Land of Noa - Vacation Issue

So after a month away from Mommy... the Noa ship has finally landed in Idaho (thanks to brave and tireless Daddy who made the cross-country trip with her solo).

Noa is HUGE! I can't believe how big she's gotten just in the few weeks I was out here without her.

I met Ben and Noa at the airport but by the time they got off the plane she was more worried about her wet diaper than about me -- though she had a moment of registering that it was me. She gave me a big smile and happy jump up and down and then told me "potty."

After all day flying, Noa was a real trooper on the two-plus hour drive up to McCall. When we got to the house Noa took two steps into the place, stopped, realized where she was and then did a very big and joy-filled happy-dance with lots of rasberries and cheering: it was clear that she knew where she was and she was thrilled. THEN to top it all off, we went to the hot springs - arriving at what would have been her bedtime back home. But Noa mustered the strength to enjoy about a half hour of swimming - then back home and out like a light.

In our first few days we've enjoyed the playground swings, chilling at the Bistro, two hot spring trips, a party with live music and a great new toy - a stuffed octopus. As I type, she is on a bike outing with Daddy - sitting in one of those little trailer things on the back of his bike. As you can imagine, she really enjoys the bumpy, windy ride.

One thing that has made the trip much nicer for us has been a new special needs stroller for bigger kids. It's very off-road so we can go on hikes with her (since we can no longer carry her in a kiddy back-pack; her feet would drag on the ground!)

So all-in-all, life in the Land of Noa is pretty darn good.