Mommy Instincts

When Myles was born Nora got her first doll when she came to meet him in the hospital.  At first, she had a "take it or leave it" kind of attitude with the baby.  Not really interested at all.  

Within the last thee-ish weeks baby has now become Baby.  She comes everywhere with her.  We ask if she wants to go for a walk and she'll ask if Baby can come too.  We'll ask if she wants to put a puzzle together and she'll have Baby sit next to her.  They are attached at the hip.  

It's endearing to see her mimicking what I do with her and Myles to her Baby.  Like so... 

Going outside requires a jacket
and hat for Baby as well.  

After I gave Myles a bath, Baby got one too.

Notice the shiny, clean face Baby now has.

Baby got her own towel to dry off with.

Proud mama.

And then I went to get Nora up from her
nap.  Yes, that is Nora breastfeeding
her baby just like Mommy.  

I love you, Little Mama!

Mylestones: Rolling Over

before...

He rolled over!  Feeling the pressure of his four month appointment looming, he rolled over the night before.  He must have known they were going to ask.  The best part about it... Dan saw it happen!  Glad he could witness one of Myles' firsts.

after!

"Did you see me, Mom and Dad!?  I did it!"

Four Months Old

Four months old and he's...

sleeping through the night (occasionally wakes up for his paci)

* 7-10 hours *

laughing from time to time

holding his head up wonderfully 

standing with support

rolling over!

still sucking his fingers like a crazy man

attached to his blanket

Pictures after a long, tiring holiday
weekend?!  Are you kidding me??
Not my best idea ever.

One with the tie that he's not
screaming for.

The paci and blanket helped him calm down.

So I tried to take the paci out and quickly snap a picture.
He wasn't a fan.

So we took a break and gave him
a bath.  Much better after that!
Still wouldn't straighten those legs
out for me though.

Official Four Month Stats:
height - 25 inches (42%)
weight - 13lbs. 13.5oz (30%)

Turkey Day

As always, it was great to see our extended family this Thanksgiving.  The food was great and the company was even better.  The day also set an excitement off in me -- I'm looking forward to Christmas.  Not sure if it's because I know Nora will be more into it this year or what exactly but I want to get out there and keep shopping.  I want to get out my decorations and make the house look cute.  I want to get a tree and have the house smell of pine...

Oh, right.  This post is supposed to be about Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately, I didn't get many pictures on Thanksgiving at all.  You see, Nora's stranger danger/separation anxiety was at an all time high.  She would barely leave my arms.  Just when I thought she was getting more comfortable she'd practically be in tears again.  

Luckily after some ham, a quieter and emptier room, and
my Aunt Diana, Nora seemed more herself.  

This particular turkey was pardoned.

Check out the back of the shirt!  Complete with feathers!!

Nora was no better at the Guenther-Sowinski Thanksgiving.  Quite a bit clingy.  That was until the was able to take off her shirt (she spilled water on it) and she found a shower she could step in and out of and close and open the door repeatedly.  Fun, I tell you! 

Look at that post-Thanksgiving
dinner belly!!

In and out.  Open and closed.
Repeat.

Brother-sister time. 

Partners in crime.  They are perfect pair.

Golf ball hunting the day after Thanksgiving in the field
by Pat's house.  (it backs a golf course)

Of course baby had to come too!

A great Thanksgiving weekend was had by all of us.  It is always nice to spend time with the family again.  But it's also nice to come back home.  Tired from a long and busy weekend, I'm heading to my own bed...

Equal Opportunity Sucker

Doctors always tell moms not to worry that they have a thumb sucker at this age because it's natural that they put their hands to their mouth and occasionally find a finger or a thumb.  Even with that in mind, I think I can confidently say Myles is a thumb/finger sucker.  But even at a young age, at least he's fair.  He doesn't show a preference to any one finger over another.  

Sometimes it's his thumb.

Other times the middle two fingers.

Or the first two.

Or even the last three.

Heck, it doesn't even need to be his own fingers!

A finger sucker he may be.  But at least he's cute while he's doing it.

Homebodies

November started out like this: 

It was beautiful.  Not at all November-like.  The above picture was taken on November 2nd - it was 64 degrees out.  Like I said, not your typical November.  

The weather has turned this week.  Cold, windy, rainy, grey.  The way you think November should be.  The kind of weather that makes you feel like a homebody so the kids and I made our own fun inside.  The past couple of days have been great.  We've been busy but a calm busy.  There's been a very happy and content Nora with hardly any whining and a smiley Myles that's getting closer and closer to a genuine laugh (I've heard it a couple times already but not consistently).  

They didn't spend a ton of time in the laundry basket being pushed around but I couldn't choose which pictures I liked the best! 

Nora found the newborn pair of sunnies that wrap around
your head and had to have them on.  She kept them on like
this for about three hours this day.  Dorky, but she rocks it.

Trying to get her snuggles in.

Great big smile!

Smooches for the brother.

She loves doing these puzzles.  She'll pretend one of the
pieces goes where she know it doesn't, shake her head,
point to the proper spot and then put it in.  

"Shaving" with Daddy.

Anything you do, I want to do, too.

Watching the sleet come down.

Guy is helping her clean up the letters.

Guy is clapping because he did a good job helping.

Signing "more" because
I was laughing.

So bring it on, Old Man Winter.  You're no match for us.  We'll still have fun inside.  (Except maybe you could stay away a while longer still.  Thanks.)

Future James Beard Award Winner

Will she grow up to be a chef?  Or simply enjoy cooking as a hobby like her mom?

For now, she's just using her imagination... and I love watching it.

Pepe Le PEW

It started out like any other Saturday.  It was a beautiful 60+ degree day in November.  It felt so good out you didn't even mind being outside to rake - in fact, you enjoyed it.  

Myles was able to take a snooze AND get fresh
air wrapped in the Moby. 

Nora, my helper.

After the raking was done, it was time to come in and watch the Badger game.  Half of the household was interested in other things though.

Fixated by the flashing lights on his play mat.

And big sister gets under there too.
Because if Myles is doing it, she
wants to also.

Notice their semi-matching shirts.  Myles is wearing
a shirt Nora got when she was little and Nora is
wearing a shirt Myles got for baptism.  Dug Nora's out
the other day and wham... everyone is in Badger gear.

ooohhhh.... lights....

The day was winding down and daylight savings was looming.  I said to Dan, "I'm looking forward to falling asleep early on the couch."

I should have known by saying something like that I would have jinxed it.

9:06pm.  I let Rusty out the back door to go to the bathroom one last time.  He runs out and then I saw it...

dun dun dun.... right there in our
backyard.

"RUSTY, NO!  RUSTY!"  Dan flies into the kitchen and I just say, "Rusty's getting skunked."  What can you do at that point!?  

Rusty comes to the door but the skunk is hot on his tail and continuing to spray.  "Don't let him in!"  I didn't want a freshly sprayed Rusty to come in the house and roll around on the carpet but the skunk wasn't going away.  Dan grabs the broom, sticks his hand out the kitchen door and proceeds to hit the skunk three times before it finally ran away.  

Dan took Rusty into the garage and held paper towels up to his oozing eyes (he got sprayed right in the face) meanwhile I was calling pet stores (all which of course closed at 9) asking what works best to get out skunk smell and looking online for other remedies.  After a few extremely smelly minutes, we brought him inside to begin damage control.

The house reeked and so did Rusty.  Six baths later (a mixture of vinegar and water for two, Natures Miracle Skunk Deodorizer for one, and shampoo for the other three) and he's much better.  Notice I didn't say smelling like roses.  You get whiffs of it once in a while but for the most part he's better.  

Sunday, we were sitting in church and kept getting waves of skunk smell which made us think it was on our clothes.  Luckily, I don't really think it was.  

Our very clean dog.  He had a rough weekend.

And now he's tired.

Exhausted, really.

As for our house:  after hours of burning many of these...

and simmering up this concoction

a bit of water, red wine, vanilla, and cinnamon.

we are all doing well.  Here's to a better week!