Dear Nora,

New this month is an additional nickname: Nora Noo. You can thank Mary (your daycare provider) for that one. I heard her say it to you one day and it stuck with me. I started using it at home, then Daddy picked up on it, and now we use it every day. We’ve also developed spin-off names like Noo or Noo-Noo. It just seems so fitting for you. These names are, of course, in addition to all of the other ones you’ve acquired since you were born.

I feel like I say it every month, but you are SO.MUCH.FUN. You are such a happy girl, and now that you’re able, you smile, laugh, giggle, play, and interact all of the time. The moments that we get to spend with you are so precious, and they fill my heart my joy.

It’s easy to see when things excite or please you by the expressions on your face and the waving of your arms and legs. You and your daycare buddy, Amelia (you two are almost exactly the same age), are always excited to see each other in the mornings. You squeal and “talk” and wave your arms at each other. It’s hilarious and so adorable. I love that you already have a friend to share your days with when we’re away at work. Mary says that you guys share toys and touch and pull at each other’s hair, faces, clothing, hands, feet. You also pull pacifiers out of each other’s mouths and pop them into your own. Immune system building at its finest, I suppose!

You have the sitting up skill down to a science now. When you fall, it’s pretty much always because you mean to. You fling yourself backward on purpose, or lean forward all the way to bring yourself onto your tummy. You have figured out how to wiggle and scootch your way over to something that you want, and sometimes you get your legs and feet into this funny position that seems like it MIGHT be the very early stages of crawling.

You can turn on the Fisher Price Lights ‘n’ Sounds machine in your crib, all by yourself. Sometimes you use your hands, other times you use your feet. But we know you do it knowingly, because we’ve watched you. You know exactly where the button is and what it’s for.

This month, you suddenly decided that you do not like the changing table anymore. Ever since you were born, it has been one of your happy places. No matter the mood you were in, we could always make you smile and laugh on the changing table. Now, however, you seem to view it as a torture device because OH.MY.GOSH, heaven forbid you have to spend 60 seconds on your back. As soon as we sit you up on the table, you are happy as a clam, reaching for all of the objects around you.

Because of this whole aversion to lying down on your back and having to stay still, diaper changes have become more of a challenge. You try to roll left and right, doing your best to escape from us. Sometimes changing your diaper feels like we are trying to wrestle an alligator. I can’t believe we are already at this stage—I thought we’d have a few months of easy changes left. Oh well, we’re quickly learning to be experts at the on-the-move diaper change! We will prevail!

I can’t even remember all of the foods you’ve tried at this point. Pretty much anything is game as far as fruits and vegetables go. And now that you’re eight months, I’m looking forward to introducing you to yogurt, cheeses, beans, and some other new foods. If your track record is any indication, you will love the new flavors.

We went on our first week-long vacation with you this month. We went to Las Vegas, Utah, and Arizona. We visited the Grand Canyon. During the trip, we slept in a different hotel room almost every night, and you didn’t seem to think that was any big deal. You loved being with us, and you enjoyed people watching while we were out and about every day. You were great on our flights and car rides. We were so proud of you.

Before our trip, we had you back at the doctor due to you being sick for a month straight. That RSV that you were diagnosed with last month? Well, you followed that up with a couple of colds right in a row, and we wanted to get you checked out prior to leaving town. It turned out that you had an ear infection (your second one). We were worried about flying with you, but you didn’t seem to be bothered. While at the doctor, you were weighed, and you were 14 lbs., 13 oz. Growing girl!

You still have a touch of stranger danger, but it really depends on your mood. Sometimes you like to be a little charmer and smile at the people around you (even if they’re not looking at you). You’re generally fine with people as long as they aren’t holding you! You prefer to be held by Daddy and me, but we’re working on it. Grammy babysat you on Good Friday since Mary had the day off, and you did so well. I love for you to have that kind of quality time with your grandparents.

Still no teeth. But that has become the single most-asked question from everybody we encounter. “Does she have any teeth yet?” Nope. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Those pearly whites are taking their merry time. I’m just soaking up every last day without them, honestly. As cute as I’m sure they’ll be, I am going to miss your toothless grin.