Who knew.......

....that such a sweet wee thing could be so STINKY?!!!

Must have been the Pakistani food my love.  Don't you worry - Daddy's made me run for cover more than a few times  ;) 

WAY TO GO, BULLDOGS!!!!!

We can't get enough basketball in this house!  Yet another international tournament is taking place this weekend and this time it's for the junior varsity team.  The boys played two games today - the first didn't go over so well (Phil would call this an understatement) but the second one sure made up for it (Phil would also call this an understatement)! 

There's a school in the league that has been known as "unbeatable" for years.  In Phil's three years of coaching in Kuwait, he's been unable to win against this school in ANY sport......until TONIGHT, that is!  Yes.  Tonight they did something that most people would declare IMPOSSIBLE.  TONIGHT PHIL'S TEAM WON!!!!  I have goosies as I type this. 

I am so proud of my husband.  All those long hours at after school and Saturday practices........all those long hours laying in bed - dreaming up plays......all those long hours of researching different offensive and defensive strategies........all those long hours of second-guessing and re-thinking game day decisions............THEY ALL PAID OFF!!  And it FEELS GOOD.  

Enjoy this sweet feeling of victory, my love!  You and your boys have certainly earned it!  As for Nory and I, we couldn't be MORE HONOURED to shout GO BULLDOGS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better Late Than Never?

Tonight we celebrated Pancake Tuesday with some DELICIOUS blueberry pancakes!  The official day was three weeks ago but I was on a NO-FOOD-YET diet this day and we were busy snuggling with our darling daughter anyhow. 

WHOA!  Today Nory is THREE WEEKS OLD.  I'm not sure how it happened but a whole 21 days has already gone by.  In one more week she will be ONE MONTH OLD and bath time will include real soap!  Ohhh laaa laaa!

HAPPY THREE WEEKS, ELEANOR!  You should be enjoying the sweet taste of Pancake Tuesday later this evening!

XOXO 

There's something FISHY going on here.......

Nory sleeps in two instances ONLY:

1)  From about 10 p.m. until 3 a.m.  (HALLELUJAH!!!  These five - sometimes six - hours are the only thing that keeps Mommy alive.)

2)  At really loud (like REALLY LOUD) basketball games. 

Her current trend is to be awake ALL DAY LONG and let's just say she's not extra-pleasant to be around during this time.....

The four day basketball game streak ends today.  I told Phil not to be surprised if we show up at his practice after school.  In the meantime, we're sitting in the living room trying to simulate the "basketball outing" experience.  She's in her stroller and Phil just messaged to tell us that the NBA channel is 680!  Haha.

Oh Nornado - we still love you so :)

Meeting the PEDIATRICIAN!

Before Nory was born, I came across a forum discussion raving about a certain pediatrician.  I heard this man was THE BEST and I knew he was the guy I wanted to take care of Baby P.  However, upon discharge from the hospital we were assigned a random pediatrician who was not the person I was hoping for.  That was until Phil became friends with the head nurse!  Those light blue eyes work magic (times ten!) and our discharge papers included the pediatrician we requested!  WAY TO GO PHIL! 

We met the doctor for the first time yesterday and we are both VERY pleased with the outcome :)

Reasons We LOVE Nory's Pediatrician:

1)  His name is Dr. Roland.  GREAT NAME, don't you think?! 
2)  He complimented us on Nory's name - saying she has the name of a QUEEN!
3)  He reviewed my entire medical file before "beginning the appointment".  He wanted to know why I had a c-section, how the surgery went, and what Nory got up to during her 3 day hospital stay.  It wasn't until AFTER he reviewed this and asked us some questions that we began our first official appointment.  
4)  He was thorough - explaining the vaccination schedule in detail and making additions in order to maintain the "American/Canadian" standard.  
5)  He outlined some optional tests and vaccines and provided information for us to read at home.  He encouraged us to do our own research as well and to take our time in deciding what we think is best for Nory.
6)  He was AMAZING with Nory.  Speaking to her softly and examining her gently.  She didn't cry once and seemed to love showing off all that she had learned in the last 20 days.   
7)  He says Nory is VERY STRONG!  He even claimed she is destined to be a great basketball player!!!  (You can imagine Phil's response to this.) 
8)  He spoke to us about infant care and products that we should have at home.  He also spoke about things that can be introduced or altered when she turns one month old.
9)  You can tell he LOVES children.  What more can you ask for?!

Our next appointment is April 3rd - when Nory is 6 weeks old!  I wonder how much she will have grown by then.  Yesterday she weighed in at 8 pounds/8ounces and measured a total of 57 centimeters!  WAY TO GO, NORY DARLING!  You're growing the perfect amount  :)   

Two things that may shock you about yesterday:

1)  I didn't open my computer ONCE.  NOT A SINGLE TIME. 

2)  My first tea was had at 8:30 p.m. 

And in my head I see a whole panel of women saying "welcome to MAMA-HOOD"!!!

"KISS ME LIKE WE'RE IN A MOVIE!"

Lately I've been saying this to Phil every night when he tucks me in.  The problem is we both burst into laughter and our goodnight smooch turns into the most un-romantic thing ever......

OH I LOVE THIS MAN!!!!!!!!!!

EMILY DOES IT AGAIN!

What would we do without our darling GEMILY?  You know her nickname "GEM" continues to validate itself.  Her rare, unique and beautiful self is constantly revealed as she loves and adores our little girl Nory.  I love the way she looks at her, talks to her and snuggles her.  She is absolutely IN LOVE and it makes me tear up just thinking about it.  We couldn't have chosen a more special and PERFECT person to be Nory's godmother. 

Thank you Auntie Gem for a second round of STELLAR keepsakes!  Aren't we happy the world has gone digital?!  MY OH MY - we'd be going broke on rolls of film.  (Then again, we'd have many film canisters leftover for fun arts and crafts! Haha.) 

WE LOVE YOU GEM!!!!  Thank you for treating our daughter like your own. 

XOXO

MISSION SUCCESSFUL!

We did it!  Well, we almost didn't (because this MAMA is a stress-case), but in the end......WE DID!!!

What am I even talking about?  Well - that would be our very first official outing as a family!  This morning we figured out the stroller, packed up the diaper bag, and headed to the school for a basketball TRIPLE HEADER (yes, TRIPLE HEADER)!!!  For 7 hours, we cheered on the Bulldogs court side - taking only brief intermissions for feeding and changing!  Nory was AWESOME.  She stayed calm through the buzzers and whistles and warm-up music and screaming fans!  She also made some new friends and had her picture taken by a completely smitten young girl!  It was a FABULOUS day - I'm glad my INSANITY about going public with our gal didn't keep us in the house!!!  We might even venture out again tomorrow :) 

P.S.  Last night Nory slept from 11-5 and then again from 6-9 this morning!!!  You know what this means?!  WE ALSO SLEPT from 11-5 and then again from 6-9 this morning!  YAHOO!!!!!

P.P.S.  Today her Great Grandfather Hoit would be 100 years old!  WOWEE!!!  I'm sure he's looking down on our sweet girl and thinking "she's JUST LOVELY!"  HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!  We are having a tea party and thinking of you this evening.  XOXO

National Day Weekend......

...has finally come to an end (do NOT insert jumping up and down HERE).  After FIVE GREAT DAYS together, Phillip had to go back to work this morning leaving all of us a little bummed out.  Nonetheless, we couldn't help but smile at Eleanor's AMAZING INSTINCTS!  She must have known her Daddy had to teach today because she didn't make a PEEP from 12:30 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.!  WHAT A SLEEP!!!!!!  I woke up in a panic at 4 a.m. thinking, "IS SHE OKAY?!"  Indeed she was - dreaming away in her nursery. 

You can bet that every single person in this household will be savoring those 5.5 hours of rest.  I'm not sure we'll get LUCKY ENOUGH to experience this type of "sleep heaven" again........

How much do you LOVE this picture?  Her face is DEFINITELY saying, "all those midnight feedings are PAYBACK!" 

Oh darling, so sorry for the pictures.  But your Mama and Auntie Gem think you're too cute to stop!