The Easter Bunny

Norah went to see the Easter Bunny today!  We were not expecting to get a good picture, but look at this:

Some Recent Highlights

Just a few recent pictures:

Who needs GPS? 

Checking out the chickens at the petting zoo. 

Our sweet girl at the park. 

Our thirsty girl at the park. 

Our 16 month old.

Picky Eater?

Norah is definitely not a picky eater: in the first picture she is eating strawberries and in the second she is eating raw yellow squash and zucchini.

What a day!

Norah had a BIG BIG day today:

She decided it was time to feed herself with a spoon and fork, which is surprising because until today she has had next to no interest in it.  All day she would allow us to put food on the spoon/fork but then she intercepted it on the way to her mouth and  fed herself.  She's doing a pretty good job so far, too.  Depending on her mood, she would then either play with the spoon/fork and make a bit of a mess or hand it back for more food to be added.

and!

She had two molars cut through today and a third and fourth are this close to coming through.  If you've seen Norah lately, you know just how swollen her gums have been for about two months.  Norah is so strong and she hardly ever complains about teething pains but on days like today she needs a few doses of Tylenol and a little extra love from Mom and Dad.

and!

Norah took her first steps!  She started out kind of lungeing back and forth between Mommy and Grandma but as we moved farther apart, she built up to two steps all on her own!  If only a third person had been there to video...

It was a big day and we are so proud of our growing girl : )

15 And A Half Months

We're just gonna go ahead and admit that we're getting worse at doing these monthly posts.  Let's call this one what it is - half a month late.  We'll try to be better about updating the blog regularly, but we probably won't highlight each month except for major milestones (like 18 and 24 months).  So, at fifteen-and-a-half months, Norah:

• likes to share food, even Cheerios.  She holds it out to you until you lean in to take a bite, crumb-y fingers and all.  She "shares" like this even if there's no food to share by pinching up a handful of nothing and reaching out to give it to you.
• uses an outstretched arm and open palm to show you where she wants to go when she's being carried.
• can clap!  Although, not on demand...
• knows where her socks go and will touch them to her feet.  She even stops kicking long enough to have them put on her feet.
• likes to get the mail.  She knows where to go to get it, and has even cried one day when there was nothing in the mailbox.
• loves the song "The Wheels on the Bus," and will pull this book specifically off the bookshelf when you start to sing it.
• likes to help cook, often demanding to be held while you stir/measure/whatever in the kitchen.
• is so close to walking on her own.  With help from us she has walked almost all the way around the sidewalk path outside our front door and will walk inside holding only one of Mommy or Daddy's fingers.  The other day she even grabbed Mommy's hands and "asked" to go walking!

And now the pictures:

Our fifteen month old.

First taste of brownie and ice cream. 

We think she liked it. 

Multitasking. 

Smiling for the camera.

And some videos:

At the end of this video, when she lets go of one of Mommy's hands, we both thought for a split second that she was going to walk by her self, but then she just sat down.  This is from a couple weeks ago - she doesn't really walk like a drunken sailor anymore.

This is Norah's "old man voice."

Guess what?

That's right: around August 3rd, Norah will welcome her new brother or sister.

14 months

At 14 months, Norah:

• gets into everything. No box, laundry basket, purse, diaper bag, cupboard, closet, cat dish, table, or bookshelf (up to 3 shelves high) is safe.
• looooves to swing on her new swing on the patio.
• has hair long enough to run down her back when it's wet.  It also finally tucks behind her ear (too bad it is still too fine to stay there).
• uses toothpaste on her toothbrush.  And by "uses" we mean sucks it right off the bristles.
• throws food and cups off her tray when she's through with them.  Did you know cats like turkey?
• has started to spit/dribble her milk and water on purpose much more often than we'd like.
• has become an animated, smiley, and giggly little girl.  She is much less reserved than she used to be.

Now on to the good stuff, pictures!

The official 14 month picture showing off her new bike.

Christmas morning excitement can't be contained.

Norah's Christmas dress.  Yes, Christmas in CA means you can go sleeveless. 

Weeeee!

Swing me again, Daddy!