Our Little Turkey: August 2012

8.23.12 ~ Check-Up

Nora's stats from her 6 month appointment:
26 inches - 14th percentile
13 lbs 12 oz - 6th percentile

Just like Liam, Nora had all breast milk all the time for six whole months. But unlike Liam, (since we were in Baltimore when she actually turned six months old) we were't quite systematic with her first foods. Since I didn't have any baby cereal or pureed foods on hand, we started by letting her suck on large pieces of fruits and veggies. Her first official food was cantaloupe. Next she had banana at Angela and Jeff's house. Angela served it up in one of those handy net-feeder things. Nora hesitated for a split second before sunk her gums right into that banana in a net. She also tried (sucked on) large pieces of cut apple and carrot.

This past weekend I finally got my act together and hit up the organic produce section in Whole Foods to look for foods to puree. I also picked up a box of baby cereal. I spent the afternoon steaming and food processing and now we have a freezer stocked with baby sized portions of peas, sweet potato, zucchini, squash, and apple. Also, Jason and Liam reconstructed Liam's chair back into a high chair for Nora to use. Now Liam sits in a big boy chair and Nora can happily join the rest of us at the table.

For Nora's first meal in her new seat she got baby cereal mixed with breast milk. She was pretty enthusiastic and really like helping guide the spoon to her mouth.

For dessert she got a big piece of cantaloupe to suck on. Because, as it turns out, that's actually a pretty handy way to feed a baby.

8.14.12 ~ Heidi Klum

Yesterday we were walking to the grocery store, waiting to cross the street, when a bus pulled up next to us with this larger than life photo on the side:

I noticed Liam was staring at it.

Me: "Do you like that picture?"

Liam:"Yes."

Me: "Why do you like it?"

Liam "Because she's not wearing a shirt."

Huh. Silly me. I thought it had something to do with all those scissors.

8.7.12 ~ Feeling Better

Nora is feeling better and we're enjoying our mother/daughter time together.

But we sure are missing Liam and Jason.

8.7.12 ~ Six Months Old

Happy, happy half birthday to our sweet Nora Bear. We had to take the pictures on the 5th (a day late) since she was feeling so sick the day before. She still wasn't feeling 100% for these either... but it didn't seem to affect her cuteness.

8.7.12 ~ Annual Camp Steele

We're in Baltimore right now for Liam's Annual week at Camp Steele. This is the third year that Tim and Carol have taken Ethan and Liam for a week and entertained them with awesome activities and pancakes.

In addition to Camp, we've had a lot going on since we've gotten to Baltimore:

I officiated at my second wedding! It's sort of becoming a thing for me. Anyone want me to marry them? Congrats to my dear, long-time friend Stephanie and her husband Frankie.

Our time at the wedding was cut a bit short though since Nora was home with my parents screaming her head off with a fever. Poor baby. But Jason and I appreciated those few child-less hours since they were the first we've had together since Nora was born.

We also attended Ethan's 4th birthday party. Emily and Jarred had his party at an indoor pool near their house. Liam was beyond excited to attend, swim, help blow out candles, help open presents, and eat cake. His level of enthusiasm was seriously off the charts. Nora was less enthusiastic because she still wasn't feeling great. But I kept her well medicated and her relatives kept her well entertained.

And then today Angela, Sydney, Emily, Owen, Nora, and I crashed Liam and Ethan's week with Nana and Grandpa and together we all went to the Aquarium in Baltimore. Liam has been really into the show Octonauts lately. And maybe you remember from my description of our trip to the Outer Banks, that this has resulted in quite a love for marine life. So, Liam was also off the charts enthusiastic (this is turning out to be a very exciting week for the little guy) about everything the aquarium had to offer - down to the tiniest, most boring fish. He stayed at each and every tank, observing and commenting excitedly, until we coaxed him on to the next. And when we were all done and ready to go he asked to see his favorites, the sharks and the jelly fish, again. Even Nora enjoyed herself since today was her first fever free day since Saturday.

And we went swimming at Woodbridge Valley Pool this week. I could write a book about how weird and touching and familiar and nostalgic it is to swim with Liam there. But I won't.