I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness and to have the patience that love demands, to speak when words are needed and to share the silence when they are not and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Norah's First Christmas

Christmas time is so special to my husband and I.  It's the ONLY holiday we've never been apart for.  How is that even possible?!  We've now shared 8 Christmases together, but this one was by far one of the best.  We stayed here in Florida, and my husband couldn't stop saying how he loved that part the most.  We didn't have to divide time between 4 different stops, sit in a car for hours traveling, pack suitcases and try to please everyone.  Next year will bring new traditions, and we're so excited to include our extended family in our holiday plans, but with that said we really valued this last Christmas on our own and especially our first with our daughter.


Christmas 2008


Christmas Eve started with all four of us (Zeus included) dog piled in the bed, cooing, laughing and thinking back on last year's Eve.  It's hard for us to believe this time last year we found out our McBaby was a girl!  Now we have the most beautiful, healthy, vivacious, personality to the brim little girl to call our own.



Christmas Eve 2014



We baked cookies for Santa, wrapped presents, watched Christmas movies, and even read "The Night Before Christmas."





"More!" 









Finally time to put the cookies and cheese out for Santa and Santa Mouse!  We know she's too little yet to comprehend these traditions, but it just tickles us to be able to start these with her.







Every year we decorate with Christmas pictures of years past...it's my favorite Christmas decor.




Christmas Morning!!!




Can't wait to bike in Tulsa with this!

Not too interested in presents this year!




I had Kit a ring made with Norah's first curl while her hair was still dark brown!

Norah and her stocking

Preferred the box better


Happy buried in Christmas wrappings



Bubble bread

Christmas cereal


Ended the day with our traditional Christmas Day walk on Mexico Beach.



Norah June was truly the reason for our season.  We didn't go crazy with presents.  We didn't spend a lot of money, but what we did spend was time together.  We made wonderful memories, gained a couple pounds or two, developed more laugh lines and really had the best Christmas ever thanks to our sweet Norah.  We hope we can always remember what's important around this crazy busy time of year.  We hope to always keep things simple, in perspective and remember to have fun.  We still didn't incorporate everything we wanted to this year as far as traditions go, but there's always next year.  Next year will be CRAZY, but we're ready.  It's hard to imagine an 18 month old Norah walking around opening presents on her own.

Merry First Christmas Norah June!

Monday, December 7, 2015

Norah June: 7 Months Old







Weight and Height: 19lbs  14oz and 26 inches long

Eyes and Hair: Bright blue eyes and long blonde hair

Diapers: Size 3

Clothes: 6 (getting tight around the middle), 6-9 months

Eating: BF 5-6 times and eating one solid meal a day

Sleeping: 9-12 hours straight through

She's on that downhill slide to toddler hood now!  This month she was definitely more moody at times, but she was still a joy to be around.

She loves to shake her head no and smile.  We know she doesn't comprehend what it means yet, but it sets her up for some funny jokes and conversations.  She knows it gets a laugh from us, so she continues to play along.  She throws her toys across the room, fetch Mom!  Her babysitter claimed she saw her scoot on her butt last week, but I haven't seen it yet.  She did grab on to my spaghetti straps and pull herself up last week.  I thought she'd crawl before pulling up, but I was wrong!

This month we introduced solids!  She had her first bite at 6.5 months.  She was more than ready at 5 months, but Daddy really wanted to be there to see her reaction.  I can't blame him, so I held off until he visited TG weekend.  She loved it.  She gets spoon fed at daycare once a day, then I let her feed herself foods she can manage here at home.  She's doing really well with the spoon feeds.  She's nibbled on frozen gluten free waffles, carrot sticks, bell pepper, and even sucked on an oreo.  She's still BFing like a boss, and even gained 2.5 lbs this month...Geez!  My girl loves to eat.




This crazy kid continues to sleep through the night like a boss.  She's been on this streak now since she was 3 weeks old.  I know we're luckier than most, and I can't tell her enough how much I appreciate it.  I've hauled her across the country, flown late at night, kept her out past her bedtime and she still continues to be an amazing sleeper.  We no longer swaddler her middle anymore.  Now she just wears the sleeping bag since we can't have blankets yet for another 6 months. You're amazing Miss Norah June!





We celebrated her first Thanksgiving this month!  The best part was having Dad home.


Norah's First Thanksgiving!


She also ran her first 5k and 10k.  This girl is killing it fitness wise!


First 5K

It was a hit!

Moving up to a 10K


Now for my favorite pictures this month:




First time in panty hose

Out with Mom on Veteran's Day for some free grub

Feet crossed lady like


6 month check up!

Shots, boo!

She loves her furbrother



Worst blow out ever.

HaPpY!




Standing at daycare







First Nutcracker Ballet





Future book worm

Date with Daddy


Study buddies


Norah's first tree


Grandpa Mike face


Thick hair!




First visit with Santa







I'm savoring this time when she just sits on the blanket all by herself and plays.  I know she's on the verge of crawling.  I wish I could just freeze this time in her life.  I LOVED six months.  She laughs, pulls my face in for kisses, plays peekaboo, reaches for me to pick her up and really loves her Mommy.  We just love her to pieces!