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.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Honey Pot
This morning after music class, Norah and I went to Babies R Us to pick up some supplies for Funkhouser (oh, nipple cream, how I have so NOT missed you). I hadn't been there in forever, probably close to a year, and it was crazy how small and non-Norah like all the items were. Anyway, there is a Kohl's next door and since I am always on the hunt for pants that might actually fit my relatively tall and very skinny kid, we popped in (the no diaper situation has just made it worse-I literally cannot keep her pants up. She has a constant plumber's crack).
It was pretty early in the day and so hardly anyone was there. We wandered around for a good hour just looking at stuff (the watches were her favorite, as was the lingerie section), and played hide and seek in the shower curtain department. Pants were a bust, but as we made our way to the cashier we passed a display of super cute and super on sale Valentine's stuff. I have been wanting a cookie jar for forever for some weird reason and there were some really cute ones, so I asked Norah to pick out her favorite. She picked this one that looks like a cupcake.
She likes it because it "looks like a honey pot." Anyway, it's not tiny, but not huge. Probably 18 inches tall or so. Anyway, she asked if she could carry it and I said sure. We were waiting in the world's slowest line when the woman from the jewelry counter asked if we wanted to step out of line and be rung up in the jewelry department. Why of course we did. She came over and snatched the jar out of Norah's hands and started walking back to her register. Dude. Norah, LOST IT. Of course she did. The lady literally pulled it out of her hands. I said, 'oh, it's fine, she can carry it.' The woman said, 'no, she absolutely can NOT. She is going to drop it and it will break everywhere.' I told her that Norah was fine and was being careful and on the off chance that she broke it I would be happy to pay for it.
No dice. This broad literally ran to her register with poor Norah's honey pot and Norah wailed like I have never heard her wail before. I paid as quickly as possible so that I could just give her back the dang cookie jar. The lady gave me the side eye, you know the, I can't believe you let your kid scream in public, kind of look... so I said, 'I hope it was worth making a 2 year old cry over a $12 cookie jar THAT I WOULD HAVE PAID FOR ANYWAY.' Geesh.
Once in the car Norah told me she was sorry for crying in the store. I felt bad because 1) she didn't do anything wrong and I wanted to make sure she knew that, but 2) I would like to avoid public screaming as much as possible. So, I told her that the lady wasn't right in taking the jar from her but next time maybe we wouldn't scream about it. She agreed.
It was pretty early in the day and so hardly anyone was there. We wandered around for a good hour just looking at stuff (the watches were her favorite, as was the lingerie section), and played hide and seek in the shower curtain department. Pants were a bust, but as we made our way to the cashier we passed a display of super cute and super on sale Valentine's stuff. I have been wanting a cookie jar for forever for some weird reason and there were some really cute ones, so I asked Norah to pick out her favorite. She picked this one that looks like a cupcake.
She likes it because it "looks like a honey pot." Anyway, it's not tiny, but not huge. Probably 18 inches tall or so. Anyway, she asked if she could carry it and I said sure. We were waiting in the world's slowest line when the woman from the jewelry counter asked if we wanted to step out of line and be rung up in the jewelry department. Why of course we did. She came over and snatched the jar out of Norah's hands and started walking back to her register. Dude. Norah, LOST IT. Of course she did. The lady literally pulled it out of her hands. I said, 'oh, it's fine, she can carry it.' The woman said, 'no, she absolutely can NOT. She is going to drop it and it will break everywhere.' I told her that Norah was fine and was being careful and on the off chance that she broke it I would be happy to pay for it.No dice. This broad literally ran to her register with poor Norah's honey pot and Norah wailed like I have never heard her wail before. I paid as quickly as possible so that I could just give her back the dang cookie jar. The lady gave me the side eye, you know the, I can't believe you let your kid scream in public, kind of look... so I said, 'I hope it was worth making a 2 year old cry over a $12 cookie jar THAT I WOULD HAVE PAID FOR ANYWAY.' Geesh.
Once in the car Norah told me she was sorry for crying in the store. I felt bad because 1) she didn't do anything wrong and I wanted to make sure she knew that, but 2) I would like to avoid public screaming as much as possible. So, I told her that the lady wasn't right in taking the jar from her but next time maybe we wouldn't scream about it. She agreed.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Funkhouser Update: Week 34
Today was Funkhouser's last fetal echo cardiogram and we have officially 'graduated' from the heart center with a clean bill of health. He will get an EKG sometime in the first few days after he's born (while we are obviously still in the hospital), but no one anticipates any problems. So, check that off the list: heart-A+.
I have been having routine non-stress tests every week, which as I have described before, involved hooking me up to two monitors, one for Funk's heat rate and the other to monitor my uterine contractions. Last week (so at 33 weeks), the uterine contraction monitor was going off like gang busters. To the point where the nurse asked me, 'um, are you feeling that??' I was and it hurt, but I figured it was either Braxton-Hicks (ie, fake) contractions or Funks giving me a karate chop to the gut. See, I don't really know what a real contraction feels like. When Norah was born my water broke completely but I never contracted on my own, so all I know of labor contractions are the pitocin induced contractions of doom. And apparently, I am an idiot. I had to be monitored for a bit more and then monitored again later to make sure it wasn't something more to be concerned about. It wasn't, but I got the strict instructions to take it easy, drink more water, keep my feet up, and not travel more than an hour from the hospital. Sucks because I had to miss my Cooking Club on Saturday and the annual retreat for the lawyer organization I am on the board of on Sunday, but I suppose it was a good thing because yesterday's NST was much less dramatic.
In other news, my insomnia has reached critical mass. I fall asleep around 10 and then am generally up at 11, 12, 1, 2, 3-5. You get the idea. And this is after taking a Unisom at bedtime. It's brutal. I am not a great sleeper to begin with as you know, but this is getting completely ridiculous. It doesn't help that I have a horrific head cold right now and can't breathe. Congestion+insomnia+anxiety about not being able to breathe or sleep=me about ready to go insane. I can't lay down or sit still and spent a good part of the middle of the night last night walking around the block. I thought I was going to avoid the crazies this time around since I seem to have been successful in avoiding the rash from hell, but it looks like I am still going to end up in a bad, bad place. It's not pretty. Someone from my local mom's club recommended an acupuncturist who apparently works wonders on crazy brains like mine, and so I am seeing her for the first time on Friday. Cross your fingers.
I am also huge. HUGE. I went from 'that's a giant belly' to 'holy crap, what is living in there' literally overnight. I got a sandwich from a place across the street from work yesterday and the woman asked me when I was due. I said 'just over a month' and she said, 'are you having twins? You are HUGE.' I said, 'don't you know you aren't supposed to say something like that to a pregnant woman?' She gave me my lunch for free.
Thankfully, Norah and BVZ are taking it all in stride and are doing their best to take good care of me. We were at Target on Sunday and the clerk asked Norah if she was getting a brother or sister. She said, 'he is a brother. I am his big sister. He is a baby and is going to sleep in my bed with me. I love him. His name is Funkhouser.' And that, my friends, makes it all worthwhile.
I have been having routine non-stress tests every week, which as I have described before, involved hooking me up to two monitors, one for Funk's heat rate and the other to monitor my uterine contractions. Last week (so at 33 weeks), the uterine contraction monitor was going off like gang busters. To the point where the nurse asked me, 'um, are you feeling that??' I was and it hurt, but I figured it was either Braxton-Hicks (ie, fake) contractions or Funks giving me a karate chop to the gut. See, I don't really know what a real contraction feels like. When Norah was born my water broke completely but I never contracted on my own, so all I know of labor contractions are the pitocin induced contractions of doom. And apparently, I am an idiot. I had to be monitored for a bit more and then monitored again later to make sure it wasn't something more to be concerned about. It wasn't, but I got the strict instructions to take it easy, drink more water, keep my feet up, and not travel more than an hour from the hospital. Sucks because I had to miss my Cooking Club on Saturday and the annual retreat for the lawyer organization I am on the board of on Sunday, but I suppose it was a good thing because yesterday's NST was much less dramatic.
In other news, my insomnia has reached critical mass. I fall asleep around 10 and then am generally up at 11, 12, 1, 2, 3-5. You get the idea. And this is after taking a Unisom at bedtime. It's brutal. I am not a great sleeper to begin with as you know, but this is getting completely ridiculous. It doesn't help that I have a horrific head cold right now and can't breathe. Congestion+insomnia+anxiety about not being able to breathe or sleep=me about ready to go insane. I can't lay down or sit still and spent a good part of the middle of the night last night walking around the block. I thought I was going to avoid the crazies this time around since I seem to have been successful in avoiding the rash from hell, but it looks like I am still going to end up in a bad, bad place. It's not pretty. Someone from my local mom's club recommended an acupuncturist who apparently works wonders on crazy brains like mine, and so I am seeing her for the first time on Friday. Cross your fingers.
I am also huge. HUGE. I went from 'that's a giant belly' to 'holy crap, what is living in there' literally overnight. I got a sandwich from a place across the street from work yesterday and the woman asked me when I was due. I said 'just over a month' and she said, 'are you having twins? You are HUGE.' I said, 'don't you know you aren't supposed to say something like that to a pregnant woman?' She gave me my lunch for free.
Thankfully, Norah and BVZ are taking it all in stride and are doing their best to take good care of me. We were at Target on Sunday and the clerk asked Norah if she was getting a brother or sister. She said, 'he is a brother. I am his big sister. He is a baby and is going to sleep in my bed with me. I love him. His name is Funkhouser.' And that, my friends, makes it all worthwhile.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Baby Ballet: Week 2
Today was Norah's second ballet class and the first no-parents one. She could hardly contain herself all week (about the class, not the no-parents part, I think) and asked every day if it was ballet day. When she woke up this morning she wanted to immediately put on her dress. She was very excited. I was very nervous. To be perfectly honest, 98% of my nervousness was due to the fact that she didn't poop at all yesterday and I knew we were in for a big one. (As a way too much information aside, I consider myself lucky because she has always been a once a day or once every other day kind of pooper. When she goes, she GOES, but once she's done I know we are safe for a while. I purposely gave her some watered down pear juice with breakfast, and voila, it worked like a charm and I could breathe a little easier).
We made the 2 minute walk to class (well, I waddled very slowly while Norah made BVZ chase her) and as soon as we got there she was fine. I don't think she even noticed we left. We could see her through the window (see my failure at a picture below), but she paid us no attention at all. She did great and loved every second of it. I hate to say it, but she likes ballet about one million times more than she liked soccer. We are certainly not giving up on soccer and will do it again once the weather is a little warmer, but man. The kid loves ballet.
I totally get why it is a no-parent class and I have to say it much better that way. All the kids who couldn't listen and misbehaved were perfect, charming little angels without their parents around. Even that jerk Austin did a great job. Maybe it's his parents that are really the jerks.
We made the 2 minute walk to class (well, I waddled very slowly while Norah made BVZ chase her) and as soon as we got there she was fine. I don't think she even noticed we left. We could see her through the window (see my failure at a picture below), but she paid us no attention at all. She did great and loved every second of it. I hate to say it, but she likes ballet about one million times more than she liked soccer. We are certainly not giving up on soccer and will do it again once the weather is a little warmer, but man. The kid loves ballet.
I totally get why it is a no-parent class and I have to say it much better that way. All the kids who couldn't listen and misbehaved were perfect, charming little angels without their parents around. Even that jerk Austin did a great job. Maybe it's his parents that are really the jerks.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Hair Bow
Aunt Vanessa brought Norah several hair barrettes including this giant, awesome flower. I am not exaggerating in the slightest bit when I say that other than when I forced her to take it out for bath and bedtime, she hasn't taken it out of her hair since receiving it.
I like how she is T-rexing her "samich" in this picture.
I like how she is T-rexing her "samich" in this picture. 
Long Weekend
We took advantage of the long weekend to make a much needed trip to the beach. Every time we go we say we should go every.single.weekend. It is definitely the GVZ happy place.
The water was really rough, but it was warm and sunny and (relatively) non-windy. Norah spent a lovely morning shoveling sand and making me bury her feet over and over and over again.
I sat on the blanket (because, truthfully, once I am down I am staying down), and BVZ and Norah took a leisurely walk.
The water was really rough, but it was warm and sunny and (relatively) non-windy. Norah spent a lovely morning shoveling sand and making me bury her feet over and over and over again.
I sat on the blanket (because, truthfully, once I am down I am staying down), and BVZ and Norah took a leisurely walk. 
Sleeping In
Last night was a weird night. I took a wonderfully long nap yesterday afternoon, but then could not for the life of me fall asleep at bedtime (hence all of the lengthy blog posts). I probably didn't go to bed until close to 3:00 am. Poor BVZ went to bed early but then woke up at about 1:00 am with a random, horrible bout of insomnia and was up for hours. Needless to say, we were both sound asleep when Norah started yelling "come and get me, I am awaaaaake!" this morning. I was shocked when I looked at the clock and saw it was 9:00 am (I don't think any of us have slept that late in 2.5 years). I went to get her and found this:
I think she'd been up for a while.
I think she'd been up for a while.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Big Girl Room
Norah's big girl room is finally done and she has officially moved in. I wish I would have taken some 'before' pictures of the room, but of course I forgot. The room had previously been the guest bedroom/office/general dumping ground. It was a deep maroon color.
It is now a lovely light peachy-yellow. I am hoping it won't have to be repainted until Norah is a teenager and wants it black. Right off the bat is a picture of my favorite part-the wall tree over her bed.
It is a vinyl decal that I ordered off of Etsy. It was a true labor of love-from start to finish it took about 6 hours to put up. Huge, huge, HUGE props to Aunt Vanessa who was instrumental in the installation of the tree trunk. Now, I knew I wouldn't be able to put the tree up myself, it was definitely a two person job, and I feared that BVZ and I wouldn't be able to put it up together and remain married. Aunt Vanessa was in town for the long weekend and we got to see her on Saturday, and so I knew she would be the perfect person for the job because she: 1) has an excellent attention to detail, and 2) would be (relatively) nice to BVZ. I took a nap with Norah while they put it up and even though it took them over 2 hours to get it up it was perfect. Once we woke up, Grandpa Gene and Ms. Mary were here and they gracefully entertained Norah for the next 4 hours while I put up the flowers, birds, owls, and leaves.
These prints are from her old room. You can also see her nightstand, which she loves. It has a small drawer and every day she hides a new surprise in there. This morning it was full of legos.
This is her new bed (all furniture is from The Land of Nod). I agonized for weeks about the bedding, which is from Pottery Barn Kids. I loved it, but could not justify spending that amount of money on kids' bedding. Right before Christmas I got an email coupon for like 25% off and I decided to pull the trigger. The story is long and not that interesting but basically they were sold out save for the quilt that had been on display and so it was deeply discounted, the stock guy took forever to bring it up so the sales person discounted it even more, and I had my coupon. I ended up walking out of the store with the quilt and sham for over a $100 less than I was planning to spend. Score. We ended up putting the rail from her toddler bed up just in case. It makes the bed much harder to make and I hate the way it looks, but she lays up against it so it has to be there for the time being.
That's the door to the sun room. I put a black out curtain up on the other side of the door and it works perfectly. The green curtain is the one from her old room. Her old room had black out curtains behind the green one, so she never got natural light. Now, when I go to get her in the morning the first thing she asks to see is the sun. I don't blame her.
These are the storage bins that had been in the living room. The majority of her toys are now (thankfully) in her room.
Her new dresser, with the same elephant print that was in her old room. The blue hook on the right is for her bath towel, the pink one of the left is for her cape/dress up clothes/whatever.
Bookshelf with her owl print.
Funkhouser's room gets the recliner/glider, so we got this small, yet comfy, chair from IKEA.
See that white bin? Nothing but stuffed animals. She rotates who gets to sleep with her every night.
Another shot of the tree as you enter the room.
She told me today that the little owl is 'Nanor', the big owl is 'Janet', and the birds are 'Ruby', 'Aileen', and 'Teacher Mona' (from music class).
New, big girl lamp.
The pictures don't really do it justice and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to it being finished, so imagine my surprise when we told her she could sleep in there for the first time on Friday night and she FREAKED out. She was totally fine and then when we said it was time for bed she got really upset and said she was scared. We did 1,245 books and 2,456 stories and 9,657 songs and I snuggled up with her and rubbed her back until she fell asleep about 2 hours after bedtime. The next two nights went much better and she seems happy as can be (although it still asking for more books/stories than usual). We can deal.
It is now a lovely light peachy-yellow. I am hoping it won't have to be repainted until Norah is a teenager and wants it black. Right off the bat is a picture of my favorite part-the wall tree over her bed.
It is a vinyl decal that I ordered off of Etsy. It was a true labor of love-from start to finish it took about 6 hours to put up. Huge, huge, HUGE props to Aunt Vanessa who was instrumental in the installation of the tree trunk. Now, I knew I wouldn't be able to put the tree up myself, it was definitely a two person job, and I feared that BVZ and I wouldn't be able to put it up together and remain married. Aunt Vanessa was in town for the long weekend and we got to see her on Saturday, and so I knew she would be the perfect person for the job because she: 1) has an excellent attention to detail, and 2) would be (relatively) nice to BVZ. I took a nap with Norah while they put it up and even though it took them over 2 hours to get it up it was perfect. Once we woke up, Grandpa Gene and Ms. Mary were here and they gracefully entertained Norah for the next 4 hours while I put up the flowers, birds, owls, and leaves.These prints are from her old room. You can also see her nightstand, which she loves. It has a small drawer and every day she hides a new surprise in there. This morning it was full of legos.
This is her new bed (all furniture is from The Land of Nod). I agonized for weeks about the bedding, which is from Pottery Barn Kids. I loved it, but could not justify spending that amount of money on kids' bedding. Right before Christmas I got an email coupon for like 25% off and I decided to pull the trigger. The story is long and not that interesting but basically they were sold out save for the quilt that had been on display and so it was deeply discounted, the stock guy took forever to bring it up so the sales person discounted it even more, and I had my coupon. I ended up walking out of the store with the quilt and sham for over a $100 less than I was planning to spend. Score. We ended up putting the rail from her toddler bed up just in case. It makes the bed much harder to make and I hate the way it looks, but she lays up against it so it has to be there for the time being.
That's the door to the sun room. I put a black out curtain up on the other side of the door and it works perfectly. The green curtain is the one from her old room. Her old room had black out curtains behind the green one, so she never got natural light. Now, when I go to get her in the morning the first thing she asks to see is the sun. I don't blame her.These are the storage bins that had been in the living room. The majority of her toys are now (thankfully) in her room.
Her new dresser, with the same elephant print that was in her old room. The blue hook on the right is for her bath towel, the pink one of the left is for her cape/dress up clothes/whatever.
Bookshelf with her owl print.
Funkhouser's room gets the recliner/glider, so we got this small, yet comfy, chair from IKEA. 
See that white bin? Nothing but stuffed animals. She rotates who gets to sleep with her every night.
Another shot of the tree as you enter the room. 
She told me today that the little owl is 'Nanor', the big owl is 'Janet', and the birds are 'Ruby', 'Aileen', and 'Teacher Mona' (from music class).
New, big girl lamp.
The pictures don't really do it justice and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to it being finished, so imagine my surprise when we told her she could sleep in there for the first time on Friday night and she FREAKED out. She was totally fine and then when we said it was time for bed she got really upset and said she was scared. We did 1,245 books and 2,456 stories and 9,657 songs and I snuggled up with her and rubbed her back until she fell asleep about 2 hours after bedtime. The next two nights went much better and she seems happy as can be (although it still asking for more books/stories than usual). We can deal.
Baby Ballet
Our city has a fabulous Parks and Rec department and lots and lots of classes are offered for little ones. Norah took soccer through the department last fall, but we decided to not do the winter session because they cancel class when it rains and the rate we're going, class would be canceled every week. I gave her some indoor options and she jumped at the chance to do a ballet class. She and Ruby pretend to be ballerinas all of the time, so I knew she would be into it. I was into the fact that the class is at the community center which is a 2 minute walk from our house.
My only apprehension was the fact it isn't a parent/kid class, it is a kid-only class. That makes me a little nervous, especially because of the potty situation. But, I figured we had to pull the trigger at some point, so I signed her up and last week I got her ballet shoes and a ballet outfit. All of the major kid stores carry ballet skirts, leotards, etc., but it is surprisingly difficult to find ones that don't have the traditional ballet bottom (a newly potty trained kid's nightmare). Thankfully, I found an outfit at Old Navy that looked like a ballet leotard and skirt, but is really just a dress.
We got to the dance studio, met Teacher Danielle and learned we would be allowed to stay and watch the first class. The first thing Danielle did was invite the dancers to choose a tiny stuffed friend to dance with. Norah chose a bear and was thrilled.
The other kids showed up, several of which had been in previous ballet sessions. Norah and the little girl standing next to her were the only ones who listened and followed directions.
First was stretching and toe touching.
Then some marching and tip-toeing.
Lots of balancing the animal on the head.
Scarf dancing. By this point a little boy named Austin had joined the class. Now, I am all for diversity, but he was a giant pain in the ass. He was really disruptive. I don't think it was the fact he was a boy, I think he was just a jerk.
Norah excelled at the jumping part.
Her favorite part was when Danielle pulled out the ring and when she called each kid's name, they were supposed to run up, jump in the ring and then jump out of it.
I was holding my breath, but again, Norah was one of the only ones who did as she was asked.
Some more marching and tip-toeing.
They got to give their animals a hug goodbye, which Norah was more than happy to do.
Balancing on the back to rock them to sleep. Again, you can see the two superstars of the class (believe me, it could have gone the other way-we just got lucky).
At the end of the class Teacher Danielle passed out little stickers (Norah got a horse-she was thrilled), and Norah announced, "I am ready to go potty."
An unqualified success. We'll see how it goes next week when we have to stay outside.
My only apprehension was the fact it isn't a parent/kid class, it is a kid-only class. That makes me a little nervous, especially because of the potty situation. But, I figured we had to pull the trigger at some point, so I signed her up and last week I got her ballet shoes and a ballet outfit. All of the major kid stores carry ballet skirts, leotards, etc., but it is surprisingly difficult to find ones that don't have the traditional ballet bottom (a newly potty trained kid's nightmare). Thankfully, I found an outfit at Old Navy that looked like a ballet leotard and skirt, but is really just a dress.
We got to the dance studio, met Teacher Danielle and learned we would be allowed to stay and watch the first class. The first thing Danielle did was invite the dancers to choose a tiny stuffed friend to dance with. Norah chose a bear and was thrilled.
The other kids showed up, several of which had been in previous ballet sessions. Norah and the little girl standing next to her were the only ones who listened and followed directions.
First was stretching and toe touching.
Then some marching and tip-toeing.
Lots of balancing the animal on the head.
Scarf dancing. By this point a little boy named Austin had joined the class. Now, I am all for diversity, but he was a giant pain in the ass. He was really disruptive. I don't think it was the fact he was a boy, I think he was just a jerk.
Norah excelled at the jumping part.
Her favorite part was when Danielle pulled out the ring and when she called each kid's name, they were supposed to run up, jump in the ring and then jump out of it.
I was holding my breath, but again, Norah was one of the only ones who did as she was asked.
Some more marching and tip-toeing.
They got to give their animals a hug goodbye, which Norah was more than happy to do.
Balancing on the back to rock them to sleep. Again, you can see the two superstars of the class (believe me, it could have gone the other way-we just got lucky).
At the end of the class Teacher Danielle passed out little stickers (Norah got a horse-she was thrilled), and Norah announced, "I am ready to go potty."An unqualified success. We'll see how it goes next week when we have to stay outside.
New Camera
I have been wanting a DSLR camera for a really long time, and so we finally took advantage of the good Christmas sales and got one. I really like it but have not had much of a chance to play with it (sadly, it sat in the box for almost 2 weeks after it arrived). I swore to myself I wouldn't only use the automatic setting, but baby steps, right?
Last weekend I tried it out for the first time while BVZ and Norah were playing little girls.
I thought this was a sweet one.
For no apparent reason (at least not one that I can actually remember), she got really mad about something and much crying ensued.
I call this one, "Art Garfunkel throws a fit."
She likes to inform us, "these are REAL tears!" (When she throws a fit about whatever the latest crisis is I always ask her, 'is this real or are you faking?' Usually she is honest and tells me, 'faking.')
Recovery was quick and little girl playing quickly resumed.
These pictures took on average one million times longer to upload than my normal photos. I am hoping the connection was just slow or the site was sluggish, because it will drive.me.crazy if DSLR photos are always going to take this long to upload.
Last weekend I tried it out for the first time while BVZ and Norah were playing little girls.
I thought this was a sweet one.
For no apparent reason (at least not one that I can actually remember), she got really mad about something and much crying ensued.I call this one, "Art Garfunkel throws a fit."
She likes to inform us, "these are REAL tears!" (When she throws a fit about whatever the latest crisis is I always ask her, 'is this real or are you faking?' Usually she is honest and tells me, 'faking.')
Recovery was quick and little girl playing quickly resumed.These pictures took on average one million times longer to upload than my normal photos. I am hoping the connection was just slow or the site was sluggish, because it will drive.me.crazy if DSLR photos are always going to take this long to upload.
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