Noah FINALLY Talking!

We've been worried (not a lot, but a bit) about Noah's development for a few months.  After he started talking, he really didn't progress that much.  He went through a six or so month stretch where he didn't pick up many new words at all.  And when we would try to get him to say a new word, he would give us the class Noah "stink face" (aka the "butthead").  I'm not sure we have a good picture of Noah's stink face, but we see it everyday.

It's sort of a cross of the these two faces, but with less smile.

As of about a month ago, he had somewhere around 10 words.  Our parents at teacher educator assured us that this was completely normal.  However, (and I KNOW it's not good to compare kids) Abby started talking so early, that I think what we thought was "normal" was a bit off.  Also, Noah is of course a boy.  Apparently boys start talking later.

We thought going back to school would help him, but for the first two weeks there was not much change.  But this past weekend, something happened.  All of the sudden, he just started saying all kinds of new words, and actually wanting to repeat us.  It's very exciting!  Now that he will actually try new words, it's amazing how good his pronunciation is. 

One of Abby's teachers does something called "deuces."  You put up the peace sign and say "deuces!"  I have no idea what it means, but Abby loves doing it.  So, she was doing it tonight at the dinner table, and all of the sudden, Noah holds up his hand and yells "deuces!"  Of course, he didn't say it as clearly as Abby, but we could certainly understand it!!

Part of the reason we have been wanting Noah to speak to bad is for simple communication.  For the past 5 or 6 months, Noah often gets very frustrated because he is trying to tell us something, but can't get his point across.  This leads to temper tantrums and time outs.  He has been a much harder 1 year old than Abby ever was.  He's not a "bad" kid.  When he's being nice, he is the sweetest little kid you'll meet.  His teachers comment on how great he is.

Since he has started talking more, he is just such a happy kid.  He can finally tell us what he wants and needs.  This leads to a much happier family!

His hair has gotten crazy!

Abby's First Soccer Game

Abby started soccer two weeks ago.  She's had two practices thus far, both of which did not go very well....

Her first practice, she was wary because she didn't know anyone.  She was a bit scared of the coach too.  Practice was 1 hour long.  She cried on and off for the first 25 minutes.  She wouldn't kick the ball, listen to what her coach was asking her to do, etc.  But, after that, she started having fun and ended the practice great.  I was super proud of her.  She even went up to her coach to thank him after practice. 

I thought we had turned the corner, and the second practice would be better.  Unfortunately, it was worse.  Part of the problem probably was that I thought she wasn't going to cry at all, so we just kind of put her out there and let her go.  Apparently that wasn't the best idea.  She ended up crying on and off throughout most of the practice.

So I was a little worried about her first game on Saturday.  Neither of the two coaches were going to be there.  So, some of us adults offered to be out on the field during the game. 

We showed up to Fenton park, which was a madhouse...it amazes me how big that place is and how many kids are playing games there at any given time.  Abby got her uniform, and now proudly wears her number 1 on her back.

At the start of the game, our team had 5 parents on the field (most of the kids didn't want to be out there without their parent, Abby included).  You're only supposed to have two adults, although they didn't say anything.  I ended up being the "main" coach I suppose.  Most of the others just kind of walked around.  I tried my best to herd the kids and get them to move to the ball.  Let me tell ya, it's no easy task!

Abby's coaches really didn't get them set up to play in practice.  We didn't have a goalie, and they had never even played a practice game.  They just did drills.  So, I tried to explain to the 7 kids on the team how to play.  And I figured out a goalie and "trained" him.

Getting the kids on the line to start the game.

Picking up someone else's kid

 I ran a kid over once.  Oops.

Trying to score a goal.

The game went great.  There were a LOT of tears, but all of them from other kids.  A couple of the boys cried when they missed the ball.  A couple of the girls cried (some over and over and over) when they fell down.  But Abby never did!  I was so proud of her.  She wasn't the most aggressive player in the world, but she did touch the ball quite a few times and even dribbled it down the field once all on her own.

We ended up "winning" 6-1.  I say "winning" because they don't actually keep score.  They played four ten minute quarters.  For three year olds, that is a LONG time, especially when the game didn't end until 12:15.  By the 4th quarter, some of our team was playing with the grass, sitting, drinking water on the field, etc.  It was actually pretty amusing.  You could tell they were tired and had lost interest.

Overall, we had a great time.  Here's to hoping for no tears in her practice on Monday!

Quotables - Undies

A couple of nights ago at the Pleimann household:
David: "Abby, pull your pants up."
Abby: "They're undies. Every time you tell me to pull my pants up, they're undies. You never remember. You have to know they're undies."

Abby at the zoo yesterday after using the bathroom:
David: "Pull up your pants."
Abby: "They're undies. We just talked about this yesterday and you're still calling them pants. They're not pants, they're undies. You have to remember."

In my defense, she had to pull up her shorts AND undies....

First Soccer Practice

With a change of seasons comes a new sport. Abby is playing soccer on the 3-4y year old recreational team. Dave and I were a little nervous about our gentle spirit being aggressive enough to keep up but so far she's in it to win. 

In fact the night before the first practice she asked me if she would get a gold medal if they won a game... (too many olympic games) I think she was a little surprised that there would be no rewards besides a team snack after the games.

 The first few minutes of their first practice were a little rough, Abby was a little emotional when her coach tried to talk to her but she got it together and as long as Dave stayed close to her she was fine. By the end Dave even sat down and watched.

 She did take one minor spill but there were no tears, she got right back up and attempted to make a goal.

 She's one of only three girls on the team. I'm pretty sure she can hold her own against those boys.

18 Months

Our handsome little man is now 18-months-old. 1 1/2 years old. He is a ball of curiosity, loves and stubbornness.

 He is climbing everything and eats everything as well. He loves to be near his sister, be it to play or taunt her he just wants to be near her.

 And this pout, we see it a lot. He pouts quite a bit these days when he doesn't get his way.

 And that hair, what I can say, its thick and a little out of control. It's losing its curl but I still think its adorable!

Another Bug

Some of you may remember the summer of cicadas that was 2011. There are still cicada's in the area but they don't come out of the trees so we never see them... until last night. Abby found this massive cicada crawling around near the deck. He had a broken wing so he suffered through an hour of being cuddled and carried around the yard.

 Abby is so funny with all of her critter finds talking to them "I love you", "are you hungry?" "we are best friends".

 The girl has no fear, her brother was a little weary about holding the bug. It took almost a half hour for him to come around to the cicada.

 "Look mom I'm holding it"

 She did this on her own, letting the nasty thing climb all over her face. And yes that is leftover spaghetti sauce covering her cheeks as well.

1st Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of daycare/preschool for the kids. They both cried at drop off but quickly recovered and were in great moods when they got home. I take that as a good sign of a good day. 

And a couple of days later was Dave's first day of school: