2.22.13 ~ Cold

It's been really cold here. On home days I bundle up my kids and drag them out regardless. There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes, right? Wrong. When the wind kicks up everyone is just miserable (despite great winter gear, thankyouverymuch). Everyday Liam asks me when summer is coming. Soon, I hope. 

2.14.13 ~ Happy Valentines Day!

Here's the Valentines Day picture we texted to Jason (who's traveling for work) this morning on the way to school. Notice anything different? We ditched the second seat for a Buggy Board. I actually don't love it. My toes hit the board when I walk and steering is close to impossible. But Liam loves it. And that's all that really matters, isn't it?

Notice anything else? Nora all passed out? Why? Because she's exhausted. For her birthday Jason and I gifted her a week of sleep training. We went from three night feedings to zero - cold turkey. It was rough for a few nights, but she started dropping wakenings (not a word, I realize) quickly and is now on most nights sleeping through the night from about 7pm till about 5am. Then we got cocky and also moved her crib into Liam's room. This is really the reason why she's exhausted. Let's just say they are still getting used to each others presence at bedtime and in the morning. And I use the term "morning" loosely since I'm really talking about 5am.

Also, on Tuesday Nora had her one year appointment with the doctor. She weighed in at 16 lbs. and 4 oz. and was 27 inches long. These measurements prompted a very not-nice-sounding diagnosis. However, her doctor said she actually isn't overly concerned. She did recommend I feed Nora lots of calorie packed foods. So, yesterday we went to the grocery store and loaded up on cream cheese, peanut butter, avocado, full fat Greek yogurt, cheese, eggs, and yogurt drinks. Lucky girl.

2.10.13 ~ Nemo

Since when did they start naming snow storms? Anyway, any snow - named or nameless - transforms the city. And when the sun comes out it turns dirty, gritty New York into a winter wonderland. Yesterday we wondered around outside in the cold while Nora slept in the Ergo. We saw Simon, Lynda, and Rachel at the playground and Liam took turns sledding down the slide (on a sled) with his buddy.

 Utterly thrilled.

 Simon. 

Today the air was much warmer so Jason took his jacket off and Nora crawled through the snow in her space suit.

 That's a snow version of the Lombardi trophy. Because Jason is a tool. 

 Throwing snowballs at innocent New Yorkers. 

Also, I know they are boring, but I am posting pictures of the scenery because it was pretty. Sorry.

 Broadway

 Riverside

 108th

 The most populated sledding hill. 

Turtle

One more thing: Helki came to visit with her friend Allie. Jason stayed home with the kids and I went out with them and had sushi and sake out at a restaurant like a grownup.

2.10.13 ~ More Birthday

On the Saturday before her birthday, Nora had a little pre-birthday celebration with Nana and Grampa who came up to New York to see her. They brought presents, bought us lunch (Nana had two margaritas!), and got birthday cupcakes! Nora had a celebratory cupcake all to herself and this happened:

2.8.13 ~ Nora's Birthday Extravaganza

The Ravens won the Superbowl in honor of Nora's birthday. (This is what a 4 year old looks like if he stays up for the whole game, even if his team wins!) 

 We celebrated with Nora's classmates in the infant room with bran muffins and puffs.

 And then a second time with Liam and his classmates in the preschool room with real cupcakes..

 And then opened presents from family in the evening. 

And now its officially official. Nora is a one-year-old.

2.4.13 ~ Nora is One!

I can't believe it's a been a whole year since sweet, little Nora arrived in the middle of the night: beautiful, healthy, tiny, and looking around with her big eyes. This year has probably been the toughest of my life. It's no joke being a parent to two. Especially while trying to do all the other things that Jason and I do. But Nora is perfect and I would never give her back. When everything else gets to be too much, I just have to focus on her for a bit and I start to feel better. She is so unique, so calm, so affectionate (with me anyway), so serious, so studious, so resilient, so funny, so independent, and also so dependent. Parenting her is a true adventure and one I am so thankful to be on. She's our Nora Bear, Nora Bearie, Norie -- and Jason, Liam and I wish her the happiest of first birthdays!