Sick Kid!

My Noah,

You have been one sick kid these past two months....it seems like you just get over one cold and get another one. Then, we took you to see Santa (which you LOVED..you ran right to him, hopped on his lap, talked to him for 5 minutes, gave him a hug, high five and knuckles, and jumped off and ran to Daddy) and that night you woke up throwing up. Darn Santa and his germs : ) We asked you later what you and Santa talked about and what you told him you wanted for Christmas and you said, "toys and candy". WHAT??? Do you even know what candy is? Too cute! Anyway, as I type this, you are waking up from a nap coughing...poor thing.

You are doing so well adjusting to life with a little brother! You don't seem to mind when he cries and have only told mommy and daddy a few times to put him down : ) I'm so excited for when you and Max can play together...it will be so much more fun for you then.

You are also doing so well at school these days. Ms. Shannon and Ms. Edna tell me how much you and Lilly are getting along and that you are SO smart....you know everyone's names and talk all the time (oh how I know this)! How proud I am!

Love you bunches,

Momma..

Big Brother!

My Noah,

You are officially the best big brother (so far)! Your little brother, Max, was born 10 days ago and things have been so fun with the 2 of you! You've had the greatest time with your DADDY (who is officially the BEST Dad ever)...you guys have decorated the house for Christmas, put up the tree and the ornaments (he even got you a miniature tree for your room and you picked out a Cookie Monster ornament, Elmo ornament, Golden Retriever ornament, and a Santa Clause Ornament to decorate your tree), played in the snow, built two snowmen, went sledding, and rough housed. We are sad to see his week off come to an end, but it's time for you, me, and Max to learn how to manage the days on our own (luckily Gramma Marcia and Grampa Paul are here for a few days so Mamma can ease into it).

You've enjoyed seeing all your family and playing with your cousins....you and Reese seem to have a bit of beef with each other (she growls at you and you make sure she doesn't get any of your toys), but you'll work it out!

You love Max...you always ask to see him or hold him, call him "little brother", and love to kiss him on his head and pet him! You also like to push him in his swing...not sure how much he likes all of this (you usually wake him up), but once again, you guys will work it out!

Thanksgiving was so special this year. We stayed home, had some friends and neighbors visit for a bit, enjoyed a delicious store made turkey lunch and dinner (lunch didn't go so good..you were tired and went down for your nap half way into it) in the dining room, took naps, went for our first family of 4 walk, and put up the Christmas tree! What a day!

I'm so proud of you and love (and hate) seeing you "grow" up!

Love you,

Mommy

Making Up For Lost Time!

My Noah,

Since I've been on bedrest for the past 6 weeks, we haven't gotten to do all the things I've wanted to before baby Max arrives. So, we're making up for lost time and cramming it all in! I took you to Purina Farms on Wednesday, Halloween was on Friday, and Daddy and I took you to the zoo today! I'm exhausted, but it's been well worth it to watch your excitement when talking to the animals and riding the train!

As you can see, you didn't like crawling through the tunnel at the zoo.....you wanted to stand up and then realized you were too tall...hence the crying!

At the end of the day, delirium setting in, you broke away from Daddy's grasp and headed for the golf cart, hopped in faster than we could say wait, and tried to drive away from us! Oh the independence!

Oh, by the way, you just got a haircut yesterday...you wouldn't know it by the way your crazy hair is flopping all over the place. But, your dad took you after gym and said it was a NIGHTMARE! He was sweating profusely when he got home!

Love you,

Mama

Thomas the Train!

Hi Noah,

Halloween this year was so much fun with you! You were so into it...loved handing out candy to all the kids and loved going door to door saying trick or treat as clear as a bell to get your candy! You weren't scared of anything and constantly asked to see witches and ghosts. You informed us every chance you got that a big ghost says "BOO" in a really loud, low voice and that a baby ghost says "boo boo boo" in a really high pitched voice.

You had two costumes (0ne was your cousin Carter's...a monkey that you asked to wear about once a week for a month leading up to Halloween) and the other was your new favorite character, Thomas the Train, that daddy got at a garge sale for you the day before Halloween for $5. What a bargain! You loved being Thomas!

Carol, our neighbor, made you a bag of pumpkin cookies, so you walked around for the rest of the night with a cookie in each hand (of course!).

Daddy and I have already eaten all your candy!

Love you,

Mommy

Pumpkin Farm

Hi Noah,

I'm now allowed to do one outing a day, so last Sunday we went to Rombach Pumpkin Farm with Gramma Mary and Daddy. It was such a beautiful day and so fun to get out with you! You were a little clingy to Daddy at first, but once you rode the pony (Fudge was his name) you seemed to be ready to be more independent. You loved climbing on the big tractor, rolling the pumpkins around, and running around in the wooden fort.

Next year you'll have a brother to explore the pumpkin farm with! You'll have to show him the ropes!

Love you,

Mommy

Busy Busy!

Dear Noah,

You've been a busy boy this past month while I've been on bedrest keeping Max healthy! You get to spend every Monday with Gramma Mary, every Tuesday and Friday you get to go to Mom's Day Out and then spend the afternoon with Daddy, every Wednesday you go to Karissa's and spend the whole day with Andrew, Marrissa, and Madison (your new buds) and her cat Gator, and on Thursdays we hang out with Ava, Baby Lila, and Sarah (either here or at their house).

We've been getting fantastic reports from Karissa and your teachers (Shannon and Edna). They write us little notes everyday and they're so impressed with how you can count (1-5), you know your colors, and are starting to chime in when they sing the ABC's. They said that you mention Baby Max a lot and have a big smile on your face when you do. You are working on sharing and taking turns with your friends. We've had to remind you that your hands need to be nice (you like to swat at things and me and Daddy).

You and Gramma have lots of fun when she comes...you play with pumpkins, go to the park, and play with special toys she brings.

Physically, you've grown a lot too. You climb on evrything and run everywhere. You can now jump up and get both feet off the ground.

You are talking all the time...you have gotten good at using 2 word combinations and sometimes surprise us with 3-4 word sentences! It's so fun to listen to you and communicate with you! Your new favorite animals are the guinea pig and peacock...you ask to see them in the books we have. What big words you use!

Two more weeks and mommy will be off of bedrest...then, either Max will be born, or we'll have a few weeks to hang out just you and me...whatever happens, we're in for some fun here shortly!

Love you,

Mommy