8 months

I know this post is a few weeks late but in my defense I left my camera at Sarah's a few weekends ago.

8 months.  I know I keep saying this but it goes so fast.  I keep looking at pictures of my cute nephew (yay! I'm an aunt) and it seems like so long ago that Norah was just a newborn. Its hard to remember when she was that small.  But then at the same time wasn't she just born?

She is into EVERYTHING! I think she is my fastest crawler.  Probably because to get what she wants she has to go fast since most of what she wants isn't baby safe and mommy takes it away from her.  She loves to crawl into the boys room and go straight for the Lego's.

She is also trying to stand on her own.  I want to say she doesn't know what she's doing but I'm pretty sure she does. I think I will blame Joel if she's walking soon :)  He loves to carry her all over and she loves it.  (most of the time) Her little feet kicking the whole time.  She does pull up on everything.

She gets so tickled by Colin.  Its so sweet to see them play together. She loves it when the boys crawl after her.  You can always tell when she has something in her mouth she shouldn't because she won't smile or open her mouth and will crawl away fast from you.

She is eating everything we are eating.  No purred baby food for her.  She does get this weird rash from random foods.  Red under her eyes with fruit and then a rash with other things. But its strange.  Pumpkin bread is fine, pancakes made out of same ingredients gives her a rash.  So we're keeping an eye on it and thankfully she hasn't broken out at all this week.

Her favorite word is mama. (and only word) She waved at Brent the other day when he was waving to her and he said his heart melted at least ten times over.  He keeps trying to get her to say dada but she just says mama. 

I think one of the cutest things Norah does now is take her blanket everywhere. She has a few a&a blankets and she will crawl around the house dragging one of them.  And when you pick her up and give her one of her blankets she will squeal and just nuzzle into it.  So sweet. 

She still sleeps awful.  But she does have 4 teeth in now and hopefully the rest of the teeth will take their time so we can get some sleep.  Sometimes she is a great napper and other times will only sleep 30 minutes at a time.  Its hard to put her on a schedule since the boys have things they do and if I did then we would never leave the house. But she is so laid back and just goes with the flow.  Except at church.  She cries so hard each week in the nursery that it takes me about the rest of the time to calm her down.  She used to go to everyone and was the baby passed around.  Now she only wants mama. 

She was not liking the fact that mommy wanted to get her picture on the bed.  She would much rather have been crawling in the grass eating leaves. But that pouty face is adorable. 

Exersaucer

 So glad we got the exersaucer down for Norah.

Ha! I'm pretty sure the boys spend more time in it than her. 

Santa

Since we were in Louisa we of course had to go see Santa at Southern States on Saturday.  The rest of the family went to a football game but I gladly gave my ticket to Brent (which wasn't hard since I'm still nursing Norah I couldn't go anyways) BUT I didn't mind since I wasn't missing this Santa. He's the real deal.  I've mentioned it before but for the past 6 years (we did miss one year in there) we have seen him.  And apparently he's getting very popular.  He takes his time with everyone but he had to hurry a little bit since the line was out the door.  But we still got some good time with Santa. And all the pictures were just too good not to share them all. 

 Especially Norah's! 

 Poor Santa was trying everything to get Norah to like him. 

 Norah looks so little compared to Santa's big hand.  My little girl that is already trying to stand on her own. 

Mary took Lenny and Lenny barks at all men until he gets to know them.  But he didn't bark at Santa.  See even Lenny knows :)

When we were at Christmas Town we saw an Elmo show and it was all about what Christmas was about and afterwards Colin told me "Mommy they missed one big thing about Christmas. They didn't say why we have Christmas, its to celebrate Jesus' birthday"  And then he went on to say "Poor How-How wont have Christmas this year.... oh wait, yes he will.  He will be with Jesus at the REAL birthday party this year! He's going to have more fun at that!"  And it made me teary eyed but also smile at how God keeps using Colin to make me smile when I start missing my grandpa.  And it also made me want to tell people who thinks that if you teach your kids about Santa then they wont believe in Jesus to just look at my son.  A day after seeing Santa he doesn't care about that part of Christmas. He knows its to celebrate Jesus' birth. 

And if anyone wants to know what the boys asked for - Legos.  Norah just wanted to get off Santa's lap.  She could care less what that strange man will bring her :) 

Thanksgiving weekend

I have a lot to be thankful for.  But on thanksgiving day I was really thankful for my husbands strong stomach.  The morning went off really well. We had Pops over for an early feast. I had put my turkey in the crock pot the night before (got that idea from Jamie at her baby shower) and it worked great.  The kids loved all the food.  They have gotten picky lately but Colin loved the stuffing and sweet potatoes and Joel at tons of "chicken" I was amazed.  After we ate we got in the car and headed to the farm.  Right before we got in the car Joel had told us his ear hurt.  And then fell asleep in the car.  He had a blanket over him and thank goodness because about 20 minutes into the ride he started throwing up.  And it just kept coming. Thankfully the blanket caught most of it.  So we turned around.  Joel sweetly kept asking for a bath and Colin was sobbing.  He was devastated that we werent headed to the farm. Brent and I werer glad we weren't too far into the trip so we could get home and clean Joel up.  I have this picture on Brents phone of Joel looking so pitiful with puke all over him and Colin just so upset in the back.  It does make me laugh.  But we get home.  I get Joel into the bath and Brent cleans out the car. So gross. Sometimes I think our car misses Rod and Debbie. Colin is still crying.  Wants us to get a babysitter for Joel so the rest of us can go to the farm. Joel feels better once he has a bath and falls asleep for the rest of the afternoon on the couch.  Colin calms down and plans out how he will get to the farm if Joel is still sick the next day.   

Everyone goes to bed.  Trip to the farm take 2.  We had to pull over close to Richmond because Joel is claiming he is going to throw up.  This time Colin is all smiles because he has figured out we are closer to the farm than home so even if little bro gets sick we should go to the farm to clean him up :)  But Joel was just car sick.  We moved him to the back of the car and he perked up right away. 

 But we get to the farm and no one is sick. Norah fell in LOVE with Lenny, Mary's dog. She thought this dog was so funny and would screech and laugh when he came near. She also would crawl after him. Lenny is such a good dog and was so sweet to her. Just would lick her every so often.  I really like Lenny.

On Friday most of the family came to pay tribute to a wonderful man and to bury the rest of him. (My grandpa was cremated and wanted to be buried at the farm as well) 

It was strange being there without him.  I've only spent one other thanksgiving away from family (even after we got married Brent's parents and now dad usually join us) So I missed grandpa a lot this weekend. Its a new "normal "that isn't very fun to get used to. 

But I do have to say that my family knows how to have fun. And it was good to see my grandma laugh and have fun. 

Uncle David tried to talk the boys into cheering for Richmond.  He might be able to talk Joel into liking the Spiders. Especially since he is facinated with Spiderman right now. 

After numerous trips to the creek and just following Lenny track scents in the hay fields, the kids were tired. 

But somehow Brent had planned a trip to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens with our friends Pete and Ashleigh, and Dan and Kathy and all their kids.  They were all vacationing in Williamsburg. So on our way home we stopped there.  And it was a really fun night.  At first I wasn't sure since we didn't have the stroller and Joel wanted to be carried all the time, and Colin is 1 inch shorter than being able to go on all the rides (he could go on most) but it was really fun and now we are definitely in the Christmas spirit. And a great night with some really great friends makes it all worth it.  I wish I had gotten a picture with Dan, Pete and Brent and all their kids.  They were close friends in college and have remained close.  Makes me wonder if this is what they thought life would be like almost 15 years later :)

Sleep

This happens almost every night.  Most nights we have no idea how or when get gets in bed.  He just appears.  We usually put him back but sometimes we leave him since whatever gets us the most sleep at this piont.  A teething baby means we are up half the night anyways (4 teeth total so far) and if we are back and forth with Joel it means even less sleep.  I have to admit it is sweet to snuggle up next to him.  Joel is at a hard stage right now.  Not sure if its the middle child, honey badger, just being 3 or what but the days are tiring with my crazy kid so its nice to have some time to just snuggle and love on him and pray that the next day is much easier. 

We still spend a lot of time like this. I love it.  Nothing greater than holding a sleeping baby. 

Walking home

My favorite time of day.  Sometime after 3:15/3:30ish.  Colin comes home.

 He asked a long time ago if he could walk home by himself.  And just the fact that Norah was usually sleeping and keeping Joel entertained at the bus stoop was hard, I agreed.  But it makes me nervous.  Every day.  I can see the bus stop from my house.  But there is a street Colin has to cross that people almost never stop at the corner.  I've seen so many cars zoom by without looking. But Colin has been doing well and stops and looks both ways each time. Joel gets really excited when he knows its time to go outside and wait for Bubba.  He will swing, play in the front yard while we wait.  And then when Bubba gets off the bus, Joel waits until Colin gets about 3 houses down and then can't help himself.  He will go run after Bubba.  Makes me teary every day seeing them greet each other.  That and the proud look Colin has each day when he walks by himself.  He seems so big, yet so small walking by himself. 

November 10

November 10th has been a date on the calendar for months. It was when I was going to run a half marathon.  Its always been a goal for me so after I had Norah got the doctors go ahead to start running, I ran.  And ran.  Some how it was easy for me to just jump back into running this time.  Not without some aches or pains or a heating pad some nights :)  I actually didnt sign up until August though (wanted to make sure I could train) but in August I was running 6-7 miles a few times a week so I finally stopped talking about it and signed up.

Two very dear friends also signed up, along with my sister, so Clemma and Bethany and I would meet on the weekends to do our long runs. I can't even begin to tell how much I looked forward to these runs.  I think we went from 4 miles the first week  up to 11 miles and then back down to 8 before the race began. It was such an encouragment almost every weekend. And really fun to run and talk for 2 hours.  Well sometimes the running part wasn't so fun on the long runs but we kept each other going. I really really looked forward to these runs each week.  I hope we can continue to meet each week to run. Maybe not as far :)

Thinking about the race I always worried about if it was going to be really cold, or raining - since thats no fun.  Never did I think that the week before I would come down with some awful flu virus.  I spent 1 day entirely in bed and the rest of the days barely making it.  My fever broke Thursday night so Friday we packed up to head to Richmond for the race.

We got a late start friday - the mechanic kept ordering the wrong part for the car.  Finally we get on the road, get to my sisters, drop off Brent and the kids, head to the expo to pick up our race packets and then when we get back realize Norah is running a really high fever.  Norah is up all night coughing.  And coughing.  Her fever was still really high after tylenol and she was rasping and had a hard time breathing. From about 4am on I just sat in a chair and held her.  Thankfully she went into a peaceful sleep.  I had a hard time figuring out if I was still going to race or not.  I didnt want to leave Norah but if she had gotten worse we were taking her to the ER and what mother is out running a race while her baby is headed to the ER.  Mother of the year right there.  Thankfully Brent texted that she was happy and crawling around right before the race. So I felt a little better. And she has gotten better over the weekend.  Poor thing. 

Race starts.  Oh my goodness. Might not have been the smartest thing to run a half marathon while getting over the flu.  I hadn't eaten all week and probably my sinus medication plus the immodium I took for the race was not a good combination in my stomach.  But I have to say it was fun running with Clemma, Sarah and Bethany.  It makes it go by so much faster than running by yourself.  And it was SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY!  It really doesnt get much better to run.  And even while feeling sick it was a fun run with some great friends.  I would do it again. 

Brent was at a park halfway to watch us run by.  There was a playground right there and they stayed for hours.  The funny thing is that they were right next to the water/powerade station and Brent said that Colin thought it was great they were handing out free gatorade all morning. I guess he kept going up to get more :) 

We finished.  But I lost my voice, and came down with a horrible sinus infection hours after the race.  I have to say I haven't been this sick in a long time. But I have my medal and am very proud of us. We ran the whole thing.  I can't wait to do another one. Next time my goal is to be much faster.  I'm actually not very sore today...Sarah is...maybe that means I'm in better shape than her?  ha!
*** actually this is now monday morning and I'm definitely feeling the run. guess it just took a few days for my body to complain ***

Bethany made us shirts. They all had something different on the back.  Clemma got a lot of comments on hers saying preggers. 

And just have to say my running group today was amazing.

Sarah - only ran 1 long run this whole time, barely did any short runs, and hiked a mountain the day before.  Still ran and stayed with us and encouraged us when I know she was itching to just get out there and run fast.  She does 8 minute miles, we were doing 11 minute miles. But she stayed the whole time and we all crossed the finish line together.  Clemma - became pregnant while training. Ran today while 9 weeks pregnant.  Amazing.  At one point I wasnt sure I could keep up with her for the race.  She was booking it.  Bethany - hurt her ankle a few weeks ago and still icing it every night, and had the worst case of poison ivy I've seen in a while.  But she ran and had a smile on the whole time. 

Thanks Ladies for making it a fun, memorable experience.  Couldnt have done it without you. 

Thanks Molly, Shawn, and Henry for coming to cheer us on.

And thanks to Brent and the kids for letting me get my runs in each week so I could do this today.  Funny story.  After an 11 mile training run Brent comes in from working in his garden outside and asked if I wouldnt mind cutting the grass since he was a litle tired from pulling weeds....really?  I just looked at him and he said "so you'll do it?"  I did cut the grass for him so the kids could go play outside but I haven't let him forget it.  Although now looking back its probably not a surprise I'm not really very sore.  Brent was good at letting me go on long runs but once I was done and walked through that door I was back on Mommy duty according to the kids.  Didnt ever have a chance to just rest.  I'm well overdue for a rest I think. 

And I'm pretty sure Sarah is disinfecting her place the minute we leave.

Pictures

 A few weeks ago a wonderful friend took some family pictures of us. Elissa is such a dear friend and she did great working with the boys who would rather throw rocks into the little pond and climb trees than smile for a picture.  We haven't had a good family picture since Colin was 18 months old. It was well overdue. Today we got the cd in the mail and since I can't seem to figure out how to post a whole album on facebook here they are(these are the ones she sized for posting)

Since I turned 30 and had another baby its been harder losing the baby weight.  In most pictures lately I really don't like the way I look, but I have to say the picture above of all of us I really really love.  Thank you Elissa for taking some pictures where I like the way I look.  Thank you. 

 Love the expressions on the boys.  And how sweet is Norah's hand on Colin? Love it. 

 Beautiful girl in her great grandma's pearls (Grandma Lois)

 The boys say "this is the life" all the time. 

 Love that this is what really captures our "life" right now

 Daddy's girl

 love this one too
 
 Great picture of my boys.

 Love the expression on Norah's face here.  And also my handsome boys

 Love it.  Absolutely love it. 

 And here's a fun fact: we met at the arboretum that is owned by Virgina Tech in Virginia Beach. So of course it would be an amazingly beautiful place.  

I can't figure out how to make these bigger either.  But love how Joel's personality comes out in these.

 

 My sweet girl.  Such a sweetheart.

  Just love this one of Brent and I.  I don't think we've gotten any of just the two of us since our wedding.  Well overdue.

 Daddy and his boys.  Colin thinks he's funny doing pretty ears on daddy (Thats what Joel always does to us)

Thank you Elissa for giving us some absolutely amazing pictures.