43 Weeks Old

 Another week has zipped by. I feel like the summer is just flying by and we haven't done many of the things I had hoped to do...but then when reflecting back on the week gone by and looking at the pictures, I realize that we actually have been pretty busy and have been doing a lot. This past Friday Henry, Nora, Mom, and I headed over to the coast and spent the night in Rockaway. The weather was cool (of course) to start with, but then got nice and warm...Henry didn't let the cool weather dissuade him and he still went "swimming" in the ocean twice.

He also made this amazing castle masterpiece (with a little help...).  Below is what Nora did while we built the castle...

Can you spot her? She's napping underneath the blanket; covered completely save for a little ventilation.

When we returned to Portland the hot weather had returned and so we've been spending a lot of time outdoors...especially enjoying our lovely new mister. SO much nicer than a regular sprinkler.

Today we went to Oaks Park (first time this summer) and rode the rides and then played a round of mini-golf which Henry has been so excited to do. We'll definitely go back and do it again. I also want to take him to another mini-golf course (maybe Bullwinkles?) because the Oaks Park one is only okay but nothing special.

This week for Nora the theme has continued to be movement! She's hustling around the whole house just as fast as she can go (and believe me when I say the girl can hustle!). She's getting into everything - her most recent "discovery" being Wilbur's water bowl. Poor guy, I have to put it up on the counter whenever she's loose in the kitchen. He puts up with so much! She's loving pulling herself up on anything she can and is trying to take a few little steps if someone holds her hands. Probably the biggest new development is that she can climb the stairs. She all of a sudden climbed up three without any difficulty.

Of course she was so darn proud of herself, but I feel bad because with the marble floor at the bottom there's no way I can let her keep climbing them. Even a fall from only one step could result in a serious head bump if she landed on the marble wrong. Maybe I could put a mat or rug down at the bottom? Oh! I nearly forgot...she's gotten two more teeth! I noticed last week that the two on the bottom next to the two that are already in have popped through. This explains the runny nose and fussiness of the week prior. She is so predictable! Runny nose + fussy one week = new teeth the next week. Her hair is getting lighter still but I can't say for sure it's not just from being in the summer sun as Henry's also has lightened over the summer. Time will tell. And finally, there's this...no words, just this: