Nora's 3rd Birthday, First Haircut, and a New Baby Update

 Happy birthday, Nora!

Nora's birthday requests were:
- a giraffe cake (last year's was a lion; this year's was a last minute decision between giraffe and elephant)

- a "car like Camden's" (a remote control monster truck like we got for her cousin at Christmas)
- scotch tape (she received about 30 rolls of this from Nana Pat, and our house is covered in it)
- balloons
- the baby to come (she will have to wait for this one)

Nora is always excited about birthdays, all year long. At least once a day, we sing happy birthday to someone - me, her, a baby doll, whomever - and she frequently "wraps presents" in anything she can find.   Napkins, rags, dish towels, bibs, Kleenex, or anything of the sort becomes wrapping paper; any toy, stuffed animal, or sock stolen out of the clean laundry works as a gift. But I think this says something about Nora; she is generous and patient, and wants to make people happy.  She has always been concerned about any baby or friend that is upset, even if they are upset because they got in trouble, and is quick to offer a hug or some encouragement. One of her favorite things to say when someone spills something or makes any mistake is "it happens sometimes."  And more recently when I console her because she has made a mistake by saying "everyone makes mistakes sometimes," she says "even grown ups! It's okay!"

Side note: She is so darn good and sweet that I'm worried the next one will be a terror.  I had a dream one night recently that this baby was the first child to ever be diagnosed with ADHD before leaving the hospital because it wouldn't stop moving and wouldn't sleep.  (This isn't saying anything bad about kids with ADHD. I have loved - in a non creepy way - many a student with ADHD. All this means is my dreams are wacko right now.)

Second side note: Don't fear. She isn't perfect. Tonight she got mad at me and cried because I wouldn't let her eat only bread and a muffin for dinner. In her defense, she has a cold and was feeling pretty crummy.

Back to birthday:

Ninja pose with cousins

Ready to join the tour with her new golf clubs from Uncle Jimmy.

Playing with Baby S at her kids' birthday party at the pool

Today she gathered up her babies and her birthday balloons and asked me
to take a picture. She rarely requests pictures and often despises them entirely,
so I took advantage of the opportunity.

And now, because she's THREE, I decided it was - finally - time for her first haircut.  I took her to Julie, who has been cutting my hair for several years (and, in a random side note, has guessed that I'm pregnant both times, this time before even I knew!), because she has a little girl about the same age and knew she could handle anything Nora might throw her way.  She was pretty nervous despite my attempts to make haircuts sound like the most amazing thing in the world, but sat still and quietly (despite talking non-stop at home, she barely says a word when we're anywhere or with anyone new) so she could get a sucker at the end.

We got a locket of hair for her baby book, even though it seems a little silly since she's three
and we've trimmed out plenty of little tangles already.

And without further adieu, a pregnancy update:
I'm 18 weeks, and feeling pretty good.  I have some days when I'm so tired I can barely pull it together to get much done, but most days, I feel energetic and occasionally good enough that I forget that I'm pregnant until I try to run up the stairs two at a time and realize - no...not a wise decision.  I took this picture about a week and a half ago.  It's a bit blurry, but you get the drift.

I received an update from an app on my phone a few days after this that said "you may start showing!" and well... better late than never?

We are still sticking to our (my) decision to wait to find out the gender until the baby is born, much to the dismay of our sisters and everyone at Ryan's work.  Our parents seem completely unfazed by the additional waiting time, probably because they had to wait with all of us, but our siblings, especially our sisters, are having a tough time. 

21.5 weeks to go!