HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

Chipmunk

Noah packs his cheeks and then slowly eats the food. By slowly I mean when we put him to bed he will pull whatever food he has left and give it to you. Kind of like a cow.
Tonight, he stuffed his cheeks with crackers and then tried to wash them down with water.
Yeah, that didn't go so well, we had to scoop them out of his mouth so he wouldn't choke. Here is a picture pre-water incident.
My son. The food stasher.

"...And then you totally redeem yourself"

Last night was awful. Noah woke up screaming at 12:20 and then 10 minutes later fell back asleep. Then at 2:30 woke up again screaming, this time not going back to sleep. Dave got up and then I had to get up because the screaming turned shrill... yes, I mean shrill. Like a horror movie and Noah was being chased. So I got up, gave him some Tylenol (people from Tylenol, I love you, by the way) and then rocked him... still screaming, just a more shocked scream this time. So then (usually I don't do this) he came into bed with Dave and I and he still was crying but calming down. He finally fell asleep at 4am. Now I recognize that some might say I am pampered that Noah has been sleeping through the night since 8 weeks but really at 3 in the morning I am just thinking, "Seriously?"
This morning Noah screamed at 5:30 when Dave was getting ready, and instead of sleeping in decided to wake up at the same time. I turned on the tv and let him watch a cartoon so I could live in slumber for a little longer. 20 minutes later... Noah leans down and gives me 2 kisses, says "mamamamama" and then smiles at me.
Yeah... You totally redeemed yourself.

12 Months = One-derful

Dear Noah,

A whole year! One year ago our lives changed. Dad and I did not know what to expect and were scared to become parents. You have made it so easy on us. You have been such a good baby and we are so lucky to have you!

In the past month you have become happier and happier. You are smiling all the time and you can't wait to play with your toys.

Great-Grandma died this last month so you attended your first memorial and were able to see lots of family!

Then we made a quick decision and went to Boise so you could meet TeTe, Sylas and Isaac for the very first time! You had a good time playing with all the other kids! We had a great time and can't wait to come back.

You started eating larger bites because you now have 8 teeth! And I can feel the starts of many more! The best thing in your food adventures lately has been eating an apple off the core. You love it. I was a little hesitant at first but you are so enthralled by it!

We had your first birthday party. You got so many nice gifts and you didn't eat the cake but just the frosting.



You are paying attention to so many things around you. You will just sit at the window and watch the cars go by or at the store look at all of the different items and point.

Talking has been a fun thing to listen to. You babble and babble away. Different sounds are coming out of your mouth and you are looking at Daddy and I as if we should know what you are telling us. This month you got your first haircut. I was a little scared because of the last time we did anything with your hair half of it fell out. But this one was a success. We didn't want you to have a mullet and that is where you were headed. We had to give you a cookie and at one point hold your head but you were very good through the whole process.

One of the most heartwarming things you do is when daddy gets home at night you rush to the door with your arms up. I love watching you get excited when you hear the glass door open. You now anticipate dad's arrival. You still give the best hugs!Even though it has been a year, it doesn't feel like it has been that long. I wish I could box up every moment and relive it. You bring so much joy every day. Our life is so full with you in it. I can't wait until you wake up every morning and the new things you will learn and the unconditional love you give me. Thank you for one of the best years of my life.

Love, Mommy

sooo.....

I have not gotten out of my pajamas today... Just wanted to inform you. I am about to go take a shower. get off my back. I know I smell. ok. ok. ok.I am going...

My Grandma

picture of grandma 2 days before she was laid to rest

Last night my dear grandma died. She was an incredible woman. As I watched her take her last breath it was both heart wrenching and relieving. She has been suffering from one of the most terrible diseases I have ever seen, both for her and her family. She had Alzheimer's disease.
The last few years have been filled with grief, suffering and joy. Until the last couple of months whenever I saw her, she still had a little of herself showing through. I have great memories of her telling me the SAME story every 5 minutes. I would try to avoid THE STORY, but now I wish she would tell it to me one last time. I can't even remember the last time she did tell it to me.
She is the one to show me yarn, and what to do with it. While recovering from her hip replacement I came to stay with her and grandpa to help, and in that time she taught me how to crochet. She was so patient with me. I can see how in her mind, one of her greatest accomplishments was teaching. She taught me so much.
She showed me that you can go outside of your comfort zone and greet any person over to your house just because they are visitors at church. I never saw her not greet someone with a warm handshake and a genuine smile. She always had a way of showing people where she came from and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Her history of losing siblings, having polio, being dirt poor, getting run over by a car and having her mom tell her she wasn't going to amount to much made her a very strong woman.
She was so independent, even when she couldn't physically take care of grandpa anymore she still wanted to make sure he had coffee in his hand and food prepared for him. This also made it difficult on us to try and help her, I have never seen such stubbornness. She was always looking for grandpa, even when she was at the care facility.
Her love for her family was apparent. She always knew I "belonged" to her. I loved that feeling. Even when I knew she couldn't say my name, I could tell that there was recognition, even if she just thought I helped take care of her.
Grandma, you will always "belong" to me. I will tell of you often to your great grandchildren and will never forget THE STORY, and can't wait to meet you in heaven. I know you will be introducing yourself to everyone and telling them of your legacy of life. It is a great story, I don't know any one who wouldn't want to listen.

11

Noah,
11 months does not seem possible. I think that I try to glaze over the fact that you are another month. Sometimes even after you have turned another month older I still tell people you are younger, only for a few days. I know, weird.
I am calling this month the month of mobility. All the sudden you are speedy Gonzales with crawling and walking along the furniture and in your walker. You are getting so fast! You love to spend the day in your walker if I let you. My favorite sound is hearing those little wheels moving after me as I walk through the house.
You had your very first Christmas this year and it was great! You opened presents like it was your job. You got some great toys but you still prefer to play with things that are regular household items. Your favorites are cell phones, remotes, guitars, spoons, and cups.
Your laugh has become infectious the last month. Almost anything will set you off. You think slurping is especially funny. Noises and singing is still your favorite way to communicate.
You experienced feeling snow for the first time. You didn't care for it. I think that the cold is not your favorite. You did enjoy sledding quite a bit, but after you got cold you had enough!
Reading books and pointing at pictures has really started this month. You always have loved books but the pointing is really come into play. You are able to show me the wheels on trucks. I love how your eyes light up when you know that you have gotten it right. Noise books are still your favorite. You can't get enough of the buttons.
You have started to ride on my shoulders and love the bouncing. This is very painful for me because you tend to pull my hair a lot. You laugh so hard when you ride and bounce on my shoulders, so I don't stop, even though it hurts. I believe this is the start of a lot of things that I will do even though it hurts me. Like disciplining you. I am not looking forward to that, but for now, it is fun to make you laugh.

I love you,
Love Mommy