Nora's 2!!!

She's two! She's talking in full, occasionally grammatically correct sentences, learning to ride her kick bike, following complex instructions (let go with your left hand and reach up, now move your right foot up too), reminding me, nicely, to wear my bike helmet ("mom, please, your helmet too!") and toasting at the dinner table. She loves to help cook and clean, hide on top of the top bunk, play in her tent and with her doll house, and be chased ("Hey! hey mom, chase me!"). She'll tell you she's "happy" through tears as she's figured out nap and bed time are somehow related to her being grumpy or unhappy. She really likes to wash her hands and brush her teeth. More than once she's climbed up her little stool to the sink, still naked and dripping from her bath and said "wash hands?" She likes to stroll around with her, or anyone else's toothbrush, brushing her teeth here and there, then brushing the cabinet or Bean. She is tall and lean for her age, observant, a little opinionated and can be a little bossy if you let her. She surprises and amazes me on a daily basis, truly! Basically, she's a happy, healthy, curious, little sponge of a toddler.

I'm really falling short in picture taking; Nora had a great joint birthday with her Uncle Jeff, and I barely have any pictures......Sorry. Trust me it was a great party.

Toasting herself and Jeff

Concentrating hard on keeping her eyes closed for the un-veiling of her doll house from Jeff and Casey.
Talking on the phone on her birthday to great grandma and grandpa Sweeney.Opening presents at her party with Grandma and Grandpa KaplanMurphy, the horse came to Nora's birthday Party
The two birthday kids.

Summer recapped

Photo shoot for Ergo baby carriers

Potty training in various locations



None of these are my child, however I do love them all, and these pictures have to be shown

August & Sept

OK...I know I've said it before, and I can't help but say it again....WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? Who has put my life on fast forward? When someone asks me the date, I'll give them the date and then add "all day" as if the date changes on me mid-day, which is what it feels like.

Betsy and Olivia came to visit before they depart on their big move to

Japan.

Nora's homegrown super delicious squash

September brought us to Chicago to run the 1/2 marathon with Rena.

Rena, if you decide to make a career change again, you certainly have a future in the tour guide business. We ate, we shopped, we ate, we sight see'd, we ate, and we ran - a long way. It was a great trip!

Nora has grown to be a real carnivore. She loves meat! She's eyeing Dad's bloody mary salami topping

In addition to meat, she loves heights (she request to "Go High" when being thrown, or swung), and water, in any form - standing, flowing, waves, or squirting.
First Merry-go-round ride with Mimi Lynnda






Kate, our barbie!! I had to throw this video in, cause Nora is still packing around "Kate", although she's long deflated.

Girls week in Minnesota

Nora and I headed east to good ol' Minnesota, home of ten thousand lakes & mesquitos, 85% humidity and girlfriends. We spent the majority of our trip up at Jill's parents' lake cabin. My mantra of the week was " I LOVE CABIN LIFE!" We certainly lived the good life; enjoying the weather, each other and the lake made the week fly by.

Nora and Emma at the Sunshine Factory for lunchNora, me, Abby and Emma
Nora trying to land a 5lb bassWho could ask for a better host; Jill's a real crowd pleaser....Margs in one hand and juice boxes in the other
Story time with KateJill and EmmaNora, Abby and IEmma and Nora and the very beloved baby that Nora was obsessed with all week