Friday, April 24, 2009

We took a spontanious trip to the zoo this afternoon. It is so nice to have a membership at the zoo (thanks Mom & Dad!) because we don't have to plan or budget, we can just get in the car and go. Even parking is included!

Here are some pictures and a couple short videos from our day at the zoo. The weather was so nice - about 65 and a bit of a breeze. All the animals were out enjoying the spring grass and sun. Noah was pretty scared of the chimpanzees, but loved everything else. I think his favorite might have been the lorakeet enclosure. We were able to walk in with the birds and they landed on our shoulders and you could actually touch them. By the time we were done at the zoo, Noah was crashed out and slept all the way home. He seems to need only about 20 minutes of sleep to recharge. He is actually out running around the park with Kris right now. The kid wears me out!!



One of Noah's cutest expressions is when he is thinking about how to get in trouble next or trying to figure something out. He sticks his bottom lip out and chews on the top one. I finally was able to get a picture of it. Too cute.


So, I ended up turning Tyson into a pillow. He left me no choice. He looks pretty cute stuffed - doesn't he? hehehehe. Just kidding. Don't call PETA on me. He is alive and well and has a piece of chive seedling hanging out of the corner of his mouth laughing at me. Seriously.

Hope everyone has a good Friday evening!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Advice Requested.

Help! I'm locked in mortal combat with my giant cat, Tyson. My little vegetable and herb plants are under siege from a hungry feline. They are too small still to put them outside and I have limited places to put them in the house where they'll get enough sun. I can't cover them completely becuase they need air circulation. I've put them in the deepest container I could find, but would like to see if any of you have any ideas. Here is what they look like:






I've threatened Tyson by letting him know if he eats another bite of my plants I'll turn him into a pillow, but he just looks at me and laughs. Seriously.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

A new world record! Someone call Guiness. Noah can climb up and down the stairs in less than 1 minute. I timed him today. I can't believe how fast he can scoot down. Kris said that he was all over the big-kid play structure at the park today climbing stairs. He is getting so strong! I don't know how he doesn't wake up too sore to move every morning. Oh to be young again. I'd break in about 20 places if I fell as much as he does on a daily basis. Maybe there is some truth to the saying "bouncing baby boy."

Noah has a new way of eating his snacks. He takes one bite out of a cracker and puts it back in the box, takes another one, takes one bite, and puts that one back in. And he never eats the ones that have a bite taken out of them. I'm not sure how to make him understand that he's supposed to eat the whole thing before taking another one.

The good thing about all of the playing and running around Noah has been doing is that he is pretty tired by the end of the day and has been going to sleep pretty easily. He only woke up once last night.

Have a good night!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

There isn't a day that goes by where Noah does at least a million things that amaze me. Today was no exception. He did something that neither Kris nor I had seen him do. After he was done with dinner and we took him out of his highchair, without any guidance from us he proceeded to pick up a noodle he had dropped during dinner and took it to the trashcan and put it in. WOW!!!! We didn't teach him that. We have showed him where to put "yucky" stuff, and he must have thought that the noodle was pretty yucky (I didn't cook it so I didn't take offense). We were so proud of him!

I think he might be getting a lot of this through his school. He is in such a great program. Now that he has pretty much moved to the toddler room, he is doing all kinds of new things. They do at least one sensory activity a day. Today they painted with dried flowers. They have group activities so he is getting used to a different kind of interaction with his classmates. Reading and music are a big part of the program and they have a phonics instructor come in once a week. There are great activities like music, tumbling, spanish, and other things we haven't looked into yet. I'm amazed by several people who have actually "unfriended" me because I put Noah into daycare. I think what he is learning is invaluable and will serve him well all his life.

OK, I'm getting down from my soapbox now. No new pictures today. Noah didn't sit still enough for any. time to crash for the night. He's been sleeping a bit better these last few nights. I hope he does again tonight.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Sorry, no post tonight. I'm going to try and get some extra sleep and see if I can nip this cold or whatever it is in the bud before it gets any worse. Kris and Noah continue to get better and better, which is really good.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Monday, April 20, 2009

I think Kris and Noah are finally on the mend. It has been a pretty miserable last few days here at the Butler house and I'm so glad that we seem to be coming to an end of the ick (for at least Noah and Kris). I'm trying to convince my body that it really ISN'T coming down with the same thing, but I might be losing the battle - I really hope not.

Anyway, I'm finally able to find a few moments to post some pictures I've taken over the last few days. The weather has been fantastic and we've played outside quite a bit. In the first set of pictures you will see what a little helper Noah is becoming. He loves to be a part of any chore I'm doing, weather it is making muffins, putting away books, putting trash into the trashcan, or sweeping.
















In this second set of pictures, you can see what a little dare-devil and climber Noah is. I bought this green tub for him to put his blocks in, but it wasn't on the floor for more than 2 minutes before he found another use for it. Actually, he found several uses for it. I probably should have made him get down, but the pictures were so good, it was hard to resist. And he is SO proud of himself when he figures out a way to do something all by himself.

















































































Finally for tonight, here is a series of pictures of Noah and his watering can. This was so amazingly cute. He watered plants, the deck, his shadow, the cats, the chairs, himself, me, and most of the toys he had outside. He had a blast! I can't tell you how much fun it is to be around him. His laugh is infectious and his smile melts my heart. I hope you enjoy these pictures and videos.