Nora finally got to meet Faith, my friend Jaime's baby who lives in Virginia. They played and played. It was great to catch up. Faith is such a cutie petutie. However you spell it, that's what she is. :) They were in town for her husband's reunion. This happened last weekend, but my camera was out of battery so I had to wait on the pictures from Jaime. We had fun!

I have this bad habit of not being able to pass a stray dog without picking him up. I thought once I had Nora this would leave me. Nope. Still there. I picked this one up in our neighborhood and brought him into our backyard. My dogs immediately licked him to death and he tried to make a run for it out the fence but I caught him. Turns out he loves my backyard and my dogs. I came home from work and they were all frolicking in the yard together. Anyhoo, must find a home for him. Anyone want a very friendly beagle?
The weather is so beautiful! I went to the zoo on Tuesday with my friend Traci and her daughter. It was more for the adults than kids, really. They weren't interested. It took a whole 30 minutes to go all the way around the zoo. No complaints. We enjoyed the weather.
Today I found a second tooth that has broken through. Explains the sleepless nights all week. Also, today, she started officially crawling. She figured out how to manipulate her arms and legs to crawl, but she prefers the scoot still. She'll get up and start crawling then realizes it's too much work and starts scooting.

Exciting day for Nora (and mom, I could hardly contain myself)

My brother's band came through again this weekend. They were able to play for some of our friends Saturday night. Nora loved listening.
When she got tired of listening she played with her friend Lydia. They mainly just cooed at each other.
When she got tired of Lydia, she moved on to Meredith and tried to eat her food. Meredith scooted her body in front of Nora blocking her from the goods. It was pretty smart, I think.

Nora crosses her feet all the time. I mean, seriously, every time she is sitting her legs are crossed. It's hilarious.

Everyone says your mind goes when you deliver a baby and I so totally agree. The other night Kevin finally said, would you please go to bed before anything else happens. I had a string of crazy things happen, I burned my hand while cooking, was bringing cokes in from the car and the box broke so I'm getting sprayed in the eye by a coke can that busted, I was lying on the bed watching tv and dropped the remote right on my cheek bone (yes, bruised), lots of other stuff happened that day that I tried to repress.

Well, working at a junior high (it's actually a 7-12th grade school) you have certain days you can dress up for homecoming. You guys remember, twin day, pajama day, etc. Well, today was pajama day so after work I picked Nora up and headed to the vitamin shop. I continue to go in the store (in my pajamas) and ask the guy if they have a certain herb. I just casually asked for what I needed and said, "it's supposed to stimulate your milk while breastfeeding". Clearly I made the man uncomfortable and he fumbles around then finally shows me on the computer that this herb wasn't what I thought it was. Apparantly it's for heart trouble? So whoever wrote on your website that Fenugreek stimulated milk I'd like to thank you for my wasted trip to the vitamin shop. So I leave (mind you, it's pouring rain so not only am I in my pj's, I am wet) go out to the car and put Nora in her seat. Start to get the keys. Can't find my keys. I know I have my keys because I wouldn't have been able to unlock the door. I turned my car upside down looking for the keys. After about ten minutes looking I finally found them under the seat in the back. Wayyy under the seat. How that happened I have no idea. This also happened the other day when I bought a jogging stroller, I put it in the car and somehow my keys caught on the basket of the stroller. Spent a good 10 minutes loooking for those. Gosh. Come back, brain.

Here's an e-mail I recently sent out to raise money (see previous post) for St. Jude. If you'd like to donate just click on the link below. Amount doesn't matter a bit. Every little penny helps. thanks...


Each year brings different people in my life as a guidance counselor, some I follow all year and some I just see during their moment of crisis. Living in Memphis, you frequently come across people who are here being treated at St. Jude Children's Hospital. This year we are blessed to have a boy from another country who is here for that purpose. He is the most polite, vibrant, excited to be here in every way kind of kid. You can imagine my dealings with him as a counselor....they are daily. This past week he had surgery to remove what the doctors thought was another tumor growing in his brain. We prayed. And prayed. Then prayed some more. When I went to the hospital the day of the surgery, his parents had just talked with the surgeon performing this surgery. He said this was part of an existing tumor, not a new one, it didn't look malignant and the scan the next day showed they got it all. What a blessing!!

This surgery is made possible from donations to the hospital. St. Jude never asks a family to pay for the treatment insurance doesn't cover. Because of this child, I am encouraged to train and run in this year's St. Jude half marathon and become a St. Jude hero to help raise money for these families.

You can make a donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message. It will take you to my personal fundraising site where you'll find another story of a young cancer survivor. Whatever amount you can donate will help! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Thank you for supporting me always, but especially in this challenge. You really do make a difference.

My personal fundraising page

6 months!!

I'm a few days late, but here's what 6 months is bringing us. . .

Lots more scooting around, especially getting on her hands and knees rocking back and forth. She's close to crawling!

Her tooth has finally broken through, we are just waiting for it to come completely through. Looks like she's working on some others, too.

I have to entertain her in the kitchen while I am cooking when she gets fussy. Try the pasta strainer on the head trick. It really worked for me when I was too tired to sing and dance like I normally do.

According to her doctor, Nora now can eat things she can hold in her hand. After much persuasion from Kevin we gave her pizza crust today. She loved it!!

I can't believe it's been six months. Goes way way way too fast.

Here's some updates from this past week. We met Kevin's family over the weekend in Temple, Tx. for a memorial service for his grandmother. It was a very nice service and great to see his family (some of whom we hadn't seen in over a year) Several had never seen Nora so that was fun to share her with them.

While in Texas we got to see my grandma, who I haven't seen since she fell and had to have sugery. We surprised her and she was so shocked! Here she is with Nora.

Since she lives 10 minutes from Temple, I got to swing by and see my college friend (and high school volleyball rival) Julie Benson. It was so great to see you, Julie!! You are beautiful and haven't changed a bit from school. You must dye your hair, it's too pretty to be natural. hee!