My Boys: Noah

Noah has grown and changed so much I hardly know where to start.

He gets up in the mornings and climbs in bed with me and Chris. He always snuggles deep under the covers and tucks his feet up next to me.

I know that I have mentioned it before, but Noah's speech issues are most evident in the lack of original phrases. This means that he is most likely to repeat things that he hears frequently as they are inducted into his list of "scripts" from which he draws most of his speech. It also means we have to really watch what we say because it often comes out of his mouth!

For example:
I used to hear exclamations of "Ian James!" when he really wanted Ian's attention or wanted him to do something. After a couple of explanations about how James was Noah's middle name, not Ian's, I guess it sunk in because I started hearing "Ian Christopher!"

Noah loves playing with Ian. He frequently asks Ian to 'come pway.' Ian usually does but it is funny to see that after getting them started Noah usually takes a backseat to Ian. He talks like Ian and they alternately copy each others actions (falling, sitting, throwing themselves on the couch, etc). I used to always comment about how it was like having two 18 mo. old children instead of a 3 year old and an 18 mo. old. That is still the case but now they are 2:)

He learned the relationship between them and frequently refers to him as his "liddle brudder, Ian." He has always been good at sharing snacks in the car with Ian. He hands over a cracker whenever Ian indicates he is ready for another. And when I would try the 'leave the recalcitrant toddler and walk away' method of encouraging Ian to come along it is always spoiled by Noah going back to try and get him.
He likes to go in to get Ian in the mornings or after naps (on those very rare occasions that Noah has woken up before Ian.) He always speaks softly and says "good morning, Ian." This afternoon before church he was with me getting Ian up. We had to wake Ian up and I rubbed on his back. Noah was not to be left out and quickly found a spot next to me to rub on a leg. His brother-love is sweet and touching. Guileless.
Noah just today offered his first unassisted prayer. It was short and sweet, but all his. He was so proud of himself. Prior to this, we have helped him know what to say. Sometimes, though, he would add in his own words. We had to chuckle (on the inside, of course:) when after praying for some family members to find work he added "so they can do their email." Chris, after all, either works on the excavator or works on his email on his computer.
Noah is super sensitive in some ways and tough in others. He is very empathetic and kind and we received reports about how he goes around preschool picking up toys and such and giving them back so that child could continue playing. He is as likely to cry when Ian gets shots as Ian is. If everyone is happy, Noah usually is too. It takes a big bump physically to get a response out of him and he is usually content with a kiss although since the discovery of band-aids they are commonly requested cure-all, as well.
He is more a follower than a leader. He is not a daredevil and can be easily intimidated. He is still too nervous to go up in the play places at fast food restaurants. He is still shy and introverted when in new situations or with new people and likes to warm up on his own without being pressured by those around him to talk or do something. He is also still very attached to his "soft bwanket." Life, of late, has offered new opportunities for it to be left behind and he has done so with relative ease but when preschool, a play date or primary are over he would really like it back, please.
He is a good about naptime and bedtime and still needs quite a bit of sleep to be happy and even tempered in the day. He takes a 1-3 hour nap each day and usually sleeps about 10-11 hours a night. He usually goes to bed with a million and one matchbox cars, his soft blanket, and since it got cold, his "big blanket" that is a queen size down comforter. (And despite what this picture might imply, neither of them sleep for more than 1/2 hour in the car!)
He refuses to wear socks most of the time and loves to take off his shirt after a good run around the house (please refer to the second half of the birthday pictures on the previous post where he and Ian are shirtless)-he is related to me after all, and gets hot pretty easily. However, on a cool morning, while watching Dora, he can be found laying on the floor, burrowed in the down comforter.
His speech has improved by leaps and bounds and we are starting to have and hear really funny conversations. Here are some examples:

When daddy changed out the light fixture in kitchen the following conversation ensued.
N: What are you doing?
D: Changing the light fixture because it's broken.
N: Yeah, Mommy smashed it. Bang! (What?! I did not smash it. Actually, it wasn't smashed at all-where that came from we will never know!)

While playing with his toy cars, including a little semi truck, Chick Hicks from Cars (aka mean car), and another little car I overheard this play conversation.
ST: Hey, come ride with me.
LC: Thanks.
CH: Hello.
ST: Hi.
CH: Can I come too? My name is Mean Car.
ST: What kind of name is that?
Noah, after seeing me shopping for a minivan online.
N: Is that our van?
M: No, it isn't our van.
N: After the baby comes out of mommy's tummy we will fit in our new van.

Despite explanations that the baby in my tummy will be everyone's baby he is pretty determined that he will have his own. He is also sure about gender.
N:After the baby comes out of your tummy, my baby will come up.
D: Is the baby going to be a boy or a girl?
N: It is going to be a gwil. Mommy is a gwil and the baby will be a gwil. My baby will be a boy because I am a boy.

After putting Ian in his carseat:
D: Ah, there's a crick in my back.
N: (in a very worried tone of voice) What happens if there is a cricket in your back?
A picky eater, if there ever was one, he eats a limited selection of food and would rather go without than try something new when he is tired of his old standbys. We are still hopeful of improvement in the next year or so. And if it takes longer than that? Well, he comes by it honestly (from family genetics) so we will just have to deal. In the meantime, thank goodness for Carnation Instant breakfast ("chocwit miwk") and V-8 Fusion (1 fruit and veggie per serving)!

Noah is not a cuddler by nature but as he has gotten older he has started to give and want a good snuggle and frequently will lay his head on me and say "I love you, mommy." And just the other night, Chris was saying goodnight to Noah and told him that he was glad that he was his son. Noah replied "I am glad you are my daddy."

A lot of growing and changing has been going on and we have been loving to see it! We are so glad that you are ours, Noah!
Above: December '07
Below: January '10