Norah Grows: 4 months; and Mama goes back to work

My sweet baby, you will be 4 months old on Thursday, which is my first day to return to work after these glorious months home being your mama, exclusively.  I cannot put my gratitude for this time into words, but know that in just these few short months I have grown more as a human being because of watching your life begin in front of my eyes.  You are taking on your own characteristics and beginning to become the little person you are destined to be, and it's amazing to watch.  While I feel that your Daddy and I choose to do lots of things regarding how we will raise you that I hope will help you grow into an honest, caring, kind person, you will also carry your own spark and I hope that we can just help you ignite it when you are ready, and remind you about who you are if your flame falters someday.

I am going to miss these precious hours with you so fiercely while I'm away at work, but I do feel comfort in knowing that you will be spending special days with your grandparents and your Daddy, and those will become irreplaceable memories for you, too.  I want you to know that you are always surrounded by family who loves you, and I hope that this time will be the foundation for that.  As hard as I anticipate it will be on me to be working full time, I hope that it is a piece of cake for you!

At 4 months, you are getting stronger and stronger every day, and have started to work on sitting up.  You still definitely need full support to do so, but you are much more stable and your abdominal muscles are getting stronger every day.  You are starting to have much better dexterity when reaching for toys and pulling things you want towards your mouth.  You can grasp objects with your hands, you love to reach out and grab the toys on the mobile over your swing or the toy bar over your carseat.  You have found your toes, and pull them up to your mouth and suck on them whenever you can! Daddy thinks this is especially funny!

You have the brightest eyes, and they are still blue as can be! I love the way they light up when one of us gets you to smile :) You still LOVE the bath, too! Sometimes, we even take your tub outside and let you have a bath on the deck!

You make such silly faces sometimes, and you get us all to laugh all the time! You are starting to giggle yourself, and we can usually get you going with a round of peek-a-boo or some silly dance moves.  It's really fun to see you so happy.

The drooling...oh the drooling.  You are a full fledged drool monster lately, but still no teeth. It's early and we don't expect any to show up super soon, but you are in serious bib-mode now, or else we have to change your outfit several times a day! You are constantly putting your fingers, or ours, in your mouth, and everything has a slightly sticky sensation around here from all the slobber! 

Notice...the drool.

Eying those fingers to chew on! 

 You enjoy the water, and we've had a few fun beach days and pool days this summer.  You are a little sun-baby, and I hope you take after your Daddy and don't burn like a lobster like Mama as you get older! 

Fuller Pool with Mama and Daddy

Proud Daddy with his girl at Fuller

Always checking out the world around you! And, still rocking the baby-hawk! 

I am so enjoying every minute of being your mama, sweet baby Norah.  Happy 4th Month in this world!

First Summer Vacation

We took Norah on her very first summer vacation last week to the Upper Peninsula of MI.  Mark, Tryn, Liam, Matt, Norah and I, plus 2 dogs and a boatload of gear made the trek up over the bridge and into a teeny town east of St. Ignace called Hessel.  We had a small 2 bedroom cabin on a bay in Lake Huron, and although the accommodations were somewhat meager, it ended up being a great place to stay for the week.  We played lots of family games, took a few day trips to surrounding area attractions (Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls) and all of us enjoyed relaxing, swimming, reading and spending time together.  The photos do a better job of recapping the week, so without further ado, here you go! 

Bonzer and Lainey loving the lake - both dogs were pretty much wet all week long!

Norah's first Great Lake dip - just the toes, as it was a little chilly the first day

Tiny toes!

With Daddy in the cabin

Sleepin - check out the sweet sofa! 

Hessel Marina at sunset

Mark, Liam and Tryn on the Mackinac Ferry

Norah's first ferry ride - clearly thrilled

Beautiful view at Arch Rock

Arch Rock

Hanging with Grandpa

With a butterfly on her leg in the Butterfly House

On the ferry to leave the island, overlooking the beautiful marina

Tahquamenon Falls - Upper Falls.  She was mesmerized by the sound of the falls! 

Upper Falls

Swimming with Daddy

Lainey's in heaven! 

Beach babe

The pier

Our first road trip was mostly a success - with the exception being Norah is no longer a fan of riding in the car and has taken to sharing her honest opinion about it with us as long as she's buckled in her seat.  And Lainey is distressed about rumble strips in construction zones (that's putting it mildly) and at one point catapulted herself from the front seat into the backseat and would.not.budge.  So I spent a fair portion of the drive home either with Lainey on my lap in the backseat, or hunched over Norah's carseat to nurse her so we didn't have to stop and prolong the trip, or pumping while speeding down the highway so that I could give her a bottle and remain safely seatbelted myself - now there's a picture I spared you!  All in all, we did pretty well though, and amazingly packed everything we needed to survive for a week with a dog, a baby, and ourselves into the CR-V (no one really needs to see out the rear window, right?).    It was a trial run for our much longer road trip to upstate NY this fall for my dear friend Aidan's wedding...minus the dog. I hope by the time Norah is 6 months old she will be doing better in the carseat...or we're in for a lovely ride.

To everything, turn turn turn, There is a season, turn turn turn

It's always about this point in the summer when I begin my yearly longing for fall.  Don't get me wrong, living in Michigan I have come to appreciate the fact that we get to experience the fullest of each season, because I know that in about 5 months we will be buried in snow and I'll be cursing the difficulties of bundling up a baby to go from front door to car, and recalling the ease with which we bounded out of the house in nothing but onesie several months prior.  But, I'm an autumn girl at heart.  Several weeks now of 80-90 degree temps and about equal humidity has me pining for the crisp 60s and even 70s we often get in September and October - jeans and sweater weather, baby! I am already excited about the adorable photo ops that fall presents with a baby - pumpkins! And leaves! The Dexter Cider Mill! Don't even get me started about Halloween! Can't wait to get her dressed in some cutie butt jeans, throw her adorable lil pumpkin hat on her head, and get out to enjoy my favorite season with her. This mama is looking forward to some cinnamon sugar donuts and fresh (unpasteurized this year!) apple cider, hot tea, pumpkin bread, chili...and let's hear it for tailgating food! Football starts in almost a month, and I'm excited to watch Michigan football this year under Brady Hoke...Go Blue!

I got so excited about fall's impending arrival today that I made a batch of mini pumpkin muffins for breakfast - you can eat pumpkin any month of the year, it turns out! I followed this recipe today, and I think it's a keeper! Quick Bread Pumpkin Muffins

All the right spices to make this kitchen smell like it's October! (Even if it is 87 degrees outside at 11:00 AM)

Fresh from the oven, hot, fluffy and delicious! 

And some more on a plate this time, with some coffee

Getting fired up for football with my Alma Mater mug!

Norah's been a rolling-over machine the past few days - here she is proud of her little self (and possibly with some breakfast on her chin):

So big in her saucer!

Of course, I'm not bidding August a fast farewell, because it's my last full month home with Norah.  I'm still very much looking forward to vacation next week, and more days swimming in Grandpa's pool, and hopefully a decent August harvest from our little garden (at least the tomatoes seem to be growing, and basil OMG the basil, and the squash plants at least look good, but so far no veggies to be seen on them).  

Swimming at Grandpa's - she looks unsure, but she did love it! 

This week I have to be more efficient than my usual self at following through on my to-do lists - laundry,   packing, last minute errand running for vacation.  I'm already overwhelmed at the amount of things Norah is going to require for a week long trip, and I'm not sure how all 3 of us plus Lainey are going to fit in the car around it, but we'll see! An adventure to be sure :)

Norah Grows: 3 Months!

My little girl, you are already 3 months old! I knew that this time with you over the summer was going to pass quickly, but I couldn't have imagined just how much you have grown and changed in what seems like the blink of an eye.  I know parents the world over will tell any new mother and father to enjoy all the moments, even the sleep deprived madness moments, because "they grow so fast" and "before you know it she'll be getting her driver's license" and  "mine used to look like that...now she's in college".  I know, I know, I'm getting ahead of myself, but really, I am amazed at the ways you have changed before my eyes.

3 Months Old! 

At 3 months, you are able to fully hold your head up and look around any chance you get...practically unless you are sleeping, you are scoping out the scenery and taking in the world in giant gulps.  You are able to sit upright in the "Bumbo" all by yourself, which is a fabulous new discovery because I think it makes you feel much more a part of what's going on than lying flat on your back somewhere.

First time in the Bumbo, checking it out.  Love your chubby arms!

You have discovered that your hands can actually hold toys that you are interested in, and you spend long stretches examining new and exciting toys, bringing them to your mouth, turning them over, shaking them and most likely, eventually whacking yourself in the face with them!

Hey Mama, just reading my book! 

Surprised yourself with the crinkly noises

Flipping pages

I think you have entered into some degree of teething territory.  You are a drool factory, and your pudgy little hands are constantly in your mouth lately.  A few times a day, it seems like you get little shooting pains that make you cry out in a different way than your usual "I'm hungry" or "I'm tired" cries.  It's so hard to always know what is going on, but we have tried the frozen teethers and they seem to help sometimes, and other times, just snuggling or nursing helps a little.  Every now and then though, we've resorted to the Tylenol when it seems like you are just out of sorts and nothing else will do.  Hopefully you aren't in too much discomfort, but I know this pre-teething stage can last for months before we see any actual choppers.  It's hard for me to imagine what your sweet smile will look like with teeth, because we've gotten so used to it without any! I have no doubt we will continue to think it's the sweetest smile around though :)

Bright eyes! I love your crazy Alfafa Sprout hair, too :)  

Chewing on those fingers! 

Your hair seems to be changing shades a little bit, too.  What was initially a thick cap of dark brown hair when you were born has thinned and lightened, and the hair coming in underneath it all is golden blonde! Your eyebrows have a light reddish brown tint to them, and we are so interested to see what color your hair and eyes will eventually become.  Your Daddy was blonde as a little boy, but his hair grew darker over time.  Your mama has had dark brown hair just like you since the day she was born, too.  Your eyes are still true blue, but every now and then depending on the light, they seem like they might be changing and getting lighter, too.   

In your exer-saucer, reaching for toys with intent

Tummy time - a typical expression

You are getting better and better at rolling over, too.  You are now pretty adept at the back-to-belly roll, but still aren't doing it on auto-pilot just yet.  Don't think you aren't mobile, though! You are a master of scooching, and can shimmy and wiggle yourself around the floor/bed/changing table in a matter of seconds.  Gone are the days of leaving you somewhere unattended! This is your new move, today:

Downward facing dog?

Whatchoo lookin' at, Willis?

Our daily routine is getting somewhat more predictable these days, as well.  You go to bed between 9:30-11:00 at night, and sleep until around 2:00-3:00 AM for your first feeding.  Usually, you wake up again around 5:00 AM to eat, and go back to sleep until 8 or 8:30.  Then we start the day and boy are you happy when you wake up fully!! Mornings are the best time of the day for you, and you just giggle and smile and enjoy playing wherever you are.  You will usually take a 30-40 minute nap around 10:00 or so, and another around noon.  Then, it's hard to tell when your longer afternoon nap will be depending on what we've done that day. Often, it's around 2:30 or 3, and sometimes if you sleep in the car while we're driving around doing errands or sleep on my chest in your carrier, you will sleep for up to 2 hours.  Other days, though, it's hit or miss and just another 30 minutes.  Basically, you still sleep sort of whenever you want, and sometimes only for a short little snooze after nursing and you're ready to play again.  I'd like to get you onto a bit more scheduled sleeping routine in the next month before I go back to work, but we'll see if you are as into that plan as I am :).

Mama has a few nicknames for you, and as is the case with most nicknames, who knows how they evolved, but some don't really make any sense! Most often, if I don't call you Norah, it's Toots or Tooties.  We call you Sister, Girlfriend, Boo, Scooby.  Norabel, Bella, and Norah-boo are frequently used, too.  I hope you learn your true name before any of these! 

I have one more month home with you, and we are taking a vacation with Grandpa Smith and Tryn and Liam to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a week.   I am really looking forward to this trip, and I hope that you do well in the car all the way up there and over the bridge! (You'll do better with the bridge than mama, no doubt.)  After we get back, I will have 2 weeks to mentally and physically prepare for returning to work after 5 whole months off...I'm sure I will never really feel ready to go back and leave you 5 days a week, but such is life.  I have truly cherished this time home with you, and I know that working full time is something I have to do in order to continue to provide you with the things in life I want you to have.  I hope that you always know how much I love you, and how special every minute I spend with you is to me.  That will never change, even when I'm working 40 hours each week.  At least I know that when I'm away, you will be with Daddy, Grandma or Grandpa, and those days will be special for you, too.  

Mama loves you more every day, my little Tooties :)