It's Noah's {Last} First Day of Preschool 2013

Noah is so excited to go back to school.  This is his last year in preschool...next year he transitions into kindergarten.  Bubs is feeling so confident about heading back into his old classroom. 

I can't wait to see what this year brings!!!

Summer Library Time

This summer, Noah and I had the privileged of going to the library and joining in their summer reading program.  Each week, we went to the preschool reading time as well as a fun literacy program {magic show, musical singing group, reptile show, etc.}.  Bubs learned to LOVE the library as well as any book written by Mo Willems.

This is us at the magic show...I think it was a bit lost on Mr. Man.  Too bad, because I enjoyed it.

Here we are at the Oklin Bloodworth musical show.  Mr. Man enjoyed it quite a bit!

Preschool Story Time...do you see a theme with the photos?!?

Every time Noah and I read a book, we would record it on a Summer Reading Log.  After reading ten books, he earned a prize from the library.  Noah LOVED his new glasses...as well as the Mo Willems books he checked out.

This was our very last Story Time of the summer.

I am so blessed to have summers off in order to rest, relax, and rejuvenate with my Little Man!

Hello...anyone there?

Hello...anyone there? 

I bet so many of you who check this blog daily or weekly are wondering that very same thing.  Are the Jacksons still there?  Are they doing anything?  Are they having fun?  How is Noah?  What's going on? 

I know...I know...I know.  It's been almost three months since my last blog post.  I am sorry for the absence.  I love this blog so very much, it is after all Noah's "baby book", and I appreciate all of your visits and comments.  

This past May was a very challenging month for me, both physically, emotionally, and professionally.  I must admit that I went into a bit of a funk and needed a bit of time and space to "hibernate".  I feel very passionately about living your life "in a fish bowl".  I believe God does amazing things in our lives as well as the lives of others when we are visible, transparent, and open.  I continue to be blessed by the friendships I have made with other families living with trachs, g-tubes, and Fraser Syndrome.  I would not have known them had I not put myself {and my son} out there for the world to see.  I decided, however, that because of my emotional state, I needed a bit of alone time and, thus, gave myself permission to take the summer off from blogging.

It has been a wonderful summer filled with amazing memories of family and fun.  I have a running list of blog topics that I need to get to on my refrigerator.  I thank you so much for sticking around during our absence and I promise to start those blogs coming.     

Drawing

If you know Noah, you know that he struggles with both fine and gross motor skills.  Because he only has one eye, Mr. Man has no depth perception which can make simple tasks a bit more of a challenge.  My Little Man is not a fan of writing or drawing.  In fact, I can safely say that he pretty much detests most forms of art.  He struggles to hold a pencil correctly and make it draw the things he wants.  Noah prefers to use a marker because he doesn't have to press down on the paper as hard as when he uses a pencil or crayon.

This summer, we have been working at writing and drawing.  Bubs has been practicing drawing people and {surprise, surprise} Angry Birds and Star Wars characters.  Noah gets frustrated when his drawings don't look the way he wants and usually asks for help with "complicated" pictures.

The other day, Noah was drawing a picture of himself {much to his chagrin} and he told me that he needed Squirt in the picture because "he is my best friend".  Let me tell you that just melted my heart and I gladly agreed to draw Squirt once he finished his self-portrait.  I was pretty impressed with Noah's drawing {as well as my own}.

On a side note, I found it interesting that Noah insisted on drawing two eyes.  He knows that he only has one but I suppose that he always sees pictures and drawings of people with two eyes so he felt he needed to draw two.  Interesting...

Eating New Foods

Noah has been experimenting with eating new foods this summer.  He continues to love anything that is creamy and completely devoid of texture {yes to yogurt, no to applesauce} as well as anything that easily crumbles in his mouth {graham crackers, fish crackers, animal crackers}.

In an attempt to expand his very small repertoire of food he chooses to eat, as well as introduce new flavors to his virgin taste buds, Bubs and I have been scouring the grocery store for things to eat.  Noah will typically choose a box based upon the cartoons on the front and then not like the contents inside {perhaps an introductory lesson on marketing will be in his future}.  We have discovered, however, a few new foods that he enjoys.

Behold, America's favorite cookie...the Oreo.  Bubs loves to twist the cookies apart and lick the creamy filling out.

And Bugles...America's stinkiest snack food.  Auntie Nessa taught him how to stick them on his fingers and pretend they are long nails.  Noah, however, pretends they are light sabers.

With every new food that Noah tries, I see a glimmer of hope, in the very, very distant future, that my Little Man might be one day be g-tube free.