The many faces of Cora

Happy 11th Birthday Jonnie!

Time seems to be speeding by these days and I can't believe you are already 11! Pretty soon you will be a teenager, but I will always remember you as my little squeaker baby (:


I am so proud of the boy you've become...so helpful and kind to everyone you meet, whether old, poor, or a different race, you only see the person. I am so proud at school that you are friends with everyone and don't care what others think. Also, you amaze me all the time with your kindness to your brother and younger cousins. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives.


I hope you have lots of fun on your new bike!




Happy Birthday Buddy! Words cannot describe how much I love you!

Cozy Bed

This is partly why I don't get much sleep these days. Cora likes to curl up by me at night and Sawyer on occasion visits, as well.

It's very cozy (for them) and definitely cute when they curl up to each other!

A word from the dog...

Things have changed around here...and not for the better.

My mom doesn't take me for as many walks like she used to.

She gets mad at my dog hair more lately-like I can help that!

When she talks all sweet and I happily walk over to her, I realize she's talking to that little person and not ME!

She gets annoyed at me when she lays a soft blanket on the floor and I curl up on it-after all it is for me right??

And the worst most depressing change is she doesn't let me sleep on her bed anymore...sniff, sniff...I sit beside the bed every night hoping that this will be the night she lets me up there, but it never comes. Then I lay in the corner of her room and won't even look at her no matter what she says or how much she pets me. I'll show her!

So if your ever in the neighborhood, give an old dog a bone...cuz I'm not gettin any around here!

-Dex

Back to school

Alaina is in 8th grade and her last year at the Middle School. I think she enjoys being the oldest in her school, but says this year so far is really boring. She has some pretty boring teachers, I think, and I wish they would do something to liven it up or make it fun for them. Also, she really hates Phy-Ed and I have heard a lot of complaining on the days she has it. I keep trying to tell her in the long run, phy-ed does not matter. Hopefully it will sink in. She still loves to create things and loves Art. She tries to paint something weekly at home and is currently in Art at school so she likes that. She still loves orchestra and playing her cello.


Jonnie is in 5th grade this year. So far he is enjoying it, but he is quickly finding out that 5th grade is harder than 4th and he really needs to keep himself organized. I think the teachers are trying to prepare them for Middle School next year. I have to keep reminding myself not to swoop in and organize everything for him. I want him to do it and come up with what best works for him so that next year is not such a shock. It is very hard for me though. He currently is not involved in any extra curricular activities unless you call girls extra curricular! He is already getting girl crazy and I know it won't ever stop now! It is funny for me to hear and to hear what different girls like him (: I am trying to talk him into trying out for the Jack and Beanstalk play starting in October, but we'll see. I think he would enjoy acting as he is on the dramatic side!


Sawyer is in his second year of preschool. We thought he would benefit from one more year of preschool where he will be the oldest and build more confidence before he enters Kindergarten. I am glad we made that decision because his stuttering has increased lately and he has become very bashful and worried about school-new kids, etc. I think the stuttering and baby-talk (which honestly drives me insane!) comes from the birth of Cora and will improve soon. Currently he is very into cars and racing cars. It amazes me daily how much he knows about them and that is all he plays these days. He even brings them in the tub! He loves having mom to himself (for the most part) during the day and it's nice for me to be able to do things when the older two aren't home.

Have a great year you guys!

Two months old

Cora is officially 2 months old already! I feel like I just brought her home!!

We had her to the doctor and all is good. We found out that her larger than normal belly button is actually a hernia and will eventually fix itself and she will have a "normal" belly button eventually. So I am not happy she has a hernia, but am relieved there is a reason and it will look better (: She had to have 3 shots and an oral vaccine and I felt horrible as usual pumping her little body full of all that, but I know it is for the best in the long run. She only screamed for about 10 seconds, but complained for quite a few minutes afterward (: Later that afternoon she screamed like I never heard her before every time she moved her little legs-it was so sad ): She recovered quickly though and has been better the last day or so.

It is fun for me to compare her growth to her sister and brothers, so I got out their baby books and looked up their weights and heights when they were 2 months.
Alaina was 9# 12 oz. and 23 inches long
Jonnie was 12# 1 oz. and 23 1/2 inches long (I remember thinking I was going to have a really big boy :))
Sawyer was 10# 6 oz. and 23 inches long.
I guess I never wrote that Cora is 10# 6 oz. and 22 inches long. So she weighed the same as Sawyer but is an inch shorter than he was. She is in the 50th percentile for weight, height, and head measurement. Time will tell if she will be like the rest of them and be in the 5th-25th percentile eventually.



She still likes to snuggle, especially in the night (and I am not complaining) and is very smiley. She also is "talking" more and enjoys playing on the floor for short periods. She is definitely still a mommies girl and I'm not complaining about that either!

Over the weeks...

I am going to do a little bit of catch up here. Since Cora is 8 weeks old now and I haven't put any pictures of her on here yet I thought I would catch you all up (:

Here she is at 1 day old. She already looks so different from when we first brought her home.


One week old...She's had a little scowl since birth and still has it today (:



Two weeks old.



Three weeks old and I love, love this little dress. I don't want her to stop wearing it!



4 weeks old and this pictures was taken at the zoo, her first big outing and she was an angel.



5 weeks old and I just love this picture, one, because I love her dress, and two, because I love her expressive little face.



6 weeks old. She started smiling at 4 weeks, but I couldn't get a picture until now.



7 weeks old. I still see a lot of my side in her, but I am told over and over how much she looks like her daddy.



and here she is at 8 weeks. She smiles all the time now and sleeping a little better at night, though she is still up at around 2am and then at 6ish, so I'm thinking that is pretty good!



She is a sweetheart and honestly I think she is one of the most kissed babies in the world (: