walking

This was yesterday.  She was a little tired after playing outside most of the day so she's staggering a little.  Which I think is cute.  She went straight to walking without doing that cute drunk stagger that they typically do unless she's really tired. 

Mud... not to be confused with chocolate

Sorry baby girl, it might look like chocolate

But it really doesnt taste like chocolate

No matter how many times you lick it

So maybe next time we are outside you can stop trying it ok?

11 months

 Checking to see what Joel is doing.

None of my kids really look like me. But they all have made this fierce face. Norah just started doing it. Here is Colin and here is Joel doing the same face.

Gives high fives

Walking more and more

Will pick what doesnt want off tray and toss it over but generally eats anything we give her.

Wants to do anything her brothers do

Loves being outside and getting in mud

Claps all the time.  And then will keep claping until we all clap with her. Then she will smile big. 

Starting to say more syllables.  She has said dada a few times but not around Brent.  She still only says mama but other sounds are coming out more and more.  She babbles a lot.

Starting to sleep better.  Now she is getting up once or twice which is a huge improvement.

Loves her stuffed animals.  And her blankets. 

I'm sure there is more.  At times Norah seems so much older to me than an 11 month old.  I think its because she is right there with her brothers and trying to do what they are doing all the time. 

Our Beautiful Girl.  You are growing up so fast but life is so much fun at each new stage with you.  Your brothers love to cheer you on when you try to walk and they rush into your room at the first sound you make after a nap (probably why you dont sleep as long as mommy thinks you should) You are very very loved. You dont forget anything. If you see us put the wii remotes up high you will go over there and try your hardest to reach them even when you can't see them.  You also love to take things out of boxes, cabinets, drawers and then put them back in.  You dont need toys - just a box to put things in an out.  We love you and are enjoying every minute with you.  Just slow down this whole keep up with my boys thing.  Just a little for mommy ok?

Busy fun weekend.

 We just finished a very full but very fun weekend. And I'm very thankful Colin is off of school Monday so we can all relax.  I signed Joel up for a music class on Fridays and he is loving it.  We all are.  A friend teaches it and Norah is loving it too. But after music class the kids and I stayed to decorate for a Murder Mystery Party we were having with our community group.  We then left to pick up Colin and Brent and headed up to Richmond for the night. 

We destroyed Ant Ants apartment :)  And I think Colin kicked Ant Ant out of bed at one point during the night.

 But Saturday morning we woke up and the boys, Brent and I headed to the convention center for a Lego Convention.  The boys have been counting down for weeks for this.  Norah stayed with Ant Ant and had some girly fun.  And now when I say Ant Ant to Norah she smiles and giggles.  So cute. She had fun.  There is no way Norah would've lasted the whole morning at the Lego fun so I'm glad we left her (sorry Norah when you read this later you will be glad you were left and enjoyed time with Ant Ant)   Thanks Ant Ant.
 
 We weren't sure what to expect but everyone we had talked to that had gone in past years raved about it.  And with all the sessions sold out we figured it would be good.  And it was really fun. There was a lot of people. But they had it in such a way that there wasn't much wait - maybe 2 minutes to participate in an activity. And most of them there wasn't any wait at all.  There were different stations and areas set up for the kids to play with Lego's, compete for prizes (everyone won a prize so we came home with a bunch of Lego's packs for the boys) and build anything they wanted with Lego's. They really liked these ramps that they built cars and then raced down.

 We liked looking at all the Lego statues. Colin's favorite was Captain Rex.

 We even met our friends James and Zach there.  Colin on the way home said that was his favorite part - seeing Zach.  They built Lego's together and competed for prizes together. 

 There was one part where you built on a white Lego tile and they put it up on an art wall.  I didn't influence Colin at all in what to put but it made me happy :)  Smart kid. 

 

A super fun morning.  We will definitely go again.  We left and raced back to Ant Ants, picked up Norah and then got right back in the car to come home so Brent and I could go to our Murder Mystery Party.  We got home with just enough time for us to get dressed and head on over to the party.  It was snowing a lot so it made me nervous about the night since so much work went into planning it but it all worked out and was a really really fun night.  Thanks Mom and Dad for coming over and watching the kids. They also brought over presents from Japan so that was fun. Thanks for those too. The boys are now running around with ninja hoods on. 

We had the party in the studio of a friends house. A perfect place to have it.  A few guys built that bar Friday night at 11pm.  I told them I have a list of projects I'd like built if they can finish that in a few hours.

 I spent a lot of mornings hanging out with Meagan and planning it. So fun. It was a 1920s theme and we all had different characters and we all stayed in character the whole night.  It was fun.  Meagan and Clemma did such a great job designing the decorations. They have a gift for that which makes me glad they are my friends.


 

 I was Mabel Biggs the mayors wife and Brent was Southside Sal - the head of the southside mob ring. And I have to say when Brent came home I was still calling him Sal :) 

 One of Sal's mob buddies :)

It was a really fun day.  But for future I hope both don't end up on the same day :) 

Today I'm thankful for Sunday night church, the wii and lots of Lego's to put together.

Puppy Love

Ice Cream

 Trader Joes makes these tiny ice cream cones that are a perfect size for the kids.

Norah is a big fan.  Colin's first taste of sugar was on his 1st birthday... I think Norah's first solid food was a piece of chocolate left on the floor by the boys.  She wants whatever they have - especially if its ice cream.  Can't blame her :)

Snow Peas... and ears

 Norah loves snow peas.  And Joel loves to fill her plate with them.  And then this night took the camera from Mommy and asked to take some pictures. 

We ended up with about 10 pictures of Norah's "pretty ear."  Strange and weird this obsession with ears. But he was very proud of the pictures he took.

Ignore the fact that it looks like I have 4 chins in this picture (not the best camera angle) but I LOVE moments like this. These moments I wish time could stop just a little

We matched one morning before school.

Although to be fair a neighbor once told me when I saw her in the store that she almost didn't recognize me because I wasn't wearing any hokie clothes.  My typical attire around the house is a hokie t-shirt or sweat shirt.  I took that as a great compliment. 

Squirrel

Is anyone surprised this is Joel's favorite game right now?

Outside Playing

A few days after we had that snowstorm the temperatures were in the 70s.  So I brought out the water table. Its been out a few months so Norah can just stand and play with the trucks and balls I put in for her to play with.  But last week I added a little water.  Norah and Joel loved it.

 I can't remember what Joel was telling her but I love the look on her face.  I dont think she was buying any of it. 

 Norah also loves this little car.  I still remember what house it was in west virginia where I saw it outside and bought it on my way home.  My favorite yard sale purchase ever.  Its nice to just put her in it and then push her all around the yard.

 Pretty ears.  Joel hasn't outgrown his obsession with other people's ears.  He rarely touches his.  He would make a great audiologist. 

 Sometimes brotherly love is a bit much! 

Norah has also started to push the car around by herself. 

And then on Monday she stood up by herself and took a step towards me. Part of me wanted to go in my room and cry.   Its only a matter of time since each day she seems to keep trying to walk more and more.  I love little toddler walks but wasn't she just born? Hard to believe my baby is getting more and more a toddler and less a baby.