Ahoy, Mate!

Nora has one eye that is a little weaker than the other which means that for now she has to wear an eye patch over her strong eye a few hours a day to help strengthen the weak eye. We see the eye doctor again in three months so that's the earliest that she would stop wearing the patch.  Pictures featuring one of the daycare teachers, Ms. Nicki.  Pirate baby!

Patch is on! 

She rubbed it a few times to try to get it off

She wiggled a whole bunch 

And then jumped off of the Ms. Nicki's lap into mine.  

The Recent Adventures of Nora B.

Dug and I have gotten into the habit of calling our munchkin Nora B (as in Nora Bug).  We went through a few weeks of doctors appointments related to asthma, rashes, fevers, etc and came out of the other end with a milk allergy.  I am happy (so happy!) to report that since last week when we discovered the milk allergy and stopped giving her all things dairy she seems to have reverted to the happy-go-lucky, easy-going kiddo that we know and love.  Whew!  Now (hopefully) she can focus on starting to walk because Dug and I are just too anxious for her to get started :) 

Scrambled eggs for breakfast! 

Notice how I am eating off of a plate like a big girl

This expression kills me.  

Snoozing on mom on one of her sick days at home

Taking a break 

"Helping" by taking everything out of this drawer.  I did convince her to put one or two things back but then she took them out again.  

Wearing an owl hat, playing with the monitor 

Nora cannot get enough outside time.  She is working on crawling over this threshold by herself. 

My new favorite picture of her.  

12 Months Adjusted

Today was our big 12 month post-due date evaluation at the high risk follow-up clinic that we go to.  Mom was nervous but Nora passed all of the doctor's tests with flying colors.  The doctor couldn't stop telling us how smart she is and how impressed she is with her development.  She scored either average or above average in all of her tests and we don't have to go back until December when she turns 2, not adjusted.  The nutritionist was happy with the way that she's growing and overall the message was to just keep doing what we are doing! The doctor even said these magic words: "Its hard to even tell that she was a preemie!"  

Thanks to everyone who has been on this journey with us over the last 14 months.  We definitely couldn't have done it without you!

Sharing her breakfast egg with me

Swinging in the park.  She loves to swing!

So big! 

Digging in the plant dirt.  She is so curious! 

Helping us clean up

Wearing her lunch

She loves french toast.  She won't even share it with the dog! 

Yum!

Happy New Year

Life has been quite hectic at the Schulz house. There's major renovations going on in the house, we bought a new car right before the holidays, traveled half of the gulf coast during the holidays, and sickness slowing the family down for a week. As you can see, writing a blog has kind of been put on the back burner, but here we are!

So yes, we got a new car!  A Kia Sorento, it has a third row, which will come in handy when we pack up the family or all of Nora's friends in the future.

Nora got a visit from Grammie Diane Christmas eve and spent she Christmas morning with us. Nora's first Christmas at home! Nora wasn't too interested in the actual gifts, once again more interested in all the paper and boxes. She made out like a bandit, however, with plenty of new toys, clothes, and a big play set.

We then drove in the new car to Bay City and had Christmas dinner with Grandpa Wes, Grandma Deb, Faith, Renee, and Deb's family. Nora got even more gifts and it became obvious that this would be the theme for the rest of the trip. 

We spent a few days in Bay City, then I had to rent a car and drive back to Austin for work. Sara and Nora went to Lafayette and saw all sorts of family. Grandpa Mike, Great Aunt Betty, Great Grandma, Sonja. I'm sure there's Cajun words for all these folks, but I don't know how to spell them. 

Sara and Nora stayed with Sara's friend Kelly and had a great time playing with her daughter Kate.

I joined them on New Year's Eve at the bed and breakfast we would spend the rest of the trip in. 

We then visited Sara's brother Josh, her sister-in-law Jessica, the nieces/cousins Grace and Brie, and Jessica's family. We ate too much, but had a great time. We even convinced Uncle Jessie to hide out from work and have dinner with us.

New Year's Day lunch, delicious!

Appropriate shirt is appropriate for spending time with Aunt Jessica

Merry Christmas from Nora and Grammie!

What do you mean I can't eat the glowing candy canes?

Unfocused picture of Nora's ornament at daycare provided by Dug trying to stop Nora from grabbing phone while taking a picture.

I like my new clothes!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Nora!

I'm writing this now before your party so we don't forget to post something on this milestone.

Your parents love you so very much and I hope you like your party!

Love,

Dad

Phase One

Nora is going through a phase where she pretty much just wants to be touching me at all times.  Even if she's playing with her toys she wants me to be sitting on the floor with her.  This makes it hard to take pictures so I really only find myself snapping shots of her while she's eating.  So here are a tremendous number of pictures of Nora eating and making a mess.

Quinoa was a mess.  She liked it though! 

Thanksgiving selfie! 

At the children's museum, crawling into a giant carrot

One of the walls was made of exercise balls

Stuffed turnips!

Giant magnet wall

Notice Dug's phone hidden behind his back 

Playing in the kitchen

Shoveling spaghetti in as fast as she can 

Notice the cauliflower in her eyebrows.  So stylish!

All this mess involves many baths.  Thanks Aunt Kelly for the birthday bath toys!  

Giving Thanks

This is the time if year that everyone focuses in giving thanks. Well, among many other things too numerable to recount here, I am thankful for a job that allows me to take a half-day so that I can attend a daycare Harvest Family Feast and then take a nap. The daycare principal's husband made the turkey and it was delicious!

For whatever reason the flash was on and so this picture looks pretty weird.

But then she wouldn't be still so all of the rest of the pre-dinner pictures are blurry. 

Have I mentioned that she never stops moving?  

She really enjoyed her meal though. 

The other parents were impressed by how much she loves to eat. 

And the mess that she made was pretty impressive.  

Blue joined in on the napping part of the afternoon.