Snow Day!

We were so excited for a snow day today! Ok, everyone but Daddy, who had to dig himself out and go to work. Ok, and we also missed out seeing our friends from far away this afternoon because it wasn't safe to travel. But the girls were so excited for snow! Maren insisted this morning that it was no longer a "blizzard" because it wasn't snowing anymore. But then the wind kicked up and she changed her mind. She also asked repeated (I do mean repeatedly...every five minutes) if Cora was crying because she kept hearing the wind whining outside. After we saw some neighbors out this morning, I decided to dress everyone up and venture out. Hey, someone else let their kids go outside, so mine would be fine, right? Fifteen minutes getting dressed and taking a couple pictures, three minutes outside. That wind was wicked. Maybe we will have fun in it this weekend.

Fall Catch-Up

 We've been to the apple orchard!

 We went to the zoo! (It was way too sunny for me to look at the camera and Maren wasn't grumpy the entire time at the zoo...just when she was hungry or didn't want to take a picture.)

 We visited Great Grandma and Grandpa with our cousins! (Cousin Liam)

We were tackled by a 90 lbs dog who thinks she belongs on laps! (Cousin Johann) 

 We ate lots of snacks! (I added this one because Cora and Grandma K's eyes and hair match.)

We played with construction equipment! 

 We went to the pumpkin patch!

We are looking forward to a fabulous weekend with a princess and fancy dresses (wedding) and Halloween next week!

Fourth of July

Happy 4th of July!

To compare, here's what they looked like last year.

Happy Father's Day!

Every awesome dad shares his favorite Starbucks oatmeal with his two little mooches!

Party

We held a celebration to honor Cora and thank our family and friends for the support they provided us over the past year on June 9th. It was a great time - perfect weather, lots of family and friends, lots of sweets, and even a clown!

Cora Adeline - 1-year-old...

One year ago today...

 Today.....

 365 days. But it feels like you've always been with us! There were many hurdles this year and I hope there will only be smooth sailing this year. No one deserves it more than you! And, I'm so glad you decided eating was for you so that you could enjoy carrot cake on your birthday.

To sign off with a little baby love...6 mos difference. Practically the same size.

Little Bunny Foo Foo

Maren danced with the Dancer's Edge Tiny Dancers this year.  Here's a Bunny Foo Foo waiting for dress rehearsal.

 I learned my lesson - figure out how to take no flash moving pictures before next year's rehearsal. This is the best I got. Maren is in the middle. I did get a Flip video though!

 After dress rehearsal. She got a cookie!

 During intermission we attempted to get a few pictures on the BIG day. The littles in our crew were getting tired so we didn't stay for the rest of the performances. Maybe next year. This is our attempt at a family picture...with Grandma, too, because Maren likes her included. :)

 Maren marched ou on that stage and did an awesome job performing her Little Bunny Foo Foo routine! She didn't seem nervous at all. The Dancer's Edge was so sweet to give medals for their performance and even gave her class each a stuffed ballerina bunny to take home. They really knew how to handle young performers - keeping them calm, encouraging them, and building their self esteem.

Here's a picture of Grandma and Grandpa K. The rest show Grandpa saying "CHEESE Burger!"

What a fun day!

Mother's Day

 Mother's Day, 2012. To me, it's a funny holiday because my husband works hard to celebrate me and I just feel lucky to be able to call myself "Mommy" to these two.  But I do take advantage of getting out of a poopy diaper. :)

Catch Up

Good thing I don't blog for a living. I think I'd make a sad living! Let's play catch up today!

 Big Sister Maren turned 4 about 3 weeks ago. She had a Rainbows and Butterflies party with close friends and classmates attending. It was a busy two hours, but I think she really enjoyed it.

 Now that she is four, she talks about being five (and six, and eight, and ten...) and requires four books before bed (because she's four). All that agreement to not ask to be carried and carry Grandma and Grandpa K instead when she was four did not hold true. She still asks to be carried. In school, we are seeing her writing improve, she knows many numbers and can count to 29 (then comes twenty-ten), she knows all her letters and their sounds, and after much practice, can recite her address. Maren loves to be outside now that the weather is nice and continues to spend most of her play time imagining or creating.

 Cora is now 11 months old. At 11 mos, we discovered a third tooth and have since discovered two more in 10 days! This leaves her without a front middle tooth for now, but I see it coming in too.

 Cora is gaining a lot of core strength now. In the past month, her sitting has improved immensely and she sits well on her own with a boppy behind her. She is also straightening herself when she stands with us. Yesterday, she pulled on a laundry basket I had anchored and managed to engage her legs and mostly pull to standing. She has started weekly physical therapy to support her rib and hip movement, which are locked in place from her immoble months and surgery.  We are also trying some "rotation therapy" within these sessions and at home to help her movement systems develop. Yes, this means that we hold Cora and spin her around. We are at 3 rotations each way (a total of 12 totations, twice a day) and yes, we get dizzy already!

 Cora took her first wagon ride and loved it! She is eating well and drinking ok, just not enough. She will head to the University to remove the tube that is in place right now and have it replaced with a less annoying one. Hopefully she will be done with it by summer's end, but since it is a surgical placement, we will be leaving it in place until we are sure she doesn't need it.

Next up - Cora turns one, dance recital, Cora's grand birthday celebration, and summer vacations! Maybe a Mother's Day picture later, too.

10 Months

Cora is now 10 months! She has 2 bottom teeth and is working on a top, side tooth. She babbles away! Screams and shouts, too! Cora is making progress with her eating and is starting to show a preference for crunchy things. But we keep offering others, too! She is starting to take some liquids from a cup, but not enough...yet!

 Trying out the swing set. Thank you, lovely days!

 Freezing, morning egg hunt. 

Practicing standing and watching the egg dying extravaganza.