november 2015

Please hold your applause for the November update actually coming the day after November ended.  It's pretty impressive.  (Literally still have so many pictures; these are all from my phone.  No camera updates yet).

matching mom  //  running forever  //  leaves forever

pint sized skeptic  //  selfie stick with dad  //  selfie stick with mom

matching dad  //  swinging before it is too cold  //  haley visit

snuggles with grandpa  //  tess visit  //  corks forever

waiting with grandma  //  matching with tony  //  matching with grandpa

dad jumping the car  //  snuggles with jackie and derek  //  running again (because she is always running...and because I accidentally did the same picture twice)

september 2015

September was a big month for Nor (8 months old)...she took her first steps! She was about a week shy of her 9 month birthday and now she toddles around like a pro.

cousin zoo fun

more lake time

aunt jame and uncle bill came for a visit

nora discovered the fridge

always happy if she's outside

very first steps!

oakstone fan club

august 2015

As previously mentioned, Mom Life is insane.  Here's what August looked like (Nora at 7 months):

burrow beeleys looking spiffy for derek and jackie's wedding

grandpa is perhaps nora's biggest fan

shannon taking excellent care of nora on my first day back to work!

sometimes you try to hug your cousin at her birthday party and you accidentally tackle her instead.

dress your baby like a greaser. no one can stop you.

dress your baby like harry potter.  no one can stop you.

two year anniversary for these babes.

very important giggles.

next up: september...maybe someday pictures from my actual camera and not just my phone.

in explanation of my hiatus, or: what it's like to have a 'spirited' baby

Obviously I've done a terrible job updating the blog for approximately four months, and even before that, it was pretty spotty.  All I can say in my defense is that parenthood is no joke, especially when you have what is called in most holy-moly-help-me-anybody-help-me parenting literature as a 'spirited' baby. 

Don't get me wrong: I love Nora and I love her crazy personality, but it is just that: crazy.  This child never stops moving.  I know that you think I am exaggerating: I am not.  It takes us at least 90 minutes to get her to bed.  She wakes up between 3 and 7 times per night (some amazing nights have only been 2!...some not-so-amazing nights have been 10).  She learned to walk at just over eight and a half months.  She wants constant interaction.  Today, she is ten months and she toddles around everywhere, stands up on her own without anything to hold, and climbs everything.  The other day she dove into the banister on the steps, cried for a minute, and then tried again.  She has exactly zero chill and it's hilarious, but it's also exhausting.

Here's a list of other things (besides updating the blog) that I have not done since she has been born, strictly because I don't have the time when I'm chasing her around everywhere:  

-opened any mail within 3 days of it arriving

-shower regularly (disgusting, but some days it just doesn't happen #momlife)

-cooked dinner more than twice a month

-edited pictures within two months of taking them

-exercised (that doesn't involve making sure Eleanor stays alive)

-slept more than a few hours at a time

-watched a movie

 

So, without further ado, let me catch you up as much as I can over the next few posts.  Here's a brief look at July (Nora at 6 months):

 

pool parties with cousin Mary and Aunt Amy

first tiny fam vaca! we went to the lake for a few days, just the three of us.

then Travis, Blythe, and the Malone boys joined us and this happened.

Nora showed her Hufflepuff pride.

Nora INSISTED on walking everywhere.  Crawling is for suckers.

We literally did this for 2 months.

Loved walking on her own in her Joovy Spoon.

Still amazingly stunning.

Loving on Dad.

     Next post: August...

snapshots: mary's baptism

Our sweet niece, Mary (Nora's younger cousin by four weeks) got baptized this past weekend (and kind of slept through it!)  Here are some of my favorite shots: