That Damn Cat

When Norah was born I banned Loretta from the bed. Apparently this is what BVZ lets her do when I am not looking....

Two Months Old!!

I cannot believe our Norah is already two months old. On one hand it seems like she just got here, but on the other I can't remember what it was like without her. She continues to be our chunky monkey, coming in at 12 lbs, 8 ozs and 22.5 inches at her doctor's appointment yesterday. She has always had a strong personality, but we are getting to enjoy it more than ever. She is a mellow and easy going baby, just like her dad, but she is very particular about some things, just like her mom. She can't stand temperature extremes--hates to either be cold or hot. She loves taking a bath and has started to grab and hold on to things (especially her cow Pancho). She laughs all the time, and when she cries, it sounds like a police siren. She loves to be read to and LOVES it when mom sings to her (and doesn't even mind when the songs are totally off-key). So far her favorites are Indigo Girls songs from the mid-90's and 'Leavin' on a Jet Plane.' Her favorite way to be held is over the left shoulder where she can fling out her right arm. She likes taking walks around the neighborhood, but only if she isn't strapped in and can throw a leg out of the stroller. She loves to snuggle and has been watching 'Generation Kill' and reruns of the Sopranos with dad. She has no interest in Loretta whatsoever (and vice versa). She still poops in threes and we have learned not to even think about changing her until we hear all three blasts. She toots when she sneezes. The sound of the shower calms her down and she hates hearing barking dogs.
We think she's the cutest baby in the entire world.

What's So Funny?

Norah has been laughing and smiling like crazy lately. It is so hard to catch it on film, so hopefully this will be a small glimpse of how happy she is these days.

The Bed Hog

Norah will not sleep anywhere but in our bed. We decided to give in to her for the first 3 months (ie, the 'fourth trimester') because she obviously needs the comforts, sounds, and smells of mom and dad. She starts off right in the middle of the bed, but kicks, punches and works her way closer to me during the course of the night. I instinctively move over when she does, and so by the morning (and I say morning loosely, she is still up at least twice in the middle of the night), this is how BVZ leaves us when he goes to work.

Worst Mom Ever

Norah has the fingernails of a velociraptor. Seriously, they are razor sharp talons. I have dreaded having to clip them, and for good reason. I went for the pinky nail the other night and took off a chunk of her actual finger. She may never forgive me.

California Crusin'

Since Norah hates being strapped in the carseat, whenever we take her in the stroller around the neighborhood we let her free bird it without being confined. She takes full advantage of the freedom and kicks out a leg and relaxes without a care in the world.

Moonshine Bay

Since Aunt Amy was in town and BVZ escaped early from work, we took a late afternoon trip to Half Moon Bay, or as Amy calls it, Moonshine Bay. Usually very windy, the beach was sunny and warm with the perfect amount of breeze.



There were, however, tons of jellyfish that had washed up on the shore. They looked like plastic bags from afar.

Amy and BVZ made fun of me for bundling Norah up, but every time we had taken her there before she was freezing. Murphy's Law, I suppose.


Norah and Pancho, chillin' on the beach.


She stayed awake for most of the time we were there, but the lull of the paci and BVZ's arms finally put her out.

What a difference a buddy makes

This is what our sweet girl looks like when someone rides in the backseat of the car with her. I would post a picture of what she looks like when someone does NOT ride in the backseat with her, but I am afraid if I did CPS would remove her from our care immediately.

Swing Time

Norah has started smiling a ton (even when it is not gas), but it is so hard to get the camera fast enough. She is also VERY taken with the mobile on her swing, and her little eyes are amazingly focused.

Auntie Amy

Norah finally got to meet one of her Aunties on Saturday. Amo came bearing presents and kisses and lots of cuddles.

Pancho the Breast Milk Cow

El Paso has this disgusting (yet awesome) restaurant called Pancho's. It is a Mexican buffet and when you want more clean plates you raise this little Mexican flag on your table and the server brings them right over. Aunt Amy brought Norah a cute little stuffed cow and joked that when Norah wanted more milk she could just raise it up, much like the Pancho's flag. After getting past the dairy cow reference, we decided to name the cow Pancho and gave it to Norah. She is obsessed with it and hasn't let it go yet.

The Evil Car Seat

Most babies are soothed by riding in the car. Not mine. Unless she has a doting adult in the backseat with her, she screams as though she is being eaten alive by fire ants. I have done everything from adjusting her straps, to putting up a mirror, to singing to her at the top of my lungs while we drive. Nothing helps. I thought maybe she was objecting to the vinyl backing of her seat (it has been pretty hot lately and she come out of the car all sweaty). I thought she might be into resting her head against a soft blanket, rather than the vinyl seat. She wasn't buying it, but it did make for a cute picture.

Family Time

Norah took her first trip across the bay to Oakland to see her Great Uncles Richard and Alan and Great Aunt Kate. She was unusually fussy and made a poor showing for her first visit. Alan didn't have much luck at first with getting her to smile...

But family friend Mary stepped in and Norah calmed right down. This did not sit well with Uncle Alan who threatened to poke her if she didn't start crying in Mary's arms....

Finally, Alan got to see snuggly Norah and he proceeded to tell her lots of embarrassing stories about her dad.

Nana Kate was a natural.

Norah loved checking out Uncle Richard.

She doesn't know it yet, but she is incredibly lucky to have all kinds of family that love her to pieces.

Happiest Baby on the Block

I have to admit that I thought the Happiest Baby on the Block revolution was kind of a load of crap. We watched the DVD and this guy (who just got $19.99 of my hard earned money), would take a screaming infant, wrap him up tight, shush in his ear and the kid would go out like a light. I was pretty sure the babies in the DVD were robots. But, Norah has been a cranky pants the past couple of nights and so BVZ has busted out some of the HBOTB's bag of tricks. Low and behold, it really does work. Norah gets a tight swaddle, BVZ cradles her on her side, gives her a good shush, and a quick rock, and she is content as could be. Best $20 I ever spent.

Grandma Geri

Norah got a visit this week from her adoring Grandma Geri...


Don't worry, I took her away before they had too much chardonnay!

Grandmas are definitely the best cuddlers.

Norah had an excellent time and is already looking forward to getting to visit Grandma down south (hey, she's only a few miles away from Disneyland....)

The Carrier

We have a lot of carriers. A hotsling, native sling, moby wrap, peanut sling, and ergo carrier (to my credit they were bought second hand or gifts, so it isn't like I got them all new). Norah is not a fan of the sling, she gets way too smooshed in there and I am convinced she can't breathe. She is a bit too young for the ergo (she has to be able to fully hold her head up on her own). We got a Baby Bjorn for free from someone in the mother's club I belong to, and we have finally hit the jackpot. She fits, she loves it, and I am satisfied she isn't being suffocated.

We went on a field trip with her strapped to BVZ and she promptly passed out.

Our First Week

This past week was Norah and my first week alone together. It went arguably well and we spent a lot of good time figuring each other out. Norah missed her dad though, and as soon as he got home would allow herself to be cuddled and then promptly pass out.

The Baby Whisperer

For the past couple of nights, Norah has been really fussy in the evening. She won't let us put her down and likes to scream randomly in my ear. The other night BVZ was working out and I couldn't console her, so I took her in to see her dad. BVZ did the final 10 minutes of his workout with Norah in his arms, and by the end she was much happier (and covered in sweat--gross!)

[**Yes, BVZ explicitly told me NOT to post these photos, and I didn't think twice about it**]