Introducing...Clara

She's here!! Clara Mae Norris arrived @ 1:23 PM on October 23rd. She weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. She and mommy are doing great. We got home on Sunday and are adjusting to our new life as a family of 5!!! That sounds crazy!

Ollie is doing well with Clara. He constantly points to her saying "baby" and trying to say her name. When she is in her crib he is very concerned, wanting to know where she is. He touches her gently and has not yet shown any sign of jealousy, which has surprised me. I had a c-section so I will not be able to pick him up for a while, so that will be hard I'm sure. Tony is here to help, so I know we'll get through it. Sam's interest in her waxes and wanes, he's all about him right now, I guess.

We spent our first day at home taking the whole family to the pediatrician. Clara needed a weight and billirubin check since she is a little jaundice. We would have tried to go without the boys but they both needed flu shots. So we just ripped that band aid right off and took our first voyage out with 3 kids. It went well. We ended up making 4 trips to the pediatrician in 5 days for weight and billirubin checks for Clara and more shots for the boys (H1N1). Finally, Friday her billirubin had dropped and her weight was better at 7 lb 4 oz. However, it seems that she probably has the same milk protein allergy that Ollie has. As soon as she cleared all the myconium out (and boy did she) her poop was green and mucousy, just like Ollie's was. But, we caught it a lot earlier than with him, so maybe we can skip all that fussing associated with it. But, it means no milk or cheese for me :(

The Norris girl's Nest

Here are pics of our newest addition's room. I am trying the delayed posting for the first time, so hopefully by the time this posts, she will be here!!!

These white dressers were red, which Tony painted before Sam was born. He tried to strip them before he repainted them white, but was unsuccessful. So he just painted over the red. They turned out okay, I told him they kind of had a Shabby Chic look. He was not familiar with this term, but he now uses it to defend anything he works on that doesn't turn out quite perfect..."Its Shabby Chic"

We also, as mentioned before, had to buy a new crib. I promised Tony we would not speak of this anymore, but its too weird not to share. Long, gross story short....Our old crib, which was in perfect condition (on the outside) after making it through 2 boys, no scratches, no bite marks, nothing. Tony had been insisting that the crib was making "noises" for a long time now. I thought he was just being his normal neurotic self (sorry babe). Turns out there were wood boring beetle larvae eating the crib on the inside!!!!! After some Internet research we have determined that the eggs for these things were probably in the wood before the crib was ever manufactured. The crib went to the dump and we bought a new one that actually just arrived a week and a half ago. This one will turn into a full size bed, so at least we will still get some long term use out of it.







I had to share this picture of Ollie. He pulled this book (please note the title) off the shelf and was looking at it. I guess he was trying to study up before his sister arrives.

The stork's flight has been delayed...

Well, I just received a phone call from Women's Services at Baylor Southwest notifying me that they had to reschedule my C-section for Friday Oct 23, it was supposed to be tomorrow morning. I must admit, I was pretty bummed out, but I'll get over it. Stay tuned...

Presenting...

Well, after much confusion on my part, downloading a new photo shop program and some funky adjustments to older posts, I am unveiling our new blog design and name. Ta Da! I hope you all like it, cause its the best I could do :) I feel like I am pretty good with computers, but I still don't know about all the tools available out there. And thanks to our friend Amy for the name idea!!!

Well, tomorrow is the big day!! The boys are at school today and I am spending the day totally by myself for the last time in the foreseeable future. No major plans, just trying to wrap up a few loose ends.

We'll post pics of our new little one as soon as we are able.

Pumpkin Patch Trip 2009

We made our annual trek out to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. We couldn't let me being 9 months pregnant stand in the way of tradition. We've been the last 4 years. This was Ollie's 2nd trip out there, but the first where he could actually participate and enjoy it. The boys had a blast. They did not really want to sit still for any pictures and we went with just the four of us, so we didn't have anyone to catch a family shot. We did get a few cute ones. They enjoyed running around in the pumpkins, jumping in the bounce houses, playing in the fort/jail, looking at all the character cut-outs and Sam enjoyed the hay maze. They were a lot to keep up with. When we have 3, it will be near impossible to do these things without a few extra eyes and hands :)

Over the past few weekends, Sam has also enjoyed making some Halloween treats (actually with Tony's help). Ollie has enjoyed eating them.

4 weeks and counting....

We had our second sonogram today and the baby looks great, no problems to report. They estimate her to be at about 5 1/2 lbs. I will be 35 weeks this Wednesday.
We also scheduled the c-section. It will be on Thursday Oct 22 at about 7:30 AM. Of course, she could always decide she wants to come sooner, but I hope not. It sounds weird coming from the mother of 2 children, but I have never been in labor before.
I am feeling good, just very tired when I get home from work. And I have not exactly had the most patience with the boys lately, but I am trying to be better.
We'll keep you updated. And I will post pictures of her room when its done. We had it all ready, then had an unforseen crib problem and had to order a new crib which should be here in about a week.

Flashback Friday

At 25 weeks with Sam in April 2005 (just 5 weeks before he was born).
I forgot how little I was when he was born!

At about 32 weeks with Ollie in Nov 2007

At 32 weeks with Baby #3, Sept 2009.