Here we have additional photographic evidence that I may have the cutest kid in the world, even though he is getting perilously close to the notoriously cranky age. I bought this toy box from a super-nice lady on Craigslist. I brought it home, Noah helped me put his books and his blocks up on the shelves, and we had a rather idyllic moment. Then he climbed into the toy box, said "Cave, mama!" and started pulling all of his books in with him. I just laughed and laughed- I used to drag my books under the bed and read under there in MY cave. Of course, it was such a made for picture-taking moment that I grabbed the camera, and then Noah wouldn't let me STOP taking pictures. He kept saying "Picture, mama. Cheese!!!!" So there you have it. And now, the pictures.

Oh, and Noah really liked the cake at Abbey's party, probably because my sister made a really good cake with homemade frosting. We have high hopes that he will actually eat HIS cake at his birthday party this year, rather than just crying about the fact that he has icing on his hands.

For Julie, who I know comes by for the cute Noah stories:

There are glow in the dark stars on the ceiling of Noah's room. I haven't had time to put them up as proper constellations yet (what? He's only almost two years old. HOLY CROW. HE IS ALMOST TWO. Who the heck approved that?!!!!), but he does love looking at them. He is now at a point where the bedtime routine goes something like this:

Me: Noah, are you ready to go to bed?
Noah (as he walks down the hall toward his room): Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Me: You want to sit in the chair?
Noah (as he climbs into the chair): CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIR! Door, mama.

Then he starts walking across the room. In the dark. And singing. It sounds something like this: "Winkle, winkle....star. Wonder....are."

Yes. He is singing Twinkle, twinkle little star. And it is adorable. The rest of the conversation goes like this, as I stumble across the room and try not to trip over the aforementioned adorable child.

Noah: Mama? Blankeck (translation: blanket), mik (translation:milk) please.
Me: Which song do you want, Noah?
Noah: Horsie!
Me: (Sings "All the Pretty Little Horses", thank you to Junior's Bedtime Songs for teaching me this one.) Do you want another one?
Noah (as he is drinking his milk): mmmmm!
Me: Do you want Lullaby?
Noah: MMMMMM! (That was a happy one, like 'Oh, Mama realized that I want the same song I have wanted for the last three weeks. Smart Mama. I'll get her trained yet.')
Me: (Sings Brahm's Lullaby. Thanks to Junior's Bedtime Songs again.)

Then I get him his pillow, lay him down, and leave him to fall asleep. I wish I could bottle the happy feeling that comes when he sings Winkle Winkle. No one would need anti-depressants! I don't think I could get it through the FDA, though.

See, you're already smiling. Aren't you glad you came by today? This is the first installment of Halloween pictures. Enjoy cute Noah, semi-adorable me and Kyle, a few cool graveyard pictures, and thena picture of Sam, the Ukrainian supermodel. Dragon pictures of Noah will be forthcoming (a.k.a the third day of Halloween).

Oooooh, a creepy graveyard. Ooooooooooooh!

On the first day of Halloween, my sweatheart gave to me a tiger standing byyyyyyy a tree.

On the second day of Halloween my sweetheart gave to me a son wired from eating candy.

My husband is a kilt-wearin' fairy. An ominous kilt-wearin' fairy. Grrrrrrr. So tough!

Noah really likes playing with blocks. He got to play with THREE kinds of blocks when we went to Del City. He was in toddler boy heaven.

This isn't technically Halloween. This was Daddy and Noah watching Sunday afternoon football after church. A grand time was had by all.


I love, love, love this picture of Sam. My little brother is so handsome!