Snow time!

Tess and Dad went outside today to shovel and they made Tess' very first snowman EVER! Tess had a good time, but by the end, she was spent. Demands for cookies were being thrown out left and right. It got ugly fast. You'll see by the progression of pictures below.

If you listen closely, you'll hear Tess sing while she works...

Nora's arrival

This is a look back (not that far back!) to Nora's birthday and all of the excitement that surrounded her arrival into the world!  She came on her scheduled day and even managed to arrive a hour early due to the hospital's schedule.  When she was born, the doctors and nurses all commented on her abundance of hair!  And then, of course, they noted how big she was.  A big girl with lots of hair.  That's how we like them around here.

December 10, 2009

Pre-op pic

 (for the record, Dad is way more nervous here versus Mom)

Dad is ready now

Nora's first pic!  (taken by Mom)

New baby girl

In recovery

Mom finally gets to hold Nora

Nora and Papa

Nora and Meena

Nora's first feeding

First hair wash!  Check out the do!

Sisters at last! 

(Seconds later, Tess began to cry that Nora is "too heavy!")

Dad and the girls

Great-Grandma and Nora

With Grandma and Papa

With "Great!" Uncle Brendan

With Uncle Mike

With Great-Grandma Cushman

With Aunt Jane

With cousin Nikki (and Baby Will!)

First family pic

Look!  We have eyes!

First Birthday Bear pic

Ready to go home

All bundled up

Leaving the hospital

Finally home!

Tess and her new baby doll

Lazy days...

We are enjoying some lazy, wintery days over here. Since we aren't brave enough yet to venture out in the cold with baby Nora, we have had fun staying home and playing. Yesterday though, I left the room for about five minutes and got a little nervous once I realized how quiet it had become. Here is what I found after rushing back to see if there was a problem...

If you look closely, you'll see three sleepyheads!

A New Look!

Well, we have officially made room here for Nora. We certainly needed to freshen things up now that we have a new blogstar. Stay tuned for more pictures and updates on the happenings of Nora (and Tess too, of course). We'll do our best to squeeze them in between the frequent feedings of this little chowhound that our lives now seemed to be centered around.

Merry Christmas - part 2

So we couldn't forget sweet little Nora in our Christmas posting. Below is a pic of Nora enjoying the Christmas festivities... and all dolled up for the occasion!

And here are the girls in their Christmas dresses before Christmas Eve Mass.

And last but not least, one of the whole gang...

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Hope you're having a wonderful Christmas morning just like we are! As you can see, Tess is loving her new Tinkerbell dress that she got from Santa this morning. She keeps asking Daddy to pick her up so she can fly!!

Big changes...

Well, we are all back after a brief, but life changing hiatus! We had a major event to attend and we are now ready for the big announcement...

Tess is a big sister!

Nora Claire was born on December 10 at 10:29 am. She weighed in a 9 lbs, 3 oz and was 20.5" long. She has quite the head of hair and she is beautiful! She looks a lot like Tess did when Tess was born, but has many of her own little features as well. We are in love! Tess has adjusted amazingly well and loves her baby sister to pieces. She is always asking to hold Nora and likes to give Nora her bottle and pacifier (or as Tess calls it, her "binkie"). There have only been a few times (so far anyway) where Tess has announced that she "is mad" and has stomped away. We have quickly learned that it is code for "put that darn baby down already and give me some lovin'."

Below are a few pics of our new baby girl and the sisters together. Stay tuned though... this blog is about to undergo a little renovation to make room for Baby Nora. Fortunately for me, the webmaster, Tess has reluctantly agreed to share her cyberspace with her baby sister.

Be patient... the new look is coming soon! In the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek of our little Nora!