Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween

Norrin, Mommy and Daddy
Norrin and Uncle Jim


Happy Giraffe




Norrin just wanted to run all over the neighborhood in his giraffe costume. He had a pumpkin bag that he wouldn't hold and he only made it to two houses, but he sure did have a lot of fun making Daddy chase him up and down the block. Mommy was just so happy she could get out of work early to see her lil boy in his costume.

Giraffe On The Loose

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

New Shoes and Crazy Weather

Yesterday was some crazy weather. First it was raining, then it was snowing. The wind ripped through every layer I had on and it was just all in all yucky outside. So, of course, I decided to take my kid to the mall for some shoes. His Grandmom Milligan bought him his first pair of Nikes and I bought him some faux Crocs from Target, but he was having problems walking in both of those, so I decided to have him professionally measured. He needs rubber soled shoes for all this nasty weather and I was desperate to get him shoes that wouldn't make him trip :). I went to Stride Rite...an expensive decision ($40), but the right one. They measured his feet and he had a new pair within minutes. Afterwards he spent a good half an hour running around in the new shoes around the fountain in Willow Grove Mall...no falls. The employees at Stride Rite were really good with him and the shoes are really cute (now if only they could do something about the price). After some exercise around the fountain, we got back in the car and out into that terrible weather to get some lunch at Allways Cafe. I love, love, love their food and its butternut squash soup time! Norrin loved the soup and I shared some of my sweet potato quesadilla with him. He held it together quite nicely even though he wanted to continue running around in his new shoes :). The car ride is half an hour and Norrin loved it. Now that he's forward facing, he can see everything and the snow was so exciting to him. He talked the whole drive home. It was just such a great outing...even though I know I'm a little crazy to be out in that kind of weather. Today is our weekly visit with Grandmom and Grandpop Milligan. Its almost 8:30 am and the lil guy is still in bed, so this might be a later visit (I time it for after his morning nap...whenever that should occur). Todd is still in bed, too. I'm the only fool who doesn't sleep in :). I had to pack a bag this morning for Norrin. I'm working on Halloween so I want to make sure Grandmom Milligan has all the supplies she needs for Norrin to make his way around her neighborhood. I've included our camera b/c I want lots of pics of my lil giraffe. I hate that I'm missing out on it, but it is what it is...better Halloween than Christmas :).

Monday, October 27, 2008

Whole Foods Baby & Toddler Festival

Today I took Norrin to Whole Foods, which is something I do at least once every two weeks...but today was special. Today they had the Baby & Toddler Festival! First, I had the Abington Police Department check my carseat. I just turned it to front facing and they were doing free checks and I never pass up something free :). I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I'm pretty darn good at installing a carseat. Then, we watched Tonjia's presentation (from Divas n Babes) on baby carriers. This was my first time meeting her in person and it was funny b/c she recognized Norrin from his carrier before I even introduced him. Then, we watched a baby food demonstration. Norrin is on solids, but he wanted to nurse and the seats were comfortable and while we were sitting there, they gave us a free sample. It was a blend of spinach, mango and pear and it was yummy (yes, I sampled a little of it myself). Norrin liked it so much, he allowed me to spoon it into his mouth, which never happens now that he's in his "I can do it myself" mode. We even had a second helping...since they were offering :). At that point, nap time had come and gone and Norrin wasn't going to tolerate any more time in Whole Foods, no matter how many free samples they handed to him. It was a wonderful way to spend our morning.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Wild Baby On The Loose

I Love Footie Jammies




Every child looks adorable in footie jammies...mine just looks exceptionally adorable :).

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Photo Day

Today the cleaners came...which means I have to get cash...which means Norrin and I take a walk to the Wawa down the street (its nice until the weather gets too cold). Norrin usually falls asleep on the way back...I snuggle him close in his mei tai carrier and all the sounds of the neighborhood knock him out cold :). After the cleaners leave, Norrin makes a total mess of all his toys and books that they take the time to stack so nicely. Then, we have lunch. Today there was a new element...I took Norrin to Babies R Us for some professional photos. Its been three months since his last photo session there and I have to keep the pictures updated. When I got there, it was chaos. I hadn't anticipated how many people would be there for pre-holiday photos. Surprisingly, they could fit us in at 1:30 pm...an hour from the time we got there and dangerously close to Norrin's naptime. I agreed thinking there was no way in hell I was going to dress this child up again tomorrow when I had him there now. For the hour, I let him run wild in the aisles of Babies R Us. He threw books off the shelves, carried toys from one aisle to another and ultimately made a complete and total mess. Norrin's Uncle Jim got us a gift card, so I was able to get him his first Crayola markers (washable, non toxic and shaped like some freaky lil creatures). Finally, just as Norrin was reaching his breaking point...and I was reaching mine....they called us overhead for his photos. I thought for sure I was pushing my luck, but as soon as they busted out that feather duster, he smiled like the happy baby he generally is. The photos were great and I hope to never see that place again...at least not for another three months :).

Monday, October 20, 2008

A Couple Things Norrin Did On His Bday


Helped Grandpop Milligan vacuum the floor.




Carried his new teddy bear from Grandpop Boyling around after his nap...up and down the hallway...don't ask me why.

Norrin's First Haircut

Before
After
Well, we managed to wait a year for the first haircut...its bad luck to cut it before then...or at least, that's what I think. Norrin was really good at Wiggle Worms. They had him sit on a frog and watch Madagascar while they cut his hair. And when he was done, they gave me some of his hair and a certificate saying we (me and Norrin) survived his first haircut. Grandmom Milligan came with us (got to have her seal of approval...especially since she resisted the urge to cut his hair all this time) and we both think he looks like a little man now.

Norrin's First Birthday Party





My baby is one year old! He had a great time at his bday party on Saturday. His cousins fed him cookies, cheese doodles and pizza cheese...to name a few things. He didn't completely demolish the cupcake like we thought he would, but he still put on a pretty good show :). He fought with Amy's son, Henry over every toy, but only after Keith, Amy's other son, "helped" him open his gifts (I've never seen a child open gifts so quickly...Keith, not Norrin). He was carried around by his cousins and took great pleasure in beating up Stevie Joe...as usual :). Mommy and Daddy didn't really exist for him at the party...there were too many kids to play with. It was a great time and now that its over, I just can't believe my baby is one!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

All Hail The Mei Tai Carrier


When Norrin fights sleep, he really fights sleep. I tried nursing him down, I tried running the energy out of him, I tried snuggling on the couch with him while we played some Mozart and nothing was working...until I busted out the trusty mei tai carrier :). So, thank you, Tonjia, for your fabulous carrier that is not only quite stylish, but a freakin' lifesaver when nothing will settle my sleepy boy down.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

PETA Should Be Knocking At Our Door Any Minute

Lunch in Newtown



More Pics at the Orchard


Norrin in the pumpkin market.



Just strolling down a country road.


Norrin and Daddy


Come to Daddy.



Look at the pretty fall foliage!

The Pumpkin Patch at Styer's Orchard



Styer's Orchard


Apple picking with Mommy.



An attempt to get him to stop eating the half rotten apples on the ground.



Norrin was more interested in emptying the bucket than filling it up :).

Monday, October 13, 2008

Another Knitting Success


Norrin has another hat for the winter ahead...this one has ears! Thanks to global warming, he'll probably only need a hat three days this year :). This pic was taken using a Baby Einstein video as distraction and a quick trigger finger because it was off his head almost as quickly as I could put it on.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Disaster Dinner

Well, things went as well as expected. Norrin cried for most of the half an hour car ride to Willow Grove, then I took him out of the car and he instantly stopped crying (tricky lil bugger). I let him play at the playground before we met Megan for an early dinner. Unfortunately, that meant no nap was accomplished...and I knew it was going to be a difficult meal. He stayed in the high chair for about five minutes (maybe less), then he was struggling to escape. I let him sit in my lap and he decorated me with food. Everything on the table needed to be touched...or tasted...or squished. My poor friend, Megan watched with a completely horrified look on her face. Norrin was the poster child for birth control. I have a theory about Norrin and restaurants...he seems to behave better when there are other children around. Sit him next to the loudest, craziest group of kids and he's a perfect angel...unfortunately, Cheesecake Factory didn't have much for loud, crazy kids, so he must have felt the need to be that kid :). Oh, well. The upside is he fell asleep seconds after I got him into the car. I really prefer meeting friends at my home these days. Norrin has five billion toys to play with and he isn't forced to sit at a table for an uncertain amount of time. But Megan and I are worlds apart and Willow Grove is the meet in the middle location. Needless to say, she said the next time we get together should be a girls night out :). So, now I'm working three days in a row, but I have lots to look forward to. Todd has off on Monday (for Columbus Day-the Celebration of Genocide) and we're planning on taking Norrin to a pumpkin patch. He loves pumpkins and they don't even have to be real...they're big, round and orange, what's not to love? We're excited to see how he handles the excitement of an entire pumpkin patch. I will take lots of pics. And next weekend is Norrin's bday party! I can't believe my lil guy is going to be a year old. Where did the time go? So, there's lots of good things ahead that will get me through my weekend.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

My Oompaloompa




He insists on feeding himself...of course, he ends up wearing more of the food than eating it :).

Wednesday Adventures

Yesterday we went to another Moms Group...this time at my doula's house. I like visiting with Amy...I like talking to her, she was the only other person present for my child's birth besides Todd and it makes me laugh to see her little terror (Henry) relating with my little terror. I don't know if she knows how important her friendship is to our family...we enjoy her bluntness, her hippy-dippy ways, her opinions on birth and life in general. Todd likes reading her blog as much as I do. So, thanks, Amy for being such a rocking chick. Anyway, Norrin had a great time playing with Keith until he had to go to kindergarten. Norrin always latches on to the older child. Then, he was left with Henry :). And I don't think they know what to make of each other. They're too young to know how to play with each other...its more about stealing toys and who has the better sippy cup. Throw in a little pre-nap exhaustion and you know there were tears :). Norrin snacked on whatever he could get his hands on...such a good eater...tried to sort through Amy's cabinets, emptied someone else's diaper bag and made numerous attempts to climb the stairs. Needless to say, he slept soundly the whole drive back. After Amy's, we went to Grandmom and Grandpop Milligan's. Its our Wednesday tradition. Norrin continued to eat like a little piggy when he got there. He nursed, had mac n cheese, pasta, peas, bread n butter, basically whatever Grandmom put in front of him :). He also tried cow's milk for the first time. He loved it, but there isn't much he doesn't love. I would have preferred that the milk was organic, but Grandmom really wanted him to try it and she didn't have organic. I always laugh at the contradictions of stories when I get back from a weekend of work. Rita tells me that Norrin had a meatball and he loved it. Todd tells me he tried some sausage on Monday and actually went over to the trashcan and threw it out. Conveniently, this was after Grandmom left :). I'm more inclined to believe Rita's version because my child is such a good eater, but you never know...sausage has a pretty strong flavor and Norrin might not have liked it. So, after seeing the grandparents, we went home and Todd gave Norrin a bath. That's my "me time". Todd loves reconnecting with Norrin after a long day at work and Norrin loves playing with Daddy...no one makes him laugh harder than Todd. It was a good end to a very busy day. Today we're meeting my friend, Megan for an early dinner at Cheesecake Factory. Will Norrin behave? We'll see :).

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

An Oldie, But A Goodie

Found this while going through my archives...its only about a month old, but its the kind of craziness that is my son :). Poor Shrek gets thrown off that chair on a daily basis.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Blue Monday

Just one more twelve and then I get three days off...I can do it...I think I can, I think I can. Today Grandmom Milligan is coming over to watch Norrin. She recently offered to start watching him on the weekday that I work. None of us were very happy with how Norrin wasn't adjusting to his new classroom and I was not liking his care as much. The last time he was there he was only fed lunch. Norrin is in daycare for a minimum of ten hours and he's been on solids for 6 months now...there is no reason why he shouldn't have been given at least a snack. So, after a little bit of discussion, we decided it would be better for everyone if Grandmom Milligan came to watch him. Norrin will be much happier with family, I feel calmer knowing that he's with someone who will love him and only him and Todd's credit card can take a break from the ridiculous amount of money they charged for the three days a month Norrin was there. There was some compromise...no cloth diapers for Grandmom...as she said, "you can save the planet on your own time" :) and I told her that if this becomes work, she needs to let us know. I don't believe grandchildren should be work...the grandparents raised their children, their work is done and they should just get to have fun with their grandchildren. Other than that, I'm completely overjoyed that I am not ripping my infant from his warm bed and throwing him into the cold carseat this morning. I am totally thrilled that he will not be neglected at daycare today. And I'm so freakin' relieved that my happy baby will be back to himself because he gets to play with Grandmom all day. Now if we could just get pass this teething business, we'd be all set :).

Friday, October 3, 2008

Never Again

Why am I such a glutton for punishment? This is probably the tenth time I've gone to the grocery store with Norrin and left feeling like I forgot half the stuff I went in for because Norrin acted up and I rushed through the aisles. Every mom knows grocery shopping with a little one is impossible...I've been told a thousand times by other mommies that I should leave my lil guy with his daddy while I shop...but I still think I can get it done quickly and efficiently enough to avoid a scene (such a fool). I didn't need much during this trip...a loaf of bread, some eggs...but I still rushed out of there before I could grab some turkey for my hubby (who wants a vegetarian picking out their lunchmeat anyway?). Truthfully, I'd like to avoid the car altogether...Norrin has no interest in being in his carseat. There's an entire world out there that he needs to explore and strapping him down in a carseat or a grocery cart is something he has absolutely no interest in whatsoever. And then I'm the moron who acts surprised when he pitches a fit. Yesterday, we took a ten minute trip to Target. Halfway through the ride, I stopped in a huge parking lot because he was crying so hard he started gagging. As soon as I got him out of the car, he ran all over the parking lot picking up tree branches twice his size and chasing leaves blowing in the wind. I let him play for a good half an hour (what else do I have to do with my day off ?), but as soon as I put him back in that carseat he started the gagging cry (I won't be fooled twice, dammit). I already know that my mother is reading this and laughing because I got a stubborn, headstrong, tricky little troublemaker...just like me. On the other hand, I love his curiosity because he forces me to stop and appreciate even the littlest details of this planet- he loves the sound a stick makes when its scraped against a tree :). Of course, I will never again take my child to the grocery store.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Norrin And Elmo


For those of you who don't believe in love at first sight, just watch a child in a toy store!

How Many Teeth Does An 11 Month Old Need?

We are currently going through another bout of teething...God help us. The first two signs were the runny nose and the bib of drool. Then I saw a huge purple blister on Norrin's gums. Two nights ago Norrin woke up at 3 am and tossed and turned until 4:30 am. And finally, yesterday he refused to nap and cried and whined all day long. I hate using medication to comfort my child...I would rather nurse him all day or feed him vanilla ice cream than give him Tylenol. However, we reached a new level of pain yesterday and I did end up giving him one dose of Tylenol before bed. He slept soundly through the night and woke up happy this morning. I've heard that the molars are horrible for babies so I'm trying not to be too stingy with the Tylenol :). Yesterday, Rita and I went to Babies R Us with two goals in mind- to find a Halloween costume and an outfit for Norrin's first birthday photo. We left the store with a lot more though. Norrin is going to be a giraffe this year. I put the costume on him last night and he looks absolutely adorable. We also found a cute argyle sweater vest and socks to go with a collared shirt and tweed pants for his birthday photo outfit. Then, the chaos of shopping with an 11 month old ensued. We went to the chair section and tried to convince Norrin that the tasteful brown rocking chair was the way to go, but he was fixated on the most outrageous Elmo chair. It was so bad that we actually had to clear out the back of the cart, put the chair in and put Norrin in the chair...it was the only way we could convince him that the chair was coming with us, so please stay calm while we continue to shop. Then we went to the shoe section...my son has huge feet! He is a size 6! I thought it was a fluke, so I put his foot in one of the measuring things and his big toe was hanging over the edge of the 5 1/2...so he's a stinkin' 6! Grandmom Milligan bought him his first pair of Nikes. We put them on and he was a little freaked out by his first pair of hard soled shoes...he walked around like Frankenstein...but he'll need them for the colder weather. We also got three more Baby Einstein videos, a winter coat and a xylophone. It was amazing that we showed such restraint, but Norrin has a short attention span for shopping these days. Other than that, he's added ba-bye to his vocabulary. That's in addition to dada, mom (yes, he says mom, not mama...my mother will appreciate that), dog and ball. And that's about it. Its a nonstop adventure here :).