Frugal Fun at Conner Prairie

Noah and I enjoyed the afternoon on Saturday at Conner Prairie. The Smithsonian Institute sponsors a free museum day each year, and Conner Prairie is on the list of free museums. I wasn't sure how Noah would like it, but he had a blast.

In a train in the Discovery Center, where kids can learn about how people lived over 100 years ago.

Playing with the wooden checkers

Tapping out some secret message in Morse code.

Planting corn and beans, then watering the vegetable garden

Milking a fake cow that had real liquid coming out. Noah was very interested in this and did not want to leave this little station for a long time.

Next we went to the animal encounters barn, where kids can pet the various farm animals that are out. Noah loved watching this ram. He also liked petting a mama goat and its baby kid goat, but I didn't get a pic in time. There was a 10-day old cow in the barn too, and Noah was too scared to get very close to it.

Here he is, brushing the hair of another goat.

One of the old houses we visited. We went in the candle shop, the pottery shop, the post office, the woodshop, the blacksmith, and there we sooo many more that we missed!

The big hot air balloon ride that Noah kept calling "ball"

We stopped at the Apple Store after our little adventures and bought a caramel apple and some apple cider. This is Noah's first caramel apple!

He loved it! (And had a little help from Mommy too!)

While Daddy watches Noah

Apparently this is an example of a game that Noah plays if Daddy gets to spend the evening watching Noah.

Mommies must be too boring because this looks dangerous to me on a few different levels!

Mommy's Little Helper

Noah is 18 months and definitely starting to pitch in more around the house. We are working on teaching him to follow simple commands, and he is doing a really good job. I love having him help me around the house! He is very industrious and willing to lend his little hands to join in the "fun" of housework.

He has learned to step on the trash can pedal to open the lid if I ask him to throw something away for me.



Noah helps Mommy put the soap in the dishwasher.

Then he knows how to start the dishwasher by pushing the start button.

He loves to help use the dustpan when Mommy sweeps the kitchen floor.

Then he usually tries to sweep the floor all by himself too.

Noah loves to run the dustbuster to clean up little things he dropped off of his high chair tray.

Every Tuesday when Mommy does laundry, Noah helps to push the baskets across the house. He loves doing this and cries if Mommy does it without him!

While doing laundry, Noah knows how to open and close the dryer door. Sometimes he helps to empty the dryer when the clothes are dry. (Now if I could just teach him how to fold the laundry....hmm)

He also knows to pick up his toys and put away his shoes. Let's hope he always wants to help with chores this much!

What Mommies are For...

Noah: "Mama. Paci. "

Translation: "Mommy, get my pacifier. It fell on the floor. Right there." (see little finger pointing down)

Enjoy that paci while it lasts, kiddo...one of these days it might just disappear into thin air.

18 Months

Today, marking 18 months for Noah, I received a number of potty training e-mails in my inbox from various baby websites. This must mean that we are saying goodbye to the baby stage. I sincerely doubt Noah is anywhere near potty training, but I did catch him "in the act" one day and he finished the job on the potty. So we'll see.

Noah sleeps about 14 hours a day. Isn't that great? He is very cranky without his naps, and as challenging as it is to keep him at two naps a day....we'll keep going with it, since he obviously seems to need it.

Jason took this picture of him this morning, cuddled up in his crib between his blankie and his teddy bear.


Noah has lots of new talents. Here are a few that I can think of at the moment.

• He loves to color and draw. (Thankfully the "Magic Eraser" has saved us a few times already--crayon on the bookshelf and writing on the wall.)
• He has learned how to flush the toilet (and of course is fascinated by that!).
• He loves to throw things in the trash can. Good thing Mommy checks the trash can before taking out the trash or else we would be out a number of toys and sippy cups.
• He also loves to take his clothes off and run away. I am crossing my fingers that he won't figure out how to take off his diaper, because once he learns that we are in big trouble!!!
• He has learned how to climb on top of the dining table! What a talented climber we have. :)

Noah loves to play with legos now. He is good at building towers and stacking them very tall. He also likes the shape sorter toys, and he can usually figure out which shape goes in which hole.

Doesn't he look like such a grown-up?

Playing in his "new" playhouse tent. (I rescued it from being taken to the dumpster at my gym!)

Noah...you have officially been outside the womb for 2/3 of your life! =)