Cheese!!

This is what happens when you ask a 2 year old to smile for the camera.

Brooks

Nora is learning her last name. When asked her name, she will now say "Nora Brooks." I am "Mommy Brooks." Tim is "Daddy Tim." Lincoln is "Lincoln Brooks."

Nora shocked us by saying Bubba is "Uncle Kenny." How did she know Kenneth is Bubba's real name? According to Bubba, it is because he told her so. :D

We also showed Nora a picture of Jeremy. Tim says "This is Jeremy." Nora says "No! That's Nick!" Tim unsuccessfully went on trying to convince Nora for several minutes. It will be funny to see her meet Jeremy in person with Nick.

SNOW DAY!

Tellus Museum

We had a ball at the Tellus Museum looking at the dinosaurs. Nora was a little spooked in the planetarium, so we had to go. (Mommy didn't like it either)


Highlight: Nora digging for dinosaur bones. When it was time to go, Nora through one of her first public temper tantrums. Terrible 2's here we come.

Scared of My Own Shadow

We took Nora to see her second movie in the theater "The Princess and the Frog." Nora seemed to enjoy the movie, but has been spooked by her own shadow ever since. We never thought that saying was true until now. . . Go figure! Anyway, we are now making shadow puppets, and making our shadows dance to try to let Nora know that even shadows are our friends. :D


It was so cute to see Nora stop in her tracks when she noticed her shadow outside on the way into Kroger. Nora literally froze and said "Mommy, I'm scared. Shadow - right there."

UNBELIEVABLE!

Uncle Bubba was so kind to spend two days watching Nora during the day since Mrs. Dorothy was closed. The day was "eventful" says Uncle Bubba.

I call Bubba around noon to see how things were going. Here is our conversation.

Kendra: Hey Bubba! How is the day going?
Bubba: It has been an eventful day.
Kendra: What time did Nora wake up?
Bubba: 9:00. I tried to get her to lay back down, but she just didn't want to. Then, Lincoln came running up to me, I guess to tell on Nora because I found her laying in the dog bed without her pull-up on. She was saying something about poo poo on the floor. I looked in the hall and she had pooped on the floor, and Lincoln ate it.
Kendra: (laughing histerically) WOW!
Bubba: So then I was cleaning that up and Nora went into the bathroom and found the hair grease. She rubbed it all over herself. She's crazy! I keep trying not to laugh because I don't want to encourage her, but she is funny.
Kendra: (still laughing) Well, did she eat breakfast?
Bubba: I gave her a bagel and some cut up apple, but I don't know if she ate it or if Lincoln ate it.
Kendra: Where did she eat?
Bubba: In the media room
Kendra: Oh, that's why we eat in the high chair. Well, I'll see you after school. Thank you. Do you need anything?
Bubba: No. Just get home soon.

I still laugh when I think about this. Nora was just whipping Bubba into shapre for when Austen gets up and moving. This was a training day. Anyhow, both Bubba and Nora survived these 2 days. In fact, Nora was very unhappy when Uncle Bubba tried to leave. Thanks Bubba! You're the best brother ever!

Baby Einstein

Theory: Nora is a smarter than the average (even above average) child her age.

Data/Observations:
#1: Nora already pretends to read. Ocassionally, we will catch her saying the actual words that are on the page! (My Baby Can READ!)

#2: Nora picks her books to be read aloud each night by title. For example she will say "I wan (want) Pocket" for the book There's a Wocket in My Pocket or "I wan (want) Paint No More" for the book I aint Gonna Paint No More. She also says "Apples on Top" for Ten Apples Up On Top and "Bear" for Brown Bear, Brown Bear. But she melts my heart when she says "one more, Mommy"

#3: Nora counts to ten now - without skipping any numbers. She can even start from anywhere and go up. She also does not always count to ten. She realizes that there are different values and that there is not always ten. :D

#4: Nora will be writing and you will hear her say "N-O-R-A" she is spelling her name. Now I do know that she has no idea what she is saying or that it spells her name, but she is not even 2 yet!

#5: We're using the potty! (not consistently, but hey she knows when she has to go) She will even tell me "good job, mommy" when I go. :D

I could go on and on, but I will spare you the long drawn out observations, but there is only one logical conclusion.

Disclaimer: I am Nora's mother and I will always see her through rose colored glasses. This information in the following announcement may be a little exaggerated, but is indeed a fact. (to me) :D

Conclusion: NORA GABRIELLE BROOKS IS A GENIUS!

Christmas Time is Family Time!

The Christmas tree is up and boy is it beautiful! Nora seemed disinterested at first, so Tim and I put up the tree as she napped. When Nora woke up and came downstairs, she started adding ornaments to the bottom of the tree and you could finally see the magic of Christmas in her eyes.

Funny thing, she goes to the Christmas tree almost daily to quiz Tim and I on the color of the ornaments. "Daddy, what color is this?" "Good job, Daddy!" - Nora

Bubba reminded us of last year when Nora was just saying "tee". My time has flown, and she's grown up so much!

Thanksgiving '09

"Hey Good Lookin'
What ya got cookin'
How 'bout cookin' something good for me!"

Nora was quite the chef in helping us prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. She helped make the green bean casserole, the cranberry compote, the sweet potato casserole, and the cornbread dressing. "Help! Help! I wan (want to) help!" is what Nora kept saying as we prepared our small meal for three. She wanted to do everything. :D It was a lovely time together, and the food was not too bad either.



(I'm not too sure Nora was happy with the results of the cranberry compote.)


I am so thankful for my family, near and far. There is no other thing in the world that matters more than family. They all have a special piece of my heart. I think about how blessed I am that I have so many people to love and so many people who love me back. My family is the best part of me. I love you all. I AM BLESSED!