A Social Butterfly

Dear Norah Bird,

It’s been a busy summer for you. While your Dad and I have been busy with grown up things like packing, moving into our new home, settling in and entertaining guests, you’ve been busy in your own right. Your circle of friends is growing almost as fast as you are and it isn't uncommon for your social calendar to fill to capacity. In fact, most days your schedule has more on it than your parents’ and I’m guessing that’s how it’s going to be for the next 20 years or so. 

In August you had a number of play dates with your baby buddies and, of course, your music classes. Soon after settling into our new home we also had a visit from your Nana and Grandparents as well as your Aunt Nado and Uncle Adam.

Grandma with a sleepy Norah Bird.

Grandpa getting your piggies!

Kisses from Auntie Nado.

We also wrapped up your Summer music session with a family jamboree which you thoroughly enjoyed. Music class was a great experience for you and you received your first evaluation from your music teacher who gave you a glowing review, of course. At this point I am still undecided as to whether we will enroll in the Fall session as it is scheduled during your nap time. But you really do enjoy it and it's a great way to see your baby friends and so I may decide that pushing your nap time limits is acceptable for just one day a week.

Norah and Riley enjoying the peekaboo scarf song. Again.

Bumble Bee, bumble bee...

Joseph and Gracie enjoy rolling to the music.

Our rhythm sticks and shakers mostly serve as chew toys.

Video Link: Norah and Riley Music Class Jamboree

New to your social engagements are birthday parties. A couple of weeks ago you had your first two parties that you were invited to on your own. It was a busy weekend and your Dad and I recognize that this is only a preview of what's to come this Fall and Winter when most of your baby friends celebrate their first birthday. On Saturday we went to Delcastle Park to celebrate your friend Puneeth's 3rd birthday. Puneeth was our neighbor from your first home at the Arundel apartment complex. He and his mom would often join us outside and we would sometimes go down to his apartment to play with him. Puneeth loved babies but he also, unfortunately, liked to throw his toys at you. Luckily, his mom plays great defense and Puneeths' behavior never resulted in a direct hit and you were oblivious to your friend's true interest in your companionship as a target.

Party hat? Check. Party face? We're working on it.

Happy Birthday to Puneeth!

Despite Puneeth's tendency to act out around you, he really is a good little boy and so we were happy to attend his birthday party where all of his toys would presumably be safely wrapped in brightly colored paper. You were a hit with all of the party guests and your dad and I were so proud of you. You seem to have gotten over your stranger danger phase and warm up to people quite easily now. You had no trouble going around with Puneeth's mom and dad. Jewlery helps and is a great attractant for you.

Norah with the birthday boy and his dad.

Buttons! Fascinating!

There's no rest for a social butterfly like you. The next day we were off to your friend, Lucius' 1st birthday party. Lucius' mom works with your dad and last year, while pregnant, I volunteered with her at Mt Cuba Center where she and your dad work. The two of us were quite the team with each of us expecting our first child and we were often referred to as "team mom" by those who saw us walking the halls with our ever-expanding bellies. So Lucius' mom and I became fast friends and have shared a lot over the last year. Still, Lucius' first birthday crept up on me and it made me realize that soon enough we will be celebrating your first birthday.

The day of Lucius' party was a gorgeous end of Summer day - perfect for a garden party with his friends and family. You enjoyed yourself immensely playing with Lucius' friends and had a great time. 

Birthday Boy Lucius!

Homemade Barn Cake Carnage.

Content just chewing on a glowy ball - the next best thing to cake.

Playing with the shiny bottle opener. A proud moment for all involved.

Coloring with crayons for the older kids.

Checking out Lucius' homemade teddy bear....perhaps you'll have your own someday.

Testing out Lucius' new toys - this one was a huge hit!

Luckily, Lucius doesn't mind sharing.

Playing bocce ball with Dada.

Butterfly in Lucius' garden.

Almost a year later, you still have plenty of scheduled play dates with your baby friends. When you were just 2 weeks old, I joined a mom and baby group at the hospital where you were born. Each Monday morning a group of over-tired new moms would haul our babies to the hospital for a group meeting where we could ask questions, vent our insecurities and fears, and commiserate in shared laughter. At first this group served as a sanity saver for most of us moms and it soon evolved into something we looked forward to each week. After 3 months the hospital "graduates" the moms and so we started our own group. We met regularly for lunch and play dates and almost a year later we're still going strong.

Having moved to Delaware just before you were born, I feel so blessed to have found such a great group of mom friends. They have helped me through so much and I look forward to you and their children growing up together. We've all shared so much in our first year and I enjoy seeing their babies grow and reach milestones almost as much as I enjoy sharing your accomplishments with your growing world of those who care for you.

And so just a few short weeks after moving into our new home we hosted a big mommy-daddy-baby BBQ and play date. My mommy friends were so happy for us in getting our new home and your baby friends were anxious to explore the stairs and all the empty crawling space we still have. Despite our limited parking, things went fairly well for hosting a dozen of your friends and their parents. The great thing about hosting a party before furnishing your new home is that at your and your friends' age, furniture isn't necessary. Us parents mostly find ourselves plopped on the floor where we can better reach you guys.

Adam and his parents look quite dapper while you and Declan couldn't even be bothered with pants.

Declan and Maisy checking out the play block.

Petey and Gracie testing out the crawl tube while Charlie observes from a safe distance.

Petey telling Charlie a tale.

Sophie takes Charlie's pants...

...and then doesn't bring them back.

Charlie the pantless.

Sophie the mischievous (but oh so cute!).

Cooper the cute.

Declan the couch-conqueror!

Gracie and Declan going for a stroll together.

Fun in the play room.

You have a sudden interest in pacifiers but only if they are in someone's mouth.

You are missing from most of your first house party's pictures because you were so excited that morning you didn't nap well. And so, as a result, you crashed halfway through the afternoon and then took a solid nap during your friends' visit. It's tough work being such a social butterfly. Your dad and I were actually quite impressed with how well you slept through the commotion in the play room above your room. This house is great for napping.

With Summer ending and the Fall season just beginning, your social calendar hasn't eased up. In fact, we're finding more and more things to do from hikes at Ashland nature Center to farm days at Coverdale farm. And, of course, we still have play dates with your friends as well as visits from family and friends who come to stay with us. Most weekends are full and I look forward to each one now that you're at such a fun age. You're enjoying so many new experiences and I'm enjoying watching you grow.

Love,
Mom

Our Summer Trip to New York

Once Upon a Time, a long, long time ago (last month) a mom and her baby girl traveled from Delaware to New York to spend a week visiting family. This was baby girl Norah's first time away from her Dad for an extended period of time. This made her mom a little sad but Norah was excited to spend time with her relatives who live far away. It was a busy week. 

Nana and Norah (and Sophie!).

On their drive up to New York, Norah got to stop and visit with her Mom's Aunt Mary and Uncle Dave who are new grandparents. Norah always enjoys visiting with them because her Great Aunt Mary runs a home daycare and so there are lots of toys for her to play with. And Norah's mom likes the handmade nursery goodies that her Aunt Mary always sends them home with.  
 

Uncle Dave and Aunt Mary with Norah.

Over the river and through the mountain (Lehigh Tunnel) they traveled from Delaware to Nana's house in central New York. Nana had come down the weekend prior and so Norah, Mom, and Nana all traveled back together in Nana's car. Nana made Mom drive the whole way so that she could hang out with Norah in the back seat. Once they arrived at Nana's house though, Nana was very good about sharing Norah with her aunties, uncles, and other visitors - most especially, Aunt Mary's new puppy. There was lots of cuteness.

Norah and Tilly.

Cuteness Poker: I see your baby and I raise you one puppy.

Tilly does not yet know to be afraid of Norah.

Norah and her mom enjoyed their extended visit and spent a lot of time hanging out and letting visitors come to them. This was mostly because Mom just wanted to relax and was in need of a vacation. And with so many people around to help watch Norah, it was easy for her to get a little lazy.

Norah and Great Auntie G - who is soon to be a new Grandma!

Visiting with Great Aunt Roxy who has two dogs!

Now, there is one person in particular worth mentioning as a special visitor. Mom's cousin, Stacy, is famous not only for her artistic abilities (no doubt she will someday give Norah her first tattoo) but also for her self-proclaimed aversion to babies. Stacy has never been a big fan of babies. Even as kids, Stacy wasn't keen on children smaller than her. Babies just aren't her thing. 

"Psst. So, you say this is the one who won't like me?"

But, as we know, Norah isn't just any baby. She is the world's cutest, most irresistible baby ever. Over the last few months we've seen Stacy warming up to Norah Bird. And then we witnessed a breakthrough. Stacy voluntarily took Norah onto her lap and held her. And Stacy even seemed to enjoy the experience of visiting with her cousin's chubby little offspring.

Norah and Aunt Stacy.

"A mouth? Yes! I have one too! So many things in common!"

In addition to baby therapy, Norah and her mom had a few outings, including a trip to Breitbeck Park to go for a stroll and test out the swings. They also went to Rudy's and Bev's on the lake for some fish, ice cream, and sea gulls.

"I see a DOGGIE and I am SO EXCITED!!!"

Enjoying the swing with Auntie Em.

Weeee!

Norah and Mom at the lake with Nana, Grandma, Grandpa and Great Aunt Marcia.

Norah played with her aunties...

Norah and Auntie Em hanging in their pjs.

Norah and her Auntie Erin.

 ...and tried on some hats.

Squinty Stink-face.

Hat on. Hat off.

"I am not enjoying this game as much as you think I am."

 

Norah also got to spend lots of time playing with her cousins, Natalie and Alivia. The weather was perfect for swimming, swinging, visiting, and strolling to the beach for some ice cream.

Liv drinking while Norah eats her toys.

Enjoying the swing at Natalie and Alivia's house.

Alivia in the big girl swing!

Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Norah also got to meet her cousins, Liam and Ryan, who were up visiting from Ohio. Ryan is only 14 months old and enjoyed having another little person around.

Hanging in Ryan's crib.

Ryan giving Norah snuggles.

Dad, Ryan and Norah with Dad's cousin, Shawna.

Not so sure about Dad's cousin, Mike.

By far, the best part of Norah's week away was being reunited with her Daddy when he came up at the end of the week. Each day when Dad comes home from work, Norah gets so excited. So everyone knew she would be beside herself when Dad walked through that door after five days away. On top of all this, Norah had just learned how to say "Dada" and she liked to repeat this phrase whenever she was excited.

Video Link: Norah Missed her Dada

Norah with Daddy. All's right in the world again.

Now that Norah's world was complete, it was time to hang out with her cousins.

Liam, Alivia, Ryan, and Norah.

Ryan: "Girls are gross!"

 

"Boys stink!"

At the end of the week, Norah's mom and dad packed up the moving truck with all of their belongings that had been in storage over the last year and headed back to Delaware where they could begin getting ready for the move into their new home. Norah also brought home her first cold which lasted through moving day over a week later. But it was worth it for Norah to have a vacation in New York with her family.

The End.