Nora Evelyn McGowan

Nora met her new cousin Kacie Elizabeth yesterday but, I’m afraid, found the dogs a great deal more interesting. Here’s a photograph to capture the moment. Welcome to Earth, Kacie! It’s Mostly Harmless.

Last week Nora and I paid a visit to my old stompin’ grounds to visit my former co-workers. Here she is with my old friend Tony. You can see my beloved former chair in the office just behind Tony’s head.

It’s a little early for Nora to be experiencing stranger anxiety but she has been for about a week now — she might be a little introverted*. Our good friend Gabi came over to watch Nora when I was struggling to meet a deadline and our bean repaid her by making faces like the one seen here. Somewhere between “you’re not my Mommy!” and “do I *know* you?”

Thanks, Gabi!

* she didn’t exactly lick that off the pavement.

Since they first met Nora has gotten a bit larger, older, and more outgoing (and less asleep). Ruggles still isn’t too sure about this interloper, but in this shot they look like two old pals down at the pub for a drink.

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Here’s a slightly older picture (January 5th) that I never got around to posting of Nora and her Grandma K sharing a little hand chewing time. This picture makes me the tiniest bit wistful because that pink outfit is too small for Nora now; one of many garments on the monotonically increasing pile that no longer fit her. *sniff*

Nora (and therefore everyone here at ruggles end) was having a pretty miserable week until Auntie Carrots* came over and calmed us all down. Now we have our happy baby back, everyone got a good night sleep, and the world looks rosy and calm again. Thanks, Auntie Carrots!

* Actually Jen’s colleague Amy — no carrots were harmed in the taking of this picture.

Yesterday was Kusnir-McGowan CookieFest ‘07 and Nora’s first experience with festive baking (and her first trip to Livonia). Here we see her calmly helping mommy decorate cookies. The blur in the background is a furiously cookie-cutting grandma.

and here we find her terribly excited about something we don’t know what it is.

Nora’s now been visited by both of her female cousins. Note that there is something of an age difference. :)

I fully support anyone who gets this excited about Nora. I just wish I knew what cool thing she was doing that got them both so excited. Thanks for the company and the piles of yummy food, Jeff & Amy.

Nora had a pretty rough day today but after a big visit to the doctor we came home and were reminded of the tremendous kindness of our friends and family. In this picture we have little Nora (of course) held by mommy and sporting the latest in polka dot fashion courtesy of Gabi. She’s seated on the proofs of our new nursery wall art courtesy of the amazingly talented Chris Drummonds (hand delivered by his S.O. Jeff after a long day at work). In the background you can see a pair of gently used shoes from our friend Zara (courtesy of her folks Wes & Jo).

And, of course, I was only present to take this picture due to a set of professors and a pair of advisors who are incredibly cool and understanding.  I’m an unbelievably lucky man.

Thanks again, everyone.