More Developments

Noelle has recently enjoyed her first DVD, Baby Mozart. The video below show her interest and excitement. We also have a new seat, the Bumbo chair. She is able to hold her head up for a few minutes but then slinks to the side. Her body control continues to increase in that she is beginning to 'hold' her bottle while eating. Her fists remain clenched but she applies pressure with them. She also likes to kick her legs straight up into the air and a 90 degree angle. It is then, in her crib, that she ends up lying on her side. Turning over will undoubtedly be soon to follow.

This is Coach being a snow dog and enjoying the snowballs thrown at him into the snow that seem to disappear right before his eyes. He digs his schnoz right in trying to find them.

One more smile.

Geshundheit!

Baby Strides

It was during Noelle's 10th week of life that we finally achieved some sleep during the night instead of during the day. The poor thin was forced to stay awake during the day until the turn around happened. She has made strides in her communication skills. She has developed quite a repertoire of growls, garbles, ahhs, screeches, squeals, and sometimes clicks. She hasn't mastered the laugh yet but is on the cusp. She makes this noise while smiling that is like she sucks in a gulp of air with some sound involved. I keep trying but I haven't found her funny bone just yet. Below is a video of some of her new sounds; it's mostly mommie talkin' a fool.

Noelle has also developed two new favorite activities. She loves to be carried around facing forward. Obviously she is anjoyiing seeing everything while we move around together. She isn't quite big enough to sit in the bag pack carrier facing front, but soon. She also will sit in her rocker in the kitchen while mommie cooks dinner.

Snoopy Tattoo

On January 6th, Noelle had her two month doctor's visit--she was actually 9 weeks old that day. She weighed 12 pounds 12 ounces and 22 1.8 inch long. Wowwee! The doctor said she is beautiful and perfect. I said,"I know." Noelle was a real trooper. I left the office totally impressed with her. She received one oral vaccine and 4, yes 4 shots in her legs. 2 in each thigh. Again, I was just sick that day and night before with dread and angst. We laid her back onto the crinkly paper in nothing but a diaper and she didn't even flinch for the first two injections. I leaned down close to her face and talked to her while she was getting the next two. She whimpered and cried for probably about 15 seconds. Very impressive. She didn't feel well for the next couple of days during which she was given her first baby tylenol. A four months we'll do more of the same. YUCK YUCK YUCK! Here is a picture of her tiny little ham hock with two round snoopy bandaids. We decided it looked like she had a couple of tattoos on her legs.

Big Brother

We were trepidacious about introducing our first baby, Coach, to our second, Noelle. He has proven our concerns unecessary by adjusting beautifully. Coach has taken Noelle in as part of our clan. If she is crying in her crib, he is at her bedside before I am looking at me as if to say, you need to make sure she's okay. He has learned that often he needs to relax in places other than the couch with us. He has grown fiercely proctective whenever someone knocks on the door or he hears a thud outside. Coach loves the boppy pillow and clearly likes being near the baby. His favorite thing to do is kiss Noelle's tiny fingers and toes. He is still learning that this is a no no but overall we are thrilled that there has been no aggression or jealousy to speak of.

Bowman Christmas

Christmas night Uncle Alex and Aunt Cheryl came to Glasgow for our Christmas celebration. We were so glad to see them both. Uncle Alex and Aunt Cheryl were absolutely in love with Noelle. I am sure when she is old enough to play, she will be gaga for Uncle Alex as he can always get the little ones laughing. We had dinner and opened gifts and, again, Noelle hit the mother load (in spite of the fact that she was too pooped to party). During our visit in Glasgow we did some more visiting. We could take one outing per day if Noelle could tolerate it. She was still hating her carseat at this point. By our visit's end we had made the rounds and enjoyed seeing everyone at least once.

Glasgow Christmas

On Christmas Eve night we packed up and headed to Glasgow. Noelle was good to go with her new car sear toy from Santa Nana. She slept almost the whole drive...Wonderful! Gram and Poppy were waiting expectantly for our arrival. On Christmas morning we went to Christmas at Grandma Lou and Grandaddy's house. WHOA! Noelle was thrilled to meet everyone but a bit fatigued for the next couple of days. She'll enjoy the benefits of a big family more next year. There were gifts galore again and lots to eat. All of Noelle's cousins were excited to see her and hold her. 5 year old Rayne said, in surprise, "She doesn't have any teeth!" She pondered for a moment and you could just see the wheels turning. "But how does she chew her food!" She was amazed to learn that babies only drink milk. Cousin Jimmy was a natural. He and Noelle would snuggle right up and they were both goners. Cousin Ann and Cousin Claudia practically arm wrestled to see who could hold her the most. ;) Even cousin Dean was enamoured.

Claudia kept saying, "She's adorable."

Day Nappers

Noelle wasn't the only day napper residing in Lexington. She sure did enjoy the bedding.

In Great Uncle Roy's professional barber opinion.....she is BALD!

Lexington Christmas

On December 18th, 6 week and 2 day old Noelle flew from Baltimore to Louisville to be with our Lexington/Louisville family for the holidays. She screamed in mommies arms walking all the way down to their gate. We got lots of dreadful glares on that trek. She pooped twice in the airport and ate even more before we left. However, once all those activities were taken care of she couldn't have been sweeter on the plane. Such a good girl! She even made friends with a little guy a bit older than she while waiting to board the plane. He crawled over to see her and sure was interested. Nana and Yet-to-be-named Grandfather Durbin were waiting just beyond the security checkpoint. Mommie and Noelle were glad to see them!









While in Lexington Noelle met lots of new faces who fell in love with her instantly. Noelle had smiled for the first time the morning before we left on the 18th. She was still pretty judicious with her smiles but when Cousin Elizabeth picked her up for the first time she flashed those pearly gums. Noelle later displayed her fondness for Cousin Elizabeth by soiling them both with a leaky poopy diaper. Poor Elizabeth!!
We all had a great time being together and got loads of nice gifts. Even Coach got lucky. Noelle really hit the mother load.

Christening

Noelle was christened on December 21, 2008. Mommie was a nervous wreck but Noelle was a perfect angel. She didn't make a peep.

We met for brunch afterwards at Equestrian Woods.

What? What's the problem?

As we have limited storage with our current living situation, many of Noelle's stuffed toys are stored in the playard. I noticed one day that the stuffed schnauzer had somehow made its way onto the floor. Thinking I must have knocked it out or accidentally dropped it, I just returned it to its home in the playard. A few hours later, while Chris was changing Noelle, I came in the room to find the culprit. He was just sitting there observing our activity in the room as if nothing were amiss. Who knows how many times Coach had ventured into forbidden territory. He has yet to learn the difference between his toy pile and hers.

4 Weeks Old

Noelle is 4 weeks old in this picture. We don't go out a lot yet in the cold plus Noelle isn't a huge fan of her carseat just yet but when we do the cover from Cousin Ann is invaluable. She's like on owl peeking out her hole. This is an equally fitting analogy as Noelle has proven herself nocturnal.

Thanksgiving

All Durbins were at our house for Thanksgiving this year. Noelle and Mommie alike enjoyed all the extra hands. Nana brought gobs and gobs of yummy food. Thank goodness for that, otherwise we might have been stealin' treats from Coach. Coach also loved the visit--he gets walks from Nana that just don't compare to those from anyone else. It was a special Thanksgiving that we will never forget.

This just in...

Noelle showed her support from the get go. Since she decided to arrive on election day we almost named her Baracka!

Bath Time

Bath time for baby. Thank goodness for Gram.

Happy Birthday Noelle!!

Exhausted and ecstatic, mommie and daddy were thrilled and amazed!

And so it all began...

On the Thursday of our 38 week appointment mommie's blood pressure was a bit elevated so she was placed on bedrest for the next five days at which point an induction was scheduled. After enduring the long days of inactivity, Noelle decided she couldn't wait until Tuesday. We woke at 5am onMonday morning with contractions. They were about 5 minutes apart for a couple of hours when the doctor said to head to the hospital. Upon mommie's insistance, we went by so Daddy could vote in this importantly historic election. Knowing we would be in the hospital for a while, we went to Subway for lunch before heading the Arlington Hospital Center. We arrived and the contractions were no longer ingnorable and were 3 minutes apart. Oops!

Mommie's parents were enroute by car planning to be present Tuesday afternoon--they chose to continue driving and as it turned out were here for the delivery. Daddy's parents were waiting close the the computer for the exciting news. Almost 23 hours after the contractions began Noelle Kenton Durbin graced the world and our family with her presence at 3:53 am on November 4th, 2008. She weighed 7 pounds and 1 ounce and was 20 1/2 inches.