Nora's words

When Nora went for her 15 month check up, the doctor asked home many words she spoke.  I said about 20 and she said that was a lot and they only expect 3 or 4.  So then I thought I must have exaggerated.  While trying to get back to sleep last night, I counted Nora's words. I counted 26 but there are probably a few more.  She is 17 months, and most of these words are pretty easy for us to understand:

puppy
baby
mommy
daddy
no
yeah
uh oh
more
bye bye
hi
pee pee
Alena (A-ya-ya)
mama
papa
bottle (bah bah)
bath
shoe
nose
bird
beep beep (trains and alarms)
meow
night night
thank you (tane tu)
cheers
all done (ah dah)
book

Her favorites are puppy (any animal can be called a puppy, and her best friend is her stuffed puppy.)  Mommy has been a longtime favorite.  Up until a couple of months ago that was Daddy's name as well, even though she knew how to say Daddy.  She is always saying and signing "more."   She isn't clear on the concept that you can't have more unless you have some to start with, so she will say "more" to anything that she wants from food to toys.  "Uh oh" was one of her earlier favorites, used only when something was done on purpose.  Dropping food on the floor accidentally does not warrant an uh oh for some reason.  And "baby?"  Any kid in a stroller is a baby, no matter what age.  Also used to refer to her many baby dolls.  "Baby" is always said with much excitement.

Hugs

The following is repeated constantly in our house with many variations.

Start out with a fun idea: "Sit on my lap, Baby Nora!" 

Alena takes it too far: Forced into playing pat a cake.

Nora gets fed up: Nobody forces Nora to do anything!

Garden helper

I got some good work out of Alena the other day.  We cleaned out the garden to get ready for spring.  Alena raked the whole thing while wearing her Annie dress.

Nora is 18 months

Nora and Alena both headed to the doctor today for their check ups.  Nora is up to 20 pounds, 1 ounce, and 30 inches.  She was very indignant about the whole process.  Alena even did a dance for her to improve her mood to no avail.  The only saving grace for the appointment was they had two nurses, one for each girl.  We were out of there in record time!  And both girls checked out great!

Two of her favorite things: Puppy and a cell phone

Playing doctor is much more fun!

Halloween

Alena started out the day with a Halloween parade at preschool.  The kids had some great costumes, but no one had a wig quite like Alena!  We went trick-or-treating with Grandma Dee and Grandpa Ed while Grandma Diane handed out candy.  Grandma Diane made Alena's cool Annie dress, and even made a red fleece jacket to wear when it got cold.  The weather was a little chilly but pleasant.  Nora really got into the feel of everything and carried her candy bag the entire time.  No one was allowed to touch Nora's candy!  She did a great job of saying "thank you" and waving goodbye to everyone.

Pumpkins

We carved our pumpkins last night.  The previous night, Alena and Daddy worked on face designs for her pumpkin.  She wanted triangle eyes and nose with a scary mouth.  Alena is an old pro at gutting pumpkins as they did it last week in preschool.  She does not quit until all of the seeds are out.  She is excited to roast the seeds and eat them.  I carved a Cinderella face which Alena thought turned out pretty well.  Nora played with Legos during the carving because we didn't think she was quite old enough to use a knife.

Birthday party

Alena had a great party with the family.  Check out the enthusiasm for receiving these gifts (Alena's preschool teacher said that they were having the kids express different emotions last week and Alena's faces were cracking her up.)

Cinderella Barbie from Tillie.  She has always wanted this!

Cupcakes with Mrs. Potts and Chip!

 Iron Man!  I really wanted this!  A surprise gift from "Batman."
Isn't that convenient for Daddy that Alena really wanted an
action figure?

Nora claimed Alena's new shoes and her Ken doll

The whole group

Alena's rainbow cake, as requested

Alena is four

Can you believe it has been four years?  Alena has been living it up for her birthday.  Yesterday at preschool she got to wear the birthday crown and everyone sang to her.  For supper Brielle and Kaelyn met us at Godfatherss where Alena enjoyed her favorite, pepperoni pizza, with frosting pizza for dessert.  And tomorrow she is having a party.  She should be birthdayed out after all of this excitement.

Alena was an enthusiastic present opener.  She loved her new Barbie.  When I asked her what she would name her, she replied, "Love Barbie, because I love her."  She apparently will fit into the Barbie family well.  According to Alena, she will be Rapunzel's big sister, Maribelle will be the littlest sister, and Kylie the mermaid will be the mommy.  She was also excited to get the Annie book.  When Daddy bought it off the internet he didn't realize that it was the entire movie written out.  It might take two hours to read, but the pictures all come from the movie so I think it will be a success.

Bloomsbury farm

It was cold on Saturday, but we still had a great time at Bloomsbury Farm!  There were many things to see and do.  Here are a few highlights.

Friendly goats

Franken-nora

Pillow jumping with Grandma and Tillie

Spider girls

Alena's favorite activity: the "train"

Perpetual Motion

Here is a photo with an 80s twist.  Who does Nora look like?

Mommy, Daddy, Alena, an aunt, or just original Nora?

Shades

Alena and Nora have been getting along better now that Alena has time with her preschool friends.  She even found sunglasses for Nora and helped her put them on.  

The great outdoors

The weather was so beautiful this weekend that it was manditory to spend it outside.  Saturday morning we went

to a parade. Alena isn't very assertive at chasing after candy and decided to just sit in a chair and eat it.  People in the parade started just setting candy in her lap.

Alena had wanted to have a campfire at our house for awhile, so Daddy helped her build a fire pit out of kiln bricks and Nora helped gather sticks.  We set up the tent in the backyard for the two of them to sleep in.  Did Alena make it through the night?  No, only until 9 pm.  She was so wound up she might not have fallen asleep until midnight.  They had fun, though.

The next day we went to visit Great Pa in Anamosa.  After our visit, we picked up sandwiches and had a picnic at Wapsipinicon State Park.  We explored a cave and went for a hike, but the biggest attraction was the freshly mowed grass.  Alena and Nora worked together to make a giant grass pile to play in.

Alena's first day of preschool

Alena started preschool today.  She will be going two days a week and gets to pack a lunch to eat with the other kids.  As soon as we walked into her classroom, she took a seat and started drawing.  She was so busy she barely had time to say goodbye. Her teachers, Ms Michelle and Ms Coralie, said she was helpful and listened to directions.  It was hard to get much out of Alena, but I did find out that some of the kids pretended there was a new baby.  Alena said everyone was a doctor, but she was a nurse because she was patient.  They went to the school's library for story time and she got to pick out a book to bring home.  And she ate all of her snack and her lunch.  When I asked if she was excited to come back next week she said she was.  

Nora and I, in the meantime, went through boxes of clothes so Nora would have pajamas that actually would fit her.  Nora didn't seem too concerned over Alena's absence, but I missed her!

Fashionista

Alena always picks out her own outfit in the morning and gets dressed by herself.  Fortunately, she only likes to wear sundresses so you don't have to worry too much about her putting together matching outfits.  Her accessories sometimes get a little crazy, though.  Yes, she is sporting a blond rat tail.

Funny Nora

Nora is a little more willing to eat when she can stand on a patio chair during the meal.  

The new "cheese" face.

Who let that baby run around without a diaper? 

Have a seat!  Nora always wants someone to sit on her bench with her.

And they call it puppy love

Nora is in love with her puppy.  If she sees him across a room, she exclaims, "puppy!" while running over to get him.  She is always excited to see him, and is just as enthusiastic whether it has been hours or seconds since she last held him.  Lately she has been carrying him around in her mouth and shaking him.  But it is done in love.  Whenever she hears a barking dog (which is constantly in our neighborhood) she says "puppy!"  When she sees one walking by, "puppy."  If a dog gets close to her she cries.  Real puppies should be enjoyed from a safe distance!

Taking turns with the Kindle.