Greta the Swimmer

This fall, Greta decided to try out doe the swim team. She made it and she been practicing twice a week. This Saturday we had our first inter squad meet - at her level she’ll get to have 2 or 3 of these I think. I didn’t know what to expect but to my surprise she shocked me! 

2 peas in a pod - Greta and Izzy

First up - backstroke which she said wasn’t her best… she won her heat! 

Next up… breaststroke… which she said is her least favorite … I thought she won but didn’t get the heat ribbon. So 2nd.

Last up…. Freestyle which is her favorite and she won her heat again! 

Then the final results were published and she was the overall top swimmer for 8 and under for breaststroke (so she did win) and freestyle and 2nd overall for backstroke and last to one of her besties who swims 2 levels above her and it was close. 

So proud of her! I love when kids surprise you and kick it up a gear.. She’s definitely competitive so we’ll see where this goes. Season doesn’t end until March so more fun to come! 

Nora 20 months

Time flies when you’re having fun and Nora definitely has fun. She sweet, silly and knows what she wants. 

1. Talking up a storm and loves to repeat your words

2. Loves he baby dolls - especially patting them on the back and putting them down for naps

3. Sings twinkle; twinkle little star

4. Loves to dance and can now shake her hips back and forth

5: Squeals ah the sight of the cats

6. Squeals when she sees anyone in the family after being away from them for a while

7. Jumps at the chance to go outside 

8. Is the best cuddler and gives the best kisses 

9. Loves riding on the tractor with daddy or in the little gator with her sisters 

10. Is a mamas girl and can find me no matter where I am in the house 

11. Loves climbing the stairs… loves it even more when she know she isn’t supposed to and can sneak up

Look out world - it’s Nora!

Nora 18 months

Well I say this a lot but how Nora is 18 months old already I have no idea. She’s just the best ever and really does complete our family. 

1. Is talking a lot and really good at sounding out works. 

2. Loves, loves, loves (maybe is obsessed with) her pacis. She carries around and sleeps with all 3. 

3. Has a little temper and throws things when she’s mad

4. Has walking mastered! And we are working on runny.

5. Loves the tractor and going on rides with daddy. It’s also one of her favorite words. 

6. Has the best laugh and loves to smile. 

7. Loves going outside and swinging and playing in the sand box.

8. Is a great little swimmer 

9. Squeals when she sees the cats and tried to catch them

10. Loved her first trip to the zoo! 

Stats coming next week! 

Nora 16 months

Another month has come and gone and Noras personality just keeps coming. She’s funny, sassy, loving and smart. 

1. Favorite word is ut oh. 

2. Loves the pool and can really kick her feet 

3. Went to her first movie in the theater yestersyaZ 

4. Became a big cousin today

5. Favorite thing to do outside is swing. 

6. Squeals when she sees the cats and loves Miller. 

7. Dances whenever music comes on

8. Still loves her paci at night

9. Is a mamas girl 

10. Can walk with help from one hand but prefers 2 hands. 

Can’t wait for more summer fun this with sweet girl! 

Nora 15 months

15 months and one of my most favorite ages. The excitement of new things, discovering your voice and the personality!  Nora is so much fun. She’s silly and loud and loves being right in the action. 

1. Has 7 teeth - 5 in the front and 2 molars

2. Can say mama, dada, Greta, ut-oh, and a whole bunch of words only a mom can understand 

3. Loves cheering at soccer games and screaming for Greta!

4. Loves the cats and points and squeals whenever she sees them

5. Loves markers and crayons and will color on anything - walls, chairs, books

6. Enjoys playing outside, swinging, sitting on her tractor 

7. Can walk along the furniture 

8. Wants to climb on everything 

9. Sleeps through the night 

10. Loves baby dolls, books and anything she’s not supposed to have 

Stats for 15 months 

PS - she’s the smallest of all 3 Delaney girls. 

Finally a tooth for Nora

Well after 13 months, it’s finally happened! Nora has a tooth that poked through and like 4 more ready to join. 

Nora 13 months

The months just keep cruising by and Nora just keeps growing and learning. I love this age so much and love watching her explore and discover things. 

Top 10

1. Can official crawl! Hurrah! 

2. But prefers to butt scoot because it’s faster and she can still see what everyone is doing. 

3. Love day care and has won everyone over there

4. Is quite vocal when she doesn’t get her way or you make her made

5. Loves barbies, especially the babies

6. Loves brushing hair especially everyone else’s

7. Still no teeth but I think 5 are ready to come through any day

8. Can make a doggie noise and tries all the other noises - we are getting closer 

9. Gets excited when you tell her we are going outside or for a walk 

10. Can get up ok her knees now too. Big progress! 

11. Went to church for the first time - she loves it and smiles and waved at anyone that looked at her. Crazy how she can read people even with masks on. 

So much fun to come this next month as she gets more and more mobile! Look out world! Nora is on the move! 

Happy Birthday Nora!

Wow this was the fastest, longest year ever! I really can’t believe that Nora is 1. I remember today like it was yesterday. Dropping the girls off at school and  heading to the hospital. I was so excited to meet the baby I had prayed for for so long. 

Unlike the other 2’s first year Nora didn't experience much outside our house - thanks to COVID. She’s never been to a restaurant. She only been in a store once when she was 2 weeks old. She’s only been to church once to get baptized. She didn’t get to meet lots of people yet. 

But Thankfully, I didn’t have to travel at all this year and was able to be with her a lot. 

And as always God’s plan was right, He brought her to us when we needed her most. She was the reason for so much joy and laughter over the past year I lost track. Nora makes our world better. For a 1 year old she has a big personality.. She’s happy, silly, opinionated, and lovable. And I can’t wait to see what this next year brings! 

Top 10

1. Uses rolling as her mode of transportation 

2. Babbles all the time and can days mama, dada, it oh, wow and something I’m wrote certain is Lola

3. Trying lots of new food at day care - loves waffles, pancakes and eggs

4. Tries to make animals noises for dog, horse, sheep

5. Hasn’t been the best sleeper this month

6. Got her first cold within days of starting at day care - literally her first exposure to germs outside the house

7. Loves to be silly

8. Wants to be part of the action - always

9. Loves books, her paci and anything she can clap together 

10. Starting to use her finger and point at stuff 

Random facts

Wears size 18 clothes, size 4 diapers 

0 teeth 

Has Eczema 

Goes to the chiropractor to help with crawling 

Graduated from the helmet 

Stats to come

Nora 11 months

Another month gone by and another month of fun with Nora. Thanks to her I know how long we’ve been in the pandemic. Poor girl has never been in a restaurant, only been to church once to get baptized, and does not even know the fun of riding in a shopping cart. Hopefully before she’s 2 she’ll get to realize a few of these fun things. 

Highlights of 11 months

1. Rolls everywhere! 

2. Can’t crawl but can’t scoot on her butt and get places. 

3. Still debating on foods and will only eat when she’s hungry. And if she’s not, she refuses food. 

4. Is in the home stretch of her helmet wearing and had been a trooper foe the past 4 months. 

5. Is a great sleeper and usually only get up 1 night a week for a little snack and cuddle

6. Is the most content baby and very chill

7. Has an infectious laugh, usually brought in by her sisters being silly

8. Can say mama, dada, and a hake her head no and yes 

9. Loves to wave hi and bye and even will do it on zoom calls with my colleagues. 

10. Loves, loves, loves mini ice cream cones

So much fun to come! 

Happy 7th Birthday Greta

Wow! Hard to believe I have a 7 year old. I still look at her and see my first baby girl. I remember when my water broke and we scrambled to pack and install the car seat. I remember then next 50 hours waiting maybe not so patiently for her to make her entrance... eventually by c-section. I remember seeing her for the first time. I remember nursing her for the first time and last time.  I remember her first words and steps. All those cute baby things,  And now as she is growing up and into a big kid, I'm enjoying big and little moments with her - learning to ride a 2 wheeler, losing her first tooth and then another, watching her score her first basket and the huge smile that came after. So many more moments.

Big moments in her 6th year!

• First 2 lost teeth
• Reading like a champ
• Getting a new little sister
• First year of softball (well t-ball)
• First sleepover with Lyla (and Aunt Alicia and family) at a hotel (we were just down the hall)

Interview with Greta

My favorite friend is: Presley, Loralei, Sydney, Izzy, & Mia
My favorite thing from last year was: Going to Chicago
If I could go anywhere in the world it would be: Chicago     
When I grow up, I want to be a:  Teacher
If I had one wish, it would be: Lose my top teeth
What do you want to do now that you are 7: Carry Nora
Food: Cheeseburgers and Mac & Cheese
Snack: Little bits muffins
Book: Freddy the Fearless First Grader
Color: Coral
Sport to play: Basketball
Team: Cobras (my Upward team)
Subject: Gym
Song: Old Town Road
Movie: Turbo
Toy: Horses and Barn
Season: Summer

She’s smart, determined, creative and an amazing big sister. 

Baby D #3

So as we are T minus 4 weeks figure i should post something about the upcoming baby. 

Heartbeat is almost always between 145 and 150 - same as the girls.

Currently sitting breach - hopefully he or she decides to flip over. 

Is constantly moving about in there and I swear when he or she hears the girls read is the most active.

Has hair and by the looks of the pictures, quite a bit.

Think we have a couple boy and girl’s names picked out. 

The room is all ready and pretty sure I have remembered all the essentials you need right away. And if not, oh well. 

I’m starting to slow down a little bit not too bad. 

The girls are so excited. I wish I could bottle up there excitement because it’s infectious! Hopefully they are equally excited when the baby is here and permanent. 

I’m ready to meet this sweet face and become a family of 5.

This is a comparison of all 3, starting with Greta, Lola and baby #3. I think it looks like Greta from this view.

Greta’s 2nd tooth

After a lot of wiggling and encouraging - especially form Uncle Scott... she finally did it and pulled out her 2nd tooth.

We were at Dads house for Christmas and the kids were outside for some fresh air when she came running in, with sheer excitement. 

She wrote a nice letter to the tooth fairy - Luna - and the next morning she got $5.

Greta's First Lost Tooth

Big day at the Delaney's!  Greta finally lost a tooth.  She has been so wanting to as so many of her friends have already lost several teeth.  But when you don't get your first tooth until you at 13 months, you have to be patient.

For the last while, she's said that her tooth has been loose, but I really couldn't see it.  Then Thursday night at dinner she was crying because it hurt.  Again, I didn't quite sense the urgency that it was going to fall out.  But she showed me and I thought, it still has a while to go.

But the next morning, 6 am, she came running into my room and said look how wiggling it is.  I tried to open my eyes and see it but just couldn't so I say - oh yeah!  Wow!  Then 5 minutes later she came running back in holding her tooth!  She pulled it out all by herself!!  I was so proud and also relieved because I don't like to pull out teeth - at all.

First Ice Skating

With no real plans on Christmas Eve, we decided it would be a great day to go ice skating.  Greta has been asking for a while.  We invited our friends and made a morning of it.  Open skate started at 9:15 and the we all lasted until 10:35 when it ended.  

It was also my first time ice skating... skated right out with no problems.  Both girls also did great and by the end Greta wasn't even using the walker.

Look forward to going again!

The dreaded call

Well it was bound to happen at some hope - or I guess I'd rather that it never happens... but I got my first call from Greta's teacher.  And not for something outstanding that she did either. Ugh!  Not a proud mommy moment.

TUESDAY: The conversation in the car home from day care went like this... 
Greta: Mom there is something in my folder.
Me: Something good? 
Greta: Umm... not really good.
Me: (while driving trying to find the folder.... and freaking out!) - what is it?
Greta: A note from Mrs. Horvath.
Me: (Frantically trying to find the paper).  What happened?
Greta: Well... 
Me: (now I have the paper and have read it - and am trying not to yell).  Greta this isn't good.  What happened? Why did you spit on Izzy? 
Greta: (now very bashful and not wanting to talk).  Because.
Me: Why?
Greta: I didn't want to play anymore with her. 
Me: (trying to remain calm) - so why did you spit on her?
Greta: Because I didn't want to play anymore.  She was making me mad.  
Me: That's not a reason to spit on something.  What should you have done? 
Greta: Told the teacher or walked away.
Me: What happened after?
Greta: Izzy told, and I got in trouble and had to write a note and say I was sorry.
Me:  Well that's good.  Did Izzy forgive you?  
Greta: Yes, we hugged and are friends now.
Me:  What should your punishment be?
Greta: A time out I think.
Me: I think maybe something else.  (in my head I was so embarrassed).

We get home and I immediately texted Izzy's mom - who is a friend of mine - and apologized and said how embarrassed I was.  Greta then immediately gets out some paper and starts making a card for Izzy and asks if she'll still be her best friend.  Very sweet.

Greta and I had a very long talk about it.

Next day goes by... all good (I think)... then Thursday afternoon about 2:30 I get the call and voicemail.  Greta is fine but will you give me a call (it's Mrs. Horvath).

So I quickly pick up the phone and call and apparently Greta had a rough couple more days at school getting in arguments and fights with 2 other kids on 2 separate days. Mrs. Horvath said that early on Thursday, Greta just looked so upset and mad and that is why she called.  She wanted to make sure all was okay at home and if this was normal for Greta.  I said no - she never had a problem at day care and I didn't even know she knew how to spit.  We talked about how to help Greta through and that there are lots of different personalities in kindergarten to adjust to.  And I acknowledged that Greta definitely has a strong personality and likes to be a leader.  Mrs. Horvath said normally Greta is a great kid - so that was reassuring to hear.

So all good after and on Friday she had a great day.  We'll talk more this weekend and I think she'll have better week next week.  It has to be right?

Lola 3 year check up

Lola had her 3 year check up (yes only 2 month late).  But it went great.  Doctor said she's perfect - which I knew.

She measures in at 34.6 pounds and is 37 1/4 inches tall.  Had her first eye test and did great.  I wish I had video taped it because she jumped and cheered every time she got the shape right.  Then we ended with a flu shot and tears.

Pee Pee on the Potty

I brought the little potty up a long time ago and it's always in the bathroom.  I always ask Lola if she wants to sit on it and go potty. She almost always says Yes and does.

Well this week - it's happened!  Before bath, I take her diaper off and usually she pees on the floor.  So now, I start taking it off and ask, "Do you need to go potty?"  And she says yes.  Then sits on her potty and goes!  3 times this week!  Yeah!!!

One smart cookie this one it.

Lola 15 months

My sweet sassy baby girl is 15 months already.  Lola has lots of personality and quite the little ham.

1. Got 2 her bottom molars - she now has 11 teeth
2. Loves seeing animals and squeals whoever she sees them
3. Gets into everything and anything
4. Is always on the move and is quick
5. Is a mommy's girl through and through
6. Waves and says hi to everyone
7. Is starting to say more and lots of babbles
8. Loves music and dancing -  she'll dance to anything
9. Loves her big sister but also picks on her the most
10. Has a slight temper and is a little bit of a bully when she doesn't get her way

She brings so much joy and laughter to our lives. I just love watching her grow and discover new things.

Check up stats... 11/4
Height: 33.2 inches (off chart)
Weight: 25 lbs (91st)
Head: 19.25 (off chart)

Lola's 1st birthday celebration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it7asWdox6w

Oh what fun we had celebrating sweet Lola bug. She took a great nap just before the party started and was all smiles and laughter. 

She loved her cake 

And presents 

And celebrating with friends and family

And of course big sister

And everyone loved the lady bug cupcakes 

What a joyous day!! And bonus... No one got sick!! Hallelujah!

First steps

Lola took her first steps on Friday August 12th! Just a few... And the gradually has been taking more. I think she's up to like 5. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCqZVCQZs5g