Florida Vacation

We had a wonderful time in Florida, and took lots of pictures so this post is a little long! We did nearly everything outside, and Nora enjoyed many meals on the patio.

Nora dipped her toes with Auntie Claire Monday morning

while Jeff and Jason had a floatie blowing-up contest. I can't say who the winner was, it was a hotly contested event.

Later on, Nora got in the pool for the first time and loved it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJKIjRQ-8JE

She enjoyed her floatie and 'swimming' in Mom's arms after her water weeble wabble and beachball.

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

A post-swim snuggle.

The next day, we were off to the beach on Sanibel Island.

Nora loved watching the waves and activity on the beach, but didn't enjoy the sand or cold water. We all enjoyed watching the dolphins feed so close to shore.

The beach tired Nora out, and Grandma's singing put her right to sleep at happy hour.

She rebounded later on that evening and had some ice cream from a cone just her size!

After a few cooler days, some adult illnesses and Nora cutting a top tooth, we were back at the beach on Friday. Again, Nora didn't like the sand and lifted her feet when set down in it.

But then she got over it, and even braved the cold water!

All this fun on the beach makes a girl thirsty...

Another happy hour outside and some snuggles with Grandpa.

Friday evening, we enjoyed a breezy walk on Bunche Beach at sunset. Everyone enjoyed it so much!

Saturday was the best weather yet, so Nora was in the pool again, lounging with Dad.

One more snuggle with Grandpa before heading to the airport on Sunday morning.

Monday morning, Nora was happy, well rested and ready for another day at daycare.

Pulling to stand

While I was checking my email this morning, Nora was doing this:

And this.

Sunny Sunday

It was a nice afternoon on Sunday, so Nora and I played in the grass and took some photos. Remember the photo from Oct. when this hat was huge?

The past several days, Nora has really stepped up her athleticism. She has started to pull up to her knees to play, shown below in the refrigerator. She's also getting up on all fours and crawling a bit, but when she needs to get somewhere fast she reverts back to her belly and army crawling. A couple of times, she has even pulled up to standing if she has the right object to do it on! However, she doesn't understand that when standing, she needs to hold on to something and cannot just move her arms and play at will; I see injuries in our future.

On Sunday we're flying to Florida for a week; I'm sure there will be some good pictures to share from our vacation!

Fun times

We've been staying busy and having fun. Nora went to her nine month well visit on Friday-where has the time gone?! She is 27 1/2 inches tall (50%) and weighs 16lb 12oz (20%). She is really developing a personality these days.

She got this new 'car' and enjoys sitting on it; the funniest part is that she tries to bounce up and down like she's in her Jumperoo.

Nora is such a help come laundry time...

One morning she crawled behind the couch, from one end all the way to the other. It was in pursuit of curtains, but we're faster at lifting them than she is at crawling!

Going after curtains again, behind the other couch this time.

And once she does get ahold of them, this is what she loves to do-rub her face in them.

And laugh.

This music table is also a new toy, she loves to make the frogs sing their rendition of 'Old McDonald.' Jeff and I just wish it didn't play the entire song each time she hits a key...