10 Weeks 3 Days

Miss Nora is officially a crib sleeper, people! She loves laying in there during the day while I turn her mobile on so I knew she wouldn't wake up confused. She sleeps better in the crib (10 uninterrupted hours last night!!) and I sleep better knowing she is safe. I walked into her room Wednesday morning and saw her slumped down in her swing with her legs hanging over the edge and the blanket up around her head. It scared the hell out of me so I said NO MORE. We moved her swing into the living room and there it stays! I'm so happy and lucky she goes into the crib without a fight. She's such a good girl!

I think she's currently having another growth spurt because she eats just about every 45 minutes to an hour... and if she's not eating, she's sleeping! This girl is a growing machine! She smiles 1,000 times a day and loves to be talked to. I got her to giggle yesterday for the first time by bouncing her on my knee and it brought tears to my eyes. It was an amazing sound!

Wednesday we all took a trip to the Apple Orchard. It gets so crazy there with all the people and the awful traffic.. but we went right when school got out and had a good time! We went into the petting zoo and then into the barn to look at the crafts and buy some fall stuff! My mom bought pumpkin and apple donuts and I got some apple cider, apple butter, and a caramel apple! I hope one day we can go back with Bryan. Nora loved looking around (when she wasn't hungry or tired!)

Evelyn said, "Uhh... Loo... I think you should come get her now"

Looking at the goats with Grandma

Ev loves feeding the goats

Fussy baby!

The little cow was so cute!

Happy kiddo

Sleepy baby after eating!

Thursday was my birthday. I turned the big 25! It was a normal day, but I was happy spending it with my baby and my family. My mom watched Nora while Bryan and I went to lunch and stopped to get my favorite cupcakes from the bakery. Something about these red velvet cupcakes has me ADDICTED! I could eat 12 if I let myself! Then later we went to Emily's volleyball game and then back to my parents' house for a small birthday party. We had pizza and cake. It was really nice. We will celebrate Megan's birthday this coming week.

Friday I babysat Evelyn while my mom went to the doctor. She loved hanging out with me and watching movies on Netflix! After she left, I took Nora to get measured at the WIC office and she's such a big girl! In 10 days she gained 13 ounces and grew 1/2 inch! That puts her at 12lbs 12oz and 22 3/4 inches. We applied for WIC to help us out while I wasn't working. They don't provide us with much, but it certainly helps us make ends meet. Even though I will be working Monday, I think we will have just enough money to get us by. My student loans are EXTREMELY expensive and then the mortgage, hospital bills, phones, internet, gas and electric, water, car insurance, and our rent buy out from the apartment... it's very expensive! We don't even have cable because it's a luxury. We have internet and that is good enough for us. Anyway... back to WIC... since I'm nursing, they don't give us formula or anything, but they do give us some food. We get milk, bread, peanut butter, tuna, juice, beans, eggs and fruits and veggies. I went to my WIC appt Friday and the office is just not baby friendly at all. There is NOWHERE to change a baby or get the baby undressed so you can weigh them. I had to put Nora on the cold, narrow, metal measuring table and she was terrified. The lady gave me an attitude the entire time, told me I better put the diaper in my bag because I couldn't leave it there, didn't interact with Nora at all (not even a smile), and looked annoyed when Nora started crying. Get a new job, lady! You're working with pregnant mothers and babies under one.... if you don't like the population, get a new job! I was so frustrated. At that point I didn't care what she thought so when Nora cried, I whipped my boob out and fed her without a cover! It felt good and I'm sure Nora enjoyed it because she HATES the cover.

Today we spent my birthday gift cards at Red Lobster because once a year they have endless shrimp... and it's so good! Bryan and I dropped Nora off at my mom's and had a really great lunch together. We've been trying to connect more and argue less. We're both stressed, but when we're home together, we realized we have to make the best of it. Nora won't be this little for long! We have to get busy making memories!

My heart grows every single day because of that little girl. I swear... just when I think I couldn't love her anymore than I do now... I love her more the next day. When she nurses, she holds onto my finger like "I'm so happy you're here, mom". Today we were taking a nap in my bed. She woke up all bug eyed and scared, looked over and saw me, reached out and put her little hand on my arm, and fell back asleep like she knew she was safe because I was there. She's just so amazing and it never gets old. Being a mom has really changed my life for the better. I feel like I am whole.

Tomorrow I will be spending my last day with Nora before going back to work. We're going to snuggle all day and take lots of pictures and videos. I am working on getting everything ready for Nora to take to my mom's house and getting my pumping equipment all ready. Tomorrow will be bittersweet, but I know it will get easier after the first week or so. I'm already looking forward to next weekend so I can see that little face all day. She makes me cry sometimes when she smiles at me because she's just so perfect! Here goes nothin... I'm a working mama now!

10 Weeks

Miss Nora is 10 weeks old! It never ceases to amaze me how much she changes every week.

• She is in 6 month sleepers AND clothes now. She could fit in the 3 month clothes, but its tight in her armpits and its hard to get them on her!
• We're using up the last of the size 1 diapers that I accidentally bought, but they're pretty snug. She's definitely in 2's.
• She LOVES: to be talked to, her mobile, her play gym, her family, warm baths, watching tv, her food, getting her diaper changed, her bink!
• She HATES: getting dressed, having her face wiped, having her boogers sucked, being held like a baby when she's not tired
• We FINALLY found a bink that she likes. I pulled a NUK out of the hospital bag when I was going through everything in the back room. I tried it and she can actually hold this one in her mouth! It's been so nice to give her a pacifier when she's fussy. It makes nap and bed time so much easier. I feel comfortable giving it to her because nursing is going so well. I shouldn't have anything to worry about
• She's trying to roll over! She can't quite make it over that one arm, but she tries!

I start working Monday the 30th so I'm enjoying every last minute with my little girl. At 6 weeks, I was NOT ready to leave her, but now at 10 weeks I feel like I'm ready. Of course, I will still cry and I will still miss her every second I'm gone, but I'm ready to learn new things, bring home some money, and get out of the house! I just hope my supply doesn't tank or anything devastating like that. That's the only thing I'm really worried about.

I'm going to miss looking down at this little face!

It's getting cooler outside. Time for our cute hats!

Now that it's getting cooler outside, I'm so glad she fits into her 6 month clothes! All her 3 month clothes were sleeveless summer outfits and the 6 month clothes are long sleeved. With this weather change, we all developed a little cold. Poor Nora's nose is all stuffed up and its hard for her to eat sometimes. We bought her a humidifier shaped like a hippo. It's so cute! I hope it helps to clear her nose up a bit because she looks at me like I'm a psycho killer when she sees that booger sucker!

She loves that playmat

I got out the bumbo seat since she decided to be a big girl today and try to roll over. I put her in it right after she ate and she kept spitting up so maybe next time I'll let her digest a little... but she loved it! Ahhhh let's rewind a little. I can't believe it's been 10 weeks since I brought this little nugget home.

Chunky Monkey!

2 Months!

 It's hard to believe Miss Nora is two months old already! She just had her doctor's appointment today and we all cried when she got her shots! It's so hard to see her cry like that, but I'd much rather her be healthy and protected later!

• She weighs 11lbs 15oz
• She's 22 3/4 inches long
• And her noggin is 39.5 cm
• Still wearing 3 month clothes and 6 month sleepers

She fits in size 2 diapers... but I accidentally ordered a HUGE box of 1s... so she'll be wearing them for a while! We got a great deal though! We paid $32 (with FREE shipping) for 247 Luvs diapers. A steal!

She loves her bath time. She could be screaming her little lungs out... plop her in a warm bath, and she's content!

I've been trying to dress her in different outfits so she has a chance to wear what's in her closet before she grows out of them!

Boiler Up!

This little goof ball LOVES to watch tv. She will fight me until she faces it.

Fly Away!

We are still attempting to get her to sleep in her crib, but she wants nothing of it. She screams the second we put her down. She sleeps in her swing, in bed with mom, or in someone's arms. We'll just keep trying!

Well, I start work in a couple weeks so I've been enjoying every last second with her! Sometimes I just kiss her 100 times and tell her I love her. She responds by pushing my face away!

 One of her most very favorite things in the world right now is her mobile! She gets the biggest smile on her face every time someone winds it up for her. She loves it!

8 Weeks

Miss Lenora:

• Is wearing size 1 diapers, but fits in 2s!
• Is giving us 10-12 diapers a day
• Wears mostly 0-3 month clothes, but she wears 6 month sleepers
• LOVES her baths
• LOVES her mobile in her crib and playing on her playmat (she kicks and punches like crazy!)
• LOVES it when her daddy gets home from work
• Watches and follows people of interest around the room
• Smiles and coos all the time now!
• Thinks naps are only for the nerds apparently. She only naps for 15-20 minutes every couple hours and then takes a nice long nap in the late afternoon
• HATES having her boogers sucked... even when she can't breathe out of her nose
• Likes rubbing mom's sides and armpits when she nurses (and it tickles like crazy!)
• Seems to think poop blow outs are hilarious

We spend a lot of time at my mom's house just hanging out!

Holy chins!

Hanging out with her cousin Evelyn

 Well, I had a second interview with the Healthy Families Program Thursday and it went very well! Friday night I got a phone call from the county office and was offered a full time, permanent position! My job description: Seeks to identify families whose current life circumstances suggest that additional support might be helpful as they begin caring for their newborns. With virtually universal screening through hospitals serving Porter County residents and with the cooperation of WIC, the Porter County Public Health Department, area OB-Gyn practices and others, this voluntary program, provided at no charge, includes regular home visits, a family-centered curriculum, referrals to community resources and ongoing staff support. Services are offered through the babies’ third birthday. This job will give me full benefits (including health insurance!) and a years worth of training. This could NOT have come at a better time. I start September 30th :D

I had one 3 hour shift at the apple orchard and quit. It came time to go to my first 9 hour shift Saturday morning and I just couldn't do it. I just could not stop crying. I just felt like it was way too soon to leave Nora. I wasn't ready! Since I was offered this other job, Bryan and I decided we have enough money to get us through until November. I am SO HAPPY I can have more time with Nora. She changes every single day and I just can't miss this.

Playmat!

I can't get enough of that smile!

 I stopped pumping a few days ago hoping to fix her tummy troubles and it worked! Her poop is no longer bright green and she isn't as gassy! I have over 200 ounces in the freezer for my stash... so we should be good! I have a strong let down and she chokes sometimes (and it sprays everywhere) but as long as I burp her pretty often, she seems to be feeling much better! No more screaming fits unless she's overtired. Happy baby= happy mom.

She slept through the night a few nights ago (a nice 8 1/2 hour stretch, feeding and diaper change, and then a 5 hour stretch) buuuuuut that wasn't the norm. She's been waking up every 4 hours STARVING. At least she's growing, but holy cow I'm tired most of the day! We've established a bedtime routine of a bath at 7pm, lotion and jammies, a little bit of playing, eating, and then sleeping around 8:30pm. She's still sleeping in her swing in her room. She screams her little head off if you put her in the crib.... so that transition will be interesting! She takes her morning and afternoon nap in bed with mom. I just love snuggling with her.

Loves being naked!

This is the face she made right after her poo-splosion that ruined her pajamas and got all over my hand and leg! 

She makes my life complete

7 Weeks

 Seven Weeks Old!

Well, Nora has developed some issues over the past week unfortunately. She loses her little mind from 7-9pm and nothing will calm her down. We've tried gas drops, gripe water, warm baths, pressure on her belly, patting her back, everything. She just screams and screams until she gets so tired she falls asleep.

She's only been sleeping 3 hours at a time now... probably because of this issue she's dealing with. I haven't had milk in weeks so the only other thing I can think of is my daily cup of coffee... but that doesn't cause gas. Ugh I don't know. Tonight is the first night in about a week that she hasn't screamed so we're happy!

We hang out in bed together a lot!

Talkin to her mom in bed

Bedtime!

 I'm enjoying my last days home with her. I start working Friday so I'm trying to savor every last minute with her! I know I'll cry like a baby when I have to leave her. My biggest fear is that she's going to start liking bottles more than her mom :( It's kind of silly, but it just breaks my heart to think that it could happen! 

 She's kicking and batting her toys like a nut!

She's "talking" when she gets really excited

Nora is smiling a lot more this week and I LOVE it!

Her naps are turning into little 1 hour catnaps

She has the cutest little personality

She LOVES her night time bath!

LOVE that smile!

I took chunk to get weighed today and she weighs 11lbs 4oz and measures at 21 3/4 inches. Holy cow! My little monkey is getting so chubby! I love it!