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.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Norah June: 15 Months

I want to periodically do little updates on my little, they just grow so quickly these first few years!  I'm not making any promises to be consistent, but I love looking back and reading about milestones...and of course PICTURES.



Norah June had her 15 month wellness check up and she was right on track!  Weight 24lbs (76 percentile) and 29 inches (26 percentile), she grew almost two inches taller in the last 3 months!  She's definitely leaning out since she started walking.

Yes my baby is WALKING!  She started officially walking June 30 at 14 months old, one evening after dinner quite literally just stood up (which she'd been doing for about a week straight) but then drew her legs in closer and took steps!  My husband and I were in complete shock.  We didn't know quite what to expect since Norah is our first baby, but what we saw was incredible.  It brought tears to our eyes, and we were so happy to see it together.  One of our best moments for sure.


Big Walker!

Her hair is SO long!  It's almost ponytail length.  We have to put it up in top knots or clip it back because it's always in her eyes.  Her hair is still blonde, thick and curls when it's wet.  Her sweet big bold beautiful eyes are still Daddy's blue, and they're our favorite!  It's the one trait that we both hoped our children would inherit from their Daddy, and we can successfully confirm her eyes are staying blue!  She's one lucky gal.  She's in 18 month clothes, but can still squeeze in 12 month onesies since she's not really tall yet.

She's eating food like a champ, but she can be fickle at times.  One day she'll like guacamole, the next nope!  She loves cheese, yogurt, chicken, guacamole, oatmeal, bananas, goat milk, mac n cheese and spaghetti.  We just recently moved her to a booster seat (since we finally cleaned out the garage and found it!).  She loves it and enjoys sitting at the table with the big people.



We are still breastfeeding, crazy.  Just crazy.  I NEVER thought we'd still be at it at this point.  Norah loves it, asks for it politely by signing "milk" and doesn't throw a fit if I say no.  She nurses 3-4 times a day, and it's really not a burden or anything.  I did just recently wean myself off pumping at lunch if we aren't together, so that's a huge step for me.  I think I can FINALLY say goodbye to my pump for the most part.  We don't get opportunities for adult only weekends so we haven't needed to wean her completely yet.  I know I don't want to be pregnant and breastfeeding, but I'm not entirely sure on when she'll wean herself off.  I feel maybe around the holidays...but we shall see.


That smile :)

She's napping once a day for about 1.5-2 hours.  She wakes up at night periodically, but we allow her to soothe herself back to sleep.  She usually goes back down within 15-30 minutes while my husband and I lay there awake holding our breathes haha.  Occasionally I'll wip out the secret weapon to put her back to sleep, but it's rare these days.  She naps on a cot now at daycare, pretty impressive!  I need to learn their secrets.

Norah is just learning and picking up things at such a rapid pace.  It really astounds my husband and I constantly.  Again, this is our first baby so this is all so new to us, but we're enjoying the hell out of it.  She so sweetly signs "more" but uses her fingertips AND says "more" (sounds like "ma").  She signs more for food, tickles, spins, books and just about anything.  She signs for "water" too which is a huge help.  We're working on "help" but it's a complex concept so we don't expect her to get it soon.  She nods her head yes when we ask something and she wants it.  So funny!  She can say...Mama, Dada, Bubba (what we call Zeus), More, Cheese, Hey, Hi, Kiki (cats), Yucky and Uh Oh (when she drops things).

When we ask, she can point to her head, eye and shoes.  She gives high fives, blows kisses, waves goodbye to everyone, gives closed mouth kisses (huge upgrade from her open mouth ones), and still barks like a dog when she spots dogs out and about.

She loves her reading chair, "reading her books", throwing balls and retrieving them (playing fetch with herself), dancing to any music, crawling into cabinets, crawling up stairs, brushing her teeth and hair and wearing her shoes.  She really enjoys the water and shows no fear.  We go to the local splash pad weekly where she just screams in delight and runs crazy.  She took swim classes too this summer and just loved it everytime.  She learned to submerge and hold her breathe, kick her feet and climb out of the pool (assisted).  She's our little fish for sure.

She pretends to talk on phones, pats her baby dolls on the back, stomps her foot to music and just started to run.  She really is just so much fun to watch and see what new things she can do.


Talking on her phone

Naked Norah booty





Loves the splash pad

Reading in her favorite chair

Loves this car!


Piano Diva




She really has the most amazing personality.  She's so outgoing, adventurous, charismatic and strong.  She has a budding sweet side too.  She loves her hugs and kisses, lays her head on our chest to snuggle all the time, and just gives the softest touches.  She's really the best of both worlds.  We can't wait to see her personality further develop and watch our sweet toddler grow and grow!  Being parents is just the best. Period.




Tuesday, August 9, 2016

The Shellitos Say I Do

We had the amazing honor of seeing my baby brother marry just last weekend to his high school sweet heart!  They asked me to take pictures of their brief intimate ceremony, and how could I say no!?  We really love Michelle and have for years.  We've considered her family long before these vows were spoken, but nonetheless we're SO incredibly excited to add one more to our crazy family!

Enjoy a brief look into their special day, when they became Mr. and Mrs. Shellito.

August 2, 2016

Seeing the bride!


She styled her own hair, so pretty!

Last minute styling


Norah June is ready to see her Uncle get hitched!


Before the vows I got some quick family pictures.  I love this part of weddings, having the family come all together.  These days with schedules, busy families and long distances it's rare to get everyone together.  When we do, I like to document it.














Just a few of the bride and groom before they make it official!!











She's beautiful!!!

Wooden flower bouquet





The guests were anxious and ready to see these two tie the knot!









Time for their lifelong vows....
















Now just have to sign the dotted line and it's official!










Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Shellito! May this day be just the beginning of the most wonderful adventure you'll ever take together.  We love you two SO much!