Noah turned three years old last Monday. It was the first real Birthday party he has had and the first birthday where he has comprehended the celebration and has had expectations. Dustin took Noah into town earlier in the day so I could assemble and hide the cake. Noah fell asleep on the way home and we quickly decorated the house with balloons and streamers. We laid out a party tablecloth, party-hats and snacks. Dustin filled a baby pool with sand and toys for an impromptu sand box. When Noah woke up and came into the house he was so excited.
Noah had three friends over and we all went on a treasure hunt. Above is Noah pretending to read one of the clues. The clues were written with him in mind. I was thinking he would enjoy taking his friends from place to place, but he was so excited that he didn't really focus in on the clues and just followed his friends (who didn't know where they were going). The treasure hunt took the kids all around the property beginning at the house and going up to the bucks, the chicken coop (where there were eggs filled with jelly beans) up to see the new goat kid and back down to the back porch where there was a treasure chest filled with bags of party favors. Only the treasure chest was locked so first they had to dig through the sand box to find the key.
When we would ask Noah what he wanted for his birthday, he would say "Benny and Scrambler and Cranky" just about every time. So here are Benny and Scrambler on top of his cake. It was a real hit, whenever anyone asks him about his birthday he says " and Benny and Scrambler were on the cake!" Noah's favorite cartoons are Thomas the Train and Bob the Builder. Benny and Scrambler were the last of the Bob the Builder Machines that he didn't have. Cranky the Crane is a wooden crane with a magnet that lifts freight; it was his big birthday gift from Dustin and I.
Above are the kids digging in the sandbox for the key.
I've been meaning to cut Noah's hair for a while now, but it is pretty tricky getting him to sit still. I finally had to bribe him with jelly beans to sit still for me long enough. Whew! Last night he dressed up in Avery's baby clothes and jumped around on the couch. He looks so different with his new hair cut I just thought I'd show the new Noah.. Noah who is three years old!
A year ago today I was in active labor and getting ready to push Avery into this world. My labor was as quick and peaceful as it could be. It was a cool misty fall morning. The wood stove heated the house. We had candles lit all around. I was in active labor for about two hours before climbing into our tub to have her. The midwives showed up just as I was beginning to feel the urge to push. I had Avery at about eleven in the morning. I remember smiling and feeling exhilarated in the midst of labor, as I could tell that it wasn't going to take long. I remember looking at the clock and thinking I'd be in bed with my baby by noon, and I was. When Avery first came out she was very blue and covered in a thick white greasy coating of vernix. After we got into bed Dustin made us all breakfast. The bed was set up on the floor in the living room. It was a Sunday and Dustin had the t.v. on to see some of the footbal games. After the midwives left, the baby slept. I rested, but was too excited to sleep. I laid in bed and just stared at my beautiful new baby.
This picture is of Avery just a couple hours old. Before I'd put her first clothes on her. We keep our house pretty toasty, so neither of my children wore many clothes when they were new babies. We mostly just laid around in bed with them, lots of skin to skin contact and soft blankets. My parents brought Noah over for a visit to meet his new baby sister Sunday evening. He spent the night at their house so the three of us could have a peaceful night together.
Here are some pictures of Avery during her first few days of life. She was born one week early, although she was late according to her due date. She weighed seven pounds. I was blessed to have enjoyable easy pregnancies. Never got sick or too uncomfortably heavy. My labors were a lot of work but I had natural deliveries as I had planned. Most importantly I gave birth to two healthy children who were delightful and easy going babies.
This final picture if of Avery at about six months old. She was just a jolly little thing. Chubby, drooly and happy. Noah and Avery and I are having a nice day around the homestead. We are about to get out for farm chores. We might make some applesauce and chicken soup. I think we'll pull out the photo album of this last year and look at it together. Tonight we are having friends over who also have a daughter who just turned one year old. We are having roast chicken and a baked cauliflower head. Maybe some apple pie made with apples I bought at the market. Should be a special day of memories and a celebration of Avery's first year of life.
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