Merry Christmas

Updated 12/23: Nora got an early Christmas gift yesterday-her first tooth poked through!

Nora wishes each of you a Happy and Healthy Holiday filled with smiles!

Pictures

With the exception of a visit from Grandma and Grandpa K, there hasn't been much going on here recently. But there are always pictures to share...


We went and got a Christmas tree Friday morning, Nora loves to touch the branches (which inevitably makes the needles fall off...)

We went for a walk in the park in Denver on Saturday.

Before heading to the airport, a goodbye snuggle.

Playing with our friend Megan.

Laying by the Christmas tree.

After a bath.

Sitting in her robe.

Photo Shoot

Nora is rooting for the Packers for the final time this year; good thing the season is nearly over because her outfit is too small!


Thanks to St. Nick aka Grandma Barb for this reindeer bib!

We tried to have a photo shoot yesterday to get a good picture for our holiday card. It didn't go so well, we just couldn't capture that image I had in my head. Here are a few that didn't make the cut:

Sunday morning, this is what we found in Nora's crib. Not exactly the swaddled baby lying on her back in the sleep positioner that she was when I put her down!

We gave her a sippy cup to play with, it looks almost as big as her head!

Sorry if this post seems a little out of order-something strange is going on with this website and I can't move the photos around like I used to. It's a real pain to try to upload the photos in the exact reverse order in which I want them to appear...

6 Months Old!

Today Nora is 6 months old, time flies! This morning we visited the doctor for another weigh in-15 lbs exactly! She's in the 25% for weight and 50% for height (25 3/4 inches). Unfortunately, this 1/2 year birthday came with 4 shots in her legs :( She did get over them quite quickly though.

Thanksgiving was a week ago already... It was a beautiful day here in CO, Nora practiced her sitting-up skills and explored the grass:





Jeff, meanwhile smoked this beauty:



The day after Thanksgiving we did a little bit of shopping; Nora and Jeff played while I paid.

We're still working on food. Nora just isn't a fan of cereal so we've moved on to sweet potatoes.

Though she seems to enjoy them, she'd honestly prefer to eat her bib over anything else. You'd think these plastic bibs are coated in sugar!

Most of all, Nora just likes to play.

Her shirt says "my dad's a superhero"

Nora and Claire

Claire and Nora enjoyed spending time together last weekend.

They hung out on the couch (notice the 'my aunt loves me' t-shirt),
played on the playmat

and cooked in the kitchen.

I meant to mention in my previous post that Nora got a book from Grandma and Grandpa Koski (among other things), I can't wait to read her 'Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?' Of course she will!

First Visit to Utah

Last weekend we spent a quick two days in Utah.

Nora enjoyed a hike on Saturday and admired the fall colors.

Sunday we did some more hiking, another gorgeous day!


I really think Nora needed some more toys to play with...

We had a very nice visit, even though it was short.

This is before we left, 5 months old and all grown up!

On the cereal front, there hasn't been much improvement. She just doesn't like it. We might try another type of cereal (oatmeal) or mix something tasty in with it like bananas. In a couple of weeks once Nora learns how to eat and is old enough for other foods, she'll have a nice menu to choose from. I've been preparing and freezing sweet potatoes, butternut squash, green beans, peas, carrots and pears so far. I also plan to make apples, peaches and avocado. Hmm, but will avocado turn brown when I freeze it? So much to learn...

This weekend Auntie Claire comes for a visit-there is always something going on to keep us busy!

Rice Cereal

Not only was Saturday Halloween, it was the day Jeff and I decided to give Nora rice cereal for the first time.

Clean and ready to go:

The look says it all. I don't blame her, it doesn't look or smell very appealing.

And then the gagging started.

No longer clean, and she'd had enough. I'm not sure that any actually went down her throat.

If you'd like to watch this activity in action, visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgZywA7ysGQ

So, we've been doing this every night now for nearly a week. Things haven't gotten any better. In fact, Nora has now started to combine her spitting skills (see video posted Oct. 28) with her cereal eating skills-you can imagine the outcome!

Today we're flying to Utah for the weekend to vist Grandma and Grandpa Koski! They haven't seen Nora since she was 7 weeks old, boy are they in for a treat :)

Happy Halloween!

Our neighbors invited us over for dinner before trick-or-treating began.

Ladybug Lily and Nora, watching Scooby Doo

Jeff with Nora, Dirk with Finn and Jeff with Will.

Jen and Will aka Yoda

Another Favorite

Nora could do (and does) this all day long.

Minneapolis

Nora, Jeff and I had a great trip to Minneapolis. The weather wasn't too cooperative, but that didn't stop us from staying busy and visiting so many people.

On Friday, Nora modeled her new hat, since it was snowing outside.

She went to happy hour at a tequila bar (don't tell social services)!

Saturday she posed with Uncle Mike and Auntie Emily.

Then we headed off to a great party hosted by Jeff's friends where we got to visit and catch up with so many friends! Nora had a playdate with Abigail.

Sunday she played with Heather.

And took a ride on Lona, the great dane.

Monday was an early morning flight back to Denver, leaving Nora exhausted. If only she had slept like this on the airplane.

Don't you just love a warm robe?

In addition to our standard bear pose, we've had some fun with her too! Nora giving (or getting) a bear hug.

And sizing her up!

Now it's time to get excited for Halloween!