Muscles I didn't know I had...

You know when you do something physically exerting, that you haven't one before, or in a long while, you feel muscles you didn't know you had? That's how I feel today, emotionally.

Norah has been visiting the toddler room a couple of times a week over the past few weeks. I have been happy with this arrangement, since it's clear to me that she is physically more aligned with 2 year olds than 3 month olds. I am also very proud of her when I see her holding her own playing with older kids.

Yesterday we got our "official" letter that Norah, and the 3 other February girls will begin their transition to toddlers, and will be there full time by the end of the month - hooray!

But this morning, when I dropped her off, the other girls were already across the hall, and she joined them before I even left. She reluctantly left with Stacey, who I don't know very well, and that was that. I was left standing in the infant room, without my infant - oh wait, she is a toddler now...

I went back out to the car to head to work, and was overcome with some emotion. I don't know what to call it, but it's a new one for me. Kind of like when you paint the ceilings, and you have pains in places you didn't know existed. Not to say it's painful, it's not. It's just unfamiliar.

Norah News: Stair Master

This morning Norah mastered the basement stairs! I am not talking just getting up the stairs, but really mastering them!

As you've seen here, she was very determined to get up the one step between the upper and lower part of the deck, and was quite pleased with herself when she did it! Since we have a ranch-style home, she doesn't get exposed to stairs on a daily basis. She does, however take every opportunity to practice - outside, playgrounds, whatever.

This morning, I took her to the basement with me to put some clothes in the washer, and while I was doing my thing, she wandered over to the stairs. By the time I turned my head to look for her, she was up the first two, and putting her hand out for me to help her. It should be noted at this time that we don't have a railing on the side of our stairs, so it looks directly down into the laundry area. While I know this is a hazard, I mention it here because it made Norah's feat that much more impressive.

So I said, "Norah, you can do it yourself". She turned, and went back to climbing. Each step was accomplished with considerable effort, but also great satisfaction. When we reached the top of the stairs, we clapped and cheered, as we tend to do, before I picked her up, took her back down, and (attempted to) finished the laundry. (AWWWWW MOM!!)

Same thing happened, she darted to the stairs the minute I set her down. This time though she knew she could make it to the top, and she was laughing and giggling with newfound confidence the entire trip up the stairs! When we reached the landing, she opted not to take the last step, through the gate, into the kitchen. Instead, she started trying to figure out how to open the back door... which makes me wonder what I will be reporting next week? I already wake up in the morning wondering if she has escaped her crib... what if she figures out the door???

Norah News: Gear Head

I think Norah might be an Engineer when she grows up. She likes taking things apart, and putting them together. What really convinced me though, was our trip to the playground last night. We are so happy that it stays light out until after 7 now, and grabbed a bit of what might be the only sunshine of the weekend to get out for a walk last night.

We went to a nearby playground, that is at a preschool, so it's made for little ones. Norah wasn't sure what to make of it at first, and was a little skeptical about the slides, but once she found the gears, she was all kinds of excited! The gears are a toy of sorts, mounted on the wall of the play structure. Most are encased between two pieces of clear plastic, but there is one you can move, that obviously causes all of the others to move. Well Norah L-O-V-E-D this thing! She was giggling and smiling and laughing, and then she was suddenly more brave and excited about the rest of the playground!

So, how do I feel about this possibility? She may be a little nerdy, like her mom, but at least she'll have a job :)

Norah News: Is there an Echo in here?

Norah isn't talking yet. She always seems to have a lot to say, mind you, but it's still mainly babble. This past week or so, I've noticed her repeating, or trying to, what we've said to her. She mastered "uh-oh" some time ago, but now she echos "All Done", "Diaper", "Teeth" and many other words. I am guessing this is why both of Norah's grandmothers AND her pediatrician have suggested that we say the names of thing over and over to her. Seems like she's starting to pick these up quickly.

The her other cool new trick is doing what she's told. The other day I said "Norah, your shoes belong in you room, let's bring them to your room" She proceeded to pick up her shoes and head to her room! Mind you, she got distracted by the bathroom on the way there, but the same thing happens to Matt (getting distracted from the matter at hand)

She also knows how to let us know, in no uncertain terms, though not with words (yet!) when she is hungry. In the mornings we usually start out with some quiet time in the rocker or on the sofa. After a few minutes she gets kind of ornery, and if I make any mention of the workd "Breakfast" she starts jumping up and down with glee - what can I say, the girl likes her oatmeal!

Norah News: Doggie!

Norah has had a certain fascination with dogs lately. We've been spending more time outside, and the neighbourhood gang includes Lannie and Tessa, our neighbor Megan's dogs. Lannie and Tessa have been joined recently by their 'cousin' Molly, who is living next door. She also says something like "doggie" when we see people walking their dogs, as we often do, and she's taken a real liking to the Dog Book that our new friend Samantha gave her for her birthday.

When we were outside this weekend, we took Norah (or should I say she led us!) over to see "the girls". She's not really scared of them at all (unlike her Mom) but she's rather fascinated by them. Check it out:

Norah News, Yardwork

In the latest of our efforts to put Norah to work, she did some work in the yard over the weekend... in actual fact, Matt did the majority of the yard work while I chased Norah around taking pictures and making sure she didn't eat any rocks.

Norah News: Lunch!

Norah really got into her lunch...

Why I love being a MOM!

I got home from work a little late last night, around 6:00. Matt had picked Norah up and she was sitting in her highchair having her dinner. I was feeling a little stressed when I walked in the door. As I poked my head around the corner, Norah saw me. Her face very literally lit up as she gave me the biggest grin ever, accompanied by a very cute wave.

There is no better stress buster, that's why I love being a MOM

Norah News: Mix it Up!

In our latest efforts to get Norah to take over the housework, she's now mastered stirring... we haven't been brave enough to put anything IN the bowl, but at least it keeps her occupied while Mom does the real cooking!

Norah News: My Big Girl

When I arrived at daycare to pick Norah up yesterday, she was nowhere to be seen in the infant room. I poked my head in, and Digna told me that she had been over with the toddlers for much of the afternoon! I was excited, but a little nervous to peek in on her and see what she was up to...

I peeked in the window, and there was Norah, and 3 or 4 other kids, all jockeying for position as Sophia (the teacher) blew bubbles for them to catch! Norah was a full head shorter than all the other kids, but was holding her own just the same.

I also learned that she had been outside to play that afternoon, with the big kids, and appeared to have had a blast! They have an indoor climbing structure in the toddler room, and Norah showed me how she could climb up the (kid sized) stairs, and then down the slide... she attempted the slide head first, which we had to adjust, but then she seemed to love it!

I'm sad in a way, cause she is not a baby any more, but I am also excited for her! The teachers in the infant room are so nurturing (to both her and I!) but as more little kids come in behind Norah and the rest of the February girls, they need to look after them (both the moms and the babies) and it's time for Norah and I to take on the next step.

Bring it on, right Norah?

Norah News: Art Project

We did some finger painting this weekend. Norah seems to finally gotten the hang of it. She is a big fan of the "squish it with my leg then crawl through it and fold" method. Here are a few of her pieces from this session

I created a little something myself, a year or so ago, with Matt. Here it (she!) is, covered in the same paint you see above

Fun weekend!

Things have been very busy with both Matt and I at work, but we managed to have a good time this weekend. Norah, in particular, had a lot of fun! She went shopping with Dad, then out for a walk with Mom. She napped outside in her stroller, played on the deck (resulting only a minor injury - scraped chin!) and did some pretty impressive finger painting! On Sunday she got a new ball to play with, though she didn't seem to care when there were stairs to climb! She also got out for a hike with Mommy and her friends Samantha and Heather. Norah decided to try to hike a little herself!
Here is a picture of Norah heading up a small (to you and me, big to her!) hill! As soon as I took her out of the backback she made a beeline for the hill!
And here she is having her summit cookie... as she ponders her next adventure! Note how mean she looks with the scrape on her chin!

Norah News: Made it!

In a continuation of yesterday's post... Norah did indeed manage to figure out how to get up the step on her own! Go Norah!

Norah Sunday Shoot

This Sunday Shot was really taken on Saturday... Norah had just got up from a nap and had some CRAZY Hair going on
This afternoon we were out on the deck, waiting for Dad to join us for a walk... Hallo Dad, where are you??

Still waiting :(

A cute profile pic!

Taking a stroll on the deck...

Mom finally got a good shot, even though she is not smiling!

you can use your imagination to see where this is headed... more on that later

Monkey Girl!

A while ago, I posted about Monkey Girl. Well, what I didn' t know about MG is that her climbing powers would increase as she grew older. Here is what we are up against today!

Norah News: Quite a Character

That's what Dr. Larry had to say about Norah at her one year appointment. And I must tell you, that she wasn't even showing half of her personality! Lucky for us, that was the most interesting thing that happened at this appointment. Uneventful as usual, despite Mommy's poor planning in scheduling it at 11:00 am.

In any case her new stats are: 19.3 lbs (25th percentile), 30.5" (90th percentile) and an 18.3" noggin (60th percentile) ... poor girl remains tall and slender.

He was impressed with her walking and the fact that she was (virtually) off the bottle and formula (yes, I 'fessed up about the occasional morning "Baba"s) He asked if she had started having tantrums yet, and I was somewhat relieved about his opinion that her behavior is normal.

We also talked about her shoes, and he recommended I keep her in bare feet or her Robeez as the default for a while yet (Big Girl shoes are OK, but as long as she's inside, stick with the soft shoes) I kinda knew as much, but if you saw her in her little Mary Janes or mini runners, you'd want her to wear them all the time too!

Norah News: What she's doing now

• Climbing: on to her rocking chair, on top of the Leapfrog table at daycare, on top of her bin of books in the living room. My personal favorite happened this morning. She was trying to scale the walls of her playpen!
• Eating with a spoon - or at least attempting to. She doesn't always quite hit the mark, but she's trying. Most times I'll scoop up the food and hand her the spoon (or fork!) but she's increasingly attempting to scoop on her own also.
• Laughing like crazy! Her voice, or at least how she uses it, is changing, so her little giggle is more of a belly laugh sometimes now
• Wearing big girl shoes. Now that she is a walking fool, she wears 'real' shoes instead of the slipper like Robeez she has been wearing to date. Depending on the shoes, and how they fit, she is not quite as strong as she is with the Robeez. but coming along fast!
• Help with getting her coat on. Yesterday when I picked her up, I said, "Norah, come help Mom put your coat on" She came over, and put her arm in the (wrong) sleeve! Mind you, she took off again as soon as I zipped her up, but still!
• Walking to the front door. On her birthday, Norah walked the entire length of the walk, holding both our hands, but leading us nonetheless. It was so sweet I almost cried. Really.
• Hoarding things. Pens, shoes, toothbrushes, tampons... it doesn't matter as long as it came from a drawer she wasn't supposed to be in. She'll tuck it under her arm like a football and take off laughing.
• "Saying" a few words. She's been doing "Hi Dad" for a while, but now she says "Dadddeeee Daddeeee!" She also says "Uh Oh" when she tosses something from her highchair, and has been known to mimic "The End" at the end of a story, "Luv You" in response to same, and, as reported by daycare, "All Done" Most of these aren't very clear yet, but again, it's new!
• Dancing to the Beat. She's long been a bee-bopper, but now she uses the Bee Shaker and other instruments to bop along to her favorite songs. She also gets all kinds of excited when she knows our nightly dance time is coming up.
• Blowing bubbles. Last week I was giving her a bath and put her on her hands and knees to clean her nether regions. For some reason, she put her face in the water and started blowing bubbles. For the rest of the bath it was all I could do to keep her head above water, so to speak!
• Rejecting Her Broccoli. I started giving her meals in a bowl, last night it was pasta, meatballs and some leftover broccoli. I stepped away to get her some milk, and when I came back, the broccoli was out of the bowl and on her tray. In her defense, it was a little crunchy.