Drinking

Noah has been working with his OT for the past several months to drink from a straw. Do you know how hard it is to teach someone to suck? Let me tell you, it's very hard!  Noah never really learned how to suck as a baby. 

Today, I filled Mr. Man's cup with juice and he promptly started to cry. He wanted the "rectangle cup". After quite a bit of time trying to figure out which cup Noah wanted, Kc suggested that he might want a juice box. I handed my stubborn, crying child the juice box and waited for the frustration to swell as he tried to drink the juice. I rolled my eyes and gave Kc a knowing glance.  I just knew this was going to end in disaster.   

Well...to my utter astonishment, Bubs put the straw in his mouth and took a big swallow. 

What?!? When did he learn how to do that???

Noah proceeded to drink TWO juice boxes today. 

This boy continues to surprise me on a daily basis.

Eating

Recently, Bubs has started eating...I mean really eating!

That's right, people, eating!

You know...the simple act of putting food into the mouth, chewing, and swallowing for nourishment.  That thing we do multiple times a day with ease and pleasure.  

Eating!

Well, now Bubs is doing it too!

If you know anything about Mr. Man, you know that he has been g-tube fed since he was six months old.  He has been working with an occupational therapist since that time in order to learn how to control his tongue, eliminate his gag reflux, and tolerate objects in his mouth.  While this road has been long and winding, I can happily report that Bubs is willingly putting {selected} food into his mouth.

It all started with frozen yogurt. 

Let me tell you, Mr. Man loves him some fro-yo.  It is smooth, creamy, and sweet! 

He has moved from frozen yogurt to yogurt to pudding.  He enjoys when I dye the vanilla pudding fun colors {green for St. Patrick's Day or purple for Silly Saturday}.

He even enjoys making his own pudding...banana is his favorite.

Bubs is also quite in love with Angry Birds and Star Wars!

Bubs' therapist is super impressed as are his parents.  The fact that Mr. Man is putting anything at all in his mouth is MONUMENTAL!  We are currently working on adding texture to his foods.  He tried apple sauce the other day and was NOT A FAN!  There were definite tears on both our parts.  One day at a time...one step at a time...this boy is going to be eating with the best of them!

Easter Eggs

Noah had a blast dying Easter Eggs this year.  

Once again, we used a Pinterest inspired trick of putting the eggs in a whisk.  It worked out brilliantly, especially because I blow the eggs out and they tend to float on the top of the dye.

Noah loved the Bunny Egg Holder, but it was a bit more challenging to use.

 

Back to the whisk.

Look at how pretty the eggs are!

Sea Lion Cove...backstage pass

It truly is good to know people in high places.  If you remember, last year we got a backstage pass to the zoo.  It was so much fun to learn about the animals, straight from the zoo keepers, and get a small idea of what is required to take care of the majestic animals.

Well...a few weeks ago, Kc was contacted by a friend of his whose wife is the lead mammal keeper.  He asked us if we would be interested in a behind the scenes tour of the new Sea Lion Cove.  Are you kidding me?!?  Of course!!!

We met Sarah, the lead mammal keeper, right outside the new exhibit and were ushered into the keeper building.  We were introduced to Sara, the lead sea lion keeper, who gave us our tour.  We got to see how the keepers keep an eye on the tank, both inside and outside, using video cameras.  Then, we were ushered into the kitchen where the sea lion's diets are closely monitored.  Finally, we were lead into one of the "off exhibit" holding tanks where the keepers can isolate and train the sea lions.  The keeper opened the gate leading from the exhibit tank and almost immediately all the sea lions, Pismo, Avila, and Catalina, came.

 

We got up close and personal with Pismo.  She is an amazingly beautiful sea lion who happens to be blind.

Sara had Pismo perform many tricks for us.  I think she is so much more well trained than our dog, Sierra.  I think I will have to get some training tips from the keepers.

How cute is this gal?!?

Sara asked Noah if he wanted to touch Pismo.  My little shy guy was so nervous that he quickly said no.  Too bad!

Although Noah was quite timid during the tour, as soon as we got back home, he talked all about the visit.  He was amazed at how big and loud the sea lions were. 

Thank you Mike, Sarah, and Sara for an amazing experience!

Cousin Photo Shoot

While in Monterey, I thought it would be fun to try and get a few pictures of the two cousins.  While sitting on a cute little bench, I made the mistake of telling Noah to put his arm around Jonah.  I was thinking of this picture and thought it would be cute.

Well...Jonah was not in the mood.

He quickly removed Noah's arm.

Now we have a happy Jonah and a sad Noah.

Oh, well...I guess we'll just have to take a picture of Noah alone.  

Cheese!