In!

in a bin with applesauce

Playing with Nora is really a lot of fun. We read books, dance to music, have tea parties with her stuffed animals, draw...and we go "In!" If it is possible for Nora to get in it, she will. If a bin or basket has toys or hats or anything in it, she'll empty it out so she can sit in it. Sometimes she'll enjoy a snack while sitting in a bin or under the chair. Sometimes she'll bring a stuffed animal or some toys in with her. Sometimes the toys get a bin all to themselves.
"Mommy In!!"and "Daddy In!!" is often heard around the house and Nora doesn't quite understand that we are too big to fit in the places she can fit into. But it sure is fun to watch her find find new places to turn into seats and play things.

in a basket

cheerios under the chair

She loves doggie so much!

Love

Happy Valentine's Day from Nora and her very first balloon, courtesy of her Daddy and 1st Valentine!

18 months and 2 weeks

18 months!
That is half way to 2 years old.
I don't know what to say about that so for now I'll say nothing. :)

For us, 18 months has brought with is toddler behavior. Although Nora really is a very cheerful and fun child, she has definitely begun expressing frustration when she has to do something she doesn't want to do, like getting her diaper changed or putting on her coat. Although I don't like seeing Nora get so upset and although it takes a lot of patience and effort to get out of the house and settled in the car at times, we just keep changing diapers and putting on coats and getting buckled into car seats and dealing with tears.

It's not all a fight for toddler independence though!

Nora's sense of humor is blossoming and it is so fun to watch and hear her laugh at something that she finds funny. These days, Jeff and I will do anything, no matter how goofy, to get that giggle going.

Sweet smiles

Along with the giggling, we love hearing all the new words that she is learning. I'm doing my best to keep a list of each new one, but sometimes I can't keep up! This past week she has really enjoyed saying "handle" and "I know." We learned handle at the indoor playground and Nora learned "I know" from me. I have a little mimic and I'm reminded on a regularly basis that I need to watch what comes out of my mouth.

She is also starting being able to climb on chairs and stools more independently. This is both exciting and terrifying. For Christmas, we got Nora her very own arm chair. Not only does she like to climb all over it, she also turns it into a bit of a fort. When it's time to play this way, Nora tips her chair over and yells, "IN!" Below Daddy is "in" with Nora and they are spelling out her name, which is embroidered on her her chair.

IN!

Nora still loves getting outside whenever we can, but those days are few given the winter season. To get out and about we have been venturing to the indoor playground, Barnes and Nobles (they've added a toy section and Lego table), and we still have lunch with my co-workers on Tuesdays. Sometimes we head to the library for story time, too.

So the consensus on 18 months is that it is exciting, exhausting, and exhilarating.

18 Month Teaser

2/3/2013
Halfway to two years old

Some quick stats and then a more complete post will come later (when it isn't 10:45 at night!):

Weight: 25.7 pounds
Height: 30.75 inches
Clothing: 18 month and 18-24 month
General status: healthy, happy, active, adorable, sweet, (did we say active?), and starting to embrace her status at "toddler" (more on that in the next post)

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.