Twice is Nice

Since I last wrote, Nora and I went to the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan while Nathan visited his family in Arkansas. Nora showed her love of animals by making the appropriate sounds for the ones she recognized. On Thanksgiving Day, she gobbled up her share of turkey, seasoned with rosemary, lemons and a homemade citrus salt. Her palate also relished mami's pumpkin pie. Debunking asparagus as her new favorite vegetable are green peas. So long spears! One of her new favorites is trying on shoes, little shoes, big shoes, shiny shoes, open toe shoes. And even more exciting is scuffing her enclosed feet to the groovy sounds of salsa and merengue, a display of fancy and concerted footwork. Her vocabulary continues to multiply, but for the most part, her language still baffles us.

This past Thanksgiving we made our second turkey ever, even better than the first. Later this month we will celebrate our second Christmas in Connecticut with Calvary Chapel, our church family. For the second time in his life, Nathan will preach at a Christmas Eve service. Nora has now lived through two Thanksgiving seasons and is about to experience her second Christmas season. Several months ago I began the process of storing Nora's baby clothes and toys, contemplating consigning them to a shop in Mystic called Twice is Nice. Not long after we learned that for the second time in my life I am with child - 15 weeks this Sunday. Before Nora turns 2, she will be a big sister, and we will be parents...again. And so concludes my tribute to the number 2!

Milestones

Nora is officially a walker...well, a waddler is more like it. Have a glimpse!

A few weeks ago, Nathan officiated a friend's wedding in Arkansas while Zuly and Nora visited family in the Bronx. Nora had a great time with her abuelos, Tío Andy and Titi Naty, and the children for whom Zuly's mom cares. Nora rode the NYC subway for the first time and strolled the streets of the Boogie Down and Manhattan.

Nate is quite busy shepherding the flock. He has begun a new sermon series entitled Images of the Church and has begun helping out with the church's teen club, teaching on Wednesday evenings.

Nora and Zuly have joined a couple of play groups. Nora has proven to be quite gregarious with children, most of the time initiating some form of interaction with them. For those of you who might be interested in some of the details of her development, this paragraph is just for you. She has reached a few milestones since turning a year. In addition to learning to walk, she takes her drinks from sippy cups (I never imagined I would consider such a behavior an accomplishment); she imitates human sounds (and non-human, for that matter) more readily (sneezes, screeches, the squeak that results from a shoe rubbing against the floor, the sound of the Swiffer WetJet spraying its cleaning solution, police and ambulence sirens, etc); she kisses and hugs her dolls considerably and even shares her own food and drink with them; she spoon-feeds herself yogurt without making a major disaster...most of the time; she colors with crayons under supervision; and she has four top teeth and two bottom teeth. Her favorite meal for the time being is ground turkey stroganoff, to which she says, "Mmmm..."

Today, we (Zuly, really) turned the heater on for the first time since the end of winter. The leaves are turning swiftly and the cold is moving in. In December we will have been here a year. Until next time...

First Steps

This Labor Day Nora took her very first couple of steps. Using her lower body strength and the support of her arms, she sprung up, balanced herself and, with wide eyes and open mouth, walked toward a cheering and equally-awed Mami. Papi and Mami erupted into laughter and Nora followed suit. Our world continues to change dramatically.

Last weekend Nathan performed baptisms for the first time. Calvary Chapel gathered around the pond behind the church building and a total of seven people were baptized. This coming weekend there will be another baptism service around the pond!

Last week my little brother, Andy, stayed with us. We bonded with him and enjoyed his presence. He starts his senior year of high school on Wednesday. Already we miss his company.

Nora Turns 1!

On August 12, 2010, Nora turned 1. It's hard to believe, but our baby has morphed into a little girl. She cruises along furniture, scoots along on her toy car, hollers and points in demand of an object, climbs up stairs, helps pull weeds, bops to groovy music and so forth. Her locks have turned to curls long enough to adorn with a barrette. Family and friends gathered to celebrate Nora's first year, and the following day we gathered at a friend's house to celebrate her daughter's 2nd year (as shown in the pic directly above). Needless to say, Nora is a distinctly joyous gift.

The Right Reverend

Nathan's ordination took place on Saturday, August 7. After 3 hours of intense questioning, the council recommended Nathan for ordination. Following the exam was a lovely dinner and then an ordination service. We were in church a whopping 8 hours - a long but special day!

Sundry First Utterances

We think Nora's first word is "Hola." Every morning when either Mami or Papi enter her room to greet her, she smiles, waves and utters "Ala." She directs her "holas" at strangers, mami and papi, of course, her own reflection, passing motorcyclists and Lavonne, her purple cabbage patch doll. She says "muuu, muuu" when looking at the cow in Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider (in Spanish) and "Kikiriki" for the rooster. Sometimes, she fuses these two creating a sound that only a "mooster" would make.

Joy and Pain

Nora emerged into our world on August 12, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. The Dallas damsel weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 19.75 inches from head to toe. Nathan and Abuelita were present. "Light" (English short form of Latin "Honora") seemed a fitting appellation. The most prominent remembrance of birthing Nora is, without a doubt, the pain I felt. A good friend told me that often the most painful experiences in life bring forth the greatest joys. I agree.

At the Beach

Last weekend we drove to Woods Hole, MA where we boarded a ferry, rode for 45 minutes into the Atlantic and landed on Martha’s vineyard, a spot oft frequented by the Kennedys. Nora had her first taste of sand and sea shells and, in acrobatic fashion, climbed over a ledge in the house in which we stayed. Our adventures included walking, strawberry-banana pancakes, coffee ice cream, gingerbread houses and…more walking.