two years

Oh Cora, how are you already two?! Two years?! Where did the time go? You are my big girl... you are growing so fabulously. You are an utter joy to be around so sweet, so loving, and so very smart. I don't think these twos are terrible at all, they are incredible twos. But we have sincerely loved every month (past month four!) with you. We truly cherish every moment and we try to take it all in knowing you won't be this tiny forever. I want to remember every tiny detail of your whole tiny being, you make us so incredibly happy sweet girl.

What you are up to now...

• You were slow to start speaking... but now you copy almost all of our words, and tell us what you want and what you see in your huge world. You still won't say cora or i love you...but that will be a fun milestone for the future. 
• You have nana and papa that love you dearly... times two. You are a very lucky little girl to be the first grandbabe around. Your grandparents are so thoughtful and endearing with you...to show you the coolest things around, take time to help you master new skills, and be sure to smother you with kisses and lots of love. 
• You are loved by others too- aunt telsee and uncle towel (kelsey and kyle) and aunt april and aunt ninni (jenni). The dogs nik-oles (nickles), emma, and tolbee (colby) and summit and gnarly and pepper are always fun to laugh and play with.
• en-ree! (henry) is your little pal. You say hi bud! or hey guy! when you haven't seen him for awhile...it melts my heart every time. You pat his head softly, bring him toys to play with, *sometimes* you'll even give him a kiss or a hug, but he pulls your hair so you are deterred from this. You love having him pretend chase you around the house- with our help or the walker. I really can't wait for you to have him as a playmate. When he is crying from waking up you say.. "ennree?! saad. bottle?!" then you knock with your sweet little fist on his door and squeal in excitement to see him. Then sometimes "hey bud, mistyou" (missed you). 
• You  like to give us hugs- "Huck!" when you hurt yourself or when you're going to sleep and kisses too. You also give your lion(s) hugs and kisses too. You rock lion in your arms and change their diapers, and "feed'em". You are a sweet little soul. 
• You are just now growing out of 2T clothes. The waist fits, because you're slender... but we think you are quite tall. You are quite a good eater too. You'll eat most everything, in front of the show cute little sea-show octonauts. Actually, henry likes this show too now. Every morning of your life you wake up and have warm milk- sometimes with a little vanilla (yummy milk..like from starbucks too).
• You have only had one minor cold in your 2 years and about 99% of the time you are a happy kid. Sleeping has been a breeze for you and us. You go to sleep around 7:30pm now (because we love our bedtime routine with you...we like to let it linger) and wake up around 8/9 am. You take one nap that might be dwindling from about 3 to now 2 hours long if we are lucky. You just like to talk so sweetly in your crib when you don't care to sleep...lining your "friends" up along the wall, or corners of the crib. You talk in your sweet sing-songy voice, content....never crying when you wake up, you just wait for us to come get you from playing with your stuffed animals.
• Bedtime routine has been a fun one. We bought you a twin size mattress for your floor- for daytime jumping with henry and nighttime book reading. You still sleep in your crib, no need to change a good thing. So you have dinner, take a bath (sometimes with henry too), then we put on PJs a nighttime diaper, brush your hair, then hop into your twin bed (sometimes both mom and dad too) and read the owl in the tree book and goodnight moon. You say "mush!!!" and "hush" when we get to those words. You point out the toe-see (cozy) mouse by the fire, and the rising moon... along with everything else in the book. We then tick-ole (tickle) your back and get toe-see under your quilt, with lions of course. We sing a few songs. And then a hug and a kiss and you're off to your crib, covered by two blankies. Routines. You love them, we love them. It works beautifully. 
• You think your dad is hilarious. He can always get you to smile and have a deep belly laugh. You are definitely da-dee's little girl. You like to go shopping with him at home depot buying "wood" always. He prefers to have you there too. From the pictures he takes of you two in the store... it looks like a blast, playing in the aisles. I can only imagine what a big guy like your dad and a tiny little curly blond haired clone look like in a hardware store...laughing and having fun. Quite sweet. You love the time you get to spend with your dad on the weekends- 100% dad time. Pretty special.
• You do love me too- "mom-eee". Usually when there is a choice between mom or dad to give you a bath, put you in your crib...you choose me. I don't make you laugh like your dad, but I do love you fiercely. I call you my little goose, or goosie. Not sure why, I've tried to break it...but I just can't yet. We get to hang out all day every day of the week, before I work the weekends. You are my little pal, my daughter. 

You are truly amazing. You amaze us every minute of every day. You are not a single bit sassy or grumpy or difficult or mean. You really aren't. You are wonderful, no sugar coating here. We are so grateful to have you in our lives, our sweet little cora elm. Happy two years.

15 months.

I stopped doing monthly photos of cora at 1 year...and I miss it. To be honest, I couldn't pull it off, I am sure, even if I wanted. She doesn't sit still, ever... and I don't have the time somehow. But we do have a 15 month old in our house now, and she is fantastic. She's my favorite 15 monther I know.

• she loves the mirror, I'm not sure if she thinks its her only little friend...or it's herself. But it makes her giddy.
• she is on the verge of some new words. but otherwise enjoys just babbling, which we know exactly what she is trying to say anyways. Perhaps we should play dumb and that would motivate her to talk more clearly.
• her talking may be slow to advance... but she makes up for it in agility. this girl can get up and down off of chairs, balance on one leg...all while holding her favorite lion, donkey, and toothbrush and making funny faces at us.
• sleep is about the same, even with the move to a new house. 12-13 hours at night.... 7pm-8am. And one 2-3 hour nap midday. Not bad little spud.
• she eats well, but the next day she may not like the same food she devoured the day before. go figure.
• she's tall, and skinny still. she feels like a big girl to us. she has 5 teeth... three on bottom, two on top. Sweet curly blonde hair and big blue eyes.
• super busy, working all of the time. she is pretty self sufficient with playing. she doesn't need a lot of entertaining- but we like to intervene and join her. I think she may need playmates...we are working on it, 16 weeks to go.
• she likes to dance to music... primarily dub step, rap, something with a beat...its weird and adorable to see a head bopping in the car seat with lion dancing in her lap too.
• she waves to other kids in the store, and shares her most precious toys with kids. I think its because she doesn't play with other kids, so she doesn't know sometimes kids don't share. we share all the time with her, her reality is skewed. it's sweet.
• she's a very happy kid, only throwing a tantrum here and there if we don't give her our iphone to look at duck pictures.
• oh, these bullet points of love could go on for days. we love her to pieces. we can't believe she came from that tricky baby over a year ago. she is fantastic. she's our precious little daughter we can't imagine life without.

twelve months!!

 

one. that's right cora!

How did our baby turn one?! She is very much a toddler, and it blows my mind. I call her my little tot. She tots around, working hard, always moving.  Last year on this very day we were doing something entirely different. I was pushing for-evvvvver....not knowing what the word parenthood meant. Matt was excited and my support person...not yet a true dad. He proved himself to be a "dad" in every sense of the word at 4:49pm, april 18th 2012. From that second on he was a dad, a loving dad that would give anything for his new best friend... our cora. Parenthood has been amazing, and tough, and incredible.  We are forever parents.

 

What you have been up to this past month...

• you had your first birthday party...with a cake, and one candle, and a happy birthday song. It was glorious, and I thought this may be your least favorite day with all attention on just you...but you did great.
• your walking is almost flawless. somehow you pick up your knees and walk like a tiny person, quickly. No more toddles.
• Climbing, oh boy. We are needing to baby-proof to a whole new level. You climb from ottoman, to couch, to rocking chair, to window seat... then smile with accomplishment. We even caught you carrying your alphabet magnets container to use as a step to get into the window seat. Too clever.
• You can give us hugs when we ask and sometimes even a kiss.
• A new favorite: a baby doll for your birthday from grandma... and you take this little baby everywhere. You burp the baby, give the baby hugs, and walk the baby in the stroller. So sweet. (which makes me so pleased, for practicing for November tater tot)
• Not really talking yet...lots of babbles. You are able to look for things we ask for: ball, dogs, mom, dad, music...and follow commands. So we think you can hear and understand. Maybe one day you'll start talking.
• You like to twist lids off of bottles, put things away, clean, help me with laundry. Your new busy board we made you should keep you...well... busy.
• No more formula... just milk, trying new big girl foods, and watered down juice.

Happy First Birthday Cora!

 

 "spud months"

eleven months

11 months, time sure does fly. Just one more month, sweet Cora and you'll be one year old. We are cherishing this last month of baby-dom, then its off to being a toddler. I remember around this time last year I was huge, feeling your little bottom flop side to side (I should have known what a firecracker you'd be)... and counting down the days to when we'd get to meet you. This march is a very different march last year. Our lives are so completely different than we could have ever imagined. This life is wonderful with you, Cora.

What you have been up to this past month...

• you walk about 90% of the time, and crawl the rest. Your waddle is getting more stable every day. You just figured out how to stand up from sitting, while using your stuffed animals to push off of.
• you have two bottom teeth! they are adorable and small and jagged.
• we call you our little coranado. You are non-stop, a flurry of toys... total destruction in your path, all over the house. It's exhausting and wonderful at the same time.
• popsicles are a blast. not only do they help you with teething, but you love them.
• you prefer to use a fork or spoon with meals. you intently "work" on feeding yourself every day.
• You wave hello, you "cheers" your bottle with our glasses, and you smell flowers with your scrunchy nose.
• you went to the park for the first time and you loved the slide and the swing. I see lots of park-time in our future.
• You are a very happy child, who clearly loves us. We couldn't be more proud of you as our daughter.

ten months

Oh, so I suppose I should post about cora turning 10 months, before March is here. I was hoping to get a less-grumpy photo shoot, even with the stitches...then potential-teething grumpies happened, then she busted her little head open again. So here she is. 10 months old. Glorious.

You are turning into a little girl more and more everyday. We love your little tooth-less smile and wiggly body. We think you are so smart with your explorations, but I suppose we are a little biased as any good parents are.

What you've been up to this past month...

• You can walk!! All by yourself!! We are so proud of you and your little toddle. You even amaze yourself, sometimes you look down at your feet while you are walking surprised I bet at what they are capable of.
• You had your first ER visit, and 2 stitches. That's what we get for a walker at 9 months. It was so sad, but your little forehead is healing.
• Oh my, you have some great first words- dada and up. You usually say "dadadada," just when you're working on something, or excited. No mama- but I'm working with you on it. "Up" is pretty clear.
• You're getting a touch more cuddly... putting your head on our shoulders. I think you're just messing with us, pretending. But we love it. Otherwise you're active as can be.
• You are trying new foods all the time. You like to eat whatever I am eating, and now I think you expect to have a bite. Raspberries, waffles, pulled pork, edamame, muffins, hot dogs, pasta, cucumbers, tofu, toast. It's an utter mess when you eat, but you're learning. You are intently working on spoon and fork-work, those things are tricky. We did a trial run of chocolate, I had to make sure it was a winner for your birthday cake- you approve.
• We had to put cabinet locks and child-proof everything. You love to close any open door, look under the couch for straggler toys...and get into everything possible.
• We love you fiercely little one.

nine months.

a very serious photo shoot. no smiles to be had.

9 months! You are turning into your very own human being. You're a little hodgepodge of your dad and I. You still blow us away...and it's sinking in more and more everyday that we are parents. It's glorious.

What you've been up to this past month...

• Lots of babbling! We don't know what you're trying to tell us, but you're working very hard at it. All sorts of sounds are coming out...loud and soft. We are hoping to hear a mama or dada...but so far we think we hear "hi" with a wave and "woo" for dogs.
• You do lots of walking, sometimes just with one hand for support, and some walking along the walls. Any day now we bet you'll be letting go...and probably running.
• You wave at people...and dogs. Its precious. Dogs enamour you and so do other little humans. We wish you had some little friends, but with time I suppose...perhaps even a sibling would be fun.
• You still don't sit still, its always a good time to explore in your world.
• You eat normal big girl foods... fruits, rice, meat, tortillas, milk. We are phasing out of the baby foods. Super fun. You don't like us to feed you any more however. So lots of finger foods...and lots of baths after eating.
• Sleeping is still great (thank you)...and no teeth as of yet.
• Your skinny little long body fits in 12-18 month big girl clothes, you took the leap. So much fun to shop in the girl section now. I can also put a hair tie in your hair to keep your whispie bangs out of your eyes. Oh girly things. Too exciting.
• You had your first christmas and new year. Some traditions were started in your little world, and it will only get better as the years pass.
• You had a major road trip to California...which you were incredible! Car time, hotels, more than your fair share of ins and outs of the carseat, oh yeah and a massive blow-out that took your dad, me, and some chucking of clothes to render clean. It was a fun trip that we will do again.
• You are our little sunshine, our little sweets. You make our world bright and wonderful. Our little nine month old cora elm, we love you.

eight months.

our little 8 month nose-scruncher

Wow. Time flies when you're having a good time (we know this because the first two months felt like a year). Eight months how did that happen?!

I am memorizing her sweet little 17lb self, resting on my body, climbing all over my legs, using my shirt to grab onto when she stands up, her little fingers grasping for my hands to help her "walk" to bridge the gap to the next piece of furniture in the room. I LOVE HER. Seriously, with every cell in my body, she makes us so happy. Do you know what we do at night, when she heads to bed...we scroll through photos of her, we miss her. Sappy. I know. We can't contain it.  She is exhaustingly unbelievably amazing.

What you've been up to this past 7 going on 8 months....

• nose scrunching! it's your favorite. you scrunch at everything. sometimes you include a little sniffing noise. maybe you just think everything in your world is gross and stinky...but its adorable.
• you like to share! You share your toys, for us to gnaw on them (so sweet to think of us)... or share your food with us or the dogs. The dogs aren't so good at sharing however.
• you walk along furniture and can sit down when you're done walking. stand-sit-stand-sit... all day long... never gets old.
• you crawl quickly or run around in your walker to follow us around the house. you have backing up and turning around down to a T, its like you're maneuvering a tiny car- arm across the back of the seat to see where you're going. When you hit something you look over the side of the tray to see just what exactly is holding you up. so cute.
• you love outlets, cords, cardboard, paper, trash... pretty much anything you're not supposed to play with...you are magically drawn to it and must put it in your mouth. 
• you like to eat our food... meat, baby cookies, bread, veggies. You drink milk and water from our glasses. We are considering transitioning to bite size food so that you can feed yourself. You are snacking so well on your little kid puffs and cookies, perhaps it's time to progress.
• second nap is a struggle, sometimes you win... sometimes we do- even though it doesn't feel like winning when you cry and cry your little head off.
• your little blonde whispies are getting longer now and thick! We use sweet little bows and headbands to keep your bangs out of your eyes. So far you tolerate it...and you even look like a girl!

seven months

Whoa. Seven months. We try to cherish everyday... kiss her little head as much as she will entertain, we squeeze her, hold her, tickle her toes, have her climb all over us... we can't get enough of our little sweets. Matt and I just look at her growing more and more independent everyday and smile... huge... proud ...oh my gosh we are parents... type of smiles. She is phenomenal. If babies came out at 6 months old... and stayed that age... we'd have a slew of them.

What you've been up to this past month, little cora elm...

• pulling yourself from knees to standing...all by yourself and couch-walking!
• crawling for reals this time- no army crawl, the real deal...belly off the ground
• still no teeth. we've thought you were "teething" for the past 4 months, even now as we type this... we think you must be teething. silly really
• you eat fruits- bananas, oranges, apples...all in your mesh chewy thing
• your favorite food is sweet potatoes mixed with banana oatmeal. yum. you eat two meals a day and then bottles of formula too
• you can sit up all by yourself in the bathtub (well our hands are there just in case) and you chew on your bath-friends and wash cloths
• you sleep about 13 hours at night (6:30pm-7:30am) we are so thankful... and try not to take it for granted. naps can be another story, however
• you laugh all the time, you are a very happy baby
• you are constantly active, no chill baby here
• you love to walk in your walker, walk holding our hands, crawl, roll, sit, grab at all things possible, chew all things
• you love the dogs, they love you
• you can use "tools" like hammers to get your balls through a hole, pass objects from hand to hand. you've got skills
• you still love to hear dad playing guitar or ukulele (that he bought and learned to play just for you) you strum too...it's very sweet
• you talk to us all day long... babbles, sweet tones and strings of pretend sentences. You like "bbb" the best...or is it "ppp"... we don't know. I wish we knew what you were thinking
• you had some more firsts... crinkly fall leaves, snow in your fingers... a snow ball chucked at you (thanks dad), and aquarium visit- puffer fish was your favorite, besides staring at people and the bolts on the fish tanks

six months

Oooo.... 6 months. We made it! Sure, cora is growing fantastically well. But this was a benchmark for us that I was holding onto in the early days. If we could just make it to six months. Why? I don't know. But we did it, and this time is grand just as I expected.

What you have been up to this past month...

• sitting un assisted. This was almost spontaneous. One day- totally supported, the next BAM! sitting like a big girl, reaching toys and balancing.
• working on crawling each day...little legs pulled up under your body, rocking back and forth ready to lounge into a crawl.
• sleeping 11-13 hours a night. We moved your bedtime to 6:30pm... you sleep until 7:30am sometimes. Dad and I have time together, alone, in the evenings- it's great for all of us.
• started on vegetables... sweet poatoes and carrots- a new favorite.
• you like to drink from mom's glass. You stick your little head out and drink/ blow bubbles. Its fantastically cute.
• you babble and talk to us and the dogs...and your toys. "bbb" seems to be the sound when you are trying to tell us something really important. We hope you're not trying to say poop. We should really stop talking about your poopies so much.
• you love to walk places- whether its holding our hands...or in your walker.
• You also love to do a full-body pull, an army crawl. You are rather efficient between that and rolling over and over to get where you want to go. With more independence your frsutrated fussies have diminished, just as we hoped. You're an active baby, that's for sure. Baby-proofing is coming up in the next month to prepare for your explorations.

five months

At 5 glorious months old Cora you are...

• rolling over tummy to back and back to tummy.
• you reach for everything...and sometimes you out-smart us and knock over our drinks, salsa bowls, and put things in your mouth you probably shouldn't.
• you just learned to walk/jump/move in your baby walker.
• you love to hear your name and certain key words...like mama or dada or toes.
• you have learned how to hold the bottle on your own
• toes are your favorite, holding them at all times.
• sleeping is getting easier... mostly through the night, naps, and without a swaddle!
• dogs are hilarious to you...especially cora-sized ones (grandma's dog) and white ones (Colby our yellow lab)
• standing is your favorite activity- it really always has been. you take steps towards toys when we hold your little hands.
• sometimes when dad makes a whimpering/crying sound or sings a sad tune you start to frown and begin to cry...you are a sympathetic soul. good thing we are happy parents.
• you had your first cold and your first days at daycare.
• you are a happy baby, still high maintenance.... but willing to smile at us being silly and we love that.
• we can't wait for you to be able to sit up on your own and crawl. But right now we see a lot of blanket swimming- arms flailing, while you try to figure out how to get somewhere. But once you do... we know it's going to be fast!

four months

 

This past month has been a blast. I can finally say that when people ask me about motherhood, parenthood, having a baby... I say positive things first, instead of the negative ones. Horrible, right?! It is. But it's also true (sorry, Cora). When Matt and I think of cora and it brings a genuine smile to our faces. Our hearts, lungs, whole body ache when we are not around her. I sometimes feel like an elephant is crushing my chest- I know, classic symptom of a heart attack.... but I think it's just extreme love. We want to enjoy every second of this baby... our very own baby... and just immerse ourselves in it. This is wonderful.

 

What you've been up to this past month, our dear cora elm...

• you like to put everything in your mouth and chew. No more sucking on pacifiers, just chewing (gumming) on all things.
• you also usually have your hand in your mouth- anywhere from 3-4 fingers at a time. Sometimes you suck on your thumb, but your other fingers stab your eye. You are working on curling your fingers...but it's not quite mastered yet.
• you flipped over from back to belly all by yourself! You do it all the time now, it cracks us up. You gather enough teeny tiny momentum and right over you go.
• your giggle is precious... you don't do it very often but when you do it melts our hearts
• you are a big girl riding in your BOB stroller, no more infant carseat for you- you love walks now being able to see the world
• you are so alert, always watching and learning with your big blue eyes.
• your dad works with you daily on "work outs"... like sitting up, rolling over, standing, laughing, crawling. The baby basics.
• and most surprisingly....you sleep in your crib for 8-10 hours at night!!! AMAZING!!! We attribute this to you getting rice cereal at night (but don't tell the pediatrician). We have a nightly routine- rice cereal, bath time, swaddle, and bottle. It works like a charm so far.

[see our spud's monthly posts here]

three months

Cora dear... you are three months old now.

Here is what you have been up to this past month...

• you are just learning how to intentionally roll from side to side.
• you can grab toys, your little fingers move so gracefully now it brings tears to our eyes.
• during tummy time you all of a sudden lift your head up so high
• we just found the joy of co-sleeping, or rather co-napping. it's fantastic and easy... and we will probably start off your brother/sister doing this a bunch earlier. sleep... roll over... breastfeed... sleep. it's flawless and amazing.
• you had been weary of mirrors, up until a week ago when you noticed my face and smiled at my reflection.
• you like to put things in your mouth...your hands, our hands, toys... we wonder if you're teething... this is to be determined.
• dad says you giggled a few days ago, I haven't heard it... but I wish in times like these I either didn't have to go to work or your dad iphone-video-taped you my whole 12 hour shift. ...something to consider.
• even though it's a little early to tell, we think you are going to have big bright beautiful blue eyes, but hair color we aren't sure of just yet...dad says strawberry blonde, and I say blonde.
• it has been a wonderful month. you are growing so much every day and we love noticing these huge milestones.

[one month post]

[two months post]

two months

oh, sweet baby...you're two months old

You sure have grown since last month, not only physically but emotionally. We have thoroughly enjoyed this month. Sure we have a funny sleep pattern with you- but you're wonderful and a much happier baby.

What you have been up to this second month:

• you now smile beautifully all the time and have your own baby noises trying to laugh at us- it's adorable.
• you are 11 lbs 3 ounces (which is 3 lbs 9 ounces since birth).... we think you are huge, but people still think you're small.
• you are working on putting your fist in your mouth instead of a pacifier- we are all for it
• you just found your toes, but you know not what to do with them nor how to reach them
• we swaddle you every night, and even though you hate it you are slowly giving in.
• you do however fight the urge to sleep... all of the time. We have to force it upon you otherwise we deal with hours of grumpies.
• you are so intently taking in your environment... you can see further now and watch everything in your world. we call you our little bullfrog, because your eyes bulge out of your head when you are really focusing hard... you are learning so much
• you sleep in 3-4 hour stretches at night, now we just need that to be in your crib.
• we found a fun toy to use with your stuffy nose...the nose frieda. it's gross. your dad loves it.
• you had your 2 month shots, and we have never heard you wail so loudly. your dad and I welled up with tears.... but ultimately we were so happy that it was the first time we heard such a sad cry... we must be doing something right.

one month!!

Oh Cora... you're one month old today. Time sure does fly.

I will be doing monthly photos of our dear Cora now. The quilt she is lying on is made by her grandma....and I will be placing her on it for our monthly photos to have a cute backdrop to gauge just how much she has grown.

Our little wiggle worm had about 50 out-takes to get to this one. I can only imagine it will get trickier!

I will also be making a snapfish-type photo book at the end of the year of all 12 months of cora-dom, with a little synopsis of what she was up to each month of her life.  So stay tuned friends and family for our monthly updates!

What you were up to this first month:

• your favorite only way to sleep is on our chest, tummy down...skin to skin....all of the time.
• tummy time is also your favorite... so we now do scheduled on-your-back-time
• you go from happy to sad within seconds usually with screeching involved...this usually makes your dad and I feel inept at parenting...but bare with us, we are learning.
• swaddling is not your cup of tea, but you need it to fall asleep with your wiggling body
• you are so very strong you can even roll yourself from side to side, which we are pretty sure shouldn't happen just yet
• you just mastered breastfeeding a day before you turned 1 month... way to go cora!
• you LOVE to hear your dad play guitar....you are mesmerized by the sounds and his hand movement
• you love bath time, attempting to swim in the big tub...however just like your dad you don't care for lotion
• we don't do flat surfaces now...we do inclines everywhere for your reflux, that we foolishly hope will pass any day now
• you are packing on the pounds and growing like crazy....you have probably already gained 2 pounds since birth
• you are just noticing faces and expressions...we like to think you are practicing smiling at us, we can't wait to see a real one
• you like to talk, "sing" and grunt when you are drinking, it's adorable. Just please keep to the drinking and less of the choking
• we love you with all of our tired hearts....please get more sleep and cry less next month.