Projects, the Pool, and a Tooth

Since Norah has been working on her letters this year at school, we decided to put together an alphabet book using Maddie's and Norah's hand prints. We actually started this as a wintertime project back in January, but it has taken me awhile to get everything put together (you can click on the pictures to see them a little bigger). Meanwhile, Norah's class made their way through the entire alphabet - one letter a week - with "A" back in September and "Z" just a couple of weeks ago. Now she's pretty good at identifying all the letters and sounds, and she can even write most of them. We're so proud of her, and she's excited to be learning all these new things. She only has about a month of school left before summer vacation - hard to believe she's almost a four-year-old!

Speaking of summer vacation, the pool has been calling Norah's name for several weeks now. She finally convinced Dan to blow up a raft for her and then she hopped right into the water... but quickly decided it was still a little cold and got right back out. (Maddie only needed to put one foot in to decide it was too cold for her, but Daddy had to get all the way in to retrieve the pool toys Norah had thrown to the bottom.) Lest they give up on the idea of water play altogether, they decided to play in the sprinklers instead. Maddie was still a little unsure, but curious enough to give it a try. By this weekend, Norah will be ready for the pool again, though a week's worth a weather in the 70's (plus cool nights) certainly didn't make the water any warmer.

She likes to stick her tongue out :)

Maddie turned nine months on May 2. She thinks she's Little Miss Independent at home, crawling all over the house, pulling herself up on anything she can find, and generally getting into anything she shouldn't have (especially sissy's toys). Away from home, she wants to stick a little closer to the familiar, as stranger danger has definitely set in. She (finally) got her first tooth on May 1. Of course, this is the same day she was scheduled to take her nine-month pictures - so the sore gums plus the aforementioned stranger danger meant no smiles for the photographer. We were, however, able to get the stars to align at home, and caught both Norah and Maddie looking at the camera AND smiling in one picture.

Now that Maddie is starting to develop some more distinctive features, I thought I would share some pictures of Norah, Dan, and me at (about) the same age. I see resemblances to all of us in various faces that she makes and mannerisms that she has, but she's definitely growing into her own little person. It's so fun to watch!

Norah - nine months

Kristin

Dan

Love to all!