A Journey...

...to Henderson!  Last Thursday morning Norah Kate and I embarked on our first journey together.  I say "journey" because I don't think I quite realized how long and involved it is to travel with an infant!  My grandmother lives in Henderson, KY and fell on Mother's day and broke both wrists.  We wanted to spend time with her, and felt that this would be a good time for Norah Kate to meet many of her relatives.  Well, let me tell you...Norah Kate could not have been a better traveler!!!  David had to work, so it was just the two of us.  She slept most of the way, and only cried the last 15 minutes of the trip!  (I really don't blame her for crying at the end...it had been 6 1/2 hours since we left Memphis!)  ...which brings me to the next part of the "journey" - Man! It takes a long time!  Usually David and I can make it to KY in 4 1/2-5 hours.  Well, we made it to Dickson, TN just in time for me to feed her (in the car - nice).  Then I wanted her to be able to get out of her seat for awhile, so I ate lunch at a Cracker Barrel in order to let her move around and play.  It worked out perfectly because by the time I finished eating she was starting to yawn.  So, we got back in the car and she feel asleep again.  Oh!  Also - I think trying to use a public bathroom when you have an infant with you is like a bad algebra problem.  It reminds me of the one where there are 4 people on one side of a river and two boats on the other side...how do you get everyone to the other side without anyone getting wet? Well...you get the idea...but we survived!  My mom was able to ride back with us on Monday, so that was very nice and took a ton of stress off of me.  :)  

I was able to spend some time with my good friend from college, Kari.  She is 27 weeks pregnant with her first little girl, Naomi Grace.  Norah Kate can't wait to meet Naomi at the end of the summer.  It was so nice to see Kari again and catch up a little.  We never have as much time as we'd like though.  :)

Here is Norah Kate with my cousin, Ross, and his wife, Sarah.

Norah Kate and Mary Ruth...our "other" grandmother.  :)

Norah Kate & her Great Great Aunt Norma Jean

Norah Kate & her Great Great Aunt June

Norah Kate with her cousin, Dawn  (not real sure why it's sideways)

Needless to say, Mama Joyce did not want her picture taken this trip...due to her black eye and the bruises.  That will have to wait until next time.  Mama Joyce is doing really well and we are thankful that the fall wasn't any worse.  

And for the surprise from the trip...check out this video!  

It takes a minute to see Norah Kate's trick, so be patient.  So exciting!!!

Quick Post

Hey Everyone!  Just wanted to give a quick update.  Norah Kate took her first big trip this past week/weekend.  My grandmother fell and broke both wrist, so we went to Kentucky to spend time with her.  Norah Kate did AMAZING!!!  I hope to have pictures up soon.

...on another (SAD) note...  I have to go back to work this week.  Boo-hoo!  I am going back to 2 nights a week at St. Jude, so tomorrow night I will be there.  My mom will come down to keep Norah Kate while I sleep during the day Thursday.  I know that will be a big help.  I am sad though for this time to be over.  

~Look for pictures soon~

Talking to my toys!

Norah Kate has started "talking" this last week...so I wanted to share it with you all.  Check it out below!  (P.S.  I'm so happy that she found the toys on her swing because she never liked her swing before this...now she loves it!  Yeah!)

8 weeks

Happy 8 weeks to my sweet girl!!!

Does that sound crazy to anyone else???  8 weeks?!!!  I can't believe it!  Norah Kate is really getting to be a lot of fun.  She is smiling all the time and cooing quite a bit as well.  Tonight we went to get something to eat and I had Chula in the back.  Norah Kate just talked to her the whole way!  It was so cute...I think Chula appreciated it as well - Ha!  

We went for her 2 month check-up today and yes...that meant shots.  How pitiful!!!  She looked at the nurse like "What did I do to you?!" Then, of course, screamed and turned PURPLE!  She was pretty easy to console though and spent most of the day napping.  Tonight she was back to her old self so hopefully that is as bad as it gets.  So here are her stats:  

Weight  10.3 lb - 25%

Height  23inches - 75% 

Head circ.  37cm - 25%.  

So she's pretty long.  Her doctor was very pleased with how she's growing and it was a nice, uneventful trip.  She is eating every 3.5 hours and she slept through the night Wednesday night - YEAH!!!!!!!  I guess you could say she slept through the night last night as well...she just woke up an hour earlier than the morning before.  Either way we are happy.  David and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary yesterday, April 30th...so we agreed that she gave us a great anniversary gift!  

I am getting a little sad though, because I only have 3 weeks of maternity leave remaining and then its back to the Jude.  I will be going back part time to the night shift.  This isn't the ideal shift for me, but part time is wonderful and it is what will work best for our family right now.  My mom will be able to come down once a week to keep Norah Kate and let me get some rest - nice!  So, we are just doing pretty well!  Here are a couple of pictures from the last week...

(Sara & Laura - notice the owl!!!)