Noahsaurus

Since Noah turned 2.5 almost 2 months ago, I've been meaning to write a little about what he's like these days. Sum him up in a phrase? Dinosaur obsessed. He has liked dinos for a long time now, but it became an obsession soon after Grandma sent him a pack of dinosaur flash cards. From that day, Noah has been on a mission to memorize every species of dinosaur. It's particularly impressive when he rattles off 7-syllable dinosaur names like: "Pachycephalosaurus." We've used this obsession to our advantage. How did he become potty-trained? By offering dinosaur toys as a bribe, of course!

I got the idea from his favorite TV show, Dinosaur Train. He earned tickets each time he sat on the potty and I collected them (like the Dinosaur Train conductor) and when he got three tickets, he got to pick out a dinosaur figurine. After the first day, it worked like a charm. And the "Dinosaur Potty Train" piggy back rides from Daddy made potty breaks even more exciting. Thank you Dinosaur Train for the inspiration. His buddy Croy introduced us to the show. Here are the little couch potatoes. Noah is also into dino art. He gives the command to draw, and I follow. (or in this case, Auntie Lars)

For the past few months, I've perfected my dinosaur drawing skills, and now Noah is right behind me. I love his dinosaur drawings.

And then there is the dinosaur pretend play. He likes to play in vehicles and pretend he is on the Dinosaur Train as the conductor. He collects imaginary tickets and yells "All Aboard!!" (but it sounds more like "Ahhhh Ya Bored!!")When I reclaim my place behind the wheel and we actually drive somewhere, he always says: "Let's pretend to be at the dinosaur museum!!" We then point out imaginary dinosaurs doing imaginary things and feign amazement and excitement. Here are pictures from the real dinosaur museum we went to in Kentucky. He was in heaven.

And of course there are the actual dinosaur impersonations, which have gotten him into trouble on more than one occasion. One day I came to Jake's rescue after a Noah attack. Noah tried to excuse his behavior: "But Mom, I am a meat-eater!! And Jake is my meat!!!"

As I write this, Noah is eating lunch and talking to himself. I recognize the conversation from an episode of Dinosaur Train. I think he is pretending to be Buddy, the T-Rex. He offers himself a bite of fruit salad, then answers,
"Sure, I guess. Who knows? Maybe I'm a herbivore!" [eats a bite, then spits it out and says disgustedly] "Guess not!"