13 Evidences She's Growing Like a Weed

Norah amazes me nearly every day with something new she's figured out. Jason and I spend about 1/3 of our evenings discussing what new thing she's into, and another 1/3 witnessing her latest antics (which still leaves a little time for other stuff). I decided this week I'd devote my 13 to some of the things she's learning/saying/doing that I don't want to forget when she's older and I can't remember a time when these weren't "big feats".

(And I owe Jason credit for the photo idea...he saw Norah plop down by this big dandelion and said, "That'd be great for your blog--to show how she's growing like a weed". Good call, babe!)

1. Paci De-tox. No, we aren't completely off the plug, but it is at least reserved for bed-time only. (Ok, and maybe as an act of desperation if she's a little too chatty in church) Norah seems to understand and be completely ok with this. When I go to get her out of her crib, I tell her, "Put your paci in your bed" and she throws it (with impressive force for a 14-month old) right in. Sometimes she does it without even being asked. I was most impressed when she came into the living room carrying a pacifier that she'd scavenged from some dark corner of our house, and upon my instructing her to "Go put that paci in your bed", she obediently turned around without a fuss, walked straight to her room, and tossed it in her crib. (And yes, there was definitely adequate praise given to her for her act of obedience!)
2. Manners Matter. We're working on our "Pwee" and "Tahk oooo". Right now, I rarely get both in the same sitting, but she does usually say one or the other, so that's at least a start.
   
3. Toothbrush Recall. Norah's always enjoyed brushing her teeth, but I used to have to fight her to give her toothbrush back when it was time to put it away. (We always brush our teeth together, so when I finish brushing, I tell her she's done, to0) When I finish brushing my teeth, I rinse my brush and then tap it three times on the sink (to shake excess water off). Its a habit I've had for most of my life--maybe everyone else does it, I don't know, but its always three taps and into the toothbrush holder. Well, this week, I guess it clicked with Norah that three taps signify time to hand over her toothbrush, because without being prompted, she's been giving hers to me as soon as she hears me tap.
   
4. She's into blowing kisses. This is one of my favorite things to watch her do. She doesn't really pucker much, but she says, "Muah!" really loud, and it melts my heart every time.
5. 2-Word Phrases. So far, we've had 3, to date. The first was, "Bye-bye, Daddy". (Spoken as Jason went into the backyard to practice disc golf putting.) The next was "More Nana". (Which was really funny, considering she hadn't had any bananas with her dinner that night, but you'd better believe we gave her one after she asked for it and pointed to the top of the fridge where I keep them!) The third was a couple of nights ago, when we were heading home from dinner with some friends, she said, "Bye-bye, baby" to her 3-month-old buddy, Carter.
   
6. She knows how to clean-up. From toys to easter eggs, to the uneaten food on her high chair tray (I dont make her clean her plate, but she does have to put the excess food back on it before she can get down), she is really getting the hand of "clean-up time".
7. She knows trash...sort of. When I fold laundry in my room, Norah always wants to help, so we've devised a few things to keep her busy. For one, I always knot the dyer sheet that comes out with my loud of laundry, and hand it to her with instructions to, "Put it in the trash". She complies by throwing it away in the nearby bathroom trashcan, and is always proud to have done her part. This morning, I was making my bed, and she brought me a t-shirt (she knew I was still in my PJs and was trying to help me get dressed). I told her thank you, and then asked her to put it on the table (I have a bench at the foot of my bed). Seeming to understand, she took the shirt from me, turned around, and walked away...but she passed the bench, rounded the corner into the bathroom, and was just about to toss my clean t-shirt into the trash when I intercepted it and realized that to a 14-month old, "table" and "trash" probably do sound a lot alike.
8. She can close most any door. I've had lots of trouble with Norah getting into cabinets all over the house. Thankfully, I discovered a good way to keep her out. She's recently grasped the concept of "close the door". So when she tries to get into the cabinets under the sink, I just tell her "No-no. Close the door" and she proudly does so. This trick also works for when she gets into the open dishwasher that I'm in the process of loading, or if she gets curious about the shower door that was accidentally left ajar.
   
9. Her feet are growing (finally!). After nearly a year of being stuck in size 1, in a month's time, she's moved onto a size 2, and is almost ready for a 3! Its nice to finally grow into some of the great hand-me-down shoes we've been given!
10. She's a good eater. She will try anything we put on her plate, and usually, she'll eat all that she's been given. A few nights ago we showed her how she could eat black olives off her finger tips (and no, we generally don't endorse playing with her food) and she thought that was about the funniest thing she'd ever seen. We are so proud to take her to a restaurant because she is well-behaved and doesn't make much of a mess (and what little mess she makes, we take care of for her).
    
11. She tells us when she's tired. If she gets a little fussy in the day, I can ask her if she wants to go night-night, and if she's tired (which is almost always), she'll reply "Nye nye". (Jason and I love hearing her say this--it is so sweet!) I was so jealous of my friend Jenny, who's sweet little girl, Patti would enter the room at 8pm and announce, "Nye Nye" when she was ready to be put to bed...and finally Norah has grown into it, too!
12. We pray before we eat. 6 months ago I thought we'd never be able to bypass her voracious appetite to pray...but we've been working at it, and she's doing great!
13. She knows her way around the kitchen. There are several things in my kitchen that Norah truly loves-- a giant, red, plastic bowl a metal, collapsible vegetable steamer; and a blue roll of shop paper towels. She knows where all three are kept, and helps herself whenever I'm in the kitchen. (Once again, I think she feels this is her way of doing "her part". After all, if she didn't unroll the blue paper towels, who else would?)
    

13 of My Favorite Things...This Week

Can you think of any random things that you just like for no reason? Things that are treasures to you, but may not seem extraordinary to anyone else? This week's 13 is devoted to a few such things that have made my "likes" list, whether for practicality, frivolousness, and in some cases, just because.

1. Stationary. I am a major stationary junkie. I love anything personalized-- from initials, to photo cards, but I also like simple, pretty cards from Walmart. I have an old-fashioned wax seal with our family initial on it, as well as a fancy return address stamp and I love using both. Part of me feels special because I still enjoy corresponding the "old fashioned" way, by post. And part of me likes to make others feel special when they get something in their mailbox that is more personal than a credit card offer or the weekly grocery circulars. (Am I the only one who gets a little excited when I receive an actual, hand-addressed letter in my mailbox?)
   
2. Sippy Cup Name Bands. My good buddy, Jenny introduced these to me. (Available at inchbug.com) They are reminiscent of the bright yellow "Live Strong"-type wrist bands that Lance Armstrong made popular a few years back, only these fit on your child's sippy cup and have their name stamped on them, and you can choose your color. (Ok, so I'm noticing a theme here...I like things with our name on them!) They are great for when you drop your child off in the church nursery so their sippy doesn't get mixed up with anyone else's. (Ok, so masking tape and a marker would do the same thing...but they are dishwasher-safe, so you never have to take them off if you don't want to, and they really are cute)
3. Postage Stamps. I love stamps. I can't go in the post office without buying at least one book. I love to see what new specialty stamps are out every time I go. It is so much more fun for me to have "cute" stamps that you can only get at the post office. (I think its the part of me that wants the recipient of my letter to feel "special" that they got a neat-looking stamp...even though they may not notice) My all-time favorites were the children's book stamps that were out last spring. They had everything from "The Hungry Caterpillar", to "Curious George", to "Where the Wild Things Are". I stocked up so I could send them out on Norah's birthday party invitations.
4. Church Hymnals. There is something truly special, to me, about old hymnals. I have 5 in my personal collection, several of which are as old as dirt. I love to thumb through them and see how many songs I can find that I know, and am often remembered of some that were long-forgotten in my memory, but bring back memories of my childhood. Maybe these books hold such a special place in my heart because I love to sing, and these represent the "musical training" of my youth. But, for whatever reason, they are some of my prized posessions.
   
5. Flowers. Receiving them is nice...but I'd really prefer the kind that grow in the ground. It is such a fun surprise when they poke through the ground and even more exciting when they bloom for the first time. This week got a few bulbs to plant that will (hopefully) bloom this summer. I can't wait!
   
6. Sewing Notions. From seam rippers, to pins with brightly colored heads, to spools of thread, ribbon, and buttons--I love them all, and I love having a "stash" in my sewing room.
7. Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids. In truth, I've ordered very little from them, but I love their style, and they are fantastic "inspiration" material.
   
8. Disney Movies. Jason and I have a pretty big dvd collection, and a large chunk of it is dedicated to Disney. Even before we had thoughts of kids, we started buying the classics I mean, with that crazy Disney Vault, who knows when they'll be available again, right? (And yes, that is total sarcasm, I am fully aware that I have fallen prey to a marketing scheme, and I don't even feel violated) Norah's favorite, to date, is "Lady & the Tramp". Go figure. The girl loves puppies.
   
9. Socks. This is one of my less-practical fetishes, because anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I wear flip flops as often as I possibly can. But, for the couple of cooler months we have, I do enjoy having fun socks to wear to help me make it through my flip flop withdrawal.
10. Rubbermaid Containers. I can never have too many. I even ask for them every year for Christmas! I just love being able to organize my many messes into the confines of a clear, plastic box, where I will hopefully be able to find them the next time they're needed.
11. www.irs.gov. No, seriously. I went there last week and was greeted with a wealth of good information. PLUS, I linked from there to a free Turbo Tax site, which walked me through preparing my taxes online and even free e-filing. Not to mention, thanks to Norah, we are getting our first return in over 5 years!
12. Children's Books. Norah is only 14 months, but she has a huge library! This is due, in my opinion, to several factors. A--She is spoiled by her grandma, B--I sell Usborne Books, and C--I have a not-so-secret love for children's literature and have been collecting it for years. I feel like I've been waiting my entire life to share my love of these books with my own little one, and now I am living my dream. It is so much more fulfilling (and less awkward) to pour over "Goodnight, Moon" with a child in your lap! I can't wait to introduce her to Graeme Base and Chris Van Allsburg! I hope that she'll grow up to enjoy books (grown up ones too, not just the ones with amazing pictures) as much as I do!
    
13. Martha Stewart Living. I don't profess to be a huge Martha (the woman) fan. But her magazine and website have some of the greatest ideas! I found my inspiration from Norah's first birthday party at MarthaStewart.com, in addition to how to tastefully hang my door wreath, plan a cookie swap, and prepare a 12-course dinner for 8 with no more than water, rosemary leaves, and some twine. (Ok, maybe I made that last one up...but I really do use her ideas all the time!)
    

13 Photos of Nordstrom

AA asked for "more photos", so this week's T13 is thirteen pictures of Norah...





She loves brushing her 10 teeth













Driving, this time without baby










She LOVES shoes...











and talking on the phone...her special talent is listening with her neck









Striking a pose









Still loves books







She learned how to blow her nose while I've been sick











Decked out in mommy's beads









Goofy grin







This is the face she makes when she "roars" like a lion (which, by the way, is what it would sound like if a lion could whisper). She also likes to makes noises like a doggy and a cow (which is really funny)












She knows where her nose is...










and her mouth...











and her ears--smart girl!

13 To-Dos

We are having GORGEOUS, spring weather this week, which always gives me the itch to get things done. So, in light of that, this week's T-13 is a montage of my lofty list of "Things To Do". (Ok, so they're not all lofty, but I can't lead an entirely glamorous life, now can I?)

1. Weed the front flowerbed. I confess. I don't weed during the winter months. Its cold (yes, I remember I live in central Texas, and compared to some of those Northern states, it never really gets "cold" here...but I'm not conditioned to the cold, so cut me some slack) and I just don't have the desire. But now, its beautiful outside, so any excuse I can come up with to be outside (even pulling weeds) will do.
2. Clean out the garage. Through the winter months (due to my aforementioned determination to stay warm, and the fact that our garage is not heated), the garage has become a burial ground for a fat lot of boxes. If I just throw out the empty boxes alone, it will probably double our space in there!
3. Finish knitting my blanket. This one's not as overdue as the first two. I only started knitting it Tuesday, but its for a baby shower on the 3rd of March, so I've gotta step on it!
4. Wash the sheets. Ours and Norah's. I didn't get around to it last week, so it's definitely time! I love the feeling of slipping into bed with clean sheets!
5. Fold the laundry. I have about 5 loads sitting in the "clean" laundry basket. I've just been piling them in there (does anyone else do that?) so I could keep turning over the laundry. I don't know why I hate folding the laundry so much...
6. Finish mom's quilt. This will probably be one of my long-term goals...but it needs to be done. I've been working on this quilt since before Norah was born. I think its going to be pretty--she chose the colors: pink, brown, and green. It might sound strange, but they really look nice together. I've been stalling long enough. It's time to proceed.
7. Finish remodeling the master bathroom. Just before Norah was born we replaced our master shower and toilet and put in a new, tile floor. We still need to finish the walls and baseboards. (And yes, I did say "we"--which means I'll need a little help...honestly, Jason will wind up doing most of the work, but I can at least do the painting, which I know he hates.)
8. Plant flowers. I love to drive up to our house and see pretty flowers in our front flowerbed. It makes me happy every, single time. I usually plant violas in September, and they bloom through May...but this year I couldn't ever find any healthy ones, so my flowerbed is just a weed bed right now.
   
9. Decorate this week's cake order. I only have one cake to decorate this week, so this will be a "piece of cake". The small order has definitely given me a chance to get more done around the house--mop, clean bathrooms, do lots of laundry (even if most of it is still piled in the "clean" basket). I've had 4-6 per week for the past month or so, so this was a nice " (almost) off-week.
   
10. File our Income Taxes. I've got all the paperwork together. It's time to bite the bullet. I'm secretly dieing to see if we'll actually get a return this year (after paying the last 3--we stink at this game!) Everyone has told us that having a baby really helps, so we'll see. Truth be told, once I get out the calculator and make myself sit down and to them, I almost enjoy filling out the form.
    
11. Go through Norah's Clothes/Shoes. With the season changing, its time to go through Norah's closet and box up and store/return to Jenny the clothes she's outgrown, or that are out-of-season. I also desperately need to find some way of organizing her shoes. I'm leaning toward one of those back-of-the-door hanging shoe organizers, but we'll see what I can come up with. This too, is one of those tedious jobs that I enjoy.
    
12. Work on Christmas Shopping List. I love finding the perfect gift for everyone on our list. I try to keep a working list of ideas, starting around February of each year. That way, I don't have to think of ideas for them all at the last minute. I already have a couple of ideas, so I'd better jot them down before I forget!
13. Read. I've got a lot on my literary plate this year, and I've been having trouble finding the time to read. (Our recent, newfound obsession with "Lost" on dvd has really curbed my evening reading habit, but we're nearing the end of Season 2, so I'm hoping to get back on track soon) I've been working my way through the "One Year Bible" and am really enjoying that. I also just started "Wild at Heart", for the second time. I have several others in the hopper when I finish it, but I mustn't get too bogged down with books, because I've got to be free by July 21st for the anxiously awaited release of the Harry Potter finale!
    

13 Things I Love About my Valentime

In honor of Valentine's (or as Jason and I call it, "Valentimes", cause its just more fun to say it that way) Day next Wednesday, this week's T-13 is an ode to my sweetheart.

1. He's a man of God. I am so thankful to have a Christian husband leading our family. He says wonderful, heartfelt prayers that often convict me to put more effort into my own.
2. He's so handsome! After knowing him for pretty much my entire life, (ok, so I wasn't as into him in Junior High...but I learned my lesson) I still think I "married up". He has the most beautiful, clear, blue eyes (that he has passed on to our sweet baby girl) and a genuine smile that makes you feel pretty special when you earn it.
3. His great sense of humor. I can't remember a joke to save my life...so whenever I see a good one (usually from my friends through e-mail), I always make sure to tell Jason, and I love it when he pulls them out and brings down the house at get-togethers. He's a great joke-teller. He has a good laugh too--and that's important if you've ever met someone with an obnoxious one!
4. He's a great father. When Jason and I were dating, he once confided to me that one of his life's ambitions was to be a good dad. I can attest that he is living that ambition out. Norah loves Jason so much. I can already tell he's gonna be the "fun parent". He'll crawl around on the floor with her, acting ridiculous, tickling her silly, or helping her put together a puzzle-- all while winning her deepest affection. No wonder she wants to call everyone "Dada". She probably wishes he was with her all the time!
5. He's athletic. So maybe its a little immature on my part that I'm so proud to be "dating a big jock"...but I guess I kinda am. Jason and I have played sports together all throughout our marriage, and I've always taken secret pride in the awesome catch he made in the outfield, the huge putt he makes for a birdie, or the super-long drive he throws in the presence of strangers, leaving them awestruck (ok, sometimes I guess I cross the line of secrecy when I yell out things like, "That's MY husband!" but I can't help it!)
   
6. He smells good. I don't know how he does it, but he almost always smells good, even though he rarely wears cologne. He does shower regularly, and definately wears deodorant...but I prefer to think its something in his body chemistry--its more mysterious that way.
   
7. He's good at fixing things. Not that I'm Suzy Helpless, but I don't possess knowledge on many things, such as the inner workings of the toilet, replacing ceiling fans, or how to fix a curtain rod that is too tall (no, I know how to make it telescope inside itself if it is too wide--I'm not a total idiot, I'm referring to my problem the other day when the curtainrod stuck out too far because of the light fixture over my sink, and Jason cut the metal and redrilled holes so I could still hang my precious curtains)
8. He's easy-going. It takes a lot to make him mad...and even when he does get mad, if he takes a nap, he always forgets about it.
9. He's a hard worker. Ask anyone, including his past and present bosses. His favorite verse is 1 Thessalonians 4:11, and he lives it every day. You should see his hands. They are "strong hands".
10. He's not picky. I love that Jason hates shopping so much that he will wear anything (with few exceptions such as cords, which is such a shame, cause I think they look great on guys) as long as I buy it for him and he doesn't have to go to the store, himself. He'll also try anything I cook at least once, and most of the time, he's complimentary of everything I cook.
11. He's brave (and patient). I've lost count of how many late-night missions I've sent him on to "stake out" the house and make sure no bad guys are lurking about. (Many of which I've woken him up for) He never makes me go because he knows I'm afraid of the boogey man, and he rarely gets angry at me for being mistaken. (He hasn't found any burglars yet!)
12. He's thoughtful. He gives great gifts--and that's really saying something, considering we're talking about a guy who HATES to shop. Maybe its just because he'd rather think really hard beforehand so he can only go to one place, but I'd rather think he's just a thoughtful kind of guy.
13. He's a nice guy. I catch him all the time asking the cashier at Walmart how her day has been. He always says thank you. He's courteous to strangers. And I think that is so incredibly attractive.

13 Things I'm Glad I Tried

I've always heard it said that "its good to try new things". So I got to thinking about some of the once "new" things that I've tried that I'm thankful for. Maybe you're on the fence about experiencing some of the things on my list, and if so, here's what has earned my endorsement. (And no, I'm not getting paid for any of this-- just my unsolicited opinion, as a free service to you) Feel free to let me know if you agree with me, or if I talked you into trying something you, too love. (Just dont let me know if you try any of these 13 things and hate them, because I really don't need that kind of guilt)

1. Special K Red Berries- Delicious...and nutritious!
2. "The Illusionist" on dvd- we loved it! One of my favorite rentals in a long, long time.
3. Shutterfly- I tried Shutterfly.com for our Christmas cards and had a blast. I was really pleased with the price and finished product. I even had special thank you notes printed for Norah's birthday gifts (with a picture of her and her beloved sock monkey)!
   
4. Buck's Pizza Rolls- Not nearly as nutritious as #1, but still delicious, and you can't beat 50 cent rolls on Tuesday! I think they're the best pizza rolls in town.
5. Knitting- I never had any desire to knit. I thought it was for "old ladies" who were exceptionally coordinated. Then I tried to crochet and I stunk at it, so I decided to give knitting a try...and I really enjoy it! Its neat to be able to make something useful and practical from just a pair of needles and a ball (or 4) of yarn.
   
6. Raisins- I recently gave them a try after a lifetime of thinking I didn't like them. (I figured if I was gonna subject Norah to them, the least I could do was eat some, myself.) Turns out, raisins aren't too bad. (My little sis has informed me that when, in my old age, I try these new things and discover that I now like them, it simply means that enough of my taste buds have "died" that I now THINK it tastes good.)
7. Veggie Tales- I'm addicted. My current favorite is "A Snoodle's Tale", which is a parody of a Dr. Seuss book. Hilarious, smart, and moral.
8. Secret with Olay moisturizers- I've always been a Secret girl, but I love the new Olay moisturizing version of my old standby.
   
9. Walgreen's. Open 24 hours, 365 days a year. Great service. PLUS, I can upload all my digital photos to their website and they're ready in an hour! I love Walgreen's!
10. Speaking of "24"!!! Jason and I are addicted to "24" and can't wait to see what tight spot Jack Bauer will manage to get out of next. We've currently watched all the way through season 4 (all on dvd, commercial-free). It's fun to have a show that we look forward to watching together, after Norah's safely tucked in.
11. Dangly earrings. Up until last month, I had never owned a pair. Then a good friend (thanks, Katy) gave me a pair for my birthday, and lo and behold, I really like them! At first I felt a little like a poser, but after I got used to the way they felt, I really enjoyed wearing them. They really made me feel feminine!
12. Online Shopping-- I love to buy online. I feel like I can find practically anything I could possibly want on the web. Plus, I can usually find it for less than I would if I spent all day long shopping for it. Sure, it might take out some of the suspense of "the hunt", but I still prefer it to live shopping, hands down.
    
13. Disc Golf- yeah, I'll admit, it sounds pretty dorky, but Jason and I have clocked a lot of hours playing together, and we both really love it! We can already tell Norah's gonna get into it--she loves to watch Daddy practice his putting in the back yard. She even says "Daddy!" every time she hears the disc go into the basket chains!

13 Photo Memories of Norah's First Year

Our sweet baby girl will be one tomorrow, so what better topic for this week's T-13 than a photo tribute to 13 memories we've made over the past year. We thank God every day for this rich blessing in our lives.

1. Love at first sight. Yes, I am massive in this picture...but it still makes me smile. The moment the doctor handed us the baby we had been waiting so anxiously to meet was one of the most incredible moments of my life. She was so much more beautiful than we expected her to be (I mean, you hear all these horror stories about what newborns look like---but she was so pretty!) I couldn't believe she was really ours!

2. Cuddling. All 9 months of my pregnancy I prayed for a cuddler, and God blessed us with one. From birth, Norah loved to snuggle. This is one of my favorite first memories of her. I wrapped my arms around her, and she "hugged" my arm. I was so thankful Jason got a picture of it!







3. Becoming parents. I know most people probably think that "becoming a parent" happens in the delivery room with the arrival of the baby, but for us, I think it really happened when we got home from the hospital (which we were still a little in shock that they were gonna let a couple of inexperienced know-nothing "kids" leave the hospital with a perfect baby, with no instruction manual or adult supervision) I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of "fearfulness of the unknown" I felt when we entered our house for the first time, alone, with Norah. It was an eerie calm that seemed to tell us that life would be different from this point on---and it has been, but in a good way. It has been amazing watching Jason become a dad. He is so naturally good at this, and inspires me to be better each day.



4. Gotta love the boppy! Norah was a great sleeper, from the very beginning. Granted, she slept a lot more then than she does now...I'm still thankful for the 1.5-2 naps a day she still takes, and the full night's sleep she usually affords us!










5. First Easter! Here she is in the sweet Easter dress that Grammy made for her (covered in slobber...go figure), and her sweet, little white shoes, that believe it or not, still fit!














6. The toe-sucking phase. Ahhhh...I miss those days. This photo was taken at Wings-N-More. And no, we didn't take her into the restaurant barefoot, she de-socked herself and went to sucking on her toes right in front of everyone!













7. First Father's Day! Jason looked so dashing in the special tie that Norah helped make. (We inked up her little feet and stamped "Norah loves Daddy" on it) He wore it with pride, and didn't even complain that it was pink. I told him I think he should wear it to her rehearsal dinner, someday. He replied, "I don't want to talk about it." Implying, he's not even close to ready to thinking of letting her go.











8. Norah's first taste of pears. She didn't make it through the whole jar before she fell into a deep slumber...this gave birth to one of my personal favorite blog entries, "The Princess and the Pear". She still falls asleep mid-meal from time to time.






9. This is one of my favorite pictures from our year. We have it blown up and framed in our bedroom. Norah was supposed to be taking a nap, but Jason and I could hear her singing and playing, so we crawled into her room on our hands and knees with the camera...apparently we weren't as stealthy as we gave ourselves credit for, because Norah intercepted our ambush tactics!








10. First ride in a shopping cart. We just happened to have the camera in the diaper bag, so we decided to photo document. I'm so glad we did because this is another of my favorite photos (also framed in my bedroom). Doesn't she look like she's about to ride a roller coaster?















11. All Hail the Jumperoo! First toy to ever make Norah fall asleep, standing up! She still loves the Jumperoo, to this day, and has fallen asleep in it several times since this picture was taken.











12. First Halloween! Gramps and I made Norah an original costume with no patterns, whatsoever. We had so much fun showing off our little mermaid! Norah loved her costume, too. She flapped her little tail for everyone we met. I can't wait til next Halloween!









13. First Christmas! After the numerous family Christmas gatherings we took Norah to, she should be a seasoned pro at opening presents. Good thing, since her birthday is tomorrow!

13 Random Number Facts

As part of one of my New Year's resolutions (to "get over" some of the things I dislike), here is my T-13 tribute to numbers... one of my least favorite things! (Any of you who know me well, know that I'm not the person to come to if your 5th grader needs help with his math)

1. 42--number of eggs purchased with this week's groceries (also, the name of Gilmore favorite get-together game, involving dominos)
2. 3--average number of times per week we go to the A&M church building. (Also the number of pounds of bananarama-- aka banana runts-- I ordered for Norah's monkey birthday party...it was an online bargain, cheaper than buying 10 oz. from the candy store...anybody need some banana runts?)
   
3. 5.5--number of pieces of furniture Jason has built for our house. (china cupboard, entertainment center, guest room bookcase, storage case for our dvd collection, changing table/chest of drawers, and he's currently working on a beautiful bookcase for Norah's bedroom--I'll post pictures as soon as its completed). What a blessing to be married to such a talented handy man!
4. 45--approximate number of minutes from the time I rise, until the time I make the bed. (Cut me some slack, I have to wait until Jason's out of it, for one, and I have a lot of other things going on in the morning--like packing J's lunch, changing/feeding Norah, etc.)
5. 2--number of Christmas decorations I forgot to take-down before we had post-holiday company (I forgot to take down the holly vines over our 2 living room windows and realized it halfway through the party we gave last Friday night....oh well, at least I got my money's worth on our new decor--they're safely stored away as of today)
6. 5--average number of times per week I vacuum the house.
7. .25--average number of times per week I mop the house. (Did I mention I hate to mop? Guess that's another thing I'll have to "get over" this year)
8. 8pm--time we typically put Nordstrom (Amanda's catchy new nickname for Norah) to bed.
9. 6--number of 2-layer cakes I have baked/decorated this week (and the reason for the purchase of 36 of my 42 eggs)
10. 0--number of times this week Norah has eaten baby food. (She is LOVING table food! For lunch, she's eats a half-sandwich and a whole banana! She eats whatever we have for dinner, plus cereal for breakfast, and an afternoon snack)
11. 17--average number of times I call my mom each week.
12. 27---number of years I will have spent on this earth, as of next Monday. (January 15)
    
13. 1--number of years Norah will have spent on this earth, as of next Friday. (January 19--which, is also the date of her great Grandad's birthday)