LUTEFISK!!! DINNER

Noah attended the ZION LUTEFISK DINNER today. The testing is now complete. Noah has some serious Scandinavian blood in him.
Here is what HE ate.
2 pieces of Lutefisk with white sauce
1 piece of lefse
2 pickled beets
1 serving of rice pudding
3 and 1/2 meatballs
Milk.

OK so what is LUTEFISK?

Lutefisk is made from air-dried whitefish (normally cod, but ling is also used), prepared with lye, in a sequence of particular treatments. The first treatment is to soak the stockfish in cold water for five to six days (changed daily). The saturated stockfish is then soaked in an unchanged solution of cold water and lye for an additional two days. The fish will swell during this soaking, regaining a size even bigger than the original (undried) fish, but the protein content paradoxically decreases by more than 50 percent, causing its famous jelly-like consistency. When this treatment is finished, the fish (saturated with lye) has a pH value of 11–12, and is therefore caustic. To make the fish edible, a final treatment of yet another four to six days (and nights) of soaking in cold water (also changed daily) is needed. Eventually, the lutefisk is ready to be cooked.
Origin
The issue of how lutefisk first was created is as controversial as the fish itself. Some stories tell about fish accidentally dropped in a washing bowl containing lye, and because of poverty the fish had to be eaten nevertheless. Yet other stories tell about fires of various kinds, because ashes of wood combined with water will create lye. A possible scenario is that drying racks for stockfish caught fire, followed by days of rain, and again, because of poverty, the fish still had to be picked from the ashes, cleaned, prepared and eaten. It is quite possible the softening with lye, which is actually a fairly common practice with many kinds of food, was deliberate rather than accidental.

A visit From Santa

Noah attended his first Christmas party sponsored by Kristin's Moms Group. He got to meet Santa. He was one of the only babies that was not afraid of Him or cried. He waved bye bye after getting a book as a gift.

Fetch!!

On the last warm day in November, Noah helped exercise the girls in the back yard with a round of fetch. The dogs did their thing and Noah learned how to throw.

Noah's first haircut!!

Noah had his first haircut! He did well! No tears, no complaints, no tantrums. He made the stylist day.

The Weigh In

Noah had his 15 month appointment on Monday and 4 shots.
Here are the new stats:

Weight: 27.2 pounds 85%
Height: 32.5 inches 82%
Head Circumference: 19 inches 85%

He took the shots in stride. The nurses say he is VERY strong. He cried only a bit then saw a car outside and quit. He fell asleep on the way home.

He has been developing his vocabulary this last week. His new words are Down and Bike. He understands more than he can say as he points to Mom, Dad, Cayenne, Marta, feet, belly , shoes, door, car, and God as well as understands that baths are in the bathroom and Nght night is in his room.

He is growing fast!!!!

Venison Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots

YUM!! MMMMmmmmm
Were the sounds as Noah ate Dada's venison pot roast. Noah has been hitting the protein hard; eating an adult share of pot roast and a full chicken breast today. A growth spurt will be coming soon.

More Halloween

On the Wednesday after Halloween the kids got together for one last Romp in their costumes for the ECFE class Noah attends. Pictured are his friends Matthew, Nicholas, Will, Natalie, Sylvia, Levi, and Levi, Mia, Ella, Molly.

Halloween Was a blast!!!!

Noah had a great time on Halloween! We got great use out of his costume. He went to the Zoo to visit the animals in it, "chipolte" to get a free burito for Dad, Story time at the library, his ECFE class and of course Trick or treating at home. He went with a friend Evelyn who went as a bee. All the neighbors were excited and waiting for Noah to come over. He got "special" treats from them and they were very happy to see him. It was a short time out though as it was about 20 degrees.

Helping out Dad mow the lawn.

I am sure there is some child labor law against this......but he really did like it! I can't wait until he can do the real thing.....course it might cost me more.

gap baby

Getting Cold.....Staying warm

Well it is starting to get cold up here in the north land. What is a boy to do but bundle up and get out there. Noah can still do the things he wants except picking up his cars and trucks with mittens is a little bit harder. Noah looks like he is ready for snow!

New Stats

Here's the latest measurements from the doctor's office on Wednesday: Length-32 inches Weight-27 lbs with clothes on.

Otitis Media!! Oh NO!

Noah has developed bilateral ear infections and it is not good. The doctor said the one on the left was "terrible" and the one on the right "a disaster". Noah has bee teething with a significant runny nose due to two large molars coming through. He developed his first temperature on Tuesday and took him in to the MD. He is now taking antibiotics and NSAIDs to reduce the infection and the pain. Noah's appetite is severely compromised. But he is still eating broccoli and rice, just not in mass quantities. We will keep everyone updated on his progress and loving care of Kristin aka super "mama".

Berry Hill Farm

Get yer boots on and climb into yer overalls! were gona have a real good time at the Berry Hill Farm!
They have got lots of Pumpkins, and tractor rides and even a maze cut into some milo. In fact Noah was the first this year to find the golden nugget in the maze. Come on lets go!!!

TRACTORS are big CARS!!

Noah loves cars. So tractors to him are just big cars....he really gets excited about the the Big Wheels.

The Dobmeyer in him is coming out.

Noah has shown a "natural" affinity to goats and sheep. It must be the Dobmeyer blood in him expressing it self. Watch your fingers Noah!!!

Venison Stroganoff.....Yum

Fall is Fun!

Noah is really enjoying his Second fall season.
He likes to be outside all the time. Chasing the dogs and playing in the leaves are great ways to have fun!

Good buddies.

It was a quick but great visit Grandpa. Come back and play soon!

Sacked out

A quick layover visit from Grandpa Scherger

Grandpa Scherger stopped by on the way home from a business trip from Japan. He was jet lagged but was happy to spend time with his Grandson Noah. Grandpa helped him pick out a pumpkin, go up and down slides and through old hollow logs, climb around old tractors and all sorts of fun at the apple jack apple orchard.

Stairs, etc.

Noah has been working a lot lately on his mobility on stairs. When the gates are left open, he takes advantage. Not only does he practice going up and down them, but brings his toys with as well. Each step provides a new place to push along his "ca," as he calls anything with wheels (not sure where the East Coast accent is coming from). We're hoping that his days of going head first down the stairs are over. He now seems to prefer any combination of feet first, butt scooting, or holding the rails and stepping down. But once is not enough. He can spend hours doing this!

ECFE classes started up again this week. Noah has many old friend's in class with him, along with some new ones. We are happy that our favorite teacher Robin is leading this class, especially as we start working on seperation this time.

Noah's vocabulary is increasing fast now. He says car, out, shoes, this, that, see, chessie, mama, dada, and some other words we just can't seem to pick out yet.

His obsessions are wheels/cars, going outside, and being on the other side of whatever door he finds himself by. Emptying the cupboards, and tackling the stairs have been added this week. He's incredibly attached to a little puppy that we received at one of his showers. The world caves in if puppy is not with him in his crib. Tantrums came with toodlerhood at his first birthday. He adores his dada. Looks for him as soon as he's up in the morning, and after work will cry if dada tries to put him down too quickly after he gets home. Developmentally he's right on schedule!!

Still a solid little guy, but the baby fat is quickly leaving. At least we have his round head and fat cheeks! He tends to charm everyone when we go out. I spent about a half hour in a department store with him today and he had 3 sales people and at least 4 other shoppers eating out of his hands. I'm not sure how he does it! What a personality in such a small package.

Mall of America

Tuesday Noah and his friend's Will and Levi decided to check out Toddler Tuesday at the Mall of America. Clifford the Big Red Dog was there for Storytime, and kids eat free at several restaurants. After checking out Legoland, the boys decided it was time for an early lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company