11 Months!

11 Months Old??? HOW???

Wow!  Everyone told me to enjoy every minute because time with babies just FLIES by, but what they didn't tell me was that it flies by at jet-type, super-sonic speed!  Maybe it's because you're so busy learning, doing, cleaning, wiping, and feeding.  Or maybe it's just because you're having so much stinkin' fun that it breezes by like the weekends.  Either way, I all of a sudden wish there was just a pause button in life.  If there were, I would push it...now!  This is SUCH a fun stage with my sweet angel.  I feel like she honestly just likes me by the random slobbery kisses that I get quite often or the way she laughs so hard at me/with me non-stop.  She's very independent and will easily play by herself, but not too independent that mommy's begging her to come and play.  Here's what's happened in this past month:

• Walking has begun!  Not on her own just yet, but if pushing her favorite cart, you better get out of the way!
• Today she actually moved my hand off her bottle; apparently she now wants to hold it herself
• Signing "more please" and "all done" are now perfected...time to move on to bigger and better things
• Sharing!  They joy Norah has on her face when she's trying her best to get you to take (and EAT!) the half-chewed apple she's pulled from her mouth is priceless.  I can tell it brings her such joy to be able to share something with me.  Every morning the first thing she does when I go in to get her from her crib is to hand me her monkey (her monkey blanket to clarify:)  She literally will not let me pick her up unless I first receive my token of love!  Ahhh, no wonder I never want to leave in the mornings!  If only we were all so giving??? Anyways, let's move on...
• Foods-After I recently spent half a Sunday pureeing all of her veggies for the next month, Norah decided that she no longer will eat pureed food.  It's a thing of having to feed herself, so only solids will do.  Can I interest you in any liquid peas or sweet potatoes?
• Favorite word? "ut-oh!"  Non-stop!

As we draw close to Thanksgiving, I am so thankful that the times of sleepless nights and unexplained crying hours flew by, but would be ever so grateful if now time would just stand still.

"Happy 11-Month Birthday to my littlest friend!  You bring me more joy than I thought my heart was made for!" - Mommy

Copy Cat

My Little Shadow

Wow! The coolest, simplest thing happened today!  I was on the phone with mom, working out my legs, and having play-time with Norah (I used to think this was the definition of multi-tasking, but now feel like I could have easily been folding laundry at the same time..what was I thinking???)..anywho...so as I was holding on to the side of my lingerie chest doing my back-leg-kicks with my stretchy-leg-kicking band, I see Norah crawl over to the bureau and pull her little self up.  No big deal right?  She has been pulling up for a while now.  BUT THEN!  She begins kicking her little leg back mimicking me just perfectly.  Ok, so maybe it seems as though I've completely over-hyped this situation (me? no way:)  but to me, this was majorly monumental.  I know she's comprehending the Copy Cat Concept by repeating sounds that I make and dancing on-que, but I realized that she truly watches mommy, even when I don't intend for her to.  Immediately, reality sank in that for the next 18 + years, I will be this sweet little princess's closest example for much more that how to tone her thighs.  Right then and there I prayed that I would not let her or God down, but to try my very best to be an example for her to become the girl, friend, daughter, sister, future wife, and one day mother herself that I dream and am confident she will be.  

8 MONTHS

8 Months!
My goodness...how the time is flying by!  How is it that I'm just now writing this post and N is almost NINE months already?  Oh well, no need to fret...we've been busy playing, teaching, learning, feeding, changing, etc. etc, but mostly just falling more and more in love:)  But here I sit with a warm cup of coffee and will not get up until complete!

Let's reflect....

8 months + 1 week = N crawled for the first time!

Things that make her happy: Daddy, Weezie, food of any kind, keys (anything metal or shiny), phones, shoes, riding the "horsey" aka Poppy's back, pulling herself up, the pool, tags, bunny slippers, and baths

Things that make her not so happy: her car seat, changing her diaper, waiting for food, being hot, loud noises, us going in her room before she's ready for us (loves her independent time), and mommy talking on the phone during play time

Surprisingly: Currently wears 18-24 months clothes, had her first haircut, said "da-da"

Overall, this is a very easy time as far as scheduling and predictability.  Now that Norah is mobile, we definitely have to be more on our toes, but it's so exciting to see her explore the world around her on her own.  Happy 8 month birthday Norah!

6 Months!

Happy Half Birthday!
It's hard to believe that N is now 6 months old!  This age is just SO much fun...so much interaction!  We've worked really hard over the past six months to establish good habits and schedules, so now the's more time to spend really enjoying having her around.  We've settled in to our little routine of naps, the foods she eats, and the perfect way to fold her diaper.  We've learned the songs to sing to calm her down, her perfect sleeping temperature (yes it's true!), and that the sun will always wake her if not properly blocked out. We've discovered that she giggles non-stop when she's sleepy, that her belly doesn't like bananas and avocados, and that she's really good at feeding herself.  She's learned that she can now sit up by herself and that her most prized possessions are are books and one of her plaid shoes (can't explain it!), her 3' round blow-up pool (ends up being a make-shift "bath" most days, bubbles, sweet potatoes, her toes and her high-chair.  Happy half birthday sweet girl!  Excited for the next six months and all that they will bring.

Weaning
 So the MD's have informed me that I need to back off the nursing a bit.  Apparently, Norah is REALLY big (the size of an average 1 year old) and I, well, not so large, so it's really taking a toll on my body.  I've started sensing that she was needing more than I was producing anyways, so after many days of deliberation, I have finally come to terms with this whole idea of weaning with still nursing at night.  Why is this such a hard thing to wrap my brain around?  It seems like only yesterday that I was in tears while nursing, praying that it would be over soon, and asking for reminders daily of why "breast is best." Maybe it's because milk is the last thing Norah truly needs from me to grow, after 37.5 weeks safe in my belly.  Perhaps it's because of the way she looks up at me and plays with my hair that I'm afraid I'll miss.  The fact that we realized just how expensive formula was (approx. $30 every 5 days!) makes it a bit more discouraging.  Or maybe it's the guilt I feel thinking about how God blessed me with enough milk to feed a small daycare and then giving that up...who knows, but I know it's time.  Maybe I could have made it to my goal of a year if she wasn't such a porker, but I'm glad she is and I'm glad I did for the past 6 months.  When Josh gave her the bottle yesterday with half milk/half formula, she cried and refused it.  It took me still snuggling her in my arms to convince her to chug it. I'm not going to lie, a small part of me appreciated that response!  But with a few more tries, she's now used to the variety and I've started to focus on the fact that now Josh can experience the joy of feeding our sweet girl, I'm free to be out longer than two hours max, and I do get to see her sweet face while she drinks up.  So maybe weaning isn't just all about getting baby off boob; maybe it's also the first steps of weaning mommy to the idea of baby growing up!  Either way, it's a process.

Mothers' Day

Happy Mother's Day!!!

  "Men become daddy's upon birth, mommies are born upon conception"

Last year we told our families we were pregnant for Mothers' Day...I could have never imagined how different life would be by this year's holiday.  It's funny, I don't sit back and think of myself as a mother, but reflecting on today, I do realize how much the experience has taught me.  

Becoming a mommy has taught me true, true unconditional love, that (despite what I thought to be true) I actually can function on little or no sleep, and that motherly instincts are freakishly accurate if you'll just learn to trust them.  I've learned to change a diaper in under 30 seconds flat, to be completely refreshed just from a single "Norah smile", that sitting and "playing" is more important than the load of laundry needing to be folded, and the sense of being truly needed.  I finally "get" how much and how complete my mother loves me and most importantly, I've caught just a glimpse of just how much my Savior must care for me.  I can't fathom the thought of sending my sweet girl to die for the sins of others. WOW!  

Thank you to my grandmothers for the legacy you left, to my mother-in-law for the amazing man you raised, to my mom for the mom you are and the example you gave me, and thank you to Norah for making me feel that a beautiful piece of my life just began the day you were born.  I am so honored to be your mommy!

Happy mothers day to all!  

Easter!

Easter!
 It is one of my absolute favorite holidays!  I have realized that Easter is a day of traditions.  Growing up, I loved going shopping every year for that perfect Easter dress, dying eggs with my grandmother, the hunts, the candy, a visit from Peter Cotton Tail himself, and all of the decorations Mom would put up around the house.  Now, the "holiday" has a whole new meaning.  I am grateful for the time with family, a Savior that died and rose for ME, and a daughter to start all of those traditions over again with.  What traditions does your family have for Easter? 
  For the past five years, Mom and I have attended the spectacular Goddess Tea thrown by our dear friend (and my old boss) Sharon.  It's an amazing event filled with yummy food, beautiful decor, lovely ladies in big bonnets, and little G.I.T's (goddesses in training of course:) skipping around with their empty baskets just waiting for the big hunt to begin!  Last year, I was pregnant at the tea but had NO IDEA that this year I would have my own little G.I.T to dress up and hunt for eggs with!  It was SO much fun!

 Hunting for Eggs

 Then there was church....
I was looking SO forward to taking Norah to church for Easter!  Not only was it her first Easter Sunday, but her first time in church period!  

 Asleep on Daddy!

All in all, it was such a great weekend!  Next year at this time, Norah will have her own opinion about which dress she wears, hunt for her own eggs, and just the thought of it all makes me giddy!:)

Happy Happy Easter, Love The Dixons

3 months young

3 Months Already!
Ok NOW this is getting SO fun!  Norah seems so happy these days, is so much more interactive, and is getting more and more beautiful by the minute (I know I'm her mother, but seriously!).  Here are the latest happenings:
-In 9 month clothes!  What a porker:)
-She just found her hands the other day! Hysterical to watch
-Napping is going MUCH better, thank you Jesus!

-Teething has started- nothing popping through, but gums hurting and slobbering up a storm!

-The biggest change of all...Norah now sleeps in her own room in her crib!  

Sleeping through our afternoon walk

 3 month bday outfit

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 Finding her hands!

 Uh-oh! Tongue like daddy:)

We had our first official date night!

 

Lazy Sunday

Lazy Sunday

"Easy like a Sunday morning....."

-Lionel Richie               

 Blogging...finally!

 Bonding

 Catching Up

 Petting Weezie

Tummy Time

 Getting Sleepy

Hippie Chick

Reunited and it feels so good!

Road Trip!
It's been a while since my last post! Things have been super busy and we've been out of town. Josh had to go (torture I know!:) to Las Vegas for a week for work, so Norah and I hit the road to the big city of Mebane to stay with the fam. The last time we were home there was a turkey on the table and a bun in the oven! Let me just tell you that traveling with a newborn takes two days to pack and I began to understand why once hip adults turn in to minivan drivers quite often. There's the diaper pale, the 50 diapers, bathtub, floor gym, 20 outfits, pack-n-play, the car seat, bottles, etc. etc. Add to that the dog and a few things for yourself and you end up driving down the road looking like a hoarder. It was awesome though to bring my baby girl to my hometown to see where mommy grew up, where her grandparents live, and to show her off to "the locals." Norah went shopping, met friends and family, and spent some invaluable time with Mimi, Poppy, Nana, Papa, G.G. and Uncle Eric.

Morning with Mimi

Shopping spree @ Carters!

Morning Skype with Josh/Daddy

We had such a great time, but it was nice to get home and back together again. Picking up Josh at the airport, I had that same giddy feeling I used to get every time I'd get within 10 miles of Boone in college and had flashbacks of those amazing times together. Seeing Josh light up at the sight of finally seeing his little girl again, I then had visions of our future with many sweet times between the two of them. Past, present, and future..I am one blessed woman.

11 Weeks!

Where does the time go???  11WEEKS
SLEEP
Ok so this was monumental week for us...Norah slept through the night!!!  Until I had a baby, I could not even begin to imagine what a gift this really is!  It's amazing how much more patience you have, how much more creative you are during their wake times, and how much better you feel when you get, not only sleep, but consecutive sleep!  That's the key!  Last week she started sleeping 8 hours (7-3ish) then back to sleep and up again at 7.  Aghh, the beauty sleep was much needed for mommy!  BUT THEN...Wednesday night, she slept 11 hours without a peep...I woke up just to make sure she was alright.  OH HALLELUJAH!  Let's just hope this continues...all of the hard work with Babywise seems to be paying off.  

GROW
Current weight 13.3 lbs , Length 25" (extra long according to MD) 

PLAY
Talking up a storm now!   



 

 I love you sweet girl...I get more and more excited every day for all the fun memories we're going to make together! 

-Mommy

Happy Valentines Day!

I LOVE LOVE! It's the most amazing feeling, emotion, powerful thing on this earth. Josh first told me he loved me 8 years ago on this day. It's the day I always get a love letter from my dad...I think I have every one he's ever given me. And it's a day when we can hopefully say that we didn't miss an opportunity to tell those close to use how special they really are! This year had an additional meaning...Today Norah was officially 2 months old! Josh took the day off to spend with Norah and I. This year, instead of riding around hand-in-hand, daddy drove us around in the back seat. Instead of getting a reservation at a nice restaurant, we made out favorite dinner in-home after Norah's bedtime. And instead me worrying about what cute outfit I'd wear out to that dinner, we couldn't wait to get our little lady dressed for the occasion. Somehow with all of those changes, it felt as though it was our most romantically intimate, positively amazing February 14th to date. Norah received her first love letter from her daddy, a tradition one day she will come to appreciate more than he can ever imagine. She also received 8 others! 8! She is definitely loved.

We Love You Sweet Girl...
You'll always have at least two Valentines


"Thank you Josh for still making me feel so special on this day! I'm so blessed to have you as my husband, and for our little girl to call you her daddy"
-Me

GILT!

G.I.L.T!
Ok, so throughout my pregnancy I had many guilty pleasures ...IKEA ice cream! Don't ask, just buy! and only $1...anyways, back to what I was saying...I had many guilty pleasures, now as a new mom, I just have guilt! I have realized that as a new mom, you are CONSTANTLY second guessing yourself or feeling guilty on a daily basis for having failed your child in some way. I have worn many hats in life- daughter, designer, wife, friend, etc- but "mom" is a whole new world! After talking with several N.M.O.T.B (New Moms on the Block as I refer to us:) I am at least comforted by the fact that I am not alone in this feeling. I know this may sound very dramatic if you are not a mom, but it comes from a combination of fresh hormones and a love for your child that is the deepest earthly love you've ever know.

Examples:

Got out of the shower today only to hear Norah crying as she had woken up VERY early from a nap. Instead of rationalizing the fact that I was doing her a favor by bathing myself, I felt terrible knowing that she had been laying there sobbing as I was letting Calgon take me away.
Vertic? GUILTY

We are following the BabyWise philosophy of "training" Norah. According to BabyWise and my pediatrician, Norah should be having only approximately 45 minutes to an hour of awake periods at a time before going down for a nap. They say it prevents overstimulation (I'm learning the lingo), aka fussiness, as their nervous systems go in to overload. Well I could not for the life of me figure out why Norah would get so moody towards the end of her awake times. THEN, a good friend of mine just happens to inform me that feeding time (which happens immediately prior to awake time) should be INCLUDED with the awake time. So here I am trying to figure out why she's cranky. Of course she is! She's exhausted
GUILTY AGAIN-Sorry Norah...I promise to be better:)

These are just two samplings of feelings of failure that I've experienced so far...and she's only 5 weeks old! BUT, I got really good advice from a dear friend of mine. Hopefully this will help any of you that may experience this as well. Two things:
1. The fact that you even feel guilt is proof that you ARE a good mom. It shows how passionate you are about this role and how much you care.
2. We don't have as much power as we think we do to mess it all up...they're still God's little people and He'll work it all out anyways.

This is what I'll choose to believe anyways:)

I think these feelings of inadequacy hold true for women in general! We're never pretty enough, in shape enough, too tan, too pasty. We're either too insecure or overly confident/vain. We desire to be the Ephesian 5 wife, but to have our voices heard as well. We want to be seen as a sweet "nice girl" but be sexy at the same time. etc.etc.etc. We are complex creatures to say the least, but isn't that what keeps us interesting after all? When will we give ourselves some GRACE, accept that we're exactly as we're meant to be, and start to seeing ourselves just as God sees us? This is my solemn vow to try to be this example for Norah....Pray for me:)

Snorah strikes again

Snorah Strikes Again....

Cinco Semanas!

5 Weeks Already!...

This week's changes:

1. SMILING, SMILING, SMILING!
2. More (shall we call it) "passionate" crying 
3. 10 lbs (mostly in her cheeks:)
4. Following us with her eyes - makes you feel super special and important!
5. Staying awake during feedings! No more stripping, tickling, or wetting her to awaken:)
6. Hair is thickening, eyes are "blue-ing", and side burns are fading (oh hallelujah!:)

Smiling at Mommy

Guess who dressed me?

Pretty in White 

Wearing my "Peanut" shirt from Poppy

 

Paparazzi!

 First Photos...
Recently, I had the privileged of working with one of my clients, Michele Manning
in designing her photography studio.  I was able to see alot of Michele's beautiful work and knew I wanted her to do Norah's newborn photos.  Michele came out to our house and spent a few hours hanging out with us while we listened to Adele, captured great images, and had such a relaxing, enjoyable experience with our 10-day-old!  

Needless to say, we both cried at the viewing!

  Click Here To See Slideshow

Looking Back At All The Preparation....
I now know why the good Lord gives us 9 months to prepare for a baby...you need it!  It's almost like planning for another wedding.  It always seemed that there was a doctors appointment to go to, something to buy, a class to attend, something to buy, a place to be, something to buy:), or a book that needed to be read.  Don't get me wrong, we loved, loved every minute of it, but it just blew my mind how much was involved.  Now, I'm sure the perfectionist in me definitely overcomplicated this quite a bit, but this was our first baby after all (sorry Weez!) AND my first little girl.  Being the Dave followers that we are, we were committed to staying on a budget while getting everything that we needed.  Our friends told us about this huge "baby sale" that is held in Charlotte twice a year at a local church.  We were told they had everything you could ever need for a baby at crazy low prices...we were sold!  Here was the deal though...they would start handing your required ticket for admission at 8:00 a.m. and would give them out in order of arrival in line.  This was crucial because they only let in a certain number of people at a time and all of the "goods" apparently went fast!  So what does Josh do?  He is the first one there...at 4:00 IN THE MORNING.  I was early in my pregnancy here so was needing ALOT of sleep just to function, so promised to meet him in a few hours.  When I arrived, I found him there, proudly sitting in his chair, the only dad in line...period.  I fell in love all over!  This sale was totally worth it too!  We got lots of clothes, two car seats and bases, a NEW breast pump, and several other items all for about $160!  We'll definitely do the sale again!

Then there was the nursery....

This is one room that I put my heart in to!  Josh would laugh when I would ask, "do you think she would like this?"  He would remind me, "we're still not even 100% sure that it's a she."

Mimi painted the room

SW7081 Sensuous Gray

Putting together the pieces....
 

 

The three of us spent forever putting this together, only to realize it didn't work...returned:(

 

Her storage piece from Ikea took us 6 hours to put together! It had SO many pieces!  Weezie supervised...

Getting creative....

Josh, Dad, and David built a custom changing station for lots of Norah's things.  The room was small so we had to get creative with space.  I designed the space by ripping off the existing closet doors and maximizing the interior, then gave the boys the specs and they made my vision come to life!

 All of the prep, planning, and prayers all paid off.  Now we are able to focus our attention on what's most important, our little Snorah, and not be distracted with all of the other details~ I hope she likes it!