Ten Months and Pulling Up

This growing girl:

-usually takes four bottles a day (24-28 oz)

-is finally getting a little meat on her tiny bones, weighing almost 18 lbs

-loves throwing things on the floor

-is extremely busy 

-has great fine motor skills (in Mom's opinion)

-had her fourth haircut/trim

-pulls up to a standing position 

-has adjusted well to a sippy cup 

-loves our dog, Max, and thinks he is quite entertaining

-is very verbal as she says uh oh, mama, bye bye, ahhhh, etc. 

Baby Proof Time

It is definitely time to start baby proofing. This girl makes her way around the house with a crawl/scoot. She is usually looking for her daddy or Max. 

9 Months and Clapping

At nine months, Nora:

-loves clapping her hands

-does something between a crawl and a scoot to get all over the place 

-weighs 16 lbs 

-is 27 inches long 

-isn't sleeping very well 

-loves her blankie

-has pulled up on a drawer 

We LOVE the Sitter's but....

We've had two yucky colds, a double ear infection, and now a stomach virus with a very high fever since we started going. Let me say again, she LOVES being with the other kids; it's just taking a toll on her little body. 

We've been dealing with a fever and diarrhea for six consecutive days. I feel so sorry for Nora. With that much diarrhea comes a very raw toosh. She has spent a lot of time in our bed. 

We even went to the emergency room for the first time when her fever reached 103.8. They assured us it is just a virus and has to run its course. Her fever topped out at 104.9-SCARY!! I'm sure Dr. Frizzell's office would like to block my number. The good news is I am on Fall Break so I am able to be home with her. The bad news is I am on Fall Break and leaving Thursday morning for Forrest's wedding. Nora will be staying with Gran Gran and Aunt Leah. I know she will be fine. I just hope I will. 

She did enjoy a walk with Dad one afternoon since she has been under the weather. 

8 Months and Scooting

Getting this princess to sit still for her eight month picture was like an act of congress. At eight months, Miss Nora:

-stayed with Aunt Sarah and DD for the first time

-is definitely becoming more of a daddy's girl

-cut her first teeth one right after the other (bottom two)

-is picky about who holds her 

-had a six day stomach virus that included high fever and a trip to the ER

-likes most foods including blueberries, potato soup, avacado, eggs, and anything sweet

-stayed with Gran Gran and The Carrs for four nights (which is the longest we have been away from her)

-holds her own bottle when she wants to

-would rather scoot on her bottom than try crawling 

-squeals when she doesn't think she has your attention 

-says "mama" and it is music to my ears (even if she doesn't do it intentionally) 

Seven Months and Teething

This sweet 7-month-old:

-sleeps through the night for the most part 

-went through a spell of screaming for a bottle in the middle of the night, which we haven't done in a while

-is teething 

-can get into anything within her reach

-wants a blanket or towel in her mouth rather than a paci

-likes her thumb if she doesn't have a blanket to chew on

-loves strawberry yogurt and puffs

-loves laying in bed in the mornings with her daddy 

-gets in crawling position but not yet crawling 

-scoots on her bottom

-drinks less than 7 oz most of the time

-had her first antibiotic and first vomiting episode (tear)

-doesn't miss a thing

-gets so excited watching the other kids at Ms. Nicole's

-is more anemic than other children her age with hereditary spherocytosis, but counts are going up

-weighs 14.5 lbs and is 25.9" long

-moved on up to size 2 diapers

Miss Determined

Just sitting around is not cutting it for this girl. I have a feeling we are going to be mobile pretty soon. 

When I left the room, her back was touching the boppy. She is determined to get moving. Time, please slow down!!! 

Six Months and Sitting

I all of a sudden have such a big girl on my hands.  We went to have our six month pictures taken with Phil.  I called the day before to suggest they bring something Nora could lean on since she wasn't sitting up yet.  Boy, was I wrong?! She sat through so many of the pictures with no problem.  It literally happened overnight.  Bring on the shopping cart/highchair cover!

Lately....

• Doesn't want to be rocked, puts herself to sleep (bittersweet)
• Saying, "Ba-Ba-Ba," a lot
• Loving her baby food
• Taking 7 oz religiously
• Laughing more and more
• Loves to go back to sleep in our bed in the mornings
• Enjoys sitting in the floor playing 
• Wants everything in her mouth, especially her fingers
• So happy the majority of the time
• Going to Nicole's a few days a week and loving the other kids

Yep, I LOVE this stage also! 

It's Independence Day!

We celebrated our first Independence Day in Halls taking part in a great Fourth of July parade.  I was, of course, shopping for stroller decor 2 hours before the parade.  We went to a great firework show at Shelly and Chad's that night.  Nora slept through the whole thing.  She is SO my child.

I must say that the stroller turned out pretty cute.  

Month One

People can talk until they are blue in the face about what you should expect those first few weeks, but there's no way to imagine until you are living it. I know I'm not the first person to ever give birth to a human being, but it is my first human being.  I never thought my body could properly function on three hours of sleep.   I know they say, "Sleep when your baby sleeps."  That is harder than I thought it would be.  I'm sure Logan is wondering if I'll ever wear anything but my robe and pants with an elastic waist again.

Breastfeeding is quite a chore.  Everyone talks about pregnancy, labor, and the joys of breastfeeding; not many of those people mention how hard breastfeeding can be.  Nora didn't want to latch the first few weeks; I'm talking twenty minutes of fighting it.  This could explain the weight loss which led to waking her to eat every two hours instead of three.  I felt like by the time I finished feeding her it was time for her to eat again.  She finally got back to her birth weight within about 3 weeks.  We stayed at my mom's the first few weeks.  I don't know what I would've done without her and Sarah.

It definitely wasn't all exhausting.  She is/was so easy to love.  She is a good baby.  I have heard the horror stories of colic and babies that do nothing but cry.  I feel so lucky to not be going through that.  If my worst problem is a little breastfeeding frustration, I'd say that's awesome.  She is probably as close as it gets to perfect.  A few things I want to remember about Nora in her first month:  funny expressions (even though they aren't on purpose), her hand is always by her face, the way she falls asleep in my arms or on my chest, looong and skinny fingers, legs, and feet; bright blue eyes, screaming during diaper changes, grinning while in her milk coma.  When she arrived I thought she looked so much like Logan, however, I'm starting to think she looks like my family.

She's Famous

I don't want to forget the many thoughtful friends and family members that came to visit our girl in those first few days.  I didn't get a picture of EVERY one of them, but this will give me a good idea.  We are truly blessed.

Bath Time

Needless to say, Nora didn't care for her first bath.  What baby does?  When Gran Gran offered to do it, I took her up on the offer.  The second bath wasn't much different, but she'll get used to it eventually.

Roberts Party of Three

We were so ready to get out of that hospital room....we thought.  Mom, check, Dad, check, baby, check, car seat, check, now what? As we pulled away from the hospital entrance, Logan looked at me and said, "We came as two, and we are leaving as three.  Can you believe it?"  I don't know if Logan and I have ever felt so scared and overjoyed at the same time.  

Love at First Sight

My induction date was set for January 28th.  However, after a scary fall with Mom which turned into tests showing she needed a stent put in her heart, we pushed it off a few days.   The new induction date was set for January 30th, my birthday!! I didn't plan it that way, but that was the day that was open.  I was just too worried about Mom, who was still in the hospital while all the changes were being made.  I knew she would be devastated if she wasn't there for the birth of her first grandchild.  Turns out the man upstairs and little Nora had a different plan all together.

We were staying in Covington since we knew it could be any day, and the closer to the hospital the better.  I woke up January 29th at 5:30 a.m. with pains that I KNEW were not just Braxton Hicks contractions.  Logan and I took showers and headed to Germantown.  Might I mention Logan took time to drop off his taxes and drove SO slow! I thought I was going to put my foot through the floor board.  I told him that I may as well get my grandfather to drive me if we ever did this again (probably not in my nicest voice).  Don't mess with a woman in labor!! I only wish I had his patience.  We finally made it around 8:30.  I was still around 4 cm dilated.  They got us in a room a couple of hours later.  I was hurting pretty badly.  I received an epidural around 11:30 a.m., and at 12:18 p.m. Nora arrived after just a little pushing.   My sweet sister missed it by only a few minutes, but Logan and Mom were there with me.  There was a moment of panic when Nora dropped, and the cord was what I now know too short.  I'm not sure what all happened other than the room filled with hospital staff, but Dr. Dulaney came in and everyone seemed to calm down.  It was a quick and amazing birth.

I've never felt such a rush of love in my life.  I thought I was going to explode the minute I saw her.  Love at first sight does exist.  She was 6 lb, 9 oz and 20 inches of pure perfection.  She has long skinny legs and feet that look like her grandfather's and lots of beautiful dark hair.

Some of our first visitors

2012 Comes to an End

 I spent a lot of 2012 pregnant, and I loved it.  I may have said this before, but being pregnant felt like it was my birthday every day.  I was never sick, ate what I wanted, wore comfy clothes and just felt good (not to mention the fact there was a gift from God growing inside of me).   I loved when Nora would get the hiccups.  It was just a reminder of how she was growing each day (just something I want to remember).

December

Christmas was wonderful, as always.  Strange thinking about the fact that it was our last Christmas as a household of two.  I know it's only going to get more and more exciting.  The Aleccis spent Christmas with our family this year.  It was more than likely a huge culture shock to them, but they seemed to have a good time.  You haven't experienced Christmas until you've experienced it with Patti and Aunt Ellen.  They both love the holidays and make it so special for everyone.

Christmas

                                                   

Two Firsts

Nora's pediatrician is Dr. Frizzell.  He was also my pediatrician.  The first appointment went well once Mom and I figured out how to get the car seat out of the car.  Thank you, Craig Simpson, for always being on call.  Nora was down to 5.13, so we will have to go back in a week for a weight check.  My milk production is still not where I would like for it to be, which is really frustrating.

Dr. Frizzell wasn't the only person that Nora met today; she was also introduced to her great grandfather.  My grandfather is 93 and still going strong.  We love him dearly, and I'm so glad he and Nora will have the chance to know one another.  He will be ready to take her cruising in no time I'm sure.