December Daily 12.29.10 - Good Dog

My brother D has a dog named Cole.  And, it is seriously, the calmest dog I've ever seen.  After being over to D's multiply times in the last two months, I think Noah finally caught on to this fact.  Tonight, he was brave enough to go over and pet him or push him, or poke him... whatever you want to call it. 

Hi Cole.  My name is Noah.

What a good dog.

December Daily 12.28.10 - Fox in Socks

If this Christmas had a theme it would be Dr. Seuss. Today, we've read Fox in Socks no less than 5 times. Do you read Fox in Socks to your children? If so, you will completely understand why today's post is so late. I leave you with these words from the great Dr. Seuss.

When a fox is in the bottle where the tweetle beetles battle
with their paddles in a puddle on a noodle-eating poodle,
THIS is what they call...

...a tweetle beetle noodle poodle bottled paddled
muddled duddled fuddled wuddled fox in socks, sir!

Fox in socks, our game is done, sir. Thank you for a lot of fun, sir.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

December Daily 12.27.10 - Road Trip

Noah and I got on the road today for a return trip to Louisiana.  Five-plus hours in the car.  Listening to Cat in the Hat, Fox in Socks, and the Grinch Who Stole Christmas books on CD.  An early morning pit stop at Sonic.  Diet Coke for Momma.  Chocolate milk and french fries for Noah.  A halfway there pit stop at Starbucks for a bathroom break.  Another chocolate milk for Noah. A decaf vanilla latte for Momma.  Elmo's Potty Time on DVD times two.  And, finally a much anticipated arrival at our destination - Grammy and PaPa's house.  Thanks for being the best car rider ever, Noah.  You help make a long and boring drive so much easier.

Despite the cold, so happy to be in Grammy's backyard.

December Daily 12.26.10 - No Nap Today

Noah did not nap today.  And, that's really all I have to say about our afternoon.

Well, except that later on he asked for ice cream.  And, I gave it to him. 

And, he was really, really happy.  But only until it was gone. 

I have no pictures to document the aftermath.  The End.

December Daily 12.25.10 - Christmas Morning

Noah slept in this morning until about 6:30AM. Sad, that I call that sleeping in. Santa decided to drop off all the presents in Momma and Daddy's room last night, so Noah's face looked like this when he walked in our door. Notice Daddy's face... he definitely does not call 6:30AM sleeping in.

The loot.

Noah ran straight for the basket of toys. He grabbed his new guitar first and then a candy cane. By 7:15AM, he'd eaten about five. Well, not really five whole candy canes, he just sucks on the top until it becomes pointy then throws it in the trash. But, I did open five. I figured it's Christmas morning.

Santa didn't forget about Momma this year either. Be on the look out for more and better quality pictures on the blog. Yay for new gadgets! I love Noah's face in this one.

Merry Christmas Y'all!

December Daily 12.24.10 - Dear Santa

We did not leave you any cookies this year.  I hope you don't take it personally and decide to skip our house.  Noah isn't really excited that you are coming.  I asked him again today, if he wanted you to come to our house and bring him gifts.  I even specifically mentioned the ones we talked about like a play drum and guitar.  He wasn't buying it.  In his defense, he really doesn't like strangers, and he doesn't really know you all that well.  I mean, he is only three, which means this is only his fourth Christmas.  Four times is really not quite enough for Noah to make a friend.  You're lucky he knows your name.  Anyway, I hope you took into account how much of a good boy Noah was this year.  Momma and Daddy are so proud of how hard he works  in school and the good talking he has been doing lately.  And, he has done so well lately with his big boy bed transition.  Like I said, good boy.  So, we hope to see you pass by this evening.  Who knows maybe there's a chance you can win over this little guy. 

 I mean, he is representing tonight with his pjs.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

December Daily 12.23.10 - Twenty Questions

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? I’ve never had egg nog. So, I’m going with hot chocolate. To be more specific peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks sans whipped cream.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrap? Are you kidding me? Santa’s got a busy night. Just a quick stop to put them under the tree.

3. Real Tree or Artificial? Real tree. Although, I did invest in an artificial this year. It was a two tree kind of year.

4. Colored Lights or White? Clear lights

5. When do you put your decorations up? Decorations go up the first or second weekend of December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? We usually have non-traditional Christmas meals. But, I have to say that this year, I’m craving a honey baked ham.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? I think Christmas morning as a child. It was always so exciting. The doors would always be closed to the dining room where Santa would leave the presents. My brother and I would peek through the doors while patiently waiting for big sister to get out of bed.

8. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? Yes. We open family gifts on Christmas Eve.

9. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I love our Santa tree.

10. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I’d have to say dread, which is why I live in the South. I mean it was in the 70s this week.

11. Can you ice skate? No, but I can roller blade… or at least, I used to be able to.

12. Do you remember a favorite gift from childhood? I got a roller racer around age 10. I loved riding that thing around the house.

13. What is your favorite holiday dessert? As of today, red velvet cupcakes from a local bakery. OK… really, a drive thru? Why do you make it so easy to purchase your sinful yumminess? But, seriously, my grandmother’s pralines are always a favorite.

14. What tops your tree? A star.

15. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love giving gifts, but it is pretty fun to receive gifts from my sister. (Wink. Wink. Thanks, Mo.)

16. When do you start shopping for Christmas gifts? I try to shop all year round. This year I was 95% done by Thanksgiving.

17. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The shopping crowds, hence all the early shopping.

18. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night. Lea Michelle totally owns it on the new Glee Christmas CD.

19. Saddest Christmas Song? Song from a Winter’s Night by Sarah McLaughlin

20. Favorite Christmas Show? Miracle on 34th Street

December Daily 12.22.10 - Sleep Update

I guess now is as good a time as any to talk about sleep.  Where did I leave off?  Big boy bed.  Not staying in his bed.  Waking up super early.  I think right around the time I was at the end of my rope, we took a trip to Louisiana.  I hadn't considered what to do about sleeping arrangements for Noah on trips back home.  But, did I mention that I was at the end of my rope?  Grammy still had the playroom set up with a crib for Noah, so I decided to put him back in it for the length of our visit.  Noah didn't mind, and I think he remembered how to fall asleep by himself.  And, I got some rest and returned home with an actual game plan. 

So, now bedtime is going much better.  Routine is something like bath, read books in bed, chocolate milk, and sleep.  It's not a perfect system.  He still gets up now and again, but getting him to stay in bed long enough to fall asleep is going much better.  Mornings are still an issue.  As of today, we are going on day four of waking up at 5:30 AM.  Too early, Noah.

I have to say that all we really added to the routine was the book reading before bed.  It has made such a difference.  I know everyone does it, but for some reason we just never made it a part of bedtime.  But, I really enjoy it, and I think Noah does too.  At first, I would just pick 3-4 books off his shelf, but Noah has been requesting some old favorites.  And, sometimes, he does more of the reading (reciting) than I do.  Here are the top 5 in our rotation:

1.  Goodnight Moon: We read this one EVERY night!  Seriously, I can't believe we are still reading this book.  I read it too him so much when he was little that the binding of the board book is falling apart.  But, he still loves it today.  I always think it's so funny when he laughs (every time) at the "old lady whispering hush."

2.  The Sleepy Little Alphabet:  I love this book.  I ordered through Scholastic at his school, and it is really the cutest book.  This is one that Noah will recite all the way through from beginning to end. 

3. If You Take a Mouse to School:  This past fall, Chick-Fil-A was giving this whole collection of books with kid's meals.  Of course, with all the CFA we eat, we were able to collect them all.  (Side note:  Noah thinks when you get lunch, you automatically get a book.  It's a toss up whether he wants the french fries or the reading material.) "If You Take a Mouse To School" has edged ahead as his favorite of the collection.  It is the reason he always asks to do a "science experiment," and I am pretty sure why he told his OT he wanted to do "a little math" this past week. 

4. Ten Apples Up On Top:  Noah loves this book.  I probably has to do with all the counting, but when it gets to the part at the end with the bear and mop and the chasing, he gets so excited and really laughs and giggles. 

5.  We're Going on a Bear Hunt:  This is such a cute book, and I think Noah really likes it because of all the repetition.  Because it's in black and white, it's sometimes hard for him to tell exactly what part we are reading, so sometimes he calls the river, the mud and the forest, the snowstorm.  He always plops down on the bed at the ending part... "we are NOT going on a bear hunt again."  Great book.

December Daily 12.21.10 - Gift Giving

Noah and I made an impromptu trip to Louisiana this week for a little pre Christmas festivities. One of which was exchanging gifts with family.

We gave the boys some Saints head gear that Noah borrowed for a bit.

 

And, Morgan looked oh so sassy in her Rapunzel wig.

Grammy and PaPa gave Noah an awesome big wheel bike.

And, with a little practice, I think he is going to be a pro at it.

Nanny Aunt Mo and the boys gave Noah the gift of the season... well, at least if Target has anything to say about it.

Noah loved it!  And, Momma hopes having one at home will shorten our future visits to the toy aisle at Target.

December Daily 12.20.10 - Swingin'

I know the wind chill is somewhere in the 40s...

But, can someone get out here and swing me.

I love to swing!

December Daily 12.19.10 - School Christmas Party

This week was Noah's Christmas party at school.  I love going to his classroom.  He is always so happy to have me there, and he is always so well behaved.  It makes me proud.  Here he is drinking from a cup during snack.  Let me just interject here, that he will only drink water from a cup.  I try to get him to drink from a cup at home, but of course, at home he wants oj or milk.  I try to put it in the small cup, but he refuses to drink it and then asks for water.  Maybe it's time to make the switch... ahhh, if only it were that simple.

Noah and one of this teachers working on a Santa craft. 

The best part of the party for Noah... the cupcake!  Here he is picking up some sprinkles off the table and putting them back on his cupcake.  Can't miss out on any sugar.

 Noah wasn't really sure if he wanted to actually touch the cupcake/icing and get his hands dirty, so he gave this a shot.

It proved not that effective, so he went ahead and picked it up. 

And, then ended up with a super cute cupcake mustache.

December Daily 12.18.10 - Reindeer Shirt

I have previously mentioned my love of Etsy, and I am pretty sure I have previously mentioned my love of this shop.  It's called Sweet3 Leaf Prints.  She makes these super cute tees using leaves as stamps.  I've ordered them for several holidays - Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving.  And, I attempted to order one for last Christmas, but she got incredibly backordered.  She ended up refunding my money, and I ended up with no Christmas t-shirt.  Well, this year, I decided to order way in advance... the first week of November, and well, she again got super busy and a little back ordered, so... I didn't get Noah's shirt until this week, but it is so cute, and so worth the wait.

Here's the front.

And the back.

And here is Noah catching air.  I love it when he does that.

December Daily 12.17.10 - School Holiday Program

Today, Noah had his holiday program at school.  The teachers asked that I send Noah in a red shirt.  I had the perfect one.  Check out this handsome boy.

Please note that I did wipe his nose and mouth before school. Just not before this photo.

Noah's class was the first group on the stage, and they sang "Old Saint Nick" to the tune of "Old MacDonald."  Noah was dressed as a present.  How cute is that?!?

The place was packed with standing room only.  Luckily, I remembered my zoom lens.  I asked Noah later what his costume was, and he told me "a box."  There was another kid in his class wearing a chimney costume, and I asked Noah what that kid was, and he said "a box" too. 

He did so great.  He didn't sing, but he was dancing a bit to the music, and he even did some of the hand motions.  When it was his turn to step to the front, he got a laugh from the crowd when he shook his box from side to side.  I think he had a little help from the teacher in the back. 

I was so proud of my sweet boy!  Great job, Noah!

December Daily 12.16.10 - Here Comes Santa Claus

Conversations about Santa with Noah usually go like this...

Me:  "Noah, do you want to go see Santa?"

Noah: "No... not Santa."

Me:  "But you can sit on his lap, and tell him what you want for Christmas."

Noah:  "No... not sit on his lap."

Me: "But, don't you want him to come to our house and bring you presents?"

Noah: "No... not come to our house and bring presents."

So, with conversations like this, you can image my surprise when I picked up Noah from school last week, and he was carrying a green frog pillow pet.  Noah's teacher informed me that Santa was at school that day, and had given it to Noah.  "You mean he sat on Santa's lap?"  I asked.  "Of course," she said, "all the children did."  The note in Noah's folder said the following:  Noah sat in [Santa's lap] and he said thanks to Santa for the gift.  He was very nice and cooperative.  Later, in the class, he said "No more Santa." 

But, he did sit in his lap at least once this year.  And, there's a picture to prove it.

December Daily - 12.15.2010 - School Day

Heading out to school this morning, I decided to snap a shot of Noah by the front door.  Can you feel the excitement!  Let's see what he walked out the door with this morning.  A sippy cup of orange juice.  A green and pink pencil.  The top pump from his Play Doh ice cream machine, and a stuffed penguin he sniped from Grammy's house on the last visit.  All essential to getting out the door for school.  Please notice my child's pants.  They just keep getting shorter.  I think he's grown 2 more inches in the last month.  I had Dean weigh him this morning... 43 pounds.    Little boy... can you stop growing so fast, please.  And, lately, he's been asking to be carried, often.  And, how can I say no, when he says, "want carry you."  I have to remind myself to bend at the knee.  Speaking of things he's doing lately, he has started to say how much he loves things.  For example, he just woke up from a nap asking for peanut butter and jelly.  And, then he says, "I love peanut butter and jelly."  Just this morning as I was fixing his hair, I teased him with some rooster hair.  He laughed and said, "I love rooster hair."  It makes me laugh.  I love you, Noah.  I also love our Santa wreath... I wonder where he gets it from?

December Daily 12.14.10 - It's a Boy

One of my oldest and dearest friends became a mommy today, and I couldn't be happier for her.  Congratulations to Caroline and Dan on the birth of baby boy, Harrison Joseph.  He was born this afternoon weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches.  Welcome to the world sweet baby boy.  I am counting the days until I can get home to meet you.

December Daily 12.13.10 - It's a Wrap

Let me start with this statement.  Wrapping gifts pre-baby brought me much more joy.  It was a process.  I'd pick out the perfect paper.  I'd set aside a night.  I'd rent a couple girl flicks.  I surround myself with paper, bows, scissors and tape, and leisurely get to work. 

Well, not so much when you have a little one.  I have been trying to get to it, but by the time, I end up getting Noah to bed, I just don't have the energy.  So, today I decided kid or not, it was happening.  I was kind of hoping for a nap on the way home from therapy, but Noah didn't fall asleep.  Non-deterred I forged ahead.  I piled up all the gifts on the kitchen counter. (None of Noah's of course.  Those still need to be wrapped.) I put the scissors and tape in the sink, out of reach of little prying hands.  I threw a blow up mattress from the extra bedroom in the middle of our living room floor.  Perfect spot for Noah to jump out his excess energy.  I put Frosty the Snowman on the TV.  (Thanks for the tip Henry.)  And, I got to work. 

And, amazingly, I got it all done, and I think we only watched Frosty twice, and Super Why Christmas once.  So, now my joy is that the presents are wrapped, and all nice and neat under my tree... at least until Noah wakes up in the morning. 

December Daily 12.12.10 - Christmas Cheer

In an effort to inject some Christmas cheer in the last few hours of Noah's weekend, I convinced Dean to load the family up in the car, and drive the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights.  Normally not one for Christmas festivities, Dean even suggested we grab some hot chocolate before we go.  Great idea, Daddy! 

Loaded down with some yummy holiday sustenance... bring on the lights. We saw lots of Santas and Frostys and Disney characters.  Noah even pointed out a Baby Jesus.  Our crew lasted only about two blocks before we were all tired, hungry, and grouchy.  Hoping to try this again, but maybe with a better game plan. 

December Daily 12.11.10 - A Visit from Grammy

What can I say about our visit from Grammy?  She cooked, she cleaned, she organized.  She made us shop til we dropped.  It was a great visit. 

She left this morning after telling Noah that Grammy had to go home.  To which he responded, "no, not Grammy go home."  We loved having you around Gram!  Thanks for everything!

PS - PaPa shot his very first deer out in West Texas this weekend.  Something to check off his bucket list, although, I'm not really sure it was ever on the list.  Way to go, PaPa!

December Daily 12.10.10 - Fondest Memories

Noah's teacher sent home on a note for the month of December with the heading "Fondest Memories."  It was all about holiday traditions and making memories with your children even if you don't think they'll understand or remember.  It really hit home with me because since Noah doesn't always say exactly what he is thinking all the time, I forget that he really is making memories of tons of things we do.  And, when he does recall something completely random, it makes me stop and say, "wow... he is totally paying attention!"

Anyway, back to Christmas... aside from the trees, we don't have tons of Christmas decorations up, there are a few things out here and there. 

And, tonight as I watched Noah move these tin Santa's from the behind the sofa table to a new location, I realized that this was going to be something he would remember next year.  It's not necessarily a toy, but it's not really that breakable either, so I guess I don't have a problem with him playing with them.

But, even if I did, I'm not sure I could stop him.

At the end of the day, I can usually find them lined up in different areas of the house.  Apparently, the living room is not really where Santa and friends like to hang.  Tonight, they were big fans of the stairwell.