Noah @ 16 months

Gosh this one snuck past me. 

Let me see what I can remember this time around.

• obsessed with: school buses, Elmo (Ernie and Big Bird too, just not quite as much), an open fridge door, his books, trying to put on his clothes, baths/showers, POPSICLES, and stealing our phones to make Siri show him pictures, Brown Bear (the book)

• is getting 4 new teeth which has been awesome. We had a little round of the flu or something like it followed by a cough/cold combo too, so overall not our best month health wise. 

• I can't even count the number of phrases he understands. It has made communicating SO much easier. Even if half the time he doesn't like that I'm telling him no. 

• discovered that he loves stickers. Especially if he can tell you what they are and pretend to hide them. Animals, Elmo and cars are big faves.  And the slide and swings at the park were rediscovered recently too. 

• still loves to read books. Lots of times he will just plop himself down in front of his bookshelf and thumb through anything he can reach. 

• will climb anything he can. He has climbed OUT of his highchair a few times too. 

• loves loves loves to play hide and seek with just about anything. He thinks he can hide pictures in books by turning the page. Or by just putting his hand over them. It's pretty fun. He also uses a cupboard for all his hiding needs. We know to look there first for missing remotes and brushes. 

• loves to have keys to try to open the doors. Car doors, house doors, mailboxes. He wants control. He also likes to have a mini fit when he can't have it his way. 

• is getting more affectionate with his stuffed animals and less with us. Our kisses are few and far between unless we make him give them. But he will kiss his doggy alllllllll day. 

• loves being able to see out the car window and tell me about the school buses and trucks he sees. It is fun to see what he notices. Lots of times he will point out that he can hear an airplane or helicopter WAY before we notice. 

• knows how to put buckles together. He also is really good with his fine motor skills and knows how to unscrew lids. I made the mistake of putting a gallon of milk by him while getting groceries and turned around to find him trying to drink out of it with the lid already off. He also really likes to empty his piggy bank and put the coins back in through the slot. (Supervised, of course!) 

• he is a LOT stronger than we give him credit for. We discovered (the hard way) that he knows how to open our food storage buckets that hold rice and flour. He just puts all his weight into getting it off and then goes to town playing in them. We are constantly having to find new places to put things we don't want him to touch. 

• loves to wiggle his way onto my lap whenever he wants. Even if I try to get him to sit next to me, he ends up on my lap after 10 seconds. 

• really likes to be involved and have some control. He likes being able to stand on a chair while we make dinner and see what is happening. (Which really makes us want a bigger kitchen.) I can notice a difference in our days when I let him participate too. He is much less whiny and is more willing to let us help him if we let him try things on his own first. [which I thought we wouldn't have to deal with for another year or so....]

I don't know if I can think of anymore. 

I definitely miss having a little baby around but having a toddler boy is SO MUCH FUN. He is such a goofball crazy child sometimes but we can't help but think that he fits perfectly into our family. 

HBD!

Happy birthday to someone-who-thinks-birthdays-are-silly-but-I-don't-care-cause-I-like-them!

Thanks for being alive. And a part of my life. (THAT'S why I like birthdays.)

Also, we take the same exact picture wherever we go! And I kinda really dig it. ;)

Noah @ 15 months

(I have had this draft open on my phone for a WEEK. About time I finished it up!)

NOAH:

• after a few funky weeks of fighting me on naps, we are down to one long(ish) nap a day. He still sleeps 11-12 hours and then his nap is usually 1.5 but rarely (oh so rarely) does 2 or 3. 

• the pediatric dentist shamed us into dropping his pacifier. Which actually went 100 times better than the first time we tried. 

• we dragged him all around NYC with friends and he did really well most of the time. He LOVED being held so much and missed it when we got home. He also managed to chip some teeth on the hotel bathtub (hence the visit to the dentist...)

•he has a slight discoloration on his legs that has been there since birth. We finalllllllly confirmed with a dermatologist that it is a port wine stain and is completely harmless. It was nice to hear from someone else that it is nothing. 

• flipped off a couch at a friend's house and got a little bump on his head. Then an hour later fell from a few stairs up onto the SAME spot. He had the biggest goose egg I've ever seen all night long. Luckily it went down pretty quickly and was a small bump with a big bruise the next day. 

• now it seems like every time he falls, it is on that exact spot. He's got a nice lump of scar tissue to remember his not-so-cautious playing

• has figured out nodding and will nod if we ask him a clarifying question. Which is pretty much all day because I can't understand most of his babble and his pointing. But it is nice to be able to communicate at least a little bit. I can tell it makes him happy too. 

• he has learned quite a few new words even if he doesn't make them sound remotely like the real word: Apple, banana, yogurt, school bus, truck, book, blanket, basketball, elephant, lion, cat, window, jacket, hat, please, more, thank you, turtle, up

• he also is into learning body parts: head, eyes, ears, nose, teeth, mouth, hair, hands, fingers, belly button, toes

• loves to come up and tickle you while saying tickle tickle. I randomly hear him walking around saying tickle tickle to himself. 

• he has really come a long way with using his fork and spoon. He's not perfect but definitely gets the concept and is getting better and better. Even stabbing with the fork, which is adorable and hilarious to watch. 

• likes to take the books off my desk or out of my hands and sit and flip through them repeatedly. Especially the parenting ones with babies on the covers. 

• he has become a lot more affectionate and will snuggle into my shoulder now or randomly come and snuggle into my lap. 

•he is a goofy silly kid who loves to make us laugh and will laugh when we do. His "social laugh" is really funny too. 

• he loves to play in the toilet, climb all over the couch, stand on his bike, stand on chairs, putting things in his not-so-secret cupboard, trying to put on his own shoes, sitting down in a pile of his books and opening all of them, brushing his teeth, tickling daddy, and being the silliest boy. 

• he will wave and say "bye bye" to me at bedtime some nights. My heart melts every time. 

Basically he is our bestest little crazy guy and we still can't get enough of him. 

Noah @ 14 months

Hey look! Less than a week late! And with lots of iphone pictures!

I'm having a harder time distinguishing certain things that are new to each month. The milestones aren't as noticeable anymore. 

Noah:

• trying to say more and more words. But lots of it still sounds identical to other mumbo jumbo he says. Things we understand most of the time: car, banana (nanna), his animal sounds (moo, ruff, neigh, baa), baby, ball, dadda, momma, bye bye. He will bring me the remote and try to say "Daniel" meaning he wants to watch Daniel Tiger. 

• got a little plastic bike for christmas. He pushes it everywhere around the house. He has only recently started sitting on it. He can go backwards too but not forward haha. 

• has somehow managed to make David's work keys and a credit card disappear. Not so fun. 

• still really into climbing things. Me, his trike, trying to climb out of the bathtub. He figured out how to climb on the couch but can only do it when he is not wearing diapers 

• is getting more and more insistent about having his own fork/spoon at mealtimes. He also would prefer that you put any/all food into the small cup holder indentation instead of onto his tray.

• can and will inhale fruit in 10 seconds. We have found him sneaking oranges more than once and he really loves his bananas in the morning. And cottage cheese. He always pulls it out of the fridge and wants me to open it. 

• he learned how to play ring around the Rosie and will spin and sing to himself a lot of the time. He really likes the "fishes in the water" part too and will wiggle his hands for you to sing it. 

• he understands tons of phrases now. If you put a hat or sunglasses on him and tell him to go look in the mirror, he will dash off to my room and giggle. He likes to show daddy it too. He is pretty good about listening when we tell him to close the door/cupboard or to bring us something or put something away. 

• still really loves to read books, watch cars out the window, and take baths. He likes to wear daddy's headphones and listen to music. 

• we have him a real haircut and he actually did really well (mostly because David was feeding him candy the whole time)

We both have cabin fever pretty badly at this point. I'm just happy it's February already. This is the point of the year where we start talking about moving to a place where it doesn't snow. 

Noah @ 13 months

This is super late due to Christmas vacation and my own procrastination. And also, no real pictures for the same reasons. Thanks a lot, January, for making me get nothing done. 

From what I can remember and not confuse with what he does now:

- obsessed with things that open and close -- airplane windows, doors, cabinets, Tupperware, etc. 

- has moved on from the hand gesturing to the finger point which gets used over and over again

- is also still obsessed with taking the keys and standing at the front door and pretending to unlock it while sliding the key in the gap between the door and the frame. He will pick one key out and try it over and over again. 

- went to his first BYU basketball game. He seemed to like it and would clap when everyone else was clapping. It was so cute. 

- while at my parents' house, he learned to play "where's Noah?" But instead of covering his eyes to play, he just covers his mouth with both hands and watches you while he waits for you to say "there he is!"

- also at my parents' house: STAIRS. Mainly going down them. He knew how to go up, but we spent a couple days trying to teach him to turn around and put his feet down first. And to keep his hands down on the stairs. Now he can go SO FAST. Speedy McGee over here. 

- will still eat anything but loves fruit. He probably ate an entire bag of clementines by himself at one point. And he knew if he pointed most people would let him have it. 

- speaking of that, he is a master manipulator. He will hold his arms up to anyone until they pick him up. And as soon as they do, he turns and points to what he really wanted in the first place. And everyone loved when he would hold his arms out, so of course he almost always got what he wanted. 

- he didn't really get christmas 100% but he definitely had fun seeing everyone and was totally spoiled. 

And that's all I remember at this point. 

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.