To My Beautiful Boy...

~ Dakoda ~

You are exactly 31 months old today! I can hardly believe that you are already 2 and 1/2 years old. You are changing so much everyday and are turning into such a big boy. Although I am so very proud of you, it secretly makes me sad because I am not ready for you to be so grown up!

Some fun facts about you at 31 months old:

• You are 36 inches tall and weigh around 30 lbs.

• You wear size 3T in most of your clothes, size 4 diapers, and size 7-8 shoes.
  

• You LOVE to play ball! You got a basketball goal for your 2^nd birthday, and it is by far your favorite toy. It is the first thing you go for in the morning, and I’m pretty sure that you would shoot all day if I would let you.
  

• Your favorite movie is Aladdin. You always pick it to watch in the van. Your favorite characters are Abu, the Genie, and Jafar. You like to dance to the songs, and you always cover your eyes at the kissy parts. You are so funny!
  

• You are a wonderful big brother to Sarah Kate. You are very good about sharing your toys with her, and you always want her in the floor with you so that you can play with her. You sometimes forget that she is so little and try to play a little bit rough, but after we remind you, you always love on her and tell her you’re sorry (in your own way - we're still working on that word!).

• You are turning into quite a chatterbox. You love to point out the things that you see and tell us about them. You have so many words now that I can’t even name them all!

• You are going to school for a half a day, two days a week at The Henry Center, and you LOVE it! You are always excited when I tell you where we are going, and you take off to play as soon as we get there. You are always happy to see me when I come to pick you up, though, and the huge smile that you give me when I get there always melts my heart.
  

Everyone agrees that you are the sweetest, most loving little boy they have ever met! You and your sister are the best parts of my life, and I am so glad to call myself your mother! I love you, my sonny britches!

Merry Christmas!

We would like to wish all of our friends and loved ones a very happy holiday!

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.~ Luke 2:10-11

Fun in the Leaves

Last night while I cooked dinner, Darren and Dakoda went outside to rake leaves. I could hear Dakoda's adorable belly laughs all the way in the kitchen, so I grabbed the camera and ran outside to snap a few quick pictures. I just love this time of year!!

Maple Lane Farms

Going to the pumpkin patch is one of my favorite Fall activities. Last year we went to the Fruit and Berry Patch in Knoxville, and it was a lot of fun, but we had heard so many wonderful things about Maple Lane Farms in Greenback that we decided to try it out this year. So last Sunday, we loaded up the kids and headed that way.

This sign cracked me up. I have never heard the word "agritainment" before, but that is what it is, I suppose!

Here is a view from the parking lot.


When we walked through the gates, the first thing that we saw was a big patch of sunflowers. My son adores flowers, and yellow ones are his absolute favorite, so of course, we had to explore.

Next up was this giant jack-o-lantern.


And then came the PUMPKINS!! There were more pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! Dakoda had quite a fun time trying out several before he decided which one was the best.

Sarah Kate had fun with the pumpkins, too.


We let Dakoda run around and explore whatever caught his fancy for awhile. Here are a few more pictures that I snapped.


There was so much to do at the Farm - corn mazes, face painting, a hayride, a bounce house, a country store, and more! - but since our kids are really too small to appreciate any of that stuff, we opted to just stick with picking pumpkins this year. We are really looking forward to visiting Maple Lane again next year, though, and trying out more of what they have to offer!

2 months - oh my!

Once again I have let way too much time go by without updating the blog! It seems like everytime I sit down and get ready to update, someone needs me. Oh well, such is this wonderful life! :) So much has happened since my last real update that I don't know how I will ever catch up, but I will try very hard over the next few days. Bear with me, please! :)

First Food

Since Sarah Kate turned 6 months old on Monday and has started showing interest when we eat, I decided that it was time to start introducing real food. Tonight was our first attempt, and her first food was bananas! I had some that were getting very ripe, so I mashed some up for her. She didn't know what to think! She only ate a couple of bites and then she was over it, but she did really well for her first time!

Sarah Kate is 6 months old!

I can hardly believe how quickly time is going by these days. It just does not seem real that it has been 6 months since my little princess was born! She has changed so much during that time. She has such a personality already! She loves to watch Dakoda, and shrieks and "talks" to him often, trying to get his attention. She is always smiling and giggling, and she loves attention - in fact, she demands it often! We just love every single minute with her, and we are so thankful that she is a part of our family!

My friend Kate is a very talented designer of knit hats, paci leashes, and diaper covers, among other things. She is currently offering her first giveaway - enter to win a free hat, or paci leash here. You can also visit her website, http://www.tottoppersshop.com.

Here is an adorable University of Tennessee hat that she made for Sarah Kate. (She can do any team, although I don't know why anyone would be a fan of any other team besides the VOLS! ;))

Just like Daddy

Since Sarah Kate was born, everyone has said that she looks and acts a lot like her Daddy. Here is a picture of her sucking her thumb today, and a picture of Darren sucking his when he was a little boy. So cute!

Happy 2nd Birthday Dakoda!

It is hard for me to believe that my baby boy turned 2 on Saturday. It doesn't seem like it has been that long since we brought him home from the hospital. He is such a blessing in our lives, and we thank the Lord everyday for him. Happy Birthday my beautiful boy!!! We love you!

An update...finally!

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted! I've really been slacking. I promise I will try to do better. :) Let's see...what are we up to these days?


Sarah Kathleen is 3 months old now. She is a very happy and alert little girl. She loves to "talk" to her Mommy and Daddy and watch her big brother play. Her favorite activities are playing and rolling around on her activity mat. She has a big personality, and definitely knows what she wants. And if she's not happy, watch out - she's got a great set of lungs, and she's not afraid to use them!


Dakoda will be 2 years old on May 30! I can't believe my baby boy is turning 2 already. It seems like just yesterday I was preparing for his birth, and then I blinked and I was planning his 1st birthday party, and now all of a sudden I'm planning his 2nd! Time sure flies.... Dakoda is changing and growing up a little more everyday. He is extremely independent now, especially when it comes to eating. His favorite foods these days are strawberries, blueberries, yogurt, Lil' Crunchies, pb&j, hamburgers, chicken, french fries, pasta salad, and Fruit Loops. He's still not a very big vegetable eater, but we are working on that. He is in love with Mickey Mouse, and watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse at least once a day. He LOVES playing outside, so we have really been missing the nice weather these past couple of rainy weeks. We are very excited that the sun has decided to come out for a while! He also still really loves to play ball, and is even getting pretty good at catching it. Overall, he is just the sweetest little guy I know, and I love him to pieces!

Darren has been at his new job at ORNL for 2 weeks now, and is really enjoying it. I am really enjoying having him home by 4 pm everyday!

Some new pictures

I promise I will actually type up a post about what we are up to these days soon. For right now, though, I'll just share some new pictures of the family. :)

The Norris Family - Easter 2009

Dakoda getting ready to hunt Easter eggs

Picking up an egg

Putting an egg in the basket (with some help from Daddy)

Shaking the eggs to see what's inside

Checking out the eggs with his cousin, Riley

Sarah Kate in her VOLS dress before her first Orange & White game

Dakoda in his VOLS jersey at the Orange & White game

Picture Post

I don't have time for a "real" post, but I wanted to share some new pictures of the kids. Dakoda is now 21 months old, and Sarah Kate is 3 weeks old. Time sure does fly by! :)