These are some pictures from my friend who is a photographer. She came to the hospital to take them and I just got them back yesterday. Thought I'd share some of my favorites...

Yesterday I put Nora on a blanket to take some pictures and it went from good to bad quickly. She was in good spirits at first where it looks like she's singing "hey, ho, hip hop horray ho" with her hands in the first picture and then decided she wasn't down with the pictures so it ends with me on the floor trying to shhh her and you can see she's squeezing my bottom lip with her sharp fingernails. I guess that's baby body language for get away from me now.

More pictures...

My friends and our daughters

These are my friends Kate and Holly and their daughters Meredith and Virginia.

Cousins

Nora loves her cousins. Pictured above is Madelyn, Annabelle and Kyle and below is her cousin Bryce. She'll have lots of people to play with when she's old enough. All together she has ten cousins. These are the ones who have come to see her so far...

Today is my last day with family help then I'm on my own. The next post will probably be a picture of me crying my guts out. :)

Nora loves her brother and sister Daisy and Denver. Anytime she cries it's Denver to the rescue. He's stopped howling along with her which is great for Kevin and I since it's like having twins crying simultaniously, but now he's just the rescue dog when she's upset. It's kind of cute. Daisy on the other hand pretty much ignores the baby except for rare occasions like the one above. Nora was sleeping in my arms so Daisy had to check her out. They both are doing great with her. Ignore what Nora is wearing right now...it's an outfit that was picked out on little sleep, plus she blew out all her cute clothes and they are currently in the wash. PLUS she still has the mohawk from her bath this morning to amuse her dad at work today over e-mail so I promise she's much cuter than this picture shows. :)

Not a happy camper, but I had to point out the mohawk hair....already being influenced by her father's love of music.

We had our first doctor's visit and Nora is doing very well. Dr. Bubba is my new favorite person, plus he pulls suckers out of your ear when you leave. I've got a few more months to enjoy her suckers until she is old enough to eat her own. My sister and nephew are coming tomorrow so I'll post pictures of that soon. Got my family here until Thursday then we're on our own. . .

Whoever made this swing is my best friend. Nora can swing for hours in it. I know it will become a life saver when my family leaves and it's just me trying take care of her, the dogs, the house, Kevin, etc. It was definitely a great invention. Speaking of the dogs, they are doing great with the baby. They kind of ignored her for the first few minutes but now they are just curious at what this new thing is. Denver still definitely doesn't like when she cries and sometimes cries along with her, but for the most part things are pretty normal around here for them. They just have one more thing to sniff. We'll post pictures of them with her soon. It's pretty chaotic around here with so many people so we'll wait to photograph them when things are more normal.

We have been blessed to have the help of my parents for the first two weeks. I don't know how I could make it without them. Mom was here four hours after I went into labor and is staying until the end of next week. My dad and brother came yesterday and will be here all week. Nora has enjoyed Dad playing the guitar until she falls asleep. Randy isn't pictured because he's too busy walking the dogs and helping out in other ways. He's running the vaccuum as I'm typing this. Any single girls out there, look out. He's a keeper. Kevin went back to work this week and is probably exhausted since he's still getting up at night and helping me with the baby. I'm looking forward to my sister's arrival here next week. The more help the better! Since she's probably reading this I'll give a shout out to my nephew on his 3rd birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYCE!!! We're doing well and enjoying every minute of the baby. Tonight Kevin and I are going to eat while grandma and grandpa babysit. I had to do some arm twisting but they finally agreed. :)

Nora "Sweet Cheeks" Conway

Here's my sweet baby. She is the cutest thing ever. We made it home so I thought I'd post some more pictures. Look at those cheeks! We'll post more once we get settled in, but for now here's Kevin giving her the first bottle (I was passed out and actually didn't realize he gave her a bottle until right now when I was looking through the pictures) and the next one is us traveling home. It was the longest 15 minute ride of our lives. :) She is snuggled in her swing now and adjusting to her new home just fine. Thanks for all the prayers! They worked, she is healthy and beautiful.

WELCOME NORA!!!!!

March 1, 2006
Nora Kate Conway
(get this) 8lbs. 6 oz.
21 inches long

We're overwhelmed, excited and tired. Angie will have to explain further b/c it's 5:30 and I have not slept so I am going back to the hospital to do what the husband is supposed to do; sleep on that mini couch. Angie is doing well but is exhuasted after pushing for 2.5 hrs!

Thanks for all the prayers!
kc