Lisa: Happy Birthday, Uncle Jeff!

In just a few weeks, Nora will get to meet her uncle Jeff for the first time. I can't wait!

Lisa: little bunny foo-foo

It's hard for me to believe that Nora is old enough to notice what holiday it is and if she gets a present or not--but this Easter I had to face the facts. Since Blake is pretty adamant that Nora not eat candy (and I'm not actively encouraging candy either), I wanted to make her something special that would take her mind off the lack of chocolate eggs.

This little bunny and her blanket are made from this mmmcrafts pattern, and are sewn from some of Nora's outgrown baby clothes. I used felt, embroidery floss, thread, and batting that I already had, so the only thing I had to buy was the pattern itself. My dad made the cradle for me when I was a baby, and my mom brought it up from Spring City so that I could pass it on to Nora. Tender, right? I mean, I'm pretty much the best mom ever, wouldn't you say?

Unfortunately, my gift was completely overshadowed by the gigantic pink plush Care Bear Nora's great-aunt bought her at a secondhand store. Nora tackled that thing and rolled around with it, giggling and giggling. Ah, well. Maybe this sleepy little homemade bunny will grow on her.

(Oh, and if you think that I copied Angie's wedding colors, then all I can say is thank goodness I have people with really good taste to mooch off of.)

Lisa: China, day 14

Tuesday morning before heading to the airport, we stopped in for a quick visit at the Summer Palace. It was gorgeous and huge, but chilly and crowded--and Nora was just about through with being carried. For good.

The play area at the Seoul airport on the way home was much more what she had in mind.

Lisa: China, day 13

On Monday we went to the Great Wall, and Nora wanted to walk every inch of it herself.

Lisa: China, day 12

We wanted to do something that would be fun for Nora, so we spent the morning at the Blue Zoo aquarium. She loved it--especially the BIG, naughty shark.

Later, we walked around the old part of Beijing. This is either in front of the Bell Tower or the Drum Tower (I admit I'm not sure which).

Lisa: China, day 11

Here we are at the Forbidden City...

and the Olympic Plaza...

and of course, engaging in some international race relations.

Lisa: China, day 10

Today we got to Beijing, and met Blake and my dad at the airport. YAY! It's just what we needed to cap off the trip. Here they are with Nora in front of her favorite feature of our hotel--one of the two lion statues flanking the entrance.

Lisa: China, day 9

Nora, giving me her classic photo face in front of the terra cotta warriors in Xian:

And here she is outside the museum, trying to make friends with a very smiley but shy Chinese boy her own age in split pants. She kept kind of sidling up to him, shoulders hunched and belly out. Each time she got too close, he would run back to his mom.

Nora loved the video they showed about the history of the terra cotta warriors. For the next few hours, all she talked about was fighting, fire, running, and flags. Maybe someday Blake won't have to watch all his favorite movies alone.

Lisa: stairs

For the first time, Nora found stairs with a railing low enough that she could go down all by herself. She counts a bit while she's doing it, too.

Urban Planning Exhibition Centre, Shanghai

Lisa: China, day 8

Nora, enjoying a vegetable bun at the best dumpling restaurant in Shanghai.

Lisa: China, day 7

Nora made quite a few conquests in the People's Park. This one was probably the most age-appropriate.

I have a cute video of this little guy singing her the ABCs, but I think YouTube is blocked in China. I'll post it when we get back.

Lisa: ABCs

As promised, here's a little Chinese boy singing an approximate version of the ABCs for Nora.

Lisa: China, day 6

Checking out the view of Shanghai (or as she calls it, "Hai-Hai") from the window of our FIVE STAR hotel room:

Lisa: hello!

Mom and I tried to get Nora to say "Shanghai" on camera, to no avail. She pretended to be very busy talking on the phone instead.

Lisa: China, day 5

I couldn't choose just one picture for today.

Outside the Hong Kong temple, where we went to sacrament meeting:

Completely loving the cable-car ride up to the Po Lin monastery:

And with Grandma, looking up through the fog at the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha: