Monday, February 05, 2007

Why YES....

I DO have a third child....


It has come to my attention that Norah is not getting much love here on the Crazy blog. For a child that cried the first three months of her life, she is pretty easy now. The reason I don't talk much about her is because she is just easy and perfect. Maybe it just seems that way in comparison to Destructive McCrazy and The Cleaner. It is nice to have a child that just sits and smiles at me and laughs at everything I say. She doesn't shout no or tell me that I don't understand. Right now she is doing what she does 90 percent of the time. Sitting in my lap, chewing her fingers, smiling up at me a few times and growling (that is her happy sound). I took this picture a few minutes ago (before I put her in my lap). She has discovered her fingers and they are a never ending source of fascination these days. She also has started to grab her feet and roll around. She is 6 months old this week, yikes. Apparently 6 months is brought to us by the letter "g". She is starting to "talk" and it is all g sounds. Ga ga. Goo goo. Guh guh. Her hair is still enormous (and I do mean enormous) but I can't stand to braid it yet, because I love to play with it.

I took both the little kids to a black hair salon and they were kind of mean to me (fine, it was a good example of how my kids will feel some of the time). When I asked them about the babies hair and if I was taking the right care of it, they told me I was over thinking it and didn't need to oil it or anything like that. Hmmm. According to every black woman that see me (and stops me) in Walmart I am not taking good enough care of it. I have both sides of the spectrum. They told me to bring Cubby in to have his head shaved every week. I don't think I want to do that. First of all, it gets kind of expensive and it is also pretty far away. I really am looking for ways to get these kids into situations that make them "just like everyone else" and not the only different one. We live in a pretty white town. I have had no luck finding black teachers or doctors. I can't afford the preschool in the part of town that is predominantly black (It was a GREAT little school, every teacher and child was black but it cost 950$ a month...). Hmm. Maybe we need to move to New York after all......

Sadly for the Golden One... she has a brother that has to get in on anything that others are doing (like the above hair discussion, it started being about her and ended up being about Cubbo, oooops) Let me demonstrate. Here is baby Nori sleeping on her daddy's chest. Snuggle time. How sweet.......

Not really, she was just getting her loves in between Jacob being thrown in the air....

Finally, some alone time with Daddy. Norah falls asleep while Dad, the ultimate multi tasker, does his ab work... (you can just see Cubby rushing in....)

"Hi Dad, Hi. Can I play?"

Even taking pictures. I was trying to snap a picture of the baby and Jacob ran up and laid down right next to her...and then cried because de didn't want me to take his picture.... but look how big they are getting! She is looking at him like he is crazy.


What has become clear to me is that I have almost NO pictures of Norah. This Mamma needs to get on the ball. Time to do a Norah photo shoot. For some reason it gets harder and harder to pull out the old camera and snap some pictures. I need to work on that.

Happy Tuesday.

33 comments:

Haley Warner said...

It's the 3rd child syndrome.. they are always photographically neglected.. unless you neglected the other two and feel guilty.. then the 3rd gets more photos out of guilt.

Bek said...

Good point. Strangely, the babies get more photos than the oldest b/c I send monthly updates their other family. :-) She is the neglected one. BUT, I went to send photos to Nori's mom and I had 3!! That was it. Scary. I need a smaller camera too, taking the big monster is not always convienent....

:-)

Lisa said...

You're such a good mommy! I love that Jacob needs to get in on the action of whatever's going on-- He's so social--just like you!

Erin said...

What beautiful babes you have. I know what you mean forgetting to photograph. I only have one, and I'm lucky if I get in a once a month shot these days...any subsequent children I have will be doomed.

angie said...

Norah is so pretty. I love the last pic- she is looking at her brother like he's crazy!

Victoria said...

She is so adorable, i just want to hug her! Sounds like she has a wonderful personality and is easy going. Thanks for sharing her.

As for hair, you will get advice from everyone for sure. Even me :)Having gone to black salons for our foster dd we had and for my boys over the last 11 1/2 years I can tell you best advice I have is a Boar Bristle Brush is best, wash only once a week and before the hair or skin is dry slather in good lotion and use a good hair lotion on their hair, my favorite after many hits and misses is Lustrasilk Moisture Max, it has a sunscreen in it too. I have found it at Kmart and Walmart.

When she gets older and you want to use pony tails, use cloth ones and soak them in a hair oil so they do not dry her hair out and break it. I usually use a leave in hair conditioner too and on the days they do not bath I spray it to keep it moisturized. Satin pillow cases are awesome too for girls.

Mandy said...

It looks to me like Cubby will not have the middle child syndrome. Isn't it usually the middle child who gets ignored? Not that little boy that's for sure.

They are so cute though and I love the one of Norah looking at Cubby like he's crazy. I'm sure it won't be the first time he gets that look from her. LOL

As for the hair just do what you think is right and if you ask too many people their opinions you will get way more feedback than you probably need. Her hair is probably fine for now. I wouldn't worry too much about it until it starts to change.

I use Carol's Daughter on Asha's hair. It's expensive but lasts a long time and really seems to be doing the trick.

tracy m said...

Yup- third child thing. Nothing at all to do with Destructor McCrazy or Nori- I have no pictures of #3 either!

Bek said...

I love hair advice...I already know the basics but I learn something each time... Mandy, I tried that Motions stuff you mentioned on TT and it has been GREAT for detangling.. love it!! I didn't think of soaking the hair band in the oil...thanks Victoria... Right now it is still soft and we just wear it natural w/ the occasional flat twist, but it is starting to look bushy...

Good, I am not the only one w/ third child syndrome... time to hire the pro's...

Betina said...

How funny that you posted this. Just the other day I was wondering about Nora, and I sort of assumed that you had some agreement with the b-family about not posting her picture too much online. :)

She is so beautiful!

Bek said...

No agreement...just no pictures.. :-) You just wait until you get Africa baby home and you will see what I mean!! :-) Congrats on the homestudy and dossier progress!

Dawn said...

I can't believe how big she has gotten! She is such an angel!

Blessings,
Dawn

Kelly said...

She is beautiful!!! I'm just stopping in to say Hi. It sure has been a while!

wendysue said...

I love seeing the sibling rivalry so young in other kiddos too (Whitney is already terrible. . .when I babysit my neighbors little one and have to change her diaper, Whitney will lay down (practically on top of her). . .as if to say, "change mine too!!")

Cuties.

QueenScarlett said...

I love that first picture of Nori...she is GORGEOUS. And...Jacob is a crack-up as always.

So interesting that Nori and Melia did the constant crying/holding thing... and now all chilled out. I feel so lucky after the stress to have the perfect baby.

Bek said...

Queen,

I FEEL your pain. I remember those first weeks for you... :-)

tracy m said...

Hey Bek- just FYI, I used to go to a black beauty shop on California Ave ( It was called Miss Lydias, I think, and yes, my white girl hair is THAT curly) and the women in there were always really nice. One of them even had me start coming to her house after I had been in a few times...

Bek said...

THANK YOU!! That is much closer and more my style...

Your white girl hair cannot be THAT curly? :-)

Miriam said...

I just redid our entry way closet with a hook reserved for the camera in hopes I'll shoot more. Thank goodness for shutter-happy (and Walmart printing-happy) Grandmas... and this is just our first!

I will say, it looks as though you just sort of aim the camera near her and get GREAT photos. I know you are talented there, so I'm looking forward to your one-on-one photo sessions with her.

Unknown said...

I ADORE big hair. And I chuckled over your description of the first three months of her life. My first was the same and we're pleased to say she's MUCH happier these days!

Unknown said...

I ADORE big hair. And I chuckled over your description of the first three months of her life. My first was the same and we're pleased to say she's MUCH happier these days!

dalene said...

Sweet, sweet Norah!

tracy m said...

Oh, yeah, it is. In the summer, I used to get tiny braids all over my head- not cornrows stuck to my head, but just long loose tiny braids. It was the only way to stay cool. And they would last 6-8 weeks. Thats some curly white girl hair!

(By the way, it is the BEST hairdo ever- no combing, not frizz, no hassle- just wash and go and always look awesome!)

~j. said...

Is it crazy of me to suggest that in that first adorable photo, Norah looks like you??? So, so pretty.

Girl con Queso said...

Great photos! But yes, we need a Norah photo shoot. The public demands it.

Bek said...

No, I don't think that is wierd J, she is pretty so I'll take it. I see myself in each of the kids and always have to ask myself if that is weird or if I am crazy. :-)

She actually looks just like T, her mom. I was telling Derek last night that as she gets older, I can see SO MUCH of T in her, espcially the eyes.

Today we have good light. I am off to take some Norah pictures...

Emily said...

Bek, she's so darling. I want our Norahs to be friends.

Suzie Petunia said...

Could your kids be any cuter? No. They could not. Yes, you MUST photograph adorable Norah while she is still so little!

Sarah said...

That first picture is precious! There's no way a little girl that cute is ever going to be overlooked :)

Why in the world would you need to shave Cubby's head every week?!

Bek said...

Traditionally, black boys keep their hair either in braids or locs, or cut really, really close. As in, so close, you can't see the curls starting to form. I LIKE his curls and like to have it a bit longer, but it gets shaggy really fast. Hair has a different meaning in the AA community. The WORST thing a parent can do is have a child w/ unkempt hair. It is the epitomy of shame. So, we get comments on his hair (too long, too shaggy), but so far we just brush it off. :-)

AlisonH said...

We have an African-American family practitioner doctor we adore, whom I first met while I was a patient in Stanford. Shoot me an email if you want any details (and I'm hoping his practice isn't full.)

Rachel said...

your kids are so dang adorable!

Scribbit said...

Norah is about the cutest thing! Those puckery lips are adorable.