Getting bigger is a difficult job but Nora has already gained half a pound since she was born. Here we find her resting after a long day at the office:
She helped out in the sound lab while I did some recordings and then she schmoozed the skeleton crew on hand for end-of-term stuff. Assuming I survive this week (by no means a foregone conclusion) we’ll try bringing her in when there are some more people on hand.
We’ve been positively buried in gifts and good will since Nora got here but this latest really knocked the legs out from under us. My awesome statistics professor Rick Lewis and my colleagues in Psych 613 presented me with a pink polka-dot dress (for Nora, one presumes) and a card signed by everyone. I’ve honestly never been so touched.
As you can see, Nora is similarly thrilled:
Machine wash warm with like colors. For best results use gentle cycle. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Do not iron. Do not fall asleep and leave your sleep-deprived goofball husband entirely unsupervised with your 13 day old baby.
Chris O’s fiancée Julie made Nora an adorable purple hat that comes closer than any of our other knit hats currently do to fitting on her tiny, tiny head. Thanks Chris & Julie! This hat should fit perfectly by the LSA meeting in Chicago. :)
We’ve unintentionally gotten the poor kid on a giraffe theme (much like my Garfield debacle of the late ’80s). Her current giraffe inventory includes: a swaddling blanket, stretch (the world’s awesomest infant toy), her pack ‘n play, a jumper, a cuddle toy that plays lullabies, reginald the 5 foot tall giraffe!, bed sheets, a rug, wall art, and the small, cuddly blanket shown here. This blanket happens also to be the first toy-like object Nora has engaged with in any way (albeit in a vain attempt to get milk from its nose).
My due date was Friday, November 23. Since we had no baby yet, Kevin and I went out for dinner with my parents to DeLuca’s - the restaurant where my parents had eaten the nights before both my brother and I were born. We were hoping that family tradition would hold with this one, and sure enough, I had my first real contraction at 10:30pm Friday night.
Nora had a pretty rough day today but after a big visit to the doctor we came home and were reminded of the tremendous kindness of our friends and family. In this picture we have little Nora (of course) held by mommy and sporting the latest in polka dot fashion courtesy of Gabi. She’s seated on the proofs of our new nursery wall art courtesy of the amazingly talented Chris Drummonds (hand delivered by his S.O. Jeff after a long day at work). In the background you can see a pair of gently used shoes from our friend Zara (courtesy of her folks Wes & Jo).
And, of course, I was only present to take this picture due to a set of professors and a pair of advisors who are incredibly cool and understanding. I’m an unbelievably lucky man.
Thanks again, everyone.
We’ve been showered in visitors, gifts, groceries, and prepared meals since bringing little Nora bean home and we tremendously appreciate it. This post is meant as a “thank you” to a few of the people who’ve stopped by to lend a hand. Please note the theme in these photos: Nora sleeps a lot. I just love the face she’s making for Grandma, though.
Shown below are Granny McGowan, Grandpa & Grandma Kusnir, Uncle Brian, Uncle Eric, Aunt Christine, and Gabi. Aunt Colleen already got her own whole post.
Since her umbilical cord stump fell off on Monday, Nora got her first real bath today:
Nice job, Daddy!
There’s really nothing I can add to this picture. Good night, please wish us all sweet dreams.
