Nora is now only 5 weeks from three and surprising us constantly. The other day, she was drawing on her Aqua-doodle and all of a sudden, said, N-O-R-A. Whaaaat? She can spell her name? We didn’t teach her that! I just love that school of hers! At her parent-teacher conferences a few weeks ago, we heard that Nora’s teachers think she is “clever and bright” and “not just bright because she is one of the older kids in the class.” And, at the risk of sounding like one of those annoying moms (I know, but allow me this), one of the mothers at Nora's school said to me, “Nora is so smart!” Another mom said that the conversations she overhears during drop-off between Nora and her teacher Brigid are “outstanding for a child her age.”
It has been fun seeing the kids start to play together without any prompting from Geoff or I. Here they are sitting down on the porch reading together. Jack is such a willing participant in anything Nora suggests, it is just a nice thing to see. To that end, Nora has become a huge fan of “Go Diego Go” the cartoon series about animal rescues. She watched the show daily before bed and Jack sings “Go Go Go” in support! Gramma sent Nora a Baby Jaguar (Diego’s sidekick) and she carries that little thing everywhere. Jack gives him hugs when his sister lets him touch it. However, she has made it clear, the show is about her, not any of us. Example: Geoff said, “Hola Diego” at the start of one show recently and his sweet girl turned around and said “He not talking to you Daddy!” Well, that may not have been her best moment, but she is sweet running around the zoo or dog park yelling “It sounds like an animal is in trouble!”
She is a sweet girl. Just last night she said to me "You're a good mama" Really? she nodded yes and I just enjoyed the moment. I also was the very proud recipient of my first kid-made necklace, complete with a heart which says "Nora Loves Mommy" ahhh, I love this age. I figure I'll keep that necklace and wear it when she is completely absent of any positive emotion as a teenager.
And, with Father's Day fast approaching, I wanted to post this picture. These children adore their father and no one can get them giggling like he does. He puts up with their tantrums and refusals of him for mommy, but they look for him when he leaves and ask about him if he happens to not be with us. So, here's to you Ga Ga, you're a great Daddy!In other family news, my brother and his wife had a baby boy on May 20, 2010. They named him James Lawrence Anthony, with all three of those names a tribute to men in their extended family. He came out perfect and healthy and with red hair and blue eyes. If they let me, I will post a picture soon. He is a cutie and joins big sister Dosha who is just over two.
