She's getting SO big!

Well, it has been a week of changes. School started back up so we are all adjusting to me going back to work. I have been really busy starting off the new school year, and TJ has been super busy with work as well. Nora has been adjusting really well to the changes, but aside from me not being home, her routine hasn't changed much.Luckily, my sister has been coming to our house to watch her for now. I swear though, every day I come home, she looks older.
This pic. was taken one of the last days of summer break. Her friend Audrey came over for a play date. They are goofy girls together.
Nora has been learning so much. She loves feeding herself lately. I especially love cleaning up when she eats yogurt...mmmm.
Nora has been saying so many words. This week she has learned...
-No (which sounds more like "nao")
-Baby
-More
-Cheese
She also says...
-Night, Night ("nigh, Nigh")
-Elmo ("melmo")
-ball ("baul") This is her most favorite word and she says it ALL the time
-water (waa waa)
-Papa
-"Mel Mel"(Her aunt Melissa)
and..."uh oh" (another favorite of hers)

She also has a job. Yup, you heard me right, Nora has a JOB. She LOVES feeding the dog. She has been doing this for a little over a week now. I ask her "do you want to feed Bailey?" and she runs to the stairs to go down and scoop some food for Bailey. She carries it all the way from our laundry room to the dog's bowl. I would say 75% of the time, she does this without spilling too much. :)
She enjoys this job so much though, that she keeps taking scoops and filling the bowl. I try to limit her to 3 trips. I figure eventually she is going to get full scoops and she will still think she can feed the dog as much as she wants. So, teaching her 3 trips won't be so bad.

I bought these boots for Nora about 4 weeks ago. They are 2 sizes too big because I want her to wear them in the fall. However, she thinks they are REALLY fun to wear. I actually had to hide them because she keeps putting them on! She is also holding the scoop for the dog food in this pic. as well.

Nora also enjoys going out to eat, but it is becoming a big challenging lately. She always wants to move.

See...I told you she is getting so big! Doesn't she look old in this picture?

Funny story...
Nora and I were running errands yesterday and I believe she is running for Mayor. She was saying "hi" to every single person she saw. Mind you, this isn't a soft "hi"-she SHOUTS. Some people would just laugh, but most would respond with a "hello". I think it is funny but slightly embarrassing.
Okay, we are getting ready for Halloween! Is this not the cutest dang outfit? We are test driving it. I think she might need the size up so we tried it on. You WILL see it again in 2 months. :) BOO!

15 months old!

Our little baby is already 15 months old! Can you believe it? I can't. She is amazing. I swear she has such a great personality. She understands so much now and it is so fun to watch her receptive language blossom. What is happening at 15 months? Well...
She is listening to directions
exploring on her own
playing more independently, but prefers to play with others
talks a ton
laughs at others
understands how to make others laugh
says "hi" to everyone wherever we are
and, she has actually (some may say finally) stopped nursing. I know, it was a long time, but there were several reasons why we went so long, the major 2 being-I wasn't ready to stop, and she loved it.
She also loves wearing her new fake Ugg boots around. They are two sizes to big, but she loves them.
I told her to make a silly face, and this is what I got.
WE took her to ST. Joes, MI on Sunday. Oh my goodness! She LOVED the warm water and soft sand. We had a great time, perfect little family day somewhere new.
Cute little beach bod.
I know, the sunglasses I am wearing have got to go. But, I like the picture anyway.

what's going on????

OUR KITCHEN IS ALMOST DONE!!!!!!!! YAHOO!!!!!!! TJ has been working his butt off for 3 weekends in a row. We are so thankful that his father flew in for 2 weekends to help. It looks so amazing people from our previous kitchen. EVERYTHING is new. The kitchen was torn down to the studs. This weekend the granite counters come in with a sink- and I will be a very happy girl. Nora enjoys twirling around and shouting in the kitchen. It was much more fun for her when the space was empty and echoed.
WE had a play date at my friend Deanna's house. Her little man, Jayden, is so cute and getting so big. He was 2 months early at birth, but he is big and strong now! Can you see Nora and her BFF are dressed almost the same? I swear that wasn't planned.
Ahh..better picture of their outfits. They are both very enthralled with the fire place. OOOOOOO, AHHHHHHHHHH
Nora went to her very first concert! IT was AWESOME! She danced and walked around and chilled in the grass. We saw Ralph's World. The singer, Ralph, actually lives in Glen Ellyn and I used to tutor his girlfriend's daughter. I had no idea he was this COOL. He is signed with Disney!
My favorite song has this verse in it... "m-o-m-m-y needs some c-o-f-f-e-e- ,d-a-d-d-y needs some c-o-f-f-e-e" All the kids in the audience were singing and spelling.

Nora and Audrey were dancing and giggling. Definitely need to do the concerts more often with her.

oh- one more thing. Nora is shocking me! The other day, I put the shower on and she went in the hall closet, opened the door, got one of HER washcloths and towels and brought it to the bathroom, all because she heard the water run and knew it was time for a bath. I didn't even have to tell her! Then, I was laying in bed yesterday and after TJ changed her diaper when she got up, she walked in the room, and came over by me. I said, "mommy has to brush her teeth, do you want to brush your teeth?" She nodded, walked out of our room, down the hall, into the bathroom, opened the drawer, took out her toothbrush and started brushing while walking back to the room. CRAZY!

Our little lovey

As we are winding down with summer, I am trying hard to "keep it together" each day and just realize I am lucky that I do get almost 3 months off of work to spend with my baby. I LOVE hanging out with her every day. I had to post this pic. because I think these are the cutest P.J.'s. They have ruffles on the butt too. Nora thought it was an ideal time to play with sunglasses.
We went out to breakfast on Sunday and ran into my cousins at the restaurant. Nora and Alyssa are only 3 months apart. They had fun sharing their meals.
Again with the Rosary. I swear, it's not like we have them everywhere in our house, but Nora has found the 2 we do have. She really likes to wear it and walk down the hallway to show me. Perhaps she'll be a nun???? I better start teaching her the more complex prayers so she's good and ready. :)
I did mention in the past Nora's fondness for stickers right? While playing with daddy, she decided to decorated her dress and Daddy's shirt.
Nora and I go to Gymboree each week for a music class. She also plays for a bit after class on the fun equipment. She is a tad timid but seems to enjoy exploring new areas.
She REALLY loves the music class. She is the oldest in the class and quite the show off. She talks and sings and walks around and dances during the whole class. I just let her because I assume it's okay to do that and haven't hear otherwise. However, I do get a few funny looks from the other moms. The other babies seem to think Nora is very fun and will follow her at times. I like talking to the other moms and sharing stories. It must be the teacher in me, but I love the class too.
Okay, check out the shoes. Blast from the past? Why yes! My mom found these shoes last weekend. They were my sisters. Melissa must not have walked around a whole lot at that stage of her life because the shoes looked brand new. They are a bit snug on Nora, but I had to get her to wear them at least once. They are so cute. Nora wears a size 5 shoe. Can you believe that?

The kitchen is still coming along. Cabinets are being hung this weekend. We picked out the counter tops. We have new appliances sitting in our living room. HA

well, it's coming along...

Demolition on the glorious old school kitchen. Down to the studs.
5 different floors were under the floor. More work then expected.
Electric took 1.5 days
And now we tile.
Ahhh...nice floor. Now the next phase....