Just a few fun photos from our first full day of vacation - including the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck. Noa is finally big enough to ride some of the rides... so Mommy and Daddy had to step up the plate and take her on some. Noa had a terrific time! The first two photos are from the Wacky Worm roller coaster which was by far the favorite. She could have stayed on that all day. It was kind of a tweener coaster - more rollicking then the toddler stuff, but not too wild. The perfect starter coaster (and frankly just about Mommy's speed). She also loved the Spider ride - we went on the toddler version of that and that was plenty for Mommy. That thing can really spin!!!

Daddy took Noa on the Merry-go-round - which was a big thrill (and the first ride) but I think after having experienced the roller coaster she would find it a bit lame. And he took her on the Bumper Cars - we have some photos but because Noa is so short and always looking down, he just appears to be on the ride with a hairy melon under this arm.

We have some video which I'll post later (not really able to do that from vacaction land).

Noa has been very vocal on this trip and did a lot of singing along with the radio in the car (the untrained ear it may just sound like screaming for some terrible vocal warm-up - but it was singing). She loves being the car - and we took her to the market for the shopping cart ride (and she allowed us to buy groceries) - so we all get a little something from it all.

On Wednesday we take Noa on the next big new adventure: Zoom Flume! But for now, I don't think she can imagine it getting any better.

And Away We Go!

It has been an exciting month for Ms. Noa... and promises to get more exciting next week when we go on our official family vacation which will include 3-days and 2-nights at Zoom Flume Water Park in East Durham, New York!!!

I wish had more video to post, but this gives you an into to Noa's new turn as "Ms. Independent." She wants to do everything herself (which frankly can be a lot of work for the rest of us!) She pulls up her diaper, and then her pants, after using the potty. She wants to get into bed and out of bed herself, and pull herself up out of her chair. She wants to walk everywhere - and no touching please! Gosh, Mommy what are you an Octopus? Then of course when she realizes that she can't stand, then Mommy is okay... as long as she knows her place.

She is also very interested in who initiated an action. For example - if she wants to get out of her chair, she will fuss and whine if try to hold her hand - she wants me to wait until she reaches out her hand for me. And she can be very stubborn about it. Yesterday she sat in her stroller for 15 minutes just considering whether or not she should give me permission to unbuckle her and pick her up. We also have had some rather long stand-offs over putting on pants or diapers.

Noa has been on break from school for the past two weeks and we've been doing a lot of walking at home - and realizing that she probably doesn't do as much walking at school as she does when she is home. This makes sense - they only have some much time to take kids from one activity to another at school, but we're actually noticed for the first time that she is building up some calf muscles! The bike of course helps - she loves riding it around the garden and just the action (even if she isn't initiating the pedaling) is a good work out for her.

Fun with Water

Well... someone just figured out how to make washing hands just a bit more fun... and my bathroom will never be dry again!

As you can see, the little muchkin has pretty much recovered from the trauma of her trip to the ER earlier this week. Aside from a bit of black and blue on the chin, there isn't a trace of it. And after a couple of cautious days, she seems to be back to her reckless, throw-me-in-the-air self, let-me-hit-my-head-on-that-wall self which is good to see.

Her newest trick is taking off and pulling on her clothes. The other night, she heard us running the bath and boy was she out of those clothes fast: shirt, pants, shoes, socks, everything! And she loves helping us pull up her pull-up diaper and her pants. After every successful pull she stops, applauds and yells "yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah" as loud as she can.