Only 1 month later a lot has happened in the Arnold baby-land.
Noah at 10 months (8 months adjusted) is now crawling. That was fast! He started just a few weeks ago getting on his hands and knees occasionally. Now, he is full on, military style, crawling all over, anywhere his little heart desires. He has already attempted to eat grass, a cricket, Olivia's grapes, and every other object he can get his paws on. I am not sure I am "ready" for 2 mobile babies. Either way, my life as I know it is about to change big time. Again.
Needless to say, bring on the finger foods. Noah is beyond ready for fun little melt in your mouth puff's and yogurt bites. It is so cool to see him already doing "grown up" things. Crazy. He has graduated to more chunky food, however doesn't love the texture of it. He literally spit it out and quiver/gagged. I'm sure he wasn't amused, but it was hysterical to watch. Smooth it is, for him, for now.
Noah is in between a 2 and 3 nap schedule. He seemed to just drop from 4 to 3 naps only a month or 2 ago! He takes 2 hour and a half-ish naps and 1 cat nap in the afternoon, sometimes.
He is so much more verbal and makes his voice known. I think he has said ma-ma, but it is still not quite there. Noah fusses more now when he is hungry, in a "HELLO! FEED ME!" kind of tone. And fusses his "abandoned" cry, when we leave the room without him. And still cracks up and laughs 80 percent of the day. A full daily dose of happiness.
Noah is now able to stand by himself, holding on to a surface for a few minutes, til his legs tire out. It is the wildist thing to see him vertical. My 3.9 lb baby is now standing! Ok, he isn't 3.9 lbs now, but he will always be tiny preemie in my mind. In fact I know I am in denial, because I don't weigh him hardly at all. It is almost like I don't want to know how much he weighs, because that will be way too much of a reality check, that he is indeed growing up. This makes me so, so sad. Unrelentless thought and effort about this little man growing for the first 5, 6, months of his life and now it is the FURTHEST thing from my mind. Explain that. Sigh. Not fair.
Noah also just started reaching both his arms out to be picked up. He sits up like a pro, is still rolling, twisting, getting on hands and knees for longer stretches and having a blast exploring. Soon to come will be, crawling on knees and hands and pulling himself up to sitting and/or standing. Then, he will be getting his drivers license....
Olivia, my little fire breather, is all on all the time. She is doing some of the funniest things right now.
She just went through this phase of calling Matt and I, Father and Mother. Now, she will end her sentences with "babe". Like: "Ok, see ya later, babe". She often says, "Wait right there, don't move. I'm going to get something outa the car. K, be right back" Then the other day at the park, she had both hands full and wanted to pick up another toy, so she looked around, then put the fruit roll up that was in one hand down her shirt, patted it, then picked up the toy and continued to her destination. Hysterical. I will never forget that moment. Yes, I am notorious for stashing things in my bra "pocket". She is so affectionate and loving. She says, "I love you mom" or "I neeeed my mom" or " I need Daddy", the other day when she had an "owie". She kisses and hugs all of her friends and strangers and gives us many doses of kisses and hugs through the day. It is awesome. One of my favorite things she said the other day was as she was in my bed watching an Elmo video on you tube at 6 am... She looked at me as I had my eyes closed, touched the side of my face and said: "Aw, mommy. So pretty". I wanted to cry. It is amazing how much children repeat what they hear and see and how powerful words are. * Note to self. Note to self. Note to self.
In her hands on-ness, Olivia now thinks for some reason that it is her duty to move Noah by picking him up, pulling an arm or leg, or the latest..Noah tipping. He will be just hanging out, sitting up and she will tug his shirt or give his head a nice, quick lean with her hand so he tips right over. Noah doesn't think it's so cool and gets really mad. Watch out Olivia, payback will be coming your way soon.
Olivia is growing tall, and is currently doing good with eating enough variety for our liking. She is counting to almost 20, and just today said " I'm looking for page 21. No, that's page 26, here is page 21." And she was right. ?? Um.. All I have to say is, watch out world!
Olivia rides a trike, and a bouncy ball well and still loves visits to the park. She really, loves visits anywhere. She has even come to me to the gym a few times. We visited Gilroy Gardens and she loved, riding the rides and can't wait to go back.
We recently had a visit from Karlee and Hunter and the Arnold family. Matt's mom, papa Craig, Alan and Sandy all came for a stay and we had a fantastic time together. The kids love meeting and having family around.
There are so many special moments to try to remember and document. I can only hope they are imprinted in our hearts for life.
