I know, Luke, we can't believe it either. Here you are on your 1 month birthday, June 29. I am giving you a bath because you just spit up all over me, the floor, the sofa, and yourself. Then, while I was changing your diaper and your shirt, you spit up and pooped again. Then, while I was changing the changing pad cover, you spit up again, making your hair all sticky. So, it had to be bathtime....
Luke had his 1 month checkup today (6.30), and here are the stats:
Weight: 11 lbs, 11 oz. (and they were worried he wasn't gaining weight...)
Length: 57 cm (22.4 inches)
He grew an inch and added 2.5 lbs. since his last appointment. Maybe that is what eating every 3 hours (even at night...) on the nose will do for a person...
The Life and Times of James, Chiara, Norah, Luke and Susannah Hemsley
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
What?!?! I am 1 month old today?
Football hold
Luke has a fussy time from about 6 to 9 p.m. The other day, James realized that this football hold actually made him relax. Yeah, Daddy!
Puppy Seat 3
The hand whacked the forehead, and then moved to behind his head, where he grips his hair. I think this is the arm that was "up" when he was born, because he LOVES to be in this position.
Puppy Seat
Luke loves the puppy bouncy seat. It vibrates and when he kicks and moves, the puppy barks and makes music. Here he is waking up from a well-deserved nap.
My Cousin Vinny
Norah and Vinny had a lot of fun playing together. Technically, he is Chiara's cousin, not Norah's. Maybe they are first-cousins-once-removed or whatever....I can never keep it straight!
Vinny brought Norah and Luke some books about John Deere tractors...he knows all the names of farmyard and construction equipment, and always seemed a little annoyed when I called the power shovel that was digging up my neighbor's yard a "tractor" instead of a power shovel. Maybe Luke will share his enthusiasm for heavy machinery....
Visitors
Chiara's Aunt Janet, Uncle Jim, and cousin Vinny came by Iowa City on their way out west for a vacation. Janet and Vinny stayed one night before catching the train in Mt. Pleasant, IA, while Uncle Jim drove on to meet them in California. Norah was shy at first, but then she warmed right up to them both.
Like a dinner plate
Norah's skirt looks flat like a dinner plate when she spins. That is what Oma told her, and that is what she tells me every time she spins around.
I asked Norah what she wanted to be when she grows up, and she whispered, very seriously, to me: "A ballerina"
I say it's either that or a singer at this point. She really likes both dancing and singing!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Bassinet
We were sent this cool little bassinet by Jeri and Nonna, and it is great because it folds up and I can bring it to the neighbors' house and Luke can sleep in it while Norah and I swim. It has a mosquito net and toys built in. I think he likes it!
Matchy match
James and Luke matched one day so I just HAD to take some photos!
As Norah would say: "Hey! They match!"
Papparazzi
Norah and I went swimming in the neighbors' pool (with permission, of course!), and SOMEONE (i.e. Grandpa Vinnie) snapped photos of us from behind the fence. Norah had a blast trying to spot the pesky papparazzo.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thanks (again)
I like this photo because it shows how much Norah adores Oma! And, Grandpa grew on her, too!
She asks about both regularly, and today on Skype, she asked them when they were coming "home." It was cute.
Posing
Grandpa and Oma helped us so much while they were here. I can't even begin to make a list of all the things we did, but they were an enormous help. One of the things we appreciated most was just helping us adjust to having 2 kids instead of 1. Norah was played with, fed, changed, read to (and so was Luke). It was such a big help! Thank you to Oma and Grandpa Vinnie!
Niabi Zoo
Grandpa, Oma, Norah, Luke and I went to the Niabi Zoo on the one sunny day before Grandpa and Oma left. Here we are on the train ride, which Norah loves!
Focusing
Luke started really focusing on faces right before Grandpa and Oma left. Here he is having a moment with Grandpa--either right before or after being changed!
Princess Norah
James wants to print some money for a game he is making, and he wants Princess Norah to be on the money. He had her pose one day, and she ate it right up. Any excuse to dress up like a princess will do!
Daddy's girl
Norah's hairdo in the bathtub makes us see how much she really looks like James! I wonder if Luke will look that much like him....
Friday, June 18, 2010
Still Norah's favorite activity
Swinging at the park is hands down Norah's favorite activity. The only way we could get her to leave without a tantrum was to set an alarm on our cell phones. I saw a mom doing that once and thought it was a great idea, so I stole it and employed it for my headstrong girl. It worked.
Norah has been saying some funny things lately. I will write them here before I forget.
One of her books has a phrase: "What's all the fuss about?" I don't think she knows what it means. Here is one of several recent conversations:
N: Mom, what's all the fun about?
Me: Do you mean what's all the fuss about?
N: No, the fun.
Me: Well....going to the park is fun.
N: Yes, it is!
She has been pretending and imagining a lot more lately, too. Here's one:
N: When I was a big girl, I climbed a tall tree, and fell down, and broke my arm! (she has told me this several times!)
Making cookies with Oma
Oma is incredibly patient, and let Norah help her with multiple cooking/baking tasks. Here they are making some delicious chocolate chip and raisin cookies!
First bath at home
Norah helped me give Luke his first bath at home. Luke was a picture of calm and relaxation. He must like baths!
Makeshift mittens
Luke must have had his hands by his face in utero, because he always wants one arm or another up by his face. He was scratching himself a lot, too, so we made him some makeshift mittens (i.e., socks!) to protect his eyes...they actually worked quite well!
While we were away...
Here's what Norah was up do while we were at the hospital: she went to the Raptor Center with Grandpa, Oma, and Nonna. Here they are checking out an owl.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Lunch time
Norah always loves hanging out with Daddy when he comes home for lunch--even if he is not 100% responsive! Daddy desperately needs a nap from being up much of the night with Luke. Luke is sleeping as usual (it's daytime, after all...).
Luke's favorite activity
Luke had his days and nights mixed up for the first 3-4 days. Here he is enjoying a long nap during the day...to better prepare him for his late-night plans!
I think we have been blessed with another fairly mellow baby. Luke doesn't do much crying unless he is really upset or has a burp that won't come out. It is nice to be able to read his cues early and keep him calm, cool, and collected!
Birthday skirt
Norah's Grandma and Grandpa Hemsley send this pretty skirt for her birthday! She loved twirling in it!
Birthday dinner 1
We had a fabulous steak dinner for Norah's birthday. She had quesadillas (which she loves!). Here are Norah and Nonna playing a game.
Blowing out the candles!
The Land of Happy Birthday
Here is a video of Norah waking up from a nap only to discover that the living room had been transformed into the land of "Happy Birthday!"
Leaving the hospital
Our wonderful nurse, Alason, took our photo before we left the hospital. All the nurses and doctors at the hospital were GREAT! We couldn't have asked for better care of me or the baby.
Luke getting ready to go home
Luke was VERY excited to see his house, too!
Norah meets Luke
You will hear her say, "It didn't work" after kissing him. She is referring to the fact that she kissed him but he didn't wake up. All the princesses she is used to hearing about often do!
Rough night
We had been awake for more than 22 hours and were both exhausted. Not to mention the whole going through labor part!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Luke and Nonna
Nonna came to the hospital to wait when labor got a little more intense. She came in to visit Luke shortly after he was born, but didn't stay long, since it was the middle of the night!