More Words

We have a chatty Nora on our hands! I know that is very surprising given how talkative her parents are.  :) We really do love hearing her speak and are occasionally blown away when she says a new word. Last week's surprise-to-mommy-word was "purple."

Here are some more words that she is using:

Purple
Yellow
Hand
Ear
Hair
Belly button
Apple sauce (this is adorable - applebaba is how is sounds when she says it)
Bark bark
Hippo
Bath
Choo choo
Hot dog
Minnie (for Minnie Mouse)
Milk (sounds like "moe")
Bye
Duck
Fruit
Kick
Hop
Stomp

Enjoying some applebaba.

For the first list of words that we posted, click here.

Influenza

Snuggling makes the flu almost bearable

Sweet Nora had the flu last week...straight up influenza. It was sad to see her so out of sorts, uncomfortable, and without her usual cheerful energy. She was easy to upset, wanted to be held almost constantly, and didn't sleep well over night. 

Our pediatrician and nurses were wonderful and we were able to get Nora on some medicine that helped quite a bit. Lots of napping, reading books, and snuggling on the couch while watching The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse also helped to get our little girl back on a healthy track. I'm so thankful that I was able to work from home for the week so that I could be with Nora. 

Flu Day 1-4

One week later, we are now back to playing with our toys, giggling, running around, and eating with enthusiasm! :) Hoorah for healing medicine and bodies!

Favorite Things

You know how Oprah has a list of her favorite things that she thinks everyone in the world needs? Well Nora has her very own list that we want to share a few with you...

Bunny! Dolly! 

Over the past month and a half or so, Nora has really started to enjoy playing with her stuffed animals. It is so cute how she calls for them, hugs them, and points out their eyes and nose and mouth. Here is an adorable video of Nora playing with a super cute dog she got for Christmas:

Hot Dog

It isn't often that we let Nora watch television, and if we do it is generally Little Einsteins or The Mickey Mouse Club. There is a song at the end of every Mickey Mouse Club that Nora loves. And I mean L O V E Sssssssssssss. The Hot Dog Song! Nora walks around the house saying, "Hot dog, hot dog, hot dog" and is always trying to get us to play it on our phones for her.

Take a listen, I dare you. (And our apologies when you can't get it out of your head).


Books
Nora continues to love her books. Usually the first thing she asks for when she wakes up is "book." The Sandra Boynton books are always a hit, especially ones with the hippopotamus ("hippobobo" as Nora says). Right now she is also enjoying the books "I Am Small" and "Goodnight Moon" and "Pinkalicious" (she asks for it by saying "Pink Pink!").


Outside
Going outside can change Nora from cranky to smiley in a moment! She loves taking walks in the Bob (yes, I still can't get enough of that awesome stroller), going to the park, exploring our back yard, and playing with the rocks in our front yard. An added bonus? Her love for being outside gets Mommy moving, too.

Come on. Let's go outside! I'm waiting.

First Snow

Snow! Or as Nora says, "Noooooo!" The day after Christmas, while we were still in New York, we got a few inches of snow. After bundling Nora up the best we could (leg-warmers as snow pants!) and went outside to play in the winter wonderland. 

It was Nora's first time actually playing in the snow. At first, she was a little tentative but soon yelled "Nooooo!" with a big grin on her face. After a little coaxing, Nora enjoyed touching the snow and climbing on the pile left by the snow plow. Aunt Mary Anne added some fun to the experience, as she did when I was a kid playing in the snow, too! 

December 26, 2012
Stillwater, NY

Christmas - with the Wells'

2nd Christmas - at Mom's house with Aunt Marge and Fred. Opening presents for the second time in one day was just as fun for Nora. I think it is pretty clear by the smile on her face that she enjoyed it all. She especially loved her new helicopter and spent a lot of time playing with it while the rest of us opened our gifts. 

 Like I have said already, we are so lucky to be able to get to New York to celebrate the holidays with our family. And Nora is so lucky to have so many people who want to be with her for these special events!

Nora with Gramma and Aunt Marge

Christmas - with the Bendons

Christmas! We love Christmas. Last year we stayed in Illinois because Nora was just a few months old. It was very cozy and relaxing and sweet. Since Nora is older and has flown a few times already, we decided we would spend the holiday in Upstate New York. 

On Christmas Eve we had dinner with my Dad, Aunt Mary Anne, Great Gam Gam, and Grandpa. Then we enjoyed our annual viewing of Christmas Vacation. It just isn't Christmas without watching Clark Griswold!

Christmas Morning
Waiting to open presents

Nora had fun opening up her gifts and playing with each one for a little bit before opening the next. Of course she loved the "dog dog" that Gam Gam and Grandpa gave her. She also got some Little People, Weeble Wobbles, and a fun "learn to dress" kitty.

Presents!

We are so lucky that we were able to travel for the holidays so Nora can build memories with our family. And so that our family can see how much Nora is growing and changing.

Merry Merry!

Fun with Gam Gam!

Visit with Grandma & Pop Pop

Grandma Linda & Pop Pop Saul came to visit for a couple of days before heading South for Christmas and the winter. There was a LOT of playing during the visit. Play, play, play was the theme! And it was a lot of fun for everyone. Nora even had her first trip to a local indoor playground. 

Since we were heading to Upstate NY to see my family for Christmas, we had our own celebration a little early in Illinois. This is the face that Linda and Saul got to see as Nora spied her gifts:

The bubble gum pink piano from Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Bill, Jake, and Mckenna was an immediate hit. Nora also enjoyed sitting in her very own chair playing with her Leap Frog Move and Groove toy. Another big hit of the day was the peanuts that were used to pack some of the gifts. :)

We can't wait to head to NY for the rest of our Christmas celebration!