Our Babbling Babe

Here is a little picture of how Norah's not so little voice has developed over the past few months!  She just has more and more to say, pretty sure she's the smartest baby ever.... not that I'm biased!

Enjoy!

Norah at three and a half months

Norah at five months

Just Call Me Mom

Today marks the end of my first year in nursing school.  Half way.  As of right now I am hanging up my nurse's hat for the next four months.  Norah is the only one who I will be nursing for the rest of the summer!  It has been a great year!  I go to school with some pretty awesome peeps who have helped me juggle a crazy load over the past few months.  And while I will miss seeing them every week, I am so excited to just hang out and be Mom.  

Norah is at such a fun stage!  She is babbling like a little brook, grabbing everything in sight and flapping and squawking all of the time.  We have a camera full of fun new photos including her first camping trip and other great highlights that I will be posting in the next few days.  I go in for a bone graft surgery tomorrow (you may remember I had that crazy day when the care was broken into and I fell and sprained my ankle, which, as luck would have it was actually a fracture that I didn't discover until four months later...) so I will have lots of time to sit around and blog over the next few days!   

Happy Trails

It is no question that parenting requires certain sacrifices.  Priorities have a way of naturally shifting when you become a parent; your identity becomes closely linked with your child and your role as their parent. It's easy to see how you can lose track of who you were before parenthood set in.  Those moments when I don't have to be 'mom' or 'student' Sarah are sometimes disorienting and it's somehow easier to look around and find something to clean than it is for me to put a finger on what I would really like to do... for myself.  

Now I am not discrediting the sacrifices of fatherhood here, but I think I am safe in saying that men have an easier time maintaining their prior priorities than women do... something to do with golf (be it disc or ball) and the inability to lactate.   The one thing that I miss most since having Norah is hiking.  Somewhere in the midst of learning the ins and outs of drugs and diseases, paper writing, changing diapers, and nursing (both meanings apply here) I have had a hard time finding the time... and energy to hit the trails.  

Luckily I am in love with one of the greatest motivators when it comes getting off your arse and going outside.  So this week Greg motivated me to sacrifice a couple of naps to take a good hike with Norah while he schooled his new mountain bike on the local single track trails, just like old times.  It was fun for the whole family.  While Norah may not yet be able to appreciate the beauty of a thundering waterfall, the sound of the river calms her down and peaks her curiosity and the rhythm of walking is something she has always enjoyed.  As for me, it was positively rejuvenating to get out and do something that a Sarah likes to do... for herself!

The Alpine Trail

Trail Bunnies

One of the many forest beauties in bloom.

Magical.

Greg and his baby.

Hard. Core.

The Sahalie and Koosah Falls Loop

Koosah Falls

Have rattle-will hike.

Sahalie Falls

Hands down one of the most beautiful river trails ever!

Even Bishop was nervous crossing this bridge!

Play Time

Norah has perfected her grab 'n' gum move.  Any time something interesting catches her eye she reaches out, grabs it and pulls it toward her mouth for the final test.  She especially likes to watch me eat, and I must admit that sometimes I let her gum an apple for a couple of seconds... her eyes light up and she gives a little squeal when she realizes what a treat it is.  The downside being that it is indeed anything that you are putting in your mouth, like a cup of coffee, a beer, a messy sandwich, it's all a potentially tasty treat and as she is discovering, is well within her grasp!  She enjoys spinning around in her little 'circle of fun' and chewing on the various plastic apendages.  She also enjoys laying on her back and flapping her arms and legs.  It's a great little workout... if I could do this I would have no detectable mommy belly... alas...

Forever in Blue Jeans

So this photography thing has been really fun for me... and I like to think Norah too!  It's great to wake up in the morning and play with her while snapping some photos.  Then later on when she's about to break down I play around and edit the cute photos of her.  'Sometimes', I tell her, 'you're cuter in your pictures!'  She of course is already keen to my wit!  I hope you don't mind being subjected to another adorable photo series, this promises to not be the last.  This time the theme is classic black and white in classic blue jeans.  Enjoy!

Mother's Day Revisited

The day of my inaugural Mother's Day fell a bit short of a new mother's expectation of being spoiled to a point of embarrassment while not batting an eye because she knows she deserves it.  It was simply not meant to be.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a total wash, and Greg did indeed spoil me with a lazy morning, a hot shower and quiet cup of coffee (all priceless and rare indulgences).  But the sinus infection, the overload of material I was trying to study for two tests the next morning and a fussy post-vaccine baby made for a rough day.  

So, naturally, we took a mulligan and celebrated Mother's Day this past weekend with some dear friends at our favorite winery, Sweet Cheeks (where we are now members, which is exactly what my maternal heart desired!).  Tegan and Noah, Sean and Kelsey and Greg and Norah and I clinked glasses over a feast of cowboy caviare, wisconsin cheese curds, fresh strawberries and sweet potato pie.  It was an evening to savor!  My cheeks blush when I think about how much fun we had.... or how much wine we drank ;) 

It's not about when you celebrate it--it's about how you celebrate it!  

Thank you Greg for such a truly beautiful day!

¿Que Color?

Norah's little oculars are beginning to show signs of changing color.  In certain light they look green, when the sun catches them from the side they look almost hazel.... both of which are in her gene pool.  What color do you think they'll be?