I want to start by saying that I love my husband very much and that he is an amazing man! However, he lost his desires to be romantic a few months after we got married. Since then I have had to gently tell him that I do appreciate getting something a little more than a package of gum and a card on my birthday since he usually receives... oh I don't know... a snowboard, $100 shoes and an iPhone just to name a few.
Well, this year he got me something I had been talking about for a while, but I didn't even think that he would have gotten it for me... and I love it! He got me a digital camera. We have a camera that works just fine, but it doesn't take video and I wanted an easy way to take short video's of Noah and post them online without using the big video camera we have. I also didn't want just a portable video camera... it had to be a still shot camera and video camera in one so that I wouldn't have to carry two cameras around. We want to get a really nice camera sometime in the future, so this was kind of an unnecessary purchase since we do have a working camera already. I feel so special that he thought of my feelings even though we could have done it another way and saved some money. So... thank you darling for your thoughtfulness not just for getting me a gift for once, but for making it super special. I love you very much!
Here is the first video from our new camera... Noah just talking away, and there will be many more to come.
I would like to warn everyone before you read this and get grossed out... this post is about poo, and it is pretty disgusting. The only reason I am telling you is actually because it is stinkin' hilarious!
Noah pooed on the floor the other night! If this was the first time he did it, I wouldn't be writing about it, but since he seems to enjoy doing this, I thought I would bring it up.
Lets start from the beginning... a few months back when Ben and I were living with my parents, Noah decided to poo on the floor. Here is how it happened; I just got Noah out of the bath and he had a small rash that I was trying to help heal. So I let Noah run around naked for a little bit to dry his bottom. He usually goes potty in the tub and I thought that if he needed to poo, I would be aware he was trying to go and would catch him before he did it. Right?? So he ran down the hallway into the bathroom and I was standing at the top of the stairs talking to my mom and brother. A few seconds later I smell this awful stink... and I am thinking what in the world is that?! Then Noah comes walking out of the bathroom sliding all over the wood floor. "What is that he is sliding in?" You guess it... he squatted a pooed all over the floor. Then he proceeded to stand in it and in doing so he got it everywhere! I didn't even know where to begin. I just said "OH WOW!" My mom and brother were curious and I said "He just pooed all over the floor, what do I do?!" Luckily I had some help... my mom took him back to the tub to wash him again while I cleaned up the sick, squished poo that was all over the bathroom and hallway floor. Never again... would he walk around without a diaper.
Well... it happened again! Noah just got out of the bath again, and I sent him out with Ben but told Ben to wait on getting him dressed because I wanted to put lotion on him. So Ben held him in his towel for a while. I was doing some things around the room before I attended to Noah. During this time, Ben put Noah down to run around. Here we go again... letting our naked boy run around. I should have known! So I was in the bathroom and Ben was on the computer. All of a sudden, Noah walked into the bathroom and looked up at me with poo in his belly button, all over his hands, arms and legs! Ewww... "Ben! What happened? Noah just pooed on the floor again!" Sure enough, I walked to where he was playing and he squatted and pooed onto the base on the fan this time. Instead of walking in it, he decided to play with it with his hands! So we had to put him back into the bath and rewash. I had to clean up the mess again! That is the worst part... it is super stinky and just all around nasty.
In conclusion... I think that Noah just enjoys pooing without a diaper! From now on, I should sit him on the toilet and let him do it there! The kid will probably do this anytime he has the chance. Now we know that he can't walk around without a diaper.
After experiencing the awesomeness of 'The Shoppe' in Denver before we left for Hawaii, I was left with a desire for cupcakes that I've never felt before. This desire has stayed with me and I felt I needed to satiate it for time being. So I convinced Amber to help me make some Maple Carrot Cupcakes. They turned out amazing and we consumed them all the night they were baked (we had two extra helpers so it was not just Amber and me), fortunate it was enough to curb my hunger for cupcakes for now. We'll see how long is is before we make another batch, something different next time.
And for anyone within 100 miles of Denver, if you love cupcakes you MUST check out 'The Shoppe', it's the perfect blend of ultra-pop and cupcake goodness, sure to leave you satisfied. If you find yourself outside of that radius, check out the recipe below and let me know how they turn out.
As I told everyone before, our neighbors below us complained only two days after we moved in about the 'loud banging' coming from us. Well... I thought I would update everyone on that situation.
Ben and I thought everything was fine, so we went about our business as usual while we encouraged Noah not to run and fall during the evening hours. At the beginning of August, however, we received a note on our door from our neighbors below explaining that the banging was so loud it was shaking the photos on their walls! She also said that "she hopes we can continue to have a good relationship", but also explained (though not in her words)that if things didn't change it was going to become sour. Well great! Here we go... I was worried at this point because not only was Noah loud enough, Tom and Rachel got here that day... bringing with them two more children! So I wrote her a note back telling her that I understood her frustrations, and that we are trying to keep Noah's noise at a minimum. I also asked her to understand that Noah is only 1 and likes to run, jump, climb and fall. I told her we would try extra hard in the evenings to take the bulky toys away so they wouldn't fall and would do my best to keep Noah from running and falling. That was the end of that... or so we thought!
About two weeks later, we received another letter. Not from our neighbors, but from the complex we live in. The letter states that there was a complaint about noise "loud crying" coming from our unit between the hours of 4-8 p.m. They explained that they consider this type of noise "acceptable daily noise" but that we should consider closing our door and windows in respect for others during these times. (How are we supposed to do that when it is hotter than hot and the utility bill is $350 without running the air conditioner?) They also said that they told the complainers to close their door and windows to block it out for themselves. We are allowed "acceptable daily noise" everyday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Noah is only awake from 8-8 with a 2-3 hour nap during the day, so we fall right into those acceptable hours. So we think "ok, we will try to not let the crying annoy them". That was the end of that... or so we thought!
Only a few days after that, someone from our realtor's office calls Ben. (A little back story... our neighbor from below works in the same building as our realtor, so it is super easy to complain.) The lady on the phone told Ben that they are received almost daily complaints from our neighbors below about the "loud banding" again. They are upset because after dinner they like to watch a movie and they can't hear the movie because of the noise. So that lady was asking Ben what was going on. Ben said listen... we have tried and tried to help the situation. We take loud toys away, we don't let them run or jump in the evenings, we try to get out of the house in the evenings, all so that we can give them a rest. We can't control when our child cries or falls or screams in excitement. The lady said she understood and that she is sorry they are complaining all the time. There is no chance for eviction because we aren't doing anything wrong. She is glad to hear we are trying our best and is prepared to tell the lady to drop it. So hopefully that is that!
I am willing to tell our realtor that if our neighbors want us gone bad enough, we will break our lease at their expense! Then they won't have to deal with us and we won't have to worry about letting our child be a child anymore. I am done with apartment living!! There is no way this little man could make you that upset! Right?
Alright, I am done venting! Next post I will try and make a little less bummerish.
One of the biggest joys of being a mom is when you can comfort your baby! Noah had a rough morning... he was just tired and fussy and all around grumpy. He wouldn't drink his milk because he wanted more cookies, so I told him he couldn't have any more cookies until he had some milk. He threw a fit in the highchair (which isn't ok) so I told him that he was all done with lunch. So then he was REALLY upset. I was able to calm him down and explain to him that he needs to eat what mommy gives him and if he fights me, then he doesn't get any! After he told daddy what happened (which was hilarious because you could hear the upset tone in his voice as he was gibbering randomness to daddy) he allowed me to 'uggle' with him.
He was so tired and upset he fell asleep right in my arms! He rarely does this because he is such a big boy now and he actually likes falling asleep in his bed by himself. This melts my heart! I love watching his eyes as he begins to drift off to sleep. He sits there squirming for a while, then all of a sudden his eyes start to get heavy... and each blink becomes more difficult. Then he shuts his eyes completely, but every little noise wakes him again, and he starts the long blinks over again, until he can't hold it any longer and just falls asleep. I could sit there forever watching him as he sleeps. It is so precious, so pure... what a special time between a parent and a child. It makes me want another baby!!
Anyway, I just thought this would put a smile on some faces. I hope you all enjoy and have a great Friday & Weekend!
I knew this would happen! Noah has been testing his "listening to mom" skills along with his "I can do this all by myself" mentality, and that led to a fat lip and bruised body parts.
Noah understands how to go up and down the stairs, but he hasn't used a stair case in a couple months because we have a one level apartment. We are on the upper unit, so we either carry Noah up and down, or hold his hand and he kind of jumps down them. Anytime he approached the stair case outside of our unit, he turned around, got on his hands and knees and went down backwards. Because of this I usually let him walk out of the house by himself while I locked the door. He previously waited for me or would start climbing down the correct way.
Well the other day at the park, he walked up to a step and just walked right off of it. He landed just fine! Then he did it again and fell down and repeated this a few times over again... So I guess he thought he had this walking off of stairs face forward thing under control? NOPE!
Today we were about to take a trip to Walmart and Noah walked out of the house like normal, walked up to the step and I knew he was going for it! I am yelling Noah...Noah...STOP...Noah NO!! Off he went down the first step... and the next and the next! He face planted after falling just three steps. How do you discipline a poor child for being disobedient when they just hurt themselves so badly? :( Poor guy! He cut his lip in two spots. Right on the outside where I am sure the ground cut it, and the inside where I think his tooth dug in. It was bleeding and swollen at first, and now it is a nasty shade of blue/purple and I am sure it is very uncomfortable. I'll tell you what... It led to a day of fussing and complaining! He was way more reserved near the stairs this afternoon when we went out for a walk!
We took a trip north to Hapuna Beach. This is known for being one of the best beaches in the U.S. Unfortunately, we went in the late afternoon and experienced some clouds, but it was a truly beautiful sandy beach.
Noah was having a blast! Right when we got there, he was in the water. He was incredibly brave with the ocean. He would run up the sand and play with the sand then turn and charge down to the ocean again. We got in a way and Noah was splashing like crazy. The only issue we had was that he was scared of the snorkel dad was using. So anytime Ben came around with it in his hand and especially on, Noah was terrified. While the kids were playing on the beach, Ben and I got to go snorkel a bit. This water wasn't the best snorkel spot... so I am excited to check out some other beaches. But overall, it was an awesome trip.
This post is dedicated to Noah. I thought I would let everyone know what the little man is up to lately. He is a very busy kid! I hope you enjoy...
Update on swimming lessons~ I took Noah to the pool again a couple days ago and he dunked his face multiple times again! He keeps his mouth open though, so I think he is swallowing lots of pool water. I am trying to think of a technique to get him to close his mouth. He also allowed me to tip him sideways and submerge his ears, and I laid him on my shoulder trying to get him comfortable with the floating position. He usually just says "up" anytime I try to get him to float, but he was actually laughing when I was practicing this step with him. We went to the beach yesterday, and the last time he was at the beach he was terrified! Well this time he was screaming with joy every time the water came up to him. He laughed and splashed and had a great time... until I wasn't watching carefully enough and a wave came up and hit him straight in the face. He wasn't into the water after that one. Oops!
Noah Falling~ Uncle Shaun this is all your fault! :) When we were back in Colorado right before we left, we were spending time with the parents and Noah was very interested in something uncle Shaun kept doing. I will try to explain it... Shaun would run super fast onto the hardwood flooring, and would sit down and slide across the floor. Over and over and over again! Little did I know that my son was watching Shaun very carefully! Ever since we have been here, Noah runs across the room as fast as he can and just falls... purposefully! He face plants on the floor and laughs and does it again! The noise he causes the neighbors below to deal with I am not sure, but he has come close to some major injuries! Oh-No!
Climbing~ He loves to climb on everything now. So far he has climbed onto the dining room chair and fell off head first. He climbs onto the couch, stands up and tries to run across it. He brings his clothing basket out, flips it over, and stands on top of that. He flips his toy box over and stands on that. He tries to climb onto the coffee table and side table. He runs across mom and dad's bed and falls off. I have pretty much covered most of the surfaces in the house. Yikes! I can already see the injuries happening.
Words~ Noah is using more and more words as the days continue! It is still baby talk... you know the kind that only mom and dad understand? It is pretty funny though. The highlight is Noah's bird sound. Unfortunately there is no way for me to give it justice by trying to explain it. I am doing my best to get it on video and posted, but I thought I would bring it up quickly. He taught himself the sound... we have loud tropical birds that make lots of noise in the morning, and one particular morning this bird started chirping and all of a sudden, I heard this shrill scream coming from the baby monitor! Seconds later the bird chirped again and then Noah yelled back. It was hilarious! So now he says "Bir" and screams his bird sound. I also taught him to say his name. When I ask him "What is your name" he replies "Nana". Way to go Noah! My personal favorite... right before bedtime when I get him in jammies, I give him his blanket to snuggle with right before bedtime. He will walk around with his blanket and go to daddy and say "aggle" for "snuggle" and will just lay there with him. Ohhh it is the cutest thing! I love it. Every Monday/Wednesday morning the trash man comes, and the dumpster is right in front of our condo, so Noah will run to the window when he hears him coming and watches the truck and looks at me screaming "uck" and laughs! Yes Noah, the truck! I can think of lots more, but those are the highlights!
I hope everyone feels a little closer to Noah now that you can see what he is up to. We miss everyone so much! I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!
