Secure in His Manhood

This outfit really did happen! Noah had an accident at a friends today, and I didn't have a change of clothes with me. Friend, Meri, had just given me a baby gift for London, which included these little pants. What was a mom to do? It was either this or naked! I'm sure Noah's grandfathers would have voted for naked! Ha! Meri, who is from Italy, said that no one would have batted a lash to see a boy dressed like this. Funny how different cultures can be from one another.

And PS, Matt took this picture and almost posted it on Facebook himself...he thought it was hilarious!

Toddlers Need Massages Too

This is one smart little dude.
Our generous neighbor gave me a massage pad (not exactly sure what it's really called)...one of those pads that sits in a chair and massages you? Anyway, I had it sitting in our back room, and Noah took it off the chair, put it flat on the coffee table and laid on top of it. This is how I found him! Cracked me up!

He's working that control like a pro!

A Hard Day of Parenting

Little bit of a rough day with this sweet boy:

(Noah, eating his self-decorated cup cake at Reese's 4th birthday party yesterday.)

Actually, a little more than rough. Everything recently is so difficult with Noah. He fights us on so many things! Nothing is easy. I feel like we've possibly been giving him too many chances to obey, so today we cracked down, and it was a day full of time outs and spankings. Just awful. Nap time was miserable too. He was so tired, but wouldn't fall asleep, and then ended up making a joke out of the whole thing by singing, and kicking, and trying to sneak off the bed, and crawling on top of me, and saying he had to go potty, and a hundred other little things that made me want to go mad.  I usually don't lay in his bed with him, but I knew he NEEDED to sleep, and he would just play if I didn't lie with him for a bit. After an hour, I gave it up though. I felt defeated and disrespected. I tried to tell myself that I was letting my (almost) 3 year old make me, a 32 year old feel this way, but I couldn't help it. I feel like I'm usually pretty strong during these moments of frustration, but be it my hormones, my exhaustion level,or something else entirely, I had a hard time keeping it together. I pray tonight that the Lord would show me how to more effectively parent his behavior in a way that shapes his heart and encourages him to obey with a joyful spirit.

A Few Conversations

While sitting on the toilet this afternoon: 
Noah: "sssshhhhhhh..." (while holding his finger to his mouth)
Me: (whispering) "ok, what is it?"
Noah: (whispering) "there's a monster coming."
Me: "OH, really? is he a scary monster or a friendly one?"
Noah: "he's a friendly one."
Me:  (still whispering) "oh good."
Noah: "mommy, ssssshhhh. there's a friendly pirate coming too."
Me: "oh, ok."
Noah: (whispering continues) "and a friendly elephant is coming too."
Me: I just laughed really hard at this point.
Noah: "sssssshhhhhh..."

While eating lunch at McAlisters with Daddy and Grams after BSF one Tuesday back in April:
Noah : "Jesus is holding me. He's a big guy, and He's not scary. He loves me."
Me: I just cried.


While sitting on the toilet right before bed time (also in April):
Noah: "Can God take me potty?"
Me: I just laugh.
Noah: "Cause God loves me." (implied: God loves me, so surely he'll take me potty.)
Me: "Yep, God does love you buddy."
Noah: "God loves me, and Daddy loves me, and Mommy loves me."
Me: "That's right sweetie, we all love you very much." (heart melting!)

GUM! And the Fourth

Today I found out some very disturbing news: Matt gave Noah chewing gum MULTIPLE times over their weekend without me in Branson. "ARE. YOU. JOKING?" was my response when I found out! 

I thought it odd when I came home from the store today and saw Noah with gum. But he seemed to be chewing it fine, and said that daddy gave it to him from the car. OK, so I let it go. Then on our way to the St. Louis Fair Air Show, he asked daddy for another piece. That's when I asked the question..."Um Matt, have you been giving him gum?" Matt looked immediately abashed, but then totally defended himself by saying that Noah hadn't been swallowing it, and had been keeping it in his mouth for a really long time. My response: "I DON'T CARE!" Our (almost) three year old will now be asking me for gum multiple times a day. Every time I pull it out, I'll have to give him one.  I know lots of lovely people who give their kiddos gum, but it just doesn't rub well with me! My worst fear is that he will fall asleep with it and I will have to cut off all of his hair. (Which if that happens, here's how to get it out. Yes, I've already been researching this sure to happen catastrophe!) Toddler + Gum, to quote Shanna, "NO BUENO!" Needless to say, I am not a fan. However, it appears that I'm now on the gum train. Geez! OK, finished ranting now.

Today is July 4, but because of Matt and Noah's busy weekend down in Branson, we're taking today easy. We did however, make it to part of the Air Show down at the Arch grounds. Noah was tired and a little grouchy, so we didn't stay long at all. He borrowed my glasses, and I think he looks really cute in them. Gotta get this boy some aviators!

(33 weeks pregnant with baby girl in this photo.)

Reflections

 Watched a movie tonight where the main character loses her three day old baby. Heart breaking. And I just happen to be home by myself this weekend. Matt and Noah have gone down to the lake for the Fourth weekend. I'm too pregnant and generally miserable to ride in the car that long, so I stayed home. Bad movie choice for being home alone (which pretty much never happens) and seeing all of Noah's little toys and his room without his presence to occupy them. Made me miss him more than I thought I would honestly. These moments are kind of sad but also healthy I think. It's good to miss the people you love the most; brings out a new perspective of appreciation and love for them.

Before he left this morning, Noah told me he loved me several times and I got lots of hugs and kisses. Recently he's been pretty cuddly with me too. I think he senses the changes ahead within our family, and so he's storing up the love and attention. My theory anyway. It's weird to think that in 7 weeks it will never just be the three of us again. I'm ridiculously excited to meet (still nameless) baby girl, but also a little sad to say goodbye to our current family dynamic. Three years of just Noah and us, and before him, 9 years of just us. I feel like it's so cliche to say how blessed we are, but really, we are. God has given us a beautiful family, and the changes that keep happening are shaping our lives forever. 

I wonder how Noah and this baby will click. Will he be jealous? Will he be mama's little helper? Will he try to jump on her? Will he revert and want to be a baby again, breastfeeding and all? All things to be determined very very soon!

March, April, and May in Pictures

 I'm pretty sure these pictures are not in order of occurrence, and my memory is so slack that I simply can not remember when we did what! So sad! I'm only 32! But, nonetheless, all of these pictures are from March, April and May of 2011.

 We hung out at Foam with Mom Junket when Grams was in town. We packed the place out. Noah had a fun time, although he played mostly by himself instead of with the other kids. He tends to do this when there are large crowds.

We also toured the Kirkwood Fire Station with our Downtown Mom's group. Again, Noah is not interacting with the others, he's over in right field by himself.

No surprise here; Noah found the fire station's golf cart and wanted to drive it!

 He was pretty much a pro around the station, as his Uncle Brian had given him a thorough tour of his own station. In fact, Noah got to "drive" Uncle Brian's fire truck, but these guys wouldn't even let him sit in the truck. He was quite disappointed when he found that out.

He stayed with the group long enough to snap this shot!

We had a wedding shower for Dawn and Eric instead of Community Group one night. That's one happy couple!

Noah and I got to meet Diesel for the first time. I stayed with Sarah for a couple of days, while Noah stayed at Nana and Papa's. He did come over the day we left for a bit, but poor guy was pretty sick, so we had to keep him away from D. Such a sweet baby...I loved holding him. He is so cuddly.

Matt and I got a date night and went to see Avenue Zero's first gig. They did a fabulous job and we had a great time with friends.

 Griffin's first birthday was circus themed! Here Missy is sporting her clown look!

Noah found a comfy spot to hang at the party.

We also celebrated Lee's 3rd birthday at The Magic House. It was train themed and the kids had a great time.

Creating his own train...

Decorating his own cupcake...

Sharing some sort of construction vehicle with Lee...

Nana and Papa came up for Easter this year, and on Easter morning, Noah was surprised by Easter baskets! We did baskets last year too, but he was a little more into it this year, and I think he'll begin to expect it by next year. He got lots of candy and a Toy Story jet (which he played with in Target, and had a fit over when he thought I didn't buy it). Nana also got him a new blow up swimming pool for the summer. He still calls it his "surprise pool." And Pops and Grams got him a really cool recycle dump truck made out of recycled plastic and some cute clothes.

Our church rented out the Chafitz Arena for Easter morning, so we celebrated Christ's resurrection with all of our campuses. Noah held Nana and Papa's hands on the way in.

And he sat in church like a big boy. He really did a great job too...we were very proud of him. I think this was his first time through big church.

We sat near several friends from Community Group, including Jesse, Kristin and Chelsea, her first Easter.

and Todd. (The Malones too, but I don't have a picture of them...boo.)

Still loving music! He likes to watch You Tube videos of guitarists and other musicians, then he imitates them. Really adorable, and something that makes me so happy. I want him to love the arts.

Aidan's pirate birthday was a big hit! Noah is so into pirates right now, and since the party, his love and intensity about them has grown. He told me just the other day that he wants a pirate party like Aidan's, and specifically he wants a chocolate pirate cake.  

Aarrggg matey!

We hit up the Botanical Gardens on one of the first really warm days of the year. I was unprepared for any sort of water activity, but the fountains were on, so I let know play around in his undies. He had a great time, but by the end of it was so tired. He's laying down in this pictures! So cute.

Victoria Vox, a good friend of Brett and Kelly's put on a concert at their house. They BBQ'd and we sat around their pool and listened to some amazing music. It was a fabulous evening. Noah enjoyed the music so much. The next day, the ottoman in the living room became his stage, and we watched more You Tube videos to see others playing the ukulele, flute and bass. The Malone's came as well, and in the picture below, Michael is borrowing Noah's conductor hat.

Lunch with good friends the Cornejo's. These hang outs come much more seldom now that Sandra is working full time again, so we treasured our time together. Noah and Saylah ate lunch all by themselves at their own table.

Noah, Daddy and Joe went to a baseball game together...Noah's first of the season.

We had a girls weekend at Andrea's lake house. It was such a refreshing and encouraging time with good friends.

I was lax in taking many pictures during these months, but I'm almost caught up, so (although I've said this in the past) I plan to be better from here on out! Noah's not getting any younger!