One and a half!

We have reached the "and a half" stage of life! Our little boy is one and a half; can you believe it?Here is an update on our busy boy. At 18 months Noah:

• Weighs 21 pounds and is 30 inches long (that's in the 1st and 3rd percentiles, thank you very much!)


• Uses 35 signs and 10 words. He really is able to communicate quite a bit and rarely gets frustrated.


• The first word that he used consistently was "bible."


• Is obesessed with cars. Not toy cars, real cars. Grandpa started it all and is very happy about this.


• Loves keys and tries to put them in doors and ignitions. (nobody taught him this intentionally, mind you)


• Can find his feet/toes, belly button, hands, ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. His belly button is his favorite. He also likes to lift up other people's shirts to find theirs...wonder how long that will be cute?


• Walks very quickly like a pro and kind of runs


• Is getting pretty good at using a cup and spoon, although it is still a messy undertaking


• Can point to animals, balls, etc in books


• Does the actions to "If You're Happy And You Know It" and some to "Skidamarink" and "Wheels on the Bus"


• Sings "nananana" with songs that have it in them


• Has a fake laugh that he does whenever anyone else laughs


• Claps for himself whenever you say "good job" (or if he thinks you should)


• Loves running around and playing with the kids at church


• Loves playing outside and in the dirt


• Can throw and kick a ball


• Likes to turn things upside down and look for batteries, latches, etc.


• Eats just about everything. His very favorites are fruit, cheese, and noodles. He also likes raw vegtables and parmesan cheese (not the sawdust kind from a shaker, the real hard cheese kind that tastes super strong by itself)

This is turning into a very long list because he is learning things so quickly and has quite the personality! He is one smart cookie and is all boy. He keeps us busy, entertained, and thankful every day.

• I love my one and a half year old!!

The Library Dilemma

Today I took Noah to the library for the first time! It was a good adventure.
He thought the big rug was pretty cool. He pulled books off the shelves and looked at them for a few seconds.
He liked that they have chairs just the right size!

He thought rocking in this one was fun.

And in true Noah style he then had to attempt to pick it up and carry it around. (while grunting, of course)

I'd say it was a pretty successful first trip. So here's my dilemma: is it just the NICU mom in me, or are library books kind of gross? I don't know where those books have been. Maybe the last reader was a snotty nosed kid infected with RSV. And those board books that looked like they have been chewed on, who did the chewing?

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the whole concept of a library, and it is a fun place to bring a kid, but my unsanitary alarm is going off. Oh the things you think of when you become a mom.

So be honest, am I crazy?
:)

WIC+EIC+MOPS+poverty=Child Survival Programs (=AWESOME)

A lot of my favorite blogs have been participating in the Compassion International bloggers trip to the Philippines. If you have a few minutes (or more), it is very much worth your time to check it out. You might want to have some Kleenex handy too. This post is one of my favorites. And this one. Oh, and this one. They are just all amazing.
One thing that I learned from it is that Compassion has Child Survival Programs that focus on babies in utero up to age 3. They provide things like prenatal care, vaccinations, and nutritious food. And more than that, education on newborn care and child development, opportunites and materials for moms to play with their kids, and spiritual encouragement and teaching from a community of believers. How awesome is that?! It's like WIC and EIC and MOPS and more all wrapped into one amazingly needed package!
Check out this post about a program in the Philippines. She talks about how by far one of the most frequent prayer requests they heard while there was "I just want my child to be healthy." Of course we ask that same request here in the States when someone is expecting, but it is it really on the same level? We know that if we have a question or something goes wrong there are well trained doctors and nurses, an ambulance if needed, and even Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Not so in many places, where the prayer for a healthy baby is driven by an all consuming and very justified fear of losing that baby.
In some ways it is not comparable at all, but I know what it is like to cry out from the deepest part of myself for the life of my child. And that is with some of the most well-trained staff in the country attending to him 24 hours a day. I cannot even imagine what it is like for these mothers.
There are horrifying statistics like the fact 24,000 children under 5 die each day from preventable causes, most within the first few days of life. But do you know what gets me even more? That in some countries parents do not name their children until they are 5. Because it is easier that way if they die, which there is a good chance they will. And that it is common for babies to be given little face to face interaction and physical affection because: 1, their families are too busy trying just to survive; 2, they have never been told that babies need it; and 3, it makes it easier to say good-bye if they don't make it. That truly breaks my heart.
I am so excited to learn about these Child Survival Programs. And that you can sponser a Child Survival Center in the same way that you can sponser a child through Compassion International. Going to have to find room in the budget for this one.
(I know this post is more link filled than usual, but seriously at least check out this one: http://rescuebabiesnow.org/)

Why didn't anyone tell me?

Why didn't anyone tell me that there are two easy steps to follow that equal my son's happiness?

Step 1: Take him outside.

Step 2: Give him a stick or a rock.

So why do I ever buy toys anyway?

Needless to say, we've been spending a lot of time outside!