The amazing first year is just about done with (officially on Wednesday, and this afternoon we celebrated her first birthday by introducing her to the magic of a birthday party. Presents were interesting for a bit, but the major event was cake. Unless you count whatever sugar they sneak in to baby food, this was Nora's first how-do-you-do to sweets, and they hit it off very, very well. So well, that she's got a bit of the ol' tummyache tonight. A good cause, though! Thanks to all who shared in the festivities...

It's been a month and then some, and it's not the first time that's happened. Obviously we've been off doing fantabulous things that prevented us from sharing pictures. Obviously.

A beautiful sunset at Weetamoo Woods with Brett, Kim, and Lucy Ana. Nora's digging the new backpack. So much so, she took a nap.

She loves those little gnomes... "Give me my gnomes! I want to hold them, gnaw on them, maybe even yell at them a bit!"

A smattering of shots from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the extended family. Nora's first Christmas, and the old cliches all hold true - it's not the present so much as what the present comes wrapped in that fascinates her. That, or trying to pull down the Christmas tree.