moor, please: Happy New Year

We welcomed 2013 with a rainy day here. The dishwasher is on its 3rd load of the day at it isn't even noon. Today marks 17 months for Cora. She is talking a little more each day. She continues to understand nearly everything we say. She is pretty good at listening and following directions (which is nice when Connor doesn't love to follow directions anymore). She has some new words. Milk (she pronounces "Gilk"), Spoon (she pronounces "Poon"), Pop Pop, Cheese, Book (pronounced "Gook"). There are more maybe I'll think of them while typing. She now knows "Ears" and can identify them on herself and others (including her new babies). She loves for Connor to chase her around the upstairs (not my favorite activity) and also enjoys playing with every toy we own. And after Christmas, we own way too many. I actually don't think we will need any new toys for the baby, ever. She is still about 24 pounds and although her appetite has slowed down a bit, she is still a great eater. Her favorite food this month was Mexican Sweet Potatoes. These are super delicious and I made them without the skins, more like mashed potatoes. Another love is Spaghetti Bread. Also from Pinterest. I can assure you this is super easy to make, all the ingredients but the cheese are freezer or pantry items so this is a great - What can I fix without going to the store meal. I've been busy with Christmas, decorating, shopping, wrapping, and more wrapping and packing and shipping. I haven't posted many pictures. Here are some photos from Christmas that I missed posting.

My Christmas Cards . . . I LOVE this frame that hangs in our "foyer" and displays Christmas Cards (we got even more after I took this pic) and in the off season holds invitations, artwork and photos.

We went to The Club this year for the Santa Dinner. We got a family photo with Santa (not pictured because I don't have the digital file) and the kids danced the night away with JoJo.

Santa Connor - he is into what he calls superhero poses. hmmm.

Connor dressed up (along with the rest of the boys in his class) as Joseph. This was their Christmas luncheon/ Happy Birthday Jesus party.

Christmas Eve morning at the Doctor's office. Turns out the Pre-Christmas Puke the night before was just a quick bug that left Cora a little drowsy & feverish but overall didn't dampen her spirits too much - other than this photo.

Our Angel and Shepard (part of the Christmas Eve service at my parent's church. We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's house enjoying our annual Mexican dinner. So delicious! I don't have any photos because I was worried that Cora might still be sickly. You know, sitting around waiting for her to puke kind of night. Luckily she didn't get sick again.

Christmas morning. Connor slept in a little. Cora slept in a lot. So Connor got up and opened his stocking and his gifts from family and friends. I videoed this, so no still photos. Cora eventually woke up and we had breakfast and then did Santa gifts (at our other fireplace downstairs). Santa brought this Escalade and Planet mobile for Connor and Tea party/art table for Cora.

Cora enjoyed "jumping" (more like marching in place) on the new trampoline from Kevin and Leslie while holding her new picnic basket from Cousin Maddie.