Norah: Eleven Months

Size: Surprisingly-- I'm not sure how much weight the bean has gained this month-- seems to be topping out a bit! Although her personality sure is getting larger... in fact, this month's picture pretty much sums our gal up in a nutshell.

Sleep: My sweet early riser-- still waking up once before 6:30, but I don't mind. Naps are becoming a bit of an issue though-- (ask my poor mom, who watches her during the day-- I'm considering dubbing Norah's new name to, "Norah the Nap Fighter." Or, you know, something that makes it sound cooler than it actually is). What once was a pretty consistent schedule of out from 9:30-11 and 1:30-3 is now totally willy-nilly. I think we're about to switch gears to a one-year-old, one-nap-a-day type thing.

Social: Is starting to recognize things a bit more-- if you show her a duck, and say 'duck,' she will respond back, 'dah'-- which doesn't seem like a lot, I know, but believe me-- if you're a parent, you know how amazing this is. (OH MY WORD! My child is a genius! She knows how this is a duck! Etc. Etc.) 

Diet: Sigh... still eating the same types of foods as last month (all gags are pretty much gone, she is a pretty great eater) although she is officially calling me out in my drop of supply. Boob TMI alert: I have been a slave to my breast pump since returning to work, and am eternally grateful that my body has not recognized or cared that this strange sounding apparatus isn't my child-- but things are changing. My 'I could feed a whole town with these things' supply is now producing a measly 1-2 ounces of milk a feeding. Not optimum for my little chunk. Needless (and very sad) to say, we have started adding formula to the mix. With one month left, I don't mind. I'm pretty happy with how things have worked out so far, and am so grateful that I was able to breastfeed at all-- I am still considering this a win in my book. 

Clothes: No change here, still 18m-2T.

Teeth: Just our same two chompers.

Likes: Necklaces, BOOKS (still can't look at a book sideways without having to read/eat it), squiggling, anything that makes noise, dogs, hair, running amok in her walker, singing, dancing, peek-a-boo, you name it. So many things make this gal laugh these days. I'll tell you one thing she dislikes though... when you take any of said things away. We are working on how to reason with an eleven month old at the moment.

Milestones: I would say we have grown closer to crawling especially this last week-- she has been far more active, rolling/squiggling/pulling herself around. I feel mobility is approaching. Other than that, we've just generally been reveling in the fact that our little gal isn't so little any more-- her first birthday is fast approaching. I still feel like she should be my little football (I'm sure this feeling never goes away). 

To the zoo!

Yesterday we decided to take advantage of the good weather and head to the Point Defiance Zoo. We disregarded the fact that poor Norah really didn't have much of an idea of what was going on-- in fact, she was vastly more interested in her snack puffs than most of the animals-- but she did get a kick out of the aquarium for sure. So many colors! 

It turned out to be quite a lovely day. We are both excited to be able to take her back when she's a bit older, but for now it was fun to watch her try and grab the fish and smile at all the people. 

Norah: 10 Months

Size: HUGE. I'm guessing we're at about 22.5 pounds these days.



Sleep: I feel like this is one of those questions that's kind of like fight club-- you don't talk about fight club. What's the one rule of baby sleep? You never talk about baby sleep. (AKA, it's going well. But like I said, I'm not going to talk about it. In fact, forget I mentioned it at all.)

Social: After a lapse in words, we are now back to chatting up a storm. This also includes 'twelfth manning people'-- which means shouting loudly whenever anyone is telling a story. Likes also include smiling and waving at sushi chefs, people walking towards us on the street, and any other people we pass in the grocery store-- but if you're coming over to our house to say hello, she might just bashfully bury her head into my/dad's shoulder, all shy-like. Who knows. (One things for sure though... if you show her a video of herself on your phone, she will light up like a Christmas tree. Little ham.)



Diet: We are officially full-force in to table foods. Well, the 'able to be chopped up into bits, or anything without salt' table food. Which includes what we're eating about half the time. We are still supplementing with a bit of jarred baby food, but only when what she can eat lacks variety. (We hardly have mangos or prunes in the house... we do what we must! Plus, they're just so dang easy.)

Mmmmm.... french toast.



Clothes: Same as last month really-- 18m-2T.

Teeth: Two bright shiny bottom teeth! None other to report this month.

Likes: Same as last month, plus: baths, CHEESE (so much cheese. If she doesn't like something, put cheese on it. If there were any question before... she gets her taste from me), anyone's hair who is careless enough to let her touch yank the living daylights out of it, glasses, hats, and scratching all the things. And laughing!! She gets going, it's absolutely one of my favorite things. 

Oh yes, and books.



And even more books. Especially the bed time variety.



Milestones: We are borrowing a walker/cruiser from my mom, which she has been booking all around the house in-- she will chase you if you run away sometimes. When everyone else seems to be walking/cruising on their own, Norah is happily content. Which of course, is perfectly fine with me! I love that I always know where she's at. The cruiser chair is a nice transition into what life will be like when she's mobile--and nuts to think about how un-childproof our house is. 

Also, Bryan and I are on vacation this week--so far we have demolished a bathroom (how relaxing!) stolen my dad to help us tile (he is the best!), gone to the zoo (pictures to come!) and have done some much needed cuddles/relaxing. Alas, I get out of the shower to see Bryan dancing with Norah to Frank Sinatra. Life is good, couldn't ask for more.

Taking advantage of the sunshine

Lucky for us, we got a little taste of summer right at the end of April. We don't have a ton of time after we get home to go out and play, but it was days like Thursday that made it worth-- we took Norah's dinner, and a supply of tennis balls for Walter and walked down to the lake. It was a lovely day, for sure.

...is it summer yet?

Happy Sunday!

If you need me, I will be busy. Staring at her face. That is all. Do you blame me?

Norah: Nine Months

Size: 21.6 lbs, I have the length written down-- in my planner at work! Ack! Must update soon  (mid 90th percentile in all aspects these days)

Sleep: Recently? Fabulously. I bought some blackout material for her curtains, and it seems to work wonders. She's sleeping from about 8pm to 6:30am (this is still pretty new!). If she wakes up at all, it's around 5am, and she eats and goes right back to sleep.

Social: Still smiling and waving at everyone; makes me so happy! Still isn't super overwhelmed with social anxiety-- seems like as long as the 'holder' is willing to change positions as often as I do, she's alright.

Diet: Still having a hard time finding things this gal won't eat. Well, anything pureed that is. Still pretty anti-chunk. Doc said this is perfectly normal, and to let her eat whatever she likes. (I'm pretty sure this rule doesn't include receipts/menus/any paper-- don't tell that to her, though. Any paper she can eat/gum/get in to her mouth is fair game. Scares the crap out of me.)

Clothes: Comfortably in 18 month clothes, a few 12 month bits still fit-- but some 2T does as well too these days.

Teeth: As named by my mom, "We have a left frontal enamel protrusion"-- we have teeth! Or, well, 'tooth'. One little bottom tooth decided to make an appearance-- without a huge meltdown from her yet, which is nice! Looks like the second bottom tooth is working it's way out as well. The drool is an indicator that everything is going well, I'm guessing.

Likes: Purple block (screw fuzzy bunnies, blankets and other comfort objects-- she loves her block), flying/tumbling, eating all the things, taking selfies (as soon as you point a camera at her with the picture facing you, she turns in to a little ham), playing patty cake, dancing, and singing.

Milestones: She's finally understanding things a little bit-- if you ask her, 'how big is Norah?" she will stretch her hands way up, as you say "soooooo big!" It's quite adorable. If she thinks you're not paying enough attention to her (this hardly ever happens, of course), she will throw her hands up so you will say 'soooooo big!' at her. I love it so much. This morning too she finally seemed to understand peekaboo herself-- she will cover and uncover her face as you play with her. And of course, teeth is a milestone as well! 

Happy Easter!

Not very often in Washington state do we get as lovely Easters as we had today! Low 60's and beautifully sunny. We spent a glorious day with family (I forgot to bring my camera earlier, but we went to Great Grandma Bitterling's for lunch), here are a few photos from dinner. Found time for two glorious naps, two family meals, lawn mowed and seeded (operation get rid of infested yard island nearly complete), and groceries shopped for. Oh yes, and vitamin D absolved. 

Norah had a fabulous time hanging out with Papa Vic and Omi.

Cousin Kristen!

Aunt Patti and Uncle John

Cousin Brian and Aunt Patti

Brian's girlfriend Ambar

Grandma, Norah and Omi

Omi and Aunt Patti