A Rose by Any Other Name...

Ever since our Victoria Mae was born, she has been accumulating a wide variety of nicknames. Some of them are very random and others pretty self explanatory. Not wanting to forget any of them, I have been keeping a list for the last month or so. I am sure that Tori is going to wonder where some of them came from - I wonder the same thing!!!

Tori and Tori Mae are her most common nicknames. Jared and I both call her Miss Tori. Every once in a while Jared calls her Miss Mae -I think that one is so cute!!!

While not very creative, we call Tori our Baby Girl and our Angel Baby! Honey Bunny would probably fit in the not very creative category as well, but I use it all the time!

All of the rest are rather random and interesting, so I will explain them as best I can!!!

Squirmy Wormy: I started calling Tori my Squirmy Wormy almost right from the start. Whenever she was eating and would get a bubble, she would squirm all over the place until she could burp it out.

Puke Head: In Jared's defense, he has only used this one once. But it had to go on the list! This came from one night when Tori decided to turn into a fountain and spit up everywhere.

Cuddle Bug: This is a great nickname since Tori is such a cuddly baby!

Fuzz Head: Jared started using this one when Tori's hair started to grow longer.

Bobble Head: Another of Jared's nicknames for Tori. This one came about when Tori started to hold her head up a little better, but would still bobble around a bit.

Short Round: Personally, I think this is her most random nickname that Jared has given her. I really don't know why or where it came from, but this is what they were doing when Jared first used it:
Maybe you will be able to see Jared's inspiration!!! (P.S. Tori's pineapple pajamas are my favorite - we have her wear them whenever we watch an episode of Psych!)

H1N1 Free

The past week and a half has been absolutely crazy for our family. Saturday night (Nov 7), Jared started to come down with something. By Sunday, he had a fever of 103 and would oscillate between that and having chills, sweating , and being freezing cold. When things were still the same Monday evening, we had our Home Teachers come over to give Jared a blessing. Thanks Drew and Sean for dropping everything to come help us! After the blessing, Drew offered to take Jared to the emergency room. At that point, I was so scared. We both knew that Jared needed to go, but we really didn't want to take Tori with us. I am so glad that Drew pushed us a little and was there to take Jared. The diagnosis was exactly what we were hoping it wouldn't be, H1N1. This started our quarantine. Jared basically lived in our bedroom, while Tori and I hung out in the living room. Whenever Jared came out, he had to wear a mask and he couldn't hold Tori at all. As the week progressed, we kept thinking he was almost better, and then his fever would come back. Then he started getting a really bad cough and a scary rash. So, Aunt Paula took Jared into the insta care on Saturday. Luckily, Jared did not have pneumonia! But they did put him on some really strong cough medicine. Yesterday his fever was finally gone and his cough on the mend. I am happy to report that we are now H1N1 free and Jared was able to go back to work today! Even though this has been really scary, we have been very blessed as well. Tori and I could have so easily gotten sick. I know that Heavenly Father was watching over our entire family, and especially our little Tori!!!

We Blinked...

And now our little Tori Mae is 3 months old! It is amazing how quickly the time has gone. It is also incredible to watch how Tori is growing and developing. I think she has been going through a major developmental growth spurt the past week or so. She has started to turn her head to follow rattles and toys. Up till now she would only follow them with her eyes. Tori is also starting to use turn taking with her coo's and goo's. It is so fun watching her start to develop her communication skills!!!

We took Tori's 3 month pictures this morning. Grandma Allen made her adorable dress, the onsie, and her bloomers! Thanks so much Grandma, they fit perfectly!!! Thanks for the super cute Scarecrow as well, he looks great in the pictures (and in our living room)!

As always, she looks so cute in her napper!

She has recently discovered her hands!!!

She is getting so big!!!

Tori loves her bear!

She is all ready for fall!!!

I love her bloomers!

Happy 3 Months, Tori!!!

Random Fun

I have been looking through all our many pictures of Tori. Here are some of my favorites!!!

She has been so smiley lately, I love it!!!

I love how she sleeps!

Tori had so much fun when AJ came to visit!

This is when I know she is really tired - the pacifier is resting on her nose!!!

These are from tonight as she was waking up - what a crack-up!!!

Once she was fully awake, she got so excited!!! (Sorry for all of the background noise, I didn't realize it was so loud)

Football Fan

Much to the dismay of Grandma Allen, Tori loves to watch football with us! It totally cracks us up, but it is true. For all of you doubters, here is our proof!!!

Happy Halloween!

Our Halloween fun began on Wednesday when our ward had a Trunk-or-Treat activity. Tori was a Princess (was there any doubt that this would be her costume?)!!! After much reflection, we determined she would be Cinderella, so that Jared and I could be her mice!!!

Jared and I had a great time making our costumes for FHE! Check out that focus!!!

I had to take a few pictures of Tori before the activity!

Our princess was not always a happy one...

Until she got her dinner, then she was all smiles!

I think we looked great!!!

Tori bonded with her fellow princesses!

Thanks for Tori's adorable costume Jessica!!!

I think that we wore her out by the end of the night...

Tori and I went trick-or-treating at Riley Hospital yesterday. We promised to come in and show off her costume! Tori loved all of the attention she received.

I think she was telling Doris a story.

As a disclaimer, this sad face was not Tanya's fault - but it was so cute I had to post it!!!

She really does like Tanya!!!

Today (being Halloween), we didn't really do anything to celebrate. Tori isn't that into candy yet. But, I still dressed her up again so we could get some pictures of her without all of the extra layers.

Here is our very pretty princess!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Fun Fall Photos

I absolutely love the fall in Indiana! The leaves are so beautiful and the air is full of all of the great smells of autumn. I am so glad that Grandma Allen needed fall pictures - it made us get out and enjoy the leaves even more!

These were taken by our post office - it's amazing where you find great backdrops!!!

Nothing says fall in the Midwest like a corn field!

Growing Up

Tori hit a huge milestone this week. She finally likes being in her swing and her bouncer!!! It may not seem like much, but it is so nice that I don't have to hold her whenever she is awake or try to keep her happy in her sling. Our baby girl is definitely starting to grow up!

Oh, how she loves her swing...

and her bouncer!!!

We'll Take a Double...

A double of our Tori, that is! Tori had her two month well baby check today and is weighing in at 8 lbs 11 oz. She has officially doubled her birth weight! Since she has done so well with her weight gain, we no longer have to do supplemental bottle feedings - huzzah!!! She is just doing great with everything - Tori is also on the growth chart for all of her stats! Really, the only bad thing about the appointment was her two month shots. I was really glad that Jared was able to be there with us for that part. Tori had to have three shots and take one vaccination by mouth. When we started out, I had both of Tori's hands in mine as the nurse got ready. But as soon as Tori received the first stick, and subsequently let out a huge scream, Jared unceremoniously shoved me aside. He claimed it was so Tori wouldn't think I was being mean to her. However, I think it was because he couldn't stand hearing his baby girl scream like that. The Papa Bear definitely came out today!!!

Here is a picture of our little trooper with her battle scars!

Noisy Little Girl

Really from day one Tori has been a noisy girl. She would constantly grunt - especially in her sleep. Often we would think she was awake in the middle of the night, only to find her completely out for the count. As she has gotten bigger, her noise repertoire has increased. Over the past few weeks I have been trying to capture all of them. We think they are pretty great!

Tori had just finished eating and was really happy!!!

This one is great - especially right at the end!

Tori has recently started making little yelping sounds. She almost sounds like a monkey!

And here she is making noises while she sleeps!