Disneyland!

So we broke down and got annual passes to Disneyland. We were going quite a bit the past month, averaging twice a week! The ticket attendants never believed Noah wasn't three, although now we actually do need to purchase a pass for him since his birthday already passed. Noah loves riding the train, visiting Goofy's house, riding Pirates of the Caribbean, the Rockets, and Dumbo. He's been on Pinnocchio, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, the Tea Cups, and I think that's it so far. Oh yeah, he *loves* Tarzan's tree house. That exhibit will give you some buns with all the stair climbing!

He's actually tall enough to ride almost all the rides, but I don't know if he's emotionally ready. We took him on a small roller coaster in Toon Town, but I think it slightly freaked him out. Maybe because daddy told him to hold up his hands? I think that made him feel insecure. I know it makes me insecure on rides when I hold up my hands.

So we are Disneyland locals for sure now!

Farmer's Market

Every Thursday, Noah and I head on down to the Costa Mesa Farmer's Market. We both love our trips there. We start out at the Kettle Corn stand, head on over to the hummus stand, and then load up on fruits and veggies, sometimes eggs. Then we stroll over to Centennial Farm and visit the goose and windmill, enjoying the rest of our kettle corn. Noah's a little apprehensive around the loud honking goose but is intrigued nonetheless. If it's open, we visit the farm, or else Noah pushes the stroller back and forth around the fairgrounds. After the farmer's market, we head to a park and enjoy our hummus and fresh pita bread. Yum! We really enjoy our Thursdays and look forward to the farmer's market every week:)

That was easy!

So Noah is potty trained! Whew! After he turned three, I decided it was time. We had read lots of books, talked a lot about using the potty, and he dabbled in going pee in the toilet here and there. So basically I just told him we weren't going to wear diapers anymore (except during nap and night time) and he was down. He did ask for diapers here and there, but I prompted him to just go in the toilet. After a few accidents the first few days, and some delays in going #2 on the toilet, he got it. Just like that. No rewards, lots of praise, and a few accidents and then two weeks later, we are fully potty trained. I guess you would call it potty learned. So the combo for us was: Noah was ready, I was ready, we put slight pressure on him, and we took the diapers away completely. Now he can hold it like a champ and go anywhere. Even went #2 at Starbuck's the other day. I have to admit, I thought it would be a lot more time consuming, stressful, and drawn out. Not so! Congratulations big man!

Three!!!

Did I mention Noah turned three? "I'm a big boy" is his favorite phrase. Let me tell you a little about his birthday...

We had a little pre-birthday celebration at the Waldorf school. It was so sweet...I was a weepy mess and Noah was so proud. He happily followed Ms. Uschi to his little "throne" and wore a beautiful handmade flower crown along with a little cape. Ms. Uschi told a traditional Waldorf birthday story, detailing how he made it to Earth, while Ms. Rusty played beautiful music on her guitar. Then Noah paraded in front of his classmates, was given a handmade birthday card from Ms. Uschi, and all the children brought Noah a flower. He happily accepted them. Sooooo sweet. I had to explain to him that my tears were tears of joy, as he was quite concerned that I was crying. Then, after blowing out the candles, he devoured the cupcakes I made for the class. He was pretty stoked on those cupcakes!

So that was Friday. I spent most of the night baking his cake after he went to bed that night. Noah wanted a "chocolate cake with white frosting, with hotwheel cars and m & m's". So that's what he got! I'll post pics later. I also spent the better part of the night decorating with some cool hotwheels decorations I found...a Happy Birthday banner, Hotwheels hanging cars, a Hotwheels sticker book and tatoos, along with the traditional birthday ring he just loves playing with every year (and blowing out the candles over and over again).

Might I add that this year was so much fun, as Noah is fully aware it is his birthday. Weeks prior, he was telling everyone his birthday was coming up, holding up three fingers as he professed his age of coming, and waking up most mornings wondering if it was indeed his birthday.

So Saturday he woke up to his little decorations, to which he replied over and over, "Wow! Wow!" Then, to his delight, I made him pancakes with vanilla ice cream on top. Could this day get any better? Yes! He opened his new all natural wooden tool set and Daddy showed him the ropes. Then, our neighbors, the Currens (Jen, Gavin, Tegan, and Camryn), came with us to the Waldorf May Faire. Noah ate cookies, made a paper kite and ran around with the kids. Then it was nap time so he could rest up for the bonfire later that evening. We headed to the beach around 6:00pm with our neighbors and grandma and grandpa. Noah had fun with the girls (as usual!) and roasted hot dogs and smores. He loves bonfires as do we!

Then we headed home for the final treat of the day...mama's homemade cake (Noah couldn't believe his eyes and couldn't decide what to focus on...the cars, m &m's, or frosting, so he dove right into the frosting, took off a few m&m's, and rode the cars through the frosting!) We all sang Happy Birthday and he blew out the candles on the cake and the birthday ring. After inhaling the cake, he played with the kids and his new awesome tree fort (from grandma) then settled in for a long, well-deserved rest.

Happy Birthday sweet boy! We loooooove you...you brighten our lives. xoxoxoxoxoxo

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Boy's Best Friend

Noah is becoming quite attached to Oliver. I think they're both getting over their little jealousy thing they had going with each other. Noah loves to go to the doggie beach and chase Oliver around. And a trip to the park just isn't the same without Oliver to run around in the grass with. Noah asks where Oliver is frequently throughout the day and is moving beyond pestering him to caring for him and showing him some love. I even caught him a few times having a one-sided conversation with Oliver. When I asked Noah if he was talking to Oliver, he replied (embarrassed), "No, Oliver doesn't talk." It's pretty cute seeing them cuddle on the chair together too.

Waldorf Playgroups

Every Friday morning from 8:45 am - 11:00 am, Noah and I go to the Waldorf Playgroups. Noah loves his teacher, Ms. Uschi, a sweet German lady who really has a way with children. It was a little difficult in the beginning for Noah to adjust to a more structured environment and sit still when necessary, but now he's really blossoming and knows the routine. Here's a rundown of what we do there:

The children come in and take off their shoes, then have about a half hour of free play. The toys are all natural, beautifully simple, and mostly handmade. Lots of open, imaginative play things. While the tots are playing, the mamas work on some sort of craft...we've made spiders, sun babies, silks, knitted hens, boats from pods, acorn gnomes, felted gnomes, and apple stamped paper, to name a few. I'd love to post pictures soon. When the dusty gnome comes out, it is time to clean up all the toys and crafts.

Then it is time for handwashing and snack. Snacks are brought in by the parents and are usually organic, wholesome foods. After snack, the kiddos go outside for some free play. There's a sandbox, beautiful gardens to skip through, and haystacks to toddle across. When Ms. Uschi plays her flute it is time to go inside for circle and story time. We all gather in a circle and sing songs with movement. Ms. Rusty sings along and plays beautiful music on her guitar and kinderharp. Then the children sit on a silk rainbow and are encouraged to quietly sit still and listen to a story, which usually relates to the season or an event coming up. The story is uniquely told by heart by Ms. Uschi and usually includes a scene with crafted items Ms. Uschi has lovingly made by hand.

Lastly, the children dance to the goodbye song and then go outside to the big playground and play with the next playgroup. Noah and I have a ritual of going to Starbuck's afterward for a little hot or cold treat. We both really look forward to our Fridays at the Waldorf school:)

Catching up

So here we are...I am having a hard time journaling every day so I'll just do the best I can! That's a more reasonable goal!

Noah's been quite a handful lately. Screaming every time he's upset, saying the S word, and basically showing me that he is indeed turning three in a few weeks. Ah the peaceful time we've been enjoying since the last six-month disequilibrium arose is coming to an end. I haven't been keeping my temper in check either, so we've entered this vicious cycle where he yells, I tell him we don't yell, then I lose it and end up yelling...the very thing I'm getting on him about. It's so hard sticking to the whole no-punishment-gentle parenting-thing. I feel like he does need consequences, but it's hard to draw the line between consequence and punishment. I read that I'm just suppose to walk away, as opposed to sending him away, when he disrespects me and explain to him that I don't want to be around him when he treats me like that. But that's kinda like punishment to me. I don't know. It's getting sooooo old repeating myself day after day...Noah time to get dressed, time to eat, time to take a nap, time to brush your teeth, time to get in the car, time to leave. He'll even say, "Let's go left." and I'll think I'm giving him what he wants and being flexible by going left. Then he wants to do the complete opposite. I give up! I am so exhausted from trying to empathize and keep up with his whirlwind moods and very vocal way of expressing frustration that by the time it's time for a break, I don't even have the energy to do something fun.

On a positive note, I saw videos of baby Noah last night that totally melted my heart. Here I go being Debbie Downer again...I also felt guilty...that I didn't really remember a lot of it. I also felt very anxious watching times when he was frustrated. I've had a really hard time dealing with Noah's way of expressing frustration from the time he was born...he gets frustrated very easily and is very loud, whiny and vocal about it...always has been. When he's this upset, he doesn't want my help...wants to figure it out himself...so I try to empathize with him, let him know I understand his frustration. But he's so damn loud that he can't even hear me trying to attempt to verbalize his feelings of frustration. I just feel so helpless and lost lately. I feel like I'm not a very good parent lately...not very patient or setting a good example and like he doesn't really like me. I feel like I'm always the bad guy and always resorting to yelling. Not good. I want another baby, but lately I don't know how I'm going to handle it. I pray to God I get a mellow one this time around...