So, we’ve been going through a stage around our house some might call the "Terrible 2’s."  I call it the "Tumultuous 2’s" because one minute things are as happy as can be and the next it seems as if a tornado is ripping through our house.  Anyway, I wouldn’t trade one minute of all of this.  Parenting Noelle is the best thing in the world!

We’ve been asking Noelle who her friends are at school.  She always lists boys: Cole, Logan, and Eddie (she talks about Eddie every week, saying how sweet he is, but there is no Eddie in her class – who knows).  Anyway, after the first week of school I said, "Do you have any girl friends?"  She said, "No Mommy, I push them!"  I was mortified.  Surely this isn’t coming out of the mouth of my sweet Noelle!?!  So, last night at the dinner table, Mike asked Noelle if she has any girl friends at school.  She said, "Oh yes, Daddy, they are all ballerinas and princesses!"  Whew, much better!

When Noelle got all dressed up for gym class this week, she said, "I’m Shawn Johnson, Mommy!"  I couldn’t believe she remembered her.  She’s obsessed with people’s "real names" or "full names."  She tells everyone her Mommy’s full name is "Melissa Joe Pond" in the most country accent you’ve ever heard.  If you are a family member or close friend, Noelle either knows or will know your full name soon, although if she forgets your last name, rest assured, you will be dubbed a Pond for the time being!

Noelle is really into politics.  She knows Barack Obama and Sarah Palin by name and can identify them anywhere.  She’s gotten better about John McCain, but for the longest has been calling him "Millard" because he looks like her favorite president of old – Millard Fillmore. 

When we ask Noelle to do something she doesn’t want to do, she will say, "I can’t do that.  I will NEVER!"  She has also been saying, "I’m nauseous" as well.  Guess she’s heard me say that a time or two these days!