Don't even know where to begin.

Noah needed a haircut, and like good parents we called and made an appointment at our local Kool Cuts for Kids. This was NOT Noah's first haircut, in fact he has been getting regular haircuts every 6-8 weeks since he was six months old. We're not sure why, but he has never liked them. However, today was the WORST haircut ever. Wait, check that, it was more his BEHAVIOR than the actual haircut that was so awful. He screamed so hard and squirmed so much that we had to hold him down to even get through the thing. Noah was hysterical, and neither Dan nor I have ever seen him that upset over something. We were convinced that at least one of the Kool Cuts for Kids customers would call CPS on us. We tried distracting him with a Dora the Explorer movie...no luck. We tried lollipops, we tried bribes ("you'll get a balloon afterwards if you're a good boy"), we tried every trick in our arsenal, but to no avail. The woman working with us had cut his hair before and we went to her because she is patient. Noah rewarded her patience but kicking her in the groin. Twice. At one point she asked if we want to come back and finish tomorrow (as if I wanted the experience again?!). Finally it was over, we left her a nice tip and got the hell out of there. I am honestly afraid to go back.

We calmed Noah down, bought him a Dora balloon, and then realized just how uneven the back of his hair was. It was BAD. So we decided to take him to Great Clips so they could even it out a bit. Our thinking was that it was a different place so maybe he wouldn't freak as much. He still freaked, but we gave him some lollipops to play with on the floor and distracted him long enough for them to even it out. When everything was said and done, I think we spent close to $40 on hair today. I have NO IDEA what to do in 6-8 weeks when he needs it cut again.

And now I turn the blog over to Dan to share Noah's performance in the bathroom. . . . .

Tonight at the outdoor mall Noah had a stinky diaper so we made a pit stop in the men's room. They did have a pull-out table for changing diapers, but lately Noah is afraid of changing tables and he did NOT want to go up there. Toby could hear him in the hallway screaming "no changing table, no changing table." It was either go home or change him on the floor so I ended up changing him on the floor in one of the stalls. While I proceeded to change a nasty diaper, Noah decided to peek his head from under the stall and say "hello!" to the several men who were peeing at the urinals. I am sure they appreciated that, but not as much as when Noah treated them to an outstanding rendition of "Fruit Salad" by the Wiggles, sung loudly in his toddler voice. Needless to say....a bit embarrassing!

If there is one thing everyone who knows Noah agrees on it is this. . . the kid is not lacking in confidence or self-esteem.

A note about the beads Noah is wearing. He went to the dentist this week and got to pick out a toy and this is what he chose. They even matched the shirt he was wearing that day. He loves these beads and likes wearing them around the house.

Chucky Cheese

For the last few weeks Noah has been asking to go to Chucky Cheese (or as he says Yucky Cheese). We're not sure where he picked this up (Dan) but nonetheless he's been asking to go. The weather today wasn't great and we had a coupon so we decided today was his lucky day. $19.99 bought us a large pizza, four drinks, and 30 tokens. Perfect! Just a little background. We took Noah there for his first birthday. He was barely walking and a bit too young. Dan tried taking him back about a year ago and he flipped out when he saw the big, overgrown rat known as Chucky. So they left.

Long story short, Noah had a ball! He was a bit apprehensive when we first got there but after a while he fit right in. He loved watching Dan play the basketball game and ski ball although he didn't understand that with ski ball you have to roll the ball and not throw it. He also liked this game where you push a button and try to punch a duck as it moves past you. I personally liked the game where you get ping pong-like balls and you put them in buckets. It's also an easy game to cheat at and as you know, the better you do in the games the more tickets you get. Thanks to mom and dad, Noah ended the afternoon with 118 tickets. It should also be noted that Dan took some random tickets he saw in the some of the games that he CLAIMS did not belong to small children. You be the judge. Those 118 tickets won Noah a hockey pencil with and eraser, some star shaped glasses and some stickers. He also saw a little boy eating a big lollipop so of course he wanted one too.

The pictures are from the car ride home. . . Noah is eating his lollipop and wearing his glasses. We went to Costco afterwards and Noah INSISTED on wearing these classes inside the store. Is it just me or does he look like Elton John, circa 1978? All he needs is some sequins or a Donald Duck costume.

It is 10:30 at night

And Noah is sitting in his crib signing "The Wheels on the Bus" while reading his Dora the Explorer activity book.

Little Pavarotti does not want to go to bed. He already hung out in our room watching the end of the Apprentice, had a diaper change, and a drink of water. For the last 10 minutes he has been signing to himself. Dan is in our office and can hear him going at it. He's clearly happy and content, but the kid needs to go to bed already.

We came, we saw, we Wiggle'ed

Dan and I took Noah to see the Wiggles this evening. As a result, this post may be short since we are both EXHAUSTED. Noah had a great time and we were able capture some video of him at the concert with our camera.

Here is Noah signing "Rock-a-bye Your Bear" which is one of Noah's all-time FAVORITE Wiggle songs. Please excuse the horrible off-key signing from Dan and me in the background.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b83/gingi1998/?action=view&current=rockabyeyourbear.flv

At a Wiggles concert, kids are allowed (and encouraged) to dance in the aisles and directly in front of the stage in a little baby/toddler mosh pit. Despite our encouragement, Noah didn't want to dance. As luck would have it, we were sitting near a little girl in Noah's preschool class. 3/4 of the way through the concert Noah announced he wanted to dance with her, got out of his seat, and rushed the stage. It was really cute and I don't think he quite knew what to make out of seeing the Wiggles that close. How close did he get? See for yourself.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b83/gingi1998/?action=view&current=Wiggles.flv

So close that we could see Sam Wiggle's belly button through his shirt.

Noah News & Notes

Yesterday Dan and I were getting Noah dressed for school and as soon as we finished he looked at me and said, "I'm cool mommy." When he said it he had a look of such confidence on his face that I couldn't help but laugh. When we got to school I told his teachers what he said and asked that they do more to help Noah with his self esteem issues. Noah also said the sweetest thing to me as we were dropped him off at school that same morning. We got out of the car and Noah looked and Dan and said, "I have to go give mommy kisses." He gave me a kiss and wanted me to carry him in the parking lot (which he NEVER wants) so we could look at the sky together. It's moments like this that I need to remind myself of when he is laying on the ground having a tantrum.

In other news he went to the bathroom for the first time on the potty!

We introduced Noah to the toilet a while ago but have not pushed him out of fear that he would lose interest. We bought a special seat that fits over the regular toilet seat but my mom decided that he needed his own potty. . .one that was kid friendly so he could get used to going. So she bought him a potty that plays music when you actually go. It's one of those things that I would never buy on my own but since she offered I accepted.

So last night Noah was naked on the potty and we were looking at books together. . . a friend recommended doing this because this relaxes kids and they are more inclined to go. After about 10 minutes I see urine shooting through the air and all over Noah (the toilet has a pee deflector for boys but Noah had pushed it down). This is when Noah BURST into tears. He was sobbing and all I could do was comfort him and tell him how proud I was that he went on the potty. I then gave him a chocolate cookie/cracker as a reward and he stopped. No shock there. He then asked for toilet paper to wipe off his legs and took his bath. After his bath Noah got back on the potty for another 15 minutes because he said he had to go again (he didn't). Ever since last night Noah now looks at me and says, "mommy is proud of me." Which of course I am.

What else. . .tomorrow is Purim and I made hammentaschen for Noah's teachers and I am working on his costume since there is a parade at school tomorrow. Noah will be going as the yellow Wiggle and I bought some transfer paper to make him a special shirt. If all goes well I will post pictures.