Play Me That Mountain Music

We had an impromptu opportunity to go to the mountains with Trevor and Tracey and we took it.
First, we were really excited to get out of Charleston and into the crisp mountain air.
Second, everyone in the Messal house (including the smallest Messal) loves everyone in the Cangelosi house (including the 4 legged Cangelosi).
Third, we couldn't believe that friends without children would not only ask us to go out of town with them but also to take Cora with us. Seriously? Seriously. We even all rode in the same car which is a huge committment for a couple without children.

I picked-up this portable crib for Cora. It immediately earned the name "The Happy Box". When I first layed her in it, she immediately did her little baby happy dance. As if to confirm her feelings, she was wearing her new "Happy" sleeper.

We spent some time experiencing small town Blowing Rock, watching the locals participate in their annual polar bear plunge.Strange fact about Trevor and my husband: they were disappointed that they could not participate because of advance fund raising. Who is disappointed that they cannot jump in a frozen pond?

Tracey picked-up this girlie "Cousin Eddie" hat for Cora. Huge hit.

Everyone liked dressing like a girlie Cousin Eddie.

You all got milk on tap?

Cora was really interested in Luke all weekend. I didn't capture her "big smiles" while she was touching  him, but she was clearly interested in this big 4 legged creature!

Cora was her typically cool self. Other than once in the middle of the night and once in the car as we transitioned to mountains, the child did not fuss all weekend. We are blessed to have such a sweet good girl.

Cora's 4 month shots

I accidentally scheduled Cora's 4 month check-up on a day when I had to teach class. I asked Landon if he could take her - and of course he said that he could. I dressed her especially for the occassion. Our pediatrian, Dr. Davis, is also a UT fan so it was only appropriate that Cora be dressed from head to toe in UT gear for an appointment with Daddy and Dr. Davis.

About 30 minutes before the appointment, I received a phone call from a flabergasted Landon.

Landon: You didn't tell me that she was going to have shots.
Me: It is her 4 month check-up... of course she has to have shots.
Landon: I wouldn't have said I would take her. I don't want to see this!!!

After the appointment, my update from Landon was that Cora had arguabley done better than him.

PS - she weighed 14 lbs 13 ozs (75th percentile) and was 95th percentile in heigth.

It is time to start thinking about putting up safety guards on the stairs

I sent family members the following 2 pictures with the subject, "Maybe we need safety guards for stairs".

The responses from our family members:

OMG! She can stand! - Aunt Julie

What???? - Aunt Heather

What???? How????? Nawwwwww........... I jus sent Landon's coupon envelope, the ove glove, and suggestion catalog for gates................ - Grandma M

You're gonna cause Mom to stroke out! - Uncle Matt

I alread did - Aunt Heather

See what just happened to Heather?! And she is an international ultra-marathon runner... Mom can't take that kind of shock to the system! - Uncle Matt

IS SHE STANDING?????????????????? OMG..... NOTHING IN MY PEDS TRAINING SAYS THAT SHE SHOULD BE DOING THIS YET AT ALLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE TELL ME THERE ARE HIDDEN HANDS SOMEPLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!  - Grammie

I see an arm, of an adult, and a left foot of Cora, off the floor that tells me that Cora can't possibly walk for at least 2 or 3 more days! Good job on the photo. You 2 are great parents and we both thank you for the daily updates...... we feel like she lives here with us and the 2 of you. - Bopper

No, you need to move her bedroom to the office, and the office upstairs... haha. I remember longingly hearing the pitter patter of little feet then silence just before the leap on our bed in the mornings. Your steep riser stairs in particular will be diffcult to navigate for many years to come for little legs, especially when carrying her favorite stuffed animal or dolly. It may work out well now, but at least consider disasterous ramifications down the road. I think anybody seeing the photo would be justified "stroking out" as Matt called it. - Papaw Jim

She overheard that Aunt Bum was getting married and she realized that she needs to start moving immediately [to be the flower girl]! Haha - Aunt Bum

And, Mia called to say "Who is holding my  baby up in that picture?"

Walking or not, we sure are lucky that she is so loved!

Hilton Head with Mia & the Grand Poobah

I had a conference in Hilton Head in mid-January. I wan't ready to leave Cora overnight... and I especially wasn't ready to leave her for three nights. Who better to meet me at the conference and spend 3 days just hanging out in the hotel room with Cora? Mia & the Grand Poobah (the latest of the names that we are trying out on my dad, despite his protests).
A few pics from my Dad (aka, Grand Poopaw, the Grand Poobah, Papaw Jim...) from the weekend.

Cora Jane Messal = 4 months old

I am a bit late...
Cora's 4 month birthday week was busy:
1. Cora started going to Miss Aimee's childcare,
2. Mommy went back to work full-time,
3. Cora caught her first bug from her new friends and we spent a few nights using steamy showers to combat the croup
4. Daddy quit his job and started taking classes towards finishing his engineering degree.

Our little "bug" has taken it all in stride.
Giggling.
Standing steady on our laps while being held for balance.
Reaching for toys.
Constantly babbling (she gets that from me).
Making big waves in the bathtub.
Watching Puppy Pearl's every move.
Fighting the "nose sucker" with the jabs of a professional boxer.

Playing on Daddy's ol stuffed puppy.

Birthday kisses from Mommy.
This sleeper was from Mia & Papaw Jim... look at what is written in the pink heart.

Big E came over while Cora was still fighting her cold. I had been trying to get her to nap for about an hour, but she was fighting sleep, too. As soon as E sat down with her, she fell asleep. Sound asleep. I guess that she was suspicious of my efforts, but not of Big E!

Giving giggles to Tracey!

 She started sticking her tongue out this month.

 This is for Dennis Henning. Cora knew she was cute in this baseball cap. She giggled and grinned - you can see her dimple peeking out of her right cheek here.

Hanging out on the belly mat.

 There is that tongue... and that hair! Not sure what was going on here --- it looks like something her daddy would do.
I dressed her like this for school - she looked like my little circus. She had on Amy's circus sweater with her wrist & sock rattles. That is right - those socks have stuffed rattles attached and she loves them.

 Sweet sweet sweet little grin.

 She seemed too little to be sitting up here --- but she was grinning and giggling. I have a feeling that she'll spend many hours hanging out on these shoulders.

A New Year Full of Happy Firsts

Many years have contained events so big that they warranted a New Years Eve reflection, thinking back to how different life was at the start of the year before. For example, "This time last year, we hadn't met each other yet" or "This time last year I was still in college" or "This time last year, we were celebrating the holidays with Uncle Jack and Mimaw Eb", or "This time last year, we weren't even engaged and now we are married". But none of those compared to, "This time last year, we didn't know that we were about to have a Cora."

Yet Cora made 2010 the most amazing year yet, and we are looking forward to 2011 and a year full of happy firsts.

Time is passing too quickly.


While we were in KY before Christmas, it snowed. But it was really cold, so she wasn't out in it much. It snowed a warm snow the day after Christmas in Charleston so she got to be out for a few minutes in her first snow. Plus - it snowed in Charleston! That was the first time Landon and I had ever seen in snow here, too.

 She has gotten so much more active.

Cora's first official giggle. We were both there, and there was no doubt about it - Cora became a giggle box. It is the sweetest noise ever.

 Landon would like me to call this picture: Daddy 1, Cora 1

 She was intense when playing with this new toy. It was clear that Landon was teaching her how to play with it and she was concentrating very hard on it.

 We pulled out the jumparoo. The first day or two, I really worried that she was too little. She was having trouble balancing herself while batting at the toys. And, I teared up when I watched her play in it the first time - she looked so big. After only a couple of days, she had mastered the toy.

 Carrie has a little lamb...