Waiting for Santa

Here are some pics that, although kind of yukky, show the true resilience of Nora. She is very tolerant of many things...one being her medicine. I fought and fought to not have an in home nebulizer, but I lost. She did a really good job at taking her medicine!

15 Months

Little Bit is already 15 months...well...a little past now since I've been a very bad blogger lately. She is growing right on track and the doc said she looked great!

She is 31 and 3/4" and 22lbs 11.5oz. That puts her in the 50-75th percentile on height and 50th percentile in weight. Regardless of the inches, pounds, ounces and percentiles she is absolutely perfect to us!!

Did I tell you we've had to implement time outs already. I thought it was terrible two's and three's...nobody mentioned anything about one's. The moral of the time outs is that we have a hitter. I guess I would choose a hitter over a biter...but seriously...15 months and it is already starting. YIKES. Although I have to say she's pretty cute when she's in trouble...I'll have to get pics soon.

And finally...we have found the kitties and love to love on them. The kitties simply find it irritating, but Nora is just being a sweet little sister to them that wants to pet and hug on them. She gets swatted on occasion, but I cannot fault the cats although you would think they just peed in her cheerios or something.

Night Night on Salem

Too Sweet

Salem is Over this Little Girl

Peed in Cheerio Face

Hand, Foot and Mouth

One would think those are the latest things she can point to. Well, although that is almost a true statement it is actually the disease we have been fighting this past week. Yes, Nora has been a little under the weather. And YES, Mommy and Daddy have been put through the ringer. About 2 weeks ago she was exposed to chicken pox. So when she started running a temp this past Friday morning (really Thursday night) we thought for sure it was her turn. So we waited...and waited...and waited. And still no pox.

Daycare mentioned this thing called Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Surely she didn't have that...there was nothing on her hands or feet. Well, oddly enough she started drooling. Almost spitting really. So Daddy and Mommy held a flashlight to her open mouth (which is a fight I might add) and low and behold our precious little monster had sores all over her mouth. Poor little baby! After a weekend of soy yogurt (because that is all she would eat) we took her to the doc to confirm that Mommy and Daddy did indeed have the correct diagnosis.

Thankfully as I write this tonight, the bright is back in her eyes and my Little Bit is feeling like her old self. Right down to the squinty eye...your in deep trouble Daddy...look she is now doing. This look is just something she shouldn't know how to do yet, but at the same time is really pretty funny. Sorry George, she is more like me every day! I'll try to get a picture of it.

So I hope all you Moms had a great Mother's Day...even though Nora was contagious and we had to stay at home, I had one of my best to date!!!! Happy Late Mothers Day!!!!

Already 9 Months

I cannot believe our Nora has been with us for 3/4's of a year already. Time flies. She sure has changed our lives...and we wouldn't have it any other way. We are beginning to try some finger foods. So far we have had bananas, green beans, and a baby biscuit (the COOKIE). We're having fun with it and I think she is enjoying it too. It is just hard to tell sometimes since the double ear infection, new teeth, and general discomfort seems to be winning over eating these past few days.




She is also starting to creep a little bit. She has been a star at moving in circles and backwards. Yes, I said circles...must be her daddy in her...hee hee. BUT we have finally starting moving forward. Nothing like a crawl, but she pulls herself along with her arms. She is going to have quite a set of biceps on her at this rate!

By the way, Little Bit's stats came in at 19lbs, 10oz and 28 1/2 inches (the 50-75 percentiles). Her size is very deceiving...you would think she was bigger when you check out her cheeks and thighs!

Another Milestone

Six months...I cannot believe six months already (well technically not for 2 more days). And everyday there is still something new.

She is perfectly proportionate although a little big for her age. Weighing in at 17lbs 12 oz, standing tall at 26 3/4 inches is the newest little girl in the land of the sitting. Yes...sitting...we have entered the world of sitting. Nothing to sitting in 60 seconds. And none of that tripod stuff...perfectly balanced on her own...until of course she realizes what she is doing and then quickly remembers she doesn't want to be exerting the effort all on her own so she falls down.

Rolling over, well, that is another story. We have mastered getting off our tummy...we can even do it in either direction. Getting onto her tummy...no way...I really think she can do it she just chooses not to. She never did enjoy tummy time so why is she going to purposely get there. I don't know where she gets her stubbornness!

Mommom and Papa are in town this week so Nora has been super spoiled. They are teaching her really bad habits that we thought we had broken as she is now blowing bubbles again CONSTANTLY! But she is also getting plenty of snuggles and books which makes up for them being such BAD influences...I guess!

Nora's First ER Visit

And this is a first I could do without...forever. Last night about 10:45pm, Miss N woke herself up with a cough. This is highly unusual...if she wakes up it is around 2am not 11pm. So I went to check on her and she sounded very wheezy. I brought her out and had George listen to her...didn't want to be that nervous first time mom...but he agreed that it sounded like she was having a hard time breathing. So we called the after hours number who had us call 911 since we thought it was breathing problems. By the time the ambulance came she sounded a little better so we opted to take her to the Emergency Room by ourselves.

Four hours later and too much torture on my little baby, we were on our way home with a diagnosis of early stages of pneumonia and croup. Nora screamed at some of the treatments (she has a breathing treatment, chest x-ray, nasal rinse and a shot), Mommy almost cried while she was having many of her treatments, Daddy was the one who had to do all the bad jobs (holding her down) but don't you know our Little Bit did so great and had a smile for most of the doctors and nurses. They all loved her and said she was the happiest baby they had seen all day!

So I guess this was our first of many eventful days (nights) with life with our daughter. I don't know why I am updating...we've only had 4 hours of sleep and should be napping since Nora is. Well...on the other hand, she just woke herself up sounding like a baby seal so I guess the nap will wait until next week.

PS - She weighed in at 17lbs, 4oz...say goodbye to the 3-6 months clothes. :-)

Show Off

We had our 4 month checkup and shots yesterday. Everything is right on track. I was telling some of Nora's milestones over the past month and mentioned she had rolled over but that she only did it one night and I hadn't seen her do it again. Well wouldn't you know she pulled out a flip from her tummy to her back right then and there. Amazing...little show off! And to top it off, she took her shots like a champ...the nurse said she was very very brave and I would have to agree!

Doc said we could start introducing fruits anytime this month and then veggies at 5 months. I finally had to ask why she "approves" the start of food so early compared to most docs. Simply she said that she feels kids really do enjoy eating and it doesn't hurt. Hmm...are doctors finally listening to what mothers have been saying for centuries? So off to the store we went and bought some bananas and pears. I think we are going to make the big introductions this weekend or next. The fruit really should be in between her first and second bottles in the morning which would fall at daycare and frankly I don't have the energy to translate this one! So we may try it out this weekend but really start it daily when she starts her new daycare in 2 weeks. Did I mention a new daycare?!?! I am so excited. I just couldn't deal with the communication barrier. I was lucky enough to find another place highly recommended that was in my price range. I wasn't sure for a bit I was going to have a choice in the matter. It broke my heart everyday to pick her up and not get any feedback. Not that I would have expected a 10 minute play by play, but to hear if she had a good day or was cranky would be great!

But as always I digress. Things are good. Nora is growing and amazing us more and more everyday. Who would have ever thought that a child taking out her paci and being able to put it back in her mouth would be so friggin' cool?!?!?!

And finally...she is a whopping 15lbs 8oz and 25 1/4 inches long. Her weight is still in the 90th percentile and her length isn't far behind falling in between the 75th and 90th. Least she is proportionate. Hee hee!

Speaking of 3 Months

We finally had her 3 month doctor's appointment (it was actually 3 months and one week...I know...I know...technicalities). The doctor told us we can start her on cereal at anytime now. I think mainly because she is a breastfed only baby and they don't get as much iron as formula babies. Since we are taking our first plane trip tomorrow, we may wait to try this until we get back home. No need to change up her routine more than we have to right?!?!

Anyway...her stats...14lbs 8oz (90th percentile), 24" (75th percentile). I forgot what exactly her head was but it was also in the 90th percentile. All that and bundled with cheeks you just want to pinch makes her a pretty special package!

And this is her latest trick...we have graduated from hands to just about anything she can hold to shove in her mouth. Seems a bit early for teeth, but she is sure loving to chew on things. Who knows?!?!

My How They Grow

Happy 2 months my sweet Nora! I cannot believe how quickly the days have gone. Some days, her first few days seem like a distant memory...I just hope I have those memories locked into my brain somewhere so I will never forget them.

Of course one memory I can forget is her getting her first round of shots. She was so happy...smiling and cooing at the nurse...then prick...scream...and crocodile tears. Poor little baby, but they are for your own good sunshine. Other than that, her checkup was a-ok. She weighs in at 12lbs 15oz and 22.5inches. The only thing is she has strict orders from her doctor to have more tummy time to work on those neck muscles.

Anyway, the shots have kicked her butt and now she is napping away!

Poor little legs all covered in bandaids.

Growing Like a Weed

Ms. Nora had her 5 week appointment. This was an easy one for both mom and baby...no shots, just a check up. All was great! She is already weighing in at 10lbs 7oz and grew a half inch (now 21.5in). It sounded like she grew a ton, but she is only in the 50-75th percentile in weight and 50th percent for length. I still cannot believe how much she has changed, grew, developed in 5 short weeks!!! She is now looking at you when you talk to her, smiling, watching things move if they are close to her head and even telling a story every now and again if you are listening! She's amazing...now if only we can figure out a nighttime schedule...ah...precious sleep...