Snorah

How "Snorah" got her nickname....

Two Weeks Old!

Two Weeks Old!.......
So Norah has now been here for two weeks...it's so hard to believe. She's 8 lbs and growing so fast.  We're still learning her personality, cries, needs, and routines, but here are a few things we can count on...

Swaddling is great, but keep her hands out...she must be able to use them at all times
Sometimes she's feeling shy and wants her head buried and eyes covered- we must accommodate
She loves books, car rides, and long walks
Giggling in her sleep is a daily occurrence, though when she's awake she always has the most serious look on her face 
Dirty diapers don't bother her one bit...could this be a sign of potty training woes to come?

The past 14 days have just flown by and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to points of complete exhaustion and emotional/hormonal meltdowns, but at the same time, I've never felt so complete in my life!  It's truly amazing how much you can love your baby!  Norah can't speak to me, I can't even tell yet if her eyes are focusing on me, but having her presence in our home makes life so much richer.  I find myself already getting excited about taking her shopping, painting her nails, and watching Disney movies together, but I have promised myself that I will try not to rush any stage, but to pause to take in each and every moment that I have with her.  For now, we'll simply celebrate her two week milestone!


Happy birthday sweet girl:)
  

First bath

First Bath......
Norah LOVED her bath time!  She's just like her mom!  Weezie was supervising!

Posing

She's finally opening her eyes....

Josh + Norah

Dads and their daughters...

"Fathers, be good to your daughters. You are the god and the weight of her world."                                      -John Mayer

On her way home

Our little jet setter on her way home...

 The hospital discharged us 12.16 and we were so excited to get home!  

Home to Weezie (our beloved first-born... cockapoo that is), home to a warm fireplace, home where nurses, docs, etc. aren't knocking on your door every 20 minutes just as you have settled in to your twin hospital bed with your hubby and new baby.  Home where new grandparents are excitedly waiting to welcome you, where a nursery is awaiting you, and where the closet full of baby clothes you have been looking at for months are finally ready to be put to use.

Josh refused to drive over 45 mph, I sat next to Norah on my hospital pillow (a fractured tailbone was one of my souvenirs from the whole birthing experience:), and our beautiful little girl slept through the entire transfer.  We were on our way!

What to call her???

What shall we call her???.....

Ok...so my whole pregnancy everyone has been asking what the baby's name will be.  Some thought we just were keeping it a secret, but we honestly just had a hard time naming someone that we hadn't met yet.  The whole first day of her life she was still referred to as "baby girl Dixon." Sad, but true.  The next morning, Josh and I curled up with our Jane Doe and our amazing hospital breakfast and finally felt ready to talk about her name after spending hours with her, looking at her, listening to her, and seeing her little expressions.  We didn't know what her voice would sound like or if she would prefer soccer over dance, but we did know she was very feminine with way she had to cross her hands and the she was strong and smiley.  Here was the short list we had decided on:

Cooper   - we love this name, but decided to save it for our future son (or next born daughter)...not 

                 girlie enough for this one

Evelyn   - this is my great grandmother's name.  Norah was born on her birthday! ...just didn't fit her

Eila        - we loved this name from the start.  I just knew this would be her name.  Our nurse (who 

                 was amazing!) told us this was her grandmother's name what an awesome woman she

                 was....seemed to be fate, but still felt off.

Madelyn- I have loved this name since I was a child.  All of my baby dolls were named Madelyn 

                and this was Josh's fave my last trimester

But...........

Norah it was!  Sweet Norah!  We both felt that it fit so well.  Josh got out his iPad and we practiced writing her first and middle name.  Different spellings, calling it out as if she was being announced at her college graduation, her wedding, and making sure it wasn't a name the future bullies at her future school could one day pick on.  Her middle name is after my dad, my hero, Ray.  We looked up the meaning, turns out, it's meant to be!

Norah: Woman of Honor; Ray of Light; Compassion                                                                     

Hello World

December Fourteenth Two Thousand Eleven.....12.15 PM

2:30 AM My first contraction- 15 days early according to our due date
5:30 AM We call our families to let them know "it's time" and head to the hospital
6:00AM 4 CM Dilated, admitted and moved in to my room
11:33 AM Dr.Miles checks me...8 CM.  Breaks my water.  He says to expect about another 3-4 hours to go
11:50 AM I (aka...my body) start pushing
11:55 AM Josh tells me I asked the nurse if I was going to die
12:15 PM I lay eyes on my sweet, 7lb 4oz angel for the first time

First Heartbeat

Her heart beats, our hearts melt....

I'll never forget the day that we heard her heartbeat for the first time!  This is when it all became "real" to us that yes we were actually "pregnant", yes everything was ok, and yes 2011 would be ending much different than we could have ever imagined!