Seven Lucky Months

Cora, this past Friday you turned seven months old.  For seven months you've been growing and changing, and all of that changing seemed to start happening so much quicker this month.   Each week it is something new - something new and oh so adorable, of course!

Guess what you started doing right after last month's post?  You will give kisses.  Usually this is a dramatic grab of the face, open-mouthed wet one you plant on the receiver's cheek or mouth.  It's the best!  I am constantly saying, "Cora, give Mama a kiss," and, if you aren't too into something else at the time, you will oblige.  A few times this month, when I picked you up from day care, you did this immediately without any provoking.  Melt my heart.  You also learned something from Daddy - something a lot of people call blowing raspberries (making the phwphw sound with your lips and spitting at the same time).  Oh, this was a favorite activity of yours instead of sleeping, while you were teething.  I guess you just had a lot of drool to play with!  Speaking of teething, on October 24th you popped both of your middle bottom teeth at the same time.  We were duly impressed.

In the past month, you spent your second full night without us, when we attended my high school reunion.  You were perfect, as usual.  You also had your longest stint without me, when I had to go to San Marcus for a school event.  I minded, but you didn't.  You had a grand ole' time with your dad.  You also got sick, again.  This time it was a cold that you handled with barely a fuss.  Your congestion hung on and led to your first ear infection and fever, just this past week.  I guess you just wanted to go out of your sixth month of life with a bang.

You continue to be the sweetest baby.  You are smiley and happy, cuddly and cute.  You have really begun to be into everything - everything we're holding, everything you're seeing, hearing, eating, etc.  You are super observant and curious.

I love everything about you, Cora Kaye...

This Month's Stats

Weight: 15lbs 11oz at a doctor's visit towards the end of the month
Height: unknown
Diapers: size 3 (still trying to get rid of some size 2 diapers, though)
Clothes: 6-9 months

All About You:

Hair: Thickening fuzz, still think it looks blond, light brown, or even strawberry blond in different light
Eyes: Blue

-Your sleeping pattern is very similar to last month's.  You go to sleep between 7:00-8pm.  You wake up between 5-6:30am to eat and usually go back to sleep (until we leave on a weekday morning or until you naturally wake up on the weekends).  You take two good naps a day, and sometimes you snooze in the car no matter what!  You still sleep on your belly or side most nights.  Sometimes you cry for your binky once a night, but most of the time you sleep all night long.  The cough you had really troubled you at night and you were up a bit more than normal on those nights.  But, don't worry, we aren't counting that!

-Your feeding pattern is to eat about five times a day, starting with that early morning feeding.  You have been taking six to seven ounces in your bottles.  We are regularly feeding you solids in the evening, and I'm trying to get better about making it three meals a day.  You are loving food lately!  Your current favorite flavor is pear.  If there is pear in there, I have to have plenty or you get angry.  You are good about eating your vegetables, as long as I don't give you the fruit until afterwards.  You really dislike this one mixed vegetable I've bought you, with potatoes, cucumber, and green beans in it.  That doesn't sound good to me, either.  It has been a fun little adventure starting you on solids.  You make priceless faces, when you like or dislike a food.  

-You are changing so quickly, that it is hard to recount your sound and movement changes this month.  You are sitting up on your own, but you will still fall over unexpectedly.  You are really good at leaning back on a pillow and moving yourself into the sitting position, though.  You also will move from sitting onto your belly to better maneuver towards a toy.  You reach out for us more often than you used to.  When we are holding you, you will just dive toward whatever you want.  We have to be careful!  

Your laugh is still the most precious sound in the world.  You do this screaming thing leading into a laugh, too.  It's hilarious.  You had a week this month, when you first realized you could scream, where you screamed all of the time.  You discovered you could bang your toys on the table or high chair and make a loud noise, so you do that all of the time, too.  Anything new you learn, you love to do over and over again.  We love to hear and see it over and over again, so that works out.  

-Toys are so exciting for you.  They're how your play and learn.  It's been really exciting for us to realize what a genius you are, too!  You are into any toy, really.  You still love the one's that are electronic.  You are getting way more into books than you used to be.  I've been reading to you all along, but you weren't too interested.  Now, you really study the pictures and listen well.  You had a favorite book this month, Peek a Who.  If you could see that book, you wanted it over anything else.  

Cora, I cannot imagine how much you will have changed by the next monthly update.  How amazing it is to be your mommy and be the one getting to nurture that growth.  You have made this a very lucky seven months.  We love you so very much baby girl!

Happy (belated) Halloween 2012

Cora's first Halloween can't go unmarked, so, better late than never, I am sharing some pictures of my little doll.  Enjoy!

It's time for trick-or-treatin', 

there's candy to be eaten,

at night we'll all be meetin'.

Come on, it's Halloween!

It's going to be scary,

like dollies very hairy,

 look out, they're everywhere-y!

Come on, it's Halloween!

Class of 2002

This past October was my ten year high school reunion.  My friends, in charge of planning, did an amazing job putting things together.  Spending time with my best friends was definitely the best part.

We met up for lunch on Saturday.  Kelly met Cora for the first time.  It means a lot that my friends love my baby girl, too.  They all wanted me to bring her - which was nice of them. :)

Saturday night was the big shindig.  It was in downtown Fort Worth, so we got all dolled up and went out. 

One really cool feature at the reunion was the Flipbook booth.  My friends can testify that I was immediately OBSESSED.  You would stand in front of a screen and do your thing with props and your peeps (yes, this was such a hip thing that I feel the need to say "peeps"), while it films you for seven seconds.  Then, they cut up all of the images captured and make a flipbook for you.

After the reunion we went to the Flying Saucer, which is at a new and improved venue (old 8.0s location).  So fun to be together.  We have to make it happen more often. 

Six Months

Cora, you're a darling little six month old, now.  For half of a year, you've been making us smile and allowing us to feel the most amazing type of love.

This past month was just a special month with you.  You are a very happy baby, easy-going for the most part, too.  That is especially lucky for your daddy and me.  You love to play - so very interested in everything you observe.  Checking things out through taste is a favorite activity of yours.  You come more into your own each day.  You have sort of turned back into my little cuddle bug, which makes my heart very happy.  You really melt against anyone trying to love on you.  So sweet!  We adore getting to know your quirks and unique qualities.

"Okay, whatever.."

You were sick for the first time during this past month, too.  That's a whole other story, since you pulled that one while your dad was taking care of you.  Also, because we are just pretending to know what we are doing, it definitely threw us for a loop!  What a little trooper you were, though.  I can testify that you were less fussy than your daddy, who you passed that bug on to.  :)

"She's talking about you, again."

I'm sure I can expect this next six months to go by as quickly as these first six have.  I know you will continue to change and grow so quickly.  I also know that you will always be so precious to me, Cora.  The best six months of my life have been these I've had with you.  Here are what your habits have been this month.

This Month's Stats

Weight: 14lbs 11oz
Height: 26 1/2in
Diapers: size 2 and 3 (3s at night and in the car seat, your favorite place to poop)
Clothes: 6 months and 6-9 months

All About You:

Hair: Light fuzz (I swear I see it as brown, red, or blond in different lights and on different days)
Eyes: Blue

-Your sleeping pattern is to go to sleep between 7:30-8pm.  You wake up between 5-6:30am to eat and usually go back to sleep (until we leave on a weekday morning or until you naturally wake up on the weekends).  You take two good naps a day, and sometimes you snooze in the car no matter what!  You still sleep on your belly or sides most nights.  You also will move around a lot in the waking hours, so I find you in funny positions.  You still might cry for your binky once a night, but most of the time you sleep all night long.

-Your feeding pattern is to eat about five times a day, starting with that early morning feeding.  You have been taking five ounces in your bottles.  You can hold your own bottles, if you're very hungry and intense.  Towards the end of this month we started introduces some solids and just tried to peak your interest in food.  You are definitely interested in what we eat and drink - you watch us like a hawk.  I guess we better chew with our mouths closed, so we teach you good habits!

"I'll eat you, chair!"

-You started making the most precious sound in the world this month - a laugh.  You are laughing more and more each week, and we can't help but laugh right along with you.  At first it was very hard to finagle a laugh from you, but it is starting to come out more often.  You think Jackson, our dog, is just the funniest thing around.  You also moved from grunting (last month) to squealing.  It was such a little girl thing for you to do - to start squealing all of the time.  You're funny.  Otherwise, you still make the cutest babble.  We love to hear your voice.

You also started to sit up on your own for short periods during this month.  Without any support, you can use your hands and stay up for about a minute.  If you are supported with a pillow, you will stay in that position for thirty minutes and play with your toys.  You love to sit up or stand versus lay down.  You will stay in tummy time longer now a days and play some.  I don't mind if you would rather sit still than start crawling, however, so these decisions you have made so far are fine by me!

-This month, almost all toys, or anything we are holding, interests you.  When it comes to any object, if it's in your reach, you want to grab it.  You also want to put it in your mouth.  You especially love electronic, musical toys.  You, actually, are sort of obsessed with the few you have.  We, naturally, think all of the playing you do is just adorable and oh so advanced.  I can't even think of any dislikes you have, Cora, because you are that good.  I guess I could mention that you get mad at toys a lot (when your chewing on them), and you will start screaming.

It's starting to become more difficult to write these posts and feel like I am adequately capturing your changes and special moments.  It is just that it's impossible to put every moment into words.  I wish I could, so that they were forever in my memory.  I never want to forget all the details that have made this six months so special.  We love you so much, Cora Kaye!

The State Fair of Texas

During the first week of October, Miles was off work between jobs.  So, he kept Cora quite a bit.  I couldn't stand to be left out, and I decided to play hooky one day to join them at the State Fair of Texas!  It was really special to spend the day as a family doing something different and fun.  We loved introducing our daughter to some Texas traditions at the fair! 

She could barely contain her excitement as we arrived and took in some of the exhibits.

We had this little conversation after a corn dog and a bottle.

Cora: "I love you, Mama."
Me : "No, I love you, baby girl."
Cora: "Oh, Daddy, actually, I love Daddy!"

Miles and I argued debated over whether or not this guy was really "half a man," or whether it was an optical illusion.  I will let you determine who thought what and who was right (hint: I was right!).

We took in the Birds of the World show with Brett's family (who were coincidentally there on the same day).  It was a good place to sit down for a break and watch Ben toss food up to a lucky bird.  He's got good form, if I do say so myself.

Cora wanted to donate to the conservation cause.  (Good thing that binky was in her mouth, so that the dollar bill wasn't!)

Miles was dead set on wearing his cowboy attire, even though I thought he looked a little stiff. 

One of our favorite parts of the day was the gondola ride.  It's short and goes from one end of the midway to the other, but it's very cool to see the fair from above.  A new perspective.

Miles grabbed a beer at the Beers of the World exhibit.

Of course, we had corn dogs and real coca-cola - because why go with diet, when you're eating a corn dog?  Am I right?

Cora had to sleep off the corn dog and coke.

It was so fun to be together at the State Fair of Texas.  Can't wait to go again next year!!
 

Bad blogger, Big change

I know; I have been a bad blogger.  It is almost time for Cora's six month post, and I haven't written since her five month post.  Let me tell you - it is not for lack of material.  One, I could write about Cora and post pictures of her nonstop.  Two, we have been busy, busy, busy around here.  

Instead of bogging you down with a tell-all of what we've been up to, I thought I'd catch you up in a few different posts.  I want to start with a little shout out to my husband.  Miles started a new job yesterday!  I totally made him pose in his work clothes for me on his first day (he's not going to be happy that I am posting these pictures). 

While working hard at his old job, going through some health trials, taking care of me on bed rest, and adjusting to life as a parent, Miles spent most of his free time job-searching over the past year.  It finally paid off, with the right position opening up at the right time, in the right area.  I am so proud and know he will find a lot of success in his new job with JP Morgan Chase. 

Congratulations to my Account Manager, Department of Specialty Assets!!  Cora and I love you.

5 Months

Today was such a perfect example of how much you have been growing and developing as of late, Cora. You willingly stayed in tummy time, and even showed interest enough in toys and your daddy's voice to maneuver around a bit. You also faced front in the baby bjorn at the grocery store and grabbed onto the cart over and over to help push. And, just now, you ate - actually ate instead of just spitting out - your rice cereal. You even yelled at us for more, when we thought you were through. Wow!  That's a lot of new in one day.

This month has been quick, busy, and full of new milestones. You leave with me every morning to go to daycare or grandma care. I am so impressed with you for adapting well and being easy going. You are more exhausted each night, but I know that's because you're taking so much in and developing new skills each week. As expected, you have become stronger and even "better" in the face of big changes this month.

My itty bitty baby is getting so big. We love seeing you come into your own, and our favorite time is our time with you. You make us feel so loved by giving your daddy and I extra special attention. I even saw you look sad twice, on occasions I left you ;). We hope you know how amazing you are and how much we love you.

This Month's Stats

Weight: unknown
Height: unknown
Diapers: size 2 (about to be size 3!)
Clothes: 3-6 months

All About You:

Hair: Brown fuzz
Eyes: Blue

-Your sleeping pattern has changed somewhat during the week, due to my work schedule.  You will wake up anywhere from 5-6:30 (depending on if I have to wake you up, if you woke up during the night at all, or if you stay on my preferred schedule like a good little girl).  Sometimes you stay up with me, while I get ready, and sometimes you go back to sleep until it's time to go at 7:00.  You take two or three naps a day, usually two good ones.  Your afternoon nap is your long one, and will last 1 1/2 - 2 hours!

You've had some growth and sleeping changes that have made your middle of the night pattern really vary this  month.  You were sleeping through the night, with one binky fix, for most of the month.  Just over a week ago, we stopped swaddling you and you're also teething (we think), so you've been a bit more restless.  There has only been a couple of times that I had to feed you to get you back to sleep, though.  You now sleep on your belly!  You have no idea the anxiety this has caused me. However, since you roll over on your own, there is no stopping you (hence the no swaddling).  You don't really let me hold you in my arms anymore, while you sleep.  The last time you did was during a nap on Labor Day weekend.

-You feed every 3-5 hours.  If you're with me, you like to eat every three hours, but if you're at day care you usually go four or five.  You just started taking 5 ounces at each feeding after a recent growth spurt.  During the work week, I feed you in the morning, you take two-three bottles during the day, and I feed you twice before bedtime.  You also started rice cereal!  As I mentioned above, tonight was the first night you ate more than a swallow or two.  But, you're getting used to it.

-You're still jibber-jabbering away.  You like to talk to me all of the way to day care or grandma care.  Your biggest form of communication is grunting.  You grunt all of the time - it's hilarious.  The grunting might be aimed at us, if you want to stand or play, or at your toys, when you're trying to figure out how to make them do what you want.  Lately, you've been "pointing" at your mouth and telling us all about how your gums hurt.  You love kisses, and that's the closest I can get you to laughing.  You get very excited and make the cutest sounds.  Your motor skills are certainly improving.  You take your binky out and put it back in, you grab at toys and pull them to your mouth.  In your exersaucer you swivel around and play with all of the toys and buttons.  You roll over constantly (from back to belly), push up better than ever, and use those legs to move positions.

-This month you've started to play in your exersaucer all of the time.  You still like your activity mat, but this is definitely preferred.  That's because your favorite activity is still standing.  It's all you want to do.  You especially enjoy your daddy.  It's a healthy obsession of yours to watch his every move and give him the biggest gummy grin, when he looks at you, talks to you, or plays with you.

-This month your dislikes are nothing in particular.  You just know, when you're not in the mood for something and so do we :).

-Toys and games haven't changed much.  You still enjoy them, and you've grown more and more fond of your lamby (snuggy blanket).

All parents tell the expectant or new mom how it goes by so quickly.  This is the first month I find myself thinking all of the time, "I can't believe how big she is/that she's already..."  It is exciting because it's what is meant to be.  I try to remind myself of that, if I ever get sad about how quickly time is passing.  Your daddy and I love you, Cora, with all of our hearts.