Seven months

Prepare for lots of pictures in this post. Nora is getting funnier and cuter every day, and tomorrow she will be seven months old.

Nora has two bottom teeth that you can see when she gives you this cheesy grin.

She's pretty much delighted with life most of the time.

Nora sits up on her own really well now! Singing songs is still one of her favorite things.

We just love her wrinkled up nose and chubby cheeks. (Not to mention those thighs.)

OK, on to some other photos from the past month.

Hiking at Vedauwoo

Admiring rock formations with Dad

Falling asleep on the trail

Exploring the piano with Mom

How soon should we start lessons?

Sitting up like a big girl!

Cheesy grin in the high chair! Nora really likes sitting up at the table with us. She just started sitting in this chair and it has made OUR meal times much easier.

Nora is growing lots of hair on top. Not so much around the sides and back.

We finally discovered a food she likes -- carrots!

Yum!

Nora loves to splash in the bathtub, so we went to the pool to see if she'd enjoy that. Not too much. She didn't cry, but almost the whole time we were in the water, she hummed in a nervous way.

All ready for school in skinny jeans and a shirt that says, "Auntie Says I'm Super Cute." Thanks, Aunt Sarah!

Family Reunion in Idaho

After a couple of days in the Tetons, we continued to Idaho, where we spent a couple of days with my family and an evening with some of Mike's family.

The cousins had a pool party

Nora didn't love it

Seth did!

Clancy is just three months older than Nora

Kisses!

We went out on Robert's boat, which was lots of fun!

And "camped" with Grandma and Grandpa (we didn't spend the night)

Cousins got matching 4th of July outfits from Grandma! Getting a picture was a challenge.

Nora with Mike's Aunt June -- such a happy girl!

And with Grandma Brough

Family Vacation: Teton National Park

We spent a couple of days in Teton National Park last week at the UW Research Station. It was gorgeous and relaxing and fun. Here are some highlights:

Lodge at the research station

Taking a nap in our cabin

The view from the dock at the research station

Our lovely host, my colleague Mary Ann.

Mike and I hiked to Grand View Point while Mary Ann played with Nora.

Here we are at the top!

We had a great time!

Six months

It's Nora's half-birthday! Some notable things have happened in the past month:

• She's been going to childcare and has lots of new friends there. She's adjusted really well. They do fun things like make art, blow bubbles, play in the sandbox, and have events like a Transportation Fair and International Mud Day.
• Nora's picture appeared in the Laramie Boomerang, our local newspaper! She was in a red wagon with two other babies on the way to the transportation fair.
• She tried solid food. (http://adventuresinthemidwest.blogspot.com/2013/06/bananas.html)
• She sits up with just a tiny bit of support, rolls from belly to back and back to side, does baby push-ups, sings, laughs, "talks," chews on her toes, and (sometimes) sleeps through the night.
• We learned that she is allergic to milk and eggs, and by cutting them out of her (my) diet we are clearing up her eczema! 

Some of my favorite photos from the past month:

Pretty summer dress

Favorite pastime: chewing on toes

Sweet potatoes are better than bananas

Check out the ruby slippers! Thanks, Grandma Sheri.

Vegan baking???

We recently learned that the wee one is allergic to milk and eggs, so I've cut those things out of my diet. I'm pretty fond of baking and eating delicious things, so I'm looking for things that I can enjoy without triggering Nora's allergies.

So far we've tried vegan baked doughnuts, which were pretty great (though they tasted more like sweet rolls than doughnuts) Recipe: http://www.namelymarly.com/2010/06/happy-donut-day-have-you-had-a-vegan-donut/

Next we tried vegan chocolate chip cookies, which did not turn out great. They tasted OK, but were flat and the texture was off. After refrigerating the dough, the next pans full of cookies were better, but I'm still looking for a different cookie recipe. Let me know if you have recommendations.

And last night we had zucchini pancakes, which were really delicious. Recipe: http://vegweb.com/recipes/zucchini-pancakes