college...

Toy Box

Toy Boxes aren't for toys are they?

These two are always in the toy box! 

Big Brothers

It is fate that big brothers torture their sister's dolls.  Poor doll baby is in the monkey volcano. 

Joy Joy Joy

We sing a lot in the car. 

The other day I was singing I've Got the Joy Joy Joy Joy Down in My Heart

and Noah always says in a silly voice

WHERE?

He does the yee-haw part too.

Noah asked for a turn to sing... sure buddy, no problem.

I've go the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my PANTS.

I started laughing uncontrollably.  Which caused him to sing more and louder.

I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my PANTS. 

oh my. 

Rainy Days

After the snow came the rains!  The little ones LOVE to wear their rain boots!!!  Here we are headed out to brave the elements!

Maeve, 19 months

Our teeny tiny preemie is no longer tiny in any way.  It is so hard to believe how much she has grown.  We are simply having a BLAST with both Maeve and Noah each and every day.

At 19 months, Maeve is a cheerful and sweet little girl.  She melts our hearts each second. 

Her speech has picked up tremendously.  And in her coy little way, she listened intently at the doctor's office at her 18 month appointment.  I shared that she still wasn't speaking much.  The doctor said to watch for a month or so and call back if I had concerns.   In the car on the way home she just started talking... car, dog, snack....  She probably has 20-30 words now and is putting together 2 word phrases.. bye bye Daddy, etc.  Her favorites are No (with a sweet and sassy little grin) and WOWAH which translates to Noah.  She absolutely cannot stand life without Noah.  If he isn't awake or if he is at school, she is worried sick about him and calls his name over and over.  If he wants to play alone she sits at his door and cries. 

At her one year appointment the doctor characterized her as "pleased with herself, content" which is still an apt characterization of Maeve.  At a recent playdate with many children, there were many things to do and play with.  Maeve was content to sit in a chair and pretend to talk on the phone.  I often have to look for her because she is quiet and busy with whatever she finds. 

At 18 months our "big girl" is still holding on to some comforts of infancy.  She still loves her pacifier (but we only really use it for sleeping) and she loves her blanket....  This blanket thing is a little over the top.  She is very attached to an infant swaddling blanket.  Each night she wants to be swaddled in this 6-12 month blanket and she is just way too big for it but she insists.  She lays down and waits for you to put it on.  I tried to leave one arm out to transition her and she managed to dig her arm into the blanket.  The irony is that she takes it off when you leave the room but she just holds on to it as part of her routine.  She also refuses a cup or sippy for milk.  She accepts it for juice or water but not for milk.  She insists on a bottle for her milk.  Oh well, I think Suri Cruise is 5 and still using a bottle!  The doctor wasn't the least bit concerned. 

On the flip side, she is incredibly interested in the potty.  She is constantly mimic-ing someone in the house and because she sees us going to the bathroom she must participate.  She goes when she sits on the potty almost every time, but she doesn't differentiate between a diaper and the potty.  She only wants to go when she sees us going.  We are trying to encourage her without pushing her. 

It is always impossible to capture a personality in words, but it is so wonderful to watch Maeve grow and develop.  She is sassy and sweet as sugar all wrapped up into one!  

At the end of her 18 month appointment the doctor asked me when I wanted to schedule the 2 year.  I told her I didn't want to.... that Maeve wasn't turning 2.  She said, well, then let's just schedule the next appointment, okay?

I agreed. 

The Good Foot

We talk alot about starting the day on the right foot... of course, it is so easy to forget that little ones don't always get our sayings very well!!!  Noah wanted to know which one that was. 

Well, Paul said, instead, let's start on The Good Foot and put on James Brown "the good foot" and a mix of James Brown to listen to for breakfast.  Noah loved it!! 

Now each day Noah says... today I want to be on the good foot, Mommy!