Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
A (Good) Day In the Life...
The morning started early - as Mandy mentioned earlier, Elliot's molars were keeping things lively last night, and Noah had had enough by a little after 6:00 AM.
You can always tell what kind of night your child has had with the first greeting of morning, sometimes with even the first look in their face. As I entered the room, I didn't get the usual "Good Morning Daddy!!" sweetness I'm used to and I could tell by the look on his face that he was still tired (as if I didn't already know it was coming by the number of times I put him back to sleep). No matter. He's up, I'm up - we're not going back to bed, now it's just a matter of limiting the collateral damage while others are still sleeping.
I could tell Mandy was getting Elliot back to sleep, so I tried to get him to tiptoe downstairs. Getting him to the bathroom for the first time each morning requires a negotiation process that I probably invest far too much into. No skin off my nose if he pees his pants, right? It would probably teach him a lesson. But, for whatever reason, I feel obligated to get him on the toilet for the first pee of the day. If you've ever seen the scene Tom Hanks did in "A League of Their Own", you know how that goes.
Once that project is completed, Noah asks me to play with him, which normally is the saddest request I deal with every day. Most days, I am rushing off to work as he asks and begs, and I have to tell him why I can't stick around and read him a book/play hide and seek/watch Max and Ruby with him. Since I'm not rushing off to work today, I tell him "ok", much to his delight.
He decides we need to play "puzzles", and we put his Dora the Explorer puzzle together many times over the next half-hour or so. Sometimes he does it and I can occasionally give advice (which is wrong on its face - see "teenage years"), sometimes we "take turns", which means I start the puzzle, and he must finish it - my contributions during my turn are usually rejected within two or three puzzle pieces. This is fun for me, a rare treat; playing with him, and taking things at his pace, with no particular place to be is not something that happens often.
After a while, he says he is hungry, and asks me for pancakes - something I made him last weekend. I find being the provider of anything with sugary syrup on it probably puts you ahead of the game in the "popular parent" category. But since I enjoy making the boys breakfast, I oblige. Mandy brings Elliot downstairs as I'm making them, and I throw him into the mix and let her (futilely) attempt some more sleep. Elliot may not have many teeth yet, but he's sure not opposed to exposing the ones he does have to potential cavities through the syrup-laced pancakes.
At some point, Mandy gets back up and helps me get them ready for Gymboree (pronounced "Jamboree" by Noah), another activity I've missed out on lately by being too involved in work. Elliot, still teething, quickly makes friends of all the parents by slobbering on all of the toys/balls/slides in the place. By the time he's done, it looks like someone has walked around the room in wet socks.
We head to Lowes for some household maintenance items, with Noah asking me why I'm "looking at directions" - checking the GPS as I drive. I tell him a dozen different explanations, hoping one of them will keep him from asking again, but to no avail. Finally we get there, get our stuff and get home. On the way home, Elliot looks like he's getting ready to fall asleep. I've never been able to master Mandy's skill of getting him unbuckled from his car seat and into his crib without waking him up, so I desperately try to keep him awake. Mostly by throwing stuff back at him to play with - painter's tape, bottled water, my cell phone. At one point, I even prompt Noah to annoy his little brother.
It backfires. Usually I can get him to bed by walking him around, but today he's having none of it, and cries hysterically as I try to put him to sleep. I relent and bring him back down stairs to play until he's ready for nap time. Noah's not much better, and starts sobbing when Elliot somehow manages to change the channel of the show he's watching. In-con-sole-able. That boy desperately needs a nap too.
Mandy arrives just before I get halfway through my mental plans to run away from home, and saves the day. I take Noah to lunch at Chick-fil-A to get a "Chicken Parfait" (really a yogurt parfait). He spots the costumed Chick-fil-A cow and anxiously awaits his turn to high-five him as he makes the rounds, alternatively making kids' day and giving kids nightmares. I hear laughing and hysterical screaming wherever he goes.
Shortly after that we're on the road. I'm driving around, hoping that Noah will humor me in a rare act, and fall asleep for a nap at a reasonable hour. About five minutes later, he's asleep. I don't care how long he naps, just that he gets something in to make the rest of the day more bearable. I gas the car up, lay back my seat and join him for a brief doze in the parking lot. A half hour later, I arrive back at home, get him out of the car and fully expect him to wake up, but after setting him on the couch, he pulls a blanket over him and goes back to sleep until his brother wakes him up an hour later.
The boys and I go on bike and wagon rides in the rain, as Mandy runs a few more errands, and after most of a day of crying, whining, playing etc, we call Mandy's mom who graciously accepts an invitation to come over at the last minute and watch the boys while we decompress at a local sushi joint.
The unexpectedly biggest treat of the day comes when we put the boys to bed. Usually our routine is bathtime, then Mandy takes Elliot and puts him to bed, and I take Noah and read him stories and put him to bed. Noah almost never naps, since it becomes an almost-impossible job to get him to sleep at a reasonable hour, and tonight I started thinking his almost two hour nap might have been a bad idea.
As I start reading to him, he gets the giggles, and then the full-on laughs. He's jabbering a mile a minute as I'm trying to read him a book. I'm trying, without success, to keep him reasonably quiet while Elliot is going to sleep. Trying to keep him quiet is not unusual - Noah doesn't have an "inside" voice and an "outside" voice, he has a "loud" voice, and a "shouting-at-the-person-next-to-you-at-a-concert" level voice. But this time, he is just genuinely laughing his ass off, and it's hard not to get infected by the pure joy. Pretty soon, he's making me laugh too, and my efforts to quiet him lose what little credibility they had to begin with.
Finally, I pull him over to me, look in his face with a serious look, and tell him if he continues, I will have to quit reading and turn off the light and we'll have to go to bed. He's half smiling at me as I tell him this, and when I finish says, "But Daddy, you're so funny" and starts laughing again. It's not as funny in the retelling, but I started laughing too.
Later - much later - I ask him what his favorite part of the day was, as I do every night before bed. Usually he tells me something we (or he and Mandy) did during the day, but tonight he responds with a smile: "going to sleep".
Mine too.
You can always tell what kind of night your child has had with the first greeting of morning, sometimes with even the first look in their face. As I entered the room, I didn't get the usual "Good Morning Daddy!!" sweetness I'm used to and I could tell by the look on his face that he was still tired (as if I didn't already know it was coming by the number of times I put him back to sleep). No matter. He's up, I'm up - we're not going back to bed, now it's just a matter of limiting the collateral damage while others are still sleeping.
I could tell Mandy was getting Elliot back to sleep, so I tried to get him to tiptoe downstairs. Getting him to the bathroom for the first time each morning requires a negotiation process that I probably invest far too much into. No skin off my nose if he pees his pants, right? It would probably teach him a lesson. But, for whatever reason, I feel obligated to get him on the toilet for the first pee of the day. If you've ever seen the scene Tom Hanks did in "A League of Their Own", you know how that goes.
Once that project is completed, Noah asks me to play with him, which normally is the saddest request I deal with every day. Most days, I am rushing off to work as he asks and begs, and I have to tell him why I can't stick around and read him a book/play hide and seek/watch Max and Ruby with him. Since I'm not rushing off to work today, I tell him "ok", much to his delight.
He decides we need to play "puzzles", and we put his Dora the Explorer puzzle together many times over the next half-hour or so. Sometimes he does it and I can occasionally give advice (which is wrong on its face - see "teenage years"), sometimes we "take turns", which means I start the puzzle, and he must finish it - my contributions during my turn are usually rejected within two or three puzzle pieces. This is fun for me, a rare treat; playing with him, and taking things at his pace, with no particular place to be is not something that happens often.
After a while, he says he is hungry, and asks me for pancakes - something I made him last weekend. I find being the provider of anything with sugary syrup on it probably puts you ahead of the game in the "popular parent" category. But since I enjoy making the boys breakfast, I oblige. Mandy brings Elliot downstairs as I'm making them, and I throw him into the mix and let her (futilely) attempt some more sleep. Elliot may not have many teeth yet, but he's sure not opposed to exposing the ones he does have to potential cavities through the syrup-laced pancakes.
At some point, Mandy gets back up and helps me get them ready for Gymboree (pronounced "Jamboree" by Noah), another activity I've missed out on lately by being too involved in work. Elliot, still teething, quickly makes friends of all the parents by slobbering on all of the toys/balls/slides in the place. By the time he's done, it looks like someone has walked around the room in wet socks.
We head to Lowes for some household maintenance items, with Noah asking me why I'm "looking at directions" - checking the GPS as I drive. I tell him a dozen different explanations, hoping one of them will keep him from asking again, but to no avail. Finally we get there, get our stuff and get home. On the way home, Elliot looks like he's getting ready to fall asleep. I've never been able to master Mandy's skill of getting him unbuckled from his car seat and into his crib without waking him up, so I desperately try to keep him awake. Mostly by throwing stuff back at him to play with - painter's tape, bottled water, my cell phone. At one point, I even prompt Noah to annoy his little brother.
It backfires. Usually I can get him to bed by walking him around, but today he's having none of it, and cries hysterically as I try to put him to sleep. I relent and bring him back down stairs to play until he's ready for nap time. Noah's not much better, and starts sobbing when Elliot somehow manages to change the channel of the show he's watching. In-con-sole-able. That boy desperately needs a nap too.
Mandy arrives just before I get halfway through my mental plans to run away from home, and saves the day. I take Noah to lunch at Chick-fil-A to get a "Chicken Parfait" (really a yogurt parfait). He spots the costumed Chick-fil-A cow and anxiously awaits his turn to high-five him as he makes the rounds, alternatively making kids' day and giving kids nightmares. I hear laughing and hysterical screaming wherever he goes.
Shortly after that we're on the road. I'm driving around, hoping that Noah will humor me in a rare act, and fall asleep for a nap at a reasonable hour. About five minutes later, he's asleep. I don't care how long he naps, just that he gets something in to make the rest of the day more bearable. I gas the car up, lay back my seat and join him for a brief doze in the parking lot. A half hour later, I arrive back at home, get him out of the car and fully expect him to wake up, but after setting him on the couch, he pulls a blanket over him and goes back to sleep until his brother wakes him up an hour later.
The boys and I go on bike and wagon rides in the rain, as Mandy runs a few more errands, and after most of a day of crying, whining, playing etc, we call Mandy's mom who graciously accepts an invitation to come over at the last minute and watch the boys while we decompress at a local sushi joint.
The unexpectedly biggest treat of the day comes when we put the boys to bed. Usually our routine is bathtime, then Mandy takes Elliot and puts him to bed, and I take Noah and read him stories and put him to bed. Noah almost never naps, since it becomes an almost-impossible job to get him to sleep at a reasonable hour, and tonight I started thinking his almost two hour nap might have been a bad idea.
As I start reading to him, he gets the giggles, and then the full-on laughs. He's jabbering a mile a minute as I'm trying to read him a book. I'm trying, without success, to keep him reasonably quiet while Elliot is going to sleep. Trying to keep him quiet is not unusual - Noah doesn't have an "inside" voice and an "outside" voice, he has a "loud" voice, and a "shouting-at-the-person-next-to-you-at-a-concert" level voice. But this time, he is just genuinely laughing his ass off, and it's hard not to get infected by the pure joy. Pretty soon, he's making me laugh too, and my efforts to quiet him lose what little credibility they had to begin with.
Finally, I pull him over to me, look in his face with a serious look, and tell him if he continues, I will have to quit reading and turn off the light and we'll have to go to bed. He's half smiling at me as I tell him this, and when I finish says, "But Daddy, you're so funny" and starts laughing again. It's not as funny in the retelling, but I started laughing too.
Later - much later - I ask him what his favorite part of the day was, as I do every night before bed. Usually he tells me something we (or he and Mandy) did during the day, but tonight he responds with a smile: "going to sleep".
Mine too.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Today was like a real live, old fashioned Saturday!
Paul has been working 7 days a week for as long as I can remember. O.k., it's only been since January, but it seems like forever. He's really busy and has no choice but to go in every day. Even though he doesn't typically work as long of hours on the weekends, it seems like we never have a real weekend in our house. But, today he took off work!
I stayed in bed a little late while Paul made the boys pancakes. By late, I mean 7:20. Why on earth couldn't I sleep in when I had the chance? My body would not let me, even though I was tired. I am just programmed to get up early. I helped get the boys ready and sent them on their way to Gymboree with Paul so I could shop alone and get some errands done.
Elliot has been working on his one year molars. I forgot how much fun those are! Poor guy! He had a rough night. The top 2 are poking through just at the front, but it's a whole big square that has to push through. And the bottom ones are just big swollen mounds. Because of this, he was waking up not only Paul & me, but Noah some too. I came home just after Elliot's nap time from shopping assuming he'd be in bed, but apparantly he just screamed and cried and refused to go down for Paul. He normally is good for his Dad, but he wasn't cutting it today. He has been a little out of sorts after a rough night. So once I got him down to sleep, Paul & Noah went on a lunch date to Chick-fil-A.
Noah fell asleep on the way home and took a decent nap in the car and finished up on the couch. He really needed it. I should have napped today, but spent my free time reading. I am too tired at night and never have time during the day. Paul & the boys went on a bike ride in the afternoon while I ran another errand, then we called my mom to see if she could come over and watch the boys for awhile so we could go out for dinner alone. As if on cue, Elliot starts throwing a fit while I'm on the phone. Luckily, my mom still came and we enjoyed some sushi at Kona Grill.
That is probably a really long and boring narrative of a typical Saturday for most people, but we haven't had a "normal" weekend day like that in a long time. It was great! The boys are in bed and I think I'm going to head that way soon. Elliot has his gums covered in nighttime orajel and a dose of Motrin in him. Let's hope he sleeps well tonight....or at the very least those molars come through more!
I stayed in bed a little late while Paul made the boys pancakes. By late, I mean 7:20. Why on earth couldn't I sleep in when I had the chance? My body would not let me, even though I was tired. I am just programmed to get up early. I helped get the boys ready and sent them on their way to Gymboree with Paul so I could shop alone and get some errands done.
Elliot has been working on his one year molars. I forgot how much fun those are! Poor guy! He had a rough night. The top 2 are poking through just at the front, but it's a whole big square that has to push through. And the bottom ones are just big swollen mounds. Because of this, he was waking up not only Paul & me, but Noah some too. I came home just after Elliot's nap time from shopping assuming he'd be in bed, but apparantly he just screamed and cried and refused to go down for Paul. He normally is good for his Dad, but he wasn't cutting it today. He has been a little out of sorts after a rough night. So once I got him down to sleep, Paul & Noah went on a lunch date to Chick-fil-A.
Noah fell asleep on the way home and took a decent nap in the car and finished up on the couch. He really needed it. I should have napped today, but spent my free time reading. I am too tired at night and never have time during the day. Paul & the boys went on a bike ride in the afternoon while I ran another errand, then we called my mom to see if she could come over and watch the boys for awhile so we could go out for dinner alone. As if on cue, Elliot starts throwing a fit while I'm on the phone. Luckily, my mom still came and we enjoyed some sushi at Kona Grill.
That is probably a really long and boring narrative of a typical Saturday for most people, but we haven't had a "normal" weekend day like that in a long time. It was great! The boys are in bed and I think I'm going to head that way soon. Elliot has his gums covered in nighttime orajel and a dose of Motrin in him. Let's hope he sleeps well tonight....or at the very least those molars come through more!
Elliot eye update
I forgot to blog that we went to Elliot's eye doctor on Wednesday for a check-up. We were following up only 2 months after our last appointment, because of the development of exotropia (you can click on the tag "eyes" below to see all the updates in order if you aren't up to speed on this). Anyway, his eyes still do wander outward some everyday, but it's not often enough to warrant surgery. He works really well to control it and use his eyes together. He is seeing well and it's obviously not affecting his development. That boy is running (and now climbing) all over the place! We don't have to follow up for another 6 months!
Oh and we were happy to see Dr. Olitsky named as one of Kansas City's best doctors! (Noah & Elliot's pediatrician Dr. Waters is on the list, too.) We feel very blessed. It's clear how good he is when we have to see a resident first and watch them do their assessment and then have Dr. Olitsky come in. He's awesome! And Elliot is doing fantastic!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Bikeride to Brookside
Last night when Paul got home from work, I rushed the boys home from the church where we were playing and riding bikes. This was Noah's first time on his Strider to ride into Brookside. Paul rode his bike too, and I followed with Elliot in the jogging stroller. Let me tell you, he is SO much faster on this bike than his old one with training wheels. I got in a pretty good little workout. We stopped to play at Border Star's playground and then canceled the calories out that we burned eating dinner at Jalapenos.
That's it, Spring is my new fave season.
Fall has always been my favorite. There is so much to love about the Fall. But, after this long, cold and snowy winter, I've decided Spring is my favorite. This is a typical way to burn a couple hours on a nice Spring afternoon. Love the sun. Love the fresh air. Love being outside. Love that we have great parks in Brookside. Love that we can walk or ride bikes to the grocery store, to get ice cream, the toy store, the dime store, out to eat, etc. Yep, Spring is my new fave.
Yep, he did it by himself. He's already a climber!
Having much fun, Elliot?
His hair cracks me up in this one! You should probably double click to enjoy in all it's glory.
Noah made a 5 year old friend named Jett yesterday.
We heart the sand!
Brudders are so sweet.....when they aren't fighting.
So handsome!
Yep, he did it by himself. He's already a climber!
Having much fun, Elliot?
His hair cracks me up in this one! You should probably double click to enjoy in all it's glory.
Noah made a 5 year old friend named Jett yesterday.
We heart the sand!
Brudders are so sweet.....when they aren't fighting.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Some recent Noah quotes
Just a few funny things Noah said yesterday I don't want to forget....
Elliot isn't talking yet, but I always try to get him say Mama, Dada, & Noah. Everytime he says Dada perfectly, says "bama" for mama, and says "guh" for Noah. Consistently Noah is "guh". Well Noah has learned all his letter sounds with a song from the Leap Frog Letter Factory (the G says guh, the G says guh, every letter makes a sound, the G says guh). He knows all his letters and sounds. Well yesterday when Elliot said "guh" in response to me asking him to say Noah, Noah's eyes got big. "Elliot said guh! I didn't know Elliot knew his letters!"
A couple nights ago, Noah was throwing up for about 3 hrs before bed. He ended up sleeping all night and feeling fine the next day, but was a bit dehydrated. He drank a lot and didn't pee for a long time. I told him to go before we had to leave the house and he came upstairs so I asked him if he went and he said yes. I asked if he went a lot and he said "No. I didn't peel the porcelain."
His obsession with being big and wanted to grow bigger than Paul & I continues. He now says he's going to grow bigger than a monster and won't be able to fit in our house anymore. When I tell him I'll miss him he says "I'll grow smaller again and then I will fit!"
On that note, he has been saying "I can't wait till I'm growed up so I can be a doctor!" He says he wants to be a doctor to help kids. How sweet is that? His idea of doctors is that they listen to hearts (which he does regularly with my stethoscope), put in stitches, take out stitches, and let boys play with trains when they are hurt (that was actually a child life specialist who did that when he had his finger injury last Fall).
Elliot isn't talking yet, but I always try to get him say Mama, Dada, & Noah. Everytime he says Dada perfectly, says "bama" for mama, and says "guh" for Noah. Consistently Noah is "guh". Well Noah has learned all his letter sounds with a song from the Leap Frog Letter Factory (the G says guh, the G says guh, every letter makes a sound, the G says guh). He knows all his letters and sounds. Well yesterday when Elliot said "guh" in response to me asking him to say Noah, Noah's eyes got big. "Elliot said guh! I didn't know Elliot knew his letters!"
A couple nights ago, Noah was throwing up for about 3 hrs before bed. He ended up sleeping all night and feeling fine the next day, but was a bit dehydrated. He drank a lot and didn't pee for a long time. I told him to go before we had to leave the house and he came upstairs so I asked him if he went and he said yes. I asked if he went a lot and he said "No. I didn't peel the porcelain."
His obsession with being big and wanted to grow bigger than Paul & I continues. He now says he's going to grow bigger than a monster and won't be able to fit in our house anymore. When I tell him I'll miss him he says "I'll grow smaller again and then I will fit!"
On that note, he has been saying "I can't wait till I'm growed up so I can be a doctor!" He says he wants to be a doctor to help kids. How sweet is that? His idea of doctors is that they listen to hearts (which he does regularly with my stethoscope), put in stitches, take out stitches, and let boys play with trains when they are hurt (that was actually a child life specialist who did that when he had his finger injury last Fall).
Noah & his shadow
Noah is fascinated with his shadow and loves to play with "him". Since we have started having actually sunny days again, he gets excited seeing his shadow. One day at the park he said, "you can't catch me shadow!" and ran as fast as he could around the playground looking to his side at the shadow the whole time laughing hysterically. It was so funny!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Noah riding his bike without training wheels!
I apologize for my annoying voice! I will get better video's soon. He also likes taking it off road. At the end I said something about brakes. Right now it's 100% foot powered, but we'll take it in (today) to have a hand brake installed now that he's going down hills fast. As it is, he turns and goes up hill to stop or slows himself down by putting his feet down.
First Day of Spring 2010
"In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours."
~Mark Twain
Twain (Samuel Clemens) grew up in Missouri...It was nearly 70 degrees the two days' prior.
~Mark Twain
Twain (Samuel Clemens) grew up in Missouri...It was nearly 70 degrees the two days' prior.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Training Wheels? Who needs 'em!
Today was a BIG milestone for Noah! We just told you about his Strider bike in the post below. He's had it less than 2 weeks and I can't believe he did this so fast. Today he "got it". He figured out that he can lift his feet and balance. We were going down the street to the church (slight downhill) and I saw him lift his feet and he wobbled a bit, but kept them up for several seconds! He got this gleam in his eyes and said "Mommy! I lifted both my feet and my bike go'd and go'd! That was FUN!"
When we were at the church he kept practicing it across this sidewalk that is goes East/West (not a steep hill). It was about 10 minutes later when he got the confidence to go down the big hill on the drive. He got it so fast! He kept his feet up from the top of the hill, all the way to the bottom, turned the corner and would put them down as he slowed going back uphill. He would yell "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! I'm gliding! Woohoo!"
We were out for about an hour, before we had to head back to put Elliot down for his nap. He was not a happy camper. After naptime, we spent a couple hours at the park. Noah may or may not have ridden his bike down suicide hill while we were there. My little daredevil! We rested about 15 minutes at home, had water and potty breaks before hitting the church again for bike riding into the evening. What a great day!
When we were at the church he kept practicing it across this sidewalk that is goes East/West (not a steep hill). It was about 10 minutes later when he got the confidence to go down the big hill on the drive. He got it so fast! He kept his feet up from the top of the hill, all the way to the bottom, turned the corner and would put them down as he slowed going back uphill. He would yell "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! I'm gliding! Woohoo!"
We were out for about an hour, before we had to head back to put Elliot down for his nap. He was not a happy camper. After naptime, we spent a couple hours at the park. Noah may or may not have ridden his bike down suicide hill while we were there. My little daredevil! We rested about 15 minutes at home, had water and potty breaks before hitting the church again for bike riding into the evening. What a great day!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Noah's new running bike
Noah has loved biking since Paul taught him to ride a tricycle before his 2nd birthday. He picked up on it fast and was quite the little pro. He is on his 2nd big boy bike (first one got stolen) and has worn out the 2nd set of training wheels on said bike. Paul took the bike in to the bike shop for the 2nd time to fix the training wheels/get new ones and he got suckered into buying one of these strider running bikes. I have to admit I was skeptical and kind of annoyed he didn't come home with fixed training wheels.
These bikes have no pedals and the idea is you just walk/run with them and then kids naturally learn to lift feet and balance at a very young age. By 3 they should be able to ride bikes without training wheels. For a kid as advanced as Noah has always been in all things athletic and biking-wise there is no reason he shouldn't be able to do this at his age. But, going from training wheels to taking them off is a huge leap of faith and not a natural way to learn. I have to admit, once I researched it more, I was sold. And Noah is already doing awesome on it. He goes fast and is learning to lift his feet for short periods of time and glide. I'm hoping by the Fall we can put him back on his other bike without training wheels and hand this one down to Elliot in the Spring when he is two.
I will take some video soon to post of Noah, but check out this video on why these bikes are so much better than tricycles and bikes with training wheels for yourself.
These bikes have no pedals and the idea is you just walk/run with them and then kids naturally learn to lift feet and balance at a very young age. By 3 they should be able to ride bikes without training wheels. For a kid as advanced as Noah has always been in all things athletic and biking-wise there is no reason he shouldn't be able to do this at his age. But, going from training wheels to taking them off is a huge leap of faith and not a natural way to learn. I have to admit, once I researched it more, I was sold. And Noah is already doing awesome on it. He goes fast and is learning to lift his feet for short periods of time and glide. I'm hoping by the Fall we can put him back on his other bike without training wheels and hand this one down to Elliot in the Spring when he is two.
I will take some video soon to post of Noah, but check out this video on why these bikes are so much better than tricycles and bikes with training wheels for yourself.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Noah on marriage
Noah for some reason was talking about marriage last night. He doesn't really know what it means. I had no idea how hard it is to explain this concept to a 3 1/2 year old. He said something about all of us being married. I told him that Paul & I were, but he wasn't. I tried to explain it simply saying that when he is grown up and loves a girl, they can get married and live in their own house together and have their own kids. He said "ohhh", but had this blank look like he didn't get it. So I went on to say more. I don't remember all of the back and forth, but I explained he might do it when he's around 30 years old and that it's when he loves a girl a whole bunch and wants to live with her forever. He said "Forever?!?! I don't want that!"
Then he got all sad and said so pitiful "I can't be married because I'm not a grown up. So I guess I'll just have to build my castle all by myself". He got up and walked into the playroom so defeated and pitiful, looking at the ground to his blocks. I felt so bad. I asked if I could build the castle with him and he said no, because we weren't married. I don't get where he came up with that, but I just gave up and asked if he wanted to be married to me. He smiled, said yes, hugged me and we built a castle together.
Then he got all sad and said so pitiful "I can't be married because I'm not a grown up. So I guess I'll just have to build my castle all by myself". He got up and walked into the playroom so defeated and pitiful, looking at the ground to his blocks. I felt so bad. I asked if I could build the castle with him and he said no, because we weren't married. I don't get where he came up with that, but I just gave up and asked if he wanted to be married to me. He smiled, said yes, hugged me and we built a castle together.
On the mend
Elliot is getting better. Last night he woke up (right on schedule) at 11pm after having thrown up all over himself. Poor guy gets it just everywhere. Of course, by now we have a "system". Easily strip off layer #1 off bed and no changing of sheets required. Switch out a few blankies and the bed is good to go. We had fresh jammies, dipes and washcloths in our bathroom. But, the good news is he skipped his 2am diarrhea wake up! Yippee! He did wake once at some point and I nursed him. He finally woke up with a wet diaper instead of with diarrhea. Progress! Today was a pretty good day, but he doesn't have his appetite back. Before bed his belly wasn't all distended and firm like it has been the past several nights, so I'm hoping he'll sleep without any disturbances..............but, we have the "system" in place, just in case.
I know we've been bad about posting pics lately. Here are some of E in the bath last night. As you can see, his moods are ever changing when he's not feeling well.
Mean
Sweet
I know we've been bad about posting pics lately. Here are some of E in the bath last night. As you can see, his moods are ever changing when he's not feeling well.
Happy
Mean
Sweet
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Elliot's 1 yr photo session
I think this slideshow will only work for 10 days, but I'm not sure. I love the ones of him & Noah together. So cute!
www.kamibradyphotography.com/slideshows/Elliot
*Warning to slackers checking this at work - there is music with the slideshow, so turn off your volume/speakers if you don't want it to play*
www.kamibradyphotography.com/slideshows/Elliot
*Warning to slackers checking this at work - there is music with the slideshow, so turn off your volume/speakers if you don't want it to play*
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Sick Ells
Poor Elliot got bit by a GI bug on Monday. It started out as really bad diarrhea every time he ate. Tuesday was really bad. But, yesterday he only had it a couple of times and was very happy and playful, so I thought it was just a little 24 hr bug. In fact I was anticipating a great night of sleep. Not only did the boys play outside for hours and get worn out, but Elliot just got a new tooth through (#7) and was feeling better, so nothing to wake him up.
Until early into the night I got woken up by him whimpering in bed. I ignored him awhile hoping he'd go back to sleep and boy am I glad I'm not one of those moms that just let's her baby cry it out, because when I went in to check on him, he was covered in poop. Poor guy. He really needed a bath. His jammies and sheets were ruined and he was a mess. He was so tired he fell right back asleep, but just kept waking up off and on all night with what I imagine was an upset tummy.
This morning he has had diarrhea twice and puked. So I guess he's not "over it" like I thought. BOO!
Until early into the night I got woken up by him whimpering in bed. I ignored him awhile hoping he'd go back to sleep and boy am I glad I'm not one of those moms that just let's her baby cry it out, because when I went in to check on him, he was covered in poop. Poor guy. He really needed a bath. His jammies and sheets were ruined and he was a mess. He was so tired he fell right back asleep, but just kept waking up off and on all night with what I imagine was an upset tummy.
This morning he has had diarrhea twice and puked. So I guess he's not "over it" like I thought. BOO!
Music is gone
Now all of you blog readers that like to sneak on at work, can do so without fear of getting caught. ;D
Monday, March 8, 2010
A really good day
My two boys really do love each other. But, there are days where I feel like I'm continually on Noah because he's making Elliot cry (picking him up and carrying him away from wherever Noah doesn't want him, taking a toy away, etc). Then there are days when he is just so sweet to him and such a good big brother it just melts my heart. Today was one of those days.
This morning started off like every morning does. Noah's first words were "Good morning Elliot!" and he gave him a hug. Then he said good morning to me next. And he was just sweet to him the entire day. We went to chick-fil-a for lunch after a Target run. Elliot and him were playing so nice together. Elliot is such a brave 13 month old, climbing up and playing in the tunnels like such a big boy. Noah was so good to watch out for him like I asked him to, taking his job very seriously. He gave him lots of hugs and kept telling him that he was his best friend, etc throughout the day. When another boy was touching Elliot and kind of pushing him he told him to "Be gentle with my brudder Elliot!"
On the way home in their carseats, Noah was making Elliot belly laugh so hard he was practically choking on hiccups. I was just so impressed with the 100% sweetness that I was telling Noah in the car on the way home how proud I was of him being so sweet and such a good brother. He just lit up and said "Mommy, you're my favorite friend! And your my favorite oldest son!" (Paul always tells him that he is his favorite oldest son.)
It just continued all day. Elliot tried to take Noah's sunglasses away and threw a fit when Noah wouldn't give them to him. And he didn't have to. Elliot was trying to steal them as soon as Noah put them on. So he tried to give him other toys. Elliot kept throwing a fit. Noah then gave Elliot his glasses and told him he could have a turn. When I told him how nice that was and how proud I was, he then gave him his ambulance and computer to play with also. Seriously, I don't know what's in the air, but it was a really, really good day.
When I was pregnant with Elliot, this is totally how I fantasized it would be having two boys. Brothers and best friends. I never imagined the fighting, even though Paul always tried to tell me how it would really play out. Granted, they are brothers and best friends, but they fight too. It isn't all sweet all the time. But, today was. I love my sweet boys and am so proud of Noah. He has come so far and truly is a great big brother to Elliot. I'm so glad they'll have eachother to grow up with.
This morning started off like every morning does. Noah's first words were "Good morning Elliot!" and he gave him a hug. Then he said good morning to me next. And he was just sweet to him the entire day. We went to chick-fil-a for lunch after a Target run. Elliot and him were playing so nice together. Elliot is such a brave 13 month old, climbing up and playing in the tunnels like such a big boy. Noah was so good to watch out for him like I asked him to, taking his job very seriously. He gave him lots of hugs and kept telling him that he was his best friend, etc throughout the day. When another boy was touching Elliot and kind of pushing him he told him to "Be gentle with my brudder Elliot!"
On the way home in their carseats, Noah was making Elliot belly laugh so hard he was practically choking on hiccups. I was just so impressed with the 100% sweetness that I was telling Noah in the car on the way home how proud I was of him being so sweet and such a good brother. He just lit up and said "Mommy, you're my favorite friend! And your my favorite oldest son!" (Paul always tells him that he is his favorite oldest son.)
It just continued all day. Elliot tried to take Noah's sunglasses away and threw a fit when Noah wouldn't give them to him. And he didn't have to. Elliot was trying to steal them as soon as Noah put them on. So he tried to give him other toys. Elliot kept throwing a fit. Noah then gave Elliot his glasses and told him he could have a turn. When I told him how nice that was and how proud I was, he then gave him his ambulance and computer to play with also. Seriously, I don't know what's in the air, but it was a really, really good day.
When I was pregnant with Elliot, this is totally how I fantasized it would be having two boys. Brothers and best friends. I never imagined the fighting, even though Paul always tried to tell me how it would really play out. Granted, they are brothers and best friends, but they fight too. It isn't all sweet all the time. But, today was. I love my sweet boys and am so proud of Noah. He has come so far and truly is a great big brother to Elliot. I'm so glad they'll have eachother to grow up with.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Elliot's first haircut
Well today was Elliot's first haircut! I was proud of myself for not crying. I started to feel my eyes tear up and was able to turn it off just as fast. I knew I could trust that it was going to come out cute. Instead of taking him to the fun, overpriced kids places where they get to sit in cars and eat dum-dum lollipops (where you never know what you are going to get), I took him to the place I get my hair cut. So I wasn't worried about them chopping his curls off. They just cut it dry and trimmed up the bangs and took a little bulk out of the back. I absolutely love it! It looks much better and is super cute. He still looks like my cute little curly haired baby - WHEW!
Before his haircut, Noah told him to be brave and hugged him
No bangs in his big blue eyes
Noah was so helpful keeping him distracted (as was a cookie she gave him)
After
Before his haircut, Noah told him to be brave and hugged him
No bangs in his big blue eyes
Noah was so helpful keeping him distracted (as was a cookie she gave him)
After
Hide & Seek
Noah & I play this several times a day. He doesn't quite get all the rules, and I don't care. It's fun our way. I count to 20 while he hides in the ottoman. Every single time, it's in the ottoman. Every single time I open the lid he laughs and says "FOUND ME!". Then it's my turn to hide.
The only exception is if we are upstairs. Then he hides in my closet. One time I was pretending to look for him and that I was just going to put on a pair of shoes real quick and put my bare foot on him and yelled like I was startled I found him. Hysterics ensued. Now I have to pretend to get shoes on and step on him every single time. Never gets old.
The only exception is if we are upstairs. Then he hides in my closet. One time I was pretending to look for him and that I was just going to put on a pair of shoes real quick and put my bare foot on him and yelled like I was startled I found him. Hysterics ensued. Now I have to pretend to get shoes on and step on him every single time. Never gets old.
First park day of 2010
The perfect first day of the season for the park. It was warm, sunny, no wind, no crowds. And now Elliot can walk, which made it SO much more fun! We stopped by Sonic afterward and got cherry limeades for Noah & I and a junior burger for all 3 of us. Elliot inhaled his entire hamburger yelling at me if I didn't get his bites to him fast enough. He takes after carnivore cousin Charlie for sure.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Funny Noah
These won't be as funny to read as it is to hear the tone and way he says it, but I'm posting it anyway so I'll remember it.
Elliot was fussing right at his naptime. Noah said in kind of a sing song voice .............. "Someone's Tiiiiiiired". The way he said it was hysterical and for a few seconds I wondered where he came up with it. Then I realized it was from me!
Yesterday after his bath I had him all dressed, except his socks. He sat down and looked at his feet and said (just like me) "I knew I forgot sumping!" (something) Again, it's not the phrase as much as the way he says it and sounds just like me. I was cracking up.
Elliot was fussing right at his naptime. Noah said in kind of a sing song voice .............. "Someone's Tiiiiiiired". The way he said it was hysterical and for a few seconds I wondered where he came up with it. Then I realized it was from me!
Yesterday after his bath I had him all dressed, except his socks. He sat down and looked at his feet and said (just like me) "I knew I forgot sumping!" (something) Again, it's not the phrase as much as the way he says it and sounds just like me. I was cracking up.
Spring is in the air
It has been a LONG winter. Not just cold and snowy, but without SUN! It felt so good just to drive with the sun shining in, much less actually getting out and playing outside. I'm so glad Spring is coming!
I got Elliot his first pair of real walking shoes. It is still muddy from the melting snow and his little soft soled crib shoes aren't going to work for all our outdoor play coming up. He instantly crawled, forgetting how to walk as soon as I put them on. I'm sure it won't be long before he's running in them though. He measured a size 5 1/2 Wide. Noah was 5 1/2 extra wide (at 9 months when he started walking). So smaller than big brudder for sure. I thought his feet were narrow - hahaha! I'm used to huge Fred Flintstone feet I guess. Noah also got some new tennis shoes that have green trim on them, so he was thrilled. And taking them both by myself shoe shopping at Nordies went way better than I expected. Shoe shopping with Noah is something I have always despised. Waiting for our turn, him cooperating sitting still to try on shoes, etc. He did awesome yesterday! Elliot was the one running away into their stock room multiple times! I bribed Noah with a Merry-Go-Round ride and cherry limeade if he did good.
We spent the afternoon outdoors. E loves digging in the dirt, playing with acorns, trying to RUN even though he only really started walking in the past couple of weeks. I was just trying to prevent a face plant injury on the cement at the church. He is at that age that he is wild, has no fear and has his own agenda. This spring & summer he's going to keep me on my toes just chasing him. I had to run him home quickly to wash hands after him attempting to pick up dog poop someone didn't scoop.
I only have a few cell phone pics of E. Noah was running around playing Captain America chasing Batman & Wonderwoman (Hudson & Addison).
Playing at the church. This little vest brings back so many memories of Noah playing in the dirt too (only it was Fall for him)
Playing with acorns
I got Elliot his first pair of real walking shoes. It is still muddy from the melting snow and his little soft soled crib shoes aren't going to work for all our outdoor play coming up. He instantly crawled, forgetting how to walk as soon as I put them on. I'm sure it won't be long before he's running in them though. He measured a size 5 1/2 Wide. Noah was 5 1/2 extra wide (at 9 months when he started walking). So smaller than big brudder for sure. I thought his feet were narrow - hahaha! I'm used to huge Fred Flintstone feet I guess. Noah also got some new tennis shoes that have green trim on them, so he was thrilled. And taking them both by myself shoe shopping at Nordies went way better than I expected. Shoe shopping with Noah is something I have always despised. Waiting for our turn, him cooperating sitting still to try on shoes, etc. He did awesome yesterday! Elliot was the one running away into their stock room multiple times! I bribed Noah with a Merry-Go-Round ride and cherry limeade if he did good.
We spent the afternoon outdoors. E loves digging in the dirt, playing with acorns, trying to RUN even though he only really started walking in the past couple of weeks. I was just trying to prevent a face plant injury on the cement at the church. He is at that age that he is wild, has no fear and has his own agenda. This spring & summer he's going to keep me on my toes just chasing him. I had to run him home quickly to wash hands after him attempting to pick up dog poop someone didn't scoop.
I only have a few cell phone pics of E. Noah was running around playing Captain America chasing Batman & Wonderwoman (Hudson & Addison).
This is as far as he got climbing. God forbid I try to help him or move him to something else!
Playing at the church. This little vest brings back so many memories of Noah playing in the dirt too (only it was Fall for him)
Playing with acorns
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