Yuck Face

He's always made this face when he decides he doesn't like whatever we just put in his mouth. It's just so cute. The other day he decided peas were no longer acceptable. Mangoes on the other hand, are great. Yesterday we did a big batch of squash and a small batch of sweet potato for him. He's still not able to pick up food and put it in his mouth, so we haven't moved on to finger foods yet. No hurry, though. Oh, and the "yelling" between bites - we're not feeding him fast enough.

Greatest Kid

I asked Nerdstar last night if everyone thinks their kid is as great as we think Noah Maxx is. I tend to think that parents fall a little out of love with their kids at some point. Or not that they love them less, maybe just like them less. I just don't know what that point is. Is it the "no" stage, the terrible twos, threes? I dunno. Mostly I hope our love for Noah Maxx just keeps growing as it has every day so far.

More than anything, I'm so grateful he's a happy kid. Nerdstar and I aren't serious people by any stretch, but we're not happy-go-lucky either. But I do spend a lot of time every day laughing at and with Noah. It's funny, even when he talks to himself, he'll talk some and then laugh. Like he's learned that's how speaking works, you say some stuff, and then you laugh. He's starting to really laugh more and I love it. Nerdstar was doing peek-a-boo with him and he just laughed and laughed.

For the past several years, I spent quite a bit of time alone in between jobs and moving and such. Once I knew Noah was going to be a reality, I was so happy to finally have someone to hang out with during the day, to run errands with and such. So I'm thrilled that so far he's great when doing these things. I know people in the grocery store think I'm crazy for the way I just talk to him about all of it as if he's gonna answer me.

I love how he takes in the world. From day one he's loved to people watch and just check out everything around him. Now that he's becoming more and more aware, he even more fun to watch. Actually, that's become one of my favorite things to do - just watch him do whatever he's doing. One of his favorite things to watch is other kids playing. From my desk, we can see out into the cul-de-sac. On the afternoons there are tons of kids out there playing, and he sees them, he just wants to watch. (Well, he really has always wanted to run around, but so far he's happy enough to watch.) So, we go sit out on the front step and he's just wide-eyed the whole time.

We also try to do a mom's group get together at least once a week. At the last one, there were two little girls about his age who had just started crawling. Usually the kids are a year older than him and he watches them, but doesn't interact. One of the little girls crawled up to him and they were so cute, patting each other's hair and stuff. He's pretty gentle from trying to pet Ramen dog.

He's so close to crawling, I give it about another week. I know so much changes once he's really in motion. It's hard to gauge how he's going to react to the word No. I've used it a couple of times when he's on my lap at the desk and reaching for the cords on the computer. He generally looks at me like "what in the world are you saying?" He's not particularly patient or impatient so far. Mostly my goal is to set things up so I have to use No fairly seldom.

He's also finally sleeping without his swaddle. And I'm not sure if I mentioned, he's also holding his bottle on his own. It's interesting to me how one day these things just change.

So yeah. We think he's the greatest thing ever.

Recollections and some reflections of the past week

Hi everyone! It's my turn to say a few things about the past week or so. We've flew to Austin and back, with very few issues. As Beth had stated before, Noah Maxx handled flying like a pro! I am also so glad that he did not catch any of these "airplane germs" which got Beth pretty sick afterward.

Austin was great, as usual. Even though there are now more malls (the high class kind with the McCormack and Schmick's, etc.), and even was used to be the "ghetto" parts of the city have this air of sophistication to them. This city was where Beth and I had lived for some 5 plus years (she had been there before I was.), where we got our cats and dogs, and where I must have had a million jobs simply to make ends meet. Looking back, these were some pretty good times.

It was great to have taken Noah Maxx and friends and relatives to Zilker Park. The warm weather certainly helped! It also made me feel that Noah Maxx could feel at home just about anywhere, and that's a good thing.

Besides all the good things to eat over there, it also seems that most of our families and friends live somewhere in the state, and that made me think about moving back there one day also. Over where we currently live at, the cost of living is pretty high, not New York City or San Francisco high but high enough, and don't even mention to me about the lack of good food choices around here. (Unless you want to pay a lot of $ and take a gamble.) I think that one of these days, this rat race will end, and I'd be happy if we can pick up from there and then move back....hopefully with a cool gig. I think Noah Maxx will be really happy too over there, for starters, the weather is warmer and it's better for his poor skin.

We shall see what happens....

Now Beth has been sick for this entire week, and since she was down for the count, I had to take off work for most of the week to help take care of Noah Maxx. I don't mind it, work, as of lately, has not been any place fun to be in. The time off also gave me a chance to see how fun the little man is! Noah Maxx, on the other hand, had also learned during the course of the week that I can be manipulated pretty easily :-) Looks very unlikely that I'll be the disciplinarian.....sorry B!

More Teeth

Noah's top two front teeth are coming through. Well, one is already through, but hard to see, the other is very close to coming through.

The other new thing for about a week now, is him chattering up a storm. We've no idea what he's talking about, but he makes himself laugh - that's so cool!

The stuff the Chinese herbalist sent home seem to be working for his skin. If it's still working in two weeks I'll be impressed.

Other than that, well, he's still be best, cutest little boy ever!

Ideas

Many, many years ago, I had an idea for a business called Stress Break. I'd set up a space where people could come and break things, use a punching bag, use a sledge hammer to beat up an old car - things like that to release stress. The beauty was they wouldn't have to clean up the mess. The biggest reason I quit throwing/breaking things when I got mad was because then I'd just have to go get, or clean up, whatever it was.

Anyway. I know someone out in Cali actually tried the idea. No idea if it's still in business.

Today, though, I got to thinking how cool it would be to find somewhere kinda quiet, a park bench on a nice day would be perfect, and just set out a sign that says "You Talk, I'll Listen." And do just that.

When I was younger, I was one of those people that people would tell pretty much anything to. I always appreciated that. I sometimes miss conversations like that.

First Swinging

We were really looking forward to Noah finally getting into a swing! There's a nice little park close to our house, you know, once it stops being so darn cold.

Lots of Firsts!

Whew, I'm still recovering from our whirlwind trip down to Austin this past long weekend.

We all got up about 5 a.m. Friday morning to catch a 8:23 flight. I really wish the flight had been a couple of hours later, but there just wasn't anything. We packed all of his stuff into a cool bag and one of Nerdstar's old army map bags. Then we got all of our stuff into one decent size carry on. Then there was the stroller. It was all manageable. We packed 3 bottles and a banana and some apple sauce. It timed out just right that he was ready for a bottle as we got seated and settled. Then he checked everything out for a while and then took a nap. He was a little fussy the last 40 minutes or so, but it wasn't anything terrible.




We got into Austin just in time for lunch at Whataburger. Yummy. Then we hit the hotel and waited for my family to come down from Dallas and Nerdstar's sister and her hubby to come over from Houston. I knew the weekend was going to feel a lot like herding cats.

Friday ended up feeling really long because Noah didn't take a nap, and we couldn't either. But, we all went out for dinner and it was good.

This is just a gratuitous cute pic!


Saturday the three of us, my brother and nephew went down to Magnolia's for breakfast and to meet up with a dear friend who had moved out of the country several years ago and her hubby. It was so great to see them. They brought Noah the cutest little stuffed camel fro Dubai.

Then we headed back to the hotel so gather all the family up and hang out at the pool so my nephew could swim a while. Unfortunately, it ended up being a little cooler in Austin than we hoped. I should have known it would be though, it was always cool and windy on my birthday.

Speaking of which, our friend's trip to the states from Dubai for her friend's wedding, and it being the weekend of Nerdstar and my birthdays was what set this whole trip in motion.

We all had lunch at this little Taiwanese place we used to frequent all the time. More yummy.

It was Saturday while hanging out with family we discovered Noah has decided that Nerdstar and I are the only ones who can hold him. Uh-oh. Poor Granny and Pa and Uncle Jason and Aunt Jennifer! He'd laugh and smile at them all day long, they just couldn't hold him. Which was tough on Nerdstar and I - we were hoping to hand him off more!

Saturday evening some friends of Nerdstar came into town. So Sunday we all went down to Zilker park and had a great time watching the kids run around.

Noah got to swing for the first time. I think there will be a lot more of that if it ever warms up here at home!



Everyone headed back home Sunday evening but us. Our flight wasn't until 5 p.m. Monday.

At 3 p.m. Sunday I was perfectly fine. At 3:30 I had a bit of a sore throat. By 5 I had the shakes from a fever. Ugh. This isn't the first time I've gotten sick from the germs on a flight, but it usually happens after I get home. Thankfully Zicam and advil worked wonders. I'm still recovering and congested and weak, but so much better. I was glad to feel good enough to get through the flight home!

Sunday evening another dear friend of mine came to visit. I realized how good for the soul it is to hear the voice of old friends. Emails just aren't the same.

Monday we finally got to sleep late. Then we took Noah to a chinese herbal medicine place we used to go to when we lived in Austin called Turtle Dragon. We're just hoping we can do more than manage his skin problems waiting to see if he grows out of it. The man gave us this chinese herb liquid to give Noah twice a day - and it does not taste good. Poor baby. He's good about taking it, he just makes this sad little "yuck" face and sound when he does. We gave him some orange slices after to help his mouth taste better. He also gave us a wash and ointment. He said if those don't work by the time we're about out, then we should consider having the blood test for food allergies done. We're hoping we don't have to, but will if it's necessary.

Anyway. Noah was so amazing on this trip. On the flight home last night he checked out everyone/thing on the plane and then slept for 90% of the flight. It was good that it corresponded so well with his normal evening nap time! He had trouble sleeping Friday, but after that it was all really smooth. He's always so happy to be out and around and seeing new places and smiling at new people.