Nora is almost a YEAR

Oh my goodness. It is so hard to believe that our sweet baby Nora will be one in two weeks. It is scary how fast this past year has gone by... Flat. Out. Scary. If my life keeps passing at this rate I will be 90 next week...

Nora is a doll and full of personality. Right now she verbalizes about 8 words and I am sure by her birthday she will add another one.. or two. She is beginning to express interest in books and pictures, and is starting to prefer some toys over others (her baby doll and anything her brother is playing with). She loves to go on walks and is still easily comforted by the Ergo. She is one tough cookie as not much makes her cry (not even falling face first in the tub). She loves the dogs, especially Buckeye. (can you blame her?) She is laid back and goes with the flow. So far the only thing I can say that Nora doesn't like is... sleeping on a train.

What she is saying:

• ah daw (all done)
• mama
• mah (more, she uses this word while either signing more of clapping to request more food)
• nana (means she is hungry/banana)
• bubba (Wilson)
• dada
• duh (dogs)
• ot-o
• dishhh (fish)

What she is signing:

• hi/bye
• more
• yey! (claps)
• all done

Some fun things she does:

• climbing on everything, including on and off of Wilson's little chair
• she stands all. the. time. and everywhere (her latest trick is to stand in the tub and clap with glee)
• feeds the dogs from her chair by either throwing food down (while saying ot-o) or by sticking her hand out for them 
• shakes her head yes or no when you ask her things- sometimes she is right too 
• points to where she wants to go or what she wants
• extends her index finger to yours to say hello (this is her and her Daddy's favorite game)
• she still curls up her nose and inhales with force when she is eating 
• she looks for you to tell her no when she does something she knows she shouldn't do (like touch a light, dog bowl, or crawl up the stairs) and once you tell her no... she grins, shakes her head, squeals, and goes for it any way
• she plays bashful 
• she lets out a little laugh when she finds delight in an activity or with a toy

What she eats, with her 8 little teeth:

• I am still nursing her regularlly and don't know when we will begin the weaning process. 
• anything and everything: avocados, rice, chili, burger, ALL fruit, spaghetti, etc. (although this weekend she turned away clam chowder)
• her favorite food seems to be blueberry pancakes and whole blueberries

How much she sleeps:

Well, she doesn't sleep through the night right now, but she does usually sleep for 6-8 hours. Most days her start time is between 8-8:30. Her sleep is effected by traveling and every time we go somewhere she ends up needing to be re-trained. So, I have given up the hopes until after our trip to Hawaii. She naps well. She takes  a minimum of one 2 hour nap a day. When the schedule allows though she takes two naps. To put her to sleep is a piece of cake. You hand her an extra paci and cover her up. If she fusses she is usually not ready. When she is ready she starts singing her sleepy song and goes right to sleep. 

** Photo credit: Courtney Bowlden Photography