Happy Half-Birthday, Norah!

Today is Norah's 6-month birthday! To celebrate, we went to see Dr. Lawrence for a check-up and shots. (Hence, the Garfield band-aid decorating her left thigh...there's a matching one on her right) Norah was a trooper, as usual, with the doctor's visit (shots and all!). Turned out, I did more crying than she did this time.

She weighed in at 12 lbs. 4 oz. and is 24 inches long. She'd only gained 10 oz. since her 4 month appointment, which dropped her off the growth charts (less than the 5th percentile--last time she was in the 10th percentile), so Dr. Lawrence hit me with some heavy news. We've got to start Norah on formula...every 3 hours. Now I'm not one to cry in public--in fact, I loathe and abhor it, but no sooner had the words come from his lips than the tears started flowing from my eyes. So many thoughts were racing through my mind. "She's only 6 months old. She's developing great. She looks great. She's happy and healthy. I'm not ready to give up nursing!" He saw my pain and told me it'll be ok to keep nursing her as long as it doesn't interfere with her formula consumption. He wants to see us back on Monday to see if boosting her calorie intake will get her back up on the growth chart. If not, he'll have to run some tests to be sure that her metabolic rate and digestive system are functioning properly. I'm praying that she'll show the kind of growth that she should, and that we wont have to stay on formula for long.

When I brought her home it was time for her to eat, so I nursed her, then fed her 4 oz. of formula (he said to get her to eat between 3-4 oz. each time) then nursed her again until she fell asleep. She's still sleeping now, and I expect with such a full belly, this should be a power nap...which is probably a good thing since I feel emotionally and physically drained and could use one myself. Please keep us in your prayers these next few days as we start Norah's new diet. Also, please continue to pray for Memaw, who is still laid up in the Rehab Center and hasn't been given any news on her release date. That's all for now. I love y'all, and I'll hopefully be back tomorrow with my first Thursday Thirteen!

Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away

Norah tried carrots for the first time tonight. I'm telling ya, this girl likes to eat...everything! Tonight's photo is a picture of the woe-be-gone look on her face after we explained that the carrot jar was empty. Don't worry, she perked right up as soon as she heard us start the bath water (like we could just leave her like that!)

As much as I hate to admit it, Jason and I have gotten into a reality series. We're normally not big tv-watchers...probably has something to do with the fact that we only have 4 channels...but honestly, even if we had cable, there's nothing worth watching there either...but that's another rant for another time. So this new show we're watching is called "Treasure Hunters" and its on NBC on Monday nights at 8pm. (NBC pays me the big bucks to plug their network) Its pretty much a scavenger hunt on steroids, but the clues are tied-in to American history (like the underground railroad, national monuments, past presidents, etc.) so its got a little bit of education thrown in. (Did you catch how I'm trying to justify our new indulgence?) The competing teams are very different. They're composed of everyone from geniuses, to former Miss USAs, to Air Force, and of course they had to throw in a family of three with an insanely spoiled and obnoxious 24-year old daughter (ie--way too old to be acting the way she does toward her parents!) Its proven to be very interesting, and addictive, so if you're looking for something to do for an hour on Monday nights...we highly recommend it!

Just in case you're still feeling depressed about Norah's sad, post-carrot face, here's a happier picture, in the swing, with her red socks and red bow. She did, at some point today wear a shirt...I know some of you (not to single anyone out, GRANDPA GILMORE) are thinking we just let Norah run around Robinson County naked as a jaybird, but today was just a very messy day, and I happened to have the camera out both times when Norah was between outfits. (Hopefully that will lay to rest any rumors circulating that we're starting a nudist colony)

In other news, I hope to add a new feature to the RCP blog starting this Thursday. I've seen several other bloggers posting their weekly "Thursday Thirteen", random lists of 13, whose topics change every Thursday. I always enjoy reading them on other people's sites, so I thought I'd try my hand at it. It's just a fun way to (hopefully) help me to update my blog a little more often, and of course, to give you something to roll your eyes at. If I get too many complaints, I promise I'll pull it! By the way, if you have an idea for a topic, post it as a comment, and if I like it, I'll use it! (Topics I've seen used range from "13 reasons I don't eat bologna" to "13 funny things I've heard around the house this week")

Well, I'd better do something productive while I still have the energy. I hope everyone has an awesome day!

School House Rocks

I couldn't resist posting a couple photos of an elated Norah playing in the beloved "School House". We decided Norah had bailed out of her bouncer one too many times, so I set up the school house during her afternoon nap Thursday. When she awoke, I took her into the living room for her surprise. It was seriously what I always imagined a child to be like on Christmas morning. I put her in the little seat and she was so excited, she didn't know what to play with first!

What a cool toy! Its seat can spin in a complete circle. Norah's feet can touch the ground, so she can push herself in any direction. In addition to being able to spin, the base of the seat rests between two ledges on wheels, which allow Norah to move forward and backward, so she can get to any toy on the whole system! (She's not quite strong enough to actually accomplish this, but in theory its pretty neat!)

As of right now, her favorite feature is a little mirror (she has her hand on it in the second photo) that spins. One side looks like a clock, and the other side shows her her reflection. She never seems to tire of marveling at herself. Everytime she completes a revolution and finds her smiling face in the mirror, she squeals with delight. Its pretty entertaining! I just can't get over what a big girl she looks like "standing up"!

La Fonda!!!!

As promised, here are a few snapshots of our newly painted "La Fonda Wild West Green" bedroom! The pictures aren't really very true to the actual color, but it at least gives you a little idea of what we ended up with. That beautiful quilt on the bed is one of my favorite Christmas gifts, ever. It was hand-made by Mom R (aka Jason's mom).















Those crisp, white, paneled doors were installed by my handsome, handy husband. Just a week ago, drab, brown circa 1978 closet doors stood in their place. Trust me, it is a MAJOR improvement!












The curtains are actually verticle stripped beige and green, and not as shiny as they apear to be (camera flashes do funny things!) and if they look a little lop-sided, that's just because I made them, though master seamstress, I am not! Thankfully curtains are pretty easy!

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

After several casual blog references to how much Norah loves bathtime in Robinson County, I thought it was about time to post a couple "tub pics". (Hopefully these are all tasteful enough that she wont be embaraced to know they graced the web once she's old enough to care.) Like I've said before, Norah is all smiles when its time for her bath. (And no it isn't because we feed her the sugar pictured over her left shoulder---we just put that in her bathwater to keep her sweet)



After months of trying to get her interested in the yellow duckie (and finally giving up), Norah found him all by herself last month, and now she reaches for him every time she takes a bath!







One of our recent bathtime observations is the way that Norah has taken to clutching the hammock strap in her tub. Personally, it reminds me of the way I brace myself before riding a scary roller coaster! As you can see from the picture, she is sitting up very well in the tub, but a lot of that has to do with her grip on the strap. Out of the tub, she can balance for a few seconds sitting up with her hands down on the ground in front of her, but after that, she starts to get so excited (read: proud of herself) that she starts bobbing her head around and topples over. (She's currently sporting a tiny bruise on her face from just such an exploit--and let me tell ya, I dont like taking her out in public with it for fear that someone's gonna call CPS on me!)

In closing, La Fonda has taken up residence on our bedroom walls...before and after photos coming soon to a RCP blog near you!!

Happy Independence Day

It was a rainy, wet 4th of July, but that couldn't dampen the patriotic spirit at the Shelby house! Gramps and Grandad opened their home to host their annual 4th of July celebration. Dad Gilmore grilled delicious shish-kabobs, Gramps and I took a dip in the pool wearing ridiculously large sunglasses (after the rain quit, of course, leaving us with typical B-CS balmy humidity), and of course, we all donned our red, white and blue in honor of old Glory! (And Norah was not to be left out, with her red and white striped socks and USA onesie!)

We didn't brave the fireworks at the George Bush library this year, for fear that the loud bangs and the late hour wouldn't be a good combination for Norah...but she did catch some of Macy's production on tv, and was completely mesmorized, so we'll probably take her to see them next year (the ones at the library, not the ones in NYC) Fireworks or not, we are blessed and so thankful to live in this great country, and for the wonderful freedom that was given us through the sacrifices of many and the grace of God.

God bless America--land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam. God bless America--my home sweet home!

The Princess and the Pear

Once upon a time, there was a fair, young princess named Norah. In spite of her petite frame, sweet Norah loved to eat. In fact, there was no food found in the land that the wee princess didn't seem to enjoy. Of course, she loved milk, it was her favorite from the beginning. She also guzzled down her first (and subsequent) rice cereal. She even had a taste for pickled squash (quite unlike her father, King Jason, who felt that all squash should be fried squash).

Then one day, the little princess tried something new. Her first fruit---pears! Lo, and behold, the tiny princess had never tasted anything so delicious in all her 5 and 1/2 months of life! Princess Norah ate, and ate, and ate. In fact, when her mother tried to cut young Norah off after devouring 1/3 of the jar (Norah's usual quota), the little princess shrieked in protest. In obedience to the King's decree, the mother continued to allow the princess to eat. In fact, as the feeding wore on, the princess began to wail each time her mother failed to replenish and offer her the spoon again quickly enough after each bite was swallowed.

A few moments (and almost an entire jar of pears) later, the potion began to take effect. Young Norah's eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Finally her eyes closed gently, and Norah's mother smiled triumphantly, as she thought that her tiny tot had succombed to the pear's spell of slumber. But much to her mother's amusement, little Norah, eyes still closed, eagerly opened her mouth wide, apparently dreaming she was still in anticipation of the next bite!

Norah's mother and father smiled at their sleeping beauty, then carried her to the royal bathtub, where they cleaned her up, and got her ready for bed. Although little princess Norah woke for her favorite activity of the day (though now that she had discovered them, "eating pears" may be a new contender). She played happily in the tub, then fell peacefully back to sleep again, in the king's mighty arms.