The Shepherd Family

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Far too long!

I've been wanting to start the blog up again and I feel like I finally have time! YEAH!!!! So here it is, Nora's first post! How sad, she is almost 7 months old. This is the quick trip through her first six months!

Welcome to the family Nora Ann Shepherd!

7-19-2010

6lbs 12oz

20.5"

What an amazing experience, even the second time around! Since I was aware of what was happening this time, I got to see for myself that Nora was a girl (we didn't want to jinx ourselves!) and watch her be weighed & measured! We made sure to give ourselves a little time alone before we let the family come in and it was wonderful to have those few minutes to welcome Nora.

She was so tiny! We couldn't believe how little she was!

Sophia's first time holding her baby sister! This was definitely not the last as she often asks to hold her, she is of course, Sophia's life size baby doll!

My little sleeping baby!

She really liked to sleep, lots of napping - which was great!

My little burrito! My babies loved to be swaddled. This time we started swaddling right from the beginning - what a difference it made! These swaddle me's were a life savor!!

4 months old!
By this time Nora had figured out laughing, though it took a while for her to get the hang of it. We started putting her in the bumbo seat and let her sit at the table with us during dinner. Patrick and I laughed because when Sophia was 4 months old, we still enjoyed dinner on the couch! Now eating on the couch is a treat!!

5 months old!
This month reminded me that 5 month old babies like to reach for everything! Sophia was the first to get Nora to belly laugh! It was hysterical!! By this time, Nora experienced her first Halloween & Thanksgiving!

Look at that BIG smile!!!!!

Nora's first time having cereal!

Most people talk about how the second child gets moved through milestones quicker than the first, well not in this case. We waited till she was 5 months old and even then she only had cereal a small handful of times until right around her 6 month birthday. Now she is eating peas, squash, green beans and carrots! She loves to eat babyfood!

6 months old!

She can sit up and LOVES it! She gets better & better at sitting all of the time. She can even lean for toys without falling, at least most of the time :) At her last check up she was 27.25" long (94%tile) and 15lbs (36%tile). Nora is such a sweet baby! What the perfect addition, she definitely will add balance to our little family!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

1 Year Old!

We just can't believe it, but our baby turned 1! We were both able to spend her actual (7-8) with her and had a birthday party on Sunday.
Looking back, this year has gone so very quickly! Patrick and I (of course me more than him!) were both a little sad over her birthday - not that we want to relive those first few months, but at how quickly a year can fly by! What a big girl we have, such a change from a short year ago.
On Sophia's birthday I was reminded how lucky we are as we sat down to dinner. A few years ago I remember going out to eat and watching a new family eat a few tables away. Tears started streaming down my cheeks and I wondered if we would ever be as lucky as that couple to have a baby of our own. I started crying as we sat just like this couple once had - a family! We made it, our wonderful little family of three! Happy Birthday Sophia :) Mommy and Daddy couldn't be happier!!!

Just a few pictures from a year ago!

Our first family photo

Eating her cake! She picked at it so daintily - what a lady!

We were suprised she actually did want to stick her fingers in the cake!

Opening presents - getting a little restless!

Even though she wasn't thrilled to be opening presents at her party, she really likes them all now!

Patrick & Jack goofing around!

Anna playing with balloons.

Waiting for the party to get started!

All of Sophia's cakes! I've been waiting to do this forever and even though it took appoximately 5 hours, it was worth it!

Kissing Julia at breakfast!

A close up of the big cake! A hot pink ladybug :)

Our family now! She cooperated much easier a year ago!

Playing with her new barn from mom and dad.

She loves to dance to the musical cards! Way to cute!

These are her 1 year pictures that we actually had taken on her birthday!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Fourth of July & playing around!

Well, I've had the camera out a lot lately and here are the pictures to prove it! As usual, I'll just tell you what we've been up to with each set of pictures!

Well this doesn't happen very often anymore, so I had Patrick take a picture! How sweet to have your baby fall asleep in your arms.

Sophia reading her new favorite book "Ten Little Ladybugs" to her bathtub toy.

Time number 1243!

Hmmmm......

Playing peek-a-boo & belly laughing!

We recently painted our dining room and Sophia was trying to entertain herself on the stairs (supervised of course!).

We had this out for Leighton when she came over to play and Sophia has been in love ever since! Look how big she is in this thing!

Leighton Sessor

I'm pretty sure Sophia thinks Leighton is a movable doll baby!

Now this is the size of baby that should be in a bouncy seat!

"Maybe I should read it just one more time!"

Not only does she like to sit in the bouncy seat, she likes to shake it, put her babies in it and lay with them :)

Hi Everyone!

We went to my mom's for the 4th of July to visit with my sister. Sophia really didn't mind the fireworks except when they made the 'cracklie' sound.

Patrick & Perry preparing the explosives. We've long ago established pyrotechnics as a must have skill to be a member of this family. I think Patrick and Perry have it down!

A few weeks ago Sophia and I went to see our friends Brooke & Simone B. Once Simone woke up the girls played and we tried to get a picture of them.....