Little Gym Parent's Night

Nora's Little Gym class put on a little performance to show us parents all they learned over the course of the class. It was the cutest thing ever!!! And I wish I could recall exactly what Mr. Armando said about Nora but to sum it up it was her perseverance. One time on the bars she let go mid-swing to "dismount" and landed flat on her face. She jumped right up, shook it off, and headed back to try again. That was a proud mama moment!!!

The gang with their Medals!!!

Nora and the Uneven Bars

The Balance Beam

The Teachers

Mr. Armando

Mr. Dillon

First "Tattoo"

Like mother, like daughter. Mommy is so proud that Nora was so "strong" to get her first tattoo at age 3!!! Nora, you rock...and one day I will take you to get your first! (Although you are ONLY allowed one.)

Nora Firsts

Wow...we've had many trips home with Nora the snow bunny. However, this one was much different than the rest. Nora had these firsts during this trip...sliding down the "big" hill by herself, ice skating, snowmobiling, snow 4-wheeler rides...all of this thanks to her bestie Kelsey and second or third or something once removed cousin Jason! You have to check out my facebook for videos of many of these events...the flip is much easier to carry than my Canon. :-) Love you and thanks for the memories!!!!

First Haircut

I know, I know, I hear it already...it's about damn time you cut that child's hair. Well we did it. And it was much more uneventful that I would have ever thought. Because of her "curls"...and I use that term loosely to whomever has met her, it was decided that it wouldn't be a good idea to cut bangs. So a simple trim it was. The moral of the story is that the back of her hair is now layered the way it should be (bottom longer than top versus her natural style of longer on top). She is still cute as a button, but why wouldn't she be???

Before...

During...

After...

Moving on Up

We haven't had any problems with Nora trying to get out of her crib so we've been prolonging the inevitable as long as week could. However, this weekend we got a wild hair and transitioned her crib to a daybed. Nora was in love...she kept hugging and kissing her daddy while he was adjusting the rails. And after just kept saying "thank you Daddy, thank you Daddy." It was too precious. She just lit up!!! One night down and she did great! Let's hope it continues...and better yet...

Daddy thought this transition was the prefect time to kick the paci habit also. I told him that was up to him...I thought it was too much change for Nora in one day and should we let her get used to the bed first. He insisted, so I let him take the lead on this one (I think secretly I was having an issue letting the paci go as it was now the LAST item that was from her baby days). Well...first attempt was nap time. She asked for it of course, but daddy reminded her that she was a big girl. She didn't fight it too much...as it is she doesn't use one at daycare. Okay...mission one...check. Then bedtime. She was a little more insistent. Daddy simply said paci's were for little girls and if she wanted it back we could change the bed back to a crib. At first she asked to change her bed back, but in the same breathe she told Daddy she wanted to keep her big girl bed. Off to night night...no tears, no fighting. Mission two...check. Finally, today at nap time, she crawled into bed. She didn't even ASK for it. Mission three...done. Let's hope it stays this way!!!

Finger Painting

We decided to try something new tonight. Unfortunately, the paint didn't stay on the paper (that might have been Mommy's fault...but she's not talking). I loved being the big green monster...ARRRRRRGH!!!!

Now I must clean up "y'all!"

Bubblewrap

Nora's Driving!!!!

First Fireworks

Yes, although this isn't her first 4th of July, it was her first fireworks. And not only did we see fireworks once, we saw them twice. The first time from my parent's neighbor's driveway (gotta love upstate NY) and the second from a pier on Alexandria Bay overlooking Boldt Castle. She helped celebrate the Nation's birthday by singing happy birthday and ooowwwing and aahhhhing all evening.

from Alex Bay...

Mommy & Daddy's Christmas

Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to George, Merry Christmas dear us, Merry Christmas to US!!!!

Nora in the driver's seat!

Mom-Dad, check out all this room!

PS - Mommy needs to add she loved her old small car, but the first time she put the baby in her carseat she quickly fell head over heals for this one!!!!

Waiting for Santa

Here are some pics that, although kind of yukky, show the true resilience of Nora. She is very tolerant of many things...one being her medicine. I fought and fought to not have an in home nebulizer, but I lost. She did a really good job at taking her medicine!

First Beater

Ah...'tis the season for cold weather, Santa Claus, Christmas cookies and the FIRST Beater!!!

Halloween Kitty

The Many Faces of Nora Kitty...

I went a little Martha Stewart this year and decided to make Nora's costume. Believe it or not, I was even pleased with the results. Nora was the cutest Kitty...or Mouse...or Ewok on the block!!!

Checking out the Kitty

Trick-or-Treat

Looking Both Ways...

Really Big BooBoo

We also had our first really big boo-boo while Mommom and Papa were visiting. Daddy and I were putting the munchkin to bed...nothing to write home about right. Well, we have a really low ceiling fan in the baby's room. We are well aware of that...or so we thought. Little Bit was a little bit squirmy so Daddy lifted her over his shoulder to hand her off to Mommy when oh crap...BAM...WHACK. There was a small scream from N and a big pause (usually indicating breathe holding followed by uncontrollable crying/sobbing/screaming) and all HELL broke loose. I thought for sure we lost an eye. Frankly, as bad as N felt, I thought for sure I would vomit to boot. We threw her down on the changing table...realized there was no gushing blood so rushed her back out to the living room to apply Mr. Austin (the refrigerated elephant gel pack for boo boos). Stayed up an extra hour and a half to make sure there was no "weird" actions (and Mommy was watching the growing black eye potential) which N thought was a superb playtime and why not as it is an hour past bedtime. When we were sure there was no concussion, we put her in bed with Mommy and Daddy (because by this time, Mommy wasn't letting her out of her site) until the 24th time she kicked the living daylights out of me which is when she was sent back to her room for business as usual!



And believe it or not...there was no black eye. Kids...absolutely amazing!!!

Texas State Fair

We took Nora to her first TX State Fair outing with none other than her mommom and papa who were visiting from NY. We didn't get too many pictures and got NONE of her with mommom and papa, but we had a great time needless to say. We had corny dogs, caught the car show and rode our first ride with Daddy.

Do you think we get to go home soon? I think I see the car....

Lots of New Things

In the past few weeks we have been enjoying yet more firsts...

1) Giving up the bottle. Friday, August 30 at 7:45pm (ish) we had our last bottle. We made a little production, having Little Bit throw the bottle away, clap, what a big girl. She was so proud. Unfortunately, we woke up with something else in mind. I wish we would have gotten video of that. She threw the sippy at us, threw herself backwards and had a class three temper tantrum. It was pretty funny. Thankfully, it didn't last long. Here is her tossing her bottle in the trash.



2) We learned to jump...as long as we are holding onto something. (No video.) Her feet leave the ground and her hair bounces and bounces with each jump!


3) Reading. We've always liked a good book now she likes to read to us. Her favorites are "The Monster at the End of this Book - featuring Grover" and "Go Away Big Green Monster." It cracks me up and absolutely amazes me that she can mimic my telling of the stories.

She is growing so fast...it continues to amaze me everyday.

Da Da Da Daaaaa

Daddy went out of town yesterday to visit family so it was just me and Pumpkin Pie. It was nice to have her all to myself...but this morning Daddy missed a big first. Typically, in the morning Nora will either just sit in bed and play until Daddy or Mommy goes to get her or whine a little to let us know she is up. This morning I woke up to...

"Da Da Daaaaa Da Da Daaaaa."

I am guessing she is missing you Daddy!!!!

A Bunch of Firsts

Nora had a bunch of firsts on our trip to NY.
Here's the list...started saying "that", "weeee" and "up", rolled down a hill, got "mulled" by two beagles and a German Shepard, rode a 4 wheeler, a tractor and a horse, fed a goat, got licked by a cow, played put put (well kind of), was taught how to spit (I don't think she caught on thankfully) and stayed in a hotel. Not bad for a girl under a year and a half.






Mom and Dad realized their baby girl loves all animals...any shape and size...and the bigger and sloppier the kiss the better! I think she was slimed for more than half the trip thanks to dogs, goats and cows. We realized that dad stands for both Mommy and Daddy and the words 'Dad', 'dog' and 'that' sound oddly the same (only the trained ear of a Mommy or Daddy can distinguish). We realized she can say more words but pulls them out only when needed such as trying to get out of Aunt Heather's arms so she told her Daddy, "UP, UP!"