noahsmom's blog

Professional Haircut (finally!)

Did I tell you I took Noah to get his haircut from a professional? Yep! This was back in Jan. Right before Auntie Shannon’s wedding. We wanted Noah to look handsome and groomed as he was going to be one of the ring bearers and he was going to wear a handsome suit. I had been cutting his hair and it was easy to get away with it when he had curly hair. But as Noah’s hair got straighter and straighter he just couldn’t get away with an uneven (I don’t want to say bad because it never looked awful awful) mana haircut. You could definitely see though that I was really getting out of my league. The first thing the hairdresser said was, “His hair is uneven!”

 

After 10 minutes of spraying and cutting. Noah was transformed into…Justin Bieber!

 

Snow Day Feb 29, 2012

Wednesday Feb 29 was snow day at Noah’s preschool. Noah spent most of the time in the bushes doing what – I have no idea. This year it was pretty warm so Noah was just wearing a sweater, pants, sneakers and gloves. After some fun in the snow, his class got to drink hot chocolate and munch cookies.

 

 

Noah in the bushes (his favorite place). I often find him here when I pick him up.

 

Yippee! Time for hot chocolate and cookies!

 

Who didn't get a cookie?

 

Mmmmm. I like cookies.

 

Climbing a Tree

We have a tree in the backyard that is perfect for Noah to climb. Well, as long as there aren't any ants crawling all over it and Mana is there to help it's perfect.

 

I Always Have Bad Dreams…….About Horses!

Noah started having bad dreams again. But this time he was able to tell us what they were about whereas before it was, “I don’t remember.” We ask him, “What are your bad dreams about?” And he says, “Horses.”

 

Ummm, did I hear correctly? Horses?

 

This is completely out of left field. Greg and I don’t really know where this fear came from and we may never but it’s kind of funny, don’t you think? Of all things, horses?

 

To be honest, I forget what the horses are doing in his dreams but they are definitely not nice horses. Sometimes the shadows in his room are the horses. That’s why we have to close his closet doors at night and Greg revived Bear Diggy. One night, when Noah was scared and inconsolable, Greg took out Bear Diggy (who had been retired) and told Noah that Bear Diggy would keep all his bad dreams away. This worked for maybe 2 nights. Then Noah had bad dreams again so Greg had to be more creative. (And where was I on these nights? They just happened to fall on Mon or Wed nights when I am at my karate/kickboxing class.)

 

Next, Greg told Noah that if he slept with 3 bears, that would keep the bad dreams away. So Angel, Boo Bear, Georges St. Bear or Canky (any 3 of these 4 bears) found their way into Noah’s bed. Then one night we couldn’t find Bear Diggy. Uh oh, right? Well, Noah sufficed with sleeping with Star Diggy and Brown Bear Diggy. The next day we found Bear Diggy but the other diggys stayed in bed with Noah as well. Let’s just say there are a lot of things in Noah’s bed to keep the bad dreams away. In addition to the pillows on his bed (maybe 3 or 4), there are the 3 bears, sometimes 4, there is Bear Diggy, Star Diggy and Brown Bear Diggy, Sea Turtle, sometimes Bunkey and sometimes Kermit. And before we turn out the lights this is the checklist we have to go through:

 

Night time check list:

1. Closet doors closed
2. Space heater turned on
3. Night light plugged in
4. Pants tucked in socks (LOL, this one is my fault)
5. Water by the bed
6. Bear Diggy in bed
7. 3 bears in bed

 

Once we go through this checklist, Noah says, “You forgot one more thing! A bop-bop and hug!” And then he gives both Greg and I a series of consecutive kisses and hugs before letting us go. Oh, and mostly importantly, we have to leave the door open a crack. But before Noah really goes down for the night, he has to come out a least a couple of times asking for water (it’s right next to your bed we say! Oh but he can’t see it. Leave the door open and then get a drink of water by yourself we say!), or saying he has to go potty (but you just went potty we say!), or his covers got messed up (hmmm this one we usually have to go in), or my favorite one – he had a bad dream even though he hasn’t fallen asleep yet.

 

Greg tends to say, “Is this the last time?” while I just put my foot down and say, “This is the last time I come in here.” We take turns going in depending on what we are doing. But I will NOT go in there more than twice. Greg goes in there 3, sometimes 4 times, I’ve even seen him go in 5 times. Sucker!

 

Handsome Little Guy

We borrowed the suit from Sharmy (and Eric) for Auntie Shannon's wedding so we had to make sure we got plenty of pictures of Noah in it looking all spiffy!

 

Bust A Move

This video is from Nov 2011. Check out Noah's dance moves!

  

LOL, the music is not what you would expect, huh?

Is It Windy Today?

Noah has become obsessed with the weather, windy weather that is. First thing he likes to do when he gets up is to look out the window and see if it is windy. He loves to look at the trees and see if they are moving and blowing in the wind. “Mana, do you think it’s really windy today?” is usually one of the first things I hear out of his mouth. If it is not windy he asks me, “How come it’s not windy today?” If a tree moves, even a fraction, he exclaims in delight, “Mana, it’s really windy today! More windy than the photo shoot day!”

 

Let me fill you in on the “photo shoot day”. We have been trying to schedule our family portrait since December. First it was Greg’s bad haircut (a fade if you can imagine), then it was the weather, then it was a last minute schedule problem, then weather again, then sickness, then weather…we have not been able to schedule the darn shoot! Last time we were scheduled it was blowing like a tornado. Definitely not a good day to do a photo shoot outdoors. Noah was very fascinated at the wind and it got stuck in his head that it was too windy to do the photoshoot. Now every day (windy or not) is now compared to the photo shoot day which is, according to the Noah scale of windy days, the windiest day ever.

 

We’ll be driving in the car and all I hear is Noah’s chatter from the backseat about how windy it is and how much the trees are moving. What a complete 180 from when he was “Little Noah” and would scream when the wind blew, he hated it that much.

 

Is it windy today?

Auntie Shannon’s Wedding January 7, 2012

Shannon and Jason’s wedding ceremony took place last month in Santa Barbara. Although they were technically married on Noah’s birthday, October 7 of last year (at the courthouse no less, in a very rush-rush shotgun wedding and no she is not pregnant) they wanted to have a ceremony and celebrate with family.

 

It was a beautiful ceremony at the clock tower in downtown Santa Barbara, right by the Courthouse. It was freezing but the weather was clear and the sun was out. After a minor snafu with the non-existent wedding planner who’s first words out of her mouth as she arrived half an hour late was, “You’ll have to forgive me but I just got off a plane from Italy and haven’t slept in 36 hours.” Uh, nice way to introduce yourself as the wedding planner.

 

Despite that, and the fact that the Officiant was half an hour late too and slurring her words (can you say too many prescription drugs?) and the fact that she apparently had the worst dragon breath (I found out from Shannon later), the wedding ceremony and reception later at Stella Mare’s was beautiful and really a joyful time for all. I, being the Maid of Honor, was frantically trying to memorize my speech all throughout dinner. I think I did ok. My speech was very heartfelt and personal. I got choked up a couple of times, but hey she is my sister and I am so happy to see her so happy and married off to the man she has decided to spend the rest of her life with. We all were wondering when she would finally settle down.

 

Noah and Devin were the ring bearers. I was so proud to see my handsome little guy all dressed up in a suit and tie. It really was a fun, beautiful weekend in Santa Barbara.

 

And now the wedding pictures!

 

Getting ready:

 

Wait, is that really Shannon's hair? So thick and full?

 

 

The ring bearers climbing the last steps to the top:

 

I will not drop the pillow. I will not drop the pillow.

 

 

Oh how I love thee pillow...

 

 

The cousins (Connor, Devin, and Noah):

 

 

 

 

Shannon saying her vows to Jason (who cares that she forgot half of them, the ones she did remember were beautiful and so heartfelt)

 

Jason, sharing his vows to Shannon. Well done my brother, well done. You scored major brownie points with me. They were so meaningful and loving and took my breath away.

 

Everyone who attended (Beardsly clan + Bae clan):

 

The Bae side of the family:

 

The Bae family:

 

The cousins:

 

The Goodheart + Bae family:

 

The Bae women:

 

The Bae sistas!

remember this from my wedding?

 

Greg and Noah:

 

Father of the Bride with the Bride:

 

The lovely newlyweds!

 

 

At the reception:

 

Mmmmm wedding cake:

 

Me and my handsome little guy:

 

Greg and his handsome little guy:

 

The happy parents with Noah and me:

Now why does Noah look like he is squeezing out a turd you ask? That's just our silly little guy!

 

Congrats to Shannon and Jason! May you have a long beautiful life together filled with happiness!

Beach Day After Christmas

The day after Christmas, Noah and I drove to Laguna Beach to meet Nielma and Thira (whom we were meeting for the first time). It really was a beautiful, warm and sunny day at the beach. Only in CA. We are so lucky to live here!

 

Neemers and I considered paddling around but our practical mommy brains pretty much squashed the idea. Soon though, soon! Especially with the kiddos.

 

Noah and Thira (who look like brother and sister LOL):

 

Thira was a sweetie. We hope you come visit us again soon!

 

Noah and the whale:

Hurry up and take the picture already, Mana!

 

Christmas Day 2011

Christmas, as usual, is a whirlwind day for us. Wake up, open gifts, get ready for the Christmas brunch with Greg’s family (at our house), have brunch and open gifts with Greg’s family, clean up, pack, drive to OC, open gifts with my family, cook Christmas dinner, clean up, and spend the night….

 

Noah and I stayed for a couple more days, while Greg went back to our house.

 

Here is Noah on Christmas morning. Santa got him an aquarium full of fish! And he got lots of other sea creature things (yes, he is still really into sea creatures). He got a sea creature puzzle, a sticker book, and a blanket with sea turtles on it. Noah is so stunned to sea an aquarium, I don’t think he even knew what he was seeing!

 

 

 

Look at all the presents on Christmas morning!

 

We got Carter a Transformers toy:

 

The boys opening gifts:

 

Auntie Amy, Uncle Mike and Greg:

 

And, that’s it! I didn’t take many pictures this year.

 

Christmas brunch was lox, bagels and cream cheese, orange juice, fruit salad, mushroom and bacon quiche, and I made chocolate chip bars.

 

Christmas dinner was a honey baked ham with spicy mustard, mashed sweet potatoes, a zucchini casserole, asian noodle salad with shrimp and leftover chocolate chip bars and ice cream cake for dessert.

 

We all got some really good loot this year. Everyone was so generous! Greg got me an awesome pair of Jimmy Choo’s that everyone was drooling over. Platform espradilles. Very cute. He also got me a knife sharpener and a top from Anthropologie.