Noah is officially a jock

I was blow drying my hair yesterday so we could take Noah to soccer. When I came out of the bathroom he was quietly sitting on my bed and flipping through a magazine. He saw me and very seriously said, "Mommy, I'm reading this book."

It was the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. He found it on Dan's nighstand and was looking at the football and basketball pictures.

Halloween

Well, Halloween 2007 has come and gone, and there is one very "scary" dragon sleeping soundly in his bed right now. As expected, Noah had a ball. We picked him up from school, changed into his costume and headed over to Malloween and the mall near our house. Kids can go trick-or-treating at the stores. It's safe, not too crowded, and pretty low-key. We went through about half the stores before stopping for dinner and a ride on the carousel. We then took Noah over to his Nana and Papa's house so he could trick-or-treat there. They give out good candy but there were no Mounds/Almond Joy's so I was a bit sad. The weather was nice so after going to a few houses Noah sat outside with my parents and passed out candy to the other kids in the neighborhood. When we asked him at the end of the night what the best part of Halloween was he said it was passing out candy. It was very sweet.

NOAH SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL!!!

As we've said before, Noah likes soccer, but he LOVES basketball. But he's also getting a lot better with soccer and more confident on the field.

Today he scored a goal. His very first one. I though it was an assist but the other parents and Dan told me it was an actual goal.

We are so proud of him!

Noah is a triple threat!

Swimming. Soccer. And in a few weeks, basketball. Technically, I suppose this also makes me a soccer mom. But without the minivan, elastic waist mom jeans, and wash-n-go haircut.

We signed Noah up for swim lessons at the beginning of the summer. Since we live in Arizona knowing how to swim is essential since there are pools everywhere. It's an indoor facility and a year-round program so Noah will take lessons until he is independant in the water.

Soccer started a few weeks ago. I thought it would be fun and a good excuse for Noah to run around and have fun at the same time. He has a FULL uniform, cletes, ball, shin guards, and a soccer bag to carry the ball. His team picture is later this week and he will get a trophy at the end of the season. He's the youngest kid on the team, and not the greatest soccer player. But he tries so hard and have made huge improvements since the first practice. We also have terrific coaches that Noah adores. The pictures are from practice and from his game this weekend. Please excuse the blue socks. Someone forgot that we have red ones that match the uniform (Dan). The games are all offense and most of the kids don't know which goal is theirs, but Noah has fun chasing the ball.

Noah likes soccer. But he LOVES basketball. He can dribble and shoot relatively well for three. In a moment of weakness, we signed him up for Itty Bitty Basketball at the JCC. A friend of his is doing it, and the instructor will pick Noah up from his preschool classroom and bring him to the court/class where I will meet him. He is so excited! He's turning into a little jock and can't go more than five minutes without playing with some sort of ball, including but not limited to: beach ball, baseball, basketball, football, soccer ball, tennis ball, or exercise ball.

Not much else to report. . .next up: Halloween!

And we'll need a urine sample. . .

Noah went to the doctor today for his three-year check-up. He is doing great! He demonstrated to his doctor that he knows his colors and shapes, and he also got to show-off his verbal skills. . .which are pretty amazing. He also told that doctor that he can kick a ball and that scissors are for cutting. In a nutshell, the doctor was pleased and said that he is ahead of where he needs to be. Developmentally, when I asked what he should be doing next she told me that Noah needs to learn how to repeat a story back to us once he's read it. I then told the doctor that he can do that already. This is how we discovered his love the book "No David." They had read it at school and Noah would talk about it in the car.

Then the subject of potty training came up. I explained to the doctor that Noah has gone pee-pee on the potty before and that he clearly shows all the signs of readiness. He knows how to use the toilet, but he holds it in. And he is so stubborn that we're afraid to force the issue because if we do it'll only set us back. The doctor asked if we had used incentives. So I asked Noah what happens if he pees on the potty. He said, "I get jelly beans." When I asked what happens if he poops he said, "I get a lollipop." Yup. We've tried incentives. The doctor then agreed with me that dropping the subject was probably a good idea and that we should just pick it up again in a few weeks.

And then she handed me a cup and said, "we'll also need a urine sample."

I looked at her and said, "are you kidding?" She said that sometimes kids are motivated if they are given a target to "shoot" for. Now, I love our pediatrician, but did we not just discuss Noah's lack of potty training 20 seconds earlier? So if nothing else I figured I would humor the doctor.

Noah and I went into bathroom and he sat on the toilet. First he wanted to use the urine cup to drink some water (thankfully there were some paper cups near the sink). Then he insisted on getting off the toilet to wash his hands. Twice. Then he wanted to flush the toilet. And then mommy gave up.

I walked out of the bathroom, handed the nurse the cup, and said "this isn't going to work." CLEARLY their expectations of Noah are higher than mine. But it was funny nontheless.

And let me also explain the pictures. Both were taken with Noah's new Fisher Price digital camera. I took the first picture. Noah took the second one. Enjoy his foot!

Noah is now THREE

Hard to believe that the "Baby Noah" is now THREE years old. The celebration kicked off last Sunday at a local pizza chain for kids called Peter Piper Pizza (similar to Chuck E. Cheese). ALL of Noah's friends were there, as well as his grandparents, and he had a complete blast playing basketball and skee-ball, eating pizza and cake, and generally being the "life of the party." He talked about it for weeks beforehand and we fully expect him to talk about it for weeks afterwards!! He was so proud of himself for turning 3 and of course very excited about all the great presents he received. The funny thing was, though, at the end of the day, he had all these brand-new presents in front of him and what did he want to play with all night long? The little plastic basketball hoop he "bought" with the 786 tickets he won from playing games at Peter Piper. Probably worth about 3 bucks, the basketball hoop attaches to the door so he can throw the ball through the hoop...apparently this is all it takes to make Noah completely happy. Tonight was his "actual" birthday, and we had a special family dinner of pigs in a blanket, happy-face fries, and a cupcake. Noah received his gift from mommy and daddy (a children's digital camera by Fisher Price) and went around the house taking pictures of the dogs, the floor, chairs, and his foot.

Noah also received some terrific gifts for his birthday. Lots of board games and books. In fact, I taught him how to play CandyLand yesterday (huge hit!). In addition to the digital camera from Dan and I, Noah's Grandma Linda got him a real guitar and his Nana and Papa bought him an Andre Agassi tennis racquet. Papa is planning to start lessons with Noah any day now. In addition to the racquet, the daughter of friends of the family is an animator and worked on the Curious George movie. She knows one of the head artists who drew a picture of Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat that says "Happy Birthday Noah." It's really neat and currently handing in his room.


It's funny, all Noah can talk about is how he will be 5 soon. "Someday I'm gonna be five mommy," is all he says lately. Somehow he expects to skip 4. I guess time will tell . . .

Enjoy the picutres. The little blond boy is Noah's friend Josh. The kids are such good friends that we did their party together.

Noah's 3rd Birthday Party

Has officially come and gone. Party was at Peter Piper Pizza (very similar to Chucky Cheese) and it was a joint party with his friend Josh. There were tons of kids, tokens, tickets, and food for everyone. He had a blast! Pictures to come later. . .

Noah singing "The Turtle Song"

This is seriously funny. We were sitting at dinner and Noah was singing. We asked him to sing us a song and this is what he came up with. Maybe I should put it on You Tube and he can get a recording contract?

That was nice, now when do we eat?

We went to a Baby Naming this evening for my friend Rachel and her new daughter. It was a nice event, and there were tons of kids there, many of whom are in Noah's class at preschool. This naming was held at a small congregation that operates out of a nice strip mall. The sanctuary was small and adjacent to it was an area set-up with food.

Noah got a bit loud during the actual ceremony (the kid has no concept of "inside voice" and "sit still") so Dan took him outside. When the ceremony was over they came back inside. Noah looked at me, cute as a button, and we had the following conversation:

"Mommy, is it over?"
"Yes, it's over."
"Can we eat now?"

I shit you not. At the age of 2.5, the kid has learned one of the central tenants of Judaism. We pray, and then we eat. No matter what. Next thing you know, he'll be planning his meals two days in advance.

First Day of School!

Today was Noah's first day of school. What is significant about today is that it was his first day NOT in the pod. The pod is an area of the preschool where the infants, one's, and toddlers hang out. Thanks to the September 1 Kindergarten cut-off in Arizona, we've been in the pod for 2.5 years. Noah is FINALLY in one of the regular preschool classrooms. We've moved past strictly "daycare." He is in room I, which is also known as "the hive" and the door has a bee theme.

Noah looked SO grown-up this morning when we brought him to school. He even wore his backpack and ran into the building like it was no big deal. And it really isn't, since he already knows the kids and the teachers. But it was exciting to be in a classroom and not where the little kids are, since it's an area that he outgrew about a year ago.

And don't EVEN get me started on his hair. Dan took him for a haircut and due to long lines at the place we usualy go, they ended up at Kid Kuts. Where I seriously think they will be hanging up a picture of us behind the counter. With a headline that reads "Run the other direction if you see this family." The last time we were there Noah kicked the lady cutting his hair in the groin. Twice. As for this visit, it didn't go well. Noah got out of his car and the first words out of his mouth were "I was bad mommy." His hair is not that bad, but it's not good either. I think it looks like his hair was cut with rusty weed-wacker. But it's hair, right? And since it's Noah, it will grow back in 4-6 weeks.

The Exorcisit Revisited

Noah had a bit of a rough night last night, and Dan and I aren't really sure why. He went sleep around 9:45 p.m., woke up screaming at 10:15 p.m. When we asked him why he was crying we couldn't get a straight answer. At first, he said it was because he was scared. Then he said it was because he wanted to bedroom door left open. We calmed him down and he cuddled (re: watched TV) in bed with us and at 10:45 p.m. Dan put him back to bed.

At 11 p.m. Noah started screaming again. He was hysterical, and just as Dan and I started thinking to ourselves, "Oh crap,who's going to go in there and calm him down" Noah, through his tears began screaming, "I HAVE BOOGERS!! I HAVE BOOGERS!!"

At this point we're laughing. And Noah is losing his shit with each passing second. But Dan and I are too busy laughing at the "I HAVE BOOGERS" refrain to be bothered to go in the room. I kid you not, he was channeling Linda Blair.

Eventually we calmed him down. And this morning he started screaming at 5:45, to the point where he came and slept in our bed (which he's NEVER done). When I asked him this morning what was wrong he said, "Daddy didn't leave my door open."

Noah is going to college. . . .

Noah's latest obsession is with the show "Blue's Clues." A few years back, Steve (the main human character) left the show. So as to not traumatize preschoolers who would be irreparably harmed by his departure, Steve's cousin Joe joined the cast. Steve was written out under the guise of "going to college." They did an entire episode about Steve going to college and Joe moving in to take care of Blue, the dog. College my ass. We think it was a contract dispute coupled with Steve's rapidly receding hairline. But I digress.

When we went to San Diego we bought Noah a Blue's Clues DVD to watch in the car, and one of the episodes featured is the one where Steve goes to college. Noah LOVES the episode and is now infatuated with college. He keeps asking Dan and I about it, and we keep telling him that we went to college. And so did his grandparents, aunt, uncle, etc. We've also explained what you do in college (minus the drinking) but he doesn't quite grasp concept. On the show, they make a big deal about getting the mail/letters, so the other day when we were getting out mail I gave Noah a letter and told him that Steve sent it to him from college. He was SO EXCITED that he ran into his room and put it in his little suitcase.

Between his mommy and daddy, I wonder if Noah will end up at DePauw, Indiana University - Bloomington, IUPUI, or Ball State? I wonder how scary the tuition will be.

San Diego was a BLAST!

San Diego was terrific and Noah had so much fun. And we have 357 pictures to prove it. I don't even know where to begin. Legoland was fun and perfect for a little kid. Noah went on most of the rides and he flew a helicopter, an airplane, and his first car. He didn't drive the car well, but he tried. And when it was over he was awarded his very own drivers license. The next day we hit Seaworld. The park was fun, but Dan and I had more fun watching Noah experience the shows and the animals. He loved Shamu and the "lovely pink" flamingos. So much so that we came home with one of each (stuffed, of course). Noah also loved the beach. This was his first time going to the ocean and he took off running for the water before we had a chance to spread out the blanket. Noah and I also played a game where we sat in the water and let the waves splash us. It was fun, but we both got sand everywhere. I am going to let the pictures speak from here.

Noah attempting to sleep in a big-boy bed. It went so well we put a crib in the room for the rest of the trip.

Going down a BIG slide.


Just running around.


YEAH! Waiting in line is cool!

Standing next to Legoman

With Daddy.


In your face!


Noah with his drivers license!!!!


Noah thinking about feeding the sea lions at Seaworld.

Taking a break.

Look at me. I'm driving.






Kissing Shamu.






Posing with all my Seaworld gear.






Building a sandcastle with my *new* green bucket.






Checking out the ocean.






Playing in the surf.






More waves.






RUNNING into the ocean.






More sandcastles.






More waves.






Playing with Daddy in the tub after the beach.