Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Nora Kay Love ~ 8 Months

And another month down.  Another month closer to Nora being 1.  We're just having a blast with our precious girl...and enjoying the last days of summer! 
 
Weight/Height:  I truly have no idea, but she's still growing like a weed...yet, she seems to be thinning out a bit.  I'm thinking that has to do with all the rolling/pseudo-crawling she's doing now!  Her thighs are still plenty chunky and I love her precious cheeks...but if she grows anything like her sister, the days of her chubbiness are certainly numbered!  I honestly think that Elyse looks chunkier in her 8 month photos than Nora does. 

Clothes:  We're finishing up our last packages of size 2 diapers and moving on to ordering size 3s.  We're still just wearing pretty much all the same size clothes as Elyse did and staying right on track with typical sizing.  I'm planning to get the 9-12 month tubs down soon so I can sort through what we have from Elyse and see what else we need to purchase.  Of course I don't expect her to wear all hand-me-downs! 
 Food:  This girl LOVES all things food.  Like everything.  We've had a few tummy troubles recently so there have been a few times when I put her on the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet...and she's been less than thrilled.  Right now I would say her absolute favorites are peaches & tomatoes.  She loves most all fruit, most veggies, and her meats.  She likes carbs but prefers them to be in the cookie/cracker/Veggie Straw variety.  One thing is for certain, if anyone around her is eating...she better not be left out.  And as a confession, she also likes ice cream.  And popsicles.  Don't judge.  She's also still nursing 4x a day at 7, 11, 3, & 7.  It's a pretty great schedule that I don't really see changing anytime soon! 
 Sleep:  She's still a pretty awesome sleeper. She takes two naps a day for about 1 1/2-2 hrs each and she goes down for the night sometime between 7-8.  She is consistently sleeping through the night with just one wakeup for replacing the pacifier and some nights she'll sleep all the way through without a peep.  We still only have two teeth, but I'm thinking those top two are going to bust through any time...which is what I blame her bad nights on.  She also has a few mornings where she wants to come cuddle around 6 until I wake her to eat at 7...but who are we to complain about a few early morning snuggles?
 Activity:  Momma got a little paranoid that she wasn't crawling yet last week and decided she needed more tummy time for practice.  And guess what, she's not officially crawling...but she'll definitely roll and reach and stretch to get whatever she wants.  I like to call her my little Inspector Gadget with her go-go gadget arms!  You better make sure that everything is FAR out of reach...or it will be hers.  We're still working on the crawling so I know it will be anytime that she gets it down pat.  Honestly, I'm still loving the fact that she's pretty stationary.  Our house is in need of some serious baby-proofing before we have a full time mover on our hands.  She still loves her jumper and also her walker now that she's getting even more leg strength. 
Personality:  Oh how I love this little girl.  She is always soooo happy and it truly takes a lot to make her mad.  Lack of food at the appropriate time is one of those times.  She does this cute (but also annoying) little grunting noise when she's not getting what she wants.  She loves to laugh when you tickle her thighs or her feet or under her chin.  And she also just loves to be the center of attention.  She does not like to be left alone in a room, especially if she can hear you nearby.  She wants to be involved...always afraid that she's missing out on something. 
 
Elyse & Nora:  My heart serious melts watching these two interact.  They are starting to play together, and I can't wait for many more moments like this one.  Of course I know there will be plenty of times when Nora steals Elyse's toy, or Elyse steals Nora's toy.  Or when hair will be pulled.  Or babies won't be shared.  But through it all, I know they will love each other.  Because right now, it's just too obvious not to be the case. 
 
Sugar-booger, squirt, chunky monkey...Nora,
Oh my girl how we love you.  All of us.  We love you with our whole hearts and can't really imagine how boring life was without you.  You have added to our family in ways you will never understand and I'm so incredibly grateful to God each day for allowing me to be your momma.  I'm thankful that this time around I'm able to be a LOT more laid back to just watch you develop and see how you discover things on your own.  I don't worry so much about schedules (although you certainly still have one and still do best when we follow it) or how long you're eating or how much you're eating or when you're going to learn to crawl.  I'm sure this new-found relaxed way of parenting is fairly typical for 2nd time moms...and you've made it even easier with your ability to just go with the flow.  You are so incredibly precious to your daddy & I and I find myself truly missing you while you nap...well I miss your sweet, smiley self...not so much the fussy sweetheart that you become when you're tired or hungry.  We love you sweet girl and can't wait for all the memories that you will allow us to experience! 
You're the best little sister ever! 
I love you, Momma

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Project 365 ~ July

And just like that, July is over and August has begun and it seems for the vast majority of people that means summer is over as well.  And for us...well it sort of means that this year too...because Elyse is starting preschool two days a week!  (cue the tears)  

But before we get ahead of ourselves, here's a look back at our July...we had a lot of crazy fun and I just fall more in love with my little family of 4 each day!  

Samson & Delilah had to help out with VBS one night...oh the things I do for my mother-in-law!  

Nora turned 7 months old...


We had an early 4th celebration with some good friends...

and we celebrated in traditional 4th style with these two little firecrackers at my parents' house...

Nora officially became a belly-sleeper...

and displayed her serious love for spaghetti...

Elyse's personality continued to bring me so much incredible joy, and reminded me of how blessed we are...

With sweltering heat, we rediscovered painting...and this entertained Elyse for hours...

Elyse & I had a little date day...and we loved every minute of it, well except for the "scary clown" in the movie...

we spent some time in my parents' pool...

And we went to a birthday party at the local gymnastics club...

I survived 5 days being a single mom to these two little girls while their daddy was on a golf trip...but had loads of help.  

We spent some more time at my parents' pool while we were waiting on Daddy to get home...


And then it was time for VBS to start...

With Gigi being the VBS director & Mamaw helping out by teaching, that meant Nora got to spend some time at the office with Momma, Daddy, & Papa!

This little girl LOVED every bit of her class, and had so much fun!  

They had a pool day outside one day, which is the only justifiable reason for wearing a swimming suit in church...

And of course there was a program, where we witnessed her first official "wave to the crowd"...

We took Daddy to the local community pool and after some bribing we got Elyse to go down the slide...

We celebrated National Ice Cream Day, and then decided to challenge ourselves with a bit of a sugar break...it's been hard, but not impossible.  And it's only lasting until Florida in September!  

This girl tried my patience a few times...but melted my heart more times than I can count.  I just love her and the beautiful lady she's turning into.  

We got matching donut shirts, and needless to say, she was a little excited!  

Hubby & I had a work conference and we rode a motorcycle with Flo...ok, we were really sitting on a green box and the super-imposed everything else on us.  

Nora gave us a clear indication that she loves berries just as much as her sister...

And she laughed and giggled and smiled so much that I'm sure her face must have been hurting...
 
We made our annual quick trip to STL for a family Cardinals game.  And we sweat.  A lot.  

We visited Grant's Farm...

and rode the carousel...

And these two showed us further evidence that they are in fact related.  Because who wouldn't put Nora's infant linking rings on their nose as giant nose rings?!?

We visited yet another pool and spent an evening with some great friends...

And it felt incredibly  bittersweet when I received this backpack in the mail along with a school supply list for Elyse's preschool...

And I finished off the month with a girls night, with my bestie.  Mexican, margaritas, ice cream, and a patio...the perfect girls night! 


I can't believe that next month at this time I'll be recapping Elyse's first few weeks of preschool...time is flying!