On the Move

Walking is officially Macy's preferred mode of transportation. We really do not see her crawling around the house anymore.

The week of July 4th is when she really started, and that weekend she took off. Ever since then she has gotten more and more steady and sure of herself - SO fun to watch! At this point, a week later, she is officially a walker. She spends much of her time just walking around the house. She likes to carry things around as well. The other morning she repeatedly got a spoon from the drawer of kids dinnerware, walked around with it for a while, put it somewhere, then went back for another. At one point when I was cleaning up I found 5-6 spoons in random places around the house.

The video below is from last weekend, and looking at it now I think there is a big difference already, but it's still cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=SvBv7g_aXnQ

And as a continuation from my last post on how the girls are playing together more, here are two videos that demonstrate the point. I have been working to capture everyday, typical moments in our house, and these do a pretty good job.

 http://youtu.be/LIcdg9A_xW0

http://youtu.be/kDHDFBaQeQE

Favorite Activity

We have been off work for five days now enjoying a "stay-cation," and this video shows how the girls have spent a lot of their time when we are at the house.

http://youtu.be/JT41hUzpcX4

When Norah sees that Macy is almost done eating breakfast she brings the ladybug over by Macy's chair. As soon as we put Macy down off they go. It is the first activity that really allows them to interact a bit. Norah comes up behind Macy, who just giggles and giggles at the sight of her sister. Then Norah passes her up and Macy tries to catch her. Over and over and over.

Other joint activities also include building with blocks, playing in the toy kitchen and rolling around on the floor together.

Of course what also comes along with this interaction is a lot of, "Mommy, Macy hit me." Or, "Daddy, Macy is trying to take my book." I know there will be much more of that to come, but it is just fun to see them play together and hear their giggles.

Macy - 6 Months

Dear Macy,

This note may have been slightly different if I had done it on the day you actually turned 6 months old. In the 11 days since then we have been to Goshen and back for the holidays and you weren't quite the incredibly easy baby we are used to. 

But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt because I think your struggles had to do with having a head cold and being in an unfamiliar place. And despite everything, you were still a relatively easy baby. You basically have us spoiled, so what may be considered a typical amount of fussing for a 6-month old by others has us frustrated and wondering what's wrong. 

Generally, you continue to be a very easy baby. Your daddy and I thought Norah was easy, and then you came along. Sometimes I refer to you as the "miracle child." With the exception of last week, you typically hang out happily cooing and smiling.  

You are super interactive these days, and love, love, LOVE to flash your beautiful smile. You make everyone feel like it is a super special smile just for them. We barely glance in your direction, and out it comes. Your daddy and I just can't get enough of it. 

When you fuss a teeny tiny bit, we know you are either hungry or tired. Otherwise you are very easy going and happy. Just plain happy.

Your bedtime is 6:30, and while you are a good sleeper you aren't very consistent. The week or so leading up to our trip you started getting up twice a night again, instead of just once. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have fed you the second time because it may have started a pattern. Between that and our trip, which threw you off even further, we have some sleep training ahead of us in the next few weeks. I am hopeful that your easygoing personality will transfer to this process, making it less painful than it might be otherwise. Time will tell. 

You are still nursing and continue to be a great eater. I don't seem to be responding as well to the pump as I do to you, so I am supplementing with 12 fenugreek a day to try to keep my production up. I have a freezer full of milk, but am barely breaking even in terms of what you drink at school (20 oz) and what I pump at work, before bed, and in the middle of the night (depending on when you get up). We will probably start trying solids soon into the new year. 

In terms of mobility you are rolling over both directions with ease and can sit up with a bit of help. You are getting closer and closer to sitting up on your own. You scoot around a bit to get a toy within reach, but you are not getting up on your knees yet. 

One thing I love to observe is the way you enjoy interacting with your sister, and vice versa. Just today Norah was running around our house singing "Ring around the Rosy" and falling down at the end in front of the exersaucer that you were in. You smiled every time she ran by you and giggled when she fell...over and over and over. You definitely know who she is and light up at the first sight of her. Norah loves to tell you good morning each day and is very helpful taking care of you. 

Your 6-month pediatrician appointment was uneventful. He is pleased at your progress and noted that you seem very content with life. The stats:

Weight: 15 lbs, 13 oz (47th percentile)

Height: 26 inches (60th percentile)

Head: 16 inches (26th percentile)

Macy Girl, you are my sweetheart. Your smile melts my heart and brightens my day. I love the way you snuggle into my face and neck. And I love kissing your irresistible cheeks. As I often tell you, "I could just eat you up, you're so sweet." (I have heard your sister tell you the same.) 

I look forward to all of the joy you will bring to our lives. 

Love, 

Mommy

P.S. If you could get this sleep thing figured out quickly, that would be great. 

Typical One Year Old or Personality?

As Ann (Seth's mom) fed Norah tonight we marveled at her constant movement. Kicking her feet, putting her bib over her face, waving her arms, talking, leaning over the side of her chair, and on and on. I have been wondering how much of it is age versus personality, but Ann agreed with my latest thoughts on the subject - we have a busy body.

This is what Ann wrote about Seth at one year:

At 12 months Seth is a cheerful 1 year old. He still wants to hold on to something when walking but stands by himself for longer periods of time and can get himself to a standing position without holding on. He learned how to stack blocks this month and is adept at going up or down the stairs. He can also climb up on furniture and will take a book up with him to look at on the couch. He loves to rock in the little rocker that was his dad’s as a child. He has 7 teeth (4 up, 3 down) and eats what we do—esp. cake, cookies & ice cream, also yogurt. He sleeps longer during the day (1-2 hrs. morn. 1 hr. aft) and still sleeps 7-7:30 at night. He nurses only first thing in the morning. He tries to say “doggie” and “baby” but they still require translation. People comment what a happy, even tempered child he is. He weighs 22-6 and is 30”."

This weekend at Norah's birthday party (post on that to come soon) a friend's 11 month old sat on her mom's lap pretty much the entire time they were there. It didn't strike me at the time, but Ann reminded me of her tonight when I posed my question about age versus personality.

Seth and I better keep working out so we can keep up with Norah...

Sunday Update

Well it turns out today wasn't as nice as expected. We were hoping to have a family trip to the park, but it was raining when we woke up. I made a trip to the gym and soon after I got back Seth decided to go on a run (in the drizzle). He wasn't sure how far he went, but he looked it up on googlemaps when he got home and it turns out he went 12 miles. Perhaps he was inspired by Greta and Katie running the Chicago marathon this morning.

Norah spent most of her waking hours walking. Everywhere. She definitely decided this weekend that her preferred mode of transportation is walking. She is now an expert at getting up when she falls (without holding on to anything), and literally walks all over with no destination in mind.

Yesterday while Norah was walking up and down the sidewalk and she took a nose dive and has a scab on her nose to prove it. When it happened she scrunched up her nose and let out one long cry, but that was it. Seth and I have individually thought at times that she seems pretty tough, but neither of us have said anything because we don't want to come across as those people who think their kid excels on all fronts. Having said that, we are conscious about doing what we can to prevent her from being wimpy. Maybe it is paying off.

Enjoying the Cool Weather

I suddenly feel so desperate for cool, fresh air. I have been cooped up enough for one Houston summer.

Norah and I enjoyed a walk this morning with temps hovering around 60 degrees (after being in the 90s just a few days ago). Seth and Norah spent time in the swing and walking up and down the sidewalk, and then late this afternoon we played with balls in the backyard.

Walking in the grass was a whole new experience, but she got better and better the longer we played. Norah continues to walk more on her own. She spotted the walker this morning and got all giddy, but when we went on our walk it mysteriously disappeared to the garage.

Tomorrow we plan to go to the Turkish festival downtown to continue soaking up the cool air as much as possible.

When the Walker is Hidden...

Movin' on up

On Another Note...

Seth watched Norah climb all the way up our stairs last night! She paused twice for a little dancing, but otherwise he said she would have been up in a matter of seconds. Yikes...

Walking Video

Over the past several days Norah has become brave enough to walk while only holding on to one of our hands.

Also, note the wave as she approaches the camera. Several months ago she started doing that when we sang. Recently she has also started waving "bye bye," so when she randomly did it we were never really sure if she was waving or requesting to hear our melodic voices. Now, she also seems to do it when she wants something or is excited. We haven't really figured out what it always means, but nonetheless the wave is definitley characteristic of Norah.

Norah's Friend the Walker

Norah continues to thoroughly enjoy her walker. And we continue to thoroughly enjoy watching her thoroughly enjoying her walker. It is a trip. Her face lights up when she sees it, and she spends a lot of time tooling around the house with that thing with a big cheesy grin on her face.

She is also working at figuring out how to get herself "unstuck" when she runs into something. There are several different methods she uses, as you can see in the video.

P.S. I'm obviously still working on my video recording skills...

A Mover and a Shaker

Mom, Seth and I have had a lot of fun observing Norah's developing mobility skills. She makes her way around the coffee table and has recently started going from one piece of furniture or person or wall to another--all on her feet. She is also standing more and more without holding on to anything.

The other interesting thing we have noticed is that she has started understanding the concept of going around something or someone to get from point A to point B. The other night I was laying on my side on the floor and she was standing in front of me. There was a toy she wanted behind me, so she slowly made her way around me and then behind me to reach it.

Saying that Norah is on the move is an understatement. She is a total busy body. Every evening after her bath we play down in her room. We watch her go from one toy to the next. Then over to the chair to bang her cup on the wood, back to the shelves to pull off the books, then over to Seth to get picked up and held upside down. Then out in the hallway to play with the doorstop, back into her room and over to the shelves. Then over to the little rocking chair to say hi to her stuffed animal friends, and over to Mimi for a big hug...and on and on and on.

Maybe a small part of us decides it is time for her to go to bed because we are tired from watching.

The Big Girl Crawl

Bruises, Bruises and More Bruises

Norah constantly has a bruise or two on her head. This video demonstrates why.

It's Happening...Right Before our Eyes

Norah has made crazy progress just over this two-day weekend. For the past week or so she has been trying to pull herself up, and while she has demonstrated the strength she has been lacking the coordination. She could get up, but only with our help. That has all changed this weekend. As you can see from the video, she has figured out how to do it all by herself. She has also been getting up on her knees more (although still only crawling army style), and going from sitting to her belly and almost from her belly to sitting. Our little Norah is growing up!

New Discoveries

I posted a quick entry on Sunday to say I was going to Target to buy a gate because Norah is "army" crawling. Here is my proof. When we lay her on the floor, she isn't even interested in toys anymore. All she wants to do is crawl around the house - there are so many new things to discover!

On the Move

Well, I'm off to Target to buy a gate for the top of our stairs. In the past week Norah has become very proficient at the "army" crawl and is officially able to get anywhere she wants in the house. Today she went across the wood floor and of course stright for an outlet. Guess we need to make a few changes today...

You Better Keep Your Eyes On Me

We have enjoyed a nice relaxing morning together so far. Norah slept great last night (despite having a cold), getting up just once at 2:30 to eat. Soon after 7:00 we woke up to her coughing, so we brought her into bed with us to play for a while until she was ready to eat.

Norah is typically quite happy entertaining herself on the floor (let's hope that continues), which is what she was doing while Seth was in the kitchen and I was in the bedroom. Next thing we know, we found her like this:


This just demonstrates how much she is rolling around these days. That small 3 x 3 play mat doesn't do much to contain her. Typically we try to keep her away from the wood floor, but I guess she was careful with her head because when we found her she was still playing happily!

Ned - note the butterfly toy she chose to take with her. :)

And Greta and Katie - note the PJs. They are our all time favorites right now. A great weight for this time of year and fit her perfectly.

A New Trick

This is probably one of those things that is exciting only to the parents, but I'll write about it anyway. Norah is officially rolling over! She has gone both ways. Her teachers told me on Friday that she was laying on her back and all of a sudden they looked over and she was on her stomach. I guess I believed it, but I figured it was an accident. Plus, I've decided that if we both have to work full time and put her in daycare, I'm going to make the rule that a milestone isn't truly a milestone until it happens at home with the parents.

We had noticed lately that Norah digs her heels into the floor and arches her back. And she has also discovered her feet (with her hands when laying on her back), which often puts her off balance and makes her fall to the side. We figured these were all steps towards rolling over - we just didn't think it would happen so quickly. But this weekend several times she has worked her way from front to back or back to front.

As Seth said, "I guess it's time to stop leaving her unattended on the changing table!" I'm finding it hard to believe that she is going to be 6 months soon. It feels like just yesterday that I was pregnant...