Taller and Talkier

She's sprouting up. A few weeks ago, several family members noticed that her legs look just like mama's.It's true - long, a certain roundness to the knee, the way her heels kick out when she runs. She needed a whole new slew of pants this month.

Nora's always been a talker, but her enunciation is sharper than ever and it's very easy to forget you're talking to a 2-year-old. She asks for word definitions all day long. "'Shimmery' means, mama?" You have to be ready, at all times, for an explanation. It's tougher than you think. How would you define the word "shape?" What would you say when she asks, "Mama, the sun came up and it's raining! How did that happen?" (Not "why?" but "how did that happen?")

She also says things like, "Thank you, mama, for making that toast for me." And, "Hello, daddy! How was your day, daddy?"

Don't you agree? Don't you think she looks so much bigger these days?