Just how cute IS a bug's nose anyway?

Fully realizing that every parent has said this at some point or another about his or her child, I still need to go on record saying that Nora is about as cute as she can be. Even as she has spent the past month pushing four teeth through her miserable gums, she has been relatively sunny. Having just turned one, she is definitely at a wonderful age. We are enjoying watching her grow and change very rapidly, and we love seeing her personality blossom.

Besides the head nodding and sign language mentioned in an earlier post, she has a fair number of words for a one year old: uh-oh, baby, bye-bye, hi, mama, that's all, bubble, da-da (=dog), and, bafflingly enough, BOW! It sounds like "Pow!" but with a "b" in front, and she never fails to say it brightly with a big smile while I change her diaper. Beats me! She has a different wave to go with "hi" and "bye-bye", and as of now, everyone from myself to strangers on the street might be called mama.

Nora has spent enough quality time in my arms working on our nursing relationship that she is not terribly interested in pulling up and walking away from me, but she's just now getting around to it. It's as if she can't help herself. She's able to, and something within her tells her she must. Ian saw her stand unsupported once, but once Nora knew she was doing it, she started crying and plopped back down.

She crawls now to supplement her ski-like bottom-scooting thing, pulls up on most things vertical, and even cruises a little, especially when enticed by a dog on the sofa. Nora loves dogs so much that simply seeing one in close proximity makes her quiver and squeal with sheer excitement and exuberance.

A little over a year has gone by now since Nora rushed her way into our lives on Fiona's bedroom floor. What a wonderful year it has been! I feel so lucky to be able to enjoy more time at home with both girls.