"But These Small Hours Still Remain": A lot of Firsts

We have had a lot of firsts around here. On monday, Noah laughed for the first time! And when I say laugh, I mean he LAUGHED!!! Right from the gut. It makes me smile just thinking about it. Our friends, Aaron and Ashley were at our house playing games, but I sat out a round to get Noah ready for bed. So I just had him on my bed and I had him undressed to put his jammies on and I was tickling his tummy, and then I tickled his neck and he just laughed. But I think it surprised him, cuz after that, he looked shocked! Then I was still tickling him and talking to him and he just started laughing long and loud. It just warmed my soul. What a sweet boy. It was like once he realized he could do that, he wanted to do it again. So he just laughed and laughed, until he got the hiccups, and then he was sad. :)

Noah has also learned to roll over. He rolled over for the first time on Thursday, and I wasn't there! Mike got to see him though. I just saw him roll over for the first time today. It takes him awhile but he gets there.

Bradley has also had a few firsts. He is now tall enough to turn on and off lights. I feel like I live in a disco place with a strobe light. He has also learned how to open doors. I found this out because one day him and I were playing and Noah woke up. So Bradley ran down the hall to Noah's room (he often does... and just jiggles the doorknob). So I waited a bit to see if Noah would go back to sleep, but then Noah started crying loud, so I jumped up and ran in, to find Bradley in Noah's room throwing diapers at him. By the time I got there, Noah had about 10 diapers on top of him, and he was MAD. It really just cracks me up. I can't imagine what is going on in Brad's head. 'Hmm...my brother is crying. I think I'll throw diapers at him.' I'm sure he just thought he needed to be changed. (which, he did. :) But it was pretty funny.

Bradley also loves to swim. I hate it here, because the water is freezing. But I took him last night and dunked him in fast, cuz that's how I get used to the water. :) I thought he would throw a fit or be sad (because that's what he did last year the few times I took him swimming in cold water) but he just laughed and shivered and laughed some more and then he was used to it. Funny boy.

We went to the ice caves/volcano on Saturday. It was really fun, and I felt so tough carrying Noah all around. (Mike, of course, had Bradley). Here are some pics from that.