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.

Eat Play Love

Mother's Day 2010

Out with the girls (and Matt) for a Mother's Day brunch. We had a lot of fun! (sorry for the red eyes--I didn't upload my photo editing software before it was packed away)

All about Eva

Eva keeps us amused these days. Lately, she is feeling incredibly affectionate and tells me no less than 5 times a day, "Mommy, I love you so much!" It's nice to feel loved. Other funny words she is using: otherwise, except (she actually says "be-sept"), remote ("commote") and apartment ("repartment"). Of course, her love of Thomas the Tank Engine gets into her crazy vocabulary as well--"buffered up" and "cheeky" are used on a daily basis.

Yesterday, they mulched the landscaping around our apartment. I guess the aroma of the fresh mulch was pretty noticeable to Eva. Upon going outside she said with complete shock, "I smell something. It smells like animals!" Later that evening, she proceeded to make up stories for Matt about elephants and zebras and the mess they made outside.

Leaving Wisconsin

Here are some pics of our last few weeks in Milwaukee. We're still in the apartment here in Buffalo and are looking forward to getting settled in our new home at the end of May. While we really miss family, friends and the familiarity of a hometown, it's so nice to have the four of us back together again.


Last family pic in front of our house in Milwaukee.


Life in boxes.

Eva with her friend Jack.

Eva got to enjoy her friend Sophia's birthday party a few days before we left. It was definitely hard to leave our playgroup friends--we miss them so much!

Gram & Cora at our Easter celebration.

Jet-setting kids!

Apartment life