The Return of Tiny-Might

After little missy ripped the tray off of her bumbo and shoved it in her mouth, I realized that it is not a good idea to turn my back on her while she is in the chair. Point proven today. As I mashed up some sweet potatoes (Yea, me for making my own baby food!), Tiny-Might launched herself out of the bumbo. I am probably a terrible mom for not stopping her, but I found myself incredibly curious to see if she could actually get out of it. The answer is yes, she most definitely can. She landed in a pile of bibs on the counter. She was quite pleased until she realized that she could not change her position from the face plant. At that point she squealed for help. (I assure you that had she been in any danger of hurting herself, I would have jumped in to stop her.) Her size is actually becoming quite problematic for me as she is able to do much more than she should be able to! Her philosophy is "why sit when it is just as easy to stand!" And, "why stand idly by when I can attempt to walk!" Aye, chihuahua! Did we completely pass over the happily sitting and playing with toys phase?! Thankfully, the bumbo issue has been solved by shoving a blanket in the seat behind her. But, I feel certain that it will not be long before that solution becomes one more notch in her tiny belt!

Christmas with Yia Yia and Dado

For our first Christmas as a family of three, we got to celebrate at our house. Yia Yia and Dado came down on Christmas Eve after spending the days prior in Tennessee with Uncle Josh, Aunt Amy and little Dawson. As I was playing hostess, I was in charge of the meal. I'll admit it; I took the easy way out! No turkey this year. Instead, we ate yummy spiral sliced ham and some easy side dishes. Maybe next time I'll be brave enough to attempt a turkey.

Christmas Eve(ning) was a lot of fun. Dado discovered that Cora loves her some bluegrass music. He is quite convinced that she will be very musical. (Many thanks to Uncle Josh and Aunt Amy for the drum! She loves it!) Then, she got all decked out in her Christmas jammies. She looks like she belongs in The Night Before Christmas. How very appropriate!

Cora had fun opening her presents. She was really happy about the toys and books, but was most enthralled with the shiny wrapping paper and bows.

We were excited when Cora showed interest in the books. I mean, she is highly advanced! Here she is trying to cram all that knowledge into her head.

Overall, a very nice Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Happy Half-Birthday!

Happy Half-Birthday, baby girl! I can't believe you have been in the world out here with us for six months. You amaze me at how you grow and change every day. I love you dearly!!


P.S. I'm really sorry you have to get your six month shots on Christmas Eve!

Cora's Stocking

I finally got around to making Cora's stocking. I would have felt terribly guilty not getting it finished in time for her first Christmas especially since Penny has one of her own! Here are our stockings hung and ready for Santa.

I was holding Cora as I took the picture, and she was very interested in the camera. She grabbed for it as I snapped the pictures. And, here is what happened. . . I love it! It looks like she's taking a picture of herself.

All I Want is Freedom!

I think Penny is getting tired of solitary confinement! She's taking as much freedom as she can get . . . with her nose. Don't really know how she managed to wedge her nose in that small square. I guess she just needed to smell the outside world! She goes in front of the parole board on Tuesday, but we feel pretty confident that she will be given time off for good behavior!

First Buggy Ride

At school on Tuesday, Mrs. Terri called me out of my classroom telling me she needed to show me something. Immediately, I assumed something was wrong. But, when I got to the door of my classroom, this is what I saw. My church has these fun red "Bye-Bye Buggies" that are used to take the kids on rides. Cora was always just a wee bit too small until now. She was so excited to be in the buggy with the "big kids." She beamed and beamed when she saw me. She was so proud of herself! (Is it just me or does her head look giant in this picture? Must be her big brains!!)

Yes, It Does Say Sucker on My Forehead!

Do you know that they basically have a WebMD for pets? It's extremely dangerous for me to go there. I was convinced that Penny had the deadly leptospirosis despite being current on her vaccines! Thank you to Dr. Womack for assuaging my fears. Today, I continued to do research on slipped discs in dachshunds. It is an extremely common ailment, so there was much cyber information to sort through. Most sites agreed that vitamin C and glucosamine can help to heal and prevent slipped discs. So, off Cora and I went to PetCo in search of supplements for Penny-dog. Cora was in a particularly good mood, and smiled and cooed at everyone who happened to glance at her. She was particularly thrilled with the Santa that we ran into in our vitamin quest. Turns out they had a little area set up to take pictures with Santa. (Oh, if only Penny could have been there!!!)

"Would you like to have a picture of her with Santa?" the man asked.

"Sure!" I said. This would prevent me from having to make a special trip to the mall.

"Okay, we're taking pictures for $8.95 with $5 going to the Elgin Humane Society. Is that okay?"

D'oh! In the few seconds I had to respond, I could not come up with a reason to say no that wouldn't make me look like a heel. I realize that "No, thank you" is a reasonable way to respond, but I have a history of not being able to say no. Just ask John how our power company got switched or how we ended up supporting the Texas State Troopers Association. Basically, I am now forbidden from answering the phone or the door! Since John wasn't around to intervene, here is the picture with Santa.

No, it was not my wish to be in the picture! When I handed Cora to Santa, she let out a scream to wake the dead. Never mind that this is the same Santa that she was cooing at not five minutes ago. I encouraged the man to just take the picture of her crying. I mean, there are tons of parents out there with screaming children in the first picture of Santa. However, Santa had the brilliant idea to have me hold her and then sit on his lap. Umm, okay?!? In the reasonable amount of time I had to respond, I could not come up with a graceful way to say no. Hmm. . .I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Maybe I should have "No, thank you" printed on a card that I can just flash at people instead of having to use words. Or maybe it would just be easier to tattoo "Sucker" to my forehead. . .or does it say that already?!

Please Don't Tell Me It Comes in Threes!

You already know that this week has been eventful for Cora. I am happy to report that Cora is doing well. No more fever, just an awful sounding cough. Thankfully, the cough does not seem to bother Cora that much.

Being fever free and on the upswing, Cora and I decided to do dinner with a friend. I left Penny in the house because I knew it was going to get cold outside. When we got home, Penny was on the back of the couch as she often is when left at home alone. Normally, Penny will jump down off the couch to shower whomever comes home with kisses. Last night, however, she seemed really reluctant to jump down off the couch. When she did get down, she was in an almost cowering posture. I called John and he figured it was probably nothing to worry about. So, I went about getting Cora ready for bed. 45 minutes later when Penny was still acting odd, I tried to pick her up and she yelped with pain. I put her on the bed and her whole body just shook and shook. This is when panic set in. John looked up the number for an emergency vet clinic, and after talking with the vet tech, Penny, Cora and I set off to get her checked out. Penny had all her vital signs checked and everything was stable. The vet couldn't give me a definite diagnosis without more testing (translation: more $$$ from me), but she suspected a slipped disc. She gave us some pain pills and let us go home. When we got home (at 1:00 in the morning!), I did a little internet research, and I feel confident that a slipped disc is the mystery ailment. Unfortunately for Penny, the treatment consists of pain pills and solitary confinement in her crate for 2 weeks. She only gets out to eat and to go to the bathroom. I am already seeing improvement in her, so I'm really hopeful for a full recovery. I just hope that she can endure the confinement. So, don't tell me these things come in threes. . .I'm the only healthy one left!

I Love Cora's Pediatrician!

So many people have been asking me about Cora's pediatrician lately. New moms are looking for a doctor; "old" moms are wanting to change doctors. Let me just tell you that I love Dr. Mitchell. It is worth the 15 mile drive to her office as she is housed by our church, and we are most certainly not! Naturally, her office was closed when we had our minor emergency the other night. But, fortunately, the after hours clinic was only a few miles away from us and, more importantly, was open at that time. Cora got checked out, thoroughly annoyed, and sent home. The after hours doctor, who was actually quite lovely - no matter what Cora thinks, assured us that it was likely nothing and as long as the symptoms didn't get worse, she should be well in a few days. I have been carefully monitoring her fever for the past 48 hours, and she is definitely on the upswing (despite the sound of her cough!!)

Anyway, while we are at home convalescing, the phone rings, and it is none other than Dr. Mitchell checking up on poor baby. Our doctor who didn't even see her is calling to make sure she is getting better! Two days in a row she has called to check up on poor baby. Perhaps all pediatricians do this; I really don't know as this is my first time. But, I really am thankful that she cares enough to take a few minutes to check on my sweet baby. So, to those of you out there who are looking for a pediatrician, I would be glad to share mine!

Second Cold

There are times where I wish I could suck my words right back into my mouth. "Cora's been remarkably healthy!" I said so confidently and proud. I remember that Dr. Mitchell told us we should expect to have one cold a month. Well, after three months, Cora only experienced one cold. I think we are making up for that now. Cora was fussy after her nap and was very congested. We broke out the aspirator and went about our business. But, when I had to (practically) force-feed her dinner, I decided to take her temperature. According to my thermometer, her temp was 103.4 - are you kidding me?!? So, we immediately got an appointment at the after-hours clinic. (Sidenote: Cora seems to be maintaining her ounce a day weight gain. She has doubled her birth weight as of today.) To continue the trend that nothing at the doctor is easy for Cora, she had to have a strep test, a flu test, and her ears irrigated. Poor baby got herself so worked up that she threw up about half a dozen times. When it was all said and done, Cora had water coming out of her ears, tears out of her eyes, snot out of her nose, and vomit out of her mouth. She gave that doctor the evil eye! Fortunately, the strep and flu tests were negative. The ears showed no sign of infection, so it looks like it's just some sort of run of the mill virus. I just now fed her and medicated her. I hope she sleeps well through the night. Hopefully, she'll start feeling better tomorrow.

Christmas Photos

When John was in 7th grade, his school had a silent auction. I'm sure there were all kinds of wonderful treasures up for auction, and John most certainly found something he had to have. What was it? A small wooden sleigh. Even to this day, he is not quite sure why he wanted it, but he has dutifully kept (stored) it for the past 20 years. Finally, this sleigh has fulfilled its destiny. . . Christmas photos! This evening, we dressed Cora up in her lovely Christmas dress that Mema made. Decked her out in the shoes and bows from Yia Yia. And, placed her in the beloved sleigh. Here are a few of the "rejected" pictures. You'll just have to wait to see the chosen one!

Tiny-might Strikes Again

I think those 9 ounces Cora gained must have been pure muscle! After her breakfast, I put her in her bumbo seat so I could do some things around the kitchen. The seat has a tray that snaps in place. I can never get it locked in place, but I thought I had it well secured. I put some toys on the tray and went about my business. When my back was turned, I heard what sounded like the tray hitting the counter. When I whipped around (in a panic), this is what I saw:

To borrow from the Incredible Hulk, "Don’t make me hungry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m hungry!"

4 Month Appointment - The Final Installment

Praise God! Our prayers have been answered. I am so relieved that this saga is over for now! We are finally in double digits. . . 10 pounds, 3 ounces! Cora gained 9 ounces in the past 10 days!! That almost doubled the weight she gained in the 3 months prior! She gained an inch in height as well as some millimeters around her head. She remains off the charts as far as height and weight. But, she is squarely in the 10th percentile as far as head circumference. She's our little pumpkin head! All the bloodwork and cultures came back negative/normal/unremarkable. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Cora. We go back to the doctor for our regular 6 month appointment on the 24th. As long has she continues to gain a few ounces each week, we are in the clear.

4 Month Appointment - Part 137

Tomorrow is our next 4 month appointment. (This drama is dragging out longer than The Lord of the Rings trilogy. : ) Wish us luck. All the blood tests have come back normal so far. The next step, should she still be failing to gain wait, will be to start visiting specialists. Today as I was feeding Cora her cereal and squash (yuck!), I was thinking about our appointment and trying to fathom what God's plan is for this situation. It just doesn't seem to make sense, but who am I to try to comprehend God's infinite wisdom and perfect will. So, I began to think of all the things in this situation that I am thankful for. Here goes:

1. I am thankful that God loves Cora even more than I do. His love for her is unfathomable.
2. I am thankful that God has blessed me with this beautiful baby.
3. I am thankful that there are so many people around us lifting us up in prayer.
4. I am thankful each and every time someone tells me about how they went through the same thing with their own child.
5. I am thankful that I live in a place where I have access to great doctors and great healthcare.
6. I am thankful that I have insurance to cover the costs of the tests and doctor visits.
7. I am thankful that my child is not a picky eater like her mom. (See previous paragraph about cereal and squash!)
8. I am thankful that there are people who are willing and able to give babies shots/draw blood/and all the other things that are difficult to even do to adults.
9. I am thankful for each and every smile, coo, laugh, giggle, roll, reach, touch, sit, stand, hug, and kiss from sweet Cora.

I know that there are so many more things that I need to add to this list. So, no matter if there is good news or bad tomorrow, I am thankful for these things and so much more. All whom I have spoken with have all but guaranteed that it is likely nothing, and I tend to feel that way, too. I'm sure most of my anxiety about the situation comes from being a new mom. I'll let you know how our appointment goes..

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

A gift from Mema and P-pa:

I wonder what Penny will do to avenge the humiliation!?!

Thanks-Christmas

Since we celebrated Thanksgiving with my parents, we will likely not see them at Christmas time. That can only mean one thing. . .Thanks-Christmas!! There are two very wonderful things about this (besides being with family, of course!):

1. Opening presents!!
2. Half of my Christmas shopping is done!!
   

On Saturday morning, we celebrated Christmas with my parents, my brother and his family, and my grandparents. My niece, Hannah, is at the age where she is starting to get into Christmas. In fact, my parents gave her the special job of present guard. She was to make sure no one got into the presents early. She took her job very seriously, and none of the presents were compromised until the right time! Then, she got the job of Santa's helper and passed out all the presents. Here she is doing her important job.

Cora must have been very good this year because she got many of the things she asked for. Her list included a bumbo seat and an umbrella stroller. (A very sophisticated list for a baby, I might say!) She also got an adorable outfit made by Mema. It will be perfect to have around Christmas time because it is red and white. It will go great with the little red and white shoes that her Aunt Celeste got her.

Hannah was also a very good little girl. Santa, or maybe Mema and P-Pa, got her some musical instruments. She spent the rest of the day playing her piano. Here she is bonding with Uncle John. Was that dulcet tones of Beethoven's 9th Symphony? Perhaps Moonlight Sonata? More like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. . .but, still, beautiful music! They make quite the musical pair!

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was pretty eventful for us. Besides Cora's doctor appointments, we celebrated Thanksgiving twice and watched a turkey of a football game!

This has been a particularly busy time for John at work, and he was unable to take the Friday off after Thanksgiving. Since we visited my family this year, we stayed in town until Friday night and then trekked to San Angelo. We spent Thanksgiving Day with some friends from church. We had a yummy meal of fried turkey and all the trimmings with the Hatleys and Pavesis. When the tryptophan set in, Cora and I took an afternoon nap while John watched the Cowboys play.

That night, we went over to our friends, the Hastings' to watch the Texas A & M game. It was not very pleasant for the men watching the game, but I had fun talking with the other ladies there. Cora had a good time when she borrowed Benjamin's racecar activity center. She is all decked out in her Texas A & M gear even though it didn't seem to help the outcome of the game at all!

Friday after John got off work, we left for my parents in San Angelo to celebrate Thanksgiving again. It was nice to have so many opportunities to eat turkey and for Cora to have so many opportunities to wear her Thanksgiving outfit. . . and legwarmers!! (She may hate me for it later, but for now, I dress her as I like!!)

P.S. Sweet potatoes are a big hit with little miss Cora. Tomorrow we try squash. . .

Carrots - Yum!

As part of our let's fatten up Cora regime, we were instructed to start baby foods. We were told to start with yellow or orange vegetables followed by fruits and, finally, green vegetables. I thought this was perfect since Thanksgiving is the time of colorful veggies. So, I got an armful of step one organic carrots and sweet potatoes at the store. Let me just say that so far, Cora is not a picky eater. She loved the carrots! She loved them so much that she didn't even make any kind of face when she first tasted them. No grimace, no inquisitive stare, she simply waved her arms and whined for more. We'll try sweet potatoes on Friday. Hopefully, she will not suddenly become picky before then! Perhaps after we finish off the ones I bought, I will feel resourceful enough to try my hand at making my own baby food. Considering the exact ingredients of the organic step one carrots are carrots and water, it doesn't seem that hard. Plus, considering those same ingredients, it just seems more cost-effective to do it myself. Let's just see if this lofty idea of mine actually comes to fruition!

4 Month Appointment - AARRGGHH!

This little fish tale just keeps getting bigger. . . Dr. Mitchell left a message for us today at 10:15 telling us she wanted to discuss Cora's lab work with me. It's never a good sign when they don't just come out and say anything. When I called her back, she told me that one of the blood tests indicated high potassium and low carbon dioxide. This can be a sign of a serious kidney issue. Yeesh! So, she wanted me to come in ASAP and have more (!) blood drawn. Yippee! Cora and I high-tail it to the clinic so we can get the results back today. Luckily, the phlebotomist from yesterday is at the pediatrician's office today. Out come the tourniquet and needles. I'm trying to stay calm for Cora, but it's hard especially knowing how she's going to react. It was worse today because Cora was all coos and giggles until she got stuck with the needle. She had such a tragic look on her face after that. And, I was the one that had to hold her writhing body down. Thankfully today she found a good vein. It only took a few minutes to get the blood needed. (Now Cora has 6 needle holes in her body - at least one on every appendage - my sweet, little pin cushion!) But, because nothing in this situation is ever easy, we had to stick around for 20 minutes to make sure the blood did not hemolyze. I am so thankful that we had a successful draw today. We were free to go. . .and wait for the results. About an hour later, Dr. Mitchell called to say that this test came back fine. (Praises to God!!!) She suspects that since we had such a hard time drawing blood yesterday, that particular blood test was skewed. We have another appointment a week from Friday. If Cora has not gained several ounces by then, we go to a specialist. More to come. . .

4 Month Appointment - The Sequel

Well, this little series of events is turning into a saga of epic proportions. Today we went back to the doctor to be weighed. As you will recall, at her last appointment Cora had only gained 4 ounces in the two months between the appointments. This month, little missy put on a whopping 1 ounce. . . The doctor was slightly (!) concerned. The mommy was slightly (!) hysterical. Cora was jolly until the doctor ordered a panel of lab work.

So, the phlebotomist comes in with her tray of needles, syringes, gauze and bandages and asks which tests the doctor ordered. It can not be good if the professional doesn't know what tests for which she is drawing blood, no? All I know is that the doctor is going to be checking liver functions, etc. But, not being a medical professional, how the heck should I know the names of the tests?!? And, now I'm expected to trust this person to stick my baby!?! The phlebotomist leaves to find out what she is supposed to do and does not come back. Eventually the nurse tracks her down and sends her back in with a list of seven (!) tests. Does my baby even have enough blood for 7 tests?? Even the professional is skeptical. Nevertheless, she brings out one of those lovely rubber tourniquets and wraps it around sweet baby's arm. No good veins there. Next, she tries the foot. No such luck there either. She decides she will need a tiny needle and leaves us to retrieve one. Then, she and the nurse attempt to draw blood from a vein I can't even see. They were able to get about 1/2 a drop. So, they send me off to another clinic down the street.

This clinic happens to be in a family practice. The people in the waiting room are all adults and all sick. When we walk in, Cora happens to be fussing her tiny little head off. I'm sure they were all thrilled. Thankfully, it was only a few minute wait for us. Unfortunately, this phlebotomist did not seem much more hopeful about getting the blood needed for all of the tests. Nevertheless, we begin the vein search all over again. To make this incredibly long story (a little) shorter. After 45 minutes of pricking my poor baby, she was able to get enough blood for all but one of the tests. Here is a picture of what Cora looked like when she was finished.

I took these pictures with my phone, so the quality is not great. She has four bandages on her feet and one on her wrist. The nurse was very gracious and allowed me to stay in the room and nurse Cora to get her calmed down. And, she made sure that I did not leave without my very own fecal collection kit. . .just what I always wanted!! We should get the lab work back in a few days. . .

4 Month Appointment - Part 2

Our appointment is today. I'm nervous, but I'm pretty sure she's put on weight. Her diaper seems to fit a little more snugly. It's hard to tell if the clothes are getting tighter because we are wearing cool weather clothes now. More to come. . .

Johnny Jump-Up

Does anyone remember the Johnny Jump-Up from when we were kids? The best way I can think to describe it is as a child's bungee seat. You attach a large clamp to your door casing. The seat hangs from stretchy straps attached to the clamp. You slide your child in and the joy of random jumping is discovered. I know they took them off the marked for a while. . .something about safety issues. . .gee, you think?! Apparently, you can now buy the original version again. Let me know if any of you out there try it on your precious one!?!

So, all that being said, the "new school" version of it has the bungee cords attached to a metal frame such as that of a baby swing. It also has little gadgets and gizmos to entertain baby - as if jumping were not enough!! It is like a swing/exersaucer hybrid. Some friends are letting us borrow one for Cora. (Random, unsolicited advice: Before you buy some fabulous looking something that you are sure will keep your child highly entertained, borrow it. You never know if your child will actually like/use what you bought.) Cora actually seems to like it. We have to kind of wedge her in a bit on account of her, shall we say, petite stature? She has not mastered jumping in it, but she will grab for the beads and things. I want to see how she will react when she figures out she can bounce in it. Here is a picture of play-time.
I think she's actually supposed to sit a bit higher in the chair, but she is a wee little thing! I'll be sure to get video of when she starts jumping.

Rolling

Last night Cora rolled from her back to her stomach for the first time. She was laying in her play gym on her back talking and trying to get as many fingers in her mouth as possible. Suddenly, she just decided to roll on over. And, poof, there she was staring up at me in that half push-up position. Will she be one of those babies who first moves around by rolling? I guess we shall soon see!

Teething?

This week has been a little wacky for Cora. She's been more fussy than normal - they actually had to page me after about a half an hour to come get her at church on Sunday. The drool is non-stop. She's had some runny stools. (Drools and stools - who knew I'd be keeping track of that?!?) And, she keeps licking her bottom gum. I keep handing her teething toys, and she goes to town on them when she can get the cumbersome toys in her mouth. She's had the little tooth buds on her bottom gum for quite some time. But, her gums don't seem swollen or irritated at this point. Hmm. . . I'm thinking teeth will make nursing more interesting! I'll keep you posted on her status. . .

Walking

No, not Cora. . . But, she did rather enjoy John's and my evening walk. We used the baby carrier instead of the stroller, and she had a great time staring at everything as we walked by. She also enjoyed licking the top of the carrier. Not sure what that's about, but if it keeps her happy, then lick away, little one!

The Big Game

Yesterday, Cora went to her first tailgate and football game. Some of our friends, the Hatleys, are part of a group that runs a big tailgate sponsored by the business school and now, the cheerleading squad. They have a neat old trailer that they have "Baylorized" with green and gold paint and much Bear paraphernalia. It's a bit rustic on the inside, but Lucky, as it's named, really sets he mood to get excited about Baylor sports. (Become a friend of Lucky, the Baylor Trailer on facebook.)

We got to the tailgate at about 11:30. At this point in the day, it is about 39 degrees outside and a little over 3 hours until the game starts. What were we thinking coming to a game with a 4 month old?! Thank you to Lucky for providing some much needed shelter from the wind. We bundled her up pretty good in what was as close to Baylor colors as we could find. Cora did not mind the tailgate, but she did not particularly enjoy the noise of the game. I spent the first half walking the concourse and shopping in the ridiculously over-priced spirit shop. (I did accomplish my mission of getting Baylor gear for Cora, though!) Cora fell asleep during the half-time show, and I got to watch the "Nationally famous fightin' Texas Aggie band." (It was actually the only thing I cared about seeing.) Then, there was more walking of the concourse. When it was over (Go BEARS!!), they allowed the fans onto the field. Cora got to put her potentially 5th generation Baylor woman feet down on the football field. I think she loved it! We were pretty cold and wind-swept at this point, but Cora was in a pretty good mood. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take her out on the field. (The headless entity behind me is the Hatley's oldest son Samuel.) John was a really good sport. Here we are. . . One (mostly) happy family!

LIttle Turkeys

Today was the Thanksgiving Feast at school. Johnna's and my class looked so cute in the show. We have some real performers! To mark the occasion, Johnna bought the babies matching onesies. Little Anna, Tyler and Cora all sported cute orange onesies that said "Little Turkey." Don't you just love Anna's leg warmers?! I think Cora needs some to go with her little denim skirt!They were all holding hands when I tried to take this picture. Cora and Tyler kind of let go, but I know they still love each other the most. Look at the way he looks at her. . .Don't know why Cora looks so freaked out. . . surely it has nothing to do with all the match-making and marriage talk!?! After such a fun day at school, of course, she was just tuckered out. She passed out in the baby bjorn after lunch

Tiny-might

Mrs. Brenda coined a new nickname for baby girl, "Tiny-might." As she says, "She's tiny, but she's strong." Cora seems determined to prove herself worthy of the moniker. When she grabs on to my fingers, she doesn't just want to pull up into a sitting position, but insists on standing. Then, she lifts her feet and tries to walk. . . I know it's just a reflex, but it looks really strange when it is such a tiny little body doing it. This evening, she was using those amazing abs to support herself while sitting. She didn't last long - inevitably, she fell forward. But, she is definitely trying to hold herself up. What really startled me was when she saw me come in to the room. She seemed like she fell forward, but she was pushing with her legs and looking at me like she wanted to crawl toward me. I think if she had a little more arm strength, she would have crawled. Yikes! Soon I guess I will no longer be able to park her in the boppy on the bed while I take a shower!

In a Bit of a Rut

I realize my posting has been rare as of late. It seems that we have come to a bit of a lull in the exciting developments. I am happy to report that Cora is now an expert in rolling from her tummy to her back. Almost every morning and after every nap time, I go in to her nursery to find her on her back talking and/or sucking on her fingers. However, she gets annoyed when we put her on her tummy and pull out the camera to film it. I could take a picture of her on her back, but what would that prove?! For now you will just have to take my word that she is an excellent roller.

Cora is also loving cereal. She is getting to where she will open her mouth to allow me to put the spoon in. Before, she was mostly sucking it off of the edge of the spoon. We're still working on the extrusion reflex. . .getting the cereal from the front of the mouth to the back. (Bet you didn't know there was a fancy term for moving food in your mouth!) I think we may be starting baby foods after Cora's next doctor visit. Can you believe she is old enough for baby foods?!

I should have some more exciting information later in the week. Saturday is, after all, Cora's first football game(Baylor vs. Texas A&M), and as it may be, there is a 100% chance that one of her parents will be unhappy afterwards!

New Computer!

This is my first post on my new computer. John got me a laptop to help with my new job. And, he's connected me somehow to our main computer, so I have access to all of our documents and pictures wirelessly. I'm sure that is probably not as amazing as I think it is, but I love that I am sitting in the living room right now and can browse photos on the other computer. This photo is actually not my new computer, but I just love the intensity with which Cora is staring at the screen. She even has her fingers (and toes) in the home position! I think she's a budding writer. Yea!! Good times!

She's Found Her Voice

Yesterday, Cora started talking. Obviously, she's not using words, but she's started using her voice for more than just laughing and crying. This afternoon we went through our normal naptime ritual, and I put her to bed. When I turned on the monitor, I could hear her already. Immediately, I'm wondering why she always cries and resists her nap whenever I decide to take a nap, too. However, when I turned on the video feed, it turned out that she was just a-talking away. John thinks that she was trying to call to us. She would talk, and then, if no one responded, she would get louder. It's like she's saying, "HEY! I will not be ignored!"

One Fierce Watchdog

According to Wikipedia, "Dachshunds are playful, fun dogs known for their propensity to chase small animals, birds, and tennis balls with great determination and ferocity. . .They have a particularly loud bark, making dachshunds good watchdogs. . .Their temperament and body language give the impression that they do not know or care about their relatively small size." Criminals, beware! Penny is watching you!

Halloween

Oh, the things we do for kids! Yesterday, we had Harvest Day at the preschool. My co-teacher, Johnna, had her costume already, and I'm not one to be outdone! Here we are with our kiddos. (This is why God did not make me blonde! May I just say hats off - no pun intended! - to those of you out there who choose to wear wigs on a regular basis. That thing just about drove me nuts!) Cora dressed up as a cat. Mema got her some stockings to go with the kitty cat onesie, but they were a little big on mon petite bébé. Johnna had a cute little tu-tu on baby Anna. And, yes, those are leg-warmers!! William is Ossmus (Optimus) Prime, of course! In spite of the itchy wig and highly unflattering dress, it was actually a lot of fun!

Cora's Lovey

I recently read that starting at 3 months, babies can begin to grow sentimental attachments to objects. So, now whenever Cora is upset, I get her bunny lovey and rub Cora's face and arms with it while I soothe her. I think she's starting to associate it with comfort. I handed it to her today so that I could get dressed. She had a great time talking to it and tasting it. Check it out.Penny wanted to get in on the action, too. She's actually becoming very obedient about not licking the baby. It's going to be so much fun when they can play together.

Success!

I've mentioned before how I desperately hope that Cora will learn to suck her fingers. I think we have success! (Although, this presents a small problem when we are trying to eat cereal!)Incidentally, her eyes appear to be turning green!

There Was One in the Bed. . .

And the little one said, "Roll over!" And, that's what she did. This afternoon she woke up in the middle of her nap. I have been letting her fuss for a few minutes because she is starting to be able to put herself back to sleep. The whole while she is fussing, I'm listening on the baby monitor. Suddenly, I hear golden silence. I turn on the video feed expecting to see my baby sleeping, but instead, I see 2 bright eyes staring at me! It was actually a little unnerving - like she was watching me, too! Turns out she was simply looking at the green light on the camera. But, the point is that suddenly, she's on her back happily sucking on her fingers and watching the pretty light. I was very tempted to run into her room and spank her for growing up too fast! I managed to rein in my emotions, though, at least for the moment. This week, rolling over; next week, college!

Cereal, an Interesting Paradox

We are well into our first week of this exciting culinary adventure. And, let me tell you, it has been an adventure! Little Miss Cora can be quite contrary when it comes to eating cereal. It took a few days for me to figure out how she wanted it done. (I learned from my father's anecdote about force-feeding my brother peas that it is best to work with them rather than against them!) I have learned that Cora must be fully nursed before any attempts at cereal can be made. I have also discovered how the spoon must be placed in her mouth for maximum ingestion. I think she now may be eating more than she ends up wearing - I call that success!

When we were given the green-light to start cereal, Dr. Mitchell gave us the option of beginning with rice or barley. She cautioned us, though. Rice tends to constipate, while barley has a laxative effect. Umm, okay. . . what do I do with those fun little tidbits?! Thankfully, the issue of which one to start with was solved by the store only having rice cereal. Surely Cora will be fine. . . Let's just say that after 2 days of no bowel movements and sweet baby whimpering (technically, screaming and crying), I decided to give barley a try. As much as rice constipates, barley does the opposite. WOW! I'm amazed the diaper was able to contain it all! It seems like you should alternate them. Would that counteract the effects? Anyway, we're in a good rhythm now, so we should see the weight start adding on. I'll keep you posted.

Cereal - Yum!

Last night Cora got to try cereal for the first time. (To call it cereal may be stretching it a bit. This was more like a slightly thickened formula on a spoon.) Thankfully, Cora seemed to like it. Once she kind of got the hang of getting it off of the spoon, she really got after it. At one point Cora began to fuss at me when I would take the spoon out of her mouth to refill it. She managed to eat a couple of ounces of milky cereal. The most fabulous part is that last night she slept from 11:30 until 9 this morning! I could tell it was a much deeper sleep than usual because she was in almost the exact same position this morning that I left her in last night. Here are some pictures of the dining experience.

4 Month Appointment - The Movie

Well, it's over, and it was as bad as I expected. In fact, from the moment I put her on the scale, it was bad. Cora has only gained 5 oz in the last 2 months. She weighs 9lbs, 9oz and is 22 inches long. She's just slightly bigger than your average newborn, and she is 4 months old! Yeesh! I told John that I knew I was going to get in trouble - for what, I don't know. I just knew there was going to be a problem. John, ever the level-headed one to my high-strung self, gently reminded me that I was not in trouble and that this is why we have well checks. I, ever the emotional one, reminded him that they also have well-checks so they can stick poor, screaming babies with really sharp needles!

Anyway, Dr. Mitchell gave me the option of supplementing with either formula or cereal. I was planning on asking about starting cereal anyway. Cora's been showing some signs of being interested in food. So, I chose cereal. We start tonight. I will definitely take pictures. I'm expecting it to be a bit messy to say the least. We go back to the doctor in a month to see if the cereal is fattening her up sufficiently. So you can look for "4 Month Appointment - The Sequel" coming soon to a blog near you!

4 Month Appointment - The Prequel

Tomorrow (Friday) is Cora's 4 month well-check. All you experienced moms know what that means . . . more shots. yippee. All the things that seem so black and white before you have a child suddenly become gray. If you read this before her appointment tomorrow (9 am), please pray that the immunizations do their job and nothing harmful. (On the plus side, Cora will get to have some more of that tasty, grape infant tylenol!)

Potential Husband?

I never thought I believed in arranged marriages until I had a daughter. (And, I also understand why my parents never really minced words when I asked their opinion of a potential suitor!) I won't actually make Cora go through with an arranged marriage, but would it be so wrong if I steered her in a certain direction?! Thankfully Cora is surrounded by many young gentlemen from good Christian families. Here is one of Cora's possible husbands.
Notice how they are wearing coordinating clothing? We did not plan it. . . It's just fate! Tyler's mom and I like to think that they will be quarterback and cheerleader. It will have to be a long distance relationship though because Tyler bleeds purple and orange (Clemson) and Cora bleeds green and gold and a little maroon! I think they are strong enough to make it work!!

Fancy Baby

Cora's best friend is Anna. Anna's mom got super creative over the weekend and fancified some onesies. Here's the one she made for Cora. . .

I found this little jean skirt in her closet and thought it made the perfect little outfit. The only problem is Cora has no "junk in her trunk." (Obviously, she does not get that from me!) It was a bit of a battle to keep the skirt from sliding up and down on her today. But, nobody ever said looking good is easy!

The funny thing is that this is the first time Cora has worn something with pockets. She apparently thinks pockets are quite wonderful. Her teacher, Mrs. Brenda, was holding her while she snuggled her hand down into the depths of the skirt. When Mrs. Brenda would pull her hand out, she would resolutely stick it right back in. I think once Cora may have even stiff-armed her. I really have no idea where she gets that stubborn streak!?! Anyway, I'm thinking she's going to need some snacks, a little cell phone, some keys, or something to store in her new favorite place. Here's a picture of her and her new discovery.

Jacob and Baby Cora

Jacob is Cora's first friend. He used to talk to her while she was still in my tummy. I love how he always calls her "Baby Co-wa." In fact, whenever we are around him, he is always very protective of her. He will ask "Where's Baby Cowa?" or "Why is Baby Cowa crying?" I think he's practicing for when he becomes a big brother. It's going to be so much fun to see them together when Cora is old enough to interact and play.

Daddy Day-Care

On Monday mornings, Cora gets to spend some quality time with her dad while I go out into the schools to observe my interns. (I have a very small part-time job as a field advisor for first year teachers.) After Cora gets up from her morning nap, she and daddy bond. Now you must understand that football is a big thing in our house. . .in fact, football season is year round with an XBox and NCAA '08. Poor John; being surrounded by females, he has no one with whom to share the joy of football. However, today John began the process of conversion on Cora. When I got home, Cora was in her boppy on the bed with John on the laptop beside her. I asked how the morning was going, and I found out what time she got up from her nap and how much she ate. Then John told me that when she began to fuss, he decided to read to her. He chose something they would both enjoy . . . Aggie football news! Yep, John was reading internet articles to her about his alma mater. I'm sure Cora already knows more than I do about the goings-on in Aggieland. She was smiling and doing her best to talk with her daddy. As much as I want Cora to be my little girlie-girl ballerina, I sure hope she will grow up to enjoy football with her proud papa.

Peek-a-boo

Cora has discovered the joys of peek-a-boo. Tonight, daddy had her on the changing table in the nursery - strangely enough, one of her favorite places to be - when he yells for me to come in there. I come running in expecting to find a pox on baby girl or some other horrible malady. He tells me to watch as he throws a burp rag over her face, pulls it down and exclaims "peek-a-boo!" Baby girl got a huge grin on her face, cooed, and then laughed one of those adorable belly laughs. Unfortunately, the game had grown tiresome before we could get it on video, but I'm so excited that Cora at least finds someone other than Penny worthy of her precious laughter. We'll keep trying to get some video of the fun!

Obnoxious, Yet Totally Necessary

I am so thankful that Cora takes a pacifier. It really comes in handy during Cora's "witching hour." Unfortunately, the one that soothes her best is the Super Soothie - the kind you get in the hospital. (Huh, very apropos product naming, wouldn't you say?!) The problem, as I see it, is that they don't stay in her mouth very well, and since she hasn't quite mastered gripping and bringing things to her mouth, this can be a bit of a problem. I'm secretly hoping that she'll suck her fingers like I did. (A gasp rises from the crowd!)

The other problem is the paci clip. I have only found one clip that works with this pacifier. It's huge! It's as big as Cora's face. Cora gets a lot of comments when it's in her mouth. This is mostly because you can hardly see her face. Take a look. . .

Tennis, Anyone?

I LOVE this outfit!

I just had to post pictures of my little tennis tot!

National Day of Remembrance

Many of you may know that October 15th is National Day of Remembrance for Pregnancy and Infant Loss. When you get a moment, may I encourage you to pray for all the families, but especially the mothers who are grieving for a lost child. In my personal life, I have been touched by several women who bear this burden including Angie Smith of Bring the Rain. Though I do not know her personally, her story resonates with me as my family was touched by tragedy when our precious Benjamin Scott was born into heaven in February of 2004. I encourage you to visit her blog. As of this moment over 500 women have requested prayer on this day as they grieve.

I am acutely conscious of how blessed I am. I type this message as my child lays on my lap. Her hand rests on my chest, and she studies my face intently. I know that I have done nothing to deserve such a precious gift. Yet, I selfishly cling to her and drink every moment in.

I have blogged before about how people often like to start conversations with little mommies out in public. When I was at HEB on Sunday, I ran into a sweet grandmother who struck up a conversation about Cora and her grandbabies. As she left, she commented to me, "You know that they (children) are only on loan to us." I have thought about that statement many times since then. I am so thankful to God for each day that I have with Cora, and my deepest prayer is that she will live a long, happy life.

Sweet Jesus, So many hearts cry out to you. Let Your peace rain over those who are hurting. Let Your healing wash over the hearts that are broken. Let Your presence comfort those who despair.
Amen

Getting A Grasp on Things. . .

Literally! Check out what Cora did today.

She has been grabbing my hair for a while. I just thought it was a coincidence. It is awfully convenient to grasp when being lowered into the crib or onto the changing table especially since my hair is usually hanging in her face. Today, I noticed her intently staring at her fingers and bringing them back and forth in front of her face. So, I took a chance, showed her a toy, and sure enough, she grabbed for it. She even managed to pull the bulky thing up to her mouth for further exploration. Several times today she played with the toy. This was especially helpful while we were at the grocery store. Hopefully, this new skill will foster a little bit of independent play!

Yia Yia's Birthday

After church today John, Cora and I met Yia Yia for her birthday lunch in San Marcos. (Grandpa is still in Houston helping AT&T get everyone back in service after the hurricane.) This just happened to be the perfect opportunity for Cora to wear the little blue ensemble that Yia Yia gave to her. Cora looked very fanciful in her Feltman dress replete with embroidery, smocking, and the sweetest little bloomers ever. She looked like Little Bo Peep - that is, minus the shepherd's crook and the long blonde curls! I have to include a picture of the shoes she is wearing because they are so darn cute! (In case you think they are as fabulous as I do, they come from Gymboree.) I hope her feet stay tiny for a little while longer so she can keep wearing them.

Anywho. . . we ate at Saltgrass Steakhouse which happens to be right on the river and next to the Texas State campus in San Marcos. It was quite picturesque, and the food was very tasty. Despite it being naptime, Cora obliged us with some photos. I thought this photo was spectacular. I wonder who loves whom more?!