Party Time

It's not every day a little girl turns one. There's no better reason for a party if you ask me! Nora had a great time at her polka dot party. She (and her mom & dad) were exhausted that night.

Nora's personal polka dot cake.

Special birthday girl outfit.

even more presents

mmm.... can I eat these now? (thanks Gramma Gramma Sowinski)

She was much better at opening gifts than she was at Christmas.

In a very Nora fashion, she calmly ate the frosting off the top of the cake. She is her daddy's daughter.

Finally, I broke a piece off for her, which she loved.

But still, she'd rather eat her graham cracker.

After all was said and done, I said to Dan, "Can you believe we just threw our own child's birthday party!?" AMAZING!

The guests' cake.

Birthday Girl

We've got a ONE year old! I had slight feelings of nostalgia throughout the day. I just can't believe (as I say every month) that she's one already. Thinking about everything she's learned in just one year is amazing to us! Here are the normal monthly pictures and some of her opening presents!!

She wasn't the most thrilled to lay down and get her picture taken.

She just wanted to GO! But I got 'em.

Got this before she walked away!

The family on Nora's FIRST birthday!

PRESENTS!!

She did a great job opening her gifts.

Of course, Rusty helped too.

"Look, I got pjs."

a picnic basket from Gram

new bath squirters from mom and dad

NFC Championship

Dan and I were lucky enough to get tickets to go to the Packers vs. Bears game this past Sunday. We had such a great time - and even better with a Packers win! SUPER BOWL here we come! With my new "mega-zoom" lens I got for Christmas, I was able to get some pretty amazing shots! This was absolutely something we'll remember forever. Something we'll be able to tell our grandkids... "We were at the game in 2011..." And then they'll roll their eyes and mumble "This story again" under their breath.

tailgating

we are all bundled and ready to make our way to Soldier Field

Dan at Soldier Field

The tunnel leading there -- lots of crazy fans! We were all getting heckled (but in a nice way... most of the time) on the way in -- mostly people yelling things like "Packers Suck!" Could've been MUCH worse!

Warm ups

This was the Bears pre-game huddle. I thought rather than dancing maybe they should have done some warm-ups to prepare for the game. Mighta helped 'em... I'm just saying.

warming up the arm

Mason Crosby

And in comes the Pack!

The coin toss

Vince Vaughn was there waving a Bears flag around before the start of the game.

Opening Kick

The first play of the first drive (which we scored on in case you forgot)

Hand off to Starks

American Idol winner of season 9 --Lee DeWyze -- was the half time entertainment (which I didn't see because I was in the longest bathroom line ever... didn't get back until the middle of the 3rd quarter!)

It's official!! THE PACKERS WIN!!

Big smiles with the Super Bowl just two weeks away!

Big Developments!!

During the last couple of weeks, Dan and I have taken many laps around the inside of the house with a little someone clutching on to our finger walking along with us. She wanted to go places but, unable to walk on her own, she would put her hand out and wait for us to help take her there.

Then while Dan was off, he started supporting her by her hips to help her get more proper balance. She would take steps if you helped her start -- just a couple at a time.

This weekend however, we had big developments in the quest to walk. If she knows you are there waiting for her, she'll start towards you. The only problem, she gets so excited that she's almost there, she'll reach out and fall! She's come a long way in just a week or two. I'm thinking by her birthday (which is only 18 days away! whoa!!!) she might be walking EVERY WHERE!

Here's a little video of where she's at as of today.

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)