Date at Buttermilk

Bryan and I have been terrible about going on dates since we had Norah.  It is a strange thing to have to think about trying to date because we never had to before Norah.  We were always together often doing really fun things.  I don’t know that I ever considered hiking with Bryan a date before – it was just a Saturday morning.   We went to see Avatar for Bryan’s birthday back in February but we hadn’t gone on a real date since.  We have resolved to do better but Norah is complicating things by not sleeping these days.  We started trying to sleep train her and things have only gotten worse so far.  She is waking up 2-4 times a night and bedtime is a battle that we can’t subject anyone else too.  We finally decided that if we were going to have a relaxing date it would have to be in the morning when Norah is at her best so we hired a baby sitter (a fabulous Phi who has been featured in previous posts) to come a little before 8 am on a Saturday.  It was a huge success.  We had a great time and we barely thought of Norah the entire time.  Norah had a great time too and didn’t cry at all.  The rest of the day was kind of rotten because Norah wouldn’t take a nap (we tried everything – even a car ride) and basically cried for 4 hours from being over tired but at least we all had a wonderful morning.  Bryan and I were so relaxed and rejuvenated from the break that we were able to have patience.  I think we’ll definitely be visiting the gorges on a lot of dates this summer.  Ithaca really is gorges and we want to take full advantage of it while we’re here.    

Story Time

This picture is of Norah on her birthday at the Library’s story time.  I almost didn’t take her because I was getting ready for her party but I kept thinking that if Norah could tell me what she wanted to do for her first birthday she’d say “Story Time.”  Norah has loved going to story time.  Her friend Lincoln invited her to go with him way back in March and we’ve been regulars since.   There are always great books, songs and puppets that the babies are welcome to touch.  At the end the Librarian brings out toys for the kids to play with.  Lincoln isn’t in this picture because he had already left for his summer internship with the Brooklyn Story Time program.  We have both missed story time (and Lincoln!) since her birthday (it was the last one for the season) but fortunately “Story Time in the Park” starts this Tuesday at the Farmer’s Market.

Norah's 1st Year Recap

The Very First Birthday

The local hospital gives each new baby a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and we have read this story to our own hungry caterpillar (or should I say butterfly?) many many times this past year.  So we thought it fitting to plan her a Very Hungry Caterpillar party.  She is too young to really care but Bryan and I had a blast putting it together and having friends over to celebrate. 

Bryan made this cute invite

Norah’s very hungry caterpillar cake with marzipan frosting and details, saltwater taffy feet and toothpick spikes. Before After

Needless to say it was very hot and humid

Surprisingly, the salami and pickles were hits and no one noticed that we swapped blueberries for plums – or maybe they were just being polite. It may have been excessive, but we included the chocolate cake, cherry pie and cupcake.

Bryan’s mom made Norah this darling table cloth to use on birthdays I took pictures of the food at the beginning of the party and then I was so distracted and I didn’t take ANY more the rest of the party. Thankfully my friend Caroline took these cute birthday girl portraits, but I feel bad I didn’t get a single group shot of all the little kiddos together.

She had just woken up from a very late nap and I plopped her down in the middle of the party (she missed the start of it). I think she was a little stunned.

This one is my favorite

Norah Walks

Norah took her first steps on Tuesday May 11th. Unfortunately this happened while I was at a Relief Society meeting -- probaby the only hour I had been away from her in about a week. She took a few more steps in the following days and then Saturday she stood up for the first time without holding on to anything. She was very happy with herself and clapped and cheered along with us. She took Sunday off from walking and then picked right up again on Monday. This video is from May 17th.

Victor’s Birthday Party

Norah helped throw a surprise birthday party for Victor on Tuesday.  We had brats, guac, strawberries and chocolate cake.  The rain even stopped just in time.  

He blew them all out.

Treman State Park

Bryan peeled the bark off of a stick and gave it to Norah. She held onto it (mostly in her mouth) the entire hike. It was a great toy.

We let Norah crawl around by the Old Mill to reward her patience on the trail.

She found some dandelions

she pulled them all up one by one

and even tried eating them. She didn’t like the flavor after all.