Norah- 8 months

Isn't this little 8 month old adorable?  Even when covered in drool she's cute!  She still only has 2 teeth but her top teeth are trying their hardest to get through.  There are two sad looking little purple blisters on her gums... and I'm hoping those teeth burst through soon!  Norah is BUSY.  She's an expert crawler, pulls up to standing, cruising on furniture, crawling over things and even climbing some!  Slow down, sweet girl!  She still loves to eat, but doesn't love to sleep, that's for sure.  Norah loves to clap her hands, and will even do it on command when we sing "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!".  It's pretty cute :)  She is very expressive and is usually either very happy or very serious/mad.  She's starting to really try to make her will known and will squawk at us if we do something (put her in her booster seat, car seat, set her down when she wants held) that she doesn't want to do.  It's hard to believe she's almost 9 months old!

School!

Well, Zoe finally got her wish and got to go to school!  She's been asking us for a long time when she would be big enough to go to school, so we decided that even though she's just 3, she could do a one day a week program at a local church.  It's called PEEPS, and is their parent's day out program.  Her class is scheduled like preschool.  She goes from 9am-2pm, has lots of playtime, craft time, Bible story and memory verse time, recess, lunchtime, etc.  She was so, so cute with her little backpack on and her lunchbox.  Her teachers are Mrs. Anna and Mrs. Sarah, and they seem super duper sweet and loving.  When we got there, she went right on in and started playing (after a quick hug to momma's legs- which made me think she was going to be nervous).  She's been saying for weeks that she's "real nervous" about school, but she proved herself and us wrong today!  We quickly kissed her and off we went.
It's so strange to know that she's there, doing her own thing, and I have really no idea what or how she's reacting.  It's a bit of a letting go process for this momma, but I think the time away will be good for the both of us.  Norah's napping, I've done some cleaning and blogging.  A nice, relaxing morning!
Can't wait to hear all about her first day.  I love my big girl so, so much!

Norah- 7 months

(the only picture I could get with the sign, I had to pin her down)

Norah!  You are the busiest 7 month old I've ever seen!  You need and demand independence what seems like constantly!  You are 18lbs, 2 oz and are 27 1/2 inches long (which is in the 90%).  You have a long torso, just like your Dadda and Zoe.  I think you're going to keep us on our toes, sweet little one.  You are crawling now, can go from belly to sitting, can pull yourself up and you're trying to reach for things when you're standing.  You are trying to clap your hands and you love your big sister.  When it comes to eating, you're wanting mommy less and less but you love to feed yourself puffs.  I think you may turn into a puff if I let you eat any more!  You are iffy about pureed baby food, but I think it's that independence in you- you want to do it yourself, and you're not quite ready for a spoon yet :)
You LOVE your big sister, as long as she doesn't try to keep you from getting where you want to go, which she does like to do (she IS your big sister, after all).  Zoe can get you to laugh like no one else, deep, adorable belly laughter.  She fake sneezes- you laugh.  She jumps up and down- you laugh.  She chases around bubbles popping them- you laugh.  You also love taking a bath and make a funny panting noise when you hear me running the water.
We love you, little Nori!

Norah- 6 months

Oh Norah!  I can't believe that you're already 6 months... a whole 1/2 of a year old!  You are such a delight, little girl, and you bring us so much joy already!  You like to sit in the Bumbo seat and play with Zoe, be held by Momma or Daddy, and are getting quite curious.  You no longer like your bouncy seat, and if I strap you in, you scream until I take you out... but if I don't strap you in, you can flip over and crawl out backwards!  You are "talking" and chattering all the time.  I guess you feel like you need to keep up with your big sis :)
This month you got 2 teeth (on the bottom) and can sit up all by yourself, but are still pretty wobbly, and can army crawl using only your arms.  You are very interested in food and I've given you a few bites, but will start you on baby food soon.  You often smack your lips together and go "mmmmmm" when you see others eat (you also do this when you know Momma is going to nurse you)  I think you are going to be a strong, independent girl who knows what she wants and will work hard to get it!
We love you, little bit.

Norah- 5 months!

(this is being written a few weeks late so hopefully I can remember everything!)

Norah, you are growing fast, sweet girl.  I feel like every time I turn around you're doing something new and exciting.  This month has been big for you in terms of personality and mobility- and you've got both!  I feel like you are often so, so happy... or so, so mad!  You definitely know how to express your needs and wants!  You reach for anything you see that you want to get your chubby little hands on, you will spin around when we're holding you to see what you want (so we've got to hold on tight), and when you want to eat, you sure let Momma know!  You have started laughing, mostly at Zoe, and it is the cutest sound and sight.  All she has to do is jump up and down, or make a silly sound, and you have a deep belly laugh that makes us all laugh with you.
You roll all over the place, can push yourself around on your belly, have started flopping out of the bouncy seat (must buckle you in now, but you arch and scream if you don't want in there), and are starting to try to army crawl.  You're a strong girl (physically and in terms of your will), there's no doubt about that!  You are slowly  learning to like being in the car, but it still isn't much fun.  You'll arch your back the second I put you in your car seat!  Maybe someday...
The biggest thing for you this month was your first time flying and being at the beach!  What a great air traveler you were- you slept every flight and were a flirt with everyone you saw on the planes and in the airport.  Now the drive from Charlotte to the beach wasn't fun, but Mamaw and Papaw were good sports and we all just tried to tune out your screaming :)  You loved the pool water and had your toes in the ocean a few times.  Vacation surely agrees with you, because several times you only woke up ONCE at night, and that was at 4am.  Sadly you got a cold and that ended quickly.  Please start sleeping more soon, sweet girl.  Momma needs some rest!
I will say that although I want you to sleep all night AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I will miss our cuddle time at night.  That is when you nurse the best and you're so sweet when you're so, so tired.  During the day you are so distracted that it's often a struggle to get you to nurse well.  What a curious girl you already are!
I wonder what your little voice is going to sound like once you start talking.  Are you going to be silly like your daddy?  Talkative like your big sister?  What will be your favorite color, or toy, or food?  We are having so much fun with you, Nor Nor!!

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Norah- 4 months

Little Norah, you are 4 months old already!  You have added a whole 5 inches to your length since birth, and have more than doubled your birth weight!  It's not surprising considering your love of nursing (especially at night!).  You are still a super quick eater, which makes things much easier having a big sister that needs a lot of attention too.

You are a mobile one, now rolling front to back, and when on your stomach you can push yourself backwards if you're on the bare floor!  Your favorite position is to be upright, usually with someone holding you.  Shrieking in the highest pitch I've ever heard (when excited or mad) is something you love to do, and sometimes it's so loud it makes the dog next door bark (I'm not joking).  You love, love, love your big sister, and often are pulling on her hair or face.  You are now big enough to go in the jumperoo and although your feet don't quite touch the floor, you love being upright to play with your toys or look around.

On your list of things you don't like, car riding is still #1!  We went to Ohio for Zoe's 3rd birthday, and drove overnight both ways so as to limit the screaming.  Thankfully, it worked and you slept like a champ, with only 2 stops to nurse.  You are starting to do a little better with a bottle, and have started sleeping in your crib!  Yay!  It was a rough few months with that, but now you wake up, eat, and you go right back to sleep in your crib.

You have a sweet disposition and we're excited to watch as your little personality starts blooming!  We love you, Nor-Nor!!