Day 274- Owwie!

I think this is Nora's first real "boo boo". She was standing on her changing table looking at her alphabet letter decals on her wall. She lost her footing and bumped her eye on the edge of a tall shelf that stands right next to the changing table. I was standing right there next to her, but it happened so quickly that I couldn't grab her before her face met the edge of the shelf.

She did not fall off of the table, and thankfully, she wasn't badly hurt. I cringe thinking about what could have happened to her eye.

After a good sobbing on Momma's shoulder, she was no worse for the wear.

We feel very lucky that all that's resulted is a little pink and purple bruising.

Day 273- Sore Loser

This is how Nora feels about the final score of the Tennessee/Georgia game tonight.

 

Day 272- Spice Up Your Life

Nora was spicy today in 2 ways-

1. She was a fussy monster for a couple of hours after I picked her up from day care. Her mini-tantrums right now are so funny, ridiculous, infuriating... and did I mention funny? She gets frustrated- usually because she's trying to communicate something that we're not getting, and she lashes out. She'll whack me or scratch me, and then she'll stop and look at me dead serious in the eye, waiting to see what's going to happen. This is hilarious to me, but I don't laugh. I either ignore or ask her to be gentle, and then she rubs my arm, and says "awwwww". Her mini tantrums also include some screeching and crying and throwing herself down on the floor in dramatic fashion. I do not have a picture of this today, but I thought her spicy attitude was worth mentioning.

2. Also, we went out for Mexican food for dinner. Nora had a soft chicken taco and some rice. I let her try a chip with salsa, but that made her mad, and she spent the next couple of minutes squealing and rubbing her tongue. I offered her some milk, but she didn't quite get that the milk would help, so she swatted it away.

She did ok with the spoonfuls of rice, although a lot of it did end up on the floor. (We left our waiter a generous almost 30% tip for his troubles ha!) Oh, and if you're looking for a place to take your kid to eat, Senor Taco's kids meals include enough food to feed a toddler for a week for just $3.99.

Day 271- Photodump!

Yep, it's one of those days. Busy, busy, busy, and no pictures taken. Brad had a football game. I had to go to Parent/Teacher night, so Dede hung out with Nora this evening. She got to eat peanut butter cookies for dinner and stay up a little later than usual. I think she's going to like hanging out with Dede!

Here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Supergrover!

Too cool for school.

Big steps!

"There's nothing I can't acheive because in myself I believe." Will.I.Am on Sesame Street

Pointing to the pretty pictures

Yummm.. apple sauce!

Nora the backyard explorer

Playtime at the mall

On a mission

Nora can't figure out why Mommy loves this cup so much. Melting ice doesn't taste all that good!

Day 270- Gaining Confidence

When we get home in the afternoon, the first thing Nora wants to do when I put her down in the carport is head to the back yard and barrel her way down to the neighbors' fence to visit with their dogs, Rita and Baby. She no longer waits for me to go with her. Sometimes she will stop and look over her shoulder to make sure I'm not too far away, but she doesn't need to be carried; she doesn't want her hand held.

 

 

Once she is done visiting with the yip yip dogs next door, she forges her way back up the incline in our back yard- a little wobbly near the top- and as she takes on big step back up onto the pavement, she gives the sweetest, proudest little smile, sometimes accompanied by some clapping in recognition of her huge accomplishment.

 



She is gaining confidence and becoming more independent every day. Watching her grow in every way is truly awesome.

Day 269- Snuggle Bunny

All Nora wanted to do tonight was curl up with her Daddy on the couch.

Wish granted, little girl. When snuggling is your heart's desire, you're pretty much guaranteed to get your way every single time.

Day 268- Lovey Dovey

My sweet little lovey dovey has always been a bit of a snuggle bug. I'm so thrilled that she still loves to give hugs and kisses freely to to her Momma and Dada.

Day 267- Wide Open Spaces

Nora had a busy day today. After church, lunch, and a 2 hour nap at Dede and Grandpa's (!!!) we met Kim, Robert, and little Ella at the park for some play time.

The playground area was packed, so we decided to move down to a huge field where the girls ran back and forth until their little hearts were content. They ate their snacks and chased their Daddies around (and around, and up and down, and back again).

They continue to play around each other instead of with each other, but they were still very cute.

Kim says Nora walks with purpose!



Eating a quick snack.

It's just ice! This kid doesn't need caffeine.



Look Mom, it's Ella!

 



HUGS!

Day 266- Slide

Play time at the mall today proved to be a good time for Nora (not including the kids who were MUCH too big for the mall play area who were racing around like hooligans.) She got brave climbing the stairs to the sliding board. This is only note-worthy because we don't have stairs in our house, so she has no real practice with this. She had fun sliding, except that she hasn't figured out to not use her feet as a brake, so there isn't a whole lot of actual sliding going on.

It's Saturday, so you knew she was going to be dressed in her Tennessee orange, right?

Day 265- Perfect Evening

Just a girl and her Daddy hanging out in the backyard on a perfect September evening.

Day 264- Serious Business

Drinking from a straw is very serious business.

 

 

Nora was a huge hit at Subway.  She got lots of waves and "isn't she cute"s. Several people commented on what a good eater she was and how she was so well-behaved. The Subway Sandwich Artists were so taken with her, that she even got a free cookie to go with her milk-through-a-straw.

Day 263- Be Still!

 

Getting Nora to sit still for more than 30 seconds is almost impossible. I can't even get her to lay still while I'm trying to get her diaper or her clothes on her. She really likes to stand up on her changing table (Yikes!) and dig in her diaper caddy.

 

In that first picture, Nora was walking back and forth on her changing table completely naked. For the record, it was really hard to not take pictures of her adorable little naked booty for tonight's blog, but I resisted. Maybe she'll thank me for that later.

Day 262- Berry Sweet

We were able to take exactly one picture today before our camera battery died.

I am berry, berry sweet.

I just pulled out a couple of boxes of fall clothes since it's starting to cool down a little. It's weird putting her in long sleeves and pants (even if it is just in the evening) after such a hot summer. I still feel inclined to put her in shorts and tank tops each day, but I suppose I'll have to make the total swap soon.

Day 261- Let's Do This!

Come on back molars. Don't dilly dally around. Just burst through, and let's get this over with.

Whiny, runny-nosed, border-line feverish baby who has trouble falling asleep at night isn't really my thing. So, let's just do this, mmmkay?

Day 260- Little Caper

I had a couple of people ask about this shirt today. "What is a Caper?" they wanted to know.

Caper is short for Cape Bretoner. Cape Breton is where I'm from. Born and raised. Home sweet home.

Nora is a Caper by birthright. I hope she grows to identify with that part of her heritage because it really is something to be proud of!

Day 259- Pigtails, Carousels, and Go Big Orange!

We went to the Tennessee Valley Fair today.  We were all decked out in our Tennessee Orange since the big Tennessee-Florida game is tonight (In progress at this very minute: 27-20  for the Gators. Uh oh! Go Vols!) 

Anyway, try as I may, I can't do anything with Nora's mop top. IF I manage to get a cute headband on her, it's off in 5 seconds. IF I manage to get pigtails in her hair, it's not without tears, and then they're out before I know it. She is destined to go around looking like nobody owns her.

I did get pigtails in for a few minutes, today, though. They were super cute.

 

I also tried to put a giant orange headband and bow on her, but that lasted no longer than it took to take the picture.

 

 

 

So off we went with Nora's baby mullet blowing in the wind.

 

At the Fair, Nora was able to visit the petting zoo, but she wasn't too sure about actually petting any of the animals.

 

 

 

 

Finally, we took her on a couple of rides. It was slim pickins for kids her size. Even with a parent, there were only two I could get her on, and one of them, she was technically too short for, but the ride operator didn't seem to care much. So, we rode the train...

 

 

 

.. and the Carousel, though Nora did not want to actually sit on one of the horses.

 

 

 

All of this before heading home for the big football game. After playing hard all day, I hope she sleeps hard tonight. 









Day 258- Busy Bee

Tonight, Nora and her Daddy had some quality time together while I had to work late at a school football game. She was a busy little bee, getting into everything, or so I've been told, and she spent a good amount of time playing with her pups, both inside and out.

 

She really is just so much fun to be around right now.

 

C'mon Brandy, let's go outside!

Bailey is giving Nora the side-eye.

C'mon Bailey, let's go play in the yard!

Bailey?

Once again, reasoning with dogs is exhausting.

What do you mean "Babies are exhausting, too?"

Just relaxin'

 

It seems like she had a fun evening, and then she went to sleep without a single complaint. That's our good girl.