Nora is TWO

So often, I wish I could freeze time with my little people... I remember thinking that when Phoebe turned two, there was nothing terrible about it. Now that Nora has been two for a month or so, I feel the exact same way. I absolutely LOVE having a two-year-old in the house. There is something absolutely delightful - and difficult - about two-year-olds, but I absolutely adore those chubby cheeks, wide eyes, and high pitched ramblings and I wouldn’t trade this season for the world.

It’s so hard to capture the essence of our Norabelle at this age. She quite literally can do nearly anything that her big sister can do. It always amazes me when the ABCs come out of her mouth, or when she counts to fourteen accurately, or when she identifies a letter out of the blue. She converses with ease, and sometimes she makes me forget that she’s only two. Nora loves to pretend, especially with critters; it delights us to hear from the other room her talking to little bunnies or dolls and asking, “What’s wong?” in her special pretending voice. (It took me a long time to realize that she wasn’t talking to Phoebe!)

As big as Nora seems, she’s also still so small. She hates to be separated from us, and she still has a hard time going to Sunday School (one of the only times we are apart), even when her big sister is present. She continues to be comforted by her Wilbur and her nay-nay, and I think she’d hang on to that nay-nay until she turned twelve if we let her. I’ll occasionally catch myself asking something of her, and realizing -- she doesn’t understand this at all. I often forget that her understanding is not as great as her sister’s -- nor should it be! She is now, however, sleeping in a big girl bed with few issues (although she does love turning the lights on and off). She looks so tiny in that big bed, and I suppose that’s because she really is!

Nora is most certainly our spirited, social child. When Nora is sad, she’s very sad. But when she’s happy, she’s exuberant. She hates to be alone; I am thankful that the Lord saw fit to bless this social child with two adoring sisters and built-in friends so close in age. Blanket time remains a struggle, for no reason other than she just wants to play with Phoebe. Nora especially loves her Daddy, and would remain physically attached to him at all times if it were possible. (She tries.) We are working with her on cheerful obedience (as she loves to protest loudly with a toss of the arms and curls), and Nora remains opinionated and exuberant. We have a really hard time not giving in to her!

Nora loves to pretend and dress up with her sister, read stories, climb trees (I’m a koala, Mommy!), play with dolls both big and small, write and draw, help Mommy cook, swing and slide. Nora also loves long baths with her sister having tea parties, snuggles with Wilbur and Daddy, silly songs, faces drawn on the shower wall, unloading the dishwasher, Max and Ruby, and her pink cowboy boots. She loves olives and feta, sour cream, and anything she can dip in something sticky. She loves to sit on the counter with Mommy, smell Wilbur’s ears, and to run around outside.

Oh, Nora... what a great delight you are, to us, and to all who meet you. I am so thankful God gave me you and your pudgy cheeks and curly hair. I can’t help but smile when I look at you! You’re the most precious, sweetest two year old I know!