The Countdown to Two...

We are now just about three weeks away from Norah's Second Birthday, and the excitement around the Denney home is building. Norah must sense something big (that could mean many gifts for her) is pending, because she has been quite well-behaved of late. Not perfect, by any means, but the threat of a time-out is putting a stop to alot of questionable behavior before it gets too far. Nice.



Anyhoo, the past few weeks have been pretty nice, with lots of fun activities and sports to speak of (not so much this week, as Norah has been sick and we've been inside the house about 95% of the time, but overall, definitely fun). Two weeks ago some friends were in town from Houston to see the Cowboys-Giants game with us, and they provided Norah with her first Cowboys jersey. As you can see, it fit like a glove. An adorable, over-sized, silver-and-blue glove.

The next day, we saw Norah's newest friend, beautiful Emerson Campbell Yorio (Jeff and Andi's new pride and joy). Emerson blessed her parents by sleeping peacefully during our visit, but we got to see her eat lunch and coo before we left, and Norah loved meeting her.

Last weekend, we visited the State Fair of Texas. Norah and I did go to the Fair last year, but as she had just learned to walk before that trip, it's not a stretch to say she enjoyed herself more this year. Indeed.

In front of a medical miracle. How can such a puny lower body support those upper body guns? We may never know.

Two pretty country girls at home with an agreeable goat.



Norah looking quite adorable next to a kangaroo. It goes hop, hop.



I think this is an alpaca, but honestly, I can't remember what the sign said. Norah knows more animals at this point than I do.

Yep, happy girl, these animals we talk about everyday are real! They just don't show up on the streets of Arlington for everyday viewing.




Donning her apron and basket at the "Little Hands on the Farm" exhibit like a pro. Parents, while this is an awesome activity, be sure to sanitize your little ones' hands multiple times throughout your visit. I have a suspicion that the germs accumulating here might as well put up a sign that says "Need H1N1? Come on in!" (While Norah tested negative for the flu, still, you are warned).



I don't listen to country music, but I feel that an appropriate country music line could be inserted here.




Norah playing one of the nice "every kid that plays gets a prize!" games. While she didn't make any baskets, neither did I when I played. And since she got a prize and I didn't, she clearly outplayed me. Norah was pretty tired by the time we left, so she was a bit too out of it to enjoy the awesome fried snickers and oreos that Karen and I consumed. Still, the day was a blast.


With Norah being under the weather, the past week has been quiet. But that won't last, as she is feeling better just in time for her birthday party this coming Saturday.


In other news:

• Norah has yet to feel her little sister karate kick her Mama's tummy, but we are starting to talk up this exciting new playmate to Norah. She has started smiling when hearing about her little sister, but she has also patted Karen's tummy and said "bye-bye little sister" before walking away.
• While I will happily defer to Karen as "the smart one" between the two of us, I probably have the better memory. At least, on long-term, useless stuff like movie quotes, song lyrics, and the like. I know it's early, but Norah definitely seems to have picked up this trait as well. The lesson: watch what you say around Norah.
• Upon seeing football on TV, Norah will now say "yay Cowboys!" If it is in fact Texas Tech on TV, she will happily amend this statement to say "yay Texas Tech!" (which she says as "yay axes eck").
• Norah's new favorite song is "Jesus Loves Me," which she likes to have sung to her while she is eating. She also likes to interrupt the song when you are getting to the end and demanding "hear again" over and over and over and, well, you get the picture.

Have a great week, everybody. Hard to believe, but there will actually be pictures from Norah's second birthday party next week. Where have the past two years gone?!