Batty or Kron?

10 Months, Week 3

Nora’s “Batty”ness keeps shining through...

This photo shows her hair is redder than I expected... her Great-Grandpa, Virgil [Red] Batty left this world with a head full of red hair. Many of my Batty cousins have proud red hair too and in certain lights, my hair can have a red tint.

Additionally, Nora is a busy body. I’m a busy-body, my Mom is, and Grandma Heitkamp is. I’m sure a lot of 10-month olds are, but Nora doesn’t even like long car rides... much like her aunts Stephanie and Katherine : ) 

But then she’ll give you a goofy smile and it’s all Kron with big doe eyes. 

I truly think she looks like a mix of Tim and I which I love. 

And she looks so BIG in these photos!

Photo Pile Up!

10 Months, Week 3

Nora and her gal pal, Ellie Cowan [4mos].

Nora rides on Daddy’s back at Irons Fruit Farm.

You think you’re gonna change my diaper? Catch me first!

Open mouth kisses - awww!

Who Dey!

Neltner Farm - Camp Springs, KY

Mama & Nora at Ren Fest

Oh the sweetest. I slept bent over until around 30 years old - minus the thumb : )

Half Marathon - Check.

10 Months, Week 3

Saturday morning we were up and out by 7am down to Sawyer Point. The Cincy Half is a newer and small race which in some points is nice. 

It was the perfect temperature - 50˚ which means no gloves or ear warmers for me. [You dress for 10˚ warmer when you’re running] I started out “slow” so I could stay steady throughout. I actually stopped at a port-o-let at mile 2 to pee! Thankfully I regained my distance quickly, passing people. I actually passed people frequently which made me feel good. 

We ran a bit west, than a bit North and back through downtown which was about halfway. Then we headed out East on Riverside Drive - a nice flat way out... 

The last two miles were a bit rough - I could feel my body stiffening up and slowing down. It really became mental then and your body is just on autopilot. We had about a mile though Friendship Park and the crowd got thicker with cheering. 

Then I saw the finish line and there was Nora and Tim cheering me on! 

I finished in 2hours, 5 minutes which is about a 9:45 mile - very proud of myself! I was aiming for 2hr, 10 min. 

I was so hungry and very cold - my immediate need was carbs and a hot coffee : ) 

Looking forward to the Half Pig in May!

Warm and bundled up!

Nora congratulates me!

Exhausted after 2+ hrs of running!

My great friend Anne who is also a running nut : )

Kron Photos!

10 Months, Week 2

Nora love dirty hats : )

Nana & Papa with [most] grandkids

Nora loved the boys’ tunnels

The Latest

10 Months Week 2

Work Update: I’ve been asked by my fellow directors to return to work 5 days by the beginning of November. I easily obliged because our extended team needs my level to be THAT present. For reals. I’m kind of a big deal. Ha! Not really, but in a way, yes. 

I’m a little sad. It’s slightly harder to swallow than going back from maternity leave. I had the best balance of mommy and work and now the scale is going to tip back towards work. I knew the day was coming and now I have one week left with my shortened schedule. : (

At least the holidays are approaching so good feelings will fill those empty spaces.

House Update: Nothing really. We had an open house yesterday from 2-3pm. One couple showed up and the weather was grey and rainy. They liked the house but weren’t convinced of the partial basement. 

I was on my afternoon walk at 4:20 this afternoon with Nora and Ailo when my cell rang - a realtor wanted to show from 5-6pm. Ergh. I guess a 40 minute notice is better than 20 minutes? I rushed back to the house, plopped Nora in the Exersaucer and tore around the house getting it tidy - accomplished and even sprayed some fall air freshener to make it smell homey [for the record, I’m anti-air freshener which completely goes against my job]. 

It was probably mid to low 50s outside. Ailo was a spaz because he was probably feeding off my jitters. Nora would NOT keep her hat on, the stinker. We made our way to the neighborhood playground and sat for a minute so I could actually eat something and hydrate. Nora enjoyed the swing and whined to play with my water bottle [stainless steel making her hands even colder]. I headed back home by 5:30 and thankfully they were done showing. 

Clerkenwell Update: WHAT you say - Clerkenwell, England? As in 2009? Yes. My great friend Jen who transferred over while I was living there is now engaged to Adam, who worked at Landor with us. They met and we all hung out during my time there. They since dated and are just an awesome, fun duo who I’m just thrilled for : )  

Nora Update: 10 Month appt today. Nora is 60th % in weight [19lbs] and 90th % in height [30"] - long and lean. That ridiculous urine sample I was supposed to gather was not successful in my eyes - I can’t even explain the contraption I had to adhere to her lady bits to gather pee that didn’t even collect in the sample bag. So what dribbles were scattered outside the bag, I saved in a Ziploc and brought - they said they could probably pull something from it. I thought the pee sample was to measure iron but they also pricked 

Nora’s finger today to check for anemia - same thing, right? Oh that prick was awful. Nora doesn’t like her hands touched. Strangers try to squeeze them and she retreats, I can hardly clip her nails, so the nurse squeezing her tiny finger to fill vials of blood was NOT good. Everyone who donates blood knows that finger prick is worse than the actual donation! 

So directly after the blood-letting was her flu shot. So of course that was bad news too. 
After all the hullaballoo, the nurse attempted to put a bandage on her finger. As I’m *still* trying to fill out a form with her on my lap, I notice the bandage she’s been sucking on is bloodier than it should be. I took the bandage off and her tiny finger is bleeding a LOT. So I start pulling tissues upon tissues to stop the bleeding and after what felt like an eternity [probably 30 seconds] it finally clotted on its own.

Some cheerier Nora notes:
  -  she loves waving now - to everyone
  -  she can respond to “What’s the doggy say?” - “Oof.”
  -  she begs for food like a baby bird if you’re eating in front of her [crap]

Cousin Time!

10 Months, Week 2

Cousin Bobby turned all of 11 earlier in October so we went to celebrate his birthday Sunday afternoon. Amy was gracious enough to let us come over early since we had an open house from 2-3pm. 

We had fantastic food that Nora loved! White chicken chili, cornbread and pumpkin whoopee pies. Amy, I had two - they were THAT awesome. 

Nora had a fun time with her cousins and their old “tunnel” toys. Amy snapped some great photos [below]. 

Halloween Hound

Aunt Molly made sweet Halloween bowties for the family pups this year - Ailo is quite proud of his.

Standin’ Around

10 Months, Week 1

Just Pictures!

10 Months, Week 1

I love burrowing!

The sock-in-mouth phase.

My super cute knit hat that’s slightly big.

Lords and Ladies... and Babies

10 Months, Week 1

This past weekend we went to the Renaissance Festival with our friends the Godfrey/Morris.’ It was super chilly - high 40s I think? The timing was a little awkward and we don’t have a lot of faith in Nora sleeping in the car now that she’s older. But since she went three hours before morning nap, she got a good 45 mins of sleep in the car. 

The babies were bundled well for the weather and the festival was entertaining as always. We only spend money on food and Guiness : )

Sunday morning I ran my scheduled 12 miles - the most I’ll run before the Cincy Half in two weeks. It was cold - it’s been a while since I’ve run in cold weather; and for that LONG. My hands were so damn cold when I was done, I could barely get the keys in the ignition. I thought it was bizarre since I’ve run in 16˚ weather and my hands did fine in the same gloves. My legs were noodles but it was a great feeling of accomplishment and I rewarded myself with two donuts and coffee - perfection.

Tim’s Sunday was full of yard work to clean up for showing. We had one showing on Wednesday afternoon which was actually an investor and surprisingly nothing this past weekend. 

We’re most likely going to bump the price down based on comp houses and that the market will be slowing down come winter. 

Bundles Babies!

The Stress Starts...

9 Months, Week 4

Had a nice PJ morning with Nora bopping around.

Morning nap from 9:20-10:30.

Second nap attempt started at 1:45 - she did not fall asleep until 2:30 after playing and then only slept 30 minutes.

Snack then off to get groceries.

Mid day snack then off to more errands - Nora was not happy. She does not like the car for a long time. 

Goodwill does not take used baby carseats - I need to dig further as to what to do with them! Landfill is not an option! 

We got back from our errands around 4pm... we got into the house and I was starting to settle in when I saw I missed a call on my cell phone - a home showings company called at 4:10pm to ask if a realtor could show our house at 4:30 - are you *$%@!(& kidding me ?! 20 minute notice?? 

I laugh now looking back at my tornadic flurry through the house - I didn’t even manage to get the laundry on the bed thrown somewhere and there were clothes on a drying rack in our bedroom as well as Ailo's dog bed laying out. 

I threw the stroller in the Subaru, got Nora and the dog in and pulled out at 4:23 and drove over to our neighborhood clubhouse and parked. Thank God it was okay weather at that time. 

Two older gentlemen and their small dog were also in the parking lot around 4:30. One was barefoot. “Time for your walk?” they asked. I replied that I had a crappy time notice to get out for my house to be shown. “We’re doing the same thing!” - wow! It must have been the same Realtor going around the neighborhood. 

We walked around a bit and I put Nora in a baby swing and she loved it! She was the least anxious of the three of us! 

I hauled everyone back in the car and we got back to the house around 5:10 and we were clear. 

I called Melissa to ask if 20 minutes was the norm. She said NO - it was a fluke for the day. I’m still just edgy about showing now that I’ve had a taste. Your house has to essentially be ready at all times of the day! We also have the variables of Grandmas two days a week and Ailo by himself here... we ideally need like 24 hour notice so we can put Ailo in daycare. Our realtor suggested crating him during the day but that just kills me - it feels like it could be a huge regression for his mentality. Blergh.

*Yesterday’s showing hasn’t said one way or the other. Melissa said they’re rather quiet and their only problem with our place was that it might be too small. 

I’m drinking wine right now - too bad I don’t have a large wine rack... : P

Work your magic, SIGN!

The best part of my day!

She kept me calm : )