Norah Daze

It has been a fun (and exhausting) week with Norah-and it's only Thursday. She's a fun person to spend time with and has limitless energy.

We've been taking a lot of walks and searching every puddle for worms.


aOn Tuesday we went to see Gnomeo and Juliet. It was painful to watch (for me) but Norah was in seventh heaven. The theater was packed (school kids are on break this week) and we sat next to a dad and his 7 year old who got antsy half way through the film. He couldn't believe Norah was only 2.5 and could sit transfixed for an hour and a half. She's my movie junk head.


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She has been asking to take a bath about 40 times a day. She will say, 'can I please have a warm and lovely bath?' I have been indulging her once in the morning and then again before bed. She would be happy to play with her ducks in there for hours if I let her.

We have taken LOTS of bike rides. After about 3 minutes she refuses to pedal and demands that I push her.

We have spent lots of time at the park, playing on the structure and watching dogs running around.



Her new favorite trick is to have me twist the chains on the swing as far as they will go and then let her spin back the other way. I don't blame her, it was one of my all time favorite things to do as a kid.



We have done lots of lounging in our pj's (or as Norah calls them, kajamas).

We bought a second hand double stroller off of someone in my mom's club. I didn't want to invest much in a double since Norah rarely will use a stroller, but I thought it might be handy to have. With this one, the infant seat snaps into the top and then there is a shelf for the older kid to sit on without having to be completely strapped in (the strapping in is the biggest thing she objects to-this thing has a seat belt but not the 5 point harness she is used to). She is obsessed with it and likes to load up the basket with her toys and pretends to 'be the baby' and ride in the front.

We've done some serious movie watching. I don't need to see 101 Dalmatians again for the next 50 years.


We've also done some serious non-napping. This is Norah's new idea of a nap-laying on the couch. Yesterday she was way over tired and I had spent about a half hour trying to cajole her into either laying in her bed or mine. She was having none of it. I finally asked her, 'why do you take such a good nap for Pamma but not for me??' She thought about it for a bit and then said, 'because Pamma is the BOSS.' I couldn't help but laugh. Then before I cried I told her if she didn't lay down and close her eyes she was not going to be allowed to watch tv for the rest of her life. Within 5 minutes she was zonked out for over 2 hours.

She's been "doing the laundry" (ie, gathering whatever she can find in her basket and dumping it in the sun room).

We've been doing a lot of playing in her room.

And flossing teeth.

And rearranging things.


And elaborate re-enactments with her Toy Story dolls and Beauty and the Beast figurines.


Not pictured: ritualized torture of the cat, hours of play with the match box car from the Cheerios box, 14,000 started but not finished art projects, lots of dress up, a close examination of every piece of clothing in her dresser, reading 29,457 books, making forts, dancing and singing, a daily Target run, checking on all of Funkhouser's toys to make sure they are still there, lasagna making, taking 'x-rays' of all her stuffed animals, soccer playing, and jumping on the bed.

In other news, we are set to get the coldest cold front in like 60 years this weekend. There might even be snow! I find this particularly ironic because when Norah was born we were in the middle of a record setting heat wave. I guess we are all about the extremes.

Funkhouser Update: Week 38

Funkhouser will be here in less than a week. I love having a definite end date. I mean, I know at some point every pregnancy ends, but if I had to sit and wonder when that would be I would be even crazier than I already am. Part of me desperately wants to get this show on the road, but a much bigger part of me is hoping Funky stays in place until Monday because: 1) I really, really want my OB to deliver him (as opposed to the on-call OB from her practice); 2) Bubby doesn't get here until Sunday morning; and 3) we couldn't get an appointment to install the car seats until March 1.

I can't sleep for shit. There's no other way to describe it. I am falling asleep relatively easily (thanks to Benadryl), but am up at least 6 to 8 times a night-sometimes for 15 minutes, sometimes for 2 hours. It is really wearing me down. I am obviously physically uncomfortable, but hanging in there. I am not sure where I will find the energy to hang out with Norah all week, but I want it to be a special and fun time for her so I will suck it up and do whatever I can.

Speaking of Norah, I think she senses how much apprehension I have regarding how she will react to everything. We've both been pretty clingy. She's been waking up in the middle of the night (I am usually awake), and calling me for made up reasons-needs some water, has to pee, dropped her bear-stuff that has never woken her up before, knowing that I need her as much as she needs me and I will let her come back to bed with me. BVZ's been sleeping in the living room because he is sick of me thrashing around (and I am sick of listening to him sleep when I can't), so I haven't hesitated to let her in. I am sure that will come back to haunt me next week.

BVZ had today off because of the holiday, so we made some serious progress. I think we are pretty much ready in terms of gear. We set up the co-sleeper, finally got the car seat out of the garage today, and everything is washed, folded and put away. We are finally getting closer to a name (we aren't telling, so don't ask), which is good. I feared we would have to call him Funkhouser forever.

Conversation

I have been trying to get video of Norah but it is impossible lately because she stops talking/laughing/being funny immediately upon noticing I am filming her. I propped my phone up in the car the other day to see if she would notice. She didn't.

Shout Out

BVZ is a great dad. He is perhaps the most patient person in the entire universe and really, really listens to what Norah has to say. They share a similar sense of humor and just fundamentally enjoy each other's company. I am not a sentimental sort, but I really love watching and listening to them interact. Work has been blissfully slow for him the past couple of weeks, so he's been able to spend some much appreciated time with Norah in the evenings. He typically gets home as she's finishing up dinner and they will either take a walk or play, or just dance in the kitchen. She LOVES to dance with him and when she hears his key in the door will throw herself at him and say, 'let's dance!' It's awesome.



In related news, it is no secret that BVZ doesn't have the best reputation as a cook. I mean, this is the man who when we were first dating invited me over for a 'homemade' dinner and served a frozen Stouffer's lasagna. His heart is in the right place, but I think he had convinced himself of his limitations. I enjoy cooking and like to think I am somewhat good at it, so naturally I have always taken the lead in this respect. When I was so sick at the end of pregnancy with Norah he really stepped up and made dinner every night. This consisted of us eating chicken nugget salad every.single.night. It is exactly what it sounds like-he would bake frozen chicken nuggets, cut them up, and then sprinkle them over bagged salad. On special nights he might add a diced cucumber. Over the past 2.5 years he has really expanded his repertoire, and I am happy to report that he has actually become quite the cook. He has resumed a lot of the cooking duties in the past few weeks and we have been enjoying a rotation of crockpot turkey chili, chicken tortilla soup, shrimp noodle bowls, and taco salads. Good work, BVZ. Good work.

First Day of Maternity Leave

In California, by law, you are entitled to stop working 4 weeks before your due date. As awesome as that would be, I want and need to maximize my actual paycheck, so I only planned to take a week off before Funky's arrival. Like with Norah, my agency permits new parents-both moms and dads-an entire year of 'family leave'. After exhausting my paid time off and state disability it will be unpaid, of course, but still it's a year so I can't complain. (As of now I do plan to take the year off with a handful of exceptions-there are some hearings I will do this summer, etc.)

Even though I was train wreck by the end of pregnancy last time, I was able to keep working (mostly at home) to the end, and planned to take 2 weeks off before Norah was set to arrive. Of course, my water broke the night before my last day of work, so not only did I miss out on any kind of relaxing maternity leave sans baby, but I had a ton of loose ends to tie up while trying to recover from a crazy labor and c-section.

Thankfully, Funky cooperated and I enjoyed my last day in the office on Thursday (I have some stuff to take care of next week, but for the most part I am done for a while). Norah and I celebrated my first official day of leave Friday morning by making a bunch of messes in the house. After about an hour of that we started to get a little stir crazy (it was pouring rain), so we went to the mall.

And had a snack of milk and croissants.

Stopped by her favorite store where we discovered a new shipment of Bullseyes. She had no interest in Bullseye, though, because there was a Sully (from Monster's Inc.) It takes everything I have not to see her love something and buy it for her immediately, but 1) my worst nightmare is a kid who feels entitled to get everything she wants, and 2) another stuffed friend is the last thing in the world she needs. So we talked and hugged them and walked around the store with them and then said goodbye.

We rode the elevator about 9,000 times and discovered a new toy store that had lots of ride on toys. Like a digger.

After lunch, I took Norah to Ruby's house so she would actually nap (she won't nap at home but will do anything for Pamma) and I could run some errands. I planned to get a pedicure, pick up some last minute baby stuff, and then go to acupuncture. I went to the Stanford Shopping Center for the pedicure, which is a lovely outdoor mall, but not one I frequent very often because it's kind of far away. I got an awesome pedicure and treated myself to a Haagen Dazs ice cream cone when I was done. I had about 45 minutes to kill before my acupuncture appointment, so I stopped in a few baby stores (didn't buy anything as they all violated my 'spend no more than $5 for any one piece of kid clothing' rule), but it was all a little annoying because it was pouring rain.

So, I headed back to the (covered) garage to collect my car. And that's when I ran into trouble. See, I have no sense of direction and serious spatial limitations. I have to drive the same route to places I frequent often even though I have been there a million times, and I have to park in the exact same place or I am lost forever. It makes BVZ bananas, especially because he is the exact opposite. My GPS and iphone maps application are my most prized possessions. You can, I am sure, see where this is going. I got to the parking structure and literally had no effing idea where I parked. I walked up and down the rows for about 10 minutes like an idiot figuring that it would come to me, but no dice. The structure wasn't even that big and I knew I hadn't gone down any stairs, so there were only so many places it could be, but I walked around for another 20 minutes and still. Nothing. This is when I started to panic. I was clearly going to be late for my acupuncture appointment and I was going to have to spend the night in the parking structure.

So, I called BVZ to ask what the hell I should do. He told me there was a panic button on the key to my Prius and I should walk around pressing it to see if it would set off any kind of alarm. So, I walked around for another 10 minutes pressing the button. I didn't set off any alarms, but I did open the trunk of a Lexus and a Camary! WTF?? I was thoroughly amused, if a little alarmed, by this.

To make a long story short, I finally found my car tucked in a little corner of the garage after walking around for over 45 minutes. I was totally late to my acupuncture appointment (my excuse? People don't know how to drive in the rain!) and felt like a complete idiot for the rest of the night.

After collecting Norah and battling the people who don't know how to drive in the rain (see, karma will getcha every time) on the freeway, we made it home and ordered a pizza. Then she had an early bath and we had a pajama movie party. Not a bad way to start my leave, I think.

Norah Catch Up

We have been woefully lacking in Norah updates lately, so I thought I would do a bit of a dump.

We've had some pockets of really nice weather, so we play in the backyard as much as possible. Norah doesn't appreciate the fact that I can't get in her playhouse, nor am I very good at running around with the soccer ball. In fact, last week she told me, 'dad is much better at this.' Thanks, kid.

Having a mom who is 9 months pregnant means you get away with a lot of stuff you never imagined was possible. Like having a tv dinner. With chocolate pudding. In the living room.

Norah has stopped napping at home (of course, she still naps like an angel for Pam). I still require her to have some 'quiet time,' meaning she spends at least an hour by herself in her room. This is usually what quiet time looks like.

We had a great date night with the B-S family a few weeks ago. Everyone ate pizza and then the grown ups actually got to talk while Norah and Simon watched Pinnochio (and cuddled on the couch).

Norah and Ruby ride around town in style.

Norah got a great Valentine apron from Bubby and she insists upon wearing it when she 'cooks.' I think here she was making me a sandwich of mustard and coffee.

On Friday we made Valentine cookies for her friends. She was in charge of the m&m's.

Waiting for her friends to arrive, wearing her 'Belle' dress. The dress is a hand me down dress up outfit from cousin Megan and I think it is actually Alice from Alice in Wonderland. But, Belle and Tiana are the only princesses she knows and so this is her Belle dress.

On Saturday we went to Sonoma to visit some of our favorite friends. K is pregnant with twins and has just been put on full bed rest so we wanted to make sure we got to see her before Funky gets here. Her nieces brought over Valentine cupcake supplies and Norah had a blast hanging out with the girls and stuffing cake in her face.

She had a funny conversation with K's sister about Loretta the cat. She apparently told her, 'my mom doesn't like Loretta because Loretta meows all the time. She drives my mom bananas.' Lately my patience has been on the short end in all respects. Getting Norah in the car seat, dealing with the cat, basically household tasks are trying my every last nerve. When I find myself losing my patience around Norah I take a deep breath, bite my tongue, and tell her that she's driving me bananas. Clearly, she's been listening.

Norah had no interest in napping, but was more than happy to have a cuddle with some lovies for the twins and watch a movie on K's bed rest couch.

She had a great Valentine's Day today. She got a new movie, a new book, and got to eat a fun size package of m&m's for breakfast in bed. Life is sweet.


She continues to rock the potty world. I have been trying to get her to use the big potty instead of the little one, and I would say 98% of the time she is fine to pee on the big one. She much prefers to poop on the little one, though. I hate cleaning it, so I tried to get her to tell me tonight why she likes the little one. She said, 'sometimes it takes a long time to poop and the little one is more comfortable.' Well, okay then.

Some of my co-workers took me out to lunch today and gave me some really sweet and awesome gifts for Funky. There were also a couple of surprises for Norah, which was so nice. One of the things for her was a bottle of bubble bath. We've never done bubble bath before because of her sensitive skin (and potential for UTI's), but it is California Baby bath and so I felt safe trying it. She was in absolute heaven.



She swam around for 45 minutes and told me that she was Swimmy and I was the 'Big Tuna'. This is from a book I read to her the other day. We read it twice and that's it, yet she had enough recall that she could re-enact (with surprising accuracy) the entire plot line. I was totally impressed. She tells me all the time that she's 'using her imagination' to do something. Like, she will ask to watch a movie and I will say no, so she'll say she's using her imagination, sit on the couch, and then recount entire plot lines. Or today she told me that she was using her imagination to pretend that her socks were actually her shoes and she got to have chocolate pudding for dinner (instead of spinach lasagna). Yesterday at Safeway the clerk asked her if she was getting a sister or a brother. She said, 'a brother, but I am using my imagination to pretend a sister.' She's a complete crack up.

Despite all the cuteness, lately, bedtime has become a real struggle. Whereas Norah never used to get out of her toddler bed herself, she does not have the same discipline in her twin bed. She gets up and opens her door all.the.freaking.time. On her third trip into the living room tonight I told her that she needed to go to bed because mom and dad needed to watch a grown up show and relax. Her lip quivered a bit and then she sighed and said, 'okay. I will leave you alone.' Man, talk about a heart breaker. That bought her 2 more stories, a song, and mom laying down with her for 15 minutes. Since then she has been up give or take, 17 more times. It is currently 10:52 pm and I can hear her in her room singing, 'but I am not tired. I am not tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrreeeeeddddd.'

It's about to make me bananas.

Funkhouser Update: Week 36/37

I meant to update this week but time got away from me and now we're closer to 37 weeks than 36. Full term on Monday. Bring it.

I am officially over being pregnant. Truth be told I was pretty much done in like, well, September, but now I am really, really over it. I feel bad even complaining because Funkhouser is doing really great and honestly, that's all that matters. But, I am tired, grumpy, gigantic, and itchy. My cold and congestion continues to linger and I am beginning to suspect it is going to be here for a while. Apparently the massive amounts of estrogen can cause serious nasal congestion. Long walks, hot showers, and a crap load of Vicks-Vapo-Rub provide decent relief, but not being able to breathe is hard on a crazy lady with serious claustrophobia issues. Sleep is hit or miss (last night, or should I say this morning, I was awake from 3:00 until 6:00 am), but the anxiety isn't nearly as bad-thank you acupuncture.

My belly is super itchy and breaks out in a nice crop of hives every evening. It isn't PUPPPS and it isn't spreading, so I can manage it with ice packs and Benadryl before bed. Funkhouser has dropped really, really low and so walking, turning over in bed, and peeing is pretty painful. I was convinced his position meant things were starting to happen, but I had an internal exam on Wednesday (TMI alert-basically this consisted of my OB shoving her hand up my nether regions to see if there had been any change in my cervix). No change and there's nothing happening. Of course, this could change at any given time, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Funk's passed his NST with flying colors and my doctor said that he is a textbook perfect baby. That's just awesome.

I have one more week left of work and everyone at the office has already started in on the 'I can't believe you are still here.' Truth be told, work is WAY easier than hanging out with Norah. She and I went to music, the car wash, and the grocery store today and I am already about to collapse. We are spending the week before Funky is born together and I had all of these delusions that we would go to the zoo, the aquarium, the park, etc. Now, I am thinking we will be lucky if we make it to the movie theater and out for ice cream.

At some point I will do a post about Norah and how awesome she is. With cute pictures. Just maybe not today.

Funkhouser Update: Week 35

Now that we are in the home stretch and I feel like I am at the doctor's office more often than not, there will be more frequent updates. Weekly non-stress tests continue to go well. I am having a TON of contractions, some of them real, but Funkhouser tolerates them well so there is nothing to be done other than take it easy. Which is hard. My annoying symptom list is growing exponentially longer and now includes a bruised rib (presumably from his karate chop kicks), massive pelvic pain, itchy skin (although certainly not the death rash), general aches and pains, and routine exhaustion. I went to acupuncture last week and it has improved the insomnia/anxiety immeasurably. I still wake up several times a night, but usually it is just to pee and then I can (more often that not) go right back to sleep. It's made a huge difference in my anxiety level and general disposition. I plan to go back once a week until he is born.

I am still sick, but slowly getting better. My terrible cold moved into my sinuses, ears and chest. Last Friday, my awesome friends hosted a ladies' night out to celebrate Funky (more on that in a bit), and on the drive home at around midnight, I was rubbing the left side of my face to try and relieve some of the pain. While on the freeway there was a 'pop' and then I felt my entire ear instantly fill with fluid (gross, right?) There was nothing I could do until I got home, and when I walked into the bathroom I saw the entire left side of my face was covered in blood. Oh yes. My ear exploded. The crazy thing was that it was the first time in a week that it didn't hurt like hell. The explosion actually made it feel great. I went to urgent care first thing Saturday morning and as it turns out, the sinus pressure ruptured a membrane in my middle ear. It was actually a good thing since a rupture was the only thing that would have relieved the pressure, but I did end up having to get a course of antibiotics. Yuck.

In happier (and less bloody) news, I have awesome friends. We had a celebration for Funks last Friday night and the ladies got together for dinner, libations (well, the only libation I got was sudafed...), and general merriment. I felt very special and very loved.

There was a delicious and fancy cake. And a diaper cake! I never had a diaper cake before and it ruled (and it is made out of Seventh Generation diapers!)

There were some incredibly cute outfits given to Funks, and I am convinced that boy clothes are just as cute as girl clothes. And check out what M hand crocheted.

I got some special stuff just for me and the hospital stay, including a book all about the Real Housewives. So very, very cool.

I was completely blown away when I opened the one baby/kid thing I have wanted ever since I saw it 2.5 years ago. Actually, wanted is an understatement. This is something I have COVETED, talked ad nauseam about, agonized over. I wanted one SO BAD but was always just a little too cheap to pull the trigger. Did I mention how awesome my friends are? They got me this:

It's a Stokke Tripp Trapp chair. I love it. I adore it. I kiss it every morning.

There was also a big bag of stuff for the Big Sister. She got several big sister shirts, books, a picture frame, and awesome new pajamas. That she refuses to take off. That she has worn every single night.

Even an ear explosion couldn't dampen what a great, fun, and love-filled night it was.

In other news, we (and when I say we, of course, I mean I) have finally started to work on Funkhouser's room. It's starting to come along.

The excitement level in the house continues to grow. Norah insists on helping rub Bio-Oil (the anti stretch mark oil-HA) on my belly every morning and then makes me rub some on her belly. Some days the baby in her belly in named Funkhouser 2, but more often than not, the baby's name is Zerg.