Big Day

It is a toss up which day is a bigger day. Today or tomorrow. Today, we closed on our new house.

Tomorrow, Noah starts preschool. So, the fact that I spent tonight labeling, organizing, and laying out all of Noah's stuff for school instead of unpacking, organzing, and picking up all the miscellanous stuff that has been stuffed in my car for the last month, should be a clue in that, at least for Momma, tomorrow may be the bigger of the big days.

Did you notice Noah's nap mat? I ordered it from a cute shop on Etsy. It was a custom order, and I love it. I heart Etsy. It makes me wish I was crafty.

We have been trying the nap mat out this week. Not really for napping, but more for pretending to nap... for like 5 seconds.

Better luck tomorrow.

C is for Cookie

This morning was "Meet the Teacher" day at Noah's preschool, and as parent teacher meetings go, I would rate this one as... fair.

It may have had something to do with karma because just this morning I was still reeling from my crashed iPhone that is now working minus new apps, music, notes, calendar, and contact entries entered in the last two months. I haven't backed up since July because I've moved and am CURRENTLY WITHOUT A HOME.

Anyway, the day started off on the wrong foot, but we headed off to the preschool. Daddy met us at the school, so here begins our family's forage into ISD. The lady at the door asked if we knew where we were going. Thank you nice lady, we do not. She scrolled her list and found Noah's name. She pointed us to the Cookie Monster classroom.

Long story short, the Cookie Monster room had toys and Cookie Monster color sheets and big jumbo colors. Noah set off to play, and Dean and I introduced ourselves to the teachers. Come to find out, we were in the wrong room. Noah is a Pooh Bear, not a Cookie Monster! We changed rooms, but Noah never really recovered from the switch. In Pooh Bear's defense, books and a view of the playground are fun, but just not after color sheets and crayons.

Noah was by far the most active and unhappy child in the class. Once he saw the playground, he pretty much decided that the playground was where he wanted to be. Noah spent the next 15 minutes running up and down the hall trying to figure out how to get out there. Luckily, Daddy was there to chase Noah around.

I stayed in the classroom to listen to the teachers talk. Observing all the other parents and 2-year olds sitting quietly. I am just going to fast facts. My child is not the quiet one. He runs when he should walk. He eats on the run. He jumps up and down while watching TV. He talks non-stop. He likes noise. He's all boy. I'll called my sister to hear the voice of reason and experience. Take home points. It's fine. He'll be fine. And, if its not, you pull him out. Active is good. He won't be lazy as a grown up. Maybe you should take a nap.

So, I did, and you know, things look much brighter after a three hour mid-day snooze with your sweet baby boy.

Sweet Kisses

Noah is finally getting the hang of giving kisses. He is pretty selective about when and how, and he definitely will not give one on command, but when he decides a kiss is warranted... well, it is just about the sweetest thing.

Like the first time, just about a month ago, when I was lying in the grass outside his grandparent's house staring at the sky. Next thing I know, Noah's faces is blocking out the sun and nose to chin, I get a great big kiss.

Or like last week, when we had strolled to the park, and Noah was running in circles underneath the playground equipment. Next thing I know, he runs up to me and gives me a big kiss on my leg. I bend down, point to my lips, and muah... kiss no 2.

And like today, while I was talking to the case workers from the early intervention program, and he climbed onto the couch next to me, grabbed my face, and gave me a kiss on the mouth.

All unsolicited and all so sweet. Almost like an "oh, by the way Momma. I love you, and I just have to say it!" Well, I love you too, Noah. So very much

The Tot Spot

Last Friday, we headed over to the Houston Children's Museum. Since our last visit, the Tot Spot has been moved and remodeled. I think that Noah would have been perfectly happy to hang out in the lobby our entire visit. I basically had to drag him kicking and screaming into the museum, but I think the struggle to make it all the way to the back of the museum, up the elevator, and to the tot spot was well worth the trouble. In true Noah fashion, he burst onto the scene frantically running to and fro. Most of the pictures were taken over a span of about 5 minutes, as he jumped from activity to activity. It was pretty crowded which added to the sensory overload. But, once he got the lay of the land, he really got into some of the activities. I think this may be an something we will try again. On a side note, Noah is doing a lot of labeling of things he does, and the labeling usually comes in groups of threes. This was in full force at the museum.

Turn. Turn. Turn. Look at all the animals.

Spin. Spin. Spin. How fun are spinning flowers?

Think. Think. Think. Concentrating on the super large lite brite.

Slurp. Slurp. Slurp. Tea time.

Walking. Walking. Walking. Who says you have to sit to slide?

Drive. Drive. Drive. Helping Daddy navigate the city streets.

The Stair Climber

Our recent living arrangements have vastly improved Noah's stair climbing abilities. He alternates between counting the steps as he goes up and down, and saying "climb, climb, climb."

Don't you worry Momma. I got this.

Holding onto the railing. So careful!

See. At the bottom. Safe and sound. And, you were so worried.

Limbo

We are officially back in Texas but currently without home. Our good friends Tim and Catherine have graciously opened the doors of their lovely, three-story, Ethan Allen decorated in beige and white home to us, and we hope to leave it fairly unscathed as we depart at the end of the month. Our house is coming along quickly, and the closing is set for the end of the month. We've been out there a couple times, and it looks great.

As for Noah, he has adapted pretty well to the various changes of scenery. He has officially been out of therapy for a month, and I am getting pretty anxious to get things started again. Next week, I am meeting with a private clinic that offers both speech and OT, and Noah will also have his initial evaluation for the state early intervention program. We have also set up an appointment with a developmental pediatrician, but that isn't until October.

The biggest news on the Noah front is that I signed him up for preschool. Sniff. The program is from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM two days a week. It seems like a long day to me, especially for a little guy who still takes 2.5-3 hour naps a day. The preschool coordinator is probably used to dealing with first time mothers, and she said that they were pretty accommodating if I wanted to pick him up before naptime. I am considering it, but I think I will wait and see how it goes. Overall, I think the whole experience will be very good for Noah and for me as well.

Crazy for the Cozy Coupe

In preparation for our new backyard, I decided to pick up an outdoor ride-on toy for Noah. The Cozy Coupe seemed just the thing.

At the sight of the box, Noah was thrilled.

He could not wait for me to get it open.

Not such a great idea for Momma to ignore the type on the box. "Assembly Required."

Noah tried his hardest to put it together.

But, he just ended up very frustrated.

Thanks Grammy and Greg for putting together Noah's Crazy Coupe. I am sure that he will love it as soon as he decides to actually get in it again.

High Flying

My niece Katie is becoming quite the gymnast. And, can I just say...

This girl can jump!

Morgan, although she doesn't get quite as much air, looks like she might follow in her big sister's footsteps.

My nephew Seth, not to be outdone by the girls, has his own method to flying high.

And this guy has no professional training.

Time for a Trim

Noah needs a haircut in the worst way. It is hanging over his ears, and I am pretty sure in the next few days it will be covering his eyes. It is straight and fine and oh so soft, nothing like my own hair except in volume. And, although I know that his hair always grows back, I always get a little pang when he needs to get it trimmed. His longer hair makes him seem a little more baby and a little less toddler. Just the other day, I was sitting next to him running my fingers through it. I stopped and put my hand next to his shoulder. He reached for my hand and put it right back on his head. It was so sweet, and it earned his tresses another week before they meet the fate of a barber shop floor.