Letters To Norah {Four Months}

Lovie,

Wow, what a busy month it has been! There has been a lot going on around our house and you've been so flexible while we've been on the go. You've grown and changed so very much this past month and I've loved watching every minute of it. You have quite the personality and love chatting and screaming! 

This month you started rolling over. You've been a mover and a shaker from the beginning, but now you are really all over the place! Once you are on your tummy, you scoot everywhere until you've gotten yourself stuck. :) Now, you sleep on your belly and love it. 

You love to play. You have a few favorite toys that you love to grab and put in your mouth. You always have to have something in your mouth these days! You are so alert and are always looking around the room to see what is going on. You also recently started enjoying listening to books being read to you and love looking at the pictures!

Your giggles. Oh, your giggles. They make me smile and laugh each and every time I hear them. 

We went to the doctor today for your 4 month check up. Your doctor is incredibly pleased with you, how strong and alert you are, how much you've grown, and how much you're sleeping and eating. I couldn't agree with her more! You weighed in at a whopping 14 lbs. 2 oz today! You are in the 90th percentile for height and 75th for weight. Out of the doctors mouth, "She's tall and thin!" :) You had to get four shots today and you weren't happy about it. However, you took them like a champ and are rallying this evening. 

You have gotten yourself on quite the schedule and it's really helpful because I can plan our days and know why you are crying when/if you do. You eat an 8oz bottle first thing in the morning and last thing at night. You eat two 6oz bottles during the day. You always eat about four hours apart. You typically take three 2ish hour naps during the day and continue to sleep 11-12 hours at night. 

This month has been absolutely crazy. We spent quite a bit of time getting our house ready to sell. We did most of the work during the day while you napped. We also bought a new house. Trying to make sure we got the new house has been so crazy and a bit stressful! I'll be sad when we move out of this house, but can't wait to watch you grow up in our new one. So many memories will be made there. 

This month, you've accompanied me to pilates once each week. You've been doing some of your own pilates with Anne while I work out! We had another playdate with Henry and got to meet sweet baby Kennedy. You had your first overnight with Grandma and will have your second one with Nana and Papa this weekend! You visited Orchard with me another time and traveled to the lake for the very first time. {Thank goodness we got to go to the lake because we all needed a mini-vacation together!}

Each day I can't help but think about how little time I have left to spend with you before I return to work in August. I decided this month to stop teaching and go work at Papa's office. This will allow me to stay at home with you more. I know I'll miss teaching, but spending time with you is the most important thing to me! 

You are such a good baby and I love you for that. I love how you make me smile and laugh every day. You are absolutely perfect. 

Love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

One Year

A year ago today, my world changed. I went to work, had an appointment after school, worked out with my mom, and then went to dinner with my parents at Bazbeaux. Kurt was already up at the lake with OG and Josh getting ready for a fun Memorial Day weekend away. Because we were planning on drinking that weekend, I decided it was a good idea to stop by CVS on my way home to buy more pregnancy tests just to triple check that I wasn't pregnant. {I had already taken some in the weeks prior but they were all negative. I was pretty sure I wasn't pregnant, but thought I should really make sure.}

When I got home, I went straight to the downstairs bathroom and took a stick with me. Immediately it showed pregnant. I looked at myself in the mirror and said aloud, "Holy Shit!" As I was shaking, I cleaned up in the bathroom and went outside to call Kurt. 

As I was sitting on our back step, Kurt answered his phone. It was clear that the guys had already started drinking, but I told Kurt he needed to walk away from the guys. He was hesitant at first and didn't really want to, but did as I persisted. When I could tell that he was away from them, all I could get out was, "I'm pregnant!" 

In that moment, I was incredibly excited and in disbelief that it truly did happen. I wanted nothing more than to share that moment with Kurt next to me, not on the phone. 

In the next couple hours, I went ahead and took the other two tests to triple check that I was in fact carrying our baby. Of course, they all came back positive right away. 

I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep much that night. 

So much has changed in a year and I wouldn't want things any differently. It's amazing to think that we were just discovering my pregnancy a year ago and now I sit admiring our sweet baby girl. 

A year ago, I sat on our back step excitedly telling my husband the news on the phone. Tonight, I sit by the lake with a drink in my hand and my husband at my side while my baby girl sits on my lap. Life is really good.

Cheers to wonderful husbands, beautiful babies, warm summer evenings, and of course, a cold drink in hand!  

Rockin' and Rollin'

Norah had her first overnight this weekend so Kurt and I could go to a wedding. When we went to pick her up from his parents' yesterday, his mom told us that she never saw Norah roll over but every time she went to get N from her crib, she was on her tummy....! We knew she was getting close to rolling over, but I didn't think it would happen this quickly! She literally went from getting to her side to rolling all over the floor in like a couple days. {Stop growing up so quickly!} 

This is how I found her this morning --

--and now she refuses to sleep unless she's on her tummy! 

{I rolled up blankets and put them on both sides of her to try to keep her from rolling over. That clearly didn't work!}

Although I'll always be Norah's biggest cheerleader, I was content with her not quite rolling over yet. Now it's all eyes on her while she's awake!! My little baby is now mobile. 

Weird & So Gross

40 weeks of pregnancy brings a wonderful gift, there's no doubt about that. However, for some reason, women don't always tell all the random, weird, and sometimes miserable things pregnancy does to your body. 14+ weeks after having a baby and almost 3 weeks after stopping breast feeding, I would have thought most pregnancy related things would be gone...until next baby. Nope, wrong again!

Never knew that three months or so after having a baby you start loosing your hair. Too bad it's not like leg hair so I don't have to shave as much. Couldn't be helpful hair loss, right Mother Nature?!? ;)

So handfuls of hair are falling out of my head on the regular every day. Don't believe me? Just look at how I saved our drain and pipes a few minutes ago while showering... Sick I know.

If only the last 10ish pounds would shed that easily....

Letters To Norah {Three Months}

Norah,

Three months? How can that possibly be? You are just as shocked as the rest of us...!!!

This past month, you've changed so much! You are so much fun to spend each and every day with. I'm so thankful that I'm not going back to work right now and getting to spend all this time with you. I know you aren't going to remember it, but know that I'm never going to forget this special time with you!

Your smiles. Oh, how I love your sweet, gummy smiles, especially first thing in the morning when I go to get you out of your crib. That's the most amazing way to start each day {especially since you sleep all night and I'm well-rested}!! 

You have been quite a talker for awhile, but now you scream. Full-on, overjoyed, little screams. Daddy and I laugh out loud many times a day when we hear your crazy noises. We love them. I often wonder what you are thinking about when you are talking to us. 

You are so strong. You love playing on your mat on the floor and will spend quite a bit of time admiring your hanging animals. Recently, you've realized that you can use your hands to grab those funny animals. You love grabbing them and pulling them to your mouth. Just the other day, you started rolling from side to side. You almost rolled over, but you got stuck on your arm. You enjoy being on your tummy more now because your neck and back are so strong, you can look around the room when you're on your tummy. You love sitting up and standing with our help. The different perspective is perfect for your curious little eyes. We often pop you in your Bumbo seat for a few minutes so you can look around and watch what we are doing around the house. 

A few weeks ago, we took a trip to Mexico. Not surprisingly, you were a wonderful traveler. You loved the warm weather and breeze. You took naps by the pool every day and loved swimming. We have so many memories we'll cherish forever from your very first trip! Daddy and I hope that we can take you on many trips. We love traveling and know you will too. 

The first morning we were in Mexico after you woke up, I began thinking. That night was the very first night your whole life that you slept in the same room with daddy and me. We didn't get to do that with you in the hospital because you were in the NICU. We don't regret our decision of having you sleep in your own room, but I felt special getting to share a room with you for a week. I loved waking up in the middle of the night to your little coos. But, I'm glad that you sleep in your own crib at home or we'd never get any sleep! :) 

Just before we left for Mexico, I stopped nursing you and we began giving you formula. Immediately, your belly felt better and you don't have any bloody diapers! I'm so glad you're feeling better, but I do miss those snuggly times when you would nurse. I'm thankful that I was able to nurse you for almost three months. Hopefully, you'll grow out of your milk allergy when you get older so you can enjoy dairy just like we do! 

I can't believe what a fun little baby you are turning into. I am so proud to be your mama. I love watching you change and grow. Each day, it's amazing to watch you do new things, make new noises, smile a little bigger, and laugh a little more. Keep being you, because I love every single ounce of you. 

I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy 

P.S.- You love watching Coop and Olive during the day. Of course, Coop wanted in on your monthly photo shoot! Looks like we'll have to get one with you and him every month! :)