Happy 1st Birthday Nora!

Wow, a whole year has gone by....phew that was fast! Everyone who said it (they grow up fast) was absolutely right, but I'm not sure I believed them when they said it until it happened to me.  We are so blessed to have this happy, healthy, eat-everything, sleep-at-night, good-napper, persistent, adorable little 1 year old on our hands.  She is determined to do what she wants and that is challenging as first time parents, but we manage to still discipline when needed so she learns early. 

Funny story, but off the topic...I made a pinterest recipe tonight that I knew couldn't be bad. I mean, it was crescent rolls, pizza sauce, mozz cheese & pepperoni rolled into deliciousness.  Nora ate it, but threw a lot on the floor. I made broccoli and peas after the fact because I knew she didn't eat much. She probably ate as much of the broccoli as I did and that pretty much made my day!  (told you it was off subject!)

She had her 1 year appointment and her are her stats:

• Height: 31 inches (96%)
• Weight: 20 pounds 4 ounces (56%)
• Head Circumference: 18 1/4 inches (85th%)

She is maintaining on all aspects as far as percentages go, and that continues to mean the need for longer shirts/pants!

Also at the doctor she had 2 shots...of which resulted in crying until the nurse distracted her with a book the doctors office gives all 1 year old kids.  Phew..that was close!

So, what's new?  The love of toys that have cause and effect-ie. her golf club to golf ball, cars to pull back and watch gooooo, throwing something and watching it fly...those kinds of things.  Also, she loves to be outside exploring (aka: eating grass, mulch, my flowers!).  She often takes off at the chance that she might get a few steps in front of me.  Persistent little booger: 30 times of "no no Nora that's Jerseys water" or "no, no Nora that's Mommy's hutch" and she still goes back another 30 times to play in the water & dog food or open the hutch to the endless supply of non-baby proofed things! We are officially off the bottle and only using sippy cups (as of 2 days ago) and it hasn't been a problem.  As long as she doesn't see the bottle she doesn't know it exists.  Brushing her teeth & bath time are always favorites as well as beating up on Jersey (she's a good sport).  The absolute latest hype at the house....Nora with her leg over the crib trying to climb out-caught by Beth today as she was watching her! (side note: we are not ready for a toddler bed yet-no limitations...yikes). One last thing...she love, loves reading books in the car, in the cart at the grocery store or at home.  She grabs one and comes to be and backs up and sits in my lap to be read to.  I love this so we try to read at least 3 times each day-when I'm not working.

What's not so new...her love of every kid that we could possibly see outside or at the store. She is a social butterfly and waves at EVERYONE & it's always accompanied by a cute little smile, then a giggle. Who on earth could resist that?! 

Here she is-our 1 year old:

Loves my cup with the straw & being outside in the screened in porch

First of many zoo trips with Cousin Hunter

Standeford Cousins: Nellie, Coralynn, Bella, Ann & Nora

Loves swinging at the park

Relaxing with Daddy on the back porch

So big!

At her birthday party

Adorable....ask her what the owls say.....she replies "hoot hoot"

Proud Mommy & Daddy

Loves chocolate cake, but then again so does Mommy!

Just a note as we go forward that I will not be posting, but maybe-maybe once per month (and I realize this might have been going on for the last 2 months).  I'm overwhelmed with other things I would rather do that are outside & this has kind of been like a chore to keep up even though I love to have it and look back.  Who knows I may change my mind...but I just thought I would let those of you know that are frequent readers!

Nora {11 Months}

In the beginning I would have the "month" post on the exact date (13th of each month).  Now, I'm happy to have it done before the end of the month (update: time got away and obviously not posted before March).  Thankfully this year is leap year and that gives me an extra day (today) to get this whipped up and posted!

We are officially with in days of sweet Nora turning 1 and we have mixed emotions for this huge event.  Before we get there lets talk about 11 months! This age has been a blast for a bunch of reasons.  I like to use every possible moment to teach her. It's fun to watch her play, talk, learn, read, interact with other kids and other people at the store.  It's just a lot of fun AND shes a "hip baby".  That makes it easy to carry her and thirty other things up and down the stairs all day long with out having to  hold her head for support!

She has been mumbling baby talk for a while now, but we can actually interpret what she is saying some of the time where before it was only mama or dadadada.  Jer-sey happens to be one of the words she has picked up on lately.  I think more that I've picked up on that actually being what she says because it doesn't sound like that it sounds more like "hers zeeee" and if you don't know what shes talking about you're clueless as to how she got that to mean Jersey! She walks around with toys saying Jersey or doggy which is more "doag-y" sounding.  This is almost too much for me-She's not even 1 and she comprehends! We have been trying to encourage her with short words like ball, club, book, car, doll, baby, but she only says the things she wants to say and that's OK.

We are struggling with the fact that humans show their sin-nature so quickly and therefore have implemented some discipline when Nora decides to clearly do something she knows she is not supposed to ie. turnover during diaper changes, touch something she's not supposed to touch, etc.  This new discipline has been good for her and us both.  She now doesn't turn over during diaper changes and understands the consequences of her actions (simple actions of course-shes only 11 months!).  Makes life easier.  However, sometimes she just out right throws a tantrum...you know the throw-your-self-on-the-floor-and-whip-your-head-to-the-ground type of tantrum! Wow, those are crazy...and so it begins that we not only have a cute little baby, but we have a cute little baby that we have to teach right and wrong to, teach about tons of things.  We are out of the just hold them and say "Aww" stage and it was like the snap of my fingers and bam-she's a big girl!

I am packing away more and more clothes. We now have several totes of clothes she can not wear.  Lately its the 6-9 or 9 month old clothes that are getting all packed up.  Most of her 12 month shirts are too short in the sleeves, but they do the job!  I'm looking forward to the garage sales this summer to stock up on 18 & 24 month clothes.  Even the stores clearance sections are still $4-10 for a shirt or $10-15 for a pair of pants! For someone who is out of them in 3 months-that is simply crazy and not in the budget. If there is ever a time for hand me down clothes...its now when she doesn't even realize it.

Sleep: ever since our tough love she has been sleeping like a champ.  Every now and then she wont take a second nap, which is about right age wise, but sometimes I really wish that she would.  It's easier to get things done around the house if I know she is safely sleeping in her crib!

Activity: She is walking like a pro now & even seems as though she is "running" to the next furniture piece or toy.  We walked outside for the first time the other day & she loved it.  She also likes pushing a shopping cart in the store-she grabs the lower rack and pushes away.  She's definitely busy & harder to keep entertained so we have started going to the library to have story time and see other kids her age.  In the summer we will be busy at the zoo since we got a membership to the Indianapolis zoo which means unlimited visits.  Play time outside is something I'm looking forward to after being couped up all winter (even though it has been mild).  Pinterest has been great for ideas on keeping Nora busy-now if I could only get around to half of the things I have pinned on there. 

From now I officially have 14 days or 2 weeks left of breastfeeding to reach my goal of 1 year! It hasn't been the easiest thing in the world, but it was best for both of us.  I'm ready to not have to worry about pumping at work and keeping the supply up to be able to satisfy her. We will quickly transition to cow's milk after my freezer supply has been depleted.

We can now consider ourselves toddler-aged since she is full out walking and eating 99% of the foods we eat.  Someone has a birthday next month & its going to be a "HOOT"!

Loves bath time & always has something in her mouth

Seriously on the move!

Cute as can be

Happy Birthday Cousin Serenity!

Katie with Caleb, Christina with Kherinton, Heather with Seija-friends from church

Nora 10.5 months, Seija 7.5 months, Kherington 3 months, Caleb 2 months

The guys with the babies-adorable

Loves her Daddy

I call this the "Bieber" hair do! LOL

What she does after a bath....

Coming to get Mommy

 

Nora {10 Months}

I know, I know a little late on this one! She is 2 weeks from being 11 months & I'm finally getting a moment to type up the last months highlights.  I love using this as a scrapbook sort of baby book of "what's happening" each month because otherwise I think I would forget and it wouldn't ever be put in a book for us to remember when she's older.  Here goes for the 10 month update:

She doesn't have another doctor appointment until her 12 month appointment, but these are my estimations on weight and length.  Mostly based on the clothes she wears, how much she was at 9 months, of course my expert opinion-LOL. 

Weight: ~19.5 pounds

Length: ~30 inches

Shoe size: 3 or 4 depending on the shoes

Clothing size: mostly 9-12 months or 12 month clothes.  The 9 month clothes are too short in the arms/legs, although they fit her well through the body.  I sense a problem that will not go away for a long time.  Sorry sweet baby, mommy has that problem too!  Looks like Gap long & leans are what she will be wearing in high school.  These were the only jeans that really fit me, but they are pretty expensive so I only had 2 pairs!

Food: We are down to 3 nursing times throughout the day and on average 1 at night.  This has been really nice because planning for trips out of the house are much easier now that I don't have to scope out a place to feed her.  I'm pro breastfeeding, but not into whipping it out in public if I don't have too!  For breakfast she likes to still be fed & loves oatmeal with fruit and cinnamon.  This is the only time she likes to be fed, otherwise, it's "give me the food Mom, and I'll shove it in myself" (or feed Jersey, whichever is more fun! & because of this, Jersey is sent to her cage during meal times.)  She loves everything we have given her so far & this month she had some new foods: spaghetti, scrambled eggs with spinach, cottage cheese, yogurt, and potatoes.  We continue to explore foods learning day in and day out what works and what doesn't.  For example, we had fajitas the other night & she was so interested that I cut up the peppers in really fine pieces and let her try them...bad idea because then she wanted more and more and more.  Fast forward to the next day...they were all in her poopy diaper just as they went in.  Her GI is not ready for that yet!

Teeth: We are now in the 4 teeth fan club.  We broke through 2 on the top this month including the front right & the one just to the right of that one. These seemed to be little harder than the middle bottom two that came in at 6 months.  So, teethers, rags, Tylenol, baby oragel it is and has been for a while now to help soothe that pain. 

Sleep: We are on almost all days getting 2 naps in still. There are a few days where she decides not to take one and on those days I call her "No Nap Nora"-usually it's because we are out running around or doing something to mess up her routine. She likes routine & so do I so I try to stick to it as much as possible. When she naps, its my break time! Sleep has been a little disrupted because of her new teeth, but that's all a part of the process!

Personality: This is showing more and more.  She is full of laughs & giggles and loves exploring the house-well her portion of the house (see picture below).  She thinks she is funny when she does something she knows she shouldn't be doing & it's hard for me not to laugh at her! She looks at me like "hmm...look what I'm doing..." gives a cute little laugh and continues doing what she's not supposed to do...like playing with the gate, the dog bowl, the night light, etc. 

I could go on and on, but I'll spare you the million words about this past month...here are some pictures. 

Loves Uncle Alex now!

Saying bye to the Dimitt's who visited NYE!

Doing her hair with my blow dryer...always into something!

The Mommarazzi is on the loose again...it was warmer out & I just love that coat.

Two things I love about this pic: #1 her love for her baby doll, #2 I finally got a picture with her tongue out...she does this all the time (thanks to the Standeford/Waltz side in her)

Baby Gate $100...psshh...look what my mom does to me for FREE!

10 Month Photo shoot...she ate my sign!

And..I couldn't get a picture with her looking at the camera to save my life!

Nora {9 Months}

It's almost Christmas & we have a 9 month old cruiser on our hands.  (Crazy to think I was pregnant last Christmas & not ever wearing a coat) She is actually crawling everywhere! She has pretty much given up the army crawl for the full blown knees & hands crawl.  She now knows she can get places faster this way. She is still trying to conquer balance.  She has been walking behind her grocery cart for some time now, but often lets go and stands on her own for a few seconds before falling on her bottom.  It may be a while longer before she takes her first step alone, but she is brave and fast so when she does she'll be off causing trouble!

She talks ALOT, but primarily baby talk.  She says Da-da and has for a few months now.  She says Na-na-na-na...which I'm pretty sure she means Ma-ma.  She usually says it when shes crawling toward me or reaching for me. 

We are venturing off into the land of finger foods.  I was hesitant to start, but she is definitely ready and wants to feed herself.  She basically denies pureed foods-I haven't made any more baby food since the first time I did back in October.  Turkey, roast beef, carrots, peas, potatoes, green beans, apples, pears, Cheerios, and bananas are some of the foods she likes to pick up and eat.  I am still nursing her exclusively, but we've had to pull from the freezer a few times because she wanted more than I produced.  We have 3 more months to go & my goal of 1 year is complete & not as hard as I thought it would be. 

9 Month Well Check Stats:
-Weight: 18 lbs. 6 oz. (53%)
-Length: 28.5 inches (80%)
-Head Circumference: 17 3/4 (82%)

Her growth has slowed overall, but looking at the entire 9 months she has been riding the 50% line in length for weight.  Doctor says she was born a "BIG" baby, but she wasn't supposed to be a big baby!  Her cousin, Hunter, who is 7 months old is now longer than her & I think he weighs more than she does too. It didn't take too long for him to catch up.

Favorite Things this Month:
-pulling Mommy's glasses off
-cuddling stuffed animals or baby dolls
-waving "hi" to the mirror & pictures of herself throughout the house
-chewing on the TV remote
-feeding her self; she has denied pureed foods for the last few days.
-peek-a-boo
-bath time with toys
-singing with Mommy
-cinnamon on all foods
-giving Mommy kisses

Here are some (read ALOT) Mommarazzi pics of the past month:

New Tricks

With Jersey Girl

Helping Mom with the laundry

Seeing the horses at Papaws house for the first time with Daddy

Lovin on her baby dolls

Making cookies with Mom

Playing dress up

Waiting for Daddy to get home

Cousin Isabella came to visit

Side notes: I realize this is a little late...but better late than never.  Also, there is a trend in leg warmers this time of the year for a couple reasons 1) they are so darn cute & 2) Nora's pants might be a tad too short for her longer legs and it helps to do what they are meant to do...keep her legs warm!

How She Grows!

As we progress, it gets more difficult to get the month sign in the picture where she's sitting patiently, smiling, and not falling/crawling off the chair! These are our best efforts for capturing her growth.  She doesn't even look like the same baby in some of the pictures.  The 1 month picture looks most out of place, but she was so little.  I think her look is here to stay with minimal changes to come.