so, yesterday i was going to visit a friend in coronado. sometimes, i get so busy driving, talking to nora or on the phone, or just trying to get to destination that i don't pay attention to the world around me (i am a safe driver- don't worry!). i just mean that in ohio, if i wasn't stopping to enjoy the scenery, it wasn't as big a deal as san diego. so, i was awestruck driving over the bridge. this was the scene that first caught my eye. (i took the picture a year or so ago...) here is this blue water, stretching out for as far as the eye can see. there are sailboats dotting the harbor and underneath me, there are massive, gray warships. in front of me lies coronado island, in all it's splendor. behind it, rising up out of the ocean, is point loma and her lighthouse.

then, the bridge curves... (cool story... the bridge had to be a certain length in order to get funding, so the engineer bent the bridge to make it longer!) and on the right is the city of san diego. what a beautiful skyline. and as i looked over, there was a plane flying in to land. the way san diego is shaped, the hillside curves down to the runway... so the planes litrally look like they are flying into and through the buildings!

anyway, i was just trying to enjoy the day... hope you do, too!!

on to nora... she has this amazing personality! it's so fun to see it shine through. this morning, i heard her crying a bit, so i went in to get her. she heard my voice and started clapping! how great is that. then, when i went in to lay her down for her nap, she curled up the same way i do sometimes. that was fun to see! it's not even that she sees me doing... she just looked like me! she is so pleasant to be around and has this new smile that just kills me! i think it started because her top two teeth are coming in. but, it's a really gummy, cheesy smile! i will try to get a pic!
coronado, ca














nora enjoys storytime with daddy!!!














we went to the pool again with jeffrey and chelsey. so much fun!!













the kids had a blast! jeffrey is a pro at swimming... nora is learning! i sat her on the side of the pool and she would lean back into it... (like jumping in, baby-style)










just another day in nora's little life... cute baby!!! we just love her. david and i were watching tv last night and he said, "i love our bean". i asked what prompted that, and i guess there were babies on the tv. he just wanted to make sure i knew how much he loved ours!!!


i love her looks and expressions! it's scary when i see her daddy's looks cross her face! i am sure she has mine, as well. yesterday, we walked into the kids room at jazzercize and one of the 4 year old boys said, "she looks just like you"! even kids can see it! crazy!

video 3

trying to get cheerios into our mouth!! (and old one... she does much better now!!)

video 2

more please, mama!!

mother's day... and other firsts!!!

we had a friday night to ourselves, while daddy played in a squash tournement (and beat his former pro!!!). we had quite a bit of fun. yesterday, we went to stroller strides with denise and ben... denise got her workout in holding both kids!! (btw... ben is 13 months older, and about 3 pounds heavier than nora!!!)

we played in the backyard this afternoon, enjoying the gogs. nora had quite a good time! she was walking (assisted with mom's hands) and crawling after the dogs. she was thankful to get her cchurch dress off (not pictured) as it hindered her crawling!!! she got creative, and could still move quite quickly!!

nora can say "doggy"... it comes out sounding a little like "gog", but she says it repetitively and directed at zoey and cody (the dogs). she has say mamama and dahdahdah for a few weeks and intentionally directed at us, but this one is a new sound, let alone a new "word"! we are so proud of our daughter!!

another first... last night, david and i went to the padres game and got a babysitter. but, for the first time, we didn't have a friend or relative watch nora. this was a real life, bonafide, sixteen year old babysitter! she was the daughter of a girl from bible study. i had to go, pick her up, introduce her to nora, and then leave nora with her! (i think it was hardest on me... mostly because i still feel like that sixteen year old girl who babysits!!!) it was really hard to imagine ME picking up a babysitter and being the MOM!!! i'm so old!!! okay, enough of that... nora and the babysitter did great! (so did mom, who enjoyed the game thoroughly!!)

okay, now on to mother's day! (another first...) mine was good, but i want to say thank you to MY mom. i know that millions of bloggers are probably doing the same thing. i know that it's routine to say thank you to your mom today. and, i hope that i do it enough on the other 364 days, but THANKS MOM!!! you are the best. thanks for not working so that you could be home every day when i got home. thanks for the fun memories of life... some favorites include visiting tommy for lunch my senior year- all those afternoons that i didn't go back to school!!! thanks for always knowing how to fix the hurt (emotional or physical). thanks for being such an incredible example of a Godly wife and mother. thank you for doing your devotions daily, in a place where we could see them; never obvious or conspicuous, but with a heart for God. thank you for going to prayer groups and praying earnestly for me. thank you for preparing meals and doing so with our health in mind. thank you for teaching me how to cook. thank you for your love for dad... the way you treat him with such respect and obvious love! thanks for being the first to kiss him when he got home, and teaching me that a marriage relationship is priority for you. thank you for teaching me that divorce is not an option (but murder might be!!!- just kidding...) thank you for teaching me how to ask forgiveness, and when to ask for permission first! thank you for teaching me to humbly and correctly confront people when needed... and when to keep my mouth shut. thank you for teaching me manners. thank you for teaching me to heap burning coals on an enemy's head. thank you for teaching me how to be a FABULOUS hostess! thank you for always having our house stocked for whatever time and place the party may occur. thank you for making our house open to anyone, anytime, regardless! thank you for teaching me how to love my baby girl. thank you for teaching me everything i need to know. thank you for opening my eyes to the truth! i am a better person because i am your daughter. i hope that when i grow up, i can be just like you! thanks for being the best mom, and my best friend! i'm a mom's girl....

room with a view...

we are housesitting this week.... nora is having a BLAST!!! there is so much room to move, and to chase the dogs! she definitely has a new pastime. and, because we could, i thought i would rub in our view!!! so, enjoy our view, and enjoy the videos of nora and the dogs...

there is also a video of nora's latest feat... she is desperately trying to climb the stairs. short of that, she is enjoying climbing through things!!!

also, we got to play with jeffrey again (the kids are getting so big!!), and uncle dave came over to snuggle!!!

disneyland!!!

i was reminded again this weekend of what a wonderful, patient man i married. we went to disneyland for the weekend to meet a friend of mine and her new italian husband and his family. the weekend didn't go quite as planned (my fault), but david was INCREDIBLE through it all. and, we got to spend the day with my friend and her wonderful new familiy. plus, we were in disney! what could be better... nora was the BEST baby ever. both days, she only took an hour nap, but she was so pleasant and cheerful. she LOVED disneyland. i think the finding nemo ride was her favorite, but she enjoyed riding pirates with her dad. and, with a 9 month old, you don't have a whiny child begging for every toy you pass! it was awesome. and, you can go on most rides with a child strapped to you! so, enjoy some pics!

i know it's a lot of pics, but at the bottom is a video of the game nora discovered at the hotel... i think this was even more fun than disneyland, for her!!!



finding nemo... she LOVED the bubbles floating by



















a new favorite perch...


















i'm not sure you can go to disneyland and not get this picture taken!!!














nora and me with linds!!!













how we set up the crib in the hotel room, until we went to bed... keep the lights away from her!



















a new favorite toy... came with our booster seat



















look at my dad's shiny medals!! he's so cool.....




















i got a night out on the town with my girls!!!














nora enjoyed standing in line!!!

















and entertained everyone while she did it!!!