Nora: 11 Months

The monthly sticker didn’t last long this month!

Weight/Length: Still hanging out right around the 18 lb mark.

Medical Issues: Nora had her first ear infection this month. Luckily, it cleared up pretty quickly after starting the antibiotics and hasn’t returned. And it’s a good thing too because I don’t want to have to give her amoxicillin again any time soon; she detested it.

Sleep: Still taking 2 naps a day on most days, although she’s started resisting that first nap on occasion. When that happens, the evenings are fussy and short because she’s ready for bed earlier than usual.

On a good night, Nora goes to bed easily around 7:30 – 8:30 and sleeps until around 6ish. Then she eats and goes right back to sleep for another 1.5 – 2 hours. Unfortunately, that’s not every night, and the other nights are terrible worse with more night wake ups and early morning (like before 6) risings. I can’t complain about the good nights, though. Eventually she’ll be a consistent sleeper, right?  

Diet: Breastfeeding 3ish times per day (sometimes 4, other times just 2) and eating lots of solids. She still hates meat but loves cheese, yogurt, avocado and raisins. Some days it seems like she’s starving and will eat anything I put in front of her; other days she wants nothing to do with any food (I wish I had days like that!) She seems to be growing and thriving, though, so I imagine it’s all normal, and she’s getting what she needs.

She also loves eating paper!

Milestones:  She’s walking like a pro, and most people can’t believe it when I tell them how old she is. She’s basically running at this point. And she looks like a little baby doing it!

She’s imitating lots of sounds and saying lots of words. She says mama, dada, fish, duck, and trash to name a few. She also waves and says “Hi” as we’re out and about and see people.

This month I am really starting to notice that she understands what I say to her. If I ask where a toy is, she’ll go look for it and point or bring it to me. She understands when I ask her if she wants milk or wants to go outside and whines until she gets it.

She also started Mother’s Day Out two days a week just before turning 11 months old. She goes to a little church near our house on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 –3 .  It’s been a little bit of a transition. We’ve had a few drop offs with lots of crying, and last week one of the teachers told me that she basically cried all day. This week, she seems to be doing better, though. I’ve been sending a few familiar toys and a lovey with her, so I think that’s helping. And I think it’s just going to take a little time to get used to the new surroundings and people. I think she’s a little bit sensitive to stuff like that, but she’ll adjust and be better (hopefully) for it.

Likes: going on walks, swinging in our tree swing out front (Thanks for hanging it, Luke!), watching big kids, yogurt, raisins, music, dancing, remotes, her lunchbox (she loves to carry it around the house), iPhones, books and reading, going outside, picking up sticks, rocks and acorns.

Dislikes: Bibs, having her hands and face cleaned off,  diaper changes, sun butter, having her hair rinsed.

Nicknames: Chicky Girl, Neeny, Nori and Nor,

Mama’s Thoughts: I wish I could bottle up so many moments and feelings from this stage so that I’ll be sure to never ever forget. She’s the sweetest little chick, and while she’s a mobile, wild woman that can’t be stopped and loves to dig through cabinets and drawers, unroll toilet paper, and carry around random household products, she still likes to be held and is a little bit of a cuddler, especially right after she wakes up. My absolute favorite thing that she does right now is when I crouch down and open my arms really wide and call for her to come to me, she’ll come barreling right into my arms, pause and lay her head on my shoulder for a quick hug before she’s off to play again. I hope she never stops loving hugs.

With just one month to go until One, I already find myself feeling pretty emotional about it at times. It’s truly amazing how quickly the months have passed. And while I look forward  to watching her grow, eventually weaning, and being able to do more and more with her, it’s a little bit sad that she’ll never be this little again, and a giant piece of me doesn’t want her to stop needing me. (Hopefully that won’t really happen anytime soon) We’ve been so thoroughly and continuously connected for the past year. The thought of that changing is a little bit liberating and exciting but mostly scary and anxiety inducing. Luckily, she’s all mine for at least 17 more years.  

I’ll be back next month (because apparently the only time I blog these days is these monthly updates) with an update on our big ONE year old girl and a recap of our birthday celebrations.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

Crystal Beach 2014

At the first of August, we packed our bags and headed to Crystal Beach, near Galveston, for a week of fun in the sun with my family. The weather forecast was a little dreary, but it ended up being perfect with plenty of sun and mild-ish temperatures. The water wasn’t all that nice (Anna dubbed it “Crystal Brown”), but the beach house was perfect for us, and, despite the seaweed and murky water, we got everything that you’re looking for out of a beach vacation.

We walked on the beach and played in the water!

We played in the sand and even tasted it. Yum.

We remembered to wear our hats and shades and take lots of breaks in the shade.

And of course, we had plenty of picture breaks.

We practiced sharing among cousins! Baths, books and breakfast, just to name a few!

And did lots of fishing!

Along with the fish, we also caught a few sunsets and a ferry across the bay to Galveston.

We went to a couple of dinners and even down a waterslide!

Sure, we had our moments.

But all in all, it was a pretty sweet trip.

(With a little bit of weird thrown in there too. )

We Have a Walker!

And I’m not talking about Anna and Zach’s little baby. Nora has become a full-time walker. She has no more tolerance for crawling. She’d run if she could, and she certainly tries her best. In just about two weeks, she’s gone from this…

to this…

All before turning 10 months old!

And now I better go figure out how to Nora proof this house!

Nora: 10 Months

Weight/Length: She was 18.5 lbs at her official 9 month check-up.

Medical Issues: Healthy, happy baby girl!

Sleep: Nora’s still taking 2 naps a day. When we’re home and having a typical day, she goes down really easily and sleeps for about 1.5 hours each. She’s taken a couple of naps in her stroller again recently, which she hasn’t done in quite a while, and I wasn’t sure she’d ever do again. Thank goodness for Baby Einstein Lullaby music!

After a pretty rough stretch of lots of night waking and early morning wake up calls, (turns out she was cutting 4 teeth at once :/) we’re back to pretty good sleep. On a typical night, Nora goes to bed anywhere from 7:30 – 8:30 and sleeps until around 6ish. Then she eats and goes right back to sleep for another 1.5 – 2 hours.

Diet: Breastfeeding 4-5 times per day and eating lots of solids. As those 4 teeth were coming in, she didn’t want much to do with any real food, but she’s back to loving avocado, yogurt and all her old favorites. She also loves raisins, which are great to have with me when we’re out and about, and usually buy me  a little more time.

Milestones:  Walking!!! Nora took her first steps around 9.5 months and quickly became a full-time walker – all before 10 months! Though she’s getting more stable and faster (She’d run everywhere if she could!), she still falls a lot.  My heart just about stops every time, but she usually just gets back up and keeps going. She’s a tough little thing! And she’s pretty good at catching herself or rolling with the fall, so luckily we’ve avoided any major head bangs or injuries. (Knock on wood.)

She’s imitating lots of sounds and trying to say several words such as duck and book. She also definitely says “Hi!” and waves.

She has 6 teeth now! The 2 bottom ones are all the way in and have been for a while now, but the 4 on top are new this month and came all at once. Poor baby! They’re not all the way in, but they are at least through the gums and don’t seem to be hurting her anymore.

Likes: going on walks, swinging, clapping, swimming, seeing new people especially kids, yogurt, raisins, clapping, music, grabbing faces, remotes, clapping, iPhones, books and reading (the lady in the church nursery yesterday even commented about how excited she was for story time!), clapping, peekaboo, being chased around the house, walking, standing in the bath tub (which drives me crazy!) and clapping!

Dislikes: Bibs, having her hands and face cleaned off,  diaper changes.

Nicknames: Chicky Girl, Neeny, Nori and Nor, The Ninja

Mama’s Thoughts: Oh my! Nora is the sweetest, most loving, cuddle baby girl out there. I love how she hugs me when I first pick her up out of the crib and doesn’t want to be put down until she’s good and awake;  how she tightly holds on to me and randomly pats my back when I’m holding her; and how her giant smiles overtake her whole little face, crinkling up her beautiful big eyes and squishing her squeezable cheeks. Seriously, the thought of that precious smile helps me out of bed in the mornings and pushes me through the days. Motherhood is exhausting and self-sacrificing and challenging and that will probably never change no matter how old she is, but it is oh so worth it. Nora fills my routine days with moments and feelings that a camera can’t capture and that I never ever want to forget. Here’s to making the most of every day that I have this baby girl with me.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

Nora’s First Fourth

We kicked off our Fourth of July 2014 by attending our neighborhood parade. It was much bigger than we expected and was so much fun. Luke and I drank coffee and met a few neighbors while Nora sat in her stroller the whole time and happily watched all the action around her. It was really nice to feel a part of our local community, and we’ll definitely make this a part of our Fourth of July tradition going forward.

After the parade was over, we followed the parade route down to the rec center. There were lots of booths set up for local businesses and community groups, food trucks offering ice cream and snow cones, pony rides and a petting zoo!

Back at home, we got ready for Chandler and Leslie and Anna and Zach to come over for swimming, corn hole and turkey burgers! Nora wore a onesie that said “My First Fourth” that she got from Molly, and Luke loved making the hilarious joke that “We’d have to forgive her; it’s her first fourth.” For example, after she makes a giant mess eating, Luke says “You’ll have to forgiver her, it’s her first fourth.” If you know Luke, you know he used it at every possible opportunity.  

We had so much fun that the camera didn’t make it out much, so I’ll leave you with the one picture that I did take – a corn hole action shot. Happy 4th of July!