Christmas

A very special Christmas this year. Nora's first Christmas went very well. She wasn't too interested in opening presents. She'd help open the first gift and then would play with that one and lose interest in the rest. Today, we were able to take all the (many) toys she got as gifts out of the box. She played all day long. Loved every one of her new toys. Thanks to all!!

I keep finding myself wondering if it'll be next year or the year after that she'll be more interested in Santa and presents. Will I get 2 or 3 more years of sleeping past 5am on Christmas morning before I'm awoken by a very excited little girl? Too excited to sleep? Must open presents!! I'll find out before I know it.

(in descending order....)

playing in Grauntie Mary's cupboards

her absolute favorite -- playing in the dishwasher. This was the happiest she was all night! (it was a loooong day for this little one)

love those snowflake tights

One of the gifts she was most interested in... weird. (it's the new Fiesta Ware color of her birth year)

Missy in front of Gram's tree

loved pushing the guys down again, but couldn't get how to get them back up yet

found her in the box while everyone was opening presents

opening the calendar!

Elmo phone from Uncle Jeff and Auntie Katie

Rusty got presents too!

Helping Daddy unwrap his gift

In front of our tree on Christmas Eve morning (sitting on her new toy box)

11 Months

Holy schmoly. We are only one month away from having a one year old! But until then, here are the 11 month pictures. And while we were taking these pictures -- she took 4 steps!!! Hasn't taken one since, but she's getting there.

Forget sitting next to Freddie... I'll stand.

Lucky we even got a picture with her legs down. She kept putting them in the air.

Like this.

and this

Calendar

January

February

March (Kiss Me I'm Irish)

April

May (May Flowers)

June (Ready for the beach)

July

August

September

October

November

December

For Christmas, Nora helped me create a calendar for my mom and my in-laws. It also helped tell a little secret we've been keeping. I was asked to put these up to share them with everyone else. Enjoy!

Lil' Miss Independent

Pancakes!!

She's been feeding herself finger foods for quite some time now. She does very well, but there's always some that lands on the floor. Rusty's no dummy. He learns quickly when food is involved. The lesson here.... don't leave Nora's side while she's eating because surely I'll get something.

But now that she's a little older, she's asking for the spoon to feed herself with too. Ok, no big deal. Here you go... you try.

It gets a little messier -- but who cares!

St. Nick

No surprises here. St. Nick came for Nora this year :) Even though she had no idea what was going on, her Mommy and Daddy had fun.

Dan's temporary stocking since our K9 member of the family ate it last year.

My stocking is the only one that hangs to the left.... does that mean I'm extra special??

A pair of pajamas

And some of her favorite snacks!

mmm... PUFFS!

10 Months

Double digits! (kind of) Can you believe we only have 2 more of these monthly pictures left before she's a year old?! I know... me either. She was very wiggly during this photo shoot. I gave her toys to hold thinking it would keep her in one spot for longer. Not always the case, but I got what I needed.

Don't be fooled by this picture... her legs aren't really that long.

Thanksgiving Weekend

It was a wonderful few days in Wisconsin for Thanksgiving. We have SO much to be thankful for. This year especially and these memories are just a few of them --

laughing at her Godfather, Uncle Greg

She loved playing with this toy. Push the little guy's head down and he skidded across the floor.

And every time it went away, she would screech!

Missy, no beer until you're 21...

finally went by Grandpa Grandpa!!

Helped that he was giving her cool whip!

TURKEY!! Happy Thanksgiving.

one of my favorite pictures of the weekend

good buddy ol' pal

she does love these blocks

exhausted after the long weekend