NOAH @ 1 YEAR

This year has been the longest shortest year of my life. We sure are grateful for how much happiness Noah has brought to our family. 

And of course, I couldn't help myself. 

Look how little he was!! It's crazy how much your love for you baby just keeps growing. 

In keeping with tradition, here is what I could think of for this month:

Noah @ 12 Months

- still loves to knock books off the shelf, but knows how to put them up there just so he can knock them down. 

- knows that shoes and socks means he gets to go outside

- graduated to sitting on his booster chair on a chair at the table instead of ON the table. 

- loves his blankets and pulls them out of his crib to carry them around the house

- is very curious and will dig through any available boxes or baskets. 

- is starting to put things IN baskets/drawers after he pulls them out. Recycling bin too. I have found our keys and our air conditioner remote in there while emptying it outside. And lots of apple slices have mysteriously disappeared. 

- will come and sit as close as possible to me. It's the best. Also likes to randomly come get a hug or a kiss before continuing on his way

- will eat anything. We almost never have to worry about something being kid-friendly etc. 

- likes to make noises with his hand over his mouth. He also figured out how to click his tongue. 

- he likes anything that he can take apart and put back together. Stacking cups, putting toys in bins and pulling them out again. He likes Tupperware and their lids. 

- is starting to love playing with balls. Throwing them, kicking them, whatever 

- he has totally outgrown his car seat in height and almost in shoulder width. Sad to think he is almost done with it. He is getting too big. 

- had his first big booboo/fall on his birthday. He tripped over one birthday gift and fell face down right smack into the corner of another gift. His nose was instantly red/purple and swollen. We thought he might have broken it. He. Won't let us touch it at all so it is still kind of bloody and looks worse than it is at this point. 

- started to laugh "socially" sometimes when he wants to join in with us. Also will make some funny sounds if he hears us making them. Fake coughing is probably his favorite. 

- likes to play with keys a lot. Mostly takes them to the door and tries to unlock it. 

Last thanksgiving.

It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed since our first Thanksgiving as a family of 3! 

But this year was pretty great too. It's just hard to beat the incredible day that comes with a baby's arrival. 

Yay hummus! #not

You know how people always talk about "when it is too quiet, something's up?"

 Cliché, but quite accurate. 

Short version. 

Me:..........

Noah: PUT HUMMUS EVERYWHERE!!!

The bright part of the table was also cover in hummus.

Don't let the picture fool you. He's not sad. Just confused as to why I put him in the shower with his clothes on......

Long version:

I thought Noah was reading a book I saw him carrying around. He wasn't. He was smearing hummus everywhere he could. All over himself, the floor, the side table, my running gear (kept in a basket nearby).

The sad part is I can't even say I was in the other room or even on my phone. No, I was watching Daniel Tiger and didn't bother to look around the edge of the couch. (Also my fault: leaving the hummus on the side table cause I was eating and reading during his nap.)

Yay. 

Noah @ 11 Months

Let's not talk about how late this is getting posted or about how his birthday is in three weeks. (what?!?!?)

NOAH

• learning to take bites instead of just cramming everything into his mouth. Little nibbles are the cutest! (Until every apple in the fridge has a bite taken out of it.)

•standing on tippy toes, CLIMBING, squatting down, steady walker, learned to stand up without using furniture

• started to empty things: dresser drawers, storage baskets, trash cans (gross)

• obsessed with: books!, his doggy, whatever I am doing, the library toys, other kids, pulling books off the shelf

• loves to play peekaboo, be chased around the house, go on walks outside, dig in the fridge

• sort of knows how to blow kisses, will "lay down" if told, likes to kick his shoes off at every opportunity

• goes to look for daddy almost every morning after his wake-up bottle

• notices planes and helicopters now, still loves to watch cars and trucks drive by

• he really is our sweet little boy! he loves to give kisses, sometimes comes up because he wants to be held (which doesn't last long, but hey), and is so willing to share with us. He's good for the soul and we love having him around.