Truck Car Yellow Red

We are in the process of getting Noah set up with the state early intervention program in Texas. All of the therapy is done in house with the idea that by coming into the home not only provides therapy to the child in his environment but also encourages parental involvement. We've talked a lot about specific goals for Noah. Since he is saying anywhere from 70-80 words, one of those goals is for Noah to be able to put those words into two word combinations. For example, since he knows the word sun and he also knows the word yellow, the goal is or him to say yellow sun.

Here is the new nightlight I bought for Noah's room. Noah really likes it, and Dean caught him pointing out all the circles on the stoplight. Daddy decided this was a great opportunity to work on two word combinations. He decided to redirect him by pointing out the truck and car. His thinking was to get Noah to go from saying truck and car. To saying yellow and red. To finally saying yellow truck and red car. The end result. Noah goes up to the night light points to the truck and says truck. He points to the car and says car. Then he points to the truck and says yellow. Then he points to the car and says red. So instead of yellow truck, red car, we get truck car, yellow red. Hmmm... sounds like two word combinatons to Momma.

Catching Up

Since we've been back in Texas, we have had the chance to catch up with some old friends. Today, Noah became reacquainted with his old friend Claire. It has been quite a while since they've seen each other, and what a difference a year makes. We met up at a coffee shop/play zone for some caffeine and fun. What a great way to spend an afternoon.

Here is Claire looking like such a big girl in her cute piggy tails.

Come on Noah. Follow me.

Time to slide.

Monkey see. Monkey do.

Wheee... this is fun!

Five Things Friday 9.4.09 - School Days

We are drowning in boxes over here, but I couldn't let the first week of school pass by without an update. So, here is the preschool edition of "Five Things Friday."

1. I cried on Noah's first day. But, it wasn't when I dropped him off. And, it wasn't when I got back to the house and realized I missed him so much. It wasn't even when I called to check in on him, and the office lady told me he was having a "good day." Nope. It was when I was picking him up and found out that Noah needed a little extra attention on his first day. His high activity level, lack of understanding, and bigger than the average 2-year-old size, made him a bit of a handful on the first day of school.

2. If nap mat cuteness could induce sleep, Noah would have been the first little one asleep. Sadly, it does not. Noah did not nap or rest. Although strangely the "rest" box was marked on his daily sheet, but I guess the teacher had to check either rest or sleep since there wasn't a box labeled "bobbing and weaving around two-year-olds resting on nap mats." A joint agreement was made between teachers and Momma that Noah will be picked up before nap time.

3. Noah really loved motor skills on the first day. No further comment.

4. The teachers told me several times (and it was checked on his sheet) that Noah was happy throughout the day, but he had issues with following rules. I knew that day two would be true test whether he liked school or not. We held hands as we walked from the car to his classroom door, and as I bent down to give him a kiss goodbye, he took off like a flash and jumped right into playing. I am so happy that he likes preschool. Yay!

5. The rules. From the feedback I am getting from his teachers, it seems Noah's biggest issues are not staying with his class and not sitting during snacks and lunch. Looks like Momma has some homework over the weekend. I am really looking forward to when that staying with his class sinks in, and I am hoping that translates to staying with his Momma.

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.