Volunteer Landing

13 July 2010

Jaime and I took Nora on an outside adventure this weekend.  We went to downtown Knoxville and walked the path at Volunteer Landing.  It's a pretty neat path along the river that takes you under bridges.  There are stops along the way that tell the history of Knoxville and even a little area with fountains and waterfalls.  Nora was in shock I think because she was totally zoned out.  Do all little children get that way when they leave the house?  I see kids at Target (not the older ones mid-tantrum screaming and crying) but the little little kids.

How many times have you been talking to someone with an infant/toddler and they say "Jimmy loves to say {monkey farts}.  Jimmy, say {monkey fart} for Mr. Gooden" and the kid says nothing and just stares at the candy isle.  Then the mom is puzzled like 'he does this all the time at home....wtf?" Is being out in public a sensory overload for young children?

I got off track again as usual, anyway.  We also spent a load of time in the 'redneck' pool.  Jaime got sunburned which almost instantly turned into a deep dark tan.  Nora and daddy were covered with SPF 435 from head to toe.  So nothing to worry about there.  When Nora is swimming, if you pretend to pick her up, she starts crying because she thinks we are taking her out.  Sometimes we have to slightly lift her out when we use the suction machine and she gets so angry that we are disturbing her.  So now every 10 minutes Jaime says "well, it's time to get out" just to watch Nora get pissy.   We love to see Nora's little attitude moments because that when we see Nora .... not SMA.

Nora also got presents!  First the BIG stuff.  A woman I work with, who has been a proud member in the Nora Gooden fan-club since day one, gave Nora the huge load of goodies.  She got lots of bubble dispensers (which are always a hit), an alphabet book, and this item Nora is totally in love with.  It's a rain stick!  It makes a rain type sound when these little plastic pellets fall through this maze of plastic shelves.  Nora is totally entranced with it.  When we stop, Nora signs MORE MORE and we have to do it over and over and over again.  Thank you Lanna for the HUGE hit with Nora.  We'll try and get a video taken of Nora's rain stick hypnosis.

The little Pink tutu swimsuit in the pictures was a gift by our good friend Linda Miller.  The suit fits Nora perfectly!  Does she look as cute as you imagined Linda?