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.

Baby Doll Madness!

Christmas Night - Cora climbing up and down all night in her chair

Chuck, Connor and Cathy

Putting together his new puzzle and measuring himself against Jake. I think we may have to retire these pjs. Starting to be capris.

Cora lounging on the couch - just like her mommy does - such a mimic

New Easel - so fun! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas is Coming

If you want to send a package for Christmas you should have done it last week. Post Office prices are absurd. Luckily I sent all but 1 package last week - albeit in 4 separate trips to the post office. Christmas is coming and we are trying to get ready. We have had a few fun events planned and more this week! I've been trying to get some photos up but I haven't been able to stop watching the news on the horrible CT school massacre. Just a reminder to be thankful of everything this time of year - even the lines and prices at the post office. Connor and Cora went to see Santa last week. A little impromptu because I realized it was now or never. No line - score! Cora was fine until I placed her in Santa's lap. Then she cried. Then we tried to amuse her. She didn't smile but she stopped crying. A fairly decent photo overall.

Connor and Cora on the other side of the tree

Last night Connor had a sleepover at my mom's house. They made a Gingerbread house and went for a ride on the Polar Express. Spoiled rotten and he loved every minute.

Santa's Baby!

Connor's First Game

Connor had his very first basketball game this past Saturday. He was very concerned about whether it was practice or a game. Telling him that it was a practice game was not helpful. "So it is both?" Yes. Of course, Colin and I were more worried about him having fun, dribbling the ball, etc. This is a 3-4 year old league (with a few young 5 year olds) at the local YMCA. We had a difficult time finding a place that had 3-4 year old teams. Now, I know why. Introducing a sport is hard. Dribbling is hard. Soccer seemed easier. But Connor is really enjoying it so far and we all know how much Colin LOVES basketball - squeaky shoes and all. So, as part of the rules of the league, the other kids can't take the ball out of your hands - they can "steal" it if you are dribbling (I think) but can't just walk up and take the ball away. So, watch the video below. This is the very first possession of the very first game (albeit practice game). Connor's team got the ball first. I missed the actual incident but apparently the referee asked Connor to guess the number of fingers he had behind his back (1 or 2). Connor tried to look behind his back. smart kid. He guessed the number correctly. Blue team ball. So, watch below. Connor is in the bright neon green shirt. Connor's First Game Video Connor played the entire first half (they only had 7 kids show up)

He sat on the bench the first 3 minutes after the half and then played the rest of the game. He was a good sport even on the bench.

Connor was 2 for 3 on the day. When he tried/ remembered to play defense he did a great job. We need to work on remembering to play defense and watch the ball - actually not just watch the ball go by, go after the ball. Next game!

16 Months

Cora is 16 months old! She is in 18 month clothes and a size 3 diaper. Next box of diapers will be a size 4 though. She still adores her big brother and wants to try everything he does, and more. She is a climber. Climbs on the couch, ottomans, coffee table, our bed. She is completely unaware of danger. She has a few new double words this month: beep beep (copied from her brother), Jo Jo (her name for my mom pronounced with a french accent). Lights is by far her new favorite word closely followed by "all done", shoes and socks. As evidenced by "beep beep" she is also starting to repeat words she hears. We are working on recognizing body parts. So far she knows nose, feet and belly and will point to it. I don't think I ever posted her stats from her last doctor's visit at 15 months. She was 31 inches (which I am positive was not correct - since as soon as she laid on the table she started screaming - memories of the flu shot??) and 24 pounds 7 ounces. Since Connor and Cora usually love each other - they have gotten into what I will call wrestling (but it is more like bear hugging/ dragging/ squashing each other). It is so sweet and cute but I am really afraid Cora is going to get seriously injured. I spend most of my afternoons requesting that they be gentle and careful. It is hard to be mad when they are so sweet but Connor acts like she is a doll. I keep reminding him that she is real and breakable. Cora is our mini puma

Thanksgiving 2012/ 91st Birthday

As is our usual tradition, we spent Thanksgiving in Birmingham. My mom just does such a great job cooking it is hard to imagine being anywhere else. We had 14 people this year. Not too big, not too small.

Colin sort of looks like a giant because of the way the photo was staged but we had to hurry - little ones were melting fast!

Nina's 91st Birthday party. I zoomed so this photo is blurry - arrggh.

Connor helping blow out the candle

Cora showing off her wave and party dress - I am in love with this dress. We need more parties to attend so she can wear it some more!

Piano Pretty

Warrior Run

This year Connor's school hosted another Fun Run for the kids. If you remember last year, Connor ran his little legs off, barely stopping for a drink of water. This year there were more kids (3,4 &5 year olds) and it was definitely more chaotic. Connor ran and ran some more -- only stopping to get his laps marked off on his shirt and occasionally for a sip of water or to dance to LMFAO music. Since my mom had Cora, I brought some Starbucks deliciousness (decaf for me of course) and took some 143 photos. I won't bore you with all of them because most of them are just flashes of white shirts. A few memorable photos though:

Bunny Hop Lap - Look at that Hair!!

15 Months

Cora is 15 months old today. Wow! She is getting to be such a big girl and of course wants to do EVERYTHING that Connor can do. I'll give her credit - she tries, really hard. Her language has really started to pick up and she is saying some new words. Shoes is still her favorite (she wakes up talking about shoes) - I got her some new black Mary Jane's yesterday for her Itsy Bitsy Spider costume and also to wear with dresses for the holidays. She loves them. Just looks and looks at them all shiny and new.

Some new words of note: Boo (a must for Halloween, of course), 1, 2, 3 (apparently she counted for my mom while stacking blocks), turkey, horsey, down (she will complete the Ride a Little Horsey rhyme or ask to get down), itsy (complete with hand motions for Itsy Bitsy Spider - this is requested approximately 25 times/day). Both the kids have a little cough and stuffy noses. Cora's 15 month appointment is Monday so I'm hoping if it is still present we can get rid of it then. It is going to be in the mid 70's this weekend so maybe that will help? I'm expecting Cora to be pretty tall so I'm excited to see how much she has grown. Connor has started to teach himself to read. At first he liked being able to read signs on the road and in stores (like 2 word signs). We made some Pumpkin Cream Cheese Squares that I saw on Pinterest (they were ok. I didn't love so I'm not going to bother linking) and I asked him to try to find the Angel Food cake. There was only 1 box on the shelf of Angel Food cake and he patiently scanned through all the shelves until he found it. He is starting to recognize words. He will also read some full books. The Statue of Liberty is his current favorite to show off. Honestly, I think he memorizes some of it because he has a ridiculously scary memory -- but when has to read, he stops and sounds it out in his head and then continues. He really enjoys reading and I'm so thankful and proud. At school he has been learning some different prayers and he can now say Hail Mary and Glory Be. He is super proud of himself for this!