Turkey Trot

Happy Thanksgiving! We enjoyed yesterday right here in town. Starting with a morning Turkey Trot 5k run for the YMCA, we joined 2000 other runners. The forecast - sunny, clear, and 12 degrees!!! It did warm up a bit, but the run was a terribly hilly course and the cold weather made it hard to get our engines running. Zack and I proudly finished in 28 min. Not too bad.

After a turkey dinner, turkey coma, nap, and games, we called it a day. Nola LOVES being around her 5 cousins and is just one of the big kids now.
Nola's Aunts Suzy and Jessica

Nola's First Birthday Party

Nola Bea Turned One on November 9th and we CELEBRATED!

Our cheering began Nov. 8th when Nola took her first steps! Three to be exact. Guess where we were? Shopping! Yes, at our favorite baby boutique around the corner. Nola was just tooting around while I was picking out her birthday dress. She stood on her own and took three steps! Then kept doing it over and over. I guess she already loves to shop.

Here is the invitation to her first birthday party that my friend and very talented graphic artist, Hartley designed.

Fitting with the apple harvest party theme, Nola had the most beautiful cake I've ever seen! The cake decorator agreed and she made me wait until she could get a camera to take a photo before I left the cake shop.

Over 30 of our friends and family were here to help Nola celebrate! Including my mom from California.

Nola's "aunts" Deni, Kyra, and Sheryle

Adam, Uncle Matt and Aunt Suzy

Gammy and Oma

John, Jamie, and Jamison, Lauren and Ryan

Nola's bedtime is 7 pm, but the week of her party was daylight savings week, so she was actually tired and ready for bed at 6 pm! Yikes! We kept her up until 8 pm just so she could try to enjoy her cake, presents, and friends!

And this begins the progression of the birthday cake. Nola's first taste of sugar. She was literally falling asleep in the chair when we first gave it to her. But one lick turned into quite the conquest.

Next came presents, then off to bed birthday girl!

How old are you?

When we ask Nola how old she is, she holds up one finger! She's really advanced with her words these days. Here are just some of the words she is saying...

• "Uh Oh" - her first word, when she dropped a toy or food.
• "Dog" - her second real word. She says it with a British accent! She draws it out with a long O sound... Dooog.
• "Woof woof" - when we say "The dog goes..." Nola responds with "woof woof" She does it so fast and it's so sweet.
• "Doll" - She looks at the shelf of her dolls and says doll. It's a lot like dog so she's got that one down.
• "Ma Ma and Da Da" - but those were her first babble words months ago.
• "Hi!" - She waves and says in the sweetest voice "Hi" and she says "Bye" too! She knows what they mean because when I go into her room in the morning, without even saying anything, she smiles and says "Hi"!
• "Nose" - When I ask where is my nose, Nola will point to my nose and then I'll say "where is your nose" and she points to her nose!
• "Oma" - On the way to the airport to drop off my mom, Nola learned Oma. She basically combined oh and ma ma to make Oma!

Nola Bea is so bright. I just can't believe all that she is learning these past few weeks. In a funny way it's like training a dog, you work and work with the dog to learn tricks and all of a sudden one day, it just clicks and everything you've taught her comes pouring out!

At the doctors office Monday she had a book and was flipping the pages, without any prompting she saw a dog on the page, pointed to it, looked at the doctor and said "doooogg!" We were so proud! The doctor was astounded. And when the doctor walked in the door Nola waved and said "Hi". It's crazy!!

Nola is now 18 lbs. 13.5 oz, so basically 19 lbs and 30 1/2 inches. That puts her in the 73% for height but only the 8% in weight. That's what she's been since birth. She's REALLY tall :)!

Duck Duck Goose!

We took Nola Bea to the Fall Festival at church last night to trick or treat. She was a fuzzy duckie and these photos don't do the costume justice!

It turned out that Zack got all the candy and Nola was happy just playing with an unopened tootsie roll. She doesn't know what sugar is (yet) and we like it that way!

Grandbob was Pastor GI Bob and Nola didn't even blink at his war paint, but she did want to be held by Gammy the whole night!

Everyone says she looks like a Bender. I agree! She looks just like her daddy!