Everyone has been asking where our new posts are.  I got three up today but wanted to tell you why it’s taken so long - my poor Noah has been so sick!  He has some sort of virus that gave him a very high temperature and all that goes with it (sleeplessness, cranky, food strike, etc) and we’ve been juggling Pedialyte and naps for the past week.  Today his temperature was down but he broke out into a horrible rash all over his torso.  He’s currently working on a 3 hour nap and I hope he feels better when he gets up but this was the scene at our home Monday night.

Yes I’m mean for taking photos.  Poor guy was so miserable.  Walter looked chipper until Noah woke up at 3am and demanded a Curious George marathon (until 5am or so) and juice.  We have been total zombies all week! 

Our great friends Jeff and Ariana came to Miami for one last hurrah before Baby Jack comes (he’s due to be here on my birthday – and ironically Noah shares a birthday with Jeff).  Walter took the day off so we could all go down and visit with them.  For those of you who don’t know Jeff and Ari they started out as one of my wedding couples a few years back and through the planning process we developed a relationship.  Ariana was also my assistant for quite some time.  We miss you both dearly!

Anyway we drove down (which due to traffic quite unfortunately took 3 hours, yes THREE, yes, with a nearly 2 year old) and enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Joe’s Stone Crab.  Seriously, we should have taken a photo of the onion rings, they had to be as big as Noah’s head.  Then we went down to the beach to walk around a bit.

Money!  Totally a different post but Noah has developed a love for money (change, bills, credit cards – not sure who he gets this from).  He had this nickel in his pocket all day and took it out to admire it while we walked.  I wonder if he thought the ocean was the biggest wishing well ever.  He loves to toss coins into fountains but he held onto his nickel.

Aren’t these two so adorable!?  Their kid is going to be so posh and quite an artist, if he even gets a quarter of his parents’ talent and taste.

Here they were almost 2 years ago on their wedding day.  Awwwww…

Last weekend we went to Wakodahatchee to stroll the boardwalk and check out the wildlife.  The weather was beautiful!  Noah hates having the sun in his eyes but hates sunglasses and hats just as much.  We actually got him to leave his glasses on for a bit though and man, was he stylin’!

Every bird at the park was a duck – according to Noah at least.  Anything with feathers, and he told everyone.  We asked him at one point “do you see the heron?” and he responded – DUCK.  Ok, it’s a duck.

So whenever I do or say something crazy (or responsible but unwelcomed) Walter gives me “a look”.  The look usually implies “are you crazy!?”.  Now that Noah is old enough to play along Walter will tell Noah to help him “give Mommy a look”.  Below is what I get every time.  Noah thinks it’s hysterical. 

After our walk we went over to Grammi and Papa’s for lunch.  Everyone always asks how mom is doing (thank you) and how her hair is growing.  We made her pose with Noah so you can see for yourself. 

Noah has started talking so much more than ever before.  The world is finally starting to come together for him and he’s able to communicate.  It really is wonderful!

I was on the phone yesterday and he repeated every other word I said, just like your annoying sibling did when you wanted them to leave you alone.  Last weekend he counted to 5.  Can you tell how impressed we are?

At the mall he was playing with the soda machine, pushing all the buttons (he LOVES buttons!).  A man walked up to make a purchase.  Noah stood back and watched the whole thing happen.  The man put his money in, pushed the button, and got a soda.  After he walked away, Noah ran up and started pushing the buttons again but nothing happened.  He spun around, held his hand out and said “I need money”.  I laughed so hard.  He had it all figured out.  What a great kid!

Walter and I have been going to the Renaissance Festival in Quiet Waters Park for as long as I can remember.  When we went last year Noah just hung out in the Baby Bjorn until he fell asleep staring at the ground.  It was almost like old times.  This year was quite a different story however.  Just like Disney and everywhere else you take these curious little people every experience is a whole new event.

When we walked in, the fairies (one of my personal faves) were sitting by the gate saying hello to the children and posing for photos.  Noah was curious but there was no way-no how he was going to go near them.  I remember him asking to borrow the phone to call DCS or something.  He was definitely worried and couldn’t figure out why we brought him to this freak show. 

Noah enjoyed the didgeridoo music and wanted to touch the instruments.  This photo of a stunned child really is ours, I know it doesn’t look like him, like I said – he was very concerned.  I love how he’s holding his hands.  If you try to touch him when he’s this nervous he turns from you and totally shuts down.  Poor baby.

Walter always has and always will love the Birds of Prey show.  I will always love the man who puts on the show (handsome like Sean Connery in my opinion).  Noah enjoyed his kettle corn, it’s the only way we were seeing any part of the show this year.

You’ll have to ask Walter just how many blurry or bird-just-out-of-frame photos it takes to get a few great ones like these.  The numbers are staggering!

Right when we walked in a kid had a rock candy sugar stick.  Noah NEEDED one.  After lunch we humored him because we know he’ll get tired of it and be done (instead of eating it all just because it’s good).  Yes, really we got him one.  Yes, don’t worry, we brushed his teeth.

A funny story about buying it actually – Walter and Noah were hanging out with the wagon a little bit ahead of the candy shop.  When Noah saw where I was going he jumped out and ran over.  He approached slowly and curiously and I said “Hi, Buddy!”.  The woman working the shop asked if he was mine.  She was concerned because she didn’t see anyone looking for him (I wonder how many kids take off for the candy shop) and I replied “I don’t see anyone who looks like him either!”.  I could tell she was really worried so I told her he was mine and got a laugh at her expense.  It was a little mean but c’mon – it was funny!

I will always love the glassblowing at the Ren Fest.  They’ve had a few different guys and this one is good.  They just put him in the worst spot where you simply overheat (bleachers in the sun next to a giant furnace) while trying to enjoy the show.  Here he is making a shot glass.

My lovely husband didn’t want to take Noah with him to the barber on his last visit, he didn’t think he needed to go.  I couldn’t have disagreed more.  So I took it upon myself and headed out on Wednesday for a little haircut.  Unfortunately I don’t know how to “order” a man’s haircut.  I asked him for a graduated step on the sides and back.  I now know I should have asked for a fade or for him to just clean up the sides.  What we got was a bowl cut.  The good, old fashioned, bowl.  And while Noah can certainly make it work he does look a little… like his dad should have taken him.

Noah and I went to the grocery store early in the morning and when we pulled in we see this big Entemman’s delivery truck.  There was a photo of a chocolate chip cookie that took up the entire side of the vehicle.  Noah took one look and said “MOMMY!  Cookie Bus!”.  I don’t know why that made my day, I thought it was hysterical though, funny enough to share.  We later came up with jokes on how cookies get around – on the cookie bus of course, and I’m just so impressed that he could put those thoughts together.  He demanded to drive (they have these limo sized shopping carts with cars on the front with steering wheels) to the bakery and get a cookie.  He scored one with Easter sprinkles and couldn’t have been prouder.  I’m sure that cookie had just gotten off the bus to wait for him.

(Sorry all I had was my camera phone!)

Our dear friends Kim, Kelly, Peyton and Sydney have moved!  For those of you who don’t know “Kimmie” she is my “friend with the twins” who we see at least once a week and we are going to miss her and her family immensely.  Lucky for us they have landed in Washington DC and her husband will be working right across from XM’s headquarters so Noah and I have dibs to tag along next time Walter heads up that way.  Unfortunately it couldn’t ever be often enough.  We wish Kim and her family the best of luck and hope that we get a chance to head up soon!

To celebrate, most of the girls from our Wednesday group had a girls’ night out at the Melting Pot.

And one last Wednesday.  Aaron left before the camera made an appearance – sorry Beth!

Six months ago we hosted the girls’ birthday party at the house.  I will always have such fond memories of this.  I miss you guys!

Pamela and Troy were married on Sunday, February 17th at Benvenuto in Boynton Beach.  My mom watched Noah so Walter and I could enjoy the wedding without any juggling or entertaining.  I can’t remember the last time I didn’t carry a giant diaper bag/purse!  We had a great time and even managed to get a dance in. 

The ceremony was great but unfortunately our seats were out in right field so we didn’t get any great shots of the nuptials.  We did get a good chuckle out of seeing what tough work being a flower girl is!

The reception was beautiful!

The dances were so touching!  Troy and Pam danced together of course and they had the traditional daughter/father, mother/son dances but I’m not sure how many dry eyes were left after Troy shared a special dance with his daughter, Rebecca.  It was precious!

It was great seeing the extended family two days in a row!  These are a lot of the same people at the table shot from EJ’s birthday.  Amazing what a difference a day (and some fabulous clothes) makes!

This is Walter’s cousin and the groom’s sister, Tracey, and her husband Huong.  They’re expecting their first child, a daughter named Hope, in May.  She looked radiant but just kept saying she felt huge – at least she’s sleeping, right?

EJ’s 2nd birthday party was held at Veteran’s Park in Delray on February 16th.  What a great place for a kid’s event!  They had an amazing playground and a great pavilion.  We had a blast!  Thanks to the McMullen family for having us!

It was great to spend time with Walter’s family that we don’t get to see very often.

I’m not sure what Noah loved more – the playground or the chips!  He couldn’t stay away from either!

Could these two be any cuter?  This and the manhole photo were totally unstaged! 

Let them eat cake!

Noah and Jaimie had totally different ideas when it came to the proper utensils for cake eating!