Sorry its been so long. We got a nasty virus on our computer and had to take it to the Geek Squad where it stayed for over a week. Otherwise the Norris clan is doing really well.

Ollie has started cooing and smiling and is a little more interactive. He is also more content to sit in his bouncer or on his play gym and look at the dangly toys or watch us as we eat or whatever. The evenings are better too. Still fussy, but for a much shorter period. We went to the doctor for his 2 month check-up today. He was 13 lbs 10 oz (85th percentile) and 23 3/4" long (80th percentile). He has been having some nasty green poop over the last few weeks. The doctor thinks it may be a protein allergy and suggested that I eliminate all dairy, eggs and soy from my diet. Not sure what I am going to eat, but maybe it'll help me loose some more weight :) Also there was some concern at his last visit that not enough skin was removed with his circumcision and that it may need a revision. She looked at it again today and did some pulling and tugging on it. It bled, and he screamed. She suggested that we get a surgical consult to to be sure. Then just as he started to calm down from that, they gave him 5 shots! He had a rough day.

Sam is good. He has been sitting on the real toilet and has pooped twice and peed twice in the last 3 days. And thats just a home, he has gone several times at school too (which he has been doing for awhile). Until now, he hasn't been interested in using the potty at home. He continues to enjoy reading. I think he must have over 20 books memorized and some of them are pretty long. Its been hard to get him to take naps on the weekends. He pulls all the books off his shelf and sits on his bed and "reads" them to himself.

The weather has been so nice, we've been able to go to the park several times. Tony and Sam played and even flew a kite while Ollie and I watched. Sam was able to practice his climbing. Climbing and jumping have always been harder for him than his friends. Sam, Ollie and I also went to a inflatable jumping place that has free-play times and Sam loved it. Some of the stuff is hard for him to climb on his own, but most of it he was able to do after I helped him a few times. We are thinking about doing his birthday party there in April.

And thats what we've been up to.

Emily

Hello all! We are all doing fairly well.

Sam is testing the limits as all toddlers should. Not much fun for mom and dad, but we're coping. He had been sick with an upper respiratory infection and ear infection. Once we got those treated, his behavior improved dramatically. We are also trying to step up the potty training as well. He hasn't shown much interest in it really. But all of his friends keep moving up to the preschool class at school and you have to be potty trained to move up. So, we are using that as motivation.

Meanwhile, Ollie is testing his lungs. He is a good baby most of the day and night, but the evenings are another story. He is very fussy from 8 to 10 o'clock most nights and feeds frequently during these times. It has been very frustrating for mom and dad. We just muddle through and know that it should pass one day. Otherwise, Ollie is great. I think he has smiled af few times. It is so hard to tell if its a real smile or not. He is getting big fast! I had to bust out the 3-6 month clothes. They are a little big on him, but he was getting too long for the 0-3 months. I think he probably weighs about 13 lbs based on our scale.

Ollie is a man of many expressions

Bathtime

Brotherly love

Making Valentine cookies with Kiki

Enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. Where is your helmet Daddy?

Ollie is One Month Old

Well, time just flies by! I can't believe that Ollie is already a month old! He is growing and doing well. At his 3 week check-up he was already 9 lbs 9 oz and up to 22 1/4" in length! He still sleeps most of the time and can't play with me yet, but I enjoy showing him things and touching him gently.

I am back at school and loving it! Daddy had to go back to work today so Mommy took me to school. She brought Ollie along, and I was a little upset when she told me that Ollie couldn't stay with me in my class.

Until next time...

It was a Very Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas!! I opened lots of presents from Santa, Mommy & Daddy, Nana, Kiki & Poppy and all my other family. On Christmas day, we stayed at our house and Nana came over to open presents. My Aunt Laurel and Uncle Lucky came by too. A few days later we went over to Kiki and Poppy's to open even more presents. I must have been as good this year as I thought I was! Some of my favorite presents were pretend ice cream, cookies and cupcakes for learning colors, shapes and numbers. I also got a CD player/karaoke machine, a sleeping bag, a rocking chair, drill, books, puzzles and some really fun games. I was very busy opening presents because not only did I open mine, but I helped everyone else open theirs too!

Welcome to the world Ollie

Well, after months and months of waiting, my baby brother is finally here!! His name is Oliver Graham Norris, but we just call him Ollie. He came just a few days before Christmas. He is really cute and I like him alot. He mostly eats and sleeps, but Mommy and Daddy say that what he needs in order to grow big like me. I am really enjoying helping Mommy and Daddy and spending so much time together as a family. I will go back to school after the holidays to tell my friends and teachers all about Ollie.

Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

We have been very busy getting ready for Christmas and for the arrival of my baby brother on the 21st of December. I have already been to see Santa Claus and I told him that I wanted "a toy" for Christmas. I think I have been pretty good this year, so I am expecting good things!

Daddy put up our Christmas Tree and I "helped" Mommy put the ornaments on it. I have really enjoyed playing with the ornaments-taking them off the tree, hanging them on doorknobs around the house- just doing my part to help decorate the house. And today, Mommy and I made Christmas cookies! I had a lot of fun cutting out the shapes and putting the sprinkles on. Mommy had a hard time keeping me from eating them though. When she finally let me eat one, I thought they were really good.

Well, hopefully the next time you hear from me, I will be introducing my baby brother. Until then, enjoy the Christmas season!

Monkeying Around

We had a great time on Halloween! My Kiki came over to bring me candy and then we went out trick or treating. Mommy and Daddy say I did a great job saying "trick or treat" and "thank you." Then we went over to Nana's to take her a birthday present. Her birthday is on Halloween, ya know? While we were there I got to play some with Tyler and Amanda. I stayed up really late that night and did not want to get up to go to school the next day! I think we've all recovered now.