Hair. Teeth.

More Dancing

This is my best attempt so far...but of course she figured out what was going on when she turned around to ask "Mama dance, too?"

This kid likes to dance. In fact, when we were attempting to leave David and Jen's wedding--when every one else was out cutting a rug--Nora pulled away from the door and ran to the dance floor exclaiming "Nooooo! Shimmy, shimmy, shimmy!"

And here's why:



Technically, I should have gotten permission from "Awesome" to publish unreleased material, but...there you go.

"This is the pillow. This is the pillow."

That's the mid-nap sentence I heard via the baby monitor yesterday. Nora was sitting up and identifying the objects in our bedroom, beginning with those closest to her (she was having a nap in the MamaPapa Bed). "This is the pillow. This is the book. That is the necklace. Mama, turn the fan off." That sort of thing.

Luckily, she went back to sleep fairly easily. That time. She's sleeping again right now, but who knows when she'll wake up and what she'll be saying. She's been waking up more than usual these days due to sleep talking. It's a little surprising her brain hasn't exploded what with all the pronouns, verbs, adjectives and hanging gerunds firing up new synapses. I mean, IT BLOWS OUR MINDS.

(It's okay if I say something particularly stupid if I use capslock, right?)

I've been trying to video some of her accomplishments, but she blocks every attempt by turning her direct attention to the camera. Every time. Until I figure out how to set up the tripod far enough in advance that she stops noticing the camera you'll have to bear with these still shots:

Who eats yogurt with a spoon?

Hardly incognito.

Shortly after this photo, Nora immersed herself in Shilshole Bay. Looking down at an open-eyed, underwater mermaid freaked out this mother, but when I picked her up, her first words were "back in the water."

Just today, plotting at the Volunteer Park wading pool.

...and awake. Today's waking words? "Mama. Mama? I want to go see Mama." Why am I typing instead of going in the bedroom? Because Basil went in. I know, because she just said "Need a ladybug necklace. Papa, get it puhhhleeeeeeease."

When is a door not a door?*

Does that title have anything to do with this post? Who can say?

The following video was taken by David Nixon in the back of our building (during a lovely impromptu barbecue with the newlyweds) for Vital 5's Arbitrary Art Grant in Dance...which is why Nora's styling moves are accompanied by gunfire.



Hurry! Get your entry in by midnight tonight!

*When it's ajar.

Independence

I really think that Nora represents Paul Revere in this photo:

Why must my camera phone have such poor quality?

This photo followed a fantastic summer day of a morning trip to Volunteer Park and an afternoon trip to Golden Gardens. The first included a wading pool and a little picnic; the latter included complete submersion in Shilshole Bay and a Surprise Dinner Picnic (tm?) with Yuki, Mimi and Philip. Not a bad way to prepare for impending fireworks...especially when said fireworks are way past someone's bedtime.

May you all have the freedom to wear one holiday's accoutrement on another.