18-Month Check-Up

Cora had her 18-month check-up yesterday. After falling off the growth charts in weight at her 15-month check-up, we were happy to see that she had a nice weight gain. She now weighs 19 pounds and 12 ounces--that's an entire pound in three months. She's still not on the charts for weight but is having an upward trend and is very healthy, which is all the doctor cares about. For height she is in between the 50th and 75th percentiles. In summary, she is on the taller side and skinny. Maybe I should get her a modelling contract?

We bought one of these...

So, we finally caved and bought one of these...



Because we're having another one of these...


Baby is due around May 31!

Diversity

Last week at school Eva made a Native American-style headdress and a beaded necklace. After she came home from school she spent the entire afternoon running around the house wearing her creations and saying, "I'm a Native American! I'm a Native American."

Today at school Eva learned all about Hanukkah. We talked a bit about the holiday and about some of our friends who celebrate Hanukkah. In the course of the conversation we explained that we don't celebrate it because we're not Jewish. Eva then claimed to be Jewish.

Our Own Family Circus Moment

Eva: "Mommy, I dripped off my chair and hurt my toe!"

Big Talker

When Cora turned 15 months I started keeping track of her words. I stopped at the end of last month when she turned 17 months old and was amazed to see that she had a vocabulary of 60+ words.

As Cora approaches her 18 month birthday, we are definitely noticing the typical verbal explosion. She says "Eva" very well and to hear her say it is just about the cutest thing ever. She also started saying "Elsie" (our dog), "towel" and "happy." Just yesterday she put a ring on her finger, came up to me and said "ring." She is also getting better at her manners and says "please" (sometimes without prompting) and "thank you" (always needs prompting for that) and is pretty good at asking "help please" when she needs it (it sounds something like "epp-eee"). Of course, at her age few people other than us understand her.

More than anything, this gives me hope that my poor, neglected second child will obtain all the same skills as Eva and in roughly the same amount of time. Being the second child, Cora doesn't get all the one-on-one attention that we lavished on Eva and I feel guilt for that. I guess I need to stop worrying.

Tuesday with Cora

Daylight savings has not been kind to us. Cora has woken up around 5:00 a.m. for the past three days. This morning we went for a walk and Cora was lulled to sleep in the jogger. Even being extracted from the jogger and having her coat taken off would not wake her. She has been asleep for half an hour on the couch.

Fall Round-Up (Warning: Very Long Post)

Each year September is usually a busy month that flies by and this year was no different. Here's a summary of our life from the end of summer through Halloween.

Matt and Eva had a fun camping adventure in our back yard. This was a good test run and proved that Eva is nowhere close to being ready for real camping. She was terrified of the bugs (scratch being outdoors) and does not like food that is charred in any way (scratch cooking over a fire). Maybe next year...


Explaining the finer points of toasting a marshmallow.

Ready for bed!

At the end of August we traveled to South Carolina and vacationed with Matt's family. We had a great time.



Cora with Uncle Aaron. Note the sand beard--the girl at A LOT of sand, which made for some very interesting diapers.


Playing with Oma on beach.


Cousins Cora and Kaz. Babies + bike trailer = sleeping babies.




Guess which kid enjoyed the lazy river and which one didn't?


Sunrise



Eva started preschool. She attends school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and loves it!


Movie night with Mommy and Daddy.


Leslie, Eva and Cora took a trip to WI to visit family and friends. Of course, I always forget to get my camera out and never take as many pictures as I hope to.

With Great-grandma Vanderbilt


We spent a day at Apple Holler with our dear friends Rachael, Kate (pictured) and Collin.


We had fun at the playground with our old playgroup friends. Here the girls are with Jack and Brady.

We went to a pumpkin festival and had a blast!

On the hayride.

Getting her face painted was one of the best parts of Eva's day.

More Halloween fun. Here is Eva with her class at their Halloween party.

Taking some time to veg in front of the tv (aka: Leslie was trying to get ready) and having a rare snuggle in the laundry hamper.

Uncle Phil visited us from Denver. Eva, Leslie and Phil went to Niagara Falls, ON and visited the butterfly conservatory.

Halloween is FINALLY here!

Eva had so much fun playing with Uncle Phil. Come back soon!

All bundled up and ready to trick-or-treat on a chilly night. Cora came down with a fever and a runny nose and was not interested in even wearing her costume for a picture.

Happy Halloween!

More from July & August

Here are some of my favorites from July & August:

Keeping an eye on the backyard.

Eva took a 5-week pre-ballet class and loved it!

Eva & Leslie having fun together after ballet class. Eva took a turn with the camera.


Cora thinks it's funny to walk around wearing her blanket over her head.


Chocolate mess!


Sisters hug!

14-Month Skills

Cora displays some of her knowledge...truly astounding stuff! = )

Some more firsts for Cora

Since Cora refuses to keep anything in her hair to keep it out of her face I had to have her bangs cut. Not my first choice but I had no other option (the other option would be for my 1-year old to resemble a sheep dog). Cora made the first haircut memorable by screaming as if her hairs were being yanked out individually rather than getting a quick snip from the scissors.



Don't you just love those little blonde curls?


Also in the news of Cora's firsts....(drumroll please)...CORA FINALLY CUT TWO MORE TEETH! She cut two bottom teeth back in February and I have been waiting not-so-patiently for more to emerge. In the past week she has cut two more! Click on the picture below to see a larger version and to get a glimpse of the white peeking out from her top gum.

MIA

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been so behind on posting--we FINALLY moved into our new house and the past month has been a whirlwind. My mother kindly reminded me that she checks our blog frequently and hasn't seen any updates lately. It certainly is hard for the grandparents to be away from the kids. Speaking of grandparents, many thanks to Paul, Casey, Ev and Bill for helping us get settled into our new place--we miss you very much so come back soon!

Here is Eva. It was taken while we were still in the apartment. She looks so old in this picture that I want to cry.

Eva likes to take pictures. It's impossible to take pictures without her wanting to take a turn behind the lens. By the way, the fleece snowsuit was Cora's idea--I like that she paired it with the green bead necklace.

Here we are on Niagara Falls trip #1: Matt, Leslie, Eva and Cora. We went to the American side.

Niagara Falls trip #2: Matt, Eva, Oma and Dzia-dzia. They went to the Canadian side. Matt got the third degree from the border about taking his child into a different country and wanted to make sure that he had my permission.

Niagara Falls trip #3: Leslie, Eva, Gram and Bill. We visited the American side since none of us had our proper documentation. We went out on the overlook thing (whatever they call it)--it is frightening and I don't plan on going out there again anytime soon.

Eva is going to be so familiar with Niagara Falls that she will either work for the National Parks Service or will never want to go there again. Lord willing, we won't be so close to Niagara Falls for the entirety of her childhood.

Here's our house! I just realized that the roof is chopped off, but you get the idea.

June 2010

Cora's Vocabulary

Cora is developing by leaps and bounds. Today, while looking at a book, she saw an elephant and raised her hand and made the elephant noise (you know the one). Here's a quick list of her words/sounds/gestures:

Dog (her very first word--she's been saying this one for at least a couple months)
Mama
Dada
Cat
Ruff-ruff (dog barking)
Meow (though it sounds like "rare")
Elephant trumpeting (raises hand and makes noise)
Uh-oh
Ball
Baby ("dee-dee")
Puts her hands up when she drops something ("Where did it go?")
Makes a fish face when she sees a fish
Signs Eat & Drink (and I think she might be trying to say "cup" but I'm not 100% sure yet)
Nods her head "yes"
Shakes her head "no"
Signs "all done"
Waves

She is also getting to know her body parts--nose, eyes, feet, head, hair, ears, tongue, mouth. Yesterday I was reading a book and pointed to a picture of a mouse and said "mouse"--Cora pointed to her mouth. Close enough!

Cora is One!

Happy birthday to our sweet girl. It was a small but happy celebration and Cora had a good time.


Contemplating the mystery food item.


I think she likes it.


Mmmmm...cream cheese frosting.


Opening cards and gifts.


Daddy with his baby girl.

Keeping up with the pack.