Bah!

Just a few updates for everyone!

* Norah has started to say "ba". I keep trying for the "ma" sound, but so far, she hasn't figured it out yet. She can get her mouth in the "mmmm" form but then no sound comes out. Seeing her make such silly faces is pretty funny.

* I'm on the job hunt again. I've applied to a few places. I had an interview set up with one company but after some thought (and reasoning from the hubby) I requested to be removed from the interviewing process. I've also had one rejection. I was fairly upset by the rejection as the hours (and pay) would have been extremely convenient. Meh, so it goes. I'm not desperate (yet) and God is taking care of us.

* I've started seeing a chiropractor. I tend to carry my stress between my shoulder blades, and I was starting to have numbness in my fingers. Nothing new as I've had this problem off and on since my first year of college. BUT this is the first time that I've done a little research and sought out ways to improve my irritation. Plus, having a baby as you can guess is hard on the lower back. The chiropractor I see doesn't perform the standard "cracks" and "pops" to realign the spine (ew, thank God), he uses the ProAdjuster. So far, so good. I'll let you know how it goes.

* Norah is officially sleeping through the night. She generally goes to bed between 6:15 - 6:30 pm and won't wake until 5:00 am or so. WHOHOOOO! It's amazing! Now if I could just figure out a way to get MK to go to bed earlier...

* My fantasy football team started the season better than I had expected, but in the last couple of games...well, I've lost. I now know why I've never played before - IT SUCKS YOU IN! I actually care if I win or lose. Ha, go figure.

* I busted out the crock pot a week or so ago and have made a couple of dishes, the first being pizza pasta. I substituted ground turkey for beef and yum, it was cheesy and delicious. I was able to freeze a couple of servings to have for work lunches. Tonight I made creamy red potatoes which also turned out fairly well. I'm gonna try using the crock pot on a regular basis...it's so easy and I enjoy having real food for lunch at work. Well, and...I dislike cooking. A lot.

* I made a new promise to myself. Please hold me accountable. I will not cut my hair (except for trims) until MK, Norah, and I move back to Iowa (or the Midwest). Whoa.

* Norah is no longer face-planting. She has figured out how to gently lay her head to the side when she is on her stomach and needs a breather. Cute. She also rolled from her stomach onto her back today. I have yet to actually catch her in the act. She's a sneaky one I tell yah.

And now for the stuff you really want....pictures!

Lazy family morning. "Get up Poppy!"

Making Norah giggle.

"Ma-ma-ma"

Daddy gets all the decent pictures with Norah...but he can't have this one!

Ah, life can be hectic...but I love being Norah's mom and Marshall's wife.

Love to each and every one of you.

Put a lid on it, dude.

Our friend Elizabeth made Norah a hat for the coming winter. This is actually the second hat she's made for our kid. The first didn't even come close to fitting over Norah's giant baby head.



She looks so cute.

Oh, Marshall... More?!

Sweet... My biggest piece yet.



No special, deep, or important meaning at all. I just think it's pretty. Color will be added in a month or two.

Work done by Jason Loui at Iron Works Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH.

Stay Gold!

MMK

25

Justin would have been 25 today.

I'd write more, but I'm exhausted...and frankly, just not in the mood.

May Justin's soul be with God. And may God be with Justin's friends and family.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 3:5-6

For the Early Birds..

This is for those of you who have starting thinking about, already begun (or maybe finished!)Christmas shopping. I usually send an e-mail to family and close friends around this time of year. I've decided to post it as a blog.

Top Reasons Why the Kole Family Does NOT Need Anything for Christmas:
1. We are already blessed beyond what we deserve. We have God, family, jobs, health care (good health), savings, shelter, food, and love!
2. Most of you know, we love our apartment but it is SMALL and provides very little storage space. I should take a picture of our ONE storage closet. MK and I would win an award for "Most Talented Packers"! Now that Norah is here and apart of our family...we can slowly feel our apartment walls closing in. Our life has enough clutter and we are trying to keep it to a minimum.
3. Norah has an entire dresser full of clothes. Plus, two bags full of clothes that no longer fit her. Please do not buy new clothes for Norah. But, if you do have some great hand-me-downs for winter...I think we could make an exception to the No Gift Giving Rule. :o)
4. After reading 1 - 3, if any family/friends still would like to spend money on us, we hope the money is put towards a visit. We love (LOVE) and value quality time with our family and closest friends.

Which reminds me...Black Friday is coming all too quickly. I'm pretty sure I'll be scheduled to work. We open at 5:00 am. I still think the act of getting up just to shop before the sun rises is completely disgusting. Go America.

Have I mentioned the idea of being a stay-at-home mom is becoming more appealing as each day passes? I giddily watch Norah and Hayden on Fridays (well, when Norah isn't being Super Brat). Maybe some day we'll be financially stable enough for me to be a professional mom. We'll see. Until then, I'll suck it up...savor my days off...and beam every time my paycheck is added to our savings account.

Marshall (and Norah!) met my aunt and uncle from Alabama. They've been up in New England visiting friends, enjoying the foliage and just happened to be staying close to Durham tonight before heading back South. We had a delicious dinner in Portsmouth (minus my initial outburst of emotions to a semi-rude hostess...but that's another story), some light conversation, and lots of smiles in response to Norah's happy-go-lucky attitude. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to meet up, and I'm thinking MK, Norah, and I might just need to make our way South for a visit in the near future!

Recent pictures:

A little blurry, but still a favorite. 5 months old and one day!
(BTW Julia, this is the sweater your mom made for Norah!)

Norah loves Spot. Picture of me using Spot to make Norah smile for the camera.

Norah now sports the Bumbo and Tray! This makes sitting up and playing so fun!

What's also fun? Playing with Hayden!

Great Aunt Mary Susan

Great Uncle Myron (resemble my dad much? hehe.)

Love you all.

Interview with Norah

I asked Norah to comment on the fact that Creed has released a new album and is currently on tour in support of the release. She seemed pretty upset about the whole affair considering the fact that she's a baby and has only recently begun to suffer the music of Creed. Imagine how upset the rest of us (who have all lived through the release of multiple Creed albums in the past decade) have the right to be.



Man... I really hate Scott Stapp and everything this band has ever done.

Stay Gold!

MMK

Copycat

Sarah taught Norah this trick a few weeks ago. I just happened to take a picture of it today while I was messing around with our webcam.




(Oh yeah, we have a webcam. Anyone out there have Skype/Gmail/whatever and want to video chat sometime? Hook us up with your info... mmkole@gmail.com)

In other news (as Sarah's already announced), I have a new wedding ring. Our friend Amy recently began making jewelry at a silversmithing shop in Ames and graciously agreed to make me a ring to replace the one I lost after only 1.5 years of being married. It's sterling silver, with a rough band running through the middle of it. Ain't anything fancy, but it's pretty meaningful. Sarah's rather pleased that I'm now "married" again. I guess I am, too.



Stay Gold!

MMK

5 Things Norah LOVES...

1. Making the bed.
Marshall hates...HATES...to make the bed. Wait. Let me rephrase that sentence. Marshall hates to do housework of any kind. But thankfully Norah loves to help me make the bed. MK caught her enjoyment on camera:



2. IOWA!


3. Her new(ish) bouncer.


4. Bath time!...well, and hanging out with daddy before bed!


5. And of course, Norah loves her Papa and Mama! This picture is from Kevin & Sarah's wedding back in Iowa.

Wedding ring status update! My best friend Amy, also the mutual friend who introduced Marshall and I, made MK a new wedding ring. HOORAY! Amy did such a great job - I love it! One of us will definitely post a picture of the ring soon.

Hope you all are well. MK and I are gearing up for the big game tonight. Packers play the Vikings tonight on Monday Night Football. We plan to have a few people over to watch the game. I'm excited. GO PACK GO!

SLK