Eating Progress

Most days, eating is a struggle for Noah {as well as for us}.  Let's be honest...Bubs just doesn't like it.  He finds little or no pleasure in how things taste and struggles with texture, volume, and an ever-present gag reflux.

During meal time, we encourage Noah to eat graham crackers {in fun shapes that he can tolerate} or yogurt {which he has easily mastered} before we give him his blended food through his g-tube.  Let me tell you...all meals involve bribes with the iPad or iPhone.   Seriously, where would we be without those?!?  Noah LOVES to play games and will typically do just about anything for some "technology time".  That's not to say, however, that there still isn't usually a struggle to eat.

On occasion, Noah happily eats his food...and dare I say enjoys it.  Other times, however, meals look like this...

I just keep repeating to myself, "One step at a time..."

Portrait of His Mama

Noah drew a picture of me at school the other day.  I think it is a stunning likeness.

Swimming Lessons 2013

Noah has started swimming lessons this year and has taken to it like a fish to water {pun intended}. His very first lesson did not have any crying or screaming or kicking or fighting.  He ran into the pool and met his new teacher, Nick.  Bubs seemed to remember most of what he learned last year and Nick has taken him so much farther than I could have imagined.

Yesterday, Noah swam across the pool all by himself, rolling over to get a breath when he needed to.  We are so proud of him!

San Diego Fun

The rest of our time in San Diego was truly fun.  I had not been back to San Diego since I graduated from college so it was fun to be back in my "old stomping grounds". 

Our first evening in San Diego we went to Seaport Village and walked around the bay.  We enjoyed the ocean, the setting sun, the adorable shops, and even headed over to the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier.

One day, we headed to the beautiful Balboa Park and went to the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center.  There was an entire Kid City that was devoted to children age 5 and under.  Noah spent so much time playing with the magnetic wall, grocery store, fire station, music area, and ball wall.

For lunch we headed over to Sarita's Taco Shop on the recommendation of a friend.  It was FANTASTIC!  Kc claims he ate the best fish taco of his life.  How can you go wrong with true Mexican Coke in a bottle?

One afternoon, we drove across the bridge to Coronado.  We wandered the adorable streets, ate some of Noah's favorite frozen yogurt, and walked down to the beautiful beach.  Mr. Man played in the sand and chased the seagulls all around.

 We wrapped up our week spending time with friends celebrating an amazing wedding.

What a fun family vacation.  I can't wait to do it again soon!

Sea World

Over Spring Break this year, we headed down to San Diego for a bit of family fun and to attend a wedding of a dear friend.  The very first thing that came to our mind when we decided to go to San Diego was Sea World.  We knew our little fishy boy would LOVE it...and he sure did!

After arriving at Sea World nice and early, we started walking straight over to the turtle reef exhibit.  On our way, however, we had to walk through the carnival games.  I spotted a a cute game where you throw a ball into a colored tube and you can win a plush Angry Birds Star Wars character.  I know these games are rigged but my Little Man is OBSESSED with Angry Birds Star Wars and I thought it would be fun.  Wouldn't you know it, I actually threw the ball in the tube and won the most enormous Han Solo ever.  We convinced the game attendant to give Noah two smaller birds in exchange for the large one.  Han Solo and Chewbacca are great additions to the family.

The Turtle Reef exhibit was so fun.  Noah loved looking at all the turtles swimming so gracefully.

Our first show was, of course, the Shamu Show.  It was truly amazing.  Noah didn't quite know what to think about it and spent the entire show on my lap.  He was pretty quite and even buried his head in my chest a few times when the orcas would splash the crowd.

 

Once the show was over, however, Bubs talked all about the orcas.  He loved to see them jumping and splashing.

 

The second show we went to was definitely our favorite.  It is called Blue Horizons and it has dolphins, birds, pilot whales, and a large cast of performers. 

It was so impressive to see all the dolphins (there were 16 total) doing tricks in unison.

There were amazing aerialists, divers and bungee performers very reminiscent of a Cirque du Soleil show.  There were even trainers who rode the dolphins.

 How can you not love these animals?!?

In addition to the dolphins, there were two enormous pilot whales who performed.  They had a baby whale who would swim around with them and try to do the tricks.  So cute!

We finished up our day with a visit to the Sesame Street Bay of Play.  This was Noah's first time on any sort of ride so we were not sure how he would like it.  Our first stop was Abby's Sea Star Spin and Mr. Man LOVED it!!!  He kept telling Daddy to spin faster and faster.  Next, Noah and I went on Elmo's Flying Fish. 

We went up and down and 'round and 'round and had a blast!

We had a great time at Sea World and are trying to figure out how we can go back in the near future.