Best of Friends

Cora continues to be a huge fan of her daddy!
I've really learned how to play with Cora from watching him interact with her. Just when I am ready to grab her and say he is playing too rough, she lets out a huge squeal or giggle as if to say, "Do it again, Daddy!"

One morning, I was trying to keep Cora awake (I prefer to try to keep her awake until daycare so that she gets in a good nap). Landon was playing with her while I finished getting dressed, and this is what I found after my shower.

On days when Landon is picking cora up from daycare, I try to dress her in something that is "all daddy". She wore this on the day when MLB pitchers were scheduled to start practice :) Aunt Heather saw these pictures and sent me the matching shot from the day she bought this onesie.
"Before & After"

I was sad to be at work teaching a night class, so Landon sent me this pic. Even though I hate being gone (usually) a couple of evenings a week, I am so glad that I am. When I am around, I naturally take the lead in parenting her (and that was especially true early on). Landon has really embraced the opportunity to have special time with Cora: playing, bathing, feeding.

Cora loved these morning calisthenics!

"Wow! These things that they call "ears" make perfect handle bars for my shoulder ride!"

Sunny Florida

We had been saying for a while that we needed to head south to visit the relatives, so on one sunny February weekend, we finally did. Cora was a hit.

It is starting to get warm in Charleston, but it was REALLY warm in Gainesville. Cora was happy to get out of the car, stretch her legs, and get reasons to giggle from her Daddy!

Here, Cora had not figured out how cool her big cousin Reese is. By the end of the weekend, Cora was loving her time curled up in this Cora-sized lap.

Two people who love Cora: Grandma & Grandpa Messal!

Bopper & Grammy seem more than a little crazy about her, too!

Cora's daddy was not excited about the Gator hat!

A Reesism - Reese was helping me take care of Cora, and the conversation went something like this:
Me: Cora, say how much you love your big cousin Reese.
Reese: Aunt Carrie, I already told you, Cora can't talk yet.

Grandma Messal was so pleased to get to curl up with Cora for a little snooze. And, Cora loved getting spoiled by cuddles all weekend long by the Florida family! (here, you can see her giraffe lovey... this little guy came in a set of three, and as Landon and I are always loosing and forgetting things, we are lucky to have a spare lovey for daycare, one for her crib, and one for the laundry!)

 Cora does not have any first cousins her age, but she sure is loved by the boys in Florida!

 "Where's my Mommy? She will not be happy if she sees me even sitting on this 4-wheeler!" - she's little, but this face means that she already knows her Mommy well! Landon and I both snuck inside for a nap, and saw these pictures when we woke up. I love Cora's look here! I've never seen her make this face before.

Uncle Mike loves the babies!
Oh, Grandpa Messal, you are so so so funny!

Swimming, swimming, in the swimming pool

The 70 degree weather today in Charleston had our hearts turned towards summertime... beaches, sunshine, swimming pools! We took advantage of family swim at our gym to get our little beach bum in the water.

She liked kicking around in her swimsuit, but she was looking at the "big bathtub" with a little anxiety...

I want my Daddy to hold me if I am going to do something a little scary!

She had her fingers in her mouth the whole time. Maybe this is something she does when she is anxious?

We took her under one time today. She isn't our little water bug yet, but se did pretty good. There were NO tears, and not even any attempts to climb up us out of the water. She even smiled a few times (especially when her daddy went under the water, and when she and I chased Daddy around the pool), and she took in stride an accidental splash in the face.

Afterwards, she must have had nearly a gallon of milk, then went to bed 2 hours earlier than normal. If she sleeps through the night tonight, I may be hitting the pool with her every day.