Dear Nora,

Today you went pee in the potty.

It was a major event that was met with much fanfare! You were so excited to hear the tinkle tinkle and had the biggest grin ever. Lately you've been interested in the potty quite a bit, and you really like making the flushing sound on the Dora potty book. This weekend we used some of your birthday money that was left-over from January and bought you a Dora potty seat. The first day we had it you wanted to sit on it a few times...mostly to play with the toilet paper roll. Then today before your nap I said, "let's go get a new diaper." And you said, "potty! potty!" After less than a minute you heard the pee in the potty. You then wave bye bye to the pee while we flush.

Some people (ahem, one of your Uncles who shall remain nameless but his name rhymes with Bee) seem think that you're too young and not ready. I scoff at that. Scoff. You like the potty. You ask to go on the potty. After a day of sitting on the potty only three times you actually went in. the. potty. Pish-posh to him.

It's a bittersweet thing though. While I don't particularly love changing your diapers (especially the poopie ones), beginning potty training you is another reminder that you're growing up. Rather quickly. It's so fun to see you run towards your bathroom yelling potty! potty! I hope you remain this excited about the process. At least you're not big enough to wipe your own butt yet. There's still something left for Mama. Lucky me.

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at the beach in San Francisco:

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How can you tell? Is it the way the flowers are blooming? Is it the way the birds are chirping and happily building nests? No. It's that the ice cream stand is finally open! Nora had her first cone a few days ago. I think she enjoyed it:

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What does one do when the fifteen-month-old refuses to eat her dinner? Why, serve up some cake, of course! At least it's a healthy-ish cake. It's one of those Jello poke cakes. Want the recipe? Simple. Make a white cake (use a mix and follow the directions on the box...trust me it'll save you a ton of time). Once it's cooled, make one package of Jello according to the directions on that box. Any flavor will work...I used black cherry. Poke holes in the cooled cake (kids will love to help with this part). Pour the Jello over the top of the cake. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Top with Cool Whip. I made the cake with the low cholesterol directions, used sugar free Jello, and used fat free Cool Whip...that way I'd feel a billion times less guilty when I had two pieces instead of one. And now, without further delay...Nora eating her cake dinner:

Posted by Courtney at 8:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Let me just say that this winter, as far as Ohio winters go, has sucked. There has been plenty of rain...flooding...fifty-plus degree weather...then some more rain...bitterly cold days...and the occasional millimeter of snow...that's gone the next day because it's fifty-plus degrees. Did you notice anything strange about the weather? Um...perhaps the lack of snow? Ridiculous. This is Ohio, People. By now we should have had enough snow to make snow cones for the entire continent of Asia. We were threatened that there were going to be storms...but they never came. Now, here we are on February 12th...over three months into Ohio's snowy season and we are in the middle of receiving our first big snow. It's been coming down steadily for about 8 hours...only to pause to allow the freezing rain to have a chance at gracing our streets...and then start again. Allegedly it's going to continue until tomorrow afternoon. Now that we have enough snow that it's actually covering the grass, we took Nora out to have her first real look at the beautiful powder. In true child-fashion it took more time to get her dressed and undressed to play outside than we spent out there. And so, some pictures from my baby's first trip out in the snow:

Coming out the door...amazing that she could actually walk in all that gear!

She kept giving Larry the piggy snoot face for some reason.

Followed by the 'Dad, do we have to take another picture?' face. Wait until she gets older...that child hasn't even begun to be exasperated by her Father...I see plenty of eye rolling in our future.

A quick shot with Mommy. Notice her complete indifference to me. I guess hoping for a picture of the two of us with her smiling my direction or gazing lovingly into my eyes was too much. I should feel lucky she stood by me long enough that both of us actually ended up in the picture.

Posted by Courtney at 7:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Things are still functioning around here...just thought I should let you know. Larry and I are working on a redesign of this site (and an official transfer to my new web address) that will hopefully be up and running by the end of this coming week. Do you hear that, Dear? A week. Quit writing recipes about cooking a bald eagle (found at http://www.aboutlarry.com) and get to working on my redesign. Please and thank you.

I am also gathering information about starting a nar-anon meeting in my area. It's like al-anon but offers support for people who have an addict (instead of an alcoholic) in their family. I went to my first nar-anon meeting last night and found it to be unstructured and not quite what it's "supposed" to be...plus it was an hour drive. I sent for some materials and am eagerly awaiting their arrival. Maybe I can help other people that are like me...and find some people that can help me, too.

In other cool and exciting news, Nora has taken unassisted steps! She doesn't do it all the time yet. She's very cautious and takes slow deliberate steps...usually five or so at a time. Once she realizes she's walking (or that you are trying to coax her to walk) she gets down and crawls away. Here are a few videos of her walking attempts. (The first one turns sideways because while I was taping I realized I was cutting off her head...so I turned the camera...not thinking that it would mean turning my head sideways to view the damn thing.)

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to my beautiful little lady bug

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We just returned from San Francisco and here's a quick shot of Nora on the cable car. I'll be putting together a post in the near future because it's come to my attention that I've been neglecting my blog. I'm working on a thousand and one things right now, but am hoping to have a post with pictures from our trip by Saturday...or maybe Sunday...really...I'm putting my foot down...it'll be by Sunday night...or else...

Posted by Courtney at 7:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dear Nora,

Your first tooth broke the swollen surface of your gums on the 13th of September...I'm just now getting around to post about it because...well...we've been busy. I know it's no excuse, but really...you don't even know what today's date is...all you know is that when you cry you get fed, changed, or played with.

Your Great-Grandma Crum discovered your tooth because you were biting on her finger. She says that you bit onto her finger...that she didn't put her dirty finger in your mouth. But I ask you this. Who's the adult?

You were a little crabby in the days leading up to your big breakthrough, but nothing too awful. Nothing like the horror stories I've heard from other moms. You still slept through the night. You still ate fine. You were a little congested and grouchy. Not bad at all. Of course, I realize that this means that I'm in for it somewhere...somehow...further down the road. I think with your Daddy's patience we'll make it through!

You've been making some pretty funny faces since this new toothy development. It must feel strange to have something sharp and hard to run your tongue over...I can tell because you do it all the time. Sometimes you suck in your bottom lip as if you're trying to figure out exactly what is going on in your mouth. You're also starting to discover that if you bite down on your spoon it gets stuck. You seem to think this is funny. It's okay...I think you're pretty silly, too!

Congratulations on the tooth, Baby Girl! Now slow down with all this growing up business. You've got time. I've got time.

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Nora is quite the squealer when you play peek a boo with her. Yesterday afternoon she was playing with Larry, and I'm so glad I got this video of it. You can hear the dog howling in the background...feel free to ignore her like we do.

It's sure to make anyone smile...no matter what kind of day you've had:

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Nora and Daddy playing peek a boo:

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Dear Nora,

You do not like scrambled egg yolk.

Your father and I should be ashamed of ourselves for continuing to feed egg to you just so we could get more funny pictures of you. Of course, your father and I should be more ashamed of the fact that you yell "Fuck You Tony Stewart" while giving the TV the bird. Seriously, Nora, ladies don't flip off the TV.

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Here's a recent picture of Miss Nora. Can you believe she's 7 months old already?

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Don't faint. My Uncle Howie is holding Nora. Why is this such a surprise? He usually doesn't hold babies until they are past the 3 Ps...peeing...pooping...and puking. I figured I better snap this picture before he had a chance to put her down!

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Dear Nora,

You are the best baby ever. Like ever in the history of babies. I can't tell you how completely and totally awesome every minute of every day is. Every night when I pray I thank God for another day with my beautiful daughter. I can't think of any more adjectives besides awesome and beautiful, although I'm sure He doesn't mind if it's the same old prayer each night. I never could've imagined how being a parent would make me feel. I love every minute of being your Mommy...even the minutes in the middle of the night when you have the world's stinkiest diaper!

Easter Sunday

This has been a pretty big month for you! You rolled over on Easter Sunday, and once you started you just didn't stop. Now when you're plopped on your back you are rolling to your belly right away. Rolling from your belly to your back hasn't happened yet, but not for lack of trying on your part. Sometimes I try to get you to roll back over by talking to you and enticing you to want to look at me. Know what you do?! You scoot around in a circle on your belly so you can see me without having to roll back over. Lazy ass.

you and Gramma on the swing

This month we found out some details about the strange blood test result from your newborn screening. You'll probably grow to learn more about genetics than you want to. After having the test redone to make sure it wasn't incorrect, your doctor sent us to a genetic specialist. I can tell you, there was nothing scarier to me than when the office called to tell us that he needed to see us to go over your blood test result. I knew that something wasn't right...they don't call to have you come in to the office to get good news. I mean, seriously if the doctor will leave an answering machine message to tell me my pap test was clear, surely they could tell me that your blood test came back fine.

your sneaky little half grin

Long story short, the genetic doctor examined you and had your blood drawn to determine exactly what we were dealing with. It turns out that you are a carrier for galactosemia. I know...galacto-what?! Galactosemia is a disease where the person cannot tolerate galactose...which is mostly present in milk and dairy products but does occur naturally in foods. The problems that children with galactosemia can have include mental retardation and brain damage. Talk about some scary shit. Good old Doctor Ted, (trust me, it's hard to pronounce and even harder to spell his last name), called me to go over the results from your genetic blood testing. He explained that you were a carrier for the disease, and that he doesn't think it's likely that you'll have any complications or any need to be on a special diet. Just gravy, huh?

you never lay in one spot while you sleep anymore

Doctor Ted wants to see you every so often to keep monitoring the enzyme levels in your blood. He tells me that carrier babies usually even out to normal levels by the time they're two or so. Each visit to him means having your blood drawn. I'm pretty positive that this is worse for me than you. The worst thing is that while the nurse is drawing your blood, you look and me and cry with the biggest tear filled eyes. Hopefully the visits to Doctor Ted will grow farther apart as you age.

another picture in your new stroller

Because of elevated enzyme levels the last time you saw the Good Doctor, we've had to change up your feeding situation. We're hoping to find a balance where you're getting the most breastmilk possible without it being dangerous to you. For the past week we've replaced two of your six breastfeedings with soy formula. You were already getting one bottle a day while I was at work...so now you get three and a half bottles of formula and three and a half breastfeeding sessions. I'm hoping to death that this balance will keep you at a safe enzyme level so that we don't have to cut back your nursing even more.

you almost always wake up smiling

The first day of reduced nursing I felt like I hadn't seen you all day...which was ridiculous...of course I had seen you...I just didn't get to bond with you every 2 1/2 hours like normal. I'm having Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Kyle give you your bottles because I don't want you to be mad that I'm giving you a bottle. It was hard the first few days...but I know that it's what we have to do for now. I've come to cherish the times I am able to nurse you even more than before. It's our time. It's the thing we do together that no one else on the planet can do with you, and it's one of my favorite things. If you would've told me in the first few weeks of nursing you that one day I'd be sad that I had to nurse you less, I'd have thought you were crazy. Positively insane. But now I almost feel like you're growing up too quickly because I've had to wean you to only a few nursings a day.

behold the cutest dimples and most capturing eyes ever

One of the most fantastical things you're starting to do is laugh. Oh my GOSH is it freaking adorable! I could spend hours giving you smoochies and listening to you squeal and giggle and laugh. I can't believe all the different noises you're making these days, either. When you squeal, I make the same noise back at you and you laugh and make some other kind of gurgle. I think you must be so excited...thinking that I can understand and speak your language. Of course, for all I know you're saying something about my stinky feet and I'm agreeing with you. Honestly, though, our animated conversations make my day! It's so unbelievable to see how you're changing and growing all the time. I'm pretty sure once you start forming words you'll never shut up...but you'll quickly learn that that is what makes you my daughter! We are both vaccinated with a phonograph needle, and while I realize that you have no idea what a phonograph needle is, there is no one I'd rather chat with than you, Baby Girl!

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

"I think I want to homeschool Nora."

"Really?"

"I've been thinking about it and I don't want her to ever leave the house."

"Um. She'll probably want to go to kindergarten."

"No. She doesn't need to."

"School is a long way off, you know?"

"Homeschooling her will keep her away from school shootings...and people trying to sell her drugs."

"Do you think you're being a paranoid Mommy?"

"No. Also, it'll keep her away from all those boys that want to have sex with her."

"Alright, I'm sold! She can absolutely stay home."

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I can't believe you took this naked picture and posted it online. Mom, I'll totally get you back for this when I bring home a boy with a pierced tongue...deal with that why don't ya?!

I am so telling Dad you make me go to sleep. Really, I don't think it's fair.

How dare you wake me up you vile beast? Just wait until I wake you up at 1:30 am and see how you like it.

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If hitting her would make her stop crying, I'd totally do it right now...because I just cannot stand to listen to her cry for one more second. That is the scariest thought that ever entered my head. That is the thought that crept into my mind two weeks ago. That is the moment that I realized I had felt this way before. That is the moment that I called my doctor to get help. Who wants to hit their three month old baby? For crying, no less. Who feels this way?

I was so proud of myself because I wasn't one of them...you know...one of those moms that needed mental help. I wasn't included in the statistics that say a majority of women suffer from postpartum depression after giving birth. Not me. Never needed help with depression before. In fact, I'm the caretaker. I take care of Larry. I take care of Nora. I try hard to take care of my friends and family. Certainly I didn't need help. How arrogant of me. And how stupid that I didn't speak up sooner about how I was feeling. It didn't sneak up me. My feelings of hitting Nora to make her stop crying had seeped into my mind before...but I thought I could control them myself. After all, I control everything else so well.

I wasn't going to hurt Nora. I wasn't going to hit her. At least I wasn't going to do that on purpose. I was able to stop myself from acting on my thoughts...but I didn't like feeling that way. I didn't want to feel that way. I also wasn't sure how long I could keep pushing those thoughts out of my head. I couldn't guarantee that I would walk away when the crying became too much. I didn't trust that if I felt frustrated again I would handle her as gently as I should. I'm not a person that has a lot of patience, and the stress of things just became too much. I wasn't enjoying my time with Nora. I wasn't having fun being her Mommy. Everything was work. Feeding her...dressing her...playing with her...all of it just sucked. I've never felt so overwhelmed in my life. I had so many responsibilities with Larry being in jail...on top of working part time and taking care of Nora.

I remembered the nurse that ran our birth class telling us about PPD. I could clearly hear her say, "Girls, if you're not feeling right you need to tell your doctor. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Plenty of women need help and you need to ask for it if you need it." Those words ran through my head like a broken record for the few days leading up to my moment of clarity that Monday afternoon when I had to tell myself that hitting her would in no way make her stop crying. I kept thinking, I'll call...I'll get around to it one of these days. Larry must have been able to hear my feelings even though I didn't voice them to him, because he encouraged me to call the nurse. Truthfully, I was going to call that day anyhow...but it was good of him to insist on it...he recognized the problem without my having to say a word. And honestly, he probably would've called for me had I tried to put it off.

My doctor called in a prescription for Zoloft within an hour of my call to the nurse, and I started it that day. That was eleven days ago. Even though it takes up to four weeks to take full effect, I notice myself feeling better already. I'm much calmer. Things don't piss me off so much anymore. I don't feel like I'm hanging on by a thread that's about to break. The sky is clearer now. I'm not exhausted from stress. But the absolute best part? I love and appreciate my time with Nora. I have the patience to handle the crying. I can comfort her when she can't fall asleep. I don't even mind so much that she's waking up in the middle of the night again. I snuggle and play with her because it's fun and not because I have to. I am starting to feel like myself again, and I'm a better Mommy for it.

Posted by Courtney at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Video of Nora rolling over from her back to her belly.

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One of Nora's favorite things is to watch Dora the Explorer. She's starting to coo along to the songs and really get into the shows. The rest of the household has been subject to Dora...and we're all learning lots of songs. At any given time one of us will burst into song simply because those songs...they get stuck...in your brain...for hours. My Mom usually sings the "Vamanos" song, and earlier this week when we took Nora for a walk she decided to marvel us with her lyrical talents:

"Come on vamanos...everybody let's go...come on let's get to it...I know that we can do it! Where are we going? Brokeback Mountain! Where-"

"Um. Mom. I'm pretty sure Dora does not go to Brokeback Mountain."

"I know but I can't remember where she went."

"It's safe to assume that Brokeback Mountain is a tad too grown up for preschoolers. And anyway, it's Blueberry Mountain. I wonder what people would think if they heard you singing about taking a three month old to Brokeback Mountain?"

"They'd think that I'm teaching her to be accepting of other people."

"Or they'd think you're crazy...like the rest of us do..."

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This video is of Nora trying her hardest to talk to me.

Posted by Courtney at 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nora,

Starting this week I'm changing these updates to be monthly. This is because I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to label them anymore. I don't want to be posting your 'week 51' update...who the heck will know how old you are? I'll still be posting all the wonderfully wonderful things you do throughout the weeks...it'll just be one 'wrap up' post per month. This is also because it's less work for me...which means more play time with you!

One of your favorite things to play is airplane. You can be screaming your lungs out and you stop instantly if I hold you up to play airplane. I say, You're flying!" and you get the biggest grin imaginable. I'm not sure if Mommy or you have the most fun. I add in the sound effects of the airplane...and sometimes the crash landings for smooches...oh my gosh....you love it! We fly almost every morning...you fly out to pick out a bib with me...then we fly back to our room...you'll have enough frequent flyer miles soon to be flying to other people's houses for free!

A lot of your pictures from this week...all of them in fact...were taken in your car seat. This is mostly because you were in your car seat quite a bit...it's also partly because one day you were particularly agreeable while we were out.

This month you got your first toe nail polishing. This was about as easy as grabbing a baby out of the water. Your Grandma bought you some snazzy sandals and the day of your cousin's birthday party the weather was so warm that I busted out your new shoes to go with your pretty party dress. As a surprise to your Daddy I painted your toes. Boy! He was surprised! I told him to check out your new shoes...turns out he noticed your polished toes right away. I figure it's safe to paint your toes since you don't even know where they are yet...you're not exactly chewing on them or anything!

This past week your Daddy started his jail sentence. Man, has that taken some getting used to. You have a new routine now because we have to take him to and from work and jail. The good thing about this is that you get to see him at least twice a day...most times you're happy to see him...sometimes he wakes you up to tell you he loves you and you give him the worst grimmace ever. So now in the mornings you and Grandma take Daddy to work...then you come home and play with Grandma...usually watching Dora. Then I'm home with you in the afternoon...and we go take dinner to Daddy and take him back to the jail. I'm sure learning quick that his extra set of hands was super helpful!

You took your first bath without Daddy this week...and that's only because I figured I can't wait to bathe you for four months when he's back home with us. You cooperated quite nicely...although you didn't enjoy it nearly as much as when he holds you. I can't wait until you can sit up enough to go in a bath seat...I think it'll be better for both of us! We managed to get you clean and better smelling so I guess that's all that matters for now!

Your Grandma watches you in the mornings while Mommy goes to work. I'm not sure who enjoys that more, but I'm thinking it's her! Everytime I change you that you haven't pooped I say, "Thank you for not pooping! You save the poopy diapers for Grandma because she loves poopy diapers!" And you laugh and smile when I say that...possibly because of the tone of my voice but it's still funny to me. I came home from work one day this week and Grandma said, "Do you know what Nora made for me today?" I laughed and said, A poopy diaper?! When she confirmed that you had, I told her that I had been telling you to save them for her. That worked out perfectly!

You got a big stroller this past week, too. We're hoping to try it out tonight because it's about 80 degrees today...and supposed to snow tomorrow...silly Ohio weather! I'm pretty sure you'll love taking walks because you are so damn nosey! You love looking around at stuff...and it's so awesome to see you discovering things. Your car seat froggy has a mirror on it and you're just starting to see yourself in it...that is super funny to watch because as it cathes your eye your eyes get gigantic...like you can't believe what you're seeing! Know what? I can't believe all the amazing things I'm seeing you do, either!

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nora,

This week Mommy was super busy...so I've condensed this note into "Nora: A Week In Pictures"

This week you were:

Sleepy

Happy

Mildly Amused

Scared

Thoughtful

Adorable

Surprised

Strong

One other thing...you've been sleeping 10+ hours straight every night. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the extra sleep...makes things much easier during the day.

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nora,

This week a fabulous phenomenon entered our lives...sleep! For three nights in a row you have slept for over 8 hours straight. Eight. Whole. Hours. Each morning I've awakened curious about just how long this wonderfulness is going to last! You haven't necessarily napped all that well, but if short daytime naps means full nights of sleep, I'm fine with that! A friend of mine said that well rested babies are much more enjoyable...I think that well rested Mommies are much more enjoyable, too!

You started shrieking and squealing a lot more this past week. Once in a while we can get a laugh out of you...and it's so funny because it's the deepest 'huh huh huh'...it sounds like the exact opposite of a laugh. It makes me giggle to hear you. For some reason you find the computer to be amusing. Not the screen, mind you...the actual computer tower. You will laugh and squeal when someone sits you by the computer. Your Daddy says you laugh because you know it's a Windows machine and not a Macintosh. I think it's the bright lights on the front...but sometimes we just let Daddy think he's right...*wink*

Mr. Quackers is your bathtime buddy. You absolutely love him! I'm pretty sure you'll know the sound a duck makes before every other animal sound because you have a Baby Einstein block that quacks, too. Sometimes you'll have a grimmace on your face like, "what is all this watery wet stuff you have me in?"...then we start quacking Mr. Quackers and you're all smiles and grins.

Another thing we've started doing this week is let you watch TV. Of course there have been times that you've seen the television just because you're in the room when it's on. Well this week we figured that since you were able to see the television perhaps you'd enjoy watching a show...this works out perfectly for the times that we don't want to have to watch you...who knew you'd need to be supervised all the time?! So we started with Dora. You don't really squeal or laugh while Dora is on...but you do sit watching intently...just learning away. It's so cute! We put your swing in front of the TV so you can see...for some reason this freaks the dogs out. They come in the room all, "what the hell is she doing in the middle of the room? That swing doesn't go there". Oh well, it keeps everyone on their toes!

This week your Daddy and I noticed that you scream much louder than before. You don't cry as often as you used to, but when you do...wow! It's definitely a temper thing. I've watched you try to get your hand in your mouth to suck your thumb...you try one time for like, two seconds...if you miss you wail your head off until I can get you to calm down enough to try again. And forget about trying to help you find your thumb...that pisses you off more than not being able to find it in the first place. I don't know who's more frustrated...you, because your hand is balled into a fist so you can't get your thumb...or me, because I know you'll go to sleep if you just get the damn thing in your mouth.

Now I feel the need to talk about your cheeks. Your cheeks are the most edible thing on the planet. They are soft and squishy and beautiful. I love smooching your cheeks, and when I do you erupt into a giant smile...thanks for that...it really makes my day!

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Nora went to visit my friend Erica this week while we went to Larry's sentencing. She made fast friends with Erica's son, Carter. He took a quick liking to her and became her protector...telling the other boys, "Mine". He looks like quite the smooth operator...smooching her with his arm around her, doesn't he?! I think these pictures turned out so sweet...if only Nora had decided to smile while Erica was taking her picture and not two seconds after it flashed!

Posted by Courtney at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dear Nora,

Caution: This post contains a partial shot of your Mommy's boobie. The photo is just beautiful...and was, of course, taken by your Daddy while you were eating. I know this isn't the first time you've seen Mommy's boobie...but it is the first time the Internet has seen Mommy's boobie...at least the first time they've seen it for free...

Daytime is for playtime. That's what I've been telling you all this week because it became apparent that you had nights and days mixed up. You would sleep five or six hours at a time during the day...only to spend a few hours a night crying because you didn't want to be in bed. I remembered reading the Baby Whisperer book and set out at the beginning of this week determined to get you on a schedule...whether you were going to cooperate or not. At first you definitely did not jump on board...but amazingly enough it only took a few days and things are going much better now.

I must admit, it took diligence on my part to get this schedule thing working. On the nights that you cried from 4-7 am it was tempting to let you sleep the morning away...so that I could do the same. On those days, I donned my Good Mommy hat and woke you up at your regular morning time...and woke you up 2 1/2 hours later. This seemed to show you pretty quickly that the daytime is for being awake, and you had the day schedule down in no time. Now I wake you in the morning...you eat...we play...and you go down for a nap...usually with minimal fussing.

The night time routine was a little more difficult if only because it forces your Daddy and I to be home and ready to get things started by 8:30. There were a few days that we were out and couldn't get you started on bedtime...I'm pretty sure this is why you didn't get bedtime right away. Amazingly enough, though, three or four nights of doing the routine and you now go to sleep within twenty minutes of being put down. So every night you take a Daddy Bath around 8:30...then you get in a last minute snack...Daddy reads you the animal sounds book (that you love)...we tuck you in and turn off the lights...and we read the Snuggle Puppy book. This has been working so well I almost feel like we're waiting for the night that you scream for hours...just to show us who's really in charge, here.

We had to take you to the Children's Hospital this week to have blood drawn. Hopefully we'll have the results back by the beginning of next week. We're trying to get the official word about a suspected genetic problem. The doctor we met this week says he's pretty sure you're a carrier for this disease called galastosemia...apparently the screening tests they do are so sensitive that they pick up carriers, too. He said you look healthy and are responding to stimuli and progressing like you should be. This will just determine for sure what exactly is going on.

I feel like this week has been such a success! Daddy and I are getting better sleep because we've got your night time schedule working so well. I still have to wake you during the day...I'm pretty sure if I don't, you'll revert to being mixed up...so I'm fine with having to wake you if it means I can get a decent amount of sleep at night! This whole schedule thing has made all the difference in our days. You like to play and swing...you nap when you should...I feel like a rock star, Baby Girl!

Another thing we've noticed is that you are positively mesmerized by your hand...specifically your thumb and first finger on your right hand. One day this week I thought you had been asleep for an hour...I went to check on you and you were wide awake just looking at your hand. You study your thumb and first finger like you're trying to figure out what the hell is going on. You will lay there making a pinching motion and be content as can be for quite a while. It's so awesome to watch you as you have that look of recognition as you see your hand come into view...and then as this look changes to extreme concentration...it's a very cool thing to see. You amaze me more and more each day...

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nora,

I've said it a million times over the last day or so...but Mommy really is sorry. I hate using those stupid baby nail clippers...and I extra hate that I cut you with them. You've never seen so much blood from such a little cut...and to have you just crying and crying broke my heart...because it was my fault. Isn't it funny that I spend a good majority of my day trying to make you happy and quit crying? Then with one wrong move of the nail clippers I've got you crying from a Mommy boo boo. Daddy and I tried to get your thumb to quit bleeding...the pressure from a wet wash rag wasn't helping your screams, of course. Finally we opted for a band-aid...although if I thought they would've given you stitches I might have taken you to the ER. After Daddy performed surgery on the band-aid to make it Nora-sized, we got it all situated on your thumb. It was, of course, the thumb you had just discovered you could suck...so we decided we better cover it or you'd be sucking on a nast-o band-aid all day. I got a red sock to put over your hand...red in case you bled through the band-aid. You poor thing...couldn't even suck your thumb to console yourself. After removing your bandage it seems like it's healing quite nicely...Grandma says that's because you're keeping it clean by sucking on it...seems gross to me...but, hey...whatever works for ya...

Here you are with your sock bandage shortly after we got you all fixed up...

Daddy just had to take a picture to prove that Mommy made you cry...and bleed. And in case you were wondering if I cut you on purpose since you only let me sleep a half hour the night before...well I didn't. Perhaps I was unsteady from my lack of sleep...maybe you'll want to think about that the next time you plan an all nighter...never know when it'll be time to trim your nails...

Sorry again, Baby,
Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nora...smiling at her Daddy...

Posted by Courtney at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Finally we caught Nora in a good mood and managed to get her smiling on video!

Posted by Courtney at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nora,

This week we bought a new digital camera...you were becoming too elusive for our old one...by the time it snapped the picture you'd look away...which left us with several pictures of you looking anywhere but towards the camera. This new camera is much more baby friendly and I anticipate lots more pictures in our future. You're not too fond of the flash, but I imagine you'll get used to it...or you'll go blind...not sure which...

We took you on your first vacation this week. We went to the Henry Ford Museum and Imax Theater in Dearborn, Michigan. You slept the whole way there...and the whole way home. The Imax movie was a 3D NASCAR show. Someone asked if it'd be too loud for you...turns out it put you right to sleep. The day of the museum trip we had you all situated in your car seat in a stroller...where you slept. Noticing a theme, Little One?! I certainly did. What's the big idea sleeping so well while we were awake?! We prefer that you sleep when we can sleep, too. That's why we cut the museum tour short to come home...we figured you'd sleep in your car seat when we got home...wrong-o. I seriously cannot figure you out. I keep telling myself you don't do things on purpose just to piss me off...but I'm not so sure...

You had your two month check up this week...where you measured 24 inches long! Wowsers! You lost four ounces, though, so the doctor is going to recheck your weight in a month. He suggested that I feed you on both sides even if you act like you're finished after one side. So, I guess it turns out the problem could've been caused by me not feeding you...sorry about that...I'm sure it's not the first dumb-Mommy moment you'll be exposed to. Other than the weight loss he said things are looking fine. Your heart is still beating and you're still breathing so I think that's definitely a few points in mine and Daddy's favor...

You like to snuggle up to your Daddy...and it's so sweet to see. When he holds you and you're sleepy you bury your head in his shoulder...turn your face towards his neck...and just snuggle. Those moments are precious to me. While we don't want to rush you, we're both looking forward to when you can reach up to say, "pick me up"...you're such a sweetie pie already! I hope you want to snuggle with us until you're at least fifteen years old!

You're smiling and cooing more and more each day. It really does make up for the times you won't go to sleep...luckily for you! You also found your thumb this week. A book I have says babies don't find their thumb/hands until four months...bull-snot...when you're tired and cranky you bring your hand right up to your mouth. You don't always get just your thumb in your mouth...sometimes you get a few extra fingers in there, too. When you're sleepy and won't take your pacifier I can totally jam your thumb in you mouth and usually you're out like a light. I love how you spread all your fingers out across your face instead of making them into a fist...although I'm wondering how long it'll take you to figure out that those are your fingers poking your eyes out. Seeing you suck your thumb is just the cutest thing on the planet. It makes me smile and turns my insides to mush...

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dear Nora,

Wonder of all wonders...you're two months old already! Sometimes I have to think about it for a minute because there's just no way you're eight weeks old. This past week was a rough one for all of us...you in particular. There were two days that we had to feed you formula while I was at work since there wasn't enough pumped milk. Boy was that an unfortunate thing. We were suddenly thrown back to the first few days when we came home from the hospital. You had a constant belly ache. You were awake until three or four in the morning for four days in a row. You didn't poopie for five days.

On the nights you wouldn't go to sleep, your Daddy and I spent hours driving you around town hoping you'd fall asleep in your car seat. We quickly narrowed it down to an exact science. We'd get you tucked into your car seat...and head out...at midnight...2 AM...3 AM...once even at 4:30 AM while it was freezing rain out side. We know the bumpiest, baby-sleep-friendly roads in town. Then, when you had been quiet for at least a half an hour we would return home. Daddy would get you out of the car...I unlocked the door...he took you straight to your crib...where you slept in your car seat. We had such a sense of accomplishment if we made it all the way to the crib before you woke up...silently high-fiving each other...only to be crushed back to reality when you sneezed yourself awake. I cringe at the thought of how much money we spent on gas this week just driving you around to put you to sleep. Last night we gave you a suppository. You were a different baby within fifteen minutes. Daddy didn't even get your diaper back on and you were pooping...everywhere. But you know what? Neither of us minded. "Let her poop...I don't care where it goes...at least she's pooping." Once you were done expelling the world's most stinky poop, you were fine. Thankfully.

We had you at the doctor this week for a lab work follow up. You weighed in at a whopping 12 pounds! We don't have to worry about you going hungry, that's for sure! The reason had to follow up on your lab work is that you failed one of your newborn screenings. Your doctor wants us to take you to a specialist. There's a metabolic disorder that you were tested for...they told us you have it...then they called the next day to say they think you're just a carrier for the disorder and that you don't actually have it. Of course I had ample time to freak out and worry that you would have speech and learning troubles in the time between when we left the office and when they called back. If you do have it we'll have to keep you on a strict diet and you'll be fine. We go see the specialist doctor on the 8th of March...hopefully the results of their tests won't take too long.

You've started getting more vocal this week, too. It's funny because you used to just "ooo" and "ahh"...now your vocabulary includes "aye aye aye" and "ya ya ya". You're pretty loud sometimes, but as long as they're happy noises no one seems to mind! You like to talk back and forth with your Daddy and me. We play this fun game where you make a noise and we mimic it back to you. You seem to like that...and when you stop liking it we can tell because your happy baby noises turn into pissed off baby cries. You definitely have a temper, Little One. I'm sure you get that from your Daddy and me, both.

We found the most wonderful thing at WalMart this week. A new paci. One that you actually like. We've tried several different sizes and brands...only to find that the mere idea of a paci pissed you off. After a few nights of having a tummy ache and only wanting to console yourself by sucking on my boobie, I set out in search of a Mommy substitute. Thank my lucky stars I found one you'll take. In fact, last night you fell asleep with your new paci and slept from midnight until 8:45 this morning. Now that's real sleep! I think we're going to get a few cases of these wonderful pacis...I don't ever want to be without one...for both of our sakes...

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nora,

This past week you celebrated your first Valentine's Day...along with your first Daytona 500. You seemed to enjoy the race...you sat propped up watching the cars go around...all dolled up in your raceday gear.

I'm trying to make you a Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson fan while your Daddy would prefer that you like Tony Stewart. You'll probably piss us both off and end up liking Junior or Harvick. I guess it'll be fine for you to exhibit your independence...you'll just have to watch the race at someone else's house if you're cheering for one of them! In the meantime, Daddy and I will probably continue to try and influence you to like each of our drivers...just keep in mind...I'm the one that feeds you...

This week I've also noticed that you've started to grow on me a little more. The first weeks of your life were kinda like a survival of the fittest type of situation...as the weeks pass, though, you're becoming more enjoyable. At first it was simply feed you, change you, and beg you to go back to sleep. Now I spend quite a bit of time watching you in awe...you're getting so big...and so beautiful. I am still amazed that you're a real, live person...that we've managed to keep healthy, fed, and clothed for seven whole weeks now. You were easier to care for before you were born...but much more fun to care for now...even when you are crapping in the car in the parking lot.

You smile and coo all the time now...sounding almost like you're carrying on a conversation already. Your Daddy says that once you start talking you're never going to stop...I think he's probably right. The mobile on your crib is a source of interest for you...it has two teddy bears on it...it's supposed to have three but one of them got lost in the closet before we put it together. I know it's in there somewhere...unless the contents of the closet ate it. While we joke that your mobile is a little ghetto since it's missing a bear, you don't seem to mind one bit. You just love talking to Juan and Jacques...I'm not sure how you'll pronounce Jacques but I guess we'll cross that bear when we come to it.

I went back to work this week. Thank God it's only half days because I spend a lot of time missing you. I think it's good for you to have some one on one Daddy time, though, too. He's taken you for a few car rides...probably letting you listen to that awful jazz music that seems to quiet you right down...don't worry, it puts me to sleep every time, too. I didn't know that I'd miss you as much as I do when we're not together...for this reason I hope you'll be understanding of the fact that I plan to never let you leave the house alone...we're talking no school, no dates, no going to college, no moving out. I'm sure you think this is unrealistic...well just talk to your father about dating...see if he sides with you or me...

I love you, My Girlie. I love every bit of you. Your huge blue eyes. Your beautiful little nose. Your sparse newborn hair that we cover up with a hat most of the time. Your infectious, toothless grin. Your chubby, dimpled cheeks. Your stinky, dirty hands. Your super long feet. Your big toes that look just like my big toes. Head to toe you are perfect. You are absolutely George-ous.

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Mom about baby crying in stroller: Ugh, I gotta go feed him.
Friend: You want me to do it?
Mom: Um, I breastfeed.
Friend: I could give it a whirl.

--Washington Square Park

Posted by Courtney at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nora,

This week you started sleeping more like a human being and less like an evil non-sleeping monster. You have been sleeping in four or five hour stretches almost every night...and it's been glorious. There have even been times where you've slept for six or seven hours...although that's only when you're in your carseat. Your Daddy said that the person who makes a crib that's exactly like a carseat will be rich. We have had a few occasions where you were inconsolable that we resorted to taking you out on purpose...just so you'd sleep for a while when we got back home. Saturday night, for instance, we needed to get you some wipes. Did we go two blocks away to the grocery store? Oh no. We went to WalMart...not our WalMart...the one that's a half hour away.

We went to see your doctor this week, too. He wanted us to come back in to go over a test result from one of your birth screenings. Of course I spent much of the time up to the appointment freaking out that something was terribly wrong...they don't have you come in the office for good news, right? Well yes and no. There was a part of a blood test that you failed...but only barely...so they wanted to redo the test to make sure you don't have this strange freakish hard to pronounce condition. We only have to wait two more weeks to get the results. The doctor is pretty sure you're fine because you were only under the standard by two points...he said not to worry. The worst part of this whole thing is that we had to take you to the hospital to get your blood drawn so they could retest you. They didn't just stick your heel this time. They had to hold you down...put on the arm strap thing...and draw it out of your little vein in your elbow. I think it was just as traumatic for you as it was for me...

I had to go back to work today. Surprisingly this wasn't as hard as I thought it would be...until I got to work. Then I sat there thinking about you. Were you awake? Were you hungry? Were you wondering where I was? Were you being a big pain in your Daddy's behind? Even though I left you in his completely capable hands I found myself worrying about how you were doing. I was at my desk for a half hour before I called to check in. Today's four hour separation is the longest we've been apart since you were born...and I was pretty happy when you wanted to nurse when I came home...it was nice to reconnect with you after being away...

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 3:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nora,

This week you've been smiling and cooing much more. I'm positive now that it's because you want to smile and not because you have gas. Of course you smile for your Daddy all day long...and will occasionally smile for me when he's not around. Being typical parents of a newborn we have a half a million photos of you smiling...even if it's 2:30 am when you're doing it...we'll bust out the camera and get a good seven or eight shots of the one smile you're exhibiting.

The other thing that happened this week is that I started to notice how much you're changing and growing...the first few weeks you looked the same to me. Now I can see your little round baby nose filling out a little...and you're definitely getting bigger. There are already outfits that have had to be retired to the too small box because you're getting longer.

This week we introduced you to the Daddy Bath. This is the single most intelligent thing we've done as parents thus far. You hated your baby bath. I can't figure out why exactly. I know I enjoy bathing in two inches of lukewarm water in the cold kitchen. Why did you not enjoy that? Now you get a bath with Daddy in the big bath tub. He gets in the bath and holds you while I suds you up. You couldn't be happier than when you're in there. Maybe it reminds you of before you were born...I'm not sure...but I know that you will not get a bath any other way for at least the next thirty years...or until you reach the age where it is no longer appropriate to bathe with your father...whichever comes last.

Did I mention you started smiling?!

Oh yeah...and...this week...you've been a smilin' fool...

Alright that was the last smiling one...for this entry...

You've discovered the closet in our bedroom and you're mystified by it. We keep the closet light on at night so we can see you. It's a bit of a ghetto night light...but it works. You crane your neck around at very unnatural angles to get a glimpse of the magic closet...and you'll stare off into the closet as long as we'll hold you there. Every time you wake up you have to double check and make sure it's still there...and still lit up. I'm not sure how long this will capture your attention, but for now it's just wonderful to watch as you thoughtfully explore the smallest, messiest closet in town. At least you're easily amused...the closet light...the monkeys on your mobile...Piglet on your swing...your Daddy talking to you...these are the things that you absolutely love...

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Courtney at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)