December 1?!?

So I missed posting something yesterday, but I still did 30 in the month of November. I may need to take a week off - I am out of post ideas!!!

I can't believe that it is December already. Daphne is going to be 1 in a month and a half - that is UNBELIEVABLE!!

Norah asked yesterday what we were doing to celebrate December 1. Not sure why she wants to celebrate December 1. She decided Kevin should take the day off and we shouldn't do school - neither of which are happening. They have enjoying candy canes instead.

Quote of the Day

Today's quote of the day comes from Norah.

"Mom, are you pregnant?"

Ummm, no. But thanks for asking - now I am going to the gym.

A Few Funnies

Yesterday, Norah came up to me and said, "Can you give me $3000?"

I told Norah that I don't have that kind of money. She responded with, "Then can I have $40?"

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Clearly in need of money, Norah wrote a note to Savannah that said, "Dear Savannah, Can you please give me $0.93?"

When I asked her why she needs $0.93 she told me she has $0.07 and she wants to make $1.

(I didn't let her mail the note by the way.)

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Earlier in the week we had tortellini for dinner. Lucy ate all of her and said, "Can I have more of this stuff?"

I said, "the tortellini?"

She said, "Yes, can I have more chinnalanna?" (I have no idea how to actually spell what she said.)

After she had her second helping, she said, "Can I have more chinnalanna?"

I corrected her again and she said, "That's what I said, chinnalanna."

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Today, Norah said, "I wish we lived in a barn."

I said, "Do you mean you wish we lived on a farm?"

"No, Mom, I wish we lived in a barn - you know, where the animals live and there is hay and stuff."

That's a far cry from this statement.

A Palace and a Few Other Funnies

Today Norah said, "When we move (again not in the plans - she is just dreaming), I really want a house that looks like a palace in the front."

Lucy responds, "Oooh! Me too!"

This is cracking me up because a week ago, Norah wanted to live on the top floor of a skyscraper in New York City.

As we were shopping for a present for Sawyer's birthday, Lucy said, "Sawyer is my best buddy!"

As heard over breakfast, "Norah is never going to be my sister again!"

Quote of the Day

Norah: Why do you always make me work? You always make me do the work you don't want to do. It's like I'm at an orphanage - always working, working, working.

(She was saying this as I was making her pick up some little Bible verse cards that SHE had spread all over the floor)

Her Other Name

Today Norah called me by my full name, using my maiden name instead of Swinigan.  She asked me what her other name was.  After explaining that she will have the same name until she gets married, she said, "So, when I get married, I will be Norah Rae Diehl because that is Bennett's last name and I am going to marry Bennett."  

Then a few minutes later, she said, "Well, maybe I am going to marry Luke.  I don't know yet, it will be one of the Diehl boys.  I just haven't decided which one yet."

The Interview

I know several other moms (Nicole's is here and I think Nicole B. did it awhile back too) have "interviewed" their kiddos, so I thought I would give it a try.  It was just a joke with Lucy - definitely too little.  

Here are Norah's answers (with my thoughts in italics):

Questions about Mom

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Go clean up your room (I may say this, but does she listen? Hmm)

2. What makes mom happy?
When I obey

3. What makes mom sad?
When I disobey

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You tickle me

5. What was your mom like as a child?
You were like me.

6. How old is your mom?
30 (since I just turned 30, we talked about this alot!)

7. How tall is your mom?
40 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play with Norah and Lucy

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Go to the grocery store

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
(she wanted to skip this one)

11. What is your mom really good at?
Taking care of 3 kids (Wow!  After the week we have had, I was beginning to wonder) (Lucy's response to this was "no things")

12. What is your mom not very good at?
I don't know

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Clean the house

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
bananas (I sometimes eat part of a banana for breakfast or banana on pb on toast, but I rarely pick up a whole banana to eat)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When you play with me

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Dora  (I'm not seeing the connection)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play with Lucy (sadly the poor girl had a hard time thinking of something we do together - I'm using having a new baby as the reason)

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both have blond hair

19. How are you and your mom different?
You are taller and I'm shorter

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She hugs me

21. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Steve's house

Questions about Dad

1. What is something dad always says to you?
I love you

2. What makes dad happy?
When I hug him

3. What makes dad sad?
When I disobey him

4. How does your dad make you laugh?
Tickles me alot (she then said to me, "Make sure you write ALOT?")

5. How old is your dad?

32 (right on)

6. How tall is your dad?
50 inches

7. What is his favorite thing to do?
Play with Norah and Lucy 

8. What does your  do when you’re not around?
go to work

9. What is your dad really good at?

working 

10. What is your dad not very good at?
Let's skip this one

11. What does your dad do for her job?
computer work 

12. What is your dad’s favorite food?
bananas (Kevin does take a banana to work everyday, but I'm pretty sure it isn't his favorite)

13 If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?

 Diego (seriously?  I don't even know the last time she watched Dora or Diego!)

14. How are you and your dad the same?

We have blue eyes

15. How are you and your dad different?
He has bigger feet and I have littler feet

16. How do you know your dad loves you?
He says he does

17. Where is your dad's  favorite place to go?
church

Norah's Drawing

Here is Norah's most recent drawing.  She says it is Lucy, the baby and her - all with Santa hat stickers.  

Our Family . . drawn by Norah

Here are a couple of pictures Norah drew recently.  Obviously, with 5 people (including the baby) we are too big of a family for one piece of paper.  

This first picture is Norah and Lucy.  When we asked her why she had a sad face, she responded, "Can't you see that Lucy is hitting me?"

Nice, huh?

This is Kevin and the baby - nothing too exciting, but prepare yourself for the next one.

This is me.  I realize that I am pregant, but I didn't think I was that big.  I'm almost 32 weeks and have gained about 17 pounds - do I really need a WHOLE page for myself.  And if you remember right, the baby is in the previous picture.  It looks as if I will have my work cut out for me losing the baby weight.

Side note:  Norah also told me yesterday that I "looked really big" in the shirt I was wearing.  

A Teenager

I think Norah has skipped a few years and is nearing 13 or 14.  She has been a little obsessed recently with how old you have to be to be a teenager.  She often asks if she has to be a teenager to do certain things.  

Last night, she and I ran to Kohl's to do a little shopping.  I could use some black pants - I think with the girls I had borrowed from someone else.  (I had no luck by the way).  I thought we would look at the Christmas dresses for Norah.  Plus, we did a little Christmas shopping there too.  I had a 30% off coupon so I figured we should do what we can.  While we were at Kohl's, Kevin and Lucy were at Circuit City.  Norah said at one point, "Girls don't like shopping for computer stuff - only clothes."  She is at a fun age to take shopping because she enjoys it, but I still have the final say over what she picks out - and she's okay with that.  I know that won't last forever.

She has started using the word "like" in way too many sentences.  While looking at the clothes, she said, "Mom, isn't this like so cute?"  "This is like so much fun like shopping for clothes."

I wasn't going to make her try on the dress she found, but she really wanted to.  While in the dressing room, she was dancing and singing, "I love beautiful, fancy dresses!"

As we were leaving Norah said, "Wasn't this like so much fun?  We just got to talk and talk.  I loved it!" 

A Few Funnies

Just thought I would share a few funny Norah stories.

First of all, she has decided she was her name to be spelled N-O-R-A.  She leaves off the H all the time - on purpose!  

She got a little frog tatoo somewhere this week and wanted me to put it on her.  She decided she wanted it on her left ankle because "that's where Daddy's is."  She also told me that she is going to take showers from now on because then it will stay on forever!  She thinks Kevin doesn't take baths because he doesn't want his tatoo to come off.  Ha!

A Week in Review - Penguins!

So we actually spent over a week on penguins - only because last week was a rough week (not sucking fingers and having a garage sale). Norah's favorite activity was our science experiement.
She learned about a variety of penguins and where they live. She was surprised to learn that some penguins live in Southern Chile (her Aunt Denise is from Chile). She can identify Antarctica on the map and can name atleast 2 species of penguins living there.
Norah and Lucy pretended to be emperor penguins carrying an egg (beanbag) on their feet while they waddled around. I should have taken a video because they were hysterical!!
Norah is anxious to move onto kangaroos.

Piggy Bank

This morning we took the girls to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. At one point I had to take Lucy to the bathroom. While we were gone, the waitress brought the check and this was the conversation between Kevin and Norah:

Kevin: Are you going to pay today?

Norah: No

Kevin: Well, you spent all my money yesterday (Norah and I went shopping). I think you should pay.

Norah: I didn't bring my piggy bank.

Kevin: Why not?

Norah: 'Cause that would be silly.

Later on in the day the girls and I went shoe shopping with my sister. She works at the home office and gets a decent discount on shoes and Norah and I needed shoes (I really mean need - my white sandals that I wear ALL the time are literally falling apart. I was basically ordered by Kevin to get new shoes. Okay, twist my arm).
As we were walking out of the house, Kevin says, "Norah, don't spend too much money."

Norah responds with, "I'm not the one who spends all the money - it's mommy who spends all your money."

A Few Funnies

We spent the weekend in Morton for my grandma's 80th birthday party. I will post more on that later (I forgot my camera so I will have to rely on my sister and mom). I just thought I would share a couple of funny things Norah has said recently.

She asked me this week if I like coffee. When I told her yes, she said, "Grandpa Steve doesn't, but he drinks it anyway. He told me at the Bread Co. one time." This is funny to me because it was probably 2 months ago when he said that.

When Kevin or I pray at mealtime, we often end our prayer with "In Jesus name we pray, Amen." Norah asked my mom, "Why is Jesus' last name amen?"

Before heading to Morton, Norah was asking who all my aunts and uncles are so I was listing them for her. (She sees them all about once, maybe twice, a year) She was quite intrigued when I told her that my mom's oldest brother, Gary, was married to Kylie, because Norah has a good friend, Kylie. We all met at my parents' house for a big family picture. Later that night Norah said, "Was Kylie there today?" I told her yes and started to say, "She was the one in. . . " and Norah finished saying "in the black dress. I saw her beautiful black dress. I wish I had a black dress like that."

I need to get better about writing down Norah's funny things - but here a couple to last a while.

Norah Must Be Sick

At dinner - Norah had 3 helpings of green beans. Yes, I said, 3!! She counted them as she ate them and kept wanting more! Usually I have to tell her to eat 4 before she can be finished with dinner. Crazy!

Norah's Love/Hate Relationship with Baseball

Several weeks ago the girls and I had a Cardinal game on (Kevin was at the game). Norah is jumping up and down shouting, "I love baseball! Go Cards!"

A couple of days ago Kevin was watching the Cardinal game. While eating a snack (with her back to the TV), Norah says in a voice that sounded somewhat annoyed, "Dad, why do you ALWAYS watch baseball?"

This morning I told Norah that we are going to a Cardinal game this week, "I don't want to go! I don't like baseball."

Tonight she says, "I can't wait to go to the Cards game! I just love baseball!"

We'll see what she actually thinks of the game. Last year, Norah cried every time the crowd cheered loudly.

Sprinklers in Heaven

Norah prayed at dinner. We try to encourage her to pray from her heart, but usually she just wants to pray "God is good, God is great. Let us thank him for our food. Amen." Tonight she added, "Thank you God for this beautiful day. Please don't turn on your sprinklers in Heaven tomorrow. I don't want it to rain. Amen."

Doctor's Appt.

Norah went to the doctor for her well child visit on Monday. This year has been so much better than last! We have had very few issues with her asthma this past year - thankfully! Some how I missed how tall Norah is - but the nurse said she is in the 20th percentile (let me say for the record, Norah has never been higher than the 5th percentile for height, so she has really grown!!!). She weighs 29.4 pounds - 5th percentile.

Happy 4th Birthday, Norah!

It is hard to believe it, but Norah is 4 years old! I barely remember labor and delivery - which is probably good, considering it was very long and then ended in a c-section anyway. She was so little - 6 pounds, 3 ounces when she was born, and only 5 pounds 8 ounces when we left the hospital. Norah surprised us by coming 2 weeks early - the first day of my spring break. Let me just say - she continues to surprise us on a regular basis.

Norah was a very good baby - rarely cried or fussed about anything. She has been a great sleeper since she was very little. She was sleeping 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. by 3 months and still sleeps 11-12 hours a night.

A few of our favorite things about Norah:

> She has an amazing imagination! She is typically a princess in some far off castle or a Sunday school teacher teaching a number of children at one time (she usually lines up her dolls and stuffed animals on the steps). Norah also enjoys being a mom, a doctor, a chef, a cheerleader, Starbucks worker, teacher, dog - the list goes on and on. I sometimes hear her talking from her room and it sounds like there are others up there with her, but it is just her, pretending and making all the characters talk.

> She loves to help bake! Several times a week she asks to bake something. We usually make muffins or bread once a week, then we make cookies or cakes if we have a good reason. She is an excellent helper and enjoys tasting our final product.

> Norah loves to help Lucy. If Lucy can't reach something, Norah is very quick to offer her assistance. If Lucy needs help doing something, Norah will show her.

> Even though Lucy can drive her crazy, Norah almost always wants her around. I had a babysitter stay with Lucy while I went to Norah's Easter party and Norah was a little sad that Lucy was missing out.

> Norah adores her friends and cousins. She talks about them all the time and she often pretends that one of them is here. She will walk with her hand sticking out like she is holding someone else's hand. She regularly pretends to have a sleepover and she has to make a spot for Kate and Savannah.

> Norah is incredibly dramatic. Although the drama can sometimes frustrate us, Norah is good at telling stories!

>Norah is also very empathetic. She can truly feel another's pain and if someone she knows is sad - she is just as sad.

> Norah's language has always been very good. She was speaking in 3 and 4 word sentences by 15 months. She loves to learn new words and find was of using them. If she hears a word that she doesn't know, she quickly asks for a meaning to begin processing it.

> She loves books! We are reading all the time! We often read the same books over and over. She has some favorites - My First Little House on the Prairie set, You are Special by Max Lucado, Polite as a Princess, Tessa the Teacher, the Tale of the Three Trees.

> She is very interested in Heaven. She asks, "Who is in Heaven?" She likes the Bible story of Jesus returning to Heaven. She asks what Heaven is like - and how we get to Heaven. She wonders if she will ride a cloud to Heaven someday.

Of course, as her mom I could go on and on, but these are a few things to give you an idea of what she is like. She has her 4 year check up at the doctor this week - I will post her measurements later in the week.

I will end with some pictures of Norah. Sorry there are so many - I had a hard time choosing!!

Geography Can Be Confusing

I know it has been awile since I last posted. We have actually had a lot going on since my last post - too much for one post. While Kevin was in Minnesota for a few days, the girls and I went to Morton - did a lot in a very short amount of time. Kevin's family was here this past weekend. Kevin and I ran in the St. Patrick's Day 5 mile run. All this - plus a million other things - and still using the old computer.

So instead of boring details - I will share a funny Norah story.
When I picked Norah up from school on Monday (we headed to Morton from there), I said, "I just talked to Daddy and his plane landed safely in Minnesota."
Norah throws her head back and chuckles to herself, then says, "Minnesota! I told my teacher he went to El Salvador."

Hmmm