Nora 10 months

Seriously? How is it possible that Nora is double digit months?!? Can time please slow down. The best thing about corona is that we’ve had lots of time with her to treasure everything this last baby of ours does. I have t had to travel for work, she hasn’t gone to day care, and I’ve pretty much exclusively nursed her (I’d say she’s has only a handful of bottles). 

A few highlights.. 

1. Shes mastered rolling from from front to back and back to front and is starting to realize that she can get stuff when she does. 

2. Favorite food is yogurt, and second is probably my still apple sauce. She also tried fish, chicken noodle soup mashed up.

3. Loves cruising in her walker and will chase you

4. Doesn’t like being left out

5. Still loves books any and all and will look at for a long time

6. Is a great sleeper usually from 8:45 to about 6

7. Makes hilarious noises and sounds. Can say da da and still working hard on mama. (I’m hoping it’s my Christmas gift)

8. Has the best smirk and knows how and when to use it 

9. Love to play peek a boo and can do it herself and then smiles and smiles 

10. Is pretty much the most laid back baby ever and we love her

Wears size 4 diapers, 12 and 18 month clothes. Still no teeth 

Thanksgiving 2020

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and appreciate all you have to be thankful for. And I truly feel blessed - supportive husband, amazing girls, great family, our health, roof over our head, job I love, room to roam, and so much more. This thanksgiving like so many other things this year was different... we went no where and stayed home, which is okay but when that is your every day, all the time, it didn’t feel nearly as special. 

I missed mom’s cooking. I missed looking at the ads with my sisters. The girls missed playing with their cousins. I missed people enjoying Nora’s first Thanksgiving. I missed normal. 

But I tried my best to make the most of it. Ryan smoked an awesome Turkey breast (my bad ordering grocery pickup but might have been the best mistake because it was so good). I let the girls stay in their pajamas all day... and when they got dirty outside... they just put a clean pair of pajamas on. We played games. Had popcorn for dinner. Watched a new a movie before bed. 

We made the most of our day together and I am grateful for that! 

New kittens

The girls have been begging for kittens since forever! And we finally decided it was time, especially since we don’t have anything else to do. 

Friday we went to “play” with kittens. The girls each picked 1 they wanted. They weren’t going to be ready to come home until December 11th. 

Monday, I get a call from the vet (where they were) and Dr Amanda (my friend) said they could come home early. 

Tuesday night... this video speaks for itself! It was such a fun memory. The girls were so excited! 

Wednesday, we pick up the kittens... Stormy (gray one and Greta’s) and Blaze (Lola’s). 

And since then... none stop kitten play...except when I tell them that the kittens need a nap. 

Not gonna lie... they are pretty cute! 

First snow of 2020

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We got a few inches if snow to play in and nicer temps made for great packing snow. We made a snowman, snow fort and snow angels. 

Nora also enjoyed her first time in the snow. She wasn’t so sure. 

I’m sure more fun snow days ahead. 

Horseback riding lessons continue

The girls love riding horses and I’m so happy that I signed them up for lessons. They are both getting so comfortable on the horse. 

This week greta had a Greta lesson and really took control of her horse Joy and her instructor said that really showed the horse that there was an experienced rider on and that the horse isn’t the boss. She also did her first canter! Greta said she was scared but glad she did it. 

Lola is also showing lots more focus and control. She’ll be a pro by Gretas age. 

Greta teacher conference

We had a good teacher conference for Greta as well.  Her teacher had some great things to say and showed us her improvements in her reading and writing, which was fun to see. Her teacher said she’s great in class and follows instruction well and is helpful. Areas to work on are spending up math addition and subtraction (she knows them just needs to answer quicker) and then spelling. But no red flags which was good considering how much continues to change for these kiddos. 

Very proud of her and especially proud because she does her work all by herself and stays motivated.

Nora 9 months

Another month down and we love her more each day! Nora is just such a laid back baby and fits in so well with our family. I honestly can’t remember life without her. 

1. Still rocking her helmet and already seeing huge changes to her head

2. Is a great sleeper at night and usually sleeps from 830 to 6

3. Loves to talk and favorite word or only words is till dada - despite my many many attempts at mama. 

4. Love to cruise around in her Walker and is getting better control where she’s going,

5. Books are probably her favorite thing and will sit and look through lots of them. 

6. Tried some new foods.., chicken and carrots from chicken noodle soup, eggs, pancakes. Does not like bananas and makes a funny face with almost anything you feed her. 

7. Loves to watch her sisters play and especially dance

8: Enjoys music and can even dance a little 

9. Can roll from belly to back and did one time from back to belly 

10. Can definitely voice her opinion about things especially when she wants to be heard.

Still no teeth although might be getting close. Wears size 12 month clothes and can even rock a few 18 months. 

Stats to come after checkup in December. 

Lolas first teacher conference

Very proud of Lola! And although I wasn’t surprised her teacher said she’s far above young 5s. She knows all her letters upper and lower case and all their sounds. She can count to 50 and probably higher but they stopped her there. She’s good in the classroom and can comprehend what’s being read to her (when asked to draw a picture of what happened). 

One proud mama! 

Back to virtual

And just like that we are back to fully virtual. Both girls are pretty sad and say they will miss school abs seeing their friends. I will miss those 2 days if the week when the house is pretty quiet. 

Ryans bucks

Ryan was up at Bevaer Island for a week and brought home 2 8-points. We now are fully stocked for for the year with meat. 

Happy Halloween

Still I’m a pandemic and lots of restrictions but today, Halloween, with masks and all... it felt normal. We went to our fiends house for dinner and then trick or treating. I didn’t know what to expect. Would lots of people be out? Would houses be setting out candy? Would the girls have fun? 

And I’m happy to say yes to all of them. The girls each found friends to go off with and at one point I was just pushing Nora in the stroller, walking with my friends. 

It was nice! The girls had a great time and I was so happy for that! 

Noras Halloween fashion

Nora had lots of Halloween outfits form years past... we managed to get them all in! And I scored the lady bug costume for $3!

Noras Halloween fashion

Nora had lots of Halloween outfits form years past... we managed to get them all in! And I scored the lady bug costume for $3!

Leaf houses and lots of leaves

I loved making leaf houses as a kid. And I’m so glad I started making them with the girls. They look forward to it every year. This year we lucked out with some nicer weather. 

And more leaf fun! 

Nora was not about having her picture taken. 

Nora 8 months old

Wow has time just flown by and that Nora is 8 months old. It doesn’t even seem possible. She is really the best baby and so happy and laid back. She definitely completes our family. 

1. Rolls from belly to back like a champ. Yummy time is almost nonexistent because of it it. 

2. Loves to babble and can say dada 

3. Love her bath time and splashing in the water 

4. Likes food but definitely not bananas. Isn’t super interested yet but I’d say her favorites are squash 

, sweet potatoes and applesauce. 

5. Can make her walker move and gets excited when she does.

6. Loves books. Reading them. Chewing them. Touching them. 

7. Usually sleeps through the night or gets up only once and can sleep til 7 or later if I let her. 

8. Wears mostly 12 month clothes. 

9. Went to the zoo for the first time - first big outing for her. 

10. Loves to laugh and smile and take in everything around her. Never wants to miss out on something. 

Nora has also wore her helmet for almost 6 weeks and gets checked out Friday. I already see huge improvements! 

Back to school... In person!

After a long time away from school, the girls finally got to go back. 2 days a week with only half their class... but who cares! They got to go back and they were so excited! 

Nora wasn’t so sure about her big sisters leaving her. 

I was a big day as it was Lola’s first day so school. So was excited and nervous she told me. 

After school, all smiled! They both loved it, masks and all! 

Nora 7 months

Another month gone by and lots of first for Nora. She’s a pretty chill baby until she’s not and then she lets the world know. She’s a mama’s girl and lights up when daddy walks by. 

1. Started eating baby food. Her favorites are squash and apples. She’s also had avocados, sweet potatoes, peas, pears, plums, puffs, cereal, oh my! 

2. Loves to laugh and can really crack up. 

3. Talks up a storm. 

4. Has the best fake cough and has recently learned to spit and do zerberts. 

5. Can roll from belly to back and if very proud of herself. 

6. Can clap and loves to put her hands in her mouth. 

7. Favorite thing to do it watch her sisters play.

8. Loves the water and even went under a few times.

9. Loves books and music. 

10. Favorite toys are any thing she can chew on for bang on the high chair. 

11. Was a great sleeer and now wakes up a few times a night. Some times to eat and other just needing her paci. 

12. Got her new accessories and is rocking a pink helmet to help fix her flat stop. 

13. Wears 9 or 12 month clothes. 

14. Love standing up in her exersaucer and watching the word go by. 

Love watching her grow! This is one of my absolute favorite ages. Our sweet Nora Bear! 

Back to school prep

We’ve been slowly preparing ourselves for back to school and what that will look like. This week we got to meet our teachers.

Greta - 2nd grade - Mrs. Deo-Perez -which is her friend’s mom so she was super excited she new her. Greta is ready for a school start and can’t wait for it to start in person so she can see and play with her friends. 

Lola - young 5s - Mrs. Buehler - who just moved to Saline a year ago and was a kindergarten teacher last year. Seemed very nice. And Lola was super excited to get all her stuff and her learning iPad as she’s been calling it. She can’t wait to start learning! 

The plan is virtual till the end of September, the hybrid for a couple weeks and hopefully in person by October 12th. (That is if all goes okay with the virus). Lots of praying about this. 

So many tomatoes

This year our garden has been quite possibly the best ever! We’ve had sooooo much produce that our freezer is fully stocked with vegetables and shelves with salsa and sauce. I’ve probably picked k we 700 tomatoes and hundreds and hundreds of little ones too. And I don’t even like tomatoes! But have found lots of yummy thing to try with them that I do. And we’ve given away lots. 

We’ve also had a bumper year or peppers. So many green , banana and jalapeños. I’m going to try pickling some this weekend. 

And new this year was carrots which have gotten a little crazy but taste great. 

And as always lots zucchini to mama bread and muffins which the girls love. 

New foods for Nora

We’ve been slowly getting Nora to eat some baby food and she warming up to the idea, the girls just love feeding her and can actually get her to eat more than me feeding her. 

Foods tried so far

1. Avocados
2. Sweet potatoes 
3. Peas
4. Squash
5. Rice cereal
6. Puffs

Next up is applause, carrots and beans. 

Sisters

These past few months have been super challenging but as I sit and think back I think it has also been super rewarding and encouraging. And mostly because of the bond that the girls have been able to build with each other through hours and hours and hours of being together and playing together.  Despite only being able to play with each other they still amaze me. Yes they sometimes disagree and sometimes argue but it’s always short lived and then they are right back playing. Forgiveness happens fast with them. 

Greta has grown so much into a little mama (definitely way more than if we would have been in normal time). 

Lola is becoming an amazing big sister and her kindness and silliness continue to grow. 

Sometimes my favorite thing is listening to them play or talk or even scheme up their next adventure, I pray they have the same unbreakable bond I have with my sisters.