Happy 1st Birthday Noah!

( I'm a bit annoyed at blogger as I had a post and now it's gone)

I cannot believe my baby's one!!! This has been one of the craziest years of my life but I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

It's true that trails make you stronger and more dependent on God. One year ago I met you and you made me a mom of TWO boys! (Double blessings!)

Noah in numbers:

1 surgery

2 bronchioscopes

3 hours of labor

4 ambulance rides

5 ER visits

6 teeth

18 lbs

34 days in the hospital

365 days of love and joy

Noah,

You bring so much joy to our lives! I can't imagine life without you. You have perfected little brother status, and love to be with Logan and doing (or destroying) whatever he's doing. You the happiest, most content boy as long as things are going your way. If not, watch out! 

You are the best cuddler, and will snuggle with anyone. 

You take your time and won't do anything until you are completely ready. But when you're ready, you are 110% ready. (Just look at your birth!)

Nursing is still your favorite, and if I try to feed you anything with a spoon you refuse and have to do it yourself. Cheese, oranges and puffs are your current favorite foods. 

While you are ringing in your 1st birthday with a fever, In really hoping that its the last sickness as an infant and not your first as a toddler. 

You have taught me so much in this past year and I'm excited and thankful we get to embark on a 2nd. 

I love you squeaker!!!

Noah 9 Months

December 6, 2013

You my love are 100% mobile and now mr. Trouble. While you started crawling right before you turned 8 months, you were still caution and contained. Now you crawl and climb and won't let anything stop you.

Getting into the kitty food and water is your favorite, and when I put up the baby hate to stop you, you threw a fit! When you get mad, you get mad! You tried to climb the gate, and when that didn't work you tried sliding your/Logan's chair over and use that! I'm telling you kid, your definitely resourceful. (And I thought your brother was/is trouble! You 2 together are going to give me grey hair!) 

Since you got quarantined to the living room  you speed crawl over to the TV stand and climb up on the DVD player and try to unplug stuff. You know your name, and you know the word 'no'. :-) Logan is a great big brother and helps redirect you. His 'no baby' and 'no Narnar' are the cutest. 

All your moving around creates a huge appetite. You are a bottomless pit. Anything and everything gets shoveled in, and you like to do it yourself. About 2 weeks ago you decided that big people good actually is good and will gobble it up. Perfect timing for your first Thanksgiving. You ate a little of everything...turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, bread etc. 

Your 9 month check up had to be rescheduled thanks to a crazy snowstorm... The second of three in a week span. 

When we finally made it (after a brief overnight hospital stay that I'll talk about in the 10 month post) you weighed in at 17lbs 9oz and just over 27 inches. You're a little peanut in the 4%!!! I don't think of you being that small, but stats don't lie. 

You're still right on the same size path as your big bro, but while I was packing up 3-6 months for him you're rocking 12 months! 

Potty Training 1.0

We are officially embarking on the journey of potty training today, August 1st!

We have been experimenting with it for a few weeks now, but haven't really tried. We talked about (and have for over a year now) and had him sit on the potty, and he has even ASKED to sit on the potty, but it's normaly only for a few seconds and then he says he's all done and hops down.

Well a few nights ago in the bath he started freaking out that he needed a change because he had to poop, so we plopped him on the potty until he went! A few times since he has said that he has to go and for one reason or another never did it again. Although we were at my parents two days ago and had him naked outside playing in the water and he hopped out and ran over to a corner in the grass to pee.

So he has the concept, and knows when he has to go, (he yells for a change right after he goes in his diaper) it's just a matter of setting aside a day or 2 and just doing it.

Que today. It's raining. Like really raining. So we aren't going anywhere. I took his diaper off this morning when we made it downstairs (around 730) and he hasn't had one on since. Yay for less wash for momma on diaper washing day.

We turned on PBS Kids and he has been on and off the potty all morning. Well Noah cried all through his morning nap so I ran upstairs to feed him and told Logan to let me know if he has to go. (My luck he would pee all over the floor while I'm not with him) About 5 minutes later Logan comes running into the room saying "pee!!! peee!!!" So I walk out half expecting an accident at the top of the stairs. Instead I see his potty at the top of the stairs! I laugh and he points at it still saying pee. So I look, and wouldn't you know that there is pee in the potty!!! Silly boy wanted to be upstairs so he brought his potty with him and then had to go, so he went! All by himself!!!

Needless to say, I'm a proud momma over here!

I also realize that this only happened once and doesn't mean much, but it is encouraging.

Wish us luck these next few days!

*Update: As of nap time he has gone in the potty twice and had thunder scare him into an accident once.

Noah Thomas 4 Months

July 6, 2013

Well mister big boy, you're another month older and bigger!

You had you're follow up with ENT finally and they said you look great! There is a less than 5% narrowing in your throat! Yay! I stopped all your meds a little before that because we were both d.o.n.e. with them. Once all those steroids were out of your system man have you grown!!! We don't have your appointment till Thursday but I'm guessing your about 25+ inches long and around 15 pounds. ( 14lbs 6.7oz and 24.51 inches) It's funny because that's what Logan was a 6 months! I'm not used to lugging such a big baby around! 

At least you are strong too. You still love standing and started using your exersaucer this month with a pillow under your feet since you can juuust barely touch the ground. I think you like the freedom. You also rolled from your tummy to your back once. You hate your tummy and while we don't put you on it a lot, you spend your time trying to crawl, not rolling. You're getting there, I find you spinning yourself around and  in a different than I laid you. While you never rolled back to belly (in guessing because you hate being on your belly) you can control your movements extremely well and will purposefully roll to your side to hang out before deciding to roll back. 

You hate to be alone. You love being in your Baby Hawk being carried around by momma. (Actually Dada put it on once too)

You are all smiles and have the best giggle ever! You love your big brother and can't wait to play with him.

You rock at grabbing thing and pull your binky in and out of your mouth all the time. You also talk a lot.

The monthly shots:

Photobomb Brother

Compare Logan at 4 months here

Noah's Ark 2nd Birthday Party

For Logan's 2nd birthday we decided to do a Noah's Ark theme. He was turning 2, we were going to be a family of 2 kids, and we were hoping the new would be a boy and he would be named Noah (it's a meet the baby party as well).

The Friday before, both our moms and Kev's sister came to help with the 2 boys and making decorations and setting up.

In the dining room we hung clouds cut out of poster board with rain drops falling, an ark with animals traced on butcher paper, burlap banners for both boys (that are now in their room) and photos from his second year of life spelling out T-W-O. They are on foam board covered in burlap so we can use them again and they weren't too heavy to hang on the wall.

We had the food and drink tables in the dining room.

Rain water (blue gaterade)

"Sea foam" aka whipped jello, "Be fruitful and multiple" fruit salad

Animal feed aka veggies and dip

"Son of Ham salad"

"Ark bark" aka peanut brittle and zebra preztels

Animal cookies in an ark

Rainbow cupcakes "God's promise cake"

Rainbow candies

The rain clouds and rainbow in the living room.

"rain clouds" in all the corners of the living room

And of course cake time

The birthday boy sneaking treats

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No hesitation this year

Do I have something on my face mom?

I wish I had more photos from the party, but that was the night we took Noah to the ER for the first time (before our 16 day stay at CHOP) so I was a bit preoccupied.

Noah 3 Months

Killer eyes

And a killer grin

My baby's 3 months already! And for the first time we get to do the at home monthly photo shoot. Both 1 and 2 months were done quick on the iPhone in the hospital.

I know I have lots of catching up to do, like his birth story, and hospital saga and Logan's 2nd birthday! (How is he 2 already!?!??!)

Noah,

You are such a bright-eyed, happy baby! You rarely fuss, and when you do it's a 90% chance it was something your brother did. The other 10% is because I didn't feed you soon enough :-)

You are still eating about every 2 hours but at least once a day stretch in a 3 hour. At night you are finally up to a 6-7 hour stretch, which is so nice!

You've been going to sleep between 830-930 and if it's on the earlier side of the 8 o'clock hour I'll wake you to feed around 10 when I go to bed. Then you wake up around 4am, eat and go right back to sleep till 5ish when you start to stir with Dada, and I give you your binky and you are back out until 6 when you eat again and then are up for the morning. Logan is normally up around 6-630 as well, so we have an early start to our day around here. You are still in your bassinet in the pack and play in our room. Brother refuses to move out of the crib into the big boy bed. I'm thinking you are ready for your own room soon though, as soon as you drop your 4 am feed.

When you were born I thought you were going to be an awesome sleeper because that's all you wanted to do, now, not so much. You go down for your 1st nap around 930 and depending what we are doing it might only be 1/2 hour long. You love your little cat naps and will take many throughout the day. Long naps are typically only when we are out and about. Most of your naps are spent in your bouncy seat so you can be outside since that's were brother wants to be 24/7 now. If we are inside it'll be in the swing, or occassionally on your play mat.

You have been awesome at tummy time. Even though you didn't get much of it your first 6 weeks of life, you are rocking it like no other. You have yet to roll, yet I will find you in a completely new position then how I laid you. You look like your trying to crawl, and your feet can push, but you haven't figured out the arm thing yet. You have a few more months to figure that out :-)

You can also sit and stand like whoa if momma or someone helps stabilize you. We just broke out the Bumbo seat today and I think you like the freedom. Just like your brother, you like to be facing out and seeing what's going on. Very nosy.

You aren't a fan of bath time, although now that you lay in your little tub it's a bit better that a sponge bath, but as soon as I start to wash you start to scream. Logan loves to help, and Kobe loves to watch.

You babble all the time and laugh too. I really think you understand us sometimes. You have an awesome sense of humor and your facial expressions kill us. You are very animated. One time I told you "no yogurt" because your brother was pitching a fit for yogurt and you immediately went from a happy baby to crying, just like he was. Then the other day we were laying in the yard on the blanket and L was playing with a ballball on you and lost it and blamed you. We didn't see it until later when I went to move you and asked if hid it from him and the smirk on your face told it all.

You love being in your Moby wrap, nice and close to momma and it puts you to sleep everytime. That's how we go shopping just the 3 of us. Logan gets the cart and you get the wrap.

You are just about out of 0-3 and 3 month clothes and have been wearing 3-6 and 6 month no problem. I'm sad to put the away yet since you didn't get to wear them much. You have been in cloth diapers about a month now and still wear size 1 in disposables, but really should be in a 2, but we have a bunch that need to get used up before that happens.

No clue how big you really are, we'll find out in a week when we go back to CHOP for hopefully your last check. I'm guessing around 13 pounds and close to 23 inchs.


And if you want to compare, here's Logan at 3 months.
(Which reminds me that you are a crazy drooler as well, and love YOUR fist!)

And photos :-)

Logan 11 Months

February 27, 2012

I almost have a toddler! A TODDLER!!!

This has been a fantastic month with lots of growth and changes.

You can take steps, and climb the stairs, and open cabinets and get into anything you can. You are a copy cat. It's cute. It's fun. It's scary.

Hmm, I think we need more...

Anything else I can pull out?

This used to fit...

You know what you want, and will do everything to get it. Gotta admire your determination and it will take you to great places as you get older, if used properly. If you want to nurse, you will find my bag, take out the Udder Cover, and bring it over to me. If you want cheerios or your dried fruit, you will bring it to me (or whoever) and put it in my hand. You will go as far as picking my hand up and prying open my fingers so that I will hold it! Love it!

Oh and the temper tantrums. Yes, we have those too. Full out melt downs.

You are working on your 5th tooth and are still eating like a pro! I am amazed at how much you can put away. For some reason you also love to eat paper and cry when mama makes you take it out of your mouth and give it to me. You are still nursing about 4 times a day, soon we'll being to be cutting back. You aren't showing any signs of stopping soon, and momma doesn't want to lose that bond with you, so who knows how much longer we'll keep going.

When you aren't eating, you're using your mouth to talk. Nonstop jibber jabber from you. You have "Dada", "hi/hello" and "cat" down. And will occasionally throw in a "Mama" or "up" or "more". 

When you go to a new place, even if you've been there before, you are very reserved. It takes you a few minutes to survey your surrounding, probably so you can figure out what you want to get into and who you can flirt with :-)

Mom, you know how I feel about the camera in the tub

Boy, you are the biggest flirt! You know how to work the ladies and keep their attention where ever we go. You also love kids. You try to say hi to babies, and play with the bigger kids. You are super social and love to play with others, especially if it's ball. You love throwing it and making others chase after it. You have a mighty arm on you. Future baseball player or quarterback? The only thing is we need to work on your sharing. You are considered one of the bullies in the nursery on Wednesday mornings. Apparently, you and the other baby in there have no fear of the big kids and take whatever you want.

Ladies, ladies, ladies, plenty of LM for everyone...

You still wear 6-9 months and I have the bin of 12 months out, I just need to sort through it. Cloth diapers are the same with 3 empty buttons in the middle. I'm loving having the extra ones now and only having to wash them twice a week!

Look at how big he is!!!

C'mon monkey boy, play!

Fine, buh-bye monkey boy

A quick shot before he scooted away

Logan,

You are the light of my life. I never realized how deep love could go until you came along. There are times where you frustrate me like no other and I have lost all patience for you. I wonder what I am doing being a mom. And that you flash your sweet lady killer smile, or pat my face and my heart melts. Your laugh is contagious, and you find the silliest things hilarious. You love your kitty cats (and their food) and torment them to no avail. You love being center of attention and will wave and say 'hi' to strangers as we walk by. I pray you continue to grow into the amazing little boy and then man that you are becoming. You're my favorite little baby :-) You're silly and fun and caring and loving. Keep being you and bringing sunshine into the lives of everyone you meet :-)

Love,

Momma

And if you missed it, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Logan 10 Months

January 27, 2012

A new year!
You celebrated your first New Year's Eve and MLK day this month. Not that either means anything to you ;-)

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You, my love, are a little fireball. You could be perfectly happy and content, but if your "toy" gets taken away you lose it. You know how to throw a temper tantrum like the best of them. Your head goes back, you throw your whole body around and your scream. Give you something else and in less than a second you are perfectly fine. Silly, silly boy. I used the term "toy" loosely, because anything you can get your hands on becomes yours...Wii remotes, TV controller, spoons, cell phones etcs. Actually, I really believe that you think the remote is yours. I have found you putting it in your toy boat numerous times and even in your toy basket a time or too! At least you know how to put away your toys :-)

You are turning into a little boy more and more each day. You can speed crawl and are out of the room in seconds! Sometimes you get so excited that you end up using a foot as you crawl...just a matter of time till you try and walk. :-) You cruise around on furniture and your toys without batting an eye, and are starting to realize that you can let go of something and grab something on the other side. You are also standing on your own a lot more.

You understand what we say, but are a very independent soul and don't always listen. :-) You like to test your boundaries too. Especially with the kitty food. You just don't understand why you can't play with their food, and think that if momma turns her back she can't see you. Same with your fascination with outlets. You really want to unplug whatever is plugged in.

You can wave goodbye, and you get super smiley and happy when you see someone you know. Daddy coming home every day is your favorite, and waking up to him over the weekend is a fun treat. Pure joy.

You make crazy sounds too. You love to strum your lips, suck on your tongue, and try to make other people make noises back at you.

My super active boy can't sit still for  picture, but will so sweetly give a nice strong hug to momma and daddy.

Not sure exactly your stats but your around 18 pounds and 28 inches. Still wearing a few 6 month, but wearing more and more 9 months.We added a few more clothe diapers to the mix this month and momma is super happy she only has to wash them twice a week now. When you do wear disposables you are in size 3.

I do love how active you are, and that you won't sit still. It makes your cuddly moments that much sweeter! Love you!