2014 Beach Trip: part two

I think it was Monday or Tuesday morning that Nora woke us up bright and early at 5 am. Yes you read that right. 5 am on vacation! But we made the best of it by going out to the beach to watch the sunrise and snapping lots of good pictures!!

2014 Beach Trip: part one

I start counting down the days to our beach trip usually around the day after Christmas, and this year was no different. Actually I may have started counting down even earlier. I was just so excited to take Nora to my favorite place to be and to make new and exciting memories together as a family of three this year. Last year on vacation I was starting my third trimester of pregnancy and this year I had a 9 month old! Wow how things have changed!

I took 600 pictures and narrowed it down to the best 50. But even at that, 50 pictures in one post would be absolutely absurd. So I am breaking it up into two maybe three posts. Also just to keep you hanging. Just kidding.

Nora did great on the beach, even though she was too into the sand or the chilly ocean water. She is a people watcher and there is plenty of that to do at the beach. With a big blanket, a couple of books and toys, and a big umbrella, she was rather content. She even fell asleep on my chest almost every day. I guess it helps to have one big, natural sound machine. Relaxation at its finest.

Somebody Loves her Daddy! 

 Testing out the ocean for the first time. (June 1st, 2014)

Who can resist getting ice cream at least once twice while at the beach. This was us before our family outing to the ice cream shop. Yes she tried a tiny bite and loved it, but we all know ice cream is for grown ups!

Pap-Paw and Nora after ice cream. She was just excited she got to hold the spoon!

This little pool was the best $14 dollars we have spent all summer! She loved it! We ended up taking it out on the beach with us and filling it with water. It was a huge hit. She thought she was taking a bath with out all the scrubbing part.

We even got a nice visit from Great Grandma and Grandpa L. and Aunt Nell one day. They brought super delicious foods like blueberry dessert, strawberries, and fresh veggies!

Thanks Zach for the photo bomb.

Nora and Grandmommy! 

My two best friends! Not sure what I'd do with out them.

More beach trip to come...

Nora at 9 Months

Happy NINE Months!!

This month was quite the challenge to snap pictures that weren't blurry because you are constantly on the go. You are so active and probably are the happiest you have been. You have always been happy but you've been smiling, giggling, clapping, waving, and talking all the time.

Your newest, biggest accomplishment is CRAWLING! 

On May 27th, just two days after you turned 9 months, you officially crawled.

Now keeping up with you is the big challenge!

You would crawl across the world I think if you could get your hands on a iphone or chord

We are pretty sure you say DaDa, but we haven't yet qualified it as your first word. We are waiting until you way it when he walks in the room.

We also are pretty sure that you say Bye Bye.

You whisper your words which is really funny.

It's fun when you chime in on a conversation we are having in the car. We don't know what you are saying yet but I am sure it is very important.

You like to wave at people in real life and on the tv.

Clapping is always fun and Patty Cake makes you super happy. 

You may be a little attached to Momma, but it just shows how much fun we have every day!

You do great with sleeping in your crib at night still, and wake up 2-3 times a night.

Every day you take a morning nap in your crib and in the afternoon we usually lay down on Mommy's bed to nap. Most days I sneak out to get things done.

Here you are going to town with some crawling!

You are going to the beach for the first time ever next week and I think you are going to have a blast!!

I can't wait to see you crawl on the beach and swim in your float in the pool.

You are still nursing but eating lots more "big people" food. 

Your favorites right now are yogurt, shredded cheese, bread, mom's smoothies, green beans, and mac and cheese.

You also still eat your baby purees.

Oh and you hate bananas!!

You don't eat books quite as much as you used to and you love touch and feel books.

You will run your hand down every page of any book in case it is a touch and feel book.

You give your stuffed animal kisses but wont give us kisses yet. 

I still can't believe how fast this first year is going. 

I love you to the moon and back and am thankful for you everyday!

Always know Mom and Dad would do anything for you! Always!

Mother's Day as a Mom

Last year I was a mom-to-be, but this year I have graduated to the title of MOM! It is a title that comes with so much joy and responsibility, love and worry, energy and exhaustion, beautiful moments and challenging moments. After you give birth, and the nurses retreat and the doctors go home, it's just you and your new family. They leave you with this precious life that doesn't come with an instruction manual, how-to guide, or even a tag with the care instructions. I'm kind of joking and kind of not. In literally a few hours your life goes from 2 to 3 or maybe 3 to 4 or even 2 to 4. It goes from the expected to the I-have-no-idea-what-I'm-doing. It goes from thinking you know love, to feeling the intense love for another little person like you never knew existed.

Over the past 8 months as a mom, I have learned so much. I have made the first of innumerable mistakes. I have shed countless happy, sad, and frustrated tears. I have changed probably like 1000 diapers! I have probably missed days and days of sleep. I know I have forgone numerous showers and can count on two hands the number of times I have actually done my hair. BUT, I wouldn't change a single part of this new life, identity, title, job, calling, and passion.

I am beyond blessed to be Nora's Mom. To feel the love of your own child is matchless.

I think that your first Mother's Day as a mom is even more special, because you realize just how much your mom has done for you through all the years. My mom has kept me grounded and has also grounded me a few times. She has been there for every piano recital (even when I completely mess up and announce to the audience I would be starting over), every dance performance, soccer game, scratched knee, upset stomach, strep throat, migraine headache... She has encouraged me when I have been down and has always reminded me of who I am in Christ. She gave me the best possible education and was there two Mother's Day's ago when I graduated from college.

Some Photos From Our Day:

Ryan woke up and made us some delicious calorie free cinnamon roll bread pudding! 

One thing that comes with the Mom Photographer territory is that its almost always impossible to get that perfect picture of you and your baby, but we sure tried today.  

Some Mother's Day fun...

I also want to wish my Grandma M, Grandma L, Mother-In-Law Shanna, Grandmother-In-Law H, best friend Hailey and all you other Moms out there a Happy Mother's Day. You are all such amazing and inspiring mothers who encourage me daily.

Remember, if you see a Mom (even if it's not mother's day) encourage her and tell her how important her job is. Remind her she is shaping and molding the future. Her job is hard and somedays it feels impossible, and you never know what your words may mean to her.