Swimming Lessons

I was super nervous getting Eli ready for swimming lessons, but all he showed was excitement! I was afraid he wouldn't be able to sit still on the side of the pool or wouldn't listen to the teacher. He was placed with a teacher and 2 other little kids for the lesson. He listened SO well to the teacher and did exactly what she said. Unfortunately though, they told me they don't like the parents to stay in the room. I watched for a little bit and then left. BIG MISTAKE! He totally freaked out that I wasn't there and eventually ended up getting out of the pool and sprinting as fast as he could to the door he saw me leave from! At that point, I said screw them and stayed in there the rest of the time. As long as I was there he was fine. I am really proud of him because he did so well swimming! The teacher said she could hardly believe it was his first lesson because he did so great. She said he could do everything she suggested. I'm curious to see if they'll let me stay this week????

Cora's birthday

We started off Cora's real birthday by singing her "Happy Birthday" as we walked in her room in the morning! When Eli came down he immediately told her "Happy Birthday Cora!" and he kept saying all day, "Cora turning ONE today!" I played her favorite songs all day so she could dance and have fun. We listened to Cee Lo Green, Adele, and her new personalized cd. She was dancing all day! In the evening, we had friends over to celebrate with a delicious meal. Paisley and Cora played and we all had a good time visiting. We officially do not have a "BABY" anymore! Our good friends Tanya and Chris Horst were induced on Cora's birthday, and she had her baby girl Sophie Noelle on Thursday. We are so thrilled! Now Seth, Jesse, and Eli can play and Cora will have a little playmate too! I watched the boys on Friday while they were still in the hospital. We had a great day! All the kids played so well together, and I manged to get all four kids in the double stroller to walk to the playground. It was surreal watching our good friends drive off in their van with their THREE beautiful kids!

Cora is 1!

I am going ahead and posting Cora's 12 month update a day early because I am so busy this week! We had a little birthday party for her last weekend with my sister's family since they won't be here for her other birthday party. Cora ate her sun cupcake and enjoyed all the attention! There are just no words to describe how blessed I feel having Cora in my life. She puts a smile on my face on even the gloomiest of days. The first time we saw her we immediately noticed how big of a baby she was compared to Eli, and how much her big blue eyes and identical nose reminded us of her brother. The first few days, weeks, months it was so exciting to get to know her and discover her wonderful personality. At first I had a hard time understanding her...honestly I found her somewhat boring (in a fabulous sort of way). It was strange going from a fire cracker extremely passionate child to a laid back, happy-go-lucky observer. Don’t get me wrong, she was like a breath of fresh air, but not what I was used to. One thing is for sure though, we have all been in love with her from the moment we met her and she has been the absolute perfect addition to our family. I absolutely and utterly delight in everything she does. The older baby stage/beginning of toddlerhood has been SO MUCH FUN! She is charming, funny, more passionate, joyful, and so sweet. I love watching her with Eli and their interactions. It is fascinating how quickly she learns how to do new things or say new things just from watching him.
1. She is amazingly musical and will sing and dance all day long if we let her. She shuffles back and forth on her feet and waves her arms while dancing. She loves her new personalized CD we got her for her birthday and hearing them sing “Cora” throughout it!
2. She will say “gibberish” sentences and actually will chew me out in baby language if she doesn’t want to do something I tell her to (like sitting in the bath tub). She does the correct facial expressions with the “gibberish” talking, so it’s hilarious!
3. She can climb stairs! We have a new baby gate up to keep her from going up to Eli’s room on her own. She also has learned to back down the two stairs at the bottom that aren’t blocked.
4. New words include, “Knock knock”, “Dog”, “Moo”, “Night night” “Bye Bye Dada”, “Hosanna”, “Cat”, “Tricked ya”, “Snack”, “Yes”, and “Gentle”
5. She can stand from sitting without holding on to anything.
6. She will throw small tantrums by running, crying, and throwing herself on the ground and sometimes throwing her head into the ground when she doesn’t get her way.
7. She chipped her front tooth on one of many falls she has during the day! Dentist says he would do nothing about it, and I’m glad it’s only a baby tooth!
8. She is not as much of a “mama’s girl” like she used to be and will go to Brandon equally, but will only let me deal with her in the night.
9. She is sleeping SO much better, and only nursing once or twice in the night.
10. She will smack her lips at you if she wants a kiss and gives MANY kisses and hugs throughout the day.
11. She loves wrestling, playing hide and seek, and playing “monster” or chase.
12. She will color with chalk or a pencil.
13. She is getting her 9th tooth (a molar) we think.
14. She loves playing dolls and barbies and rocks, dances, and kisses them.
15. She LOVES phones! She will try and sneak mine whenever she can and actually drooled on it and broke it the other day.
16. Whenever she sees Brandon in the morning she immediately starts waving and saying “Bye Bye” for him to go to work. When I tell the kids that Dad is home from work, they both start screaming and running for the door. She will run as fast as she can yelling and waving her arms and wants to be held by him the second he walks in the door.
17. She has a comfort object named Miss Kitty and still sleeps with a pacifier. She likes snuggling stuffed animals as well.
18. She absolutely loves reading books, and if I am sitting down, she will bring a book, back up until she is right in front of my lap, and then plop down ready to read.
19. She will run and turn on the bath tub faucet and then run away giggling.
20. I think from being around a boy so much, she is fascinated by girls. She will walk up to random girls wherever we are and try to be friends with them. She loves cousin Korey and plays with all the little girl babies in the church nursery, especially Avary Owens.
21. She loves food of any kind!
22. She is starting to wean and doing fine with it. I have cut a couple of feedings and will be introducing Organic Whole Milk soon in her beloved sippy cup that she can’t get enough of.

Attitude!

I should be scared for when she's a teenager right? She can already chew me out!

Miss Kitty

For months I have left several small dolls/stuffed animals in Cora's crib hoping and praying she would get attached to one. With Eli, I discovered that until he had become attached to his beloved "doggy" I was his comfort object. Once he started sleeping with his doggy, I was able to get him weaned and sleeping through the night. I was thrilled when I noticed Cora taking a special interest in a purple kitty stuffed animal from her toy box (it wasn't one I'd put in her crib). I started holding it up against her while I was nursing her and when I was rocking her for naps. It worked! "Miss Kitty" as we've been calling it (from Eli's favorite books The Little Critter series by Mercy Mayer) is now Cora's sleeping/snuggling buddy for naps and at night. She likes to give Miss Kitty hugs and kisses and share her pacifier with it! It's so cute! I am hoping this will make the weaning process a little easier!

Easter

We had a fantastic weekend at the farm celebrating Easter. If Eli had his way, he would live there! He can't get enough of the farm and all the adventures he's able to have there! Here is a list of all the fun things we did:

1. Dyed Easter eggs (this was a first for my nieces and nephew)

2. Did a large Easter egg hunt with the eggs (6 dozen) around my parent's yard.

3. Got to hold the brand new kittens that were born the day before we got there (Eli held one all on his own)

4. 4-wheeler rides

5. Lots of swinging on the tire swing and baby swing

6. Sunrise service (had to get the kids up at 5:15 to make it there) at the Lean To (home church I was raised in)

7. Kids hiked up to the cross with us all bundled up.

8. Special Easter breakfast at the Lean To after sunrise service
9. Easter baskets (which of couse ALL the kids loved...and was a first for my nieces and nephew)

10. Lots of spoiling with candy and other treats from Nana

11. Created the secret garden club (only girls allowed) in the lilac fort my mom made

12. Played lots of marbles

13. Had a bonfire and roasted hot dogs

14. Had a great time celebrating Jesus! YAY!

10.

Eli

I can't believe that Eli has been potty trained for almost a year! I'm so proud of him...especially that it was his decision (not something I would have liked to do while caring for his newborn sister but I jumped on it anyway). Maybe I'll luck out and Cora will be just as easy (fingers crossed)! Over the past year I've still had him wear a diaper at night just in case. It was silly really because he always wakes up dry, but I couldn't stand the thought of having to get up with both kids in the night. Finally, I just decided to do away with it and he has NEVER had an accident in the night. Once again, SO PROUD! A month ago, he decided to ditch the little potty and use the big toilet. Now he is going completely in the big toilet and we put his little potty away! When did he become so grown up? We've been doing lots of Easter crafts (mostly about Jesus...but this one was an Easter basket) and he wanted to take a picture of his artwork and how he wrote his name on the back. Every single day he says something that is so hilarious we just about die. The other day we were feeding my brother's piranha and Eli said, "Go feed Uncle Will's banana?" Last night at story time we asked him what he wanted his story about and he said, "A squirrel named Jesus who bites." I love this whole talking thing! It rocks! The other day, Brandon said something about being stinky and Eli said, "Dad smells like poop!" He also said, "I LOVE Uncle Brandon" (proof cousin Korey is around a lot). The other day in Target he was so excited when he saw "Starbucks!" I said we weren't going to get a drink today and he said, "Dad would!" If Cora is mad he'll say, "Bora really doesn't like it!" Everything is "Five more times!" or "ONE more!" or "MY TURN!" Out of the blue on our walk this week he said, "Nana REALLY loves me!" His prayers at night are always hilarious and sweet. He'll pray for "flying cows" and other funny things. He also will pray for friends or relatives. A couple nights ago he thanked God for Nana and Bum. Then, he prayed for Jesus to "Give Bum a BIG hug!" He's my boy and I love him!