Busy Busy Busy Busy Busy Busy Busy Busy

Seriously.

B. U. S. Y.

Happy busy. Working busy. Trying to keep my sanity busy. Hopefully things will continue to move forward for me; just had one deal close (before you choose a lender in the future, please talk to me...I've got a story for you!), and am meeting with some other folks about some land, and am talking to another person about some MORE land, so things are good. In our area, anyway, it's still a buyer's market, but as a whole, the market hasn't lost much. There are still more foreclosures out there, which hurts NON-foreclosed house values, but some buyers don't want to go through the hassle that comes with a foreclosed home and are willing to pay a bit more for a home where they have a better idea of the history.

Sorry for that diversion--I know y'all don't read this blog for Realtor tips! Noah is growing like the proverbial weed. He's started saying "But why?" and "What's his name?" He still confuses his gender pronouns ("he" and "she" are pretty interchangeable, and it's regardless of whether he's talking about a boy or a girl), but everyone has to have a name, and I should know it, and if I don't, "but why?" He's really saying his name clearly--to the point where when people ask his name, they understand that he's saying "Noah." He's also calling "Chick-Fil-A" by its actual name, and not just by "Chicken." Which, by the way, tells something about our habits and what we feed our child.

Most of his 3T pants are now completely unrolled, especially if they have those wonderful adjustable waists & we can cinch 'em in tight. If the waist is a bit big, we still have to cuff the pants a bit, but it's still amazing that just a few weeks ago, pants that were still a bit too long are now just about perfect. Luckily, he's still able to wear his 48 pairs of shorts... The waist is pretty much right on (thank God for elastic!), and they're not as long as they were last year, but they're still an acceptable shorts length (no, I will NOT put my son in hot pants--don't worry!). Plus, he's got a HUGE selection of t-shirts, and thanks to my Aunt Patti's bargain hunting last year, he's got some swim trunks, too!

I think most of you have heard of my cell phone & washer saga, but if not, here it is in a nutshell: washed my cell phone (chalking it up to sleep deprivation) and tried to wash a rug twice, and the 2nd time pretty much made it so our washer didn't spin during the spin cycle (still agitates, just doesn't spin). So, thanks to Aunt Rachel, put the cell phone in a bag of rice & by a heater for a few days, and then for good measure, under a shop light. Well, it works--I just don't ever, EVER turn it off (sometimes when I do, and turn it back on, it says "No Service" or somesuch, then I take the battery off, turn it back on, take the battery off, turn it back on, take the battery off, smack the phone, turn it back on, take the battery off, say bad words, turn it back on and then vow to NEVER turn it off again), and seem to have lost the camera function. I still can text, but just can't take a picture. I'm okay with that--I'm not due for another free phone until June, so I'm okay with a working phone (more or less) with all my contacts in it, for free. The washer, however, is not so fortunate. I did not have a bag of rice big enough, and didn't try the shop light. When the weather is nice, we've pretty much been able to hang the clothes out to dry enough to then put them in the dryer, and Mom & Dad have been kind enough to let us use their washer. But, I think it's time to buy a new one. I'm not too heartbroken--the one we've got is 7 years old, and I think it was on an outside porch at one point in time, because it's got rust in very odd places... I just wish that washers cost $5.99.

Patrick's been keeping busy with his art class, and it turns out, he's a pretty good artist. He drew a picture of Noah's Big Wheel that really looked like a Big Wheel. I'm amazed at that, because I have issues with anything other than stick figures, and even that's debatable. He seems to enjoy it, but it's a very time-consuming class, and I know that he is looking for ways to manage his time creatively, to try to fit everything in (me, Noah, school, work, dishes). It's hard sometimes, and I must admit, sometimes the dishes suffer. But, to me, school is more important, and until they can either find a way to fit about 4 more hours in the day, or clone people, we're just going to have to make due.

We had been completely at a loss, not too long ago, about what was going on with Noah's sleep habits. He was usually very good about going to bed around 7:30, waking up at 7; taking a nap from about 1:30/2-4ish, and then all of a sudden...BOOM. No more going to bed before 10pm. That sucked. Not exaggerating, sometimes he'd be up out of his bed 52 times in 1 1/2 hours. This all coincided with daylight savings time (why do we even need it anymore???), and the discovery that he's getting ALL FOUR of his 2-year molars. Also, we noticed a rash where his paci would fit (Dr. said it was due to skin being irritated by excess saliva, hydrocortisone cream & vaseline and we should see an improvement, and we have...though it's still there, and was for his school pictures that were taken last week!). *Sigh* So, in order to clear up the rash, the paci had to go--and since he's nearly 3, we figured that there's no sense in giving him BACK the paci once the rash went away, since the habit would most likely be broken by then, and it's been close to a month.... He's only asked for a paci a couple of times, so we think we're in the clear. We think we've figured out the sleep issue, though--I think that when he'd take a nap in the afternoon, it was just enough of a recharge to make him SO not ready for bed a mere 4 hours later. Solution--no more afternoon naps. Yes, I know... I so miss my afternoon quiet time, but it is so worth it to have our nights back, where he falls asleep by 7:30 (tonight he was asleep by 7:15), and he sleeps through the night, waking up bright-eyed & bushy-tailed at 7am. Luckily, the weather has been great, so we've been able to take him to parks, or just outside in general between 2-5, to burn some of that energy off and keep him busy. It can be ugly, though--he's tired, and has no patience for waiting, or if he gets a slight bump. Tonight he threw a fit because I wanted to wash his hair. He also burst into great big sobs when he was trying to get IN the tub & ran into my arm. So, yeah, the no-nap-in-the-afternoon has its trying times, but I just try to keep him busy and just hope for the best. Just pray for us... Enjoy the pictures!

LOVE this shot--just a random shot of Noah saying "CHEESE!" while dressed in his Pooh towel.


Another random shot...I can really see him getting older in this picture.


Goofy boy!



Noah waiting to get his picture taken at school. Apparently he was entertaining everyone with his singing of "Shake your booty...shake your booty!"


Playing with his easel (thank you, Great Granny & Great Grandpa!)


The artist at work... To be honest, I'm not sure WHO drew the Pablo...based on the out-of-proportion arms, I would guess me, maybe, but it's almost too good to be me. So maybe Patrick deserves the credit.


I'm thinking this is categorized in the "NOT a good idea" column. But man, a Retro Rocket IN a Tonka truck? That's one vehicle that is NOT to be messed with!


Patrick & Noah, happily drawing on the MagnaDoodle.


Patrick and Noah...doodling around.


Drawing circles...


For his birthday, Mom & Dad bought Noah this really great pirate ship--complete with canons that shoot out yellow balls (much to Shaka's delight) and makes all sorts of great sounds...with no "off" or volume control! It's pretty cool, and Mom was much too excited to be able to wait until June, so Noah's been enjoying it now. He's sporting his eyepatch & hat here....I've got pictures somewhere of him at the helm of his vessel, complete with hook! I'll find it and post it later.


This is a lobster Noah made at school. Doesn't the chocolate pudding mustache make him look older? I'd say he could pass for 6 at least. Just hope the other kids don't ask him to try to buy Apple Juice for them at the local Quik Stop.


Noah having fun with his Little People construction site (thank you, Aunt Brenda!). I'm feeling like I've posted some of these pictures/narrations before, and if so, I apologize. Too late to turn back now... When Noah was playing with this, I wanted to play with him, and he physically pushed me away and told me "No! I play!" If only he'd do that with his diaper--"No! I change!"


Kicking back, spanning the gorge, readin' some books...


Noah really likes his Noah's Ark that Aunt Patti made him.


I guess he's checking out the plot synopsis on the back of the book...


...and to show that he's got diverse interests, here's the book Aunt Rachel got him!


I wish this was a little bit sharper, but I still love it.


Taken TODAY--such a little hipster.