Norah- Twelve Months.

Norah is twelve months; we have a one year old! We are sad to see your baby days go, but overall this day is filled with huge celebration and thankfulness. We are so glad that you are healthy, growing, and happy. You are such a joyful little girl and being with you every day this past year has been the greatest blessing.

Right at the beginning of the month, Norah started walking with her walker toy, and has gotten progressively faster! On October 11 she took her first two steps. She has taken a couple more since then, but isn’t really showing interest. She will stand by herself and walk along furniture, but would much rather crawl. Norah got her 8^th tooth this month, her bottom right lateral incisor, on September 25. Norah started wearing size 4 diapers at 11.5 months. She also had her second cold at the beginning of the month, but it wasn’t too bad, just a runny nose.

Another happening this month is that I quit making baby food and Norah is on complete solids! I sometimes still blend things up, mainly because it’s faster. It definitely takes her longer to eat now. It’s interesting to see what she chooses to eat now, since she is feeding herself. She still eats almost everything, but she is a grains girl. She will always eat first any sort of noodles, bread, or crackers. At the end of the month, I also started introducing whole milk and began phasing out nursing. It’s bittersweet! I was still nursing her 4 times a day (along with three meals), but now I am substituting one of her afternoon feedings with whole milk instead of nursing. She is taking it well and likes milk! Norah is still taking two good naps a day and we love it!

It’s funny to see the particular things Norah does or likes, the older she gets. For instance, she still always sucks her right thumb, and uses her left hand to reach behind her head and play with the neckline of her shirt when she gets tired. Another example is with her foam letters in the tub- she always chooses the O to chew on, out of all the letters! Norah really likes emptying the silverware out of the dishwasher, looking out the window, playing with daddy’s guitar cords, baths, walks, swings, giving “zerbits,” feeling people’s zippers and necklaces, following mom around the house, dancing whenever music comes on, and flipping through books (especially touch and feel books!). Norah colored her first picture this month, a pumpkin, and it was so adorable! Mom’s teacher heart was so happy. Norah also learned how to say “hi” this month and says it often! Her most common words are dada and hi. We have heard wow a few times, but mainly just lots of babbling!

We spent a lot of time this month looking through pictures and videos of Norah’s first year and getting ready for her birthday party- what a fun time! Norah, we love you so incredibly much and being your parents is the best. You are the most wonderful daughter and we are so thankful for you. Happy first birthday, Norah!

I also had to include pictures of Norah's first time trying whole milk, because they are just too cute!

Reading her Happy Birthday! book from Grandma!