The tale of two rattles

Aunt Heather & Aunt Julie each brought Cora a rattle as a gift this weekend (Cora was christened on Sunday... pictures to follow soon).

Here is what is so fun about Julie & Heather. They accidentally got her the same gift... but the styles that they chose totally reflected their unique personalities.
Julie's: A silver rattle with Cora's initials engraved on one end. Although the rattle is a very nice gift (one that I would be tempted to protect on a shelf), we were given stern instructions from Julie to use it, to not worry about scratching it or loosing it. Cora's little hands can wrap around its handle perfectly.

Heather's: An innovative pink wiffle-ball rattle unlike any we had ever seen before. Cora's little fingers are just able to grasp it, and she spent 15 minutes (a long time for an 11 week old) trying to bat it out of Heather's hands.

Both Julie & Heather are amazing women (and wonderful Aunts to Cora!). I wonder if Cora's personality will reflect the sturdy silver or the innovative pink?

I left Cora on the mat for a few minutes while I was getting dressed on Thursday. I could hear her playing (so I knew she was fine) but I was out of the room for a few minutes. When I came back in, she had reached out and grabbed her taggy, and was clumsily swinging it around and bringing it to her mouth... a first for Cora.

The guest starting to arrive for her Baptism. Tim, the Godfather. Gramdma M.

Preparing for 32 Rue de Jean. She was a perfect lady... slept the whole time.

Aunt Bum, you are so funny! And Joy, you are so cuddly.

Dad's explanation for giving Landon those bloomers: He could only justify that Power T by remembering where it was being placed...

Her smiles are getting so inexpensive... she hands them out all of the time!

Grin Machine Squaling Monster

Some pics of our happy little baby!

I've now named the doll "Tommy Jo" after Tom & Joann, who brought it to her.

 

 Our neighbor, Danielle, gave Cora some of Baby Zoe's hand-me-downs. This bikini looks so tiny that I don't think she will be able to wear it in the spring... I couldn't resist snapping her picture in it!

 These were her very first shoes... and she is close to outgrowing them :(
Cora loves her changing table. She always gives us the best laughs and grins when laying there... and she has found the wooden banner that hangs above it. She often stares up at it while being changed, and she goes crazy if I tap it just a little to make it wiggle. I was trying to capture how fascinated she is by it.

 My mom's interpretation of this one: "You won't pull nothing on me... I'm watching you!"

 On her first girl's outing. We picnic'd at The Blessing of the Vines out at Firefly Distillery in Wadamalaw. We passed chicken, pimento cheese, spinach dip, fruit, and a baby... Cora was probably sore from getting loved on so much!

 She things Burdy is SOOOO funny. And Beth gives the best cuddles.



 

Cora:1, Daddy:0

Landon had Cora last night while I was at a Schottland Scholars function for work. While I was out, Landon sent a text that said, "Dude Cora is one pissed off baby".
On my way home, I called and Landon answered the phone whispering.
I came home and the house was completely quiet. I slipped off my shoes, and tiptoed around until I found them... upstairs... like this.

I sat down in the floor, and we were talking quietly when she started to stir.
Landon, with a look of fear in his eyes, went back to laying quietly, and sent me two additonal texts:
"Keep the beast asleep"
"Grab the women and the puppies. Run for the hills!"

Cora: 1
Daddy: 0

She kicked his tail!

Cora & Keegan sitting in a tree...

Cora may have her first boyfriend.
Anne & Dave had us over for brunch on Sunday along with Doug & Carla (Anne & Dave are such baby lovers that I think that they did this strategy on purpose... this way, they didn't have to fight over the baby because they each had one to cuddle!).
While there, Keegan and Cora were assessing each other. We started pushing them together- Cora was squealing in delight and Keegan had a huge grin.

This was actually a huge day out for Cora. We left the house around 10:30 in the morning for church, followed by brunch at Dave & Anne's. It was Second Sunday on King Street, which meant that the street was closed to all but foot traffic, so we loaded her into her stroller and strolled for a bit. Then, we headed out to Firefly Distillery for a going away party for our friends Paul & Grethen Reetz and their kids Gretta and Xavier.

While there, I heard the sweetest story. The Groeber's have a young son (maybe 2 and a half) Sean. Cora has suddenly appeared on Sean's nightly prayer list. Apparently this came out of nowhere, as he had not seen Cora in several weeks. Given this kid's choice of Halloween costume, I am pretty pleased that Cora is being remembered in his prayers! (http://groeberkids.blogspot.com/2010/10/getting-ready-for-halloween-sneak.html). 

This is Cora leaving the party. It was a tad chilly, so I bundled her up for the first time in her heavy sweater. As I carried her around, her arms were stuck straight out like the kid in "A Christmas Story". We didn't capture it well, but she looked so funny!

Cora's 2 Month Check-Up

A new prayer for this Sunday:

Dear God,
I take it back. I'll happily wear lace, shoes, and shirts that go over my head.
But please, no more shots.
Love, Cora

Other than the shots... the appointment was perfectly positive.
She weighs 12 pounds, 7 ounces (75th percentile) and is 23 inches long (perfectly average).

A few pics of her getting ready to go see Dr. Davis.

This is the first time that I've ever seen her interact with a babydoll. Yes, I know, here it looks like it is just laying on her chest. But she was actually entertained by it. She was fussing while I was getting ready. This doll has a rattle in it, and I laid it on her chest. She was obviously entertained by wiggling herself to make it rattle.

 This outfit matches her bedroom... I love it!

Cora meets Keegan

Keegan is the son of Doug & Carla Walker. Doug and I work together at the College, and baby Keegan was born in late June. Keegan is so cute - he looks like a little man!

She looks like she is running away from him here.