Oh, lots of pictures coming. This is what happens when someone who is already addicted to taking pictures gets a new camera. But first, a story.

Noah is smart. I know, I know...I'm his mama, so I don't count. But he is one very, very observant little man, and a few days ago I got a glimpse of my future. I think I may be in trouble.

My wonderful, wonderful parents-in-law watch Noah for me a couple of days during the week. They are masters at raising children, having raised four of their own, so I watch and learn. I am learning, for example, the value of diversion as a parenting tool. If they want Noah to go somewhere, say, the living room, but he doesn't want to go (and so lets loose with a shriek that would peel the paint from the walls), they start saying "One, two! One, two!" and walking him along. He gets so caught up in "One, two!" that he forgets that he was upset in the first place.

Last Thursday, I was trying to get Noah out the door to run a few errands. He wanted to go to the backyard. So, what did he two? He got behind me, started pushing on my backside as hard as he could, and began chanting "Oooooone! Twwwwwwooo!" in his little baby voice.

Adorable, but I think I'm in trouble.

He has sentences now- "Where'd he go?" "Whatcha got?" "Whatisit?" are the three distinguishable ones so far. His "Hi!" and "Bye!" are extremely cute. Except when he's closing the door on you so that you can't get him, or running the other way when you're already late. Eh. It's still cute then, I suppose. Just inconvenient. He's growing so fast...

Look for a post later this week on Sam, my little brother. I'm sure that most of you read Patrick Mead's blog (and if you don't, you should), but a few days ago he had a post about standing in the gap. My Mom and Dad LEPT into the gap almost 8 years ago and adopted my little brother from Ukraine. You will not believe the story. You will have to forgive lots of rambling, sentiment, and pictures, but Sam's story really is an amazing one.

OK. So. Noah pictures. Here we go.

Kyle took these first few, and did a lovely job. Noah loves to be outside- so Kyle took him outside, filled up a one-ring pool, and let Noah jump right in. Wearing the hat, of course, although it looks like Noah was spared getting Mommy's "burn-if-you-look-at-the-sun-Irish-skin" which is good.

Coming up for air from sticking his face in the water. I think the hat is wet, too....back to Mommy-taken pictures now. I think Noah is going to think the camera is part of my hand. Go, go, gadget camerahand!

Kyle leads worship every Sunday morning. We were wandering around the building early one morning when he discovered Daddy's microphone lying untended on the pew. How cute is this?

My goal is to be this happy in church one of these days. Look at that face! Oh, you have so much to teach me, little man. I can teach you the Amendments and the Preamble, and about kinematics and the laws of motion and why the sky is blue, but you can teach me about joy and love and living in the moment. There's no other way to live when you're a year and a half old!

Aunt Em gave Noah this pushcar when he was learning to walk. We had some friends over, and after Gracie pushed Noah around for a while, he decided to return the favor. This will SO be in her Senior slideshow someday....

Possibly the most gorgeous baby in the whole world. No bias here at all. Working on getting the picture less blurry.......

The joy of a bounce and spin zebra. Thanks, Auntie K!