daybreak

Noah made very little effort to change his internal clock for our vacation, and that meant he was the first one up each day.  He is noisy in the morning and by midweek Dustin or I just took him to the lobby in a [somewhat successful] attempt to let everyone else sleep later.  I saw some lovely sunrises - thank you, baby!

Noah had a good time on the beach, in the water, in the pool.  Playing, walking, sleeping, sitting.  Our mellow boy.  He balances on his knees, lifts his arms into the air.  Hold me, hold me, hold me.  I wonder when he will walk, with his strong penchant for perching, but we are in no hurry here. 

let's end up together

Seth made me love legos a few weeks ago, to go with my you + me hearts that live on my nightstand.  Don't you love that photo of Adam?  He is mad for bubbles.  Mad for them.  And how sweet are those last two pics?  They were taken a few minutes apart.  I'll color.  You eat oatmeal.  He just woke up.  How quickly it becomes Want to color with me?  You choose the picture.  I'll pull Noah over to be with us.  It reminds me of all those signs in our old town:  we're building an inclusive community.  I think that's what we're trying to build as well.

The big kids have Fall Break next week and we are all looking forward to time off, family time.  I don't take as many pictures right now, don't really know why.  We're busy, happy busy though, not run-around-all-the-time busy.  Hopefully I can remedy the photo thing soon (Noah's 1yr pics, right?!).  

The trees are just beginning to turn here and I love it.  My heart clenched a little to read of the first (and second - and third!) snow already happening in Colorado.  I knew I would miss things, but it's surprising to me the random things that make an impression.  The little boys are starting to play (and fight) together and it's lovely to see - it is so easy to remember Seth and Paige at those ages, and they trouble they got into together.  The adventures.  The delight.  Oh, the mischief.  It's quite different, but there are threads of familiarity.

not posed

What a sweet sleeper.  Those crossed ankles!  Oh, sweet boy.  I could watch you all day long.

looking related

I wish we'd had a few different angles, but you can get a pretty good idea.  Noah is really starting to remind me of little Paige.  It was once he grew teeth that we could really see it, but maybe that was coincidence.  Excluding the 1st birthday snafus, they also both really like cupcakes.  And each other.

and he turned one

Noah had his first birthday at the end of August.  It was a little bittersweet, this last first birthday.   He is delightful and the greatest little baby ever.  And he is happy, happy, happy.  He and Adam are starting to play together a bit more (especially now that S&P are in school).  I think Adam likes having somebody else with him that isn't telling him what to do.  Paige is just wild for him, and aside from breakfast he is the first thing she will seek out in the morning.  Seth is still strangely confident when it comes to taking care of him.  I like that.  He crawls to you and raises his arms with a smile.  He perches on Dustin's arm, tailor-made for the spot.  And boy, can he be noisy.  Really noisy, right before he falls asleep and right when he wakes up.  It's charming.  Mostly.

Momma loves you, Noah.  I will love you always.