Noa is now a little over 15 months old and growing in so many ways. It really seems like every day she learns a new word or activity, and its such fun to watch her take in and process the world around her. Her favorite words to say right now are “uh-oh” and “yessssssss” and “hottttttttt”. In fact anything that we tell her not to touch, she thinks might be “hotttt” so she blows on it to make it ok to touch. She still is not walking, which is a bit disconcerting to me, not because I’m worried she’s behind, but because I NEED her to walk before this baby gets here. She is a little climber, though, and loves to see what things she can get up on all by herself. Once she reaches her goal, she gets right back down and does it over and over again for fun. She’s better and better at standing, and can stand all by herself, without pulling up on anything. Like her friend, Lucy, she is very proud of herself when she does that and claps and laughs like crazy. She has also taken a step or two, though she doesn’t seem to think its that great… I guess crawling is just so much easier and faster. Here are some other things that are part of our days with this munchkin:
She loves getting into anything that she can take apart. Tissue boxes are just perfect for that!
She really enjoys her fridge letters/numbers magnets and can spend tons of time taking them off and, sometimes, putting them back on.
BABIES! Oh how we love the little baby dolls in our house, and any photos of babies that she can find, even her own “baby” photos. Its funny to talk about babies and anticipate another baby, when, in many ways, Noa is still my little baby.
Sweets. I have loosened up on my “no sugar til she’s 5″ business and every once in a while Noa gets to enjoy a dessert. She was in awe of the beautiful and delicious selection of cakes at the Terashita’s Christmas party.
“helping” with the laundry. The picture pretty much explains it.
She still loves to read her books, especially out loud and to no one in particular.
I have also really slacked up on the no movies rule and Noa has watched a few times on the computer or when she is at someone else’s house. Here she is being watched with the other team kids while their parents had meetings. Can you tell she’s pretty engrossed?
climbing up onto furniture and being so so so proud of herself.
opening presents… even presents that are not for her. here she is on her mama’s birthday, tearing into this one. 
My sister Martha has been here in Japan for the last 3 weeks on her Christmas vacation from school. It was SO WONDERFUL to have her here and I hated to say goodbye last night. Having a best friend close by once again did wonders for my heart. I didn’t realize how much I missed just sitting down with a girlfriend who knows and loves me so well, and it was so refreshing to get to do that once more with her, my dearest friend. Though the time went too quickly, and I wish it wasn’t as busy as it was, and it was so hard to say goodbye, I am so incredibly grateful for the time we had and the tremendous encouragement being with her was to my heart. Apart from fun times in the kitchen with mom, and random moments of laughing and crying together, here were some of the highlights from my times with her:
A Sisters Only Date: Martha, Hannah, and I went out to Sushi and Dessert (it was a progressive dinner, from one resteraunt to another) one evening and had the best time just laughing and catching up. We covered many of our favorite subjects, including boys, food, and clothes. It was a blast!
Of course, Noa loved having Auntie Martha around. I was a little nervous that she wouldn’t remember her, but she took to her right away, especially when bribed with treats 
Though Aunt Martha usually makes Noa laugh a lot, I didn’t catch any great pictures of their interactions.
We had a girls night with friends from church and had a really special time together til the wee hours of the morning.
More sushi (of course!). Last night before Martha left, we had an early family birthday celebration for me. Martha and Mom made my favorite carrot cake and we played my favorite game and had my favorite meal these days: sushi!
Me and my sweet sister welcoming in the new year.
