Nora is One!

Nora is one!!! This post is a few months late but on August 29th Nora turned one! We celebrated her birthday by selling our home and moving into a rental. On her birthday weekend we moved on Friday & Saturday and then celebrate her birthday with family at the splash pad on Sunday. It was a lot of fun! It's amazing that a year ago we had a tiny little baby and now we have a little girl who's starting to walk and talk! Nora is so much fun and we are so thankful that she's ours!

Nora, at one you:

• Weigh 18 lb 6 oz & 29"
• Are starting to take a few steps on your own
• Are working on transitioning to whole (lactose free) milk but you're not a huge fan yet
• Love eating fruits, veggies, & meat 
• Like to tell us what a cow says "mmooooo"
• Point to items that you want
• Like to rock in your little rocking chair
• Started to share a room with your sister at the rental house
• Are weaned from nursing
• Love climbing on EVERYTHING

Sometimes it's too hard to stay awake during lunch

Party Time!

The theme for Nora's party was "You are My Sunshine". She brings us so much joy & happiness!

"I think I might like this cupcake"

"Yea, it's pretty good"

"What?!? Do I have something on my face?"

Nora really enjoyed her birthday cupcakes (gluten-free).

We're so glad our families came to help us move and for Nora's party. It was so nice to have a small family party. I was able to enjoy it a lot more than the big parties!

Nora,

We just can't believe that you're one! You are an adventurous little girl who loves to climb and explore. At school they call you "Nora the Explorer". You like to give kisses and hugs (when it's your idea). You also like to do whatever Ellis is doing. You are a fun little girl and we love you so much!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Nora at 11 months

Nora was 11 months on July 29th. July was especially fun with Nora because it was summer break! We spent time at the library, splash pad and park. I just love summertime with the girls!

Nora, at 11 months you:

• Are about 17 pounds
• Are cruising along furniture
• Are a pro at crawling
• Try to keep up with your sister
• Still love solid foods
• Love playing in the play kitchen and with the Little People Farm

Nora,

Everyday you are exploring and learning new things. You love playing with your toys and your big sis. You are a smiley, happy girl! We love you!

Mommy & Daddy

Nora at 10 months

Nora Grace is 10 months! I just can't believe that in 2 months we'll have a one year old and technically two toddlers.

Nora, this is what you're doing at 10 months:

• I think you weigh about 17 lbs
• You are army crawling EVERYWHERE 
• You have started pulling up on things and have even stood on your own a few times
• Are starting to eat more solids. You really enjoy rice crackers, veggie/fruit melts, and watermelon, in addition to your pureed baby food. You still have trouble with gluten, milk, fish, peanuts and some other things that I can't quite pin down.
• Squeal frequently, just so we don't forget that you're around
• Trying to play with your sister, it's really cute how you follow her around
• Wave "Hi" and "Bye"
• Make random noises: Ba, Da (sometimes in reference to DaDa), Mmm and lots of laughing

Since it's summer we decided to take pictures in your bathing suit!

"Hi Mom!"

Being bashful

"Look how big I am!"

"Kisses!"

Daddy and his girls on Father's Day

Nora Grace,

You are the happiest baby that I know. You are so content and just happy to be around your family. Today I asked Ellis what you were doing and she said, "Hanging out". I'm not sure where she learned that but it definitely describes her little sister. You are our baby who will go anywhere, barely gets fussy & if it's time to eat or nap you'll just do it wherever.  We love you!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Ellis turns 2!!!

It's hard to believe but yes, we have a 2 year old! Ellis is so much fun and she is truly our joy. We love this little girl so much. With her there is never a dull moment and we are never lacking laughter. She's smart, talkative, funny and sweet.

Ellis, here are some things you are doing at 2:

• You weigh 25 lbs and are 34"
• You love playing outside and in water. We had your birthday party at the splash park and you had so much fun
• You are completely potty trained during the day and have been for a few months
• Your favorite foods are: turkey, hot dogs, cherry tomatoes & hummus, applesauce & rice cakes with almond butter. You eat a lot of other things but these are your staples. 
• You talk all the time and we can understand most of it. You tell us about your day, books you've read, sing songs, talk about your friends and like to tell "stories". We've even bribed you to eat dinner by telling you that you couldn't talk any more until you took a bite of food :) 
• You still consistently take at least a 2 hour nap every day
• You are opinionated but you come by it naturally. You have great examples (mommy & daddy) to mimic
• You are strong willed and a problem solver. If something isn't going how you planned you are determined to find a solution.
• You are a sweet big sister and always ask Nora "Are you okay baby?" when she's crying
• Your favorite songs to sing are "Let It Go", "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" (both from the movie Frozen), "Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye", "This Little Light of Mine", & "Jesus Loves Me"
• You have your first obsession and it's the movie Frozen and the soundtrack. I might have told you that the CD in the car is broken just to have a break from the music...
• You're a ham. You will show us your mad, sad, scared, happy and cute faces. They are all adorable. 

This girl loves water & has no fear!

Cousins having fun

All the party guests

Blowing out the candles

All the kids (minus Copeland who's in his mommas lap,

Graham who's in the bottom right corner & Nora)

Ellis was so excited about every present she opened

Big girl on her new bike

After the party

Pretty Princess

Of course we had to take pictures in her chair. 

This is her "cheese" face.

"Happy" face

"Mad face"

I wasn't planning on a basket picture but I had it out for Nora so of course Ellis had to hop in.

It's amazing how much she's grown!

Sassy girl wearing her swimming suit around the house

These girls love each other & for that we're thankful!

Miss Priss... she LOVES jewelry & SHOES... 

Ellis Claire-bear,

We are so glad that God gave us a little girly girl who is full of life, energy, spunk and sweetness. You  are smart and always learning new things. You keep us on our toes and we love it! You are such a special part of our family! 

Love you,

Mommy & Daddy 

Catching Up: Nora at 8 months & 9 months

So it's finally summer break, which means I can catch up on the blog!!! Yay!!! Even though I've been really behind on posting Nora's monthly updates, I have been taking her pictures... even if they're a couple of weeks late sometimes. During her 8th & 9th month Nora continued to grow and change. The highlights were that she really caught on to eating baby food and is our little piggy. She also started army crawling around 9 months and boy is she fast! She definitely does NOT stay in one place anymore! Here are some pictures of Nora at 8 & 9 months. And don't worry, a 10 month blog post is coming soon.

8 months, 2 weeks

Always smiling!

9 Months:

So excited that the chair rocks! (That's why the sign is a little blurry)

"What?!? There's paper under my chair... I must get it!"

There were no more chair pictures taken this day. She wouldn't sit in it 

because she was too busy grabbing the paper. 

Cool summer time mesh pajamas that I wore when I was about her age. 

She sleeps SO well in these and I wish we could find more just like them!

Not too sure about laying down in the laundry basket

Sitting up is much better!