Nora month-by-month: #6

By Linda, on May 4th, 2014

Half a year, friends! I am doing my best to savor this baby year. I know now how fleeting it is. As each month goes by, it seems more likely that Nora is our last baby. Not because we aren’t doing well, but because the way our family feels right now is pretty wonderful. I can’t imagine adding to it in the years to come. So I am doing my best to just drink in having this beautiful, happy baby, who is a joy to all who meet her.

Roly poly Nora starting rolling over just after my last post. You may expect to see video of it. Not yet. With mama working, our in-house cinematographer is occupied, and it breaks my heart to say that I was the last one to see her roll over. Jeremy saw it, Leslie saw it, and then me. Just the way the schedule worked out, but it’s indicative of so much that’s happening right now. I was confidently the expert in all things kids around here. Now I’m not with them as much as I was. I think I know exactly what their schedule is, but not always. Nora is thankfully transitioning to two naps. It feels seamless – this last weekend was a breeze with just two naps. But I wasn’t there for the transition days. Cue mommy guilt.

But my greatest fear in returning to work has been proven wrong. I’ll admit it, I was worried that Nora wouldn’t love me as much because I haven’t been there the majority of her awake time, as I was with Elliott. Not so. You should see her face when I come home, and all weekend. She kicks her legs and smiles and coos as soon as she sees me. I feel the same way as soon as I see my little girl.

On the work front, it’s getting easier. I’m not as sad, and I am using my lunches to meet up with friends or run errands so that I have more free time for the kids on the weekends. I’m starting to build relationships with my colleagues, and getting a handle on projects. A few more months and I think I’ll feel much more settled in. Weekends are a mad dash. Last weekend I made 11 crock pot freezer dinners, to save some time during the week. That’s the balance – trying to do things to make the weekdays easier, but not spend too much time on those things, so that I feel like we get a break and spend quality time together.

A friend of mine is having her second child any day now. We were talking about life with two kids, and I was describing some of my feelings of missing the kids these last weeks and why it’s been harder this time. I realized that I miss three things – Elliott, Nora, and Elliott and Nora’s relationship. Because as I’ve said, from day 1 these guys have loved each other. As Nora gets bigger, it just grows and is so wonderful to see. She is a quintessential sister. The other day I was disciplining him about something, and she just laughed and laughed – rubbing it in as only a sibling can. He greets her each morning with the same enthusiasm as we do. “Look mama, Nora awake!!! Hi Nora! I love you!” Elliott got his hair cut today, and got a balloon on a little plastic stick. He gave it to Nora to hold, and when she grasped it, he was thrilled. “Look, mama! Nora did it! She’s holding the balloon! Good job Nora!”

In terms of Nora’s development, she now has two pearly white teeth on her bottom gums, which popped up on Easter Sunday. It looks like her top ones will be here any minute. We gave her her first solid foods on the Saturday before Easter. As you will soon see, she is not impressed. Elliott took to solids like a champ, so this is new territory for me! It’s hilarious to see her distaste, because she’s normally so easy going. Not when you try to stick pureed food in her mouth! She loves to grab her feet and rock back and forth, and while she is rolling over, she’s not doing it all that often. She seems most content on her back, or in her little jumper, or being held. She talks a TON, and is the loudest little gal you’ve ever heard. Nothing’s wrong, she just babbles really loudly. She’s using consonants her in babble, and I’m trying to get her to say mama. We’ll see!

Her hair still has a reddish hue, and her eyes are still bright blue. And her smile is just the best thing ever.

Fuzzy head.

Elliott named his baby doll Nora. Now he has the doll and the real deal in one delightful armful.

Good morning!

Loving her tummy time now.

But not sitting.

I realized I haven’t put up a picture of work. Here’s the museum, and a view from my windows. The iPhone camera isn’t the best, but I actually have a great view of Mt. Rainier down 1st avenue. I also have a view of the water, between two other buildings, and get to see the ferries going and coming to downtown. It’s lovely.

And while the job is great, there is absolutely nothing better than coming home on Friday to these guys.

Easter! We had three other families over. We met them all through our PEPS group, so the kids are all just a few weeks apart in age. They share a love of terrorizing Nora’s crib, and eating the contents of Easter eggs. Except raisins. Those were tossed into our yard for the crows.

Nora’s Easter dress from Aunt Dina.

Welcome to the phase of permanent pony tails for mama.

Chocolate? What chocolate? None here, find your own party, grownup.

First food day! As I did with Elliott, I let Nora choose her food. She picked avocado. Elliott loved the whole thing. Especially the blue corn chips he got to eat with our guacamole.