18 Months

Cora is 18 months old today. And if she is 18 months that means about 30 days until her baby brother arrives. Wow. We are in the midst of a small remodel in our lower level to get ready for baby C. We are expanding the bedroom closet (to accommodate more of our clothes) and enclosing our laundry room as part of our house (instead of part of the garage). I have been saying all week that this is "My Superbowl" and it is. I cannot wait for the finished product! Ok, so back to Miss Cora. She is quite the little personality. Mimic is the best word to describe her at this age. She can play follow the leader and loves to copy everything. She can understand fairly complex commands and is happy to complete most requests. She is talking much more (although sometimes it sounds more like a foreign language. She is speaking clearly, just clearly not English). She is starting to make sentences: Push Me. Sit Here. I want that. More Milk, etc. Most days I will find her in her eat seat at 5:30 saying "Eat, Eat". Well, ok, but we usually don't eat at 5:30. Her really consistent habit (that I thought she would grow out of) is that she kicks the wall through her crib while she lies in her bed. I'm not sure why. She doesn't do it because she is mad. It is just something she does I guess to settle herself but she is always happy while kicking. It sounds like the wall is coming down though. Strong legs. 18 month appointment is Monday so I'll have her stats then.

Cool in the Shade (Cora now loves sunglasses and especially putting them on her head - wonder who she is copying?)

Cora on the Left - I'm on the Right.

Sweet Siblings (sorry to say that despite their love for Flap Books - this sweetness only lasted a little bit longer than it took me to take the photo) So I said before that the remodel was My Super Bowl. That means Colin's Super Bowl is the real thing. I may have said that if he didn't go back to Baltimore for a playoff game this year that he could go to the Super Bowl if the Ravens got that far. Guess Who Cashed In? I'm happy he is getting to go and although I would love to be there I'm glad I'm at home because 1. New Orleans is really fun (unless you are 8 months pregnant) 2. He can drive there making the trip travel less of an event and 3. who knows with 3 kids when this opportunity will ever happen again. So, to save money the "Baltimorons" flew in last night and today to travel in the minivan to NOLA. I'm happy to report that they arrived safely. The hotel is slightly better than expected and they are already out in the French Quarter. Colin said they saw Suggs. Probably not a good thing to see players on Bourbon Street?

The guys before they left. I thought they would be rolling their eyes at my photo request but to my surprise they made me wait so they could get the flag out to hold. They were totally into it!

Connor in his Purple Friday gear with his Uncle Neal and Uncle Mike.