Grace is 16 Months!

Grace turned 16 months on February 17th, and she is NOW WALKING!!!  Yay!!!!  Early in the month she would take a few steps here and there, and was starting to maybe walk across the room occasionally, but nothing spectacular.  She walk also starting to walk sometimes without being asked to, so we were making progress.  Well the Saturday night when we had Norah's family party (Feb. 7), I don't know if she was showing off because so many people were there, or what, but after dinner, she was walking around everywhere, the most I had ever seen!  It then took her about the next week, and by the next weekend, she was walking about 90% off the time.  She now is walking all the time and its rare to see her crawl any more.  She did exactly what Kyler did, he didn't walk until 15 months, and as soon as he did, just took off!  I know people have said, "oh, I bet your glad she isn't walking yet, I wish mine wasn't walking", but I'm glad she is.  It's so hard when we go somewhere, church or out to eat and she wants to get down, but I'm not going to let her down to crawl.  Now that she's walking, I will gladly let her down to walk around. :)  Grace got her right front side bottom tooth this month, and her right bottom molar, so we are now up to 8 teeth!  Grace is also finally starting to eat some more table food, but will still eat baby food too.  She loves graham crackers and cheese. :)  Grace also went down to only one nap this past month.  She was taking so long to fall asleep before each nap, that I just decided to go to one.  Some days it can still be a stretch and if we are in the car around that 11:00-12:00 time and she got up pretty early, she might fall asleep.  But she has really done pretty well.  Here are some pictures from the past month!

  

16 Months!

So hard to get her picture this month!

Enjoying walking with Norah's birthday balloons

Little Valentine!

Checking out things at Norah's party

Pushing the popper around…this was the night before Norah's party

Playing in the snow!

Grace loves to go get hats, mittens, etc. and put them on :)

Practicing walking from mom to dad (who had the camera)

Wearing her beads! (or "pretties")

Norah's Birthday Parties

We had three "celebrations" for Norah's birthday.  The first one was on her actual birthday with just our family.  Norah's birthday fell on a Thursday this year, so she got to spend her morning at preschool being the leader, and wearing her "4" birthday crown.  After preschool, Erik took her to Scratch to pick out cupcakes to eat later.  After lunch the kids hung out, played, and then took a nap.  While the kids napped, I wrapped Norah's presents, so as soon as she got up, she saw them and immediately wanted to open them. :)  After she opened her presents, we ate dinner, Norah's request of skillet casserole, and enjoyed our cupcakes.  I think Norah had a fun day turning 4!

Ready to open presents

Checking out the first one...

Frozen Anna and Elsa!

Grace thought she should help :)

Frozen house :)  (I know Norah's expression in this picture isn't the most excited….lol) :)

Norah's second birthday celebration was on the Saturday after her birthday with our families.  She went to Kindergym in the morning, and then to my parent's house for lunch so we could get ready for the party.  After lunch, Kyler and Norah came home, and all three kids took a nap.  I'm pretty sure Grace is the only one who actually slept, as the older two were too excited for the party. :)  Around 5:30 everyone started arriving.  As soon as everyone got here, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner of pulled pork sandwiches, cheesy potatoes, fruit salad, relishes, and chips.  After dinner the kids played for a while, and Norah kept coming and asking if it was time to open presents. :)  As soon as everyone had finished eating, and we were able to clean up a little bit, we called Norah to come open her presents.  She had so much fun, and loved everything she received.  After presents, we sang "Happy Birthday" and enjoyed cake and ice cream.  Everyone hung out for a while then and finally about 9:30 the last people left. :)  We are so grateful that our families all live so close and are able to come and celebrate our kids' birthdays!

Norah's Frozen cake 

Ready to party!

Norah with her cake :)

The birthday girl!

Party guests!

Birthday dinner

Ready to open presents!

Love that some were wrapped in a Frozen reusable bag :)

Having fun opening

Norah got this coat and Grace would not take it off!  (Also showing off her walking skills) :)

The birthday girl!

Singing "Happy Birthday!"

Picture with Henry and Geneva

Picture with Uncle Ben

Norah's final birthday celebration was a week after her birthday.  We invited some family friends over to celebrate Norah with a "kid" party. :)  We had this party at church, as we are getting ready to put our house for sale (more on that later), and I thought it would be easier clean-up. :)  Everyone arrived about 6:00, and we enjoyed a yummy dinner of tacos/nachos, fruit salad, and cheesy potatoes.  After dinner the kids played and worked on some Frozen craft projects for a while.  Then Norah was ready to open her presents. :)  After presents, we sang "Happy Birthday", and enjoyed cupcakes and ice cream.  Then we enjoyed hanging out and chatting while the kids watched the Frozen movie and worked on their craft projects some more.  We headed home around 9:00.

Frozen cupcakes :)

All ready to go!

Kids table!

Two of the three "littlest" ones :)

Checking out her new game!

Love the kids all gathered around :)

Looking at her new Barbie :)

Singing "Happy Birthday!"

Jentry, Grace, and Judah :)

We are so grateful for everyone who came to celebrate Norah's 4th birthday!  She had a wonderful time and was extremely blessed by the gifts she received.  We appreciate everyone who took time to come and celebrate with us!  Happy Birthday Norah!

Norah is 4!!

Miss Norah turned 4 years old on February 5th!  I probably say this all the time, but I can't believe she is already 4!  One big thing that happened about two weeks ago is that Norah FINALLY got rid of her pacifier! aka: her "mama" :)  We have been talking about this for almost a year now, as we told her last year at this time that "3 year olds don't have 'mamas'", well the days kept going and the weeks kept passing, and Norah still had her pacifier. (Probably also due to the fact that we had an infant and I was trying to get as much sleep as possible!) :)  About two weeks before her 4th birthday, she decided she was going to get rid of it, so she gave it to Erik and he cut it up and she threw it in the garbage and we haven't looked back!  She really did pretty well, there have been a few times when it has been nap time or at night time when she's said, "I can't go to sleep" and I'll ask, "why, do you need your mama?" and she will say "yes". :)  Overall though, it's gone way better than I ever thought it would.

Norah is in love with all things princess and Frozen.  All she wanted for her birthday was anything that was Frozen related and princess dolls.  Norah loves to sing and dance.  On a daily basis we still hear her break out in song singing "Silent Night" or "What Can I Give Him?", the songs she sang in her Christmas program.  She is so much more outgoing than Kyler was, and still is.  Norah loves to play with her brother and sister.  Sometimes she can be a bit overbearing for Grace, and Grace is not afraid to let her know that, but she means well. :)  Norah loves to play with Kyler but can also be his worst enemy.  She has taken on the roll of "tattling" on Kyler very well. :)  She often comes into the kitchen or another room just to tell Erik or I what Kyler is doing.  Usually it's something he shouldn't be doing, but she feels the need to tell us that he is misbehaving. :)  Norah loves to play pretend.  She got a new baby for Christmas, and this baby would be doing anything that Grace was doing. :)  Norah also had an imaginary friend for a while, I'm not sure if he is still around though. :)  She has such a creative mind, and I love listening to her play "pretend" with her family or princesses.  Norah likes to get me involved in her imaginary play as well because she will often say to me, "mommy, do _____  too!"  The other day she was having me put up my imaginary umbrella like she was putting up her real one because it was "raining" inside our house.  Norah loves to cook in the kitchen.  Whenever someone is cooking or making dinner, she needs to be right there to help.  At Norah's 4 year check-up, she 33 lbs and was 3 feet 4 inches tall.


Miss Norah,
You are such a caring little girl and love to help take care of everyone.  You also have quite the dramatic side, which adds so much to your personality.  You are very smart and pick up on things so quickly.  I am amazed at how much you have learned in the first half of preschool this year.  You love babies, princesses, Frozen, and being with your family.  We are so thankful for you and we wish you a very Happy Birthday!  Enjoy being 4!

4 Years Old!

:)

Enjoying the sled

Loving on Grace