Three Years
September 30, 2008
Today's post was supposed to be about this past year -- the challenges, the privileges, the tiny details that I struggle to remember as I watch my baby turn more and more into a big boy, a child, a little person. Assembling a year's worth of video clips yesterday put that sharply into focus, as oh, he's so big and long and lean now, so different than last year, when I also lamented the loss of my baby and oh, how big and long and lean he was.
But then this morning his school called. He's not feeling very well, and he wants nothing in the world right now except to lie in bed with me, while I hold him and rub his back and head and sing the same songs I've been singing for the past three years.
Today, he is still my baby. And he will be tomorrow and the day after that, and for the rest of his life, and what a wonderful challenge and privilege that is.
Happy birthday, buddy. We'll get you feeling better in no time, I promise.
Noah's third birthday from amalah on Vimeo.
Oh, tears going on over here. Beautifully done, and the song is just perfect.
Happy Birthday, Noah! And feel better soon!
Awwww, actually, it's kind of nice that you guys get to do a little cuddling today...I remember trying so hard to do little things like that with T right before Alex arrived. Hope he feels better.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH!
OMG woman, every time you post one of these movies I turn into a mushy hormonal mess. I can't believe it's been almost 4 years since I've been reading you...
Looking forward to the next 3!
Great video. I love the song and the firework video made me tear up.
Happy birthday, Noah!
First, I hope Noah feels better.
Second, what a lovely tribute to a year. Perfect song choice and absolutely what I needed to see today.
Fuller turns four on Sunday and I have the same thought- he will still be my baby. Even after his sibling is born in February, Fuller will still be my baby.
Happy Birthday Noah! You (and your mom and dad) rock!
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! I don't know if I am spelling any of this right because I am crying so hard right now I can't see.
Happy Birthday Noah!
The look of wonder on his face as he watches the fireworks is priceless!! What a beautiful video! Thanks, Amalah, and Happy Birthday Noah!!
Happy Birthday Noah!
I may just be hormonal but I actually teared up during the video . My nephew starts early intervention for speech delay next weekend and I've been reading over archived Amalah entries to try and remember some things that worked for you, Jason, and Noah.
I hope Noah has a great birthday and Baby Tivo makes an appearance soon!
-Meredith
Loved the video. It made me well up with tears.
may God bless that beautiful little boy, and the one to come!
May he guide his steps and his words and richly bless his adventures!!
Time is so precious.
Happy third birthday Noah!!! :)
He is just beautiful and seems like such a happy little boy. It looks like his third year was a wonderful one!
I am completely weepy now watching this, thinking that in just a few years our child (I am PG) will have the same milestones.
Congratulations to your whole family!
Ugh, that was so sweet. I too am crying. Just beautiful Amy!
While I'm not happy he didn't feel well, I'm sure glad you got the snuggle time that reminded you that no matter what his age, you are his one and only mama.
I'm not a weeper. I'm really not. Few things make me cry (gee, thanks, Lexapro!). But as the mommy of an 18-month baby-turning-boy-so-fast I wept, and wept at your beautiful tribute. Thank you.
I teared up a little bit at the look on his face during the fire works.
Happy Birthday Noah!
It looked like he totally didn't mind being knocked over by that wave! Great video. :)
Wonderful choice of music Amy.
Happy B-day Noah. As soon as little tivo is born Michael and I are going to come over and come mommy a rest and we will party like rock stars!
Isn't it some kind of crazy wonderful that the day you post this, 117 people have left your baby boy birthday wishes? Some of which were reading this before he was even born, and are still reading today? I hope you read all these comments and feel great about yourself that you're still here writing to so many people who can't wait to hear what you have to say.
Happy birthday Noah. Give your mom a big hug for all of us. :)
Beautiful. I didn't know the song and when the first chorus started, "Say what you need to say," I cried.
Happy Birthday, Noah!
Perfect. Just perfect.
I may speak for all the lurkers who have silently walked beside you on this journey... Happy birthday, Noah. Be well, Storch family.
Sweet Noah, happy birthday to you! Wishing you all the smiles and sunshine you deserve!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Happy Birthday, Noah!!
Been a lurker for over a year now, but that video was just precious. Noah falling asleep resting his head was absolutely adorable. Thanks for making my day better & happy birthday, Noah!
Happy Birthday! What a great day to be born! (it's mine, too!)
I've been reading you since just after Noah was born and I don't think I've ever commented.
Happy Birthday Noah Corbin Storch.
Your Mommy rocks.
Damn, I've grown to love that kid. Happy Birthday, Noah.
Oh my. I was about to write that clearly I'm weird because I'm totally weepy over here, but apparently I am not alone! Score!
The music and the fireworks together was so perfect, but my favorite parts have to be the bubbles and the falling asleep.
Happy birthday to your boy, and happy almost birthday to boy v2.0!
Oh my. I was about to write that clearly I'm weird because I'm totally weepy over here, but apparently I am not alone! Score!
The music and the fireworks together was so perfect, but my favorite parts have to be the bubbles and the falling asleep.
Happy birthday to your boy, and happy almost birthday to boy v2.0!
Dammit. You always have to put a heartwrenching song with it! I just bawled my eyes out - our little man. I feel like we're related since I've been reading you for so long and following your life and watching Noah grow up. Happy Birthday, Noah. One day you'll be able to look back and realize how very much your Mama loves you and how she shared you with us, and we love you, too
breathtaking. so so perfect. well done little mama.
Delurking for the first time to say that I've been reading your blog daily for about four years now.. I think I've read all your archives about three times over as well. Your entries about motherhood make me want a child of my own so very badly, and I've never told a soul that before. I have a moderately severe (uh?) disability, and everyone I know thinks I'm selfish for even CONSIDERING a child, knowing that they could be afflicted as well. But this video, your dedication to your boys... brings tears to my eyes and gives me that hollow pit in my stomach. Everything about that was absolutely perfect. Great job!
Happy Birthday, Noah, and I hope you feel better soon!
I just want to know if your husband is wearing leopard-print pants in that one scene.
happy birthday noah! feel better!
Aw, hell, Amy. You made me cry. I'm supposed to be some hardened, jaded, bitter old singleton and I am bawling. That was beautiful.
Beautiful video, and like so many others, I think the song choice was perfect.
Happy 3rd Birthday, Noah! :)
Happy birthday Noah! Hope you feel better soon!
Amy, that was perfect.
The song was great, and I love Jason's "That's ok, I'll carry you," followed by Noah jumping in the water. It goes perfectly with what you wrote.
Happy Birthday, Noah!
I just had to take this moment to say that you have such a sweet little boy. :-)
Happy birthday, Noah!
Feel well soon.
Aww, wee Noah. Happy Birthday buddy!
Happy (Belated) Birthday Noah!
What is the sign you are making on the front of the video? My son watches the signing time videos and I have not figured that one out.
Oh, wow. He is so cute! sigh. I need to get me one of those. ~ L
I tweeted this, but I don't think you follow me :)I cannot believe I am so attached to a family I don't know but for a couple posts on the internet. It's not logical, yet; there it is.
"@Amalah Pretty sure your mission in life is to make me cry at work."
Dangit Amy... I'm sitting here laughing and crying. GOD, he's so remarkable. To see him go from little boy to toddler and now the next stage is just amazing. I know we don't "know" him, but watching him grow up has been such a privilege. To see him sign and then talk and do the things he's been so afraid of - seriously, it's so precious and wonderful.
I NEEDED this today - please give him BIG BIG BIG birthday hugs from his internet surrogate family! :)
Wonderful video. I love your song selections - you avoid the overly sentimental songs that everyone else uses but they still convey a ton of meaning/impact. You have a beautiful little boy.
There is nothing I can say that hasn't already been said I'm sure but that was beautiful and precious. Thank you for sharing with us. Happy Birthday Noah!!
THANKS A LOT AMY for making me cry and bawl like a baby. This is the first pregnancy hormone cry, and oh, boy, i hope this isn't a sign of things to come. My poor husband and daughter.
Lovely tribute. Having "Say What You Need to Say" playing in the background as Noah was signing was touching. Thanks for sharing.
Wow. Just wow.
You always seem to pick just the right music for your videos, too.
Love your site, but rarely (maybe never?) comment. Not a mother, but this post gave me chills. Awesome!
Oh now I'm a mess. Happy Birthday Noah!
I was okay until the fireworks part...oh my gosh his face. Wonderful.
Happy Birthday, Buddy!
Everyone should get to do that on their birthday. Without the feeling bad of course!
Happy Birthday little man! I hope he feels better soon.
Strugi - not sure exactly which sign you mean, but the signs Noah makes are (in order) sun, hot, cold, star, banana, butterfly.
I'm glad everybody enjoyed the video -- they can be a pain to make but it feels good to get all our hours and hours of boring footage organized and cut down into something actually watchable and less "come on over and look at our slides from the Grand Canyon!"
Noah is feeling MUCH better today, but I still don't have much time for posting -- we're up to our fricking eyeballs in birthday Duplo blocks right now and I am being kept VERY VERY BUSY helping him build an empire in the living room.
happy birthday Noah!! I really hope you feel all better soon!
Loved the video, his face for the fireworks and bubbles, sooo awesomely cute!
Damn, girl. You are one talented Mama! That was beautiful. So, so beautiful. Thank you for sharing these moments with us.
"Yet another sobfest at my desk...courtesy of Amalah..." Dana couldn't have said it any better.
Happy Birthday Noah!
Happy birthday, darling boy! Feel better
Happy Birthday Noah! Feel better!
I admit, I teared up. But Asher full-on CRIED when it went off. Seems he wanted to watch Noah again. And again. And... well, I didn't exactly want to reapply my mascara.
Happy Birthday Noah!
I keep watching it over and over again. You are inspiring me to do a much better job of chronicling my own Noah's "growing up". Thank you so much for sharing this with us. You are such a wonderful mommy.
Happy Belated to Noah!!
Happy Birthday, Noah.
And good job Amy, on a happy, healthy, beautiful (and will always be your baby) boy.
:)
Thanks to that BEAUTIFUL video, Dean is now wondering why his mommy scooped him up, cried on his head, then changed him out of the outfit that makes him look like such a big boy into a little baby onesie. (yes, I did) Man, they grow up fast.
Happy birthday, Noah. Hurry and feel better so you can party like the rock star you obviously are.
what a beautiful tribute you put together for noah. i am almost crying, almost. he will always be your baby, your first baby, even in a dozen years, when he will roll his eyes at you daily...
Okay. That just makes me CRY... a lot.
Darn you and you cuteness, Noah!
Happy 3rd Birthday!
That was such a great video. I liked it a lot
Amy, that was so beautiful. Noah may not truly appreciate what it means now, but play it for him after the birth of his first child.
so precious!
Amalah, what kind of video software or program do you use to make that video. You did such a wonderful job and I'd love to get the very many videos we have of Damien into a nice video!
You turned me into a blubbering idiot. His face lit up brighter than those fireworks.
Such a sweet video! He truly is so cute. I hope he gets to feeling better.
After reading most of the comments, I was like "meh.. I'm not going to cry.. I don't even have kids.. why would I cry!?!?!? I mean... seriously.. you moms are big ol tear factories..." Yeah... totally cried during the fireworks... he's too cute. Happy Birthday Noah!
That video was beautiful. I'm totally crying. He's incredible. Happy birthday, little guy!
More of the same as the other posters....Thank you for sharing that wonderful video.
You have such a beautiful family. So very much looking forward to the time when I start one of my own!
Happy, happy birthday, sweet Noah!
You're the reason I'm a blog-whore. I 'read' you before you were expecting and here you guys are three years later...HAPPY BIRTHDAY Noah! Congratulations on the new little one coming and thanks for the laughs, the tears and the great advice. You rock.....keep it up!
You look great, btw! Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Awesome video.
Happy Birthday, Noah!
THAT was lovely! Happy Birthday Noah! Hope he's feeling better...