James

I can't believe my baby is 2 and a half years old.  It is so crazy to me how old he is getting.  He has become quite the chatterbox and loves to repeat everything Nate and I say.  He is really good about saying things like "I love you, mom" and "I sorry, I naughty" He also loves his brother Sam and usually says things like "It's Sam, he's really cute" or if Sam is crying he will say "Oh no, Sam's crying! He's hungry, really hungry" 

James has become quite the picky eater.  He will only eat a select number of things including macaroni, cheese, bread, candy, and if we are lucky he will eat a few bites of whatever we are eating for the night.   We learned that James is most likely lactose intolerant.  Whenever he drinks milk he gets terrible diaper rash.  So, I decided to try almond milk, or white juice as James called it....well that didn't work out so well for him either as he broke out in an awful rash from his head to his toes.  Apparently he is allergic to almonds.  So, no more white juice for James.

James still loves his movies.  His current favorites are "how to train your dragon" and of course "toy story"  He can repeat just about every major line in both.  He loves to put on his cowboy hat and be cowboy James.  He also loves to listen to the music from toy story.  He can sing "you've got a friend in me" "Woody's round-up" and "I will go sailing no more"  He has little buzz and woody dolls that he loves to have go flying on a rocket ship and that he likes to tuck into bed with his blankets.  

James has definitely becoming a little more of a handful as he approaches 3.  He has starting throwing tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants.  He will hit, and throw things, and say things like "GO AWAY MOM"  He will also take our faces into his hands and say "Look at me"  when he really wants us to pay attention to him. Although he gets a fare number of spanks and time-outs, he really is a good child.  For the most part, he listens when we ask him to do things, he says please and thank-you, and he knows he has been naughty, and will say he is sorry.  

Potty training.  Not going to happen for this child, ever.   

Making a tower with his blocks.  He and Nate like to make them  as tall as they can and then knock them over.

no smiles for mom

getting into mischief

making sugar cookies with mom

trying out the dough

wearing his pumpkin coat

sneaking some bread

double fisting it 

wearing his snow-pants so he and nate can go make a snowman outside

putting up the Christmas tree

putting ornaments on the tree

Getting his ornament for the year, a buzz lightyear action figure

wearing uncle Aaron's shoes

CHEESE

Photo Bomb...

I Know I'm way behind on blogging, and I have oodles of pictures to upload.  I will start with Sam's 1st  day of life.  Here are the pictures of him while we were in the hospital.  I felt so fortunate to have gotten to deliver in a place where I knew everyone and I knew that Sam and I would be getting exceptional care.  We were also fortunate enough to only be in the hospital a grand total of 31hrs from time I arrived to be induced to the time we walked out the door to our car.  I had a terrible time trying to sleep ( I don't imagine why) Something about being in a hospital that is also my place of employment seemed to impede my ability to sleep.  As I said, thankfully I only had to spend one night.  Anyway, enjoy the first wave of MANY more pictures to come. 

James getting to meet Sam for the first time.  He was a little unsure, but I  like to think he was excited and knew what was going on.  I wish I would have gotten a picture, but grandma and grandpa Norby were watching him this day for us, and apparently they thought it was a little cold out, because James showed up at the hospital wearing snow pants, stocking cap, gloves, and snow boots.  Nate and I laughed since we usually just throw on his winter jacket and his green crocs.  Apparently we are a little too accustomed to the cold :)

 Nate showing James that Sam has hair (even if it was only a little peach fuzz)

Aunt Lydia holding Sam

Grandma Vicki holding Sam

James giving me a big cheese

Out family of 4. (Ignore the extreme paleness and swollen everything...)

Checking out Sam

Great Grandma Joann got to come and meet Sam

Julie Holding Sam.  I'm not sure why, but I don't have any pictures of my dad holding Sam.  I promise he and Aaron were there too.

Kat and I, my fantastic labor nurse.  

Dad and Son

Practicing standing.  Dad has high hopes that both his boys will be playing football someday for the Vikings....

Mother and Son 

Getting Strapped in to his car seat

Not really a fan

First week of pictures

Here are pictures I took of Sam during his first week of life. I can't believe how fast the time is going!! He is such a good baby. We are truly blessed.

Birthday

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

1 week old

Samuel Steven Norby

Samuel Steven Norby

On Friday, December 28th, I had my last prenatal visit with Erica, my midwife.  She asked what I would like to do as I was 40 weeks and 1 day.  My cervix was dilated 3cm, but I hadn't really had any contractions for the last two weeks.  I decided to go ahead and plan for an induction.  She put me on the books for the next morning at 8am.  Nate's parents arrived Friday night to spend the weekend with us (one of the main reasons I decided to go ahead with the induction since we didn't really have a great plan for what to do with James if I went into labor)

Saturday Morning I arrived at Trinity Hospital at 8:10am (yes we were 10 minutes late)  Kat West was my nurse for the day.  She had my IV started and the pitocin flowing by 8:40.  The morning went pretty slowly.  I ordered some breakfast, and Nate watched a movie and did some work for school.  Around 10:00 my contractions started picking up but were still pretty comfortable.  I decided to sit on the birthing ball for a while and then at 11:00 decided to go for a walk.  At  around 11:30 Kat had turned my pitocin up to 14 and things were starting to get uncomfortable.  She left to go do a c/s downstairs and told me she would be back soon.  By noon, things were really hurting and I was definitely ready for an epidural.  Kelly came in and got everything set up for Dr. Lagrone.  He had the epidural in by 12:35.  I laid down, and felt a strange pop, I looked at Kat and told her my water had just broke. Erica came in and check me and I was 8cm dilated. I decided I would try and take a nap.  I turned to my side, but I could still feel the contractions and they were still feeling pretty uncomfortable.  Around 12:45 I told Kat that I though I might be pushing.  Erica came in and sure enough I was complete.  After they had everything set up I started pushing and in 3 or 4 contractions Samuel entered the world at 1:09pm.  He apparently came out with his hand up by his face.  He got to go right up onto my chest and stayed with me in the room for an hour before going to the nursery. 

Sam weighed 7lbs 7oz (2oz bigger than his brother James) and 19.5 inches long (same as his brother)

His head was 14.5 inches around (same big noggin as his brother's)

Nate got to change his first diaper in the nursery.  He had, however, peed all over both me and his nurse prior to going to the nursery :)

Getting his first bath from Marjie

Everything went so fast and smoothly.  I am so grateful and thankful to everyone for making the experience so perfect. We were able to go home the next day at 3:00 (just in time for the Vikings game that started at 3:30)  Samuel has been doing wonderfully at home.  He is a great eater, and sleeps wonderfully.  His big brother James has been doing surprisingly well.  No major signs of jealously yet.