What I do for a living

As an Engineer, I've often had trouble explaining exactly what I do for work... I've worked as a Manufacturing Engineer, a Project Manager, a Program Manager, I did some purchasing, some Product Management, and most recently, I am in Marketing.

So, today, my boss sends me this, with a note that says "FYI in case anyone asks what you do"

Heading to the Beach

Picture this: A small town in New England in April... little Norah takes a ride to the beach in her little red wagon (yes, that's right, beach, New England, April!) you can see a lot of anticipation in her eyes as she peeks up over her new sack'o'beach toys!

April Beach Day Part 2

Little Norah was happy with the warm sand and her new toys for about 15 seconds before she spotted the large lake that lay before her. She got a little closer, and found that she really really liked the damp sand near the edge!

April Beach Day Part 3

Despite the wind and resulting waves in the little lake in the little New England town, Norah's curiosity was getting the better of her, she got closer, and closer, and boy, those waves sure were interesting!

Unfortunately there are no pictures of what happened next.. Little Norah put out her hand for her Mom to hold. Then, she tried to step over those waves... one down, that was easy, let's do another! Two, then three, then... so many waves! Before you know it, little Norah was chest deep in the water!

Norah's Mommy was a little concerned that she might be getting cold, since after all, this story takes place in APRIL, in NEW ENGLAND. So she watched her very carefully... but what did Norah do? She put her face in and blew some bubbles!

That's our girl!

Aunt Zie!

Editors Note: This post is specifically intended to lure Auntie EEEEEEE! to visit Norah

The week before my sister Susan and her husband Joseph-Michael came to visit, I was trying to get Norah to say "Susan" and "Joseph-Michael" Needless to say, I didn't have a lot of luck with the "Joseph-Michael" (though I did get some funny looks from her) I did however, have some luck with Susan, or more specifically, "Susie". (For those of you who've only known Susan as a grown up, she was widely known as Susie as a kid, and I'd venture to say, she'd still get called Susie back in Cape Breton!)

The whole weekend they were here, I'd try to get Norah to say "Zie!", her version of Susie. Of course, she didn't do it until shortly before they left, but at least she did it!

Yesterday, Norah was looking at Susan and JM's wedding picture. I said, "Norah who is that?" "Zie!" she answered. I asked her to bring me over the picture, and we repeated this amazing feat! I then pointed at JM and asked, "Who's that?" I got that same funny look back.

Then, I said, "Norah give Aunt Zie kisses" She leaned in and kissed the picture.... mmwwah!

Who's that Girl?

My Mom was cleaning out a closet at Nanny Dot's the other day, and came across these. Dad sent them to me this morning, and of course, I had to blog 'em! Do you know who this is?

Let's see, this one might be Norah and I... you often find me with Norah on my lap... but what's with those glasses? Well it's really MY Mom, and ME! This picture is interesting to me for a couple of reasons... I don't think I've ever seen a pic of my Mom where we look so much alike! I also didn't recall pictures of myself where my hair was so light. Most importantly, I could not have really understood what my mom might have been feeling until recently. What I now understand is how amazing it is to sit with first born on your lap! One of my favorite songs from Norah's CD's goes like this:

With my Baby on my knee, tralala-la-la-la
I'm as Happy as can be, tra-la-la-la-la-la

That pretty much sums it up I think :)

Now in this one, you may recognize Norah having one of her tantrums (go figure, I did it too!) Also note the bike in the background... I am guessing it was my Aunt Heather's but seems I was loving bikes at an early age... Maybe I am ticked off because someone won't let me ride it... that sounds like Norah, er, I mean me

And while we don't have this EXACT picture of Norah, we do have plenty that are similar. Much like I hear I was at her age, she has a tendency to get very absorbed into books, or papers or toys, and will spend 20 minutes or more, just looking something over.

Family News: Life is Good!

I don't know if you all know about the "Life is Good" Company, but that just about sums things up for me today! After a long winter, with 7 feet of snow, crazy amounts of work for both Matt and I, then a month or more of very busy weekends, things warmed up and S-L-O-W-E-D down yesterday, so much so, it felt like we were on vacation!

We rode bikes, we had Popsicles before noon, Norah napped and I read a book (!) We went to the beach, we played in the yard, we hung with the neighbours and met some new ones. We played on the swing, took rides in the wagon. Matt and I sat out on the deck as the sun went down, no TV, no computer, no phones! AHHHHH!

Life is good!

Norah News: "excitable, dramatic personality by nature"?

No, this isn't the tagline for Norah's Match.com ad! I read the following on a parenting web site this afternoon:

Q: My son is 14 months old and if he doesn't get what he wants, he throws a terrible tantrum, throwing himself on the ground or swatting at whoever happens to be close. Help! What can I do to break him of this terrible behavior?

A: Those tantrums that you describe sure can test the patience of any caregiver. For the 14-month-old child, however, they are about the best way he has to let you know that he's determined to enjoy something, eager to stop what he's doing, or feeling hot or cold or hungry or full, bored, tired, or rarin' to go. As language develops over the next six months or so, your child will be able to express his needs and interests more diplomatically. For now, first satisfy yourself that he is not in danger, then scoop him up and playfully distract him with a sing-song style of reassuring words and alternative activity. Know your own limits, too! If you're out of gas (and wishing you could throw a tantrum yourself), find someone you trust to lend a hand with your child. I wonder, by the way, if your boy might be an excitable, dramatic personality by nature. If so, he's probably just as boisterous when he's laughing with joy. He's the type who, in time, can funnel his intensity into great leadership skills and great
efforts to be successful. — Peter A. Gorski, M.D.

Sounds pretty much like Norah to a "T" these days... especially the "excitable, dramatic personality by nature" part... we love her great big bellylaughs as much as we hate the tantrums! I wonder if there is any advice out there on how to"funnel her intensity"?

Norah News: Cheerios

This one speaks for itself... or does it?

Norah News: I want to put on my OWN hat!

Norah managed to get her own hat on yesterday... and she was very determined to do it again!

Norah News: Rub-a-Dub-Tub!

Here's a cute video of Norah after she had a bath... I *think* it was a good bath, it's hard to say exactly what she is talking about

Mama News: I belong in the 'burbs

I know I've already posted two little stories for you all today, but I just have to add this one.

Today I went into Boston to do some immigration stuff today. I left at 11, for a 1:00 appointment, just in case. Naturally, everything went smoothly and I found myself downtown with an hour to kill. I took a look at the Rose Kennedy Greenway (nice!) and marvelled at all the changes around North Station since the Big Dig has been wrapping up. I did a little shopping for shoes (but who are all these people shopping in the middle of the day???) I saw a big space where once there was a building in downtown crossing, tourists checking their maps in Faneuil Hall, and street vendors and musicians all over.

Well, I didn't find any shoes, and the Immigration appointment was blissfully short and efficient. Most importantly, I couldn't wait to come back home to the burbs! The land of parking lots (no parallel parking!) no traffic, no dirty sidewalks (no sidewalks at all, in fact!), plenty of trees and space! I get it, why people live in the city, but it's not for me.

Go figure.

Martinis and Neat Freaks

Neat Freaks First

Norah seems to like everything in it's place. I took her PJ's off in the bathroom this morning when I was cleaning her up, and she was almost desperate to get out and put them in her hamper! Then, she dug around in the diaper bag until she found the ziplock bag of graham crackers she knew were in there somewhere. After I gave her a small piece, I took the bag back into my living room where my morning cuppa joe was waiting for me. She followed me back in, and then insisted I give her back the bag'o'snacks. I gave it to her, and then watched while she took it back to her room, where the diaper bag was, put it back inside the diaper bag, and - get this - closed the flap back over. No idea where she gets this tendency, but I like it

Martinis and other girlie drinks next

Matt and I have recognized that while I love Norah more than anything (except possibly him, it's a tight race) I occasionally need a break. Most days, I get up with her, feed, clean, dress and play with her, then off to daycare, to work for me, where I mostly try to leave on time in order not to miss a single minute of our precious evening family time, then Matt and I have a little time to eat, see each other, pay bills, tidy up, fold laundry or what have you before we head to bed and it all starts over again. Whew! But in addition to that, being that I am the mom, I also keep track of her diaper supply, pooping schedule, eating habits, paying daycare, schedule etc. And frankly, sometimes it's exhausting!

Earlier this winter I had tried a "Yoga for New Moms" class, that met once a week, and it was great. Good to have a regular commitment, it was not quite exercise, but close enough, and it was very relaxing. So I went looking for another class, but wasn't able to find something that fit schedule wise. So I asked my new friend Heather (also a new Mom, newer than me even!) if she had any ideas... she suggested martinis. We went last night, and it was great - so good to get out without the diaper bag or the laptop, and chat with someone who gets where you're at.

We all need a friend like who thinks like that!

Norah News: A Scholar in our Midst?

When I watch Norah, I often wonder what she will be when she grows up. I wonder if the personality traits we see in her this early will show up in her choice of career.

Sometimes I am sure she will be an entertainer, like maybe a talk show host, or a politician, because she definitely has a way of capturing people's attention, and she certainly loves to perform for the camera!

This week, I wonder if she will be scholarly in some way. She has a pile of toys in the living room, and while she does play with many of them, she invariably heads to her (ever increasing!) pile of books. Maybe it's because we often read and cuddle at the same time. (Who doesn't like a cuddle?) But she also heads for her scholarly pursuits when left to her own devices.

Of course, most of her favorites include either shiny pictures (Fairy Colors) or fur and moving objects (DOG and Tails) so maybe it means something else altogether!

Norah News: School Pictures Part 2

Norah had her "school" pictures taken again this past week. The proofs arrived today... I like the first one best, it looks like she is up to something, which, if I know Norah, she is!

Norah News: Mom is ready

Norah has formally started her transition to the toddler room. This is a good thing, I am confident she is ready, and will really like being in with the 'Big Kids'. The question is, will I?

I probably didn't admit it, but I will now - I bawled like a baby the first couple of times I dropped her off across the hall! I generally drop her off in the infants room, and they take the "February girls" across the hall to the toddler room sometime around 9:30. Apparently Norah was having a little trouble with the transition, so one of the teachers suggested I drop her off directly the following morning.

I did, and Norah was fine, but for some reason, I could barely hold it together to get out to the car and then the tears started. Pretty much just as bad as when she first went to daycare. I am excited for her, and proud of her, but what was this emotion? I could not identify it. On some level maybe I could chalk it up to the stress Matt and I have both been under at work? Maybe I was overtired, since the hours I have available to do extra work are nights and weekends.

Whatever the reason, I am very happy to report that today I am ready. There were only 5 month olds in the infant room when we arrived, so I took Norah across to the toddlers. She took off before I even had time to take her coat off! She came back, of course, to show me a toy, and then she was gone again!

Of course I peeked in the window to watch her, as I often do, but it was with a confident smile in the realization that I am quickly becoming mother to a little girl, and not a baby. Bring it on!

What the Easter Bunny Brought

FUN!

Norah News: Cinderella

Norah is really becoming a great housekeeper. In particular, she has mastered the Swiffer! I'm told she really enjoys clean up time at daycare, especially 'helping' with sweeping up. This day, I also happened to be cleaning out her closet, and was trying on a few things, like this skirt. The resemblance with Cinderella is purely coincidence :)

Norah News: Know when to fold 'em

Norah and I had a busy day today, trying to stay out of Matt's way while he did some inside painting. We were home for lunch and her nap mid-day but were out and about the rest of the day.

Around 6:30, Norah had finished her dinner, and we had gone through our clean-up routine - brushing teeth, cleaning dinner off her face, hands, arms, etc. We then went into her room to place her smelly socks in the basket in her room (she does this herself!) and she proceeded to grab the edge of the blanket that was hanging over her crib, pull it to the ground, and "turtle" or curl up in it.

I guess she was ready for bed!

Norah News: Crying over spilled milk

Despite the fact that this short video *looks* like part of our ongoing effort to train Norah on housework, she actually decided to take on this task herself. One of her sippy cups leaks a bit, especially when she drops or throws it. When Matt was wiping up the inevitable spots the other day Norah decided to join him! The best part about this one is that she will do it on request! (note how she poses for the camera at about the 14 second mark!)