these are the ones i love.

2009-10-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the wait. I know it's been a good, long while. I guess that's life, and if you can't understand then maybe you are the wrong kind of person to be following my blog. I don't mean to point out the obvious, but Norah used to just sit there as I uploaded photos, and those days are OVER!

I'm not even sure what inspired me to finally get started again. It's something I've been dreading. I think it's these changing seasons. Or, it's that the last trace of the baby in Norah is gone now, and we don't call her our Bug anymore. She's outgrown it. It's like the name needed to be boxed up with the play mat, the burp cloths, and the nursing pillow. She really is a giant, you know. Well, for a kid who weighed six pounds at birth she is. And she's smart and funny, which can bring about as many problems as smiles. Ever the lady, as she has always been. I mean its just weird when I look over and see her nurturing her babies, and I am reminded to nurture mine.

In this moment I'm learning that children come into our lives at the perfect time, just when we aren't children ourselves anymore. The world has turned a bit colder and the sadness of time sets in. We get older and things happen in life we thought only happened to the others. And just when it feels like it's too much, there's your child. The hope and the promise of her life. And it's all beautiful again.

Thanks for staying tuned. I won't promise that another hiatus from blogging isn't around the corner. But I do believe I will continue to take pictures of our Nunes as she grows and maybe of other things too. Then when the moment is right, I'll post them.

xo

A Day of Exploration.

2009-10-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

Listen, when you live in Berkeley, Ca. it just isn't a big deal to let you toddler play with strange artists you've never met before.

Happy 1st Birthday [HQ]

2009-10-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Birthday [HQ]

Birthday fun.

2009-10-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Oh Canada.

2009-10-13T09:46:00.001-07:00

Canada

2009-10-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

Where's Norah? Eric was supposed to bring her over in the boat. Wait for it...

Oh, there she is...

Just riding shotgun with her baby!

The best things is life don't come easy!

2009-10-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Two plane rides, one very long, one very short; a long and sleepy car ride; half a night in a hotel; one more very long car ride; and a windy, beautiful boat ride later... we were finally there! Norah was a rock star through it all. Worst part for her: life vest. Worst part for me: knowing this is going to happen all over again in ten days!

We're Off...

2009-10-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

We shop, play house with our dollies, run errands, play at the park, see the City, visit the zoo, and every once in awhile if our minds, hearts and bodies are prepared we hit up Ikea! All together. Buddies. This is the part of having a daughter I was waiting for.... being girls side by side, of course. Do I really get seventeen more years of this? DEAL! Soon I know she'll be telling me all about it, all about everything, and if it weren't for the bliss of this moment at fourteen and a half months, I wouldn't be able to wait!

Sunny Day

2009-06-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

So thoughtful!

2009-06-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

Norah loves swimming at Nonna and Papa's. I fought and fought with her to wear her sunhat. You can see who won.

Bedtime routine...

2009-05-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

Each night I try to keep Norah really busy and distracted so that she'll be able to stay awake until Daddy makes it home. He insists. This way he can take her for her nightly nature walk, where they touch trees, put their noses to the blooms, blow the parachutes, and watch the wind carry them away. When she finally returns to me to hear her lullabies she smells of grass instead of baby, but it's oh so worth it... they say.

Bubbles!

2009-05-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

Like the goats?... not so much

2009-05-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

Kitty, is that you? Quit taking pictures and get me out of here, momma!

Standing is the best... standing while self-medicating, even better!

2009-04-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

This is the face of the child whose mother wishes to remove the children's tylenol from her hand... Okay, so I'll let her have for a little while longer. No judgment please!

First Easter!

2009-04-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter in my best dress!

Hello cookie, Good-bye clean baby!

2009-04-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

These toddler cookies can occupy her for what seems like hours, but they sure do make a mess!

2009-04-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

Looking out on a sunny day!

Playdates!

2009-03-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

Norah loves her friends! She recently had a blast in the bath with dear Jocie... her little twin pal who was born just three days after Norah in a room down the hall from us at El Camino. Jocie's mom is my close friend, Tasha, whom I taught with at Covington. Norah also spent some good time with baby Silas, Lexie's nephew. He may be Norah's size, but don't be fooled, he's three months younger! We love playdates!

Look Who's Growing...

2009-02-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

I'm big enough to sit in mommy's huge chair now(and the couch, and all the beds, and anywhere and everywhere). I play with my kitty, and I roll around all over the giant hairy ground where all my toys land once released from my grip. Yep, I'm starting to think everything I see and feel must belong to me! I think you call this "taking over".... and I love it!

and Growing...

2009-02-03T17:16:00.000-08:00

I love eating real food! I love my big girl bowls, my big girl spoons, my big girl seat at the table, AND most of all I love my big girl bananas! (not so in love with rice cereal or carrots, unless they're disquised as bananas of course:)

and Growing...

2009-02-03T17:13:00.000-08:00

I love to roll over while I'm supposed to be sleeping so I can PLAY instead...

and Growing...

2009-02-03T17:04:00.000-08:00

I love to play in my "bouncy"...

and Growing...

2009-02-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

I hold my own bottle and I play in my crib all by myself...

Laughter in the dark...

2008-12-30T17:46:00.000-08:00

First Christmas!!

2008-12-30T13:52:00.000-08:00

2008-12-30T10:53:00.000-08:00

Pretty Girl.

2008-12-02T22:56:00.000-08:00

New Toys!

2008-12-02T22:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the early Christmas present, GramPam!

A Few Favorites...

2008-12-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

Hanging with mommy.

Blowing spit bubbles.

Being naked!

I Am Thankful...

2008-12-02T21:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in the morning I wake up and notice it's much later than the usual wake up time. I climb out of bed to find that Eric has pulled our daughter from her crib, has quietly changed her, and is playing with her out in the living room. The doors to the hallway have been shut, a clear sign that he is trying to keep all the gleeful sounds, the coos and the giggles from reaching my sleepy space in the bedroom. He's working hard to keep Norah good and distracted from realizing it's been a LONG time since she's eaten. All this just because he's aware enough to wake up to Norah's sounds even before I do, because he LOVES to be with his baby girl, because he is completely comfortable and competent to meet all her needs and to make her very HAPPY, but mostly because he loves me and is willing to serve me, to do whatever it takes to let me have those extra moments sleeping away. Eric is my husband, my best friend and love. Amazing relationships with family and friends have been the most beloved and important part of my life, but none can compare with the one Eric and I share together. I have loved him for over seven years, and even more so now as he wears the shoes of daddy. Once we were married, I remember thinking that he is an even better husband than I had anticipated him being, and my expectations were HIGH, as they always are. The same is true now. I cannot wait for the day when Norah is old enough to feel as proud as I am to call him her own. Thank you, Eric, for making us yours, for your great, great care over us! I am thankful...

This Is Serious...

2008-11-21T18:32:00.000-08:00

But Smiling Is So Great, It Makes Me Smile...

2008-11-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

Three months was the beginning of my most favorite age... Her smiles came and then her giggles. I'm crazy happy to see her so happy! Of course, Norah is not limited to HAPPY; she can also be quite focused, as you see above!!

More Smiles...

2008-11-21T18:18:00.000-08:00

Hanging Out in Argyle

2008-11-21T17:47:00.000-08:00

Holding hands is simply brilliant. Does anyone want to hold hands with me?

Still Waking Up...

2008-11-21T17:17:00.000-08:00

Newborns are very good at sleeping.... a lot...

Everybody's Sleepy...

2008-11-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

Norah began sleeping through the night at about 9 weeks. Before then... well... we were very tired. I'm not sure there is any way to describe this kind of TIRED. Also no way to describe how WORTH IT...

Brand New Norah!

2008-11-20T19:48:00.000-08:00

Norah Anne came out screaming on her due date, July 22nd. Labor was intense and miraculous. By God's grace, she was PERFECT, weighing in at 6 lbs. and measuring 19.5 inches. We were in LOVE! I think Eric may have even been floating. I don't remember his feet touching the ground or the smile leaving his face.

Waiting for Baby

2008-09-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

Here I am pregnant. The news was a shock to all, but the excitement grew immediately, far more rapidly than my belly...

Hawaii...

...one last time before the beautiful chaos.

Baby showers are FUN!

SEZIO is pregnant.... says Eric. Not sure??