So, it's not even 10am and Noah is taking his first bath of the day.  I say first because he usually gets 2 on a good day 4 on a really fun one.  He is one messy kid, and he loves baths but he likes his privacy.  If I am in the bathroom with him the bath will last about 5 min.  If I sit out in the hall with the door halfway closed he will take a half hour bath.  Such a funny boy.  So here I am peeking into the bathroom so my son will take a long bath.
Now the reason he needs this bath... macaroni and cheese of course.  He woke up today around 8 and wanted to eat.  I feed him a large banana.  Once he is done he asks for more.  Crazy kid.  Yesterday he ate 4 bananas.

So I cut him another one but I guess I got his signals wrong.  He is hungry, he makes the sign for eat, but he doesn't want a banana.  I know this because he is tossing them on the floor.  So I run through the foods he usually eats.  Apple, Pineapple, Mac & Cheese?  "cheeeee"  he says. (Yes, I know a very small list and heavy on one food group but the kid likes what he likes.) So here I am making Annie's Mac & Cheese for breakfast.
I put it on Noah's plate and he starts stuffing his face.  Funny kid.  when his is done he is covered with cheese and he is now ready to play.

Art projects

Noah likes to hit the tile with his hands.

        

talking (screaming) at the tile

I tried to make some cute Christmas presents.  The way I envisioned them they were a perfect print of Noah’s hands and feet on a paper, possibly a frame.  Something people could keep to remember how small these feet used to be. All it was was a mess.  These pictures were taken 8 min after the paint was opened. All Noah wanted to do was eat it or open the bottles and squeeze paint onto the paper. Both he and I were covered.  At least we had some good memories.

Trip to Seattle

The flight to Seattle was horrible. I had to wake him up at 5am to go on the plane. I figured it would go like all the other trips we had been on… He would fall asleep right as the plane to off and wake up a few minutes before the plane landed. But no, Noah didn’t fall asleep the entire flight and he wasn’t happy. I tried to nurse him but he wanted to move around and look at the people behind us. I decided that a more quiet, and less distracting place to nurse would be in the back of the plane. So Noah and I go in the back while the flight attendants are running the drink trolley  . 
Noah is still not happy.  He won’t nurse, sleep or stop crying.  After I finally get he relaxed enough to nurse a fight attendant comes back and yells at me for being in a restricted area.  I explain my situation and her only suggestion was the bathroom.  Trying not to be offended I go into the, to small for one person, bathroom and see if I can get Noah to fall asleep.  But now he want to touch everything and make a big mess.  So back to our seats I go but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.  We walked the plane and talk to people.

Pam's Kids

Pacific Science Center at Night

Finally in Seattle the first thing we do is visit my sister Pam at the Pacific Science Center. It was so much fun!!! Her kids were so excited about all the stations.  We watched a laser show, hung out with naked mole rats, touched starfish and learned so many things.  It was very sad to see them go.  It was the perfect way to start out our vacation. I got enough hugs to last me a year.  And that is saying something because I need a lot of hugs.

The next few days were filled with fun and adventure.  We went to the temple.  We couldn’t find child care so we took turns watching Noah in the parking lot.  he did really well considering only having snack food, no bed to take a nap on and being a little too cold to play on the wet grass.

  

We went to the zoo on Halloween.  Noah wore his handyman costume that I made him.  it didn’t work out very well because he kept tossing the tools on the ground but we had fun none the less.
After the zoo we took the bus back to down town and went to the aquarium.  Noah was having so much fun he didn’t want to go to sleep, no matter where we were. That he how he was for the whole trip.  He ended up taking naps at about 4pm sleeping till 9 awake till 11 then back to sleep for the rest of the night.









Noah had so much fun playing all the instruments.  We were a little scared he would brake them because he was so excited.  I think the drums where his favorites, that is why there is no picture of him playing one. I was a little busy keeping them in one piece.

Noah playing the piano at the Music Museum

I can’t remember the order of things but we hung out at the music/science fiction museum, the children's museum, took a harbor cruise, went up the space needle and even found a park to play at.

Yes, Noah is liking his fingers after touching the star fish.

This is what happens when Noah's naps are skipped.

So happy my camera took this picture.  Love this face!!

  

On Sunday we couldn't find a meeting house close enough but we still wanted to observe the Sabbath.  We didn't go to any touristy things, except food-- we needed to eat.  We walked around Seattle and found some amazing treasures, a park that Noah had tons of fun in even though it was wet from all the rain. We passed a community garden that was spectacular and enjoyed the fall weather. 

Noah at the Park with Brian

  

Noah playing at the Children's Museum 

The Children's Museum is for older kids that have the ability to creatively play, not just bang toys on other toys.  We even had to ask for a stool so Noah could reach some of the stations.  but it was still loads of fun.  Noah didn't want to leave.  It had a place for young toddlers to play that was more for their size.  there were slides, blocks and even a mote to float some boats.  Noah loved the kitchen.  He would have played there for hours.




All in all it was a great trip.  On the way home Noah started to cry as soon as we got in the plane.  I was really worried about the flight.  My silent prayers must have been answered because the flight attendant came over and upgraded us to first class.  Noah didn't have a problem hanging out there.

Opportunities

I got a call the other day.  "Dianna, would you like to work for us?"  just 18 hours a week.  a perfect way to balance home and life.  I can be a mom and work too.   And because I am working my investments licences won't expire in January.  So many good things. So I think about it..... and quickly decide that I am a mom and I don't need to work.  Decision is made and I continue going about my day.  And while I am folding my son's pants I think "it would be nice to be part of the community again."  but no I am a mom and I need to be home.  Decision is made and I go about my day.  And while I am picking up blocks I think, "I would be really good at it.  and they need me right now."  WHY is this still attacking my thoughts.  Haven't I made my decision?  I have told you brain that being a mom is all I want why do you keep on thinking about work?

Feeling a little flustered I find my scriptures and I start to read.  The first few lines are like white noise to my mind contemplating the possibility of me having a reason to do my hair in the morning.  Still I kept reading and finally the words started to stick and I was thinking about trails, and blessings.  Then it came to me the feeling I was looking for.  I am a mom that has the ability to be AMAZING in the work force.  I win awards and receive recgonition from my boss, peers and customers.  I worked hard for my licences and I have nice shoes that beg to be worn.  and I now know what I am going to do.  My decision is made.

I pick up the phone.  Sadly it goes to voice mail and I say.  "Thank you for the opportunity but I will have to respectively decline.  My place is with my son right now.  I hope you the best in finding a suttible candidate for the position."

Yes it is the same decision that I had made more than 25 times but this time was different I knew that just because I choose to be home doesn't negate the fact that I am amazing.  I choose to pick up food off the floor, give as many baths as is required and spend all my time with a one year old.

Alaskan Ashton Almost Done

Water fun.

Brian and Noah had tons of fun in the swimming pool and the beach.  This is the first time Noah has been in water with greater volumes then the tub and the toilet combined.  He really liked it when Brian was moving him around in the water.  When we got to Hanauma Bay  http://hanauma-bay-hawaii.com/  and put him in the ocean he didn’t know what to do with the sand.  After a while we could tell that he wanted to leave.  Brian took care of him while I did some snorkeling.  We must have been there at low tide because I couldn’t find a path around all the rocks.  We had so many other things to do that day and so I couldn’t walk the beach and find other avenues in.  I was happy with all the fish that I saw was ready to leave. 

WARNING Diaper issue- don’t read if you are grossed out easily or don’t want to know.  Just remember I warned you

Well I knew before we left to Hawaii that we would only go into the water a few times and so it was not worth buying a whole packet of swimming diapers.  So Noah was swimming with just his trunks on.  We were getting ready to go and I was on my way to put a diaper on when I heard the fateful noise.  I looked in his trunks and there it was a big, mushy mess.  We were at a public beach with very little facilities.  Inside the bathroom I am holding him over the toilet and sliding his trunks off once I pass his knees I feel I am in the clear – until his foot gets caught on the lining.  So here I am holding a poopy bottom boy in one arm and in the other trying to unstick his foot.  I pull really hard and am successful in two things removing his trunks from his foot and splattering poop on the wall that has now slid down to the ground.  

Diamond Head

This was a fun hike.  Steep, switchbacks and tons of people.  We went as early as we could and still it was crowded.  There was a tunnel near the top and when we got there a woman was standing at the entrance and not able to get in.  She was claustrophobic.  We said we would walk with her.  I asked her a ton of questions.  Halfway through she said “I know what you are doing.  And thank you.”  After the tunnel and with switchbacks there were stairs, lots of them.  It was worth the view. No wonder it was used by the military and a viewing post. We could see for miles.    

At the bottom we had some shaved ice and waited for our ride.

Luau

When you go to Hawaii you have to go to as many luaus as you can.  It is interesting how each one said that they were traditional but all three of them were very different. This one was on top of the Hawaiian Hilton.  The best part was the fire dancers.

On our trip Noah had to find many different ways to sleep.  Here is what he came up with.

Home from the PCC

Plane to Anchorage

In the Van 

At the hotel

In the stroller shopping

In the Van from Swimming

Look, he really is a mini me

In the Hotel

 I might get in trouble for this but I thought it was really cute how both of them sleep the same.

Fishing

In one of the ponds there was this guy tossing bread into the water.  The bird was watching and waiting.  I thought he would go after the bread but the bread would sink and the guy would toss in more.  Once the fish came and ate the bread the bird dove in and got his just feed dinner.

Zoo

Where ever Brian and I go we like to visit the local zoo.  The Hawaii zoo was beautiful.  There were many animals, birds and plants.  I got a lot of really good pictures but the only one I am showing you is the peacock that made me scream.  He was standing on the hill just a few feet away from us.  I started to take pictures and walk closer.  He didn’t move so I took more and moved closer.  I was about two feet away from him when he looked at me and squawked really loud.  And I screamed louder.  Everyone looked at me and we all had a good laugh.  

And to end here are some other really nice pictures.