Dear Norah

Dear N: 6 Months Old

August 6, 2015 by Danielle

Oh sweet, happy, precious baby girl! How you light up our lives every single day. You are smart, adventurous, and always wanting to go-go-go. You are scarring us a little with how quickly you are growing and developing. From becoming more mobile to saying your first word, you are changing daily.

You’re laughing and smiling more, you love when Daddy gets home and cuddles you, and you enjoy playing on the ground with your sister and brother. Even though they get a bit rough with you, you take it in stride and never complain… much.

You are still very interested in our food and are having so much fun exploring new tastes and textures. If you aren’t offered what we’re eating you try to lunge and grab after it yourself. It makes us laugh every time. Especially when we’re at a restaurant. Now we make sure to order you something (like a side of whole strawberries or slices of avocado) to keep you occupied.

You’ve mastered getting up on all fours and are even starting to move your legs forward. But you still don’t know what to do with your hands. Each day you get a little stronger. I’m sure you’ll be crawling within the next month! And even though you aren’t crawling yet, you’re getting more and more mobile. You try and pull yourself up onto your knees, spin around to grab objects, and roll and scoot around. Mostly in the wrong direction but you’ll get it.

For the past few weeks when you get upset or when you try to get my attention you’ve been saying mmmm, or mamama, but now you say Mom clearly and directly to me. I even got video of it! You’re the first out of your siblings to say mama before dada. And you’re starting to sound out b’s too. We love how vocal you are and how much you love hearing your own voice. You can’t help yourself when you’re in a room that echoes to get a bit loud.

I love how adventurous you are and how well you take every new experience like a champ. You go with the flow and love being with your family. We love being with you too! You make life more exciting and we love learning more and more about you each year.

We love you, Norah!

6 Month Stats:

18lbs 8oz – 90th percentile

27.5 inches – 98th percentile

46cm – 97th percentile

6 Month Comparison

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Dear Norah

Dear N: 5 Months Old

July 8, 2015 by Danielle

Wow. 5 whole months have gone by. As I write this I am watching you giggle in your grandma’s arms as Molly pretends to eat your feet. You have the biggest smile on your face as you grab for your sisters hair and pull in delight as she continues to pretend to bite you and give you raspberries. And as I’ve said before, your entrance into this world and into our family has been seamless.

The amount of personality you have already is amazing. Just like your siblings, you’re a pretty awesome baby. Grandma Ann says you’re such a good baby, better than your siblings. You are so interested in what’s going on and what people are doing around you. Even when we’re around the animals you love to watch what they do. So curious!

We’ve known you’re a strong baby. And by 4.5 months you were sitting by yourself unassisted. No, you can’t get to a sitting position on your own but you have amazing core strength that keeps you balanced. And with this new skill you’re able to have control over your hands when you play which opens new doors at playtime.

With this ability to sit up, we’ve also started to let you sit in the cart at the grocery store after you mastered sitting in a high chair at restaurants at 4 months. And… with your interest in food, and the fact that you’ve swiped a few things from your siblings, we’ve started offering you food when we eat.

So far you’ve had strawberries, green beans, mangos, carrots, avocado, sweet potatoes, bananas, cucumbers, bread, and graham crackers. Since we’re doing BLW you get big pieces of food that you can hold onto and enjoy on your own. You’re a pro. And it seems like you don’t have a preference for any one thing. You’re totally taking after your siblings.

Playtime is getting more and more fun as you continually become more interested in what’s around you. We’ve busted out a few toys for you, mainly some wooden blocks, a hape shape sorter, and some hand-me-down toys from your cousin and one of your brother’s friends. But sometimes you get frustrated because you can’t move yourself forward yet. You’re getting good at backwards though!

This month you’ve done a LOT! You’ve been to Sea World, Knott’s Berry Farm, and the San Diego County Fair. Lots of animals, rides, people, and fun to keep you curious and busy watching everything and taking it in. Your personality draws strangers to you and many kids and adults like to stop when they see you to say hi or talk to you. You’ve made many a friend.

With all that you’ve accomplished this month, I know that the next will be full of firsts as well and I’m so excited to see you grow and develop. You’re an amazing girl who I love with all of my heart. You’re a joy. Pure joy. I love you.

Unofficial 5 Month Stats:

18lbs (with clothes/diaper on)

5 Month Comparison

Filed Under: Baby, Life, Uncategorized Tagged With: 5 Months Old, baby, baby #3, baby toys, Baby-led Weaning, BLW, Dear Norah, Milestones, Months

Dear N: 4 Months Old

June 6, 2015 by Danielle

Another month behind us and my have you grown! And not just in size. I cannot believe how quickly you are picking up on things and trying them out on your own. From vocalizing just about everywhere (the folks at Costco loved hearing you chat today) to trying to master sitting, you are a woman on the go!

Curious about anything and everything, you want to be front and center when people are around. And you always love when your siblings come to play with you morning, noon, and night. While I think they’re a bit smothering, you don’t seem to mind one bit.

I’m still amazed at how easy going you are. Go with the flow, able to adapt, and all with a smile on your face. You truly are a blessing to our family.

I’m not the only one to think you’re a blessing. I see the way others react when you start chatting with them. Or share your smile with them. You light up the room and everyone knows you’re there. And even though you’ve been under the weather with a cold for a majority of this month, it’s not slowing you down!

I’m constantly getting comments about how alert you are. But you’ve been alert since day one. And? I’m fairly certain you’ll be moving any day now. From the way you can spin around in a circle when you’re on your tummy, to how you try and lift up your butt already when on the ground. We’re going to be in trouble soon.

You’re still a chart topper and your doctor was very pleased with where you are developmentally. While he gave the green light for food because of your development (he mentioned starting around 5-6 months but saying that you were ready now), we’ll be waiting a bit to really start. However we have been giving you small tastes here and there.

We’re so blessed to have such a healthy and happy baby and are so looking forward to this next month! Keep doing what you’re doing baby girl. We love you.

4 Month Stats:

17lbs 4oz – 98th percentile

26 1/2 inches – 97th percentile

44cm – 97th percentile

4 Month Comparison

Filed Under: Baby, Life, Uncategorized Tagged With: baby, baby #3, Dear Norah, Milestones

Dear N: 3 Months Old

May 5, 2015 by Danielle

Oh my little nugget! You make our lives brighter every single day. From your cooing to the unending smiles and expressions you share with us, I couldn’t imagine not having you in our lives.

You are so fun to be with and love watching your brother and sister play around you. You also love when they give you hugs, kisses, and lots and lots of love (including a bit of petting and smothering). And you take it all in stride even if they go a little overboard in their afffection.

You’ve come to love your hands and I find them in your mouth just about 24/7. You’re also starting to use your hands to bring other things to your mouth like Daddy’s fingers, your toys, and your blanket and clothes. Anything you can chomp on is as good as soaked.

We recently got you two new things to help keep you entertained: the exersaucer doorway jumper to put outside so you can watch as I garden and take care of the chickens or when your sister and brother play outside, and the jumperoo (below) so you can stay happy and play as I make dinner before Daddy gets home or when I try to get a little extra work done when you’re awake.

Being the size of a 6 month old at 3 months really helps with this! You are holding up your head like a champ (tummy time isn’t a problem) and love practicing to sit. We call you our little weeble wobble.

And when we put you down on the ground for some playtime you manage to move your body in big circles on the blanket. You’re definitely learning to move and explore and we can’t wait to see what you explore and learn next.

We love you baby girl!!

Unofficial 3 Month Stats:

16lbs 8oz (with clothes/diaper on)

Filed Under: Baby, Life, Uncategorized Tagged With: baby, baby #3, baby gear, Dear Norah, Milestones

Dear N: Two Months Old

April 5, 2015 by Danielle

Oh, Norah. My perfect little angel. How have you already been here for 2 months? These past two months have been a whirlwind and I am so glad that you are finally here to complete our family. From your big, beautiful smile that graces us each and every morning when we wake up, to your coos and babbles when hanging out with your brother and sister, you are one awesome baby.

Not only are you a sweetheart but you’re such a laid back girl. I’m so lucky that you go with the flow and don’t mind hanging out on your own next to me while I work during the day. You love to stretch and move your arms and legs and enjoy watching the comotion around you when everyone is home. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: baby, baby #3, Dear Norah, Firsts