Norah Mae turns 10 months old!

Dear Norah

10 months! You cut your top teeth! And right at the end cut one more tooth on the right side! CRAZY girl! You had a very tough time cutting your teeth. We had about a 2 week period of all whiny and NO happy until they broke through. You wanted no one but me. I began to panic. Thankfully, met with some friends from church and got some coaching through the situation. Didn't change you, but changed my heart! 

You “brush your hair” You clap your hands enthusiastically, and wave!

You take 2 naps a day, around 10 and 3. We are trying to get you down (for the most part) to 4 feedings a day. You eat solids, but actually are almost over baby food. Once you cut your top 2 teeth you got over the puree crap. It’s like, I worked hard for these, give me the real thing.

You got dedicated. Such a sweet day. So many of our friends from church dedicated their kids that morning as well, including Whitney and Jon and baby Brynn. I remember standing there in church, looking at all of our families and friend (we sat with the McWhorter crew) and felt so thankful for the people God has placed in our lives. Not to mention our amazing church family that surrounded us. 

We had our first Mother’s Day, which was on the day you were dedicated, how fitting.

You swam for the first time, and LOVED it. You are so brave. We had such a good time swimming with you! Here's to many summers together!

Sweet girl, I love you to pieces. My favorite part of this phase is that we seem to really be developing a relationship. You respond to me. You purposefully do silly things to make me laugh. Almost every meal time you giggle with delight, particularly when it makes me laugh.

On that note, you went through a new phase with nap time! You started sitting up, which lead to new sleep training. Then when I’d go turn you back over you would giggle and squeal! So adorable. I’m in trouble with you, cause I can’t resist your laugh.

I’ve heard that rebellion usually begins to show up around 10 months, I’m nervous for that. You are such a joy, and I’m not feeling ready to face the training/discipline aspect of parenting. I’ve gotten caught up in all of this amazing first year stuff. Even though the thing that originally attracted me to parenting was raising kids who would fear the lord, and advance His Kingdom, I'm loving the diapers, feedings, bibs, first timid steps while holing me, etc. As I’m walking into the next phase. The beginning of shaping character and values. I pray desperately for God to give me wisdom. To give your dad and I wisdom so that you may grow to believe God is real, and that in doing life His way, things really do go better. He can be trusted.

Getting dedicated on Mother's Day

Happy Birthday to Daddy!

Celebrating Daddy's birthday with a hike

OCC Mother Daughter Tea at our house! So special

All your little things that you are so fond of!

9 months.

Dear Norah

You are 9 months old my sweet dear. I can’t believe how the time has flown, and actually how repetitive I sound talking about that. You are such a delight. You laugh and giggle and actually know when you are being funny.

You celebrated your first Easter! You got attached to a chick your cousin Erin brought you. It was so ugly and gross but you loved it!

You have major separation anxiety, which continually grows and tests me. I want so badly for you to love people, and if I’m honest, for people to love you. I feel the tension to parent out of man pleasing rather than God fearing. I want people to like you, I want you to go to them when they reach for you. I also want to do what’s best for you. This attachment to me is natural. It’s a gift. I am your safety. There’s a reason we have the phrase “mother ship”. I get to be your rock. Your safe zone, your cheering section. You’ve discovered that. And for that I am grateful. So in each moment I ask God for wisdom. Do I hand you off and run to the other room so you stop crying? Do I hand you off and try to comfort you as you cry and reach for me? Am I creating a monster? The truth is most of the time I have no idea. Just walking through this one day at a time, and enjoying it.

You are a crawling machine, and you crawl with such purpose. You follow me around the house, my little companion. You are often content to sit in the hallway, playing with a bucket of toys that I leave for out for you, while watching me get ready. It is precious.

You’ve developed a way to have “conversations” with us. You lean in with your mouth wide open when we say give kisses! When your daddy starts to recite from the Clifford book you smile with delight. You rub your nose against ours for eskimo kisses. You occasionally wave.

You’ve been into exploring. You take things out for the pure joy of discovery. This could be anything. The contents of my diaper bag…the dog’s toys from the basket….your toys from the basket…your books from your shelf, the sky is the limit. Speaking of, you are also attempting to pull up. You are my stander. Although I think walking is still a long, long way off!

Your dad said to me the other day how much he is enjoying you and this stage you are at. He’s really able to bond with you, and you adore him.

We adore you sweet girl. And we pray for the strength and wisdom to parent and train you. You are my dolly. My baby. I love you!

Love, Mama

Meeting your Great Auntie Jill for the first time.

Baby Chenault's shower

First Easter at OCC!

Auntie Shelbie, you LOVE her

First time at Disneyland. You were so interested in everything@

Favorite moments

"Helping" me do laundry

A stubborn moment I won :)

Family Walks

Crazy 8

Dear sweet Norah Mae

You my dear, are 8 months old, and it seems in a matter of moments are quickly blossoming into …you. My baby is becoming my little girl. You have so much life and personality. We started this month still living at your Noni’s house, and ended in our new home. We moved in and I couldn’t help but think about all the special memories we will create here.

Our first home!

Right after we moved in your Papa came down and put in beautiful crown molding throughout our living room and dining room, such a servant!

Milestones…CRAWLING! About a week before you turned 8 months old you started to rock and I thought, NO WAY! But you were determined. You started your first wobbly movements forward, and would actually often roll to one side or the other in an effort to get to your desired destination. However, within a couple days you were off and moving, improving everyday. Within a w eek you figured out that you could actually crawl to accomplish your goals. If you wanted me, you could come down the hallway and find me, so precious!

Stranger danger is in full force. You want me. I LOVE and HATE that. I LOVE that you love me. That my presence alone can comfort you. What a sweet reminder of faith. HIS presence alone is our comfort. It’s also painful, because you won’t let people who love you dearly hold you. THE WORST!

You love and sort of hide and seek and giggle and delight with peek a boo. You make a new face where you squint your eyes and do a cheesy smile, it melts me. You thrash your head back and forth as if to say no, but for some reason you think it’s hilarious. You blow with your lips until you run out of breath. You are a doll.

I love being your mama more every day. You are my blessing, and bring me so much joy. I’ve been so surprised by how many people stop me and say they remember their kids being at that stage like it was yesterday, they tell me how fast it goes. I believe them! I am trying to soak up each sweet moment with you my dear. I’m not sure I’ve made much progress in this whole balancing act. With you crawling and down to 2 naps a day, I have less time for anything else. Which is ok, I love time with you, I’m just not sure how to get everything else done. I’m so behind at work, all the time. Not meaning to complain. Just processing through. Is that helpful to you? Will you one day read this, while trying to figure out how to be a mom and everything else in your life? As I learn to walk carefully, to figure out how to live in a way that please God, I know that at the same time I am imparting that to you. Teaching you to trust and obey him amidst the stress of life! How desperately I need Him

Family time in San Clemente

Little lover

Playing with Gigi

 Ok Crawler!