Oh, I get it

"My turn" translates to "I'm going to do this all by myself so don't touch me even if I am holding out my hand like I might want help".

I'm glad we're learning to speak her language.

In today's Quinn news, Landon and I are exhausted after one day of a Quinn who fusses (not to be confused with crying) every time we sit her down. We forgot what it's like to have a normal baby.

And in sweet toddler news:
This morning Landon sneezed. Cora popped up with, "Bless you, dadvy", then turned to me and said "Dadvy sneezed".

At dinner tonight...
Me: Cora, who is your favorite friend at school?
Cora: Papaw

And she means it, too!

My turn!

We're starting to hear "My turn" chanted in our house, even when there isn't someone else trying to steal a turn.

$1 play dough from Target = 5 hours of play

Who knew?

Cora has started to understand negotiations.
For example, Landon was putting Cora to bed and she asked for a juice box from the outside fridge (normally reserved as a treat). She initially used her words, which typically gets her what she wants.

Since it was bedtime, Landon said no. When she started to whine, he told her that if she put it back in the fridge, she could have it first thing in the morning. Sure enough, as soon as she came down the next morning she went for the juice box.

Dinner is always a negotiation. For example, she'll ask for more of food A (usually bread/pasta/corn, as she loves carbs). We'll say, "Have two more bites of B (usually a meat, since she doesn't gobble meat) and you can have more A".

She's figured us out. On more than one occasion she has shoved several bites in her mouth, resulting in us giving her A. After A is on her plate, she spits B back out.

This is how today started, ready for church.

On Thursday, Cora sang her first honest-to-goodness song.

I was rocking her, and we couldn't find lovey (trauma!), so we were cuddling monkey as an alternative. Not having lovey had her a little wired, and she kept playing with monkey ("eee eee ooo ooo"). She started singing a song that they sing at school, but I didn't know the words to, until I pieced together what she was singing. From start to finish, she sang,

If your name is monkey,

jump round

jump round

jump round.

If your name is monkey,

jump round.

Now sit DOWN.

She sometimes adds extra verses, making the song never-ending.

She usually over-emphasizes the "now sit down" - I suspect my child likes to be bossy, and telling people to sit down is fun.

She was definitely singing this song, and we've definitely sang it all weekend.

In fact, Cora started singing the song at the dinner table on Saturday night.

Before we knew it, we all had a turn jumping around the table while Cora sang.

In fact, we ended up in "circle time" after dinner, with a few rounds of "jumping round", followed by a little "ring around the rosey", and an attempt at teaching Cora duck-duck-goose.

Eric came to dinner Sunday night.

I'm not sure he would have come if he had of realized he'd be joining us for some post-dinner "circle time", followed by a little "monster chase" (with Cora running through the house screaming, "I'sa gonna get Dadvy"), which all resulted in Cora's first cushion constructed fort.

During "ring around the rosey", Pearl ran around the outside of the circle. When we all fell down, Pearl also hit the ground.

When it was time to jump around, Cora called out whose turn was next. She called hers, mine, hers (again), Dadvy's (that's what she's calling him... and that's close to sticking, too), Big E's, hers, and then "Pearl Girl's". She was only a little disappointed when we explained Pearl can't jump.

One more story.

We arrived to church on time today, and it was a good thing as part of the homily pertained to arriving to church on time. The minister noted that if you truly believe that you are meeting God at church, you should want to wear your Sunday best (check), arrive on time (ummmm...), and stay until mass has ended (check). I was likely the only one in the 8:07 club who heard the message as we were the only ones (as far as I can tell) to arrive on time today, which allowed us to actually sit in the front, as we have a theory that sitting in the front causes Cora to behave better. Obviously it doesn't as Landon was in the back with Cora (and the rest of the eight-oh-sevener's).

Anyways... after homily and communion, Cora was back in the pew. She stood next to Quinn, who was sitting on my lap. Cora grabbed Quinn's arm. I firmly grabbed Cora's hand to move it. Quinn reached around and gave a hard tug to Cora's hair. Cora loudly responded with "Stop". The people behind us were laughing. The fighting has begun.

Somehow, Quinn manages to nap in this house.

Quinn: growing!

Quinn's 4 month check-up was last week. Could this child be any happier?

The nurse came in to take Quinn's measurements. She weighed slightly more than 14 pounds. I can't remember her exact length, but I think it was 26 inches. The nurse measured her twice using the method she was using. She left, then came back with a different measuring method, and stated, "Dr. Davis will never believe this length, and is going to say it is measuring error. It isn't". When Doc Davis came in, he brought the height and weight chart. Her weight was perfect, at 50th percentile. He pulled out the height chart, and noted that at her current measurement, she is in the 99th percentile. He then said that the next, with another nurse, her measurements would be closer to average, as there was no way that this height was right. We'll see :)

She still isn't rolling over. However, I remain unconcerned, as was Doc Davis. She's trying hard to sit, and she's supporting herself really well with her legs. Today after church we were all gathered around viewing new baby Annalisa Rose Groeber (love her!). Landon stood Quinny in a pew, leaning against the pew back. He continued to spot her as she stood there on her own without his support. I'm not ready for how quickly she's growing!

Quinn started daycare the last week in July. It has gone great. She has Miss Adrian and Miss Lillian taking care of her; both were Cora's teachers. I was so scared and so sad when I dropped off Cora. I was sad to leave Quinn, but this time it was totally different. I was sad for my time with her at home to end, but I was so glad to leave her with Lillian and Adrian. There were many illnesses caught and ailments treated because Miss Lillian or Miss Adrian diagnosed the problem. I know that Quinn is well looked after.

And I suspect this big girl is picking up where they leave off.

Formal photo shoot - Messal style

Grandma M sent a care package this week.
She noted that it would be fun to have real pictures of the girls made in their new matching outfits.
We opened the package on Friday at 5:30, and thought that the formal pics were a great idea.
Since we bought a fancy-shmancy camera last year, and since it was Friday night, we decided to dress the girls and take them to a nearby duck pond for some good pics. I packed a blanket so we could put Quinn on the ground.

This is what happened...

Rewind just a few minutes. Before we left the house, we suspected Quinn wouldn't make it, so we thought we'd take a quick pic for Grandma M. The camera has a rapid-fire setting, so I ended up clicking about 150 pics. Here's a handful from those shots.

We started in the floor. Cora decided to pinch Quinn's cheeks.

I'm not sure if Quinn's retaliating punch was intentional, but Cora sure acted like it was.

Everyone suited up, hatted up, and ready to go.

But before we could leave, Cora needed to sit on Daddy since Quinn was sitting on Daddy.

Yes, Quinn really is squealing as big as it looks here. I'm not sure what game she thought she was playing, but she clearly thought she was winning.

Quinn was grabbing Cora's hat, so Cora ducked.

Cora then decided to take the hat off. She wasn't frustrated at Quinn, it was more like an "I'll show you!".

When that didn't work Cora tried to body slam Quinn. You might think that this sounds mean, and you'd prbably predict that Quinn didn't like it very much.

Clearly, that wasn't the case. Quinn holds her own around here. And, she manages to keep a good attitude nearly all the time.

So, back to the duck pond. After all of this fun, Quinn took a rest and Cora was our only subject for photographs. However, Cora couldn't stand still because she was busy telling us about the ducks.

There really were ducks, they just wouldn't get near us.

You see, we have a blue-tick hound that takes every step Cora takes.

Ducks are a bit suspicious.

Two weeks of good memories

I know that neither Cora or Quinn will remember this age, and I'll never remember all of the funny things they do. There's so much laughter and noise.

Landon is a human gymnasium. I don't think it bothers him.

I pulled out the exersaucer for Quinn. When Cora saw it she insisted on getting it. This kept her entertained all through one of Quinn's nursing. She couldn't get out on her own, and was stuck screaming for me for several minutes. She hasn't asked to get back in, which is kind of a bummer. I liked having her in a confined space again!

Dad plays videos of Cora playing on his laptop, and they watch them during meals while he's here. She is especially into tractors.

This past weekend, we went to RT & Julie's mountain house (I didn't take my camera, and since there wasn't cell reception, I never had my phone handy). When Cora saw the lawn mower, she immediately started looking for Papaw. It wasn't long before she figured out that it was RT who would ride her around in circles for as long as she wanted...

We do not curl Cora's hair - although I've been accused of it. She thought these hot curlers were pretty funny.

More video. Look how happy they both look.

Aunt Jen got them these adorable outfits - this slouched together pic was the best I could get. It's better than where we were a couple of months ago...

Cora is doing her "Hi Babbeee" here. Cora calls Quinn "kee-kee". I know Landon hates it, but it is starting to stick. I can't help it - it's cute.

Quinn Messal and Hank Barber - first date.

Cora chaperoned. She also made sure all binkies contained the highest quality components.

Do you remember how Cora felt about this exact flower?
She hated it! It's so stinking funny... Quinn does too!

April in Kentucky. Better late than never.

Remember that time when we decided to drive from Cincinnati to Charleston (11 hours) with a 4 week old and a 19 month old? What were we thinking?!?!

A couple of posts back, I realized that I had never documented my April trip to Kentucky... despite the fact that Quinn met, well, everyone in Kentucky. I promised to reconcile the mistake... here it goes.

There are times when I really worry about raising my kids away from family.

For example, I think that visits to 90+ year-old relatives are important. Even though I have some amazing 90+ year-old friends in Charleston (I do!), I would be mortified if I took my children to their house and they broke something.

However, if someone broke something at sweet Aunt Wondaline's, I would be a little embarrassed, but I know that she'd tell me some wise story about a time when one of hers broke something of one of ours...
And, I just like going on unannounced Sunday visits.
I love this picture, and I look forward to taking Quinn back again when she is old enough to be intrigued by Aunt Wondalene's living room stairs like Cora was :)

First - I cannot belive I am putting this picture on the internet. As a reminder, I was traveling with a 1-month-old baby. Surely I do not look this tired all of the time. Mercy! But, Ryan-o and I have been going back-to-back for a couple of years. It's finally happened - he's taller than me. I remember when he was 4 months old and spit up all over me at Christmas... I was in college. Which makes me feel as old as I look in this picture.

This kid (and his siblings) is another reason I worry about raising my kids away from family.
It seems like Ryan and Mason are pretty stinking good at sports (from my personal sports assessment).
I suspect they are about to make JCHS baseball/basketball/football games more exciting than I ever thought they were.
I may have to get the girls cute little cheerleader uniforms for when we are home!

Cora got to meet Aunt Deb - also known as baby rocker extrodanaire.
Somehow we didn't get a picture with Aunt Bum.

  

With Uncle Ronnie.
Quinn, you are sleeping peacefully here. Once you are big enough to walk (er, run), he'll taunt you non-stop.

Oh how your Great-Grandma Iris loves you!

And your cousin Lindsay drove in from Ohio to see you and your sister.
Look at all of the people who love them in Kentucky!

There were others, too, like all the Goble's, Belva Lynn, Aunt Jen, and Timmy Tummy.

This is another one of those pictures that makes me homesick (same for the next two, too). I was raised next door to my Cousin Melissa (Now FORTY!!! Really?), mother to Mason (here), Mattie and Ryan.

 Abby and Lindsay always come to see us, too.

Their mom and I grew up going to church and on vacation together.

 Abby's mom was a couple of years older than me (Abby and Cora are about the same distance in age as her mom and I). We have made a lot (a gazillion?) friends living in Mt. Pleasant, and we love those friends. However, we tend to make friends that have friends the same age as our kids. My kids hardly ever get to play with kids that are significantly older than them.  And, our friends here aren't always permanent. We're saying good-bye to another set of friends this week, and I am always worried about who will announce that they are moving next.

It's hard to explain why, but it makes me a little sad. Look at how sweet Abby was in teaching Cora how to do this puzzle. If we lived back home, Abby would probably be a senior Cora's freshman year.
I always found that sort of history reassuring.
That kind of guaranteed long-term relationship is hard to recreate away from hometowns.



Of course, I see a picture like this and I realize there are negatives associated with living away from family... but there are some positives, too.
Just kidding, Uncle Doug!

All in all, despite the drive, Quinny had a great first trip to Kentucky.