noah | twelve months

Dear Noey, Nano, No No, Squirt, Crush, Nugget, Dude, Little Man, Noah,

It's been a whole year since you joined our family...quiet and hungry if I remember correctly.  In the past year, you continue to be hungry...always...and maybe not so quiet.

At twelve months old, you can almost run, have four teeth, eat almost everything, and yell louder (and in a higher pitch) than any other person in this house. You love to people watch and you love music.  You sing and dance daily...to any song...whether it's on the radio, my phone, the TV, or one of the many toys we own that plays music.  You continue to be a horrible night sleeper, and rarely follow a good napping schedule.  But you are a very happy guy most of the time, even when you are exhausted.

There are, however, a few exceptions to the happy guy we are accustomed to.  Like when you get hungry.  Like seriously HANGRY. And yes, all capitals is necessary.  And no snack will get you past HANGRY.  No, you require a full meal, preferably warm.  I have seen your tiny body consume a plate of scrambled eggs, a slice of toast and at least one sausage, and that's just one breakfast. You're usually ready for "second breakfast" an hour later.  I should also mention you eat at least one banana a day and cannot walk past a banana without screaming to eat it.  You also become ridiculously cranky when you are sick and/or teething.

You are trying to talk and mimic new words everyday.  The ones that come to mind are dada, kitty kitty, nana (banana), WOW, yeah, go, hot (with your hand stretched out) and I once heard you say water.  You reserve the use of mama only for times when you are crying and need to be held.

You are obsessed with your blankets and have been known to drag two around at the same time.  You love to wrestle and also to snuggle.  You give big, wet, open-mouth kisses, sometimes to my nose.  And you give the best neck squeeze hugs ever, just as you have done since you were very tiny and your little arms could barely reach around my neck.

You adore your sisters and are thrilled when they include you in their games.  Mia continues to love you like her own baby, and Laci watches out for you like the good, protective big sister she is. You have grown very close with daddy since he has been off work this month and prefer to have him put you to bed.  It's very sweet to see you two together.

You are crazy athletic and crazy smart.  And maybe I only think those things because I'm your momma, but that's okay.  Don't listen to anyone who would tell you any different.  You seriously amaze me daily. You can almost do a somersault (no kidding), and you climb ev-er-y-thing.  You can ride your new plane toy, and as soon as you can figure out turning, you'll be unstoppable.

A year ago, I could never have predicted what life with a boy would be like.  Now, I can say it is better than anything I could have imagined.  You are the perfect addition to our family.

Love you so very, very much,
Your momma
xoxo

noah | eleven months

Dear Noah,

Today you are eleven months and two weeks old.  I'm not even going to pretend I'm writing this on time.  I tried.  I really did.  And every time I sat to write, I was either interrupted or the words didn't flow.  So, here I am.  Sitting at the kitchen bar with a lukewarm cup of coffee.  You just finished a breakfast of a scrambled egg, half a slice of wheat toast, and a handful of blueberries, and are now walking around the house saying, "Kitty, kitty, kitty" in your highest-pitched voice.

And I just had to take a five minute break to settle an argument between your sisters about who was allowed to sing what and when.  An argument I settled by turning on the Frozen soundtrack.  Again.

And now you are hanging off my legs.

As you can see, writing can be a challenge these days.  A challenge I'd be able to meet uninterrupted if I waited until after you were all asleep, but alas, my brain goes into sleep mode by that time.

Eleven months.  Your goals in the past month have been to walk faster, yell louder, and climb higher. You have succeeded on all counts.  And a newly acquired hop in your quick step tells me you really, really, really want to run.  You have mastered clicking your tongue and clapping.  You are in love with kitties and baby dolls and motorcycles and balls.  You are a people watcher, unafraid to stare at anyone, and almost always willing to give them a smile while doing so. You got your first motorcycle ride this week and you have shown you are unafraid of spiders, frogs, and earwigs.

You have a cold.  A gross, snotty cold that keeps you from breathing properly through your nose.  And as a result, you have completely weaned yourself.  Cold turkey.  I wasn't ready for that.  Really not ready.  You are supposed to be my baby and you repeatedly insist on gaining your independence.  I have tried many times over the past week to change your mind.  I have been unsuccessful.  And so, as of today, I will finally admit that I will never be able to nurse you again. Those were some of my most favorite moments with you every day, especially the quiet ones right before bedtime.  You still like to snuggle a little with me, but it just isn't the same.  I'm not sure if, as a boy, you'll ever recognize how special that time with you was for me, but I loved every minute of it and wish, so very much, that it wasn't over already.

As a consolation, you have started giving me big kisses.  They are often slobbery, but I'll take them.  You give the best hugs with big neck squeezes and patty-pats on my shoulder. And just a few times, you have said, "mamamamama"... finally.

After many, many interruptions for nose wiping and dancing and filling of sippy cups and removing the kitties from the counter too many times, we are at the end of the Frozen soundtrack. You are walking around "singing" Let It Go at the top of your lungs, because whatever your sisters do, you must do too.  And that means I have used up my allotted time for writing.

As always, you are my most very favorite little boy in the whole world.  Those big, green eyes of yours, that show so much love and mischief at the same time, will always be my favorite green eyes.

Love you,
Momma
xoxo

noah | ten months

Dear Noah,

On the day you turned ten months old, we went to my cousin Jackie's wedding. You walked around the dance floor like you owned the place and everyone commented how you look too little to be walking around. I agree, little boy. But! You think you have places to go, people to see, things to climb. And now that you walk pretty good, you're set on learning to run. Oh my!

You have four, very sharp teeth now. You play a mean game of peek-a-boo with your blanket over your head. You thrash wildly during diapers changes. And you think having your clothes on is some kind of torture. 

You will eat anything I let you eat. You love to dance and "sing" with your sisters. You remain the loudest person in our house. And you look like Linus dragging your blanket around when you're tired. 

You're my snuggly guy. Maybe even a momma's boy. But I don't think that's a bad thing at all. You're very sweet. And you're tough too, based on how often you fall and hurt yourself. You probably wouldn't fall so much if you didn't try to climb everything. Seriously, you climb all.  the.  things.  Chairs, tables, couches, window sills.

You love to wrestle and get rolled around.  And you think the couch is a jungle gym. 

I can't believe how big you've grown, but your ten month checkup proves you're still just a little guy.
You weigh 17 lbs 15 oz (5th %)
and are 28" tall (25th %).

And to think, you are a giant compared to your sisters at this age.

Sometimes, when you're sleepy, I can still squish your little body into a squishy ball and snuggle you up like the tiny baby you are. But most of the time, you're ready to run and wiggle and be free. Nursing has turned into a gymnastic event at times. 

Most of all, you're our loving little boy. Animals, your sisters, our family...you love them all. And we love you. 

Xoxo,

Your momma

interview with a five year old

It's quite possible that I forgot I did an interview with Laci last year on her birthday.  I forgot, until I remembered about a week after her birthday.  Oh well.  Such is life these days.  So here is Laci's birthday interview at five years and one week old.  Also, I tried to interview Mia for her birthday which turned into a giant giggling fest without answers.  We will try again next year.  

What day is your birthday? August 18th

How old are you?  Five.

Are you ready to start school?  No.

Why?  Because I'm scared.

What is your favorite color?  Pink, Red, White, and Purple.

What is your favorite animal?  Puppies and Kitties.  Lions, Tigers, and Bird.  Even birds.

What is your favorite food?  Frosted Flakes and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Animal doctor.

Who is your best friend?  Bubs, Evan, and Sydney.

Not Mia?  Well, because she is my sister.  Well...(then she hugs Mia)

What games to you like to play?  Tag, Hide & Seek.

What do you like to do with Mia?  Play and color together.

What is your favorite movie/TV show?  Frozen and Sheriff Callie.

What is your favorite thing to do? Snuggle and play with the kitties.

What is your favorite time of day?  In the afternoon because I get to have afternoon milk.

What are you afraid of?  Lizards, frogs, and snakes.

What makes you happy?  Ice cream, cookies, sprinkles, and cupcakes.  And snuggling with you and having milk.

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy?  Color together.

What do you take to bed with you every night?  Spike and Foxy and my Blankie.

What was your favorite part of your birthday?  Having cupcakes, blowing out candles, and the whole thing.  The whole thing was the best part.

What is your favorite thing to wear?  My Elsa dress and my Frozen shirt.

What do you do really well?  Singing like Elsa.  I color very well, I do art very well, and I make presents very well.  All by myself.


Happy Fifth Birthday Little Lady.  We love you and think you are pretty special!!!

For last year's interview, click here.

noah | nine months

Dear Noah,

The big news this month is you started walking!! A couple days before you turned nine months, you let go and took a couple steps on your own. Quite impressive little guy. And also, sort of crazy. Where did my tiny little baby go??

You still only have two teeth but you'll use those two teeth and your gums to eat anything I'll let you eat, and also stuff you shouldn't eat. Like banana peel and dried up burrs from the yard. You continue to be our loudest child. I really didn't think anyone could be louder than your sisters but your happy morning yelling echoes from one end of the house to the other. And when you're mad, the shrillness of your scream is piercing. And speaking of mad, you have a bit of a temper. No, make that a big temper. And should anyone try to pry something from your grasp against your will...well, you don't make it easy. I do believe you have crazy baby strength.  

You love our new kitties and they are learning to tolerate your tail pulling and eye poking. I have no idea why they don't run from you. I think maybe they just like any attention they can get, even abusive attention. You love your fuzzy blankets when you're tired and give big open mouth kisses (almost) every time I ask. You still don't say momma but are very good at "dadadadada" and "yayayayaya."

You are all boy. Your favorite activities include climbing everything and wrestling on the floor. The rougher we wrestle, the harder you laugh. And you are most thrilled when your sisters play or wrestle with you. Mia continues to be your other mother but informed me recently that you are getting too big for her to hold. I'm a little sad about that. I so loved to watch her cuddle you. But I have no doubt you two will be great buddies in the near future and will probably be more mischevious together than I would like. 

We won't talk about your sleep habits because they are terrible but I will say that snuggling you throughout the night will be something I miss. Someday. If you ever decide to sleep like a normal person. 

You are by far the sweetest, most lovable boy I have ever met. I am such a lucky momma.

Love you to pieces,

Your momma