Photo Shoot...Cranial Technologies Style

Recently, at a DOC band check-up, we had the opportunity for a fun photo shoot.  This shows you a little about Nora's head check-ups.  Oh, and she didn't mind any of it!

Aaron is holding her head mold.  It's what her head started as.  They use it to compare visually with us at each appointment.  We're hoping we get to keep it.  =)  Normally, she doesn't have the hose over her whole head...we were just playing with her & she didn't care!

This is more like where the hose goes during the check-up.  Its a little low and sloppy here---she looks a little thug-ish.

To keep her attention, her therapist lets her play with the tape measure.

The hose is quite stretchy!  Look at that hair!!

Here's happy Nora.  Pretending to measure her head.

While she waits for adjustments to be made to her DOC band (shaving out the foam for more room to grow) she gets to play with all their great toys!

We're really going to miss going to see her therapist, Kathy, each week!  She's so sweet and really likes Nora.  Nora even convinces her to buy toys for her own kids.  (Like this pop up purple toy she has above...Nora always loves it so Kathy decided her son needed one.)  At our last check-up (last Wednesday) they scheduled her exit appointment.  Next time we go (in a little less than 2 weeks) should be her last time and graduation day!!  We're scared for her to go without her head protection, but it'll be so nice to not get head-butted with hard plastic anymore!  We can't wait!

More January Birthdays!

Aaron's sister, Christie, also has a January birthday.  We had cake at our house to celebrate.  Since almost everyone is doing Weight Watchers (Yay for 0 point fruits & veggies!) we had to figure out how many points birthday cake was...so we had cupcakes.  It was nice to hang out and enjoy each other.  =)

Here's some pictures:

The birthday table.  Cupcakes and Oatmeal cookies.  Black tablecloth and cupcake wrappers because Christie's so old---31! Yikes...I hope I'm never that old!  Just kidding!  =)  We threw some pink in there too so it wasn't so drab!

Christie's cupcake.  As many candles as I could fit...

She just blew out the candles.

Uh, what's Aaron getting into...must stink!

Such a good uncle...changing a STINKY Jacob diaper!

He loves all his nieces & nephews!

We hope Christie had a GREAT birthday!  Thanks to all that came to celebrate & Emily for helping me get it ready!!

This weekend will be Laura's (our sister-in-law's) birthday!  It will be a big year for her and not just because she's a mom!!  They're keeping her birthday low-key so I guess we won't be enjoying cake with her.  Bummer!!  Happy Birthday to her, too!

Don't you wish you had a January birthday?  =)

PS-I've taught Aaron's family the way to remember our birthdays...smart, huh?
Jan 9 + Jan 20 = Jan 29
(mine + Christie's = Laura's)

We LOVE the Johnsons

In honor of no school, snow here, and too many months passing since "the beach" the Johnsons came to visit.  =)  Yay for us!!

The kids are so good to Nora.  She's entertainment to them, too!  The boys like to help her do things like walk, smile, or play with a toy.  Ruby LOVES to help her do anything.  This girl will even throw her stinky diaper away or go across the house to find something she needs.  It was so nice to have her as my personal baby assistant!  (Yes, I've missed her terribly now...)  We took her for a walk and to play on the playground.  Nora was not a big fan of the slide!



Here's some pictures:

Riley and Beau helping carry her on the walk.  She was entertaining them.  =)

Ruby posing by the little snow left.

Daddy trying Nora on the slide on her belly.  Doesn't like it.

Not liking the slide the normal way either.

Nora ready for slide-time to be DONE.

Looking at Riley and Rara through the tube.

Daddy schooling Nora on how to crawl through the tube.

MUCH more fun!

Nora and Daddy went down the curly slide.  Still doesn't like it.

LOVE Ruby's hair.  Nora's un-interested.  =)

Playing dress up with Tutu's vest.  Not happy, but funny-looking.

Our little helper, Ruby.  She has the touch.  Nora was so worn out she just sat with her and laid back to fall asleep!  Ruby loved it!

We love you, Johnsons! <3

MY Day...Or Days

January 9th.  A day to remember!  Well, at least it's one WE remember!!  It's my birthday!  Funny, it was also the day before our first date...way back in High School.  =)

To celebrate my special day, we went to my Dad's for the weekend.  (Hint, hint...that way you can stretch it out for a whole weekend instead of just one day!)

We got to relax and take it easy.  I got caught up on a few things, Nora played with dogs and toys (see our last post for proof), and Aaron did a little tile work and a lotta Xbox-ing!  It was so fun playing with my brother, Xan's, Kinect.  We even got to see Dad's "farm"  (if all goes well)!

I got some special meals cooked for me and made sure everyone knew it was my birthday!  I even ate on the "special red plate".   Oh and got a trip to Target all by myself!!  We enjoyed the trip!

Nora hanging out with Grandpa

Nora and Xan ready for church

Nora and Grandpa out on his new (hopefully) farm

Then, we were supposed to have my birthday celebration at our house the day after my birthday with our family here...but it snowed.  And iced.  For days!  We finally got everyone over to brave the inclement weather Wednesday night.  We went out to eat with our best friends, April & Travis at Longhorn.  Then, we met everyone back at our house for cake.  I was so excited!  Strawberry cake from scratch with chocolate dipped strawberries.  YUM!!  My Mom did a great job on it!!  I was glad all of my family and Aaron's could come celebrate with us!

Everyone's singing to me

Blowing out my 3 candles.  2 for 20 and 1 for 21.

Nora and Jacob...bonding in car seats

Eventually it had to end.  I did manage to milk it for a good portion of a week though.  Thanks to all that helped make MY day special!

Until next year...=)

Enjoyment.

We have all ENJOYED watching Nora grow up.  Everyday there are new things she can do like saying dada, mama, dancing, etc.  One of the most fun times was when she figured out how to rock on her new rocking horse (pony).  We got a lot of laughs out of it!  She got a pony at her Grandma's & one at her Grandpa's.  She also figured out a new use for the bouncy seat.  =)

Ride 'Em Cowgirl

Riding Grandpa's Pony

Bouncing Chair

We LOVE this girl!  She is pure enjoyment.

9 Months!

Can you believe Nora is 9 months old already?!?  Sometimes it's easy to believe...and sometimes it's not.  Time flies, but I am lucky enough to spend each day home with her so I get to soak it all in!

Super Nora!  This is how she woke up the other day after her morning nap. =)

In her Christmas hat

Feeding herself (Yes!)

Peek-a-boo Santa

At her 9 month check up the doctor said she's healthy!  She's growing steadily physically and developmentally.  We can't ask for more!  =)  She is now 19 lbs 8 oz (50-75%ile) and 28 inches tall (50-75%ile).  Her head is growing (thanks to her band) is now 43.5 cm (25-50%ile).  She did get part one of the flu shot and she didn't even make a whine!  She's a trooper!
Here's her at the doctor's office:

After the flu shot, waiting...

We still go every 2 weeks to the Cranial Tech office for her DOC band check up.  She continues to grow like they predicted.  It's estimated she'll get her band off in a month or so.  You wouldn't believe how much her head has rounded out.  It's filled in on the back, especially at the bottom by her neck.  Her facial features are all aligned and symmetrical.  This means that we're mostly working on cosmetics now and making it look the best it can!  We are extremely pleased with the therapist and workers at Cranial Tech and her band!

Here are a couple of pictures of her there:

Always digging in my purse these days!

She loves playing around in the room

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Christmas evening it started snowing.  Church was even cancelled the next morning. =) Of course that means we got snowed in at my Mom's house.

Nora was dressed appropriately for the drive over in the car in her pajamas Christmas morning.  She was also dressed appropriately for the cold, but not freezing, weather we were having during  Christmas day.  But, she was definitely not dressed appropriately to play in the wet, cold snow!  So, she didn't experience snow until it was melting away the next afternoon.  (After I made it home to get her lots of layers of warm clothes!)



Here is her smiling...(before she touched the snow...)

Doesn't she look warm?

Here is her first experience with snow...=)  I don't think she likes it...I agree with her.  Snow is nice to look at, but it's too cold!!!