Our Grinnin' Gal

Norah has been treating us to big gummy grins lately.....
we thought we would share the treat!
More blogging to come post finals!
Wish me luck!

Daddy's girl

What the!?!

Hi.

The teaser smile

Norah in Action

Lights.....

Camera....

Baby..... 

ACTION!!!!

Norah is entranced by Nana Sue's singing

Norah's First Temptation......if only I had such will power!

Gimpanana

Gimpa and Nanna Sue made their way to the balmy northwest for a first time visit with their second granddaughter.  They came, we ate, drank, played cards, disc golfed, beer fest-ed, Sarah and Greg went on a date, and Norah got more grandparently advice than she could shake her limbs at.

Here's gimpa giving Norah her daily calisthenics 

Whachyou lookin' at

What do you mean I can't have a pony?!  Auralia has a pony!

Nap off

OK you can have a pony.

One Month Old!!

Norah celebrated her first month of life yesterday!  

And what a month it's been!  It's amazing how fast it goes.  She is getting good at eye contact and likes to stay awake and make fun little squeaks and coos.  We are having so much fun watching her grow up.  The other day she found her thumb twice in a row, almost like she realized that she has control over her little arms and hands.  I may regret getting excited about her sucking her thumb when she is four and can't break the habit (like her mom!), but for right now I simply can't help myself!

I am back at school full time and Greg is a shoe in for dad of the year!  He gets lots of good daddy time in while I'm at class and manages to rack up the 'Papa Point's' by staying on top of the dishes and even cleaning the toilet!  He is getting good practice for when Norah is in school by telling me to "stop messing around and do your homework".  It is a lot to balance, but we're still able to cram a lot of good times into our busy days.  Norah makes that easy.  Five minutes of watching her bright eyes take in the world around her and all the stress just melts away.  I'm too tired to be stressed anyway, I'm just overflowing, and it's all good!

Norah is getting excited to meet Gimpa and Nana Sue this week!  They are coming alll the way from Wisconsin!   We are looking forward to all of the parental insight, fabulous cooking and Euchre playing that comes with a visit from these two!  

If it wasn't me and it wasn't you then who......Bishop!?!

Another almost smile!

There's always room for Bishop on the couch....according to him!

Snuggling with Big Brother Bishop

If only he could change the diapers too!

Grandpa Goodness!!

Grandpa Roy flew into town yesterday for a sneak peak at his first granddaughter. We were so excited that he was able to stop by and meet Norah so soon! It was a quick visit, but Norah managed to give Grandpa Roy quite a show, with lots of happy alert time, some stellar napping and of course some nipple starved crying. Norah is already very excited for Grandpa's trip this summer when she will get to meet Grandma Debby! By then she will be full of smiles and crawling all over the place! Crazy to think about how fast that will come!
For the time being, Norah is what my parents referred to as a 'flapper'. She is still learning that she had control over her arms and legs. Every now and then I swear she plays with her tongue. She can lift her head up when she is on her belly, especially if she thinks there might be a nipple to land on!
I have started back to school full force. I gave my first injection this week, a successful interdermal (same thing as a TB test) to a classmate, who is still talking to me! This coming week I start taking care of patients on the Neuro floor of the hospital. I am still a little nervous about this, but they tell me that's a good thing. And I won't be poking any patients for at least a couple weeks! Whew! And so far Greg, who has also started back to work, is doing a great job of playing papa while I am off playing with needles. I really must say that Greg has proved to be quite the papa, don't tell him I told you this, but he has been doing laundry, dishes, diaper changes, and tonight he cooked his first pie (the same amazing curried veggie pie that we made for Christmas...someday I'll include the recipe!)

Enjoy these photo updates!

Introducing Grandpa Roy:

"My granddaughter's a hippie!?"

Norah loves her grandpa

"I'm ready for my close-up"

"Did someone say... nipple?"

"Nipply enough for me...."

This little piggie

More piggies

Smile?

Find something cuter than this.

Baby Bjorn 101

Here's a couple new photos as we approach the three week mark.
Norah is doing great and treating us to some fun alert time where we can imagine the world through her big bright eyes.
I have also learned how to upload video, so look forward to sharing some moments with us in real time!
Love to you all


Our first adventure with the baby bjorn, which has since proved to be far superior to baby benedryl!

I have since learned that you can't rotate video, hope this didn't make you dizzy!

Greg scored huge papa points with this ensemble he sported for yet another sunny walk to the bakery.
Thanks for the beautiful blanket Julie!

Goodbye Gramma Gigi

Gramma Martha, now to be known as Gigi (as in G.G., for Gramma Gorder) returned home to Minneapolis on Friday morning after helping us through our first week with Norah.  Let me just say that Greg was able to go disc golfing for two days in a row because there was nothing to keep him busy around the house after Mom had left not a dish to be done, a meal to be prepared or a rug to be vacuumed.  It was so great to have her here, and while my attempts at selling her on the charms of west coast living have not yet persuaded her to abandon the frigid winters of Minnesota, at least little Norah will be able to get her out here for a sunny summer visit.

In the mean time Greg, Norah and I are settling into something that slightly resembles a schedule.  I am much more mobile and have had to get used to feeding myself and fetching my own beverage every now and then.  I made my first appearance back at school and am planning on being back in class this Friday.  I have been staying up to date on class work with the help of a few fabulous classmates thanks Tegan, Mary and Jes!  With their help I will not have to play catch up for as long, although we are in for some full days ahead.

Norah is just amazing and has been treating us to some nice long stretches of sleep.  She is just beautiful....when she's happy, and she's still pretty cute when she is ordering us around!  She sure does miss her Gramma Gigi!

Priceless

"Did you say you were leaving?!"

"I love my Gramma Gigi!"

Peek-a-Boo!

"I'm not so sure about this!"

"I yawn in your general direction, Bishop!"

Pretty in Pink 

Sporting her first girly get-up from Gramma Gigi

My personal favorite way to spend an afternoon!