twelve months + birthday party

On June 3rd Paige turned 1!

Size: Wearing 12-18 month clothes and size 5 diaper (4 seems too small, but then size 5 does seem a little big...). She's 29.5" (about 62%) and 20.21 lbs (about 57%). Our big little girl!

Eating: She has weaned herself down to 2-3 nursings. It may mostly be because she's too distracted by Ellie and/or dad. We introduced whole milk and mixing it with breast milk has helped her drink it well. I'll wean her completely within this month, I think. Thankfully my supply hasn't freaked out one way or the other, so it's been a smooth transition all around! She definitely needs 2 snacks and 3 solid meals and loves water. We're still giving her semi-pureed food and introducing more whole foods to her. She's kind of picky with what she'll have in its original form, so it's been lots of trial and error.

Sleep: Paige usually wakes between 6:30-7am. First nap is around 8:30am. And little by little we've been shortening her morning nap and we only let her go for about 40 minutes. Then, she takes a good afternoon nap around 1pm, which lasts for 1.5-2 hours. She hasn't really gone past 3pm on her own. And bedtime is about 7/7:15pm. She may not fall asleep till about 7:30pm, but she's content babbling a little and rolling around till then. Still sleeping through the night like a champ and we have enjoyed her sleeping in a little more in the mornings!

Milestones/Accomplishments:
- Walking all over the place and fast! Doesn't crawl anymore
- Stands up by self in the middle of the floor
- One more top tooth has popped out and her canines are working their way out as well (total teeth out: 5)
- Has signed 'more' 'all done' and 'please' several times
- When we say "good job" she will usually clap, because we have done that to her a lot - clapped while saying good job
- Shakes hand and head slightly for 'no' when we tell her "no"
- Puts a blanket over my face when I ask her to play peek-a-boo
- Tries to put and/or take off lids on things
- Hands something to you when you ask her to
- Learned to wave bye (she has waved hi for awhile, but to wave bye as well seemed a little confusing for her)

Likes:
- Favorite books: Maddie the Alaskan Moose and What a Wonderful World (she's the most still when having those books read to her). And likes new books...she's intrigued by the new story
-Finding/eating anything/everything off the floor. The last couple months she'll find the smallest crumb or whatever and want to put it in her mouth. We've been working on that habit...
- Drinking out of a cup with a straw or any cup for that matter
- Has been loving baby dolls way more. She'll hug them and carry them around everywhere
- Absolutely loves being close/held/in the ergo, but also is an adventurer

Dislikes:
- The Nose Frida. She will kick her legs like you're trying to suck her brains out
- Waiting for food

Additional things I want to remember:
Laughs when other people are laughing hard. Goes after Ellie and says "hhhaaahhh" (kind of sounds like a soft lion roar). Loves playing "tag" with Ellie. Washes things like the bathtub and toys in it, with a washcloth. Or if there is a toy "rag/blanket" around the house she'll rub things with it like she's cleaning. Her squeal cry when she's really upset. How the hair in the top center of her head grows so fast (she needs another bang trim...that will make it the third one she's had). Makes this sound in her throat when she's annoyed with something or starting to get upset - it sounds like an angry throat clearing. Does not listen to the word "no" when she wants to get into the entertainment center (tries to get DVDs out)...she gets really determined sometimes. Cuddles into my chest while she's in the ergo.

PHOTOS FROM BIRTHDAY PARTY

(collected photos from several different cameras from her big day)

^ Paige held onto that bow the entire time we opened presents. It's the simple things ; )

^ My mom made that quilt!

^ Ellie wanted to dress up for the special day ; )

She wasn't too sure about her cupcake for awhile. 

Then she started rubbing it on hands like lotion and smashed that thing up good, 

eating bits here and there!...

^ I asked myself at the end, why did I even bother with those straps?!?

^ Day after party, on her actual birthday!!!

We had a wonderful time celebrating our Paige with some friends and family!

May photo favorites

^ Ellie wanted her pictures taken

^ Ellie make shifted the doctor kit bag into a baby carrier and went on a neighborhood walk like this.

And look at that posing!

^ Ellie had her first dance recital. She had a great time! And thank goodness I snapped this picture before, because she refused to let us take a photo after. 

Some of our friends came and brought her a couple single stemmed roses. It was the sweetest. 

^ Mother's Day. My arms are full and my heart is even more so!

We love morning hikes

^ Ellie was giving Paige a "hair cut" (it's a comb in her hands-don't worry).

And let's hope there never is a real hair cut in the future ; )

^ Park walk with some friends. This melted my heart - them holding hands

^ This is Paige's serious "yay" with her arms up. Haha

^ When dad can't find your sun hat, you grab one of mom's old hats that Ellie uses for dress up!

I (Kait) met up with them at the park and she was wearing this! I was cracking up.

^ Same romper, 3 different girls. 

Left to right: Ellie at 6 months, Paige at 2 months and Lily (Paige's BFF) at almost 5 months

^ The girls dancing together, initiated by Ellie and Paige was LOVING it. 

^ LOVES those baby dolls!

First splash pad of the season! Both girls had a blast!

Special Mother's Day Post (secretly written about Kaitlin)

Today's blog post is a very special and unique one - different from what you'd normally be reading about here at Norris Lane. Today, I (Steven) have secretly logged into Kaitlin's Blogger account in order to brag to you all about her.

Typically you'd find all kinds of cute pictures and updates about our two lovely daughters and what we've been up to as a family. Instead today I'm sharing about the wonderful woman, wife, and mother that makes everything about our loving family possible. 

Recently, in a fit of selfishness, I shared with Kaitlin that staying home alone with and watching both girls is exhausting and not my favorite thing to do. She could have, any maybe even should have, laughed in my face at that remark. But she didn't. That's just not who she is.

For those of you who don't know, on top of all she does during the week, Kaitlin spends ALL day every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday taking care of our girls while I'm at work. And she doesn't just merely "take care" of the girls. She loves on them like you wouldn't believe. She wakes them up, feeds them healthy meals, she plays with them and talks to them, she teaches them, comforts them, reads to them, disciplines them, bathes them, changes and dresses them, prays with them, and puts them to sleep. She takes them on walks, takes them to the library, and takes them on play dates with friends. On top of all the kid stuff she shops for groceries, washes and folds laundry, cooks, cleans, plans baby showers for friends, gets gifts for extended family, works out 6 days a week, and the list just goes on... it truly does.

Now you can see why she could have laughed at me for my comment about watching the girls the other day.  

Beyond of all the kid stuff and normal house duties she takes on, she still manages to be a huge blessing to me at the end of my work days. She doesn't dump the kids on me or hand me a list of housekeeping to-dos the moment I get home from work each evening. She creates a space in the evenings where I can come home, relax and enjoy her company. We talk, we laugh, watch a favorite show, and sometimes even eat some ice cream (my favorite snack) together. That is as pleasant as any evening I can come up with after a long day at work.

How does she do it all?! I don't know. She has a super power that rivals that of Mary Poppins. Actually on second thought, it's not even right to call it a super power. That would imply she's miraculously received the ability to do all these things with ease. That wouldn't be exactly true. She works at it, she studies parenting and constantly looks for ways to improve. And while I do believe the good Lord has uniquely gifted her in the area of mothering and wiving (Did I just make up a word?), she still has hard days and sometimes gets exhausted by all the work. She takes it with grace, doesn't take it out on anyone, and never complains. Ultimately, her amazing ability comes from a place that reflects the heart of Christ - a heart that's rooted in serving, giving, humility, selflessness, and love. 

I couldn't have a better life partner, or mother to our children then the one our family has in Kaitlin. She's the heart behind so much of our family and the glue that unites us together and helps drive us to be better. She truly is extraordinary and I appreciate and love her beyond words. 

Happy Mother's Day, Kaitlin.

Love,

Steven, Ellie, and Paige

eleven months

Size: Pretty much all 9 month clothes don't fit. The clothes she does fit are 12-18 month! And wearing size 4 diaper still. When she lays down she looks soooo long. I am so curious what her weight and height are, but her next well check isn't until next month.

Eating: Altogether she still has a good appetite, but she's had a mild cold off and on, so that can affect how much she wants to eat - can be hard to breath while eating and swallowing. She's nursing 4 times still, has 3 meals, plus 1-2 snacks a day! Little by little we're giving her more bits of our food; experimenting with what she actually likes in solid form. Girl loves her blueberry/purple sweet potato puffs by the way.

Sleep: Paige is sleeping in a little longer...waking up at 6:30am on average - usually waking on the later side of 6:30. Plus, we won't let her sleep past 7, as to not affect the rest of the days routine. First nap is around 8:15am, lasting 1-1.5 hours (we won't let her sleep more than a hour and a half, so it doesn't affect the length of her second nap). Second nap is at 1pm, usually lasting 1.5-2 hours. And bedtime is 7pm. We love her predictability, how she falls asleep fast and her consistently sleeping through the night for months!!!

Milestones/Accomplishments:
- Has four teeth...two on top and two on the bottom
- Has taken up to 4 steps. Usually just does a step or two, often
- Walks confidently along furniture and one handed as well
- Claps
- Shakes head/body for 'yes'
- Points and babbles sometimes
- Waves hi
- Gives high fives...is however skeptical of doing it with people she doesn't know that well

Likes:
- Others' eyelashes and teeth. She'll use her pointer finger and kind of play with them
- The dishwasher...if she see it open, she'll instantly stop what she's doing and crawl over and check it out
- Patting your back/shoulder when being held
- When you say, "I'm going to get you!!!" She'll get all excited, laugh and either crawl or walk (along furniture) away
- Pages in books...she is always grabbing at them while she's being read to and sometimes she'll help turn them
- Climbing/mauling over cushions
- Taking books off the shelf

Dislikes:
We couldn't really think of any new things she doesn't like...
She still doesn't like her diaper changed sometimes...or things being taken away from her that she wants to, but shouldn't...or being put down - like if she just wants to be held, but you need to make food, etc...she'll fuss for a moment.

Additional things I want to remember:
We play chase with Ellie and Paige will crawl the same path (like around the kitchen island or the living room furniture), like she's playing as well. The way she smiles often with her teeth clenched together, tilts her head back, while squinting her eyes and scrunching her nose - it's sooo silly and cute! Her deep her stomach roll and thigh rolls are - cleaning those things takes some effort! Her olive skin tone...I had observed this several months ago, but now it seems even more noticeable when she's next to Steven and Ellie (who are more pale). How she is still so content in the ergo...I think she just loves that closeness...as do I!