Nora Lane on her birthday: September 5th, 2012
Me and my first baby girl.
I have loved watching her grow and experience the world. Despite me feeling like I want to keep her little for so much longer, there are many great things that come with her getting older. Nora is talking much more and so we can {kind of} talk about things that she does at school or at home. She is beginning to not only remember things but to relate them to other ideas or things that happen in her day. She is beginning to scare us with how much she remembers, which is mostly a good thing.
We went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago since we didn't have to have any updates on vaccines, so we already know that she is healthy & growing! She is still on the tall side, but not measuring quite as high as she did in her first year. If she continues to grow at this pace, the doctor thinks she will be around 5'6''. The only thing we are going to work on per doctor's request is jumping. It's true - she cannot do it! HA! In time...
Sweet Nora with baby Janie on her birthday: Sept. 5, 2014
WEIGHT: 26.5 pounds
HEIGHT: 34.5 inches
Since her last update...
Strings words together Nora has begun to put some sentences together. They aren't always complete and she doesn't always do it, but we have started to notice that she will make little sentences that make sense to her. She was playing with a toy and I heard her say to herself "Look what I did!" She will also say things like "Go to mommy car," or "Nora eat yogurt with a spoon." As far as words she knows, it's incredible. And we have to really watch what we talk about around her since she picks up on everything. We've been very happy with her vocabulary and speech development and we definitely feel like we can communicate with her more and more these days.
Nora reciting "This Little Piggy"
Started imaginary play This has become one of Nora's favorite things to do. She loves to help me cook in the kitchen. She will bring in food and pots and utensils and mix, cut, or pretend to eat while I make dinner. She also loves to play with her baby doll. She has names for a few of them now (with help from her Pops) and she likes to rock them, tuck them in, buckle them in, feed them, and really have them do whatever she does. Her teachers say that she plays a lot at school in the kitchen and with the dolls, too. I refinished my childhood dollhouse for her for her birthday and she has really enjoyed playing with the little dolls and putting them on the furniture. I love to see her play this way!
Nora cooking with mommy in the kitchen.
Baby goes most places with us! We had to buckle in baby, just like Nora!
Loves reading books Nora still loves reading books. We read books before bed and naps every day and she also likes reading a few select favorites at random. I can always count on throwing a few books in the bag to keep her occupied while out, if need be. She really likes the Goldilocks & Little Red Riding Hood books we have these days as well as her old favorites, though she doesn't turn down books too often. Nora has really started to enjoy puzzles as well and has gotten lots of really great ones for her birthday. Last night she took out every single one and had them sprawled out around the play room! It was sweet.
Reading books with Pops after his hip replacement surgery.
He's feeling good and moving around pretty well!
Listens to music she likes We still like to listen to her music in the car. I've had to teach her how to say "Next please" rather than say "no" on repeat until I change the song, though. She can be quite selective in her music choices. I did just get a new CD from Primrose so maybe we will just need to switch it up a bit.
Sings songs Nora always sings a couple of songs before bed these days, after we read a book. She likes "Twinkle, Twinkle," "The Eyes of Texas," and "Rock-A-Bye Baby" the best, but she knows a few more. I heard her make up her first song the other day. It went to the tune of Frere Jacques and went like this: Mimi Pop Pop, Mimi Pop Pop, Mimi Pop, Mimi Pop! I know... it's really something. But it was cute! They must sing a song to that tune at school because I've heard her sing that tune a few times since then and I don't think I've sung it that often at home.
Counting in her number book - Nora can count to 10!
Is a great big sister I do wish Nora weren't so possessive over some of her toys (how many kitchen foods does she really need??) but other than that, Nora is a sweet girl to her little sister. She loves to make Janie laugh and when she hears her squeal across the house, Nora gets excited and sometimes even imitates her, which Janie loves. They have been taking baths together and they both love that as well. It is sometimes pretty wild with two under two in the house, but it is a lot of fun as well and those cute little moments really mean the world to me!
Likes to help around the house Nora is a great helper! She likes to put things away and help clean up around the house. She will help her daddy outside in the yard and mommy in the kitchen! She would probably help do a lot more things if we'd let her. She got a few cleaning and yard tools for her birthday so she will surely be even MORE helpful! I'm going to take it while I can because at some point, I'm sure she will not care at all to help us.
Taking care of business - brushing those teeth!
Oh, and look - a baby doll! I'm sure we brushed her teeth, too.
Eats dinner & snacks we give her Most of the tantrums we encounter begin with food choice. Sometimes she gets choices and sometimes she does not. She is usually pretty good about eating what we give her, but she is still not very independent about eating things. Well, that could be in general. Nora likes company. She wants to sit with someone to eat. She want to sit with someone to play. She wants to sit with someone to watch the TV or play on the iPad. So, I guess we may be winning the battle of her eating what we want her to eat but losing the battle on how she finishes her food. I guess there could be worse problems to have.
Tantrum over a peanut butter sandwich!!
Uses utensils Nora likes to use her utensils though sometimes prefers mommy or daddy's fork instead. Hmm. We've been working on using a regular cup though and that has been pretty successful. I mean, we don't give it to her exclusively now or anything, but it is good to know that she can drink out of a regular cup if need be.
I use a spoon by myself!
Why is that knife there? Nora insists on
using all utensils even when she doesn't need them...
And sometimes get yogurt everywhere...
Has 16 teeth I do not believe Nora has gotten any new teeth since her canines cut in a few months ago. We should be seeing another round of molars, I believe, but the last time I got to look in there I didn't see anything. She's always been pretty average on her teeth coming in, not really ahead of the curve and maybe even a little behind, so I'm not surprised she doesn't have those 2-year molars yet. It's a waiting game!
Her two year old snapshot:
Puts small sentences together
Knows basic colors & shapes
Can count to 10
Knows a few letters
Enjoys playing with baby dolls & pretend kitchen
Loves reading books & doing puzzles
Sings songs & sometimes makes up her own
Is a great big sister
Helps in the house and the yard
Eats meals with mommy or daddy
Uses utensils
Drinks from a cup (sometimes)
Likes to brush her teeth
Has 16 teeth
One of the things that I have been most proud of is Nora's sweet personality. She has her moments - she is only two after all - but she is such a tender hearted little girl. Nora loves to give hugs and kisses and is really nurturing. She usually shows that in her caring of her baby dolls and sometimes Janie, but I was so happy to see that she treated her peers sweetly as well. We got this note home from her daycare one day and I couldn't have been happier:
I mean, she's awesome. But I'm her mommy so I guess I'm supposed to think that!! Another post to come soon with birthday celebration pics. Love my big birthday girl!!
Wearing daddy's boots. Silly girl!
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