Happy Birthday Day!

Dear Norah,

Right before our eyes you have gone from a newborn baby to our outgoing 2 year old.  Every moment with you has been amazing.  Here are some of our highlights:

The moment you were born and they laid you on my chest I remember looking into your eyes, crying and say, "hi" over and over.  I remember your big eyes looking up at me, like we had known each other forever.

You were born with a head of hair and have never lost any of it!  You still haven't had your first haircut and now you are very clear each morning whether you would like a pony tail or a hair bow.

For the first 3 days home from the hospital we had to feed you out of a syringe.

You took your first plane trip at 6 weeks and did amazing.  You took your second plane trip at 5 months and on the way there did fine, not so much on the way home.

You lived the "nomad" life with me for about 6 weeks during Daddy's 5th deployment.  I remember wondering if you were going to be seriously damaged from all the moving around and sheer chaos during that time.  You seem to be fine.

You taught me what grace is.

And patience.

You ate your first bit of food at your first Thanksgiving and didn't seem to like it much.  By Christmas you loved it.  

You have always been extremely animated!

You sleep like your Mommy, sprawled all over.

"Norah do it", you always want to do everything.

You LOVE being a big sister!  From day 1 with Abigayle you have wanted to give her hugs and kisses, play with her, share with her and make sure she is included in everything we do!

You love saying, "more more this"

You walk around the house constantly asking, "fuss" (what's this?)

You are the only person who has been able to make Abigayle laugh hysterically.

You love tea parties and drinking water from tiny cups, blocks, whatever you can wrap your hands around.

You love getting "coffee" at church.  You want to look like all the adults.

Giving a "Double high five" is your thing.

You love giving kisses to everyone!

Just this morning you were playing in your princess tent and I set Abby down at the tunnel and you climbed through, reached your hand out and said, "come on Abby, hold my hand" 

Norah there have been so many more moments where you have lit up our days and brought us more joy than we knew possible.  I love you more than chocolate, more than sunshine, and more than you will ever know.

Happy Birthday sweet girl.  Here's to decades more of your infectious love.