These are the last days of Noah being an only child. The time right before our second baby is born. I’ve heard it referred to as a love affair like no other. Everything is in slow-motion. I can’t wait to meet our newborn, and I know he will teach us and give us so much. But I can’t help feeling like we are losing just a little bit, too. We’re losing our little three-person family. We’re going to be four now. Noah is going to be a big brother.

These last days are for laughter, life and love. For Noah…

I love how expressive you are. I love watching you raise your eyebrows and curl up your lip. I love your chubby cheeks and your dark, curved eyelashes. I love your button nose and your cute pokey ears. I love your little teeth and your big bright eyes.

Noah is 100% boy! Last summer he ran headlong into the lake without a second thought, then plopped himself down chest deep in the water and picked up handfuls of wet sand. He is always finding sticks and using them to chop at the grass or dig in the dirt. We have to be quick to distract him from mud puddles. While I was taking these photos, he wanted to walk off into the trees all by himself. He loves being outside and discovering new things.

My not-so-little-anymore explorer…