The Rain Button

Cora: Mommy, it's really wet out here.
Me: It's raining.
Cora: Make it stop.
Me: I can't make it stop, silly.
Cora: Mommy, turn it off!
Me: How am I supposed to turn it off?
Cora: (nodding) You have a button.
Me: Where?
Cora: By Pearl. By the FENCE!

Waving and Standing Alone

Quinn has been standing on her own pretty easily for several weeks.
Tonight, Quinn was in my lap having her bottle and Cora was laying on blanket in floor singing.
Cora was singing her morning circle-up song from daycare, then greeting everyone and saying "Good morning".
When Cora looked at us and said, "Good morning, Mommy" and waved, Quinn's little hand popped up to wave back.
Her first wave was to Cora.

"Reason for the Season" fail

Yesterday at church, Cora was looking for the nativity scene and baby Jesus.
I explained it wasn't there anymore because it isn't Christmas anymore.
Cora asked, "Baby Jesus went to be with Santa Claus?"

This morning, Cora saw the coverage of the pope on TV.
Cora asked, "Mommy, is THAT Santa Claus?"

Daddy, go FASTER!

Last Saturday, we loaded the kids into the car to head to a tailgate at the School of Business (poor school with no football team has to make-do with Academic tailgates in lobbies of buildings before basketball games... It is an acceptable substitute for the real thing). 

We got our CofC gear, strollers, diaper bag, blankets, etc. into the QX, turned the key, and something wasn't right. Long story, but we called the dealership and immediately was able to trade the QX for a small sporty sedan for the weekend. 

Which made us feel like we were stuck in a can of sardines, albeit a fast can of sardines. 

Cora loves to accelerate, and often screams from the backseat, "Daddy, go FASTER" wanting him to pick-up-the-speed. Before you assume that Landon is driving like Lightning McQueen, let me add that Landon usually slows to about 10 MPH before getting on an on-ramp so that Cora feels like he's going 90 when he is really just going 40. The 10 to 40 mph acceleration felt really dramatic in this ground-hugging sporty sedan, and Cora was screaming to go faster every time the car stopped. 

Which led us to...

Quinny slept through the entire trip to switch cars, and Cora slept through (on a bench in front of a speaker) the entire tailgate. So, when it was time to leave the tailgate at bedtime, both of our kids were wide awake. On a Saturday night. Which made us feel like we could NOT just go home and waste the opportunity to have a family Saturday night outing. By the time that we left Ye Ole' Ice Cream Shop (where they do have Superman Ice Cream, if anyone needs some), Quinny was super tired. We pulled onto 17 towards I-526, and took the I-526 exit to get to Chuck Dawley. Cora was screaming "Go Faster", and Landon came off the ramp with a nice acceleration. 

Quinny was furious. In an uncharacteristically Quinn moment, Quinn gave an angry high-pitch scream, then burst into tears. Cora stammered over her words for a second, gathered her thoughts, and then let Landon have it in a finger-wagging lecture. 

Cora: Daddy, you scared Quinny! Don't you scare Quinny! YOU tell her SORRY QUINNIKINS! (then, in a sweet sing-songy voice) It's OK baby. It's OK Quinnikins. Daddy didn't mean to. Don't cry baby.

Lollipops are good, right?

Last night, Landon got home a bit early from class. He was just-in-time to take over the book reading routine before lights-out. I overheard him reading. The Little Engine that Could.

Landon: "But that was not all. The little train carried good things to eat, too. Big round oranges... fat, red apples... long, yellow bananas... fresh, cold milk... and lollipops to eat after dinner". Cora, lollipops aren't really very good for you. (he continued to read).
Cora: (after a long pause) Lollipops ARE good!
Landon: Lollipops are BAD!

From there, there was a long routine.
Cora: Lollipops are good (uncontrollable giggles).
Landon: Lollipops are bad! (continuing to read).
Cora: Lollipops are good (uncontrollable giggles).
Landon: Lollipops are bad! (continued to read).

Every time Cora would say it, Landon would give her underarms a tickle.

This morning for going potty, Cora got to choose a treat from the "pink pumpkin patch" (which is what Cora calls the pink jack-o-lantern on top of the fridge that STILL contains hall-o-ween candy). She found the very last lollipop, popped it in her mouth, declaring, "Lollipops ARE good, right mommy?"

I didn't think she was interested in walking

Recently, everyone asks if Quinn is walking.
My answer has been that she hasn't shown much interest. For example, when we hold her by her hands she almost never takes a step. She's only 10 months, so I haven't been concerned, and we admittedly haven't tried too hard since she didn't seem to like trying.
Tonight, while we were cleaning dishes, Quinn came walking by with a shopping cart. Double take.
No big deal, mom. I've been capable for months now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_783FIbAM4


Sent from my iPhone

Cora's bedtime song

Baby Jesus, jump up and down,
Turn around, jump up and down.
Baby Jesus, jump up and down,
Now sit down!