Noah's Reading

I've run into a little bit of a challenge with Noah lately...we've been working hard at phonics and reading, and I'm happy to say that he's AWESOME and he can SOUND OUT A WORD like a champ...  however, when he goes to put those sounds together..... he can't seem to? 

For example....

He does the word

S-O-F-T

He'll sound it out ...

Sss-aw-fffff-ttt

then he'll go

FAT!

Um... no... let's try it again... 

Sss-aw-fffff-ttt

AFT!!

So then Mommy does it really fast.........

Sssawffffttt

OOOOOOOOH soft ....

The cat is soft ....  

Anyone else run into a problem like this?

(here he is doing Math)