Celebrating Noah [ 5 ]

If anyone has ever loved a party, it is this guy. 

He was simply beyond giddy about celebrating his birthday!

 His request was for hotdogs, a Lego themed party, and his cousins to be there...

an added bonus, the gifts. 

Oh Happy 5th Birthday Noah!

Noah [5 years old]

Noah, 

You are a sweet, shy, sassy, smart, funny, and determined little 5 year old boy.

I just love your playful side, that laugh is so distinct and when you get happy it is the giddy-can't-hold-it-in type happy!

Oh how you love your baby brother, Isaac. You call him "Sweet Isaac" and "Mamma Baby" (I don't know why!). He sure does remind us a lot like you...the pictures are very similar of you when you were a baby! You still like to give him kisses on the hand and head, attempt to hold him, and talk to him often.

You have an opinion on your outfits. For special occasions, you really like to go all out...such as Valentine's Day :) But for the everyday stuff, you are ALL about comfy pants and shirts (NO buttons!). My you are a handsome fella.

You have a very picky little palate. You eat peanut butter (only peanut butter) sandwiches for lunch most days. You also like non-chunky yogurt (your favorite is orange creme), apples, bananas, string cheese sticks, most kinds of meat as long as they don't have any flakes (seasonings) visible.

 After a VERY lengthy battle to get you to eat ONE green bean, you finally agreed to eat it if you were "timed". And this was quite the feat. This is a typical scenario regarding vegetables, you claim you "hate them"...and for as small as you are, you throw everything you have into proclaiming your dislike. I have hope, as I can recall Christian being what I thought as extremely picky as well, and he seems to be outgrowing that...so here's hoping that happens for you too!

You can be so so silly. I actually look forward to the unknown antics you will say...or the things you do. You are often pleasantly unpredictable when it comes to your commentary. Your memory is crazy good, details from outings, birthdays, Christmas's from months/years ago you recall. 

During your patch time, you like to do projects or work on your workbooks. You have gotten very good at counting and are very interesting in learning how to spell. 

  

You love to play outside with your brothers. Water days are all of your favorite, you take turns being in charge of the hose. Literally hours of entertainment. If there is a peacemaker among the three of you, it would be you...but, we won't make that title official, as you don't mind reporting the wrongdoings that occur once things fall off track.

Oh no, you can have some extreme faces. And this is one of them. If I look at the picture, its hard not to laugh. I know the reality of what this face means, and I can just hear you saying, "not gonna do it" over and over again, for whatever reason. You are determined my boy...very determined when your mind is set.

You love to build, whether it be blocks, Legos, or wooden pieces with nails...you can create quite the projects. I am often amazed how your mind can work..how you KNOW without being told how things connect or function.

You beat to the tune of your own drum. You enjoy playing with your brothers and family, but if you through in too many other kids or people you don't know...and you would rather just play by yourself. You have deemed yourself as "shy" when you are overwhelmed, and will say, "I don't know why, I'm just shy." 

You have some very funny expressions and motions. There is no describing some of them, I just hope I can remember them in my head :) 

And the painting/drawing/coloring...you have a true talent in my opinion. It is quite impressive the things you can draw with no image in front of you!

Oh Noah, you have such a joy for life!

Thank you for being a special 5 year old...we love you so very much.

Happy Birthday Noah! #4

The day arrived!! This particular birthday has been talked about for MONTHS!

We started with special birthday pancakes for breakfast.

It was a nice day...

and a great day to write your name all by yourself for the first time!

Just for fun, we went to the Exploration Place. There were only a couple people there...so we had lots of playing area to ourselves! Definitely an added bonus for Noah.

For dessert on your actual birthday, we had brownies...and Noah's was cut out in the shape of a whale!! He opened a couple presents..and life as a four-year old looked PRETTY good!!

We had a joint birthday celebration (for Daddy, Jonah, and Noah) with the Hershberger side on 10/23.

The Sweigart side came over on the 10/30 for Noah's 4th Birthday party. To say he was looking forward to this would be putting it VERY mild...he was SOO excited. We had spaghetti (a fan favorite), applesauce, jello salad, lettuce salad, and garlic/cheese bread. And that wetness you see in his hair...is sweat..he ran around like crazy person when his party guests arrived!!!

There had been an ongoing discussion over the past couple months regarding what he wanted for his "birthday cake" and oh my mercy sakes, it changed too many times to count. He doesn't even really like cake...frosting, yes...cake, not really. But he DOES love cookies. So we settled on a cookie fort.

The next day, Halloween, Christian didn't have school...and all three boys had a blast playing with all the goodies from Noah's birthday!

Noah [4 years]

Noah...four years old.

You are kind of a pipsqueak of a four year old (31.4 pounds [16%] and 38.5 in tall [21%]). You and Jonah can share many of the same clothes (especially if Daddy is dressing you!). But your size plays no factor in how advanced your mind works. My goodness, you blow us away with how you process through problems, scenerios, how to build something, or even how you verbalize your reasoning for your emotions.

You are shy as a rule. This is definitely true in new environments, play areas that have other children playing at them, or in most public settings. You are well aware of this, and if you are excited about going to a new place, but can't help but feel a little uneasy, you will say outloud to us, "I'm not gonna be shy!? I'm not gooonnnna be shyyy?!" (Its said more in a question like way rather than a statement). You would much rather play off by yourself than be put in a position with new people/things.

This is not to be confused with being QUIET while at home. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have to say, "NOAH! Turn your volume down!!" But at the same time, I honestly think you have a hard time known how to speak is a very soft voice or whisper. You will tell me, "I just don't know how to DO that!"

You love to do projects; coloring, painting, crafting of many forms...you love it. You will say, "What can we do new today?" or "What can I do that I've never done before?" Cue: let's do a project! Your latest interests are scissor activities and various activity books. But you also love puzzles (you do these often!), reading books/magazines, and playing with magnets/legos. You are a good 'player'...you can play for a long time if you are left uninterrupted..and you enjoy that. If you're really in the zone, and a certain 2 year old brother comes along to intentionally get a rise out of you by wrecking something...you are NOT happy! It usually results in lots of noise, some pushing, some growling, maybe some tackling, and definitely a "NO NO BUDDY!" 99% of the time, you refer to Jonah as "Buddy". You love your brothers dearly...dearly! And this newest growing brother, you are already showing your love to by hugs, kisses, and many sweet conversations.

You are a lovable, snuggly kind of boy. I still hold you often (both because of your size and personality..you like it!). You are especially snuggly in the morning when you wake up. Out of the three boys, you are the one who likes to sleep in..and not wake up going 100 mph. You'll bring your blanket out with you, and just curl into a ball. You don't even mind that Jonah is truly the opposite in the morning, and he shares a room with you. 

On the flip side of this..you are tough. I can know if you are crying because of being hurt, it is legit. You can tumble and take some doozy of falls...but usually get right back up. You will make your nervous giggle to help get yourself back to normal.

The most frustrating thing you do involves meal time and/or things that you have a very strong opinion in. This is hardly worth writing down for memory sake, but I have a really high hope that this is a phase that will end...and we can look back and say, "ahhh, yes that did happen.".

You are incredibly picky when it comes to meals. And seeings that you far from having alot of reserves, it makes it difficult to really "make" you eat things. Oh we try, and we try hard to be creative. But when it comes down to it, if you are not interested at all...you are incredibly stubborn and will refuse to eat anything. The whole concept of "going to bed hungry" would really happen, and I just can't do it. 

Some of your favorite foods are..that you will give a hearty "OH I LOVE THAT!!" :

my meatballs (currently #1), spaghetti, pizza, macaroni and cheese, meat sandwiches, lasagna (as long as there is no chunks of tomatoes or the like), haystacks (consisting of rice, hamburger, shredded cheese and applesauce), cereal (Honey Nut Cheerios, Frosted MiniWheats, or Life), apples, cuties, cheese, my baked oatmeal, and cookies....most any cookie!

The strong opinion part of this equation, not only can be referenced to food...but to whether we leave a house that you find to be quite fun ie...Gma/Gpa's house or Camila's house (the woman that has a 9 month old that watches you when I work sometimes). You can throw some nasty fussy fits.

You have a charming little way about you. The way you talk first of all, can just be hilarious and sweet all wrapped in one. I can't even begin to write down the conversations..because they are long, and I would be so busy trying to write it down I wouldn't be enjoying them! 90% of the funny part is in how you say what your saying.
 If you are wanting something that is considered a treat ie; a cookie/sweets, iPad, a show...you have been known to VERY sweetly ask me, and if that doesn't quite get you the response, you ask REALLY close to my face in the sweetest little voice, SO close to my face you are actually kissing me as you talk. It may or may not work some of the time, but nearly every time it gets me to laugh!

You are also ornery. You know when you're being a stinker, and you'll start mouthing words...and then say outloud, "I'm not gonna tell you what I just said." But if you are under the impression that you are going to be "gotten" (aka..tickled or chased), you go into a very giggly mood and it very hard not to laugh at. Your Uncle Brent can possibly get you to laugh the HARDEST of all! 

Noah:   "I just don't want to talk. I want to just look bossy."
      me: "Oh really? How does that look?"
Noah:   "Like this." ...lips put together trying not to smile, head lowered, eyes straight ahead.
             "I'm all done now."

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You have a GREAT appreciation for sea animals. As in, every night at supper your prayer includes a LENGTHY gratitude for a variety of sea animals. "Dear God, thank you for this food. And thank you for the dolphins. And thank you for the whales. And thank you for the octopuses. And thank you for the squids. And thank you for the whales. And thank you for the eels. (and you may throw in other specific kinds of whales!)"

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Words/Phrases:
"Hampotrine" = trampoline
"Hetchup" = ketchup
"Hersh-ga-berger"= Hershberger

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Favorites:

Color: Red

Drink: Chocolate Milk

Bible story: Jonah and the Whale

TV show: Paw Patrol or Shaun the Sheep

Blanket: your "scratchy" one (its the very well worn in white one, that has been washed so many times, it is no longer fluffy and super soft as it once was...but it is far from actually being "scratchy")

Toy: Brutus (your crane)

Noah [First Year of Preschool]

We decided just a couple weeks ago that it would be a good idea for Noah to go to preschool...IF they had an opening. I emailed, and a spot had opened up..so it was meant to be!

He was pretty excited AND nervous to go to preschool "like Christian did!"

On the morning of his first day, he said, "Is today the day I get to go!?!?!?"

Yes it is!

"Okay!! I'm not gonna be shy, I'm not gonna be shyyyyyy (in his little nervous giggle)."

 He was so excited, he was just giddy.

I really could've seen this initial drop off MUCH different..as in the complete opposite! It just makes me feel like this really was a good idea to send him this year :)

And a couple weeks later, when his NEW book bag came from Grandma..

another EXCITED boy :) 

So proud of you Noah...you are so brave and smart! 

I hope you have a blast in preschool this year and make some new friends :)

Noah's Narratives

Hearing his newly three year old self say things like "amazing", "incredible", "interesting" (said 'intresting') and "ridiculous" to describe things can instantly bring a smile to my face. The other day, he was looking through a catalog (a toy one) for Christmas ideas. He came to a page and said in awe, "whoa! This is in-CRED-ible. Look at this!! It is Ah-MAZ-ing!!!" (It was a page with all things that glowed in the dark!) 

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He has quickly learned from his big brother the word-age in terms of "playing nice". I will often hear them tell each other back and forth..."Jesus said.....". And occasionally, Noah will come to me and say, "Shis-shen is being mean (said with the poutiest and sad little face). And Jesus says to be NICE in the Bible. We be NICE!"

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What is your name? "Noah". What is your full name? "Noah Hersgerber"

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The other morning, he came into our room and stood by my head. I had him crawl in bed with me, as Ben had already left for work. He looked around and asked "Where's Daddy?" I told him he was at work. "Oh, he's a work?" So we go about our morning, eat breakfast, etc. I'm in the kitchen, and he comes in the room, and says, "Where's Ben?"

"Who's Ben?"

"Ben is Daddy."

"Oh, well, we just call him Daddy. He is your Daddy, and Christian and Jonah's Daddy."

"Oh, well he IS Ben."

(I couldn't help but laugh.)

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At bedtime, we go through a process. Christian and Noah usually have there routine...brushing their teeth, climbing into bed, Ben reads a Bible story, and then tucks them in with a story. Somewhere in there I stop in with Jonah and tell them goodnight (as well as have Jonah say "goodnight"). Lately, Noah has been requesting "I hug Jonah", and it is about enough to melt my heart. Jonah knows exactly what's going on...he leans his head down onto Noah, and Noah gives him a hug around the neck...and then they stay like that for a brief moment. Oh, its so sweet. Tonight, he was hugging him and says, "Oh, I just love you SO much, Jonah." (Goodness, I treasure these moments.)

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He has started the process of potty training. I just put him in underwear the other day and we went with it. Knowing he needed to poop, and he refused to go while he sat on the toilet...I just decided to leave his diaper off and see if he would follow through with letting me know when the time was 'right'. Sure enough, after a little bit, I saw him standing by the front door looking guilty as ever. I asked him "Noah, did you poop?" 

"No."

"Noah, did you go poop?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Over 'dere'. On the floor. Clean it up." (pointing in the direction of his room and the bathroom...and SO sassy!)

"Show me."

"See!"

Sure enough, on the floor in the bathroom. "But you were SO close to the toilet, next we need to go IN it!"

"Oh."

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I said to him today, "Child! You need to go to the bathroom in the potty!!"
He looks at me with his smile, and says, "I not child."
"What? Why not."
"I not CH-ild. I am NOAH. My name is not child. That's a funny name."
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 When discussing colors, this poor boy is just stubborn.
He is becoming very good at coloring in general. He colors in the lines, changes colors for the small differences within the pictures, etc. BUT, when it comes to naming the color, he often doesn't even refer to it by a color name.
When I point to a green object, or crayon and ask him, "What color is this?"
"That is the same color as grass (or a tree, or a frog, or a variety of other green things he can think of)."
"But what color is it?"
"I already told you."
This will go on and on, each color he will have a reference for, but not a name.

Every now and then, he'll play my game and he'll tell me. He's usually right about red. Blue is almost ALWAYS referred to as 'water', and yellow is almost always called pink.
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 One more bathroom related one, since we have been spending ALOT of time in the bathroom...with little progress.
Potty words (not trashy potty words, but literal) are fascinating to Noah and Christian, I don't really get why...well I do, but I don't. I guess its the thrill of the reaction. The only time I say they can say potty related words is while they are going. And if they choose to while they are in their room, just to be funny...they get to go sit on the toilet for a bit since that must mean they have to go.
While Noah was on the toilet the other day, he said something about poop.
I told him that's fine, when he's in the bathroom he can talk about bathroom things... and he should probably go ahead and go poop now.
So then, he said went through EVERY possible thing he could see in the bathroom as options that he can say while on the toilet.
"And I can talk about towels on the toilet.....and I can talk about showers on the toilet...and I can talk about rugs on the toilet...and I can talk about...." and on, and on, and on.
However, on this particular day...the distraction of talking about ALL these things for QUITE some time worked! So whatever it takes, I'm game. 

Celebrate [Noah #3]

Noah requested an octopus themed birthday. 

I don't really know why...but that's what he wanted. My attempt at making a cake..was using cupcakes. He didn't mind anyway :)

On Sunday before his birthday, we had a party with Grandpa Sweigart (Grandma was off welcoming baby Eliana to the world in VA), Brent & Alyssa and family, Mitch, and Paul & Brenda.

Presents :)

Christian gave a puzzle ball...I think they were equally excited about it!

On his actual birthday, I took Noah and Jonah to Wichita. We stopped by Target (just a friendly little hug/choke from big brother!) and then we picked up lunch and had a picnic at the park!

Before coming home, we stopped by the donut shop for a special donut treat (called the Little Timmy).

Riding his new balance bike he got from Grandpa and Grandma.

Eating his Little Timmy donut!

We brought one for Christian too...he was equally pleased. This donut had SO many sprinkles!

Turns out, the sprinkles were all Noah wanted off the donut...bummer that 'someone' had to eat the rest :) 

For the record...it was REALLY good.

That evening Grandpa came over, and gave one more gift...a couple books! A great ending to his special day. 'Mix it Up'....what a fun book.

He woke up in the morning and said, "I will get out my birthday presents!"

He proceeded to get out each thing, and thoroughly play with them. These were a few.

Curious George magnet tin

A 48 piece minion puzzle...

I was so surprised how much of this he could do!

For his last 3rd birthday hoorah, I made a giant chocolate cookie.

Grandpa and Grandma H., Great Grandpa and Grandma Hershberger joined us for a celebration!

Great Grandma Hershberger and Noah

...oh boy! She had her hands full real fast!

We had fun celebrating with you Noah! You are such a blessing to us...we love you so much!

Happy 3rd Birthday!