The Little Things

Noah has never been to Chuck E Cheese. As far as we know, he's never even seen a commercial. But when we pulled up today, he saw Mr Chuck and said "cheese!!" Huh?  We went yesterday to play with one of his classmates, but he spent over half the time in a play car that had a big Chuck E Cheese in the passenger seat.  When he hugs us he says "sweet" because that's what we say to him.  So he hugged on Mr. Chuck and said "sweet".  It was cute and weird at the same time.

Then last night we had one of those drink trays from McDs and a plastic cup in it.  He also had a little cleaning cloth.  He was going around the kitchen saying "cooking" and then would bring us the tray and have us "drink it, try it" and then would clean up!  We've got a little chef/waiter on our hands! 

Winter of Winters

Winter of our discontent just seemed too cliche and not all that accurate.

It definitely has been a long, cold, snow-filled winter.  The crazy thing is, back in the summer, I would tell Ching I was pretty sure it was going to be a long, cold, snow-filled winter.  And yet, that knowledge in no way, shape or form prepared me for it being just that.  Crazy.  Back before this winter, we talked about how Texas summers would be a big factor in deciding to move back there if the chance ever presented itself.  After this winter, maybe not so much.  Being stuck indoors and missing all these school days, well, hot summers don't sound as bad.

I find as time goes by it gets a little harder to write updates about Noah.  There aren't big milestones being passed.  There aren't growth spurts.  There's just every day life and little changes over time.  Let's see if I can maybe sum him up a little.

Typical Noah days...

He generally wakes up about 7:30 in the morning.  The days he sleeps a little later, maybe until 8, aren't the weekends, oh no, they're school days.  He wakes up happy and pretty ready to go.  He still calls out "HI" until one of us goes up there to get him.  When I get up there, he'll hand me the car or two he had in bed with him and then say "up, please" so I'll get him out of the crib.

He's still sleeping in his crib partly because he likes it, and partly because it's just easier.  We don't think he's quite mature enough for a big boy bed.  He wouldn't be able to get out of his room if he didn't want to be in bed, but he might get up and play all night if he could.

He still really enjoys going to school and seeing his friends there.  His special ed lady is working with him on being able to say his class mates names.  He still doesn't like to color or do crafts and that's ok with us.  At school when they get to play he spends a lot of time in the kitchen talking about food, and a lot of time with the cars.  We're sort of trying to involve him a little more in the kitchen at home, but it's slow going.  I have a feeling in a year he'll be a pro in the kitchen!

Because we've been indoors a lot this winter, he's still got his favorite shows and cartoons.  He still loves Curious George and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  He'll watch a ton of old Chip n Dale/Daffy Duck cartoons on you.tube.  He'll watch really old Mickey Mouse cartoons and a little but of Dumbo on Netflix.

He's learned a little bit of bargaining.  I'd tell him, "okay, one more George and then nap time." and he's starting saying "one more George" or "one more Jake" before doing something.  What's cool is he's content with really just watching one more and doesn't try to bargain for more.  We're sure he will try for more one day!

He's still just a really cute boy who is very sweet and mostly good.  When he's not good asking him if he wants to go to his room generally gets him to be better.  Every once in a while we actually have to put him in his room for a few minutes.  Also, threatening and actually tickling him works as a good motivator when it comes to getting him to get into his room and get ready for his nap or bath time.  That's pretty funny.

There's a lot I could write about how he loves to boss Ching around, but I'll save that for another time.

I've been thinking lately that I don't know how to be a Christian.

My parents joined a church when I was five, and they still attend that church.  I think I've attended church more years of my life than not.  I've probably read the Bible through two or three times.  I'm pretty well versed in theology. 

But I had a thought a few weeks ago that really shook me.

If no one knows you're a Christian unless you tell them, are you doing it right?

I've been reading the Gospels during this time.  Yes, Jesus hung out with tax collectors and sinners.  But His message was pretty tough.  He talks about plucking out your eye, or cutting off your foot or hand if it causes you to stumble - because it's better to be lame than in hell.  Heck, I'm not even good at turning off tv shows.

Every time it mentions Him healing the sick and casting out demons, it starts by saying He had compassion on them.  Also, there were lots of people with demons in those days - wonder if it's still true today and if so how would we know? One other interesting thing about the demons - they all knew exactly who Jesus was and why He was here - not even the disciples really understood that until later. 

Anyway.  Jesus was a radical with a strong message to any who wanted to follow Him.  The disciples tend to make me laugh.  I'm sure Jesus did lots of eye rolls in their direction.  I think there could be a great comedy movie in there somewhere.

Things I think I kinda get right.  I'm a pretty empathetic/compassionate person.  I try very hard to listen to that "still small voice" that I believe is God talking to us, and act on what I hear.  And I'm amazingly grateful - for my life, for nature, for trees and birds and sunsets and all the small things.  I also try very hard to be nice to strangers when out and about.  I smile at people walking by, things like that.  I often hope it can be that small thing that makes a difference. 

But I get caught in this notion that being a Christian is this complete devotion and surrender, every moment, every day.  And one of my all time favorite books in being a Christian, The Christian Secret of a Happy Life, teaches about our responsibility and God's responsibility in our lives/faith.  Our job is simply to have faith, and God's is to do the action part.  But even that seems hard sometimes.

I often think about being a "good steward" in the small things - you know, home and family.  And boy do those seem to be full of land mines.  My inclination toward depression and impatience make this hard.  If I can't be a Christian at home, how can I anywhere else?  If I can't serve Noah and Ching...  (Although today I was thinking about how much time I spend literally serving Noah snacks all day and hoped that counts!)

C. S. Lewis has some great writings about the very subtle sins that crop up in family life.  I haven't read it in over 20 years, but the basic message sticks with me.  He also wrote great stuff about "love your neighbor as yourself" and just how much and in what ways we love ourselves - part of which is always giving ourselves the benefit of the doubt in our motivations.  Do I do that for others?  It's hard.

I don't know.  I don't know why all of this is on my mind so much. 

Making Friends is Hard

About three months ago, we had one of Noah's classmates and his mom over for a play date.  The boys had fun being totally goofy, and I enjoyed talking with the other mom.  Since then, that boy seems to be Noah's favorite classmate - he is always happy to see him at school in the morning, he even says hi to the mom in his own silly way.  There always lots of chatting and a little fun for the boys before class starts.

I kinda follow the my turn/your turn principle of getting together.  I'll do an invite and then I assume if the other person wants to get together again, they'll do an invite.  Well, there's never been a second play date.  On a couple of days when we ended up not having school because of snow or something, I sent out some invites to this mom and a few others, one time to the whole email list for his classmates.  Nothing. 

Here's where I get sad.  The mom has mentioned other plat dates and the boy have had.  These could have been with neighborhood kids, not classmates.  But I know Noah would love to play with this little boy again.  And I don't feel like I can make that happen.  And I don't know why it's not. 

Of course the other mom could just be busy and all that - nothing personal or anything.  But I don't really know how to navigate this territory and it makes me sad all around.  Sad because Noah loves being around his "friends" so much, and sad because I like these other moms and was hoping to make some new friends. 

Christmas at 3 1/2

Noah still didn't really get the whole Christmas thing this year.  He watched Mickey Mouse Christmas specials and Curious George Christmas specials, but that's about it.  He loves snowmen.  I think he might still be more into pumpkins from Fall/Thanksgiving.  He does really enjoy all the lights and decorations on the houses!

So, we kept things pretty small again this year.  We hung the stockings, put some lights around the tree outside.  I've had my stocking my entire life.  My Mom made the ones for Ching and Noah.  I'm happy we have a fireplace to hang them over! 

About two months ago, Noah decided he was really, really into fire trucks.  That made deciding what to get him for Christmas easy.  It also made waiting to give it to him until Christmas really hard!  We also got him a little Match Box motorcycle. 

The other thing he's really into is Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  Granny and Pa were great and got him some jammies and t-shirt!  His aunt Jennifer also sent him some really cool clothes.  

The lady who's been walking Ramen for over a year now was also really nice and got Noah a little car for Christmas.  We let him start by opening it and it took some convincing to get him to move on and open other things.  

Next year I'm sure will be a bigger event.  We'll decorate a Christmas tree and actually wrap the presents and put them under it. 

The Dentist, Literally, and Other Thoughts

Noah had his first dentist appointment the other day.  About seven weeks ago we noticed that one of his front teeth was starting to turn a little grey.  The internets said that as long as the gums were ok, it was nothing to worry about.  We figured getting it checked out couldn't hurt.

At the dentist, he went right back with the lady and got up on the chair and began his usual stoic, good response.  They did a quick check of everything and a cleaning.  Towards the end he got a little upset, but we didn't even have the silent tears!  The dentist said everything looked good.  I told him I was really proud of him and thanked him for being such a good kid, but I'm not sure how much he gets that.

One thing that's caught my attention lately is how Noah is completely literal.  So far, there's no sign of imagination or pretend.  His speech is coming along.  He's talking more and in longer phrases, his vocabulary continues to grow.  One of his most used phrases is still "what's that?"  We have no idea when he'll change to why instead of what.  He's also still very undeterred, once he says he wants something, he is relentless until he gets it - or we sometimes succeed in changing the subject.  I was talking with Ching about the literalness, and how it seems that once we lose that, we're never that literal again.  I don't know how to explain it better.  I just find it interesting.

In other news, I put on facebook the other day that everything Noah knows about Christmas, he's learned from Curious George and Mickey Mouse Christmas specials.  We did a little decorating this year, but we'll do more next year.  I also said that I'm more impatient and excited to give Noah his present than I was a kid waiting for mine.  A few weeks ago he started really getting into firetrucks, so we got him a nice Tonka one.  We really can't wait to see his reaction!

My boss away from work

Since I'm pretty much a pushover when it comes to just about everyone, I knew that once Noah had popped out I'd get a new boss.

It started with the normal everyday affairs of bringing up baby, the feedings, washings and keeping him healthy.  Then as he grew older, gotten more active and now more verbal, he now makes sure that he doesn't make me feel left out when I am not at work.

He wants me to do everything for and with him, gets me to drive him to Starbucks for fruit and cheese (not a everyday occurrence), marches me around like a little drill sergeant, makes me click countless times to get to the Youtube videos that he wants to watch, and just in general, finding and pushing my buttons.

What can I do?  Because of my crazy work commute, I might get to spend maybe 3 hours with him after work before his bedtime (Probably typical with parents who work in this area.)  So that is kind of like an effort to make the time spent with him mostly quality time, even if it means being bossed around.  Even though he can get a bit crazy when I'm around (picture being hyped up on something) his sweetness and spontaneity make it all worthwhile!  (Unless I'm dog-tired.)