Dear Noah 42 months

Dear Noah,
First I should just say, I love you. A lot. When you reach your arms up high, indicating you want to be picked up, I'm surprised that your fingers reach my shoulders. It is a surprise that you are so big, that I am a mother to a child so big. Tall, tall, and more tall, that's what size we ordered you in. Those who see you are shocked to hear you are "only" 3.5 and those that hear you are 3.5 and haven't met you insist to me that you couldn't possibly do this or that physical activity, being so young- but you can. And if you can't you tell me it's too tricky for you, maybe when you're bigger you'll do it. Things that are still too tricky: monkey bars, driving the car, and buttoning/snapping your pants.

You and Del are hilarious together. You like waking her up by laughing two inches away from her face, but only after you've slept eleventeen inches yourself. If she wants something you have, insists on having it, screaming at you all you have to do is run in circles around her laughing and pretty soon she's spinning in circles after you laughing hysterically herself.
You still speak to Del in this high pitched voice that makes us chuckle.

You love me, by myself. You also love Del, by herself. And Nina. And Grammy. And Emmie. And Gabe. And Alessandro. And yourself. But that's it. Nobody else. You don't like Daddy. Your actions say otherwise. I'm not sure why you insist on this. Good thing Daddy has thick skin.
Speaking of Gabe and Alessandro... you say that you'd prefer not to go to school. When you get to school you dash off to find Alessandro and Gabe. The three of you demand the majority of the teacher's attention, as far as I can tell. You all want to be together but spend most of your time fighting over who gets what toy. You often say you want all the dump trucks outside. All 15 of them, or however many there are. You don't want Gabe to have any. Poor Gabe.
You seem to lead the class with your antics, to my surprise. You tend to be withdrawn around strangers... maybe just adult strangers? Or school is familiar enough that the stranger-related behavior is gone? I don't know. I've seen you initiate disruption galore during group time when only Carole, your teacher is supposed to be talking. I've also seen you use your words to explain your feelings, or decline an invitation to go play where you don't want to go. You now tell me that it's "clean-up time" when we're cleaning up your toys and books at home and you actually help put things away.

Speaking of books! Wow! You have entertained us for about a year with reciting books to us or correcting us when we change a word to something silly when we're reading books at night. This month I have discovered you quietly looking through books on your bed or the living room floor or the couch. You spend hours doing this. It generally leads to a floor strewn with discarded "read" books but then we just start "clean-up time" and things are back in order with minimal fuss. Usually your sister is sitting right next to you, "reading" her own book.

You had your first Halloween experience this month. It was pretty exciting for you. Exciting to see people dress up and to hang out with friends. You were happy to lead the pack in trick-or-treating (you are very interested in being first) even though I'm not sure you knew what you were doing. You would run off full steam down the sidewalk, bypassing candy-laden houses. The children we were with were excited about a particularly scary looking house at the end of the street. You were excited because they were excited and marched your little (or not so little) costumed body up two of the stairs before seeking me out and throwing your shaking body into my arms. You refused to go up the stairs. Around the corner I assured you that the house was safe and up you marched, only to run back to me moments later. Two painted and costumed older children were hiding behind a bush. At the next house you were very frightened by some hanging stuffed skeletons. I went up to them and poked them to show you they were dolls, despite foot movement you saw the skeleton make (because of the wind). After that there were no major haunted hiccups. When we came home you ditched your bag of candy and raced up the stairs to play with friends.

You love the left side. The left side as oppose to the right. We're not sure why. You often check in with us to find out which side is left... and then move your body so it's in the left side. You're rather annoyed that we can't drive on the left side of the road.

We recently purchased your two wheeler bike that we can't wait to give you. We're holding off for your birthday and it's so hard to wait. You hopped onto the display bike in the store and rode around like a pro.

Love you, love you!
Mommy

Pumpkin Carving

We finally managed to carve our pumpkin... on Halloween morning. Turns out it didn't matter much. It's more about the process, not about the lighting it for trick or treaters.
We went to a friends for a party and then trick-or-treating in their neighborhood. When we turned onto our street at the end of the night there wasn't a light on anywhere. Evidently we weren't missed- nor was our unlit Jack-O-Lantern.

Both crazy kids enjoyed nawing on pumpkin pieces.

No body parts were cut in the making of this Jack-O-Lantern despite the picture below.

argh

For those on fb who saw my status... and anyone else who needs to know:
here are the pictures of the tire (and wheel) literally fallen off the car...

I know, it's impressive!

Halloween preview

Ark Boy's preschool has a costume parade on an afternoon near Halloween. That way those that want to participate can and those that don't don't have to (and their kids don't know).
So the kids dressed up (this is Ark Boy's 3rd costume choice this year... not him changing his mind- we keep changing). Ark Boy was excited about his robot status...

... and Farm Girl got a lot of attention and was told several times that she was super cute.

All around a success. We'll see how the Halloween party that we're going to goes on Saturday.

Dear Del 19 months

Seriously Del!
19 months. Okay, this really creeped up on me. You are closer to two than one! I guess that's not too too surprising- the things you do now compared to six months ago... Yeah, this whole changing and growing thing- it's awesome, but also a little crazy.
You wow me every day. I've decided that from now on we should only have kids starting at 18months. I love how communicative you are and "hearing" (usually it's more like watching you sign) the things going on in your head. Often you point to an item of clothing you are wearing (shoes, socks, shirt, blanket) and then point to my matching item of clothing, and then yours and then mine and then yours.... grunting and pointing until I afirm each thing you're pointing to. If there are other people in the room you will be sure to include them in your circuit.

Your verbal vocab is pretty small but it's funny to hear the things you do say like... chicken. I don't know, but I'm thinking most kids don't have "chicken" in their list of 5 words they say. While we have a while before your verbal dialog comes full force, your comprehension is crazy. I can ask you to go and do a couple things and... you'll do them! Throw a tissue in the compost bucket, get your shoes, find a toy... It's not a full proof system. I know this because you are agreeable... too agreeable. If in doubt you nod "yes" to any question asked. This has lead to several conversations like this:
Noah (in a high pitched voice): Del, can I kick you in the belly?"
Del: (nod!)
Noah: She said I can kick her in the belly!
and then he moves to carry out the action. I try to explain that you'll say "yes" to anything by asking other crazy questions: do you want to eat dirt? did the chickens go to the moon today? did you drive the car to vegas? Yes, yes, and yes.

The mimicking thing continues to entertain. You are not too interested in hearing me read a story but you will go find a book of your own while I'm reading to Noah. You then proceed to babble in a high pitched voice (we honestly don't talk in a high pitched voices... I don't think ever) as you look at the pictures and turn pages. Whatever Noah does, you will attempt. He jumps on the chair, you "jump" (raise your upper body up and down) on the couch; he laughs, you sign silly; he runs around the table, you spin circles in one place; he has a toy, you want THAT toy (this works vice-versa too). I love seeing your relationship with him develop. If you're still in your bed with him in the morning he will get in your face when he wakes up and laugh until you wake up and laugh back at him. You often rub his back or hair (whatever Momma is rubbing) when he's sad or has been hurt. You will chase him around making kissing noises while you attempt to land one on him... his sock, his knee, his hand... you don't care where- you just want to give the boy a kiss!
Sometimes this mimickry thing can be a problem; like when I'm trying to change your diaper on the floor and as I squat their getting a new diaper I find that you're squatting in front of me.
When another kid cries you often make the same noise and point to them... they think YOU'RE upset so they cry even harder.

You are still definitely a badge wearing momma's girl. I guess it's fair because Noah has spent the majority of his life as the biggest daddy fan. You want to do whatever Momma is doing (gel in your hair in the morning, sitting on the little potty when Momma is peeing, talking on the phone...) and you give me the biggest surprised look when you see me after we've been apart for a couple hours. You love... I was going to say snuggling but not a lot of snuggling exclusively happens- there is always milk involved. You've warmed up to Da- as you call him- a lot this month and have surprised me a couple times when you reach for him when you're upset. Time will tell if the tide is turning.

You love other kids, especially babies. Recently you've insisted on holding a couple babies at playgroup. You sit with one in your lap for a while and then indicate you're done. Then stay seated and point and grunt at the next baby you're wanting to hold. You like pointing at their eyes, and then your eyes; their hair, and then your hair, etc. It's very sweet. I have been telling people that before having kids I would not want to say there is a difference between boys and girls. I'm so very proud when a stranger isn't sure which gender you or Noah are but personality/social interaction-wise there is such a difference between you (like you wanting to hold babies... although Noah was pretty into you for about a day after you were born...). You love playing with the one doll we have but you also will yell at Noah to give up the car he has so you can play with it (sound effects included), make airplane noises while getting a ride on Daddy's feet, and get dirty in the sandbox. A healthy mix.
I love you love you!
Momma

Dear Noah 41 months

Dear Noah Noah,
Wow! This month has been busy and you've grown so much! Maybe it's just in my head but I keep looking at you feeling shocked that you are my kid. Kid??! When did you seriously morph from toddler to kid. I know, I know- I missed the boat somewhere because really you've been a kid for a while but... I don't know. You just seem huge to me this month. You're tall, you're confident, you're articulate... and the we started preschool.

It's going well... Not as I expected exactly but it could be worse, I know. You are so excited about the idea of going to school- it's been hotly anticipated ALL summer! But the Mommy leaving part is not okay in your world. This, I did not expect. On school mornings (you go twice a week) you are very very excited about getting up and getting ready to go... until we're actually walking out the door. Then you start panicking about me leaving. We talk it through and say you can decide if you want me to leave right away or wait until after you sing songs in group time. You are still sad but we make it to school and you see... Gave!! (aka Gabe). You prance around and can hardly focus in washing your hands (as in you manage to get them wet, get soap on them... and then dry them skipping the rinse step) because you are in such a hurry to get to the playing part. As you race off to do what you want to do you stop quick, turn your head in my direction and yell: "Don't leave!!" So excited, but Mommy needs to be reachable. Each school day transition is easier and easier and if you didn't beg to stay when it was time to go home we might take your protests seriously:)

You love love our chickens and have started doing some of the chicken chores from time to time. You can let them out of their run at night and you love collecting their eggs (we've had 4 so far- one broke when you gave Del a turn to hold it when Mommy insisted that you share- oops!). You also love chasing the girls around and talking about if they're big now or not. We kept telling you they'd lay eggs when they were big and now they are laying eggs so you're trying to decide if they got bigger.

We also squeezed in a quick trip to the cape with our awesome friends, Mike, Kate, Emmie, and Chase. You still insist that we go back to the Cape and whenever we are going to visit Emmie you ask if we're going to "their" Cape house or their regular house. After a quick Cape visit we left for a trip to Vermont where Mommy did a whirlwind photo weekend and you hung out with Grammy and have been begging to go back to Vermont ever since. You even started calling it Vermont this month (instead of Mabel- that cat-'s house). And then you also spent several Saturdays with Nina-Poobah at "Molly's (the dog) house" also known as "the other brown house". You're a busy kid, to say the least, with a full full schedule!
Good thing you've kissed naps goodbye or how would you fit it all in?!

I love you more and more (and it amazes me that the love grows bigger when I always feel so full of love for you... and then there's more!),
Mommy

Dear Del 18 mos!!!

Dear Baby Girl,
Wow! 18 months!! You amaze me daily. We are constantly blown away by how well you communicate (with only a few verbal words) and how much you understand. You often "tell" me something that happened a couple minutes before. For example, you'll sign diaper, sign daddy, and point upstairs. I say: "Did Daddy change your diaper upstairs?" and you nod emphatically. Very impressive, my girl!

We had so much fun this month. We had awesome playgroup meetings at the park, a really fun couple days with Mike, Kate, Emmie, and Chase at the cape, a weekend in Vermont... We've been busy! You! You are so smiley and wave and say "hi" to everyone. Complete strangers! You point, smile, tilt your head, wave like crazy, say "hi". It's funny seeing the reaction from the stranger.
I am often hearing that you are "so laid back!" and "such a good eater!" Let me tell you... I guess, I'm beginning to see your more easy going nature- maybe because you are more able to communicate your wants and needs? Your eating though?!?! Nope. Not giving you that one! Well... at the beginning of the month you would sign "eat" but really eat very little- as in- shake your head at whatever was offered. We realized about half way through the month that you have a food favorite that lasts about 48 hours and then is gone until we stumble on your next food favorite. So in discussing this, I think you overheard us, and your eating improved. You still have crazy preferences (last week you ate about 17 slices of watermelon in one sitting) but you're also branching into the crazy world of eating more than one type of food on any given day.

You are still a very very big fan of Mommy... but over the last week or so you've been showing some serious interest in Daddy. It's very very cute. You know he is the one who feeds you so in the morning you often pop of the breast and sign "Daddy" and "eat". When you're sad or hurt you will ask for him- which impresses me greatly!

You're still super into mimicking. It's comical. I think what adds to the funniness (yes, new word- I think) is that you look so much like me- or so I'm told. I see that we look similar but sometimes it seems that people are shocked by how much we look alike. One time I was looking for something and said: "hmmm" while tapping my lips with my first finger. Now every time I ask you where something is you say: "hmmmm" and tap your lips.
You are super into your routines! But I shouldn't be surprised. I remember when you were a baby and would freak out in the wrap while we were taking a nap. It only took a couple attempted walks before I realized that you were not okay with being on a walk when it was time (according to you) to be home in bed napping. Well, you've become more flexible about your nap times/locations but certain things you get into your head.... You LOVE shoes but insist that only a couple pairs are acceptable for your footwear despite the basketful of shoes for you (thank you, hand-me-downs). When we even mention.... actually, I don't know what we mention- car, out, park, store... something that tips you off that we're going outside you frantically sign "shoes" and "car". If you're offered a non-preferred shoe choice you shake your head no, start saying "hmmm" and looking around, until you find the shoe of choice. Fortunatley, unlike your food preferences, your shoe preference is pretty constant so we can always nab a pair that we know will work. You seem to prefer sneakers. I thought crocs would be a hit because you loved putting on another boy's crocs at playgroup and the fact that YOU could put them on by yourself- yes!... but no. We bought a pair and have been give two other pairs... and no. So you have opinions. And articulate them. Not a bad thing. Actually rather helpful.

I often tell people that Noah was waaaay more laid back but he didn't communicate 1/10 of what you communicate. You have more definite ideas about life and that works out because you also have the ability to articulate those needs. I love spending time with you and getting to know you more and more each day!
I love you Baby,
Mommy