Cora's first Lunch Outing

While Matt was in town, we decided to take Cora with us to lunch at La Hacienda.

I was a little bit concerned. If you have ever eaten with my brother, you know he is a slow eater. If you have ever eaten with my brother and I together, then you know that I am an even SLOWER eater than he is. But if you have ever eaten with my mother, then you know where we get our slow eating habits. I worried when lunch came that Mom wouldn't have time to finish...

At La Hacienda, waiting for our lunch.

And this demonstrates that Cora was a really good baby during lunch. Mia had time to finish!

Uncle Matt Visits Cora


I've heard other kids refer to my brother as their "uncle". Robbie & Autumn's kids, for example, call him "Uncle Virge", and there is a whole post on Autumn's blogspot about him (http://lilytate.blogspot.com/2010/07/uncle-virg.html). But he isn't married, and I am his only sibling, so this is his first go=round at being a real uncle. He was one of the first people we told - even before we told mom & dad that we were expecting, we told Matt. It was a Friday evening, and he and I were talking on the phone. Landon looked over and said, "Want to tell your brother?" I think that he thought that we were joking! He got quiet, and said, "A lot of people call me uncle, but this is the first time I've ever been the real thing".
Cora sure is lucky! Not only does she have an Uncle Matt, but she also has an Aunt Heather, an Aunt Julie, an Aunt Anna, and an Uncle Jon-Jon. What a loved little lady she is!
Here are some pics from her first visit with Uncle Matt.

Wearing Ellie's dress, waiting for Uncle Matt 



A close-up of our sweet angel.

Mia came back for a visit.

Her first view of Uncle Matt. Why do all of UT's rivals wear their gameday clothes when they come to meet Cora?

Landon didn't buy into the books.

Matt trying to sooth her with the football hold. It's called the football hold - that doesn't mean that you try to run a touchdown with her!

Happily snoozing before her first lunch outing.

I could kiss those little toes off!

Daddy cuddles!

Mom with her favorites.

She is starting to really look back at people.

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Aunt Jen, it looks like your Hope is on her bottom!

It has not even been a month, and I can't remember life before her

It has been a month and I can see the light at the end of the sleep tunnel. I fought using a method. In fact, I didn't read any sleep books during pregnancy. Instead, my attitude was that I would indulge in reading as many novels as I could, checking off as many books off of my "list" as possible, before the baby came. I finished the Twilight series hours before Cora was born. But I didn't read Baby Wise, The Happiest Baby on the Block, or The Baby Whisperer. 
For the first week of her life, it didn't matter. She slept all of the time (now I know all babies do), and I thought that I was one of the "lucky" parents who got a good sleeper. Don't get me wrong - she is good. She was sleeping allright on her own, and she was only fussing at night during her witching hour, but we were nowhere close to stretching out her nighttime feedings past 3 hours.
I started using a combination of the methods last week - Her nighttime feedings began stretching to 5 1/2 hours on September 28th.

Done-zo! After a particularly fussy spell, we think that she was finally ready for bed.



Checking-in on her daddy.

 

From this angle, the eyes on those dangling rattles look almost scary.

Focusing on her friends.

This wasn't officially her first bottle, but it was her first official planned bottle from her daddy.

A "Daddy's Home" moment. Landon was loving on Cora... Pearl had to get in on the action.  

I'm not sure what she was doing here, but it was too cute!

She still has the baby blues here.

I came through carrying a blanket - Landon decided to swaddle me.

Mia bought these shoes. Dad, it looks like Mia has a new object for her shoe obsession.

Her reaction to wearing the shoes. Our child really doesn't like to have things on her feet.



Judson Drinker gets the "most awkward baby holder" award. Just kidding - we love you Jud!



Ah, sweet sweet naptime.

 We have been lucky to have so many friends bring us dinner! Troy, Beth, & Amy; Lance, Sara, & Toby; David & Jill Desplaces; Tim, Sarah, & Dominic; Ryan & Bridget; Paul, Gretchen, & Gretta; David, Amanda, & Gabe... we are very lucky!

Amy & Beth holding Cora

The night that they came over, Amy needed to read a book for school. She brought it and read to Cora - it was Cora's first story.

Grammie & Bopper Come for a Visit

Cuddling with Mia.
Look at those folded fingers.
Getting ready for her 12 day check-up with Dr. Davis. Our goal was to have her close to her 8lb 3 oz birth weight. We surpassed that goal... she weighted 8lb 9 oz.
Laying on a mat, fascinated by the rocking swing. She HATES that swing when she is actually in it.
Focusing on the rings above her.

We've been saying that she has Papaw Jim's hair. Here, I think that she realized that he eventually lost his...
Grammie & Bopper came for a visit.
She doesn't look too happy here... I think it is the Florida shirt :)
She is sleeping so good.
Pearl wasn't sure what to make of all of this.
So peaceful.
I walked into the room, and this is how they were standing. Those are my baby pictures they are examining.
It took dad a few holds to look this comfortable with her.
Two proud grandpas. I have a feeling that if Dad won't buy her a mocking bird, diamond ring, or looking glass, then one of these two will.
She is pulling on Papaw Jim's finger.
Her fingers look so tiny!
We gave up on swaddling her. She wants those hands O-U-T when she sleeps, and she has let us know that.
Some good-bye cuddles with Grammie.