noah | seven months

Dear Noah,

It's time for my monthly check-in with you. What you've been up to. How you're growing. You've been a busy boy. 

In the last month, you cut two bottom teeth. You stopped eating food when they were coming through but you're getting your appetite back. You also pulled yourself up. Twice. Which is two times too many in my book. Since you turned seven months old (it's been a few days, I'm writing this late as usual), you have practiced daily this pulling up thing. The problem is, you think that once you pull yourself up, then you can just walk away. And you let go. And you fall down. Clearly, crawling no longer satisfies your need to move. I'm sure once you master standing, then walking and running will be sure to follow. 

You still wake me up every few hours through the night. I'm okay if you stop doing that now. But you've been better about taking naps. Keep doing that. 

Water. Oh my goodness, you love the water. Pool, bathtub, puddle...it doesn't matter. You splash and flip and wiggle around and I can barely hang onto you, and yes, sometimes it's almost hazardous to your health. 

And you're still loud. Very loud. You like to start "talking" as soon as your eyes open in the morning. And you "talk" while you play and while you eat and while you watch your sisters and while you ride around in the front pack and pretty much all the time. It ranges from grunty growling to the highest pitch squeal I've ever heard from any of my babies. No need to worry if you'll be heard in our house. 

The way you furrow your brows in seriousness at your toys reminds me of Laci. The way you chill easily wherever we take you reminds me of Mia. But you are certainly your own little person, doing things your own way. Please refer to kamikaze baby standing story above. Everyone says boys are different...wilder...reckless even.  And.     Well.     They are right. 

You had a doctor appointment today. Your stats are:

Weight: 17 lbs 1 oz (50th %)

Height:  27" (25th %)

You gave the nurse a giant smile, then she gave you three shots and you cried big alligator tears.  And then you recovered quickly and we went on our way.

I'll end by saying everyone who meets you, loves you. You were a center attraction at Aunty Beth's wedding, aside from the bride and groom of course. But don't let that go to your head. 

Much love to my beautiful green eyed boy,

Momma

Xoxo

may 31

Today was good. Today was fun.

Tomorrow is another one. 

Everyday from here to there

Funny things are everywhere. 

- Dr Suess

Almost everyday May has come to a close. 

Now back to our sporadically scheduled program. 

may 29

After several failed attempts at writing something tonight, I'm just going to share a few favorite shots from this week.  Maybe I'll be able to get a clear idea of what I want to say tomorrow. Ya know, after all that sleep I get at night. 

may 28

It took four hours to wash the dishes this morning. It went something like:

Fill the sink with hot, soapy water. 

Feed Noah. 

Wash a few dishes. 

Change a diaper. 

Wash a few dishes. 

Break up arguments. 

Start a load of laundry. 

Fix Laci's hair. 

Wash a few dishes. 

Put Noah down for a nap. 

Two hours after filling the sink, Ryan took Mia to the store with him, Noah was sleeping. It was my chance to finish a few chores. 

But there was Laci. My sweet, sensitive Laci. Always wanting me to play with her and always wishing for more one-on-one time.

So, we painted. And colored. And talked about life. For an hour and a half. She asked me if she is just like me when I was a little girl. I asked her if she was going to be a mommy when she grows up. 

I told her we are a lot alike, but also different. She told me she is never getting married or moving out because she likes this family and wants to live here forever. 

Now, she is asleep. And Noah and Mia, too. There are new dishes to be washed and four loads of laundry that need to be folded and put away. But, for whatever reason, I'm not too worried about any of it. Calm is not a feeling I'm familiar with lately. So I'm embracing it while it's here. 

may 23 (yes, I realize it's may 27, keep reading)

Well, so much for everyday May. It's now more like almost everyday May. Or everyday May for two-thirds of the month, then MIA for a few days. But almost everyday May is simpler to say.

And I'm Okay with almost everyday May. 

So, carrying on. 

...

Friday, we took the kids to the fair. It was super hot and super loud and super expensive. Everything the fair is supposed to be. Laci loved the animals, she probably would have put the rabbit in her pocket if it fit. Mia is still afraid of most of them, including the plastic ones on the carousel. 

She did like this fake cow, though. She called it the "glass cow." I suppose because it's shiny like glass. My favorite part was when she saw the momma pig feeding her babies, and after studying her for a bit, announced to the crowd, "That's where the milk is!"

And Noah, he's a trooper. Sweaty and hot, but mostly happy.

This was the first time Ryan was able to go to the fair with us, he's usually working. It was nice to have him with is instead of texting him pictures of the kids while he's at work.  

...

So, as for the rest of everyday May...maybe I'll continue tomorrow.