Let's Go Bananas!

Norah's birthday party was this past Saturday. We had a monkey theme with purple, yellow and pink accents. I made the cake. It was vanilla cake and icing (Mr. M. requested this flavor). 

For the food I decided to do it sack lunch style. Originally we were planning to have her party at the park, but the weather did not cooperate so we had an indoor picnic instead!

The Menu:

PB&J

Cinnamon Applesauce

Goldfish

Bananas

Milk

Water

Sweet Tea

Games:

Pin the tail on the monkey

Freeze Dance

Both seemed to be a big hit!

 ❤ Little friends to help Norah celebrate! ❤

Birthday girl eating her indoor picnic surrounded by loved ones. 

 Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! 

Gifts:

Wooden Puzzles

Eric Carle Book

Baby Doll

PBK Quilt

Calico Critters and Cozy Cottage

Gingham Dress

Curious George Book and DVD

Janie & Jack beret

Gymboree cloche hat

Plush Eeyore with Eeyore book

Purse and sticker book

Molding Clay

Doodle board

Tricycle

(Thank you Jennifer Waits (my sister) for taking the photos below!)

Unfortunately she was not in the best mood while opening her gifts. 

I felt bad because I didn't want everyone to think she was ungrateful. 

Sometimes I have to remind myself that she is just TWO... ❤

After her nap, she was in much better spirits and enjoyed playing with all of her toys. 

It was a great little party. Very low key and so much fun for Norah. 

Norah Jayne is TWO! ❤

There are times when I feel so unequipped to be her mother. There are daily challenges. New milestones bring new adventures for us all. It is a wild ride, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

A little about Norah at TWO...

Height: 37 in
Weight: 30.8 lbs
Head: 19.5 in
Feet: Size 8
Cloths: 2T-3T

Loves Curious George (as we discussed in my previous post)
Loves monkeys (probably because of Curious George), doggies and elephants
Loves peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches.
Loves bananas, apples, oranges, grapes, blueberries -- basically any fruit
Loves steamed broccoli
Loves crackers
Loves sipping on mommy's decaf coffee but her favorite beverage is still MILK
Hates cheese (I think it is a texture thing) 
Loves stickers, storybooks and drawing (she went all Picasso on the armoire and shutters in her room)

Loves bows, hats and shoes

Loves music and dancing

She is interested in everything that mommy and daddy do. She does a lot of mimicking. 

She is learning about obedience and having a good attitude.

She is learning to be thankful and polite.

She is learning about patience. (And I am getting a refresher in this course too!)

She is learning to use the potty!

Some of Norah Jayne's two year portraits that I shot the day before her birthday. 

I love everything about this little lady. 

Just a few of Norah's favorite people...

Papaw

Nanny

  

Stephy

Daddy

I had to add this picture of Norah Jayne's hair. I have been itching to give her a little hair-do since she was a tiny little thing... she is just now getting enough hair for me to actually do something with. 
Mommy is in heaven. ❤

The night before Norah's birthday, I decided that I would make a special birthday breakfast for her so that we could all eat together before daddy went to work. 

To add to the festivities, I bought some balloons along with a card to surprise her. 

That morning, I hurriedly made bacon and eggs, set the table, and set out the pre-made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. 

Norah woke up and we took her to the living room. She immediately saw the balloons and was very excited by them! She said, "Oh my goodness!" 

Such a flurry of activity in the morning is rather unusual for all of us, especially her. 

We sat her in her chair and she opened her card all by herself! What a smart girl. :)
Then we began to sing "Happy Birthday;" the look on her face was priceless!

After the singing, I brought out her muffin with two candles on it. She was mesmerized. 
I was able to get one shot before she blew out the candles.  

Later in the day, we went to eat lunch with daddy in the cafeteria. I took along the balloons, a cupcake and the two candles. The students sang to her and she really loved it! 

She is definitely mommy's girl- the icing is the best part!

We plan on having a proper birthday party for her on the 27th. I am sure there will be more photos, more cake, more friends, and more singing... 

We are enjoying our two year old. My, how time has flown!

Stop the Glorification of Busy.

At the end of most days I think about what I have done. Based on that information, I determine whether or not I have had a good day or bad day, a successful day or an unsuccessful day.

Recently, more days than not, I have had to hang my head in defeat because too many things were left undone. There were to many bad, unsuccessful days. 

I've realized that a lot of my self-worth is tied up in being busy (or appearing to be busy), doing, accomplishing, contributing...

"So what have you done today?"
"Got any big plans for the weekend?"
"Where do you work?"

You know you have a problem when these simple phrases, used to engage conversation, send you (me) into a panic.

Everyone marvels at the multi-taskers and Martha Stewarts of this world. Everyone loves a hard worker.
Everyone approves of movers and shakers (and I'm not talking about my thighs, people. ;))

And, of course, you get bonus points if you work yourself so hard that you completely collapse emotionally and physically.
(Oh, bless her little heart! She is SUCH a hard worker...)

I want/need the approval.
I want/need the nod.
I want/need to be accepted.

However... Today is a new day.
I am going to make a conscious effort to change the way I think about being busy in relation to my self-worth.

Will I give up and become a sloth?
Probably not. :)

Will I feel like a complete and utter failure of a human being if I, for the fifth day in a row, forget to put the wash in the dryer and have to run the same wash for the sixth time? (True story, folks!)
No, I choose to believe that my worth is not determined by what I do or don't do. (Besides, the word on the street is that the sixth time's the charm!)

Norah Jayne | 23 Months

My little girl is 23 months old. Soon, I will be immersed in planning a birthday party. But for now, I am reveling in the moment. Or trying to. It is easy for me to get caught up in planning ahead and forget to enjoy the now. I am a work in progress. Aren't we all? 

This was a Hepburn inspired photo-shoot. Norah is such a little ham in front of the camera that she made my job easy. 

Being a silly goose. I love watching her laugh. She is so uninhibited. Love her. ❤

A few cute things about Norah this month:

9/14/12 I made a list of all I need to get done today. I asked Norah if she wanted to do everything on the list for mommy.

She said, "Yep!" 
I said, "Great, I'll just set here and check out FB while you work, ok?" 
She said, "Ok!"
So far, she has only managed to walk around the living room with my list and a pen in hand, looking very self-important.

9/19/12 Norah woke up with two new phrases. 

I was still in bed, half-asleep, when from Norah's bedroom I hear, "Good moning, Mommy! Good moning, Mommy! Good mooooninnng, Mommy!!!" 
How could it not be? :)
The second phrase she whipped out over breakfast, asking repeatedly while pointing at different objects, "What's dis? What's dis? What's dis?"

9/25/12 Norah is already sneaking books into her bed to look when she is supposed to be napping. I can only imagine what she will be like once she learns to read. ❤ #bookwormsanonymous

9/26/12 Norah just took a brand new 1 pound box of baby oatmeal (yes she still likes the stuff) and proceeded to redecorate my kitchen with it. 

It all happened very quickly and quietly, which seems to be her preferred MO. 
I am not impressed.


The little Miss, likes to climb. Frequently I'll find her in her room hanging out in the top drawer of her dresser. (Yes, it is bolted to the wall!)

The story of my life...

The other day Norah comes running to me yelling, "I duck! I duck mommy! I duck!" 

She was STUCK. 

And, yes I made her remain "duck" while I grabbed my camera.

This little outfit was put together on Friday. She insisted that she wear her hat and boops (boots). I decided I HAD to get a picture... ღ

She is very tall for her age. I will not be surprised if she takes after both of her Nana's in height. 

I think she looks like her daddy in this photo. :)

What??? A picture of something other than my darling Norah Jayne?! Yes, I thought I would include a photo of my fall mantle decor. I plan to really celebrate this fall. To revel in the beautiful weather, the food, the smells. It is my all time favorite season (even if it makes my allergies go crazy).

It is amazing how a few pumpkins, a little burlap, some fall leaves and a couple of Yankee's "Farmer's Market" scented candles can make my heart leap for joy! 

It is fall... and I am celebrating!

A steaming cuppa. Although I am a decaf drinker these days, I still love my coffee. And what could be better than a cup of coffee in my favorite mug? Not much, I say.

Norah Jayne | 22 Months

Norah Jayne's first tea party! She was thrilled to have a real tea set to play with. It was written all over her face. We invited Mr. Monkey to join in the fun. ❤

A few cute things about Norah this month:

8/4/12 Norah enjoyed three firsts last night- a Red's game, seeing an oldish man get his head shaved on first base, and fireworks. Red's won. Marty got sheared. The fireworks were magical. All is well with the world.

8/5/12 Mr. M., who has a great sense of (and a deep appreciation for) humor, said: "I laugh at a lot of things, but when Norah makes me laugh, it is the BEST kind of laughter..." ♥

8/9/12 Norah prefers fruit to chocolate. Whose child is this?

8/13/12 How can this little girl make such a HUGE mess in such a short amount of time? #Ithinkmychildhassuperpowers

8/24/12 Norah woke up too early, and now she is asleep on the floor of her bedroom in the midst of all her toys. Cute? Yes. But now I am betting she won't take her afternoon nap. :(

8/24/12 Norah is becoming more verbal; putting sentences together and such. Today she was talking about Curious George and she said, 

"Monkey George funny..." 

Truer words were never spoken. ;) 

When she has no words, she does pretty good at pantomiming what she wants- 

patting the chair cushion if she wants someone to sit beside her, patting the ground (while bouncing, spinning and twirling) when she wants someone to join her in a dance, throwing her hands around for emphasis, shaking or wagging her finger to drive home a point, or pointing to scrapes that need kissing. ♡

This evening as we were getting her into bed and settled with goodnight prayers, kisses and hugs, she insisted that we sing "This Little Light of Mine."

Of course she didn't come out and say it, but she made herself very clear saying, "Song!" while jabbing her little index finger towards the ceiling repeatedly.

So of course we sang the song. And, Norah, with her little finger pointed heavenward, lifted her soft voice along with mommy's and daddy's,

singing, "Hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm hmm!"

(Translation: "Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!")