#18 - My Noah

I am very thankful for my kids. Each one of them is so different from the other which is the biggest reason why each of them are so precious to us.

Now it's time for me to dote on Noah.

My wonderful, spirited, energetic Noah. Funny. Silly. Genuine. Tender-hearted.

Noah's toddler years were a non-stop barrage of chasing after him, cleaning up his messes, pinning him down, treating his bumps and bruises. In fact, to the innocent bystander, I'm sure it probably seemed like a circus at times. When he wasn't eating the dirt, the trash, and the dog food he was playing in the dirt, the trash, and the dog food. He was our ER baby as he always had accidents like falling through ceilings (yes, it's true!) He could sit in wet or poopy diapers for hours and when I'd go to change his diaper it always ended being some sort of endurathon of running, chasing, wrestling, and practically sitting on him just to get clean pants on him. I was constantly putting band-aids on him, treating bumps with ice, and we had a constant tube of Neosporin in various places in the house intended for use on Noah.

Not long ago, we were watching some home movies of the kids when they were little. Elijah began to chuckle. I asked him what was so funny. He said, "Noah." I looked at him with a look of question and he explained. "Mom, you always talk about how busy and active Noah was and I never really understood what you meant until we sat down today and watched us in action. One minute he's under the table, the next minute he's being chased down because he has something he shouldn't, the next minute he's sticking cheese puffs into the waistband of his diaper to save for a later treat." Elijah, by this time is cracking up. And he finishes it by saying, "You're right, Mom. He never stopped. Not once." And I agreed. The only break we had was when he slept.

Meanwhile, Chad and I have to just look at each other and smile because we know the heart that beats inside this lanky and long-legged boy of ours is that of a loving and sweet boy who adores his family, takes pride in his schoolwork, and would do anything to make someone else feel better about themselves.

I am including a short video of what we lovingly call "the lipstick incident." This is Noah at his best. He is two in this video. I had left the living room to answer the phone. When I hung up, THIS was what I found. While it was frustrating, I also found it very funny and I tried very hard to seem angry but ended up having to leave the room because I was just about to crack up! If you will notice, Noah is trying his best to "seem" upset and remorseful for what he has done but really can't muster the proper tears or reaction.

In the end... I'm thankful for Noah. Very.