Thursday, September 13, 2012
Aunt Feather Week
Another Moment
Mia brought Cora a Sesame Street book, "Don't Slip on a Banana Peel".
One of Grover's safety rules is to play safe at the playground, especially not to walk behind someone who is swinging. Cora was almost asleep when she exclaimed, "I SWING AT PAPAW'S! I KICKED PAPAW WITH MY FEET! WHEEEE! Mia laughed".
Grover has another rule. Always wear your helmet when bicycling... and when being shot out of a cannon. One morning this week, we made a point to swing by the fort on our morning run to see the cannons. Cora was impressed. Quinn napped.
One of Grover's safety rules is to play safe at the playground, especially not to walk behind someone who is swinging. Cora was almost asleep when she exclaimed, "I SWING AT PAPAW'S! I KICKED PAPAW WITH MY FEET! WHEEEE! Mia laughed".
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Sit down. Right here. Play with me.
Play with me.
She's started to want us to sit down and play make-believe or games with her. I hope we never think we're too busy. I saw a quote that the other day that said (something like) "Listen to the little things your children say when they're young so they'll tell you the big things when they're older. To them, all of it was big things".
It's hard to see in this picture (below) but that's Landon and Cora playing with her Little People Princess Castle.
I took this picture when we were playing with the castle yesterday. Why this angle? Because she was calling that princess carriage the "Tractor". All this time I thought I was raising a couple of couple of city folk...
We're hearing chants of, "Mommy, I break the ice! I break the ice!" Guess what game Cora Jane got for her birthday...
Last week was her birthday and Aunt Feather week. I've got SO many pictures and stories to post. My tenure packet is due Monday. Do you think I could count my blog as service?
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Portraits
Cora Jane's 2-year-old portraits
Quinn Elise's (just a little shy of) 6 month portraits
Before Quinn was born, I'd run by the portrait shop every few months for a quick $14.95 package of photos (one-pose-only) to send to the grandparents. Of course, these shops make their money off of people who spend more than the $14.95 special, so I've always felt a little guilty about using a portrait session. I'm really able to stick to my guns when necessary and choose the ONE best picture from the set of 70.
I hadn't been in since Quinn was born (we did fancy newborn shots with Quinn instead).
I thought it was tough to get Cora to smile for the camera... but to get two babies to smile for the camera, at the same time, is practically impossible!
TWO!
They've come to know me at the shop. When I'm only going to buy one photo, I always tell them. When it is an occassion and I plan to actually buy a whole package, I always tell them, too. (Cora's birthday, with people in town to visit, who can carry their photos home rather than getting them shipped).
And, I always tell them to not do cheesy backgrounds and props because I won't buy any of them. So when they shot a series of Cora in front of the neon yellow background, I wasn't impressed. When they put Quinn in this basket, on a silky cushion cover, with this background, I knew we weren't all speaking the same language.
And when they pulled down THIS cheesy background, and started setting Cora up with a picnic blanket and fruit, I was biting my tongue.
And, I really almsot lost it when Quinny was placed in this basket (really, people buy this?).
Even Cora didn't want to get close to Quinn, turning her back to the picture. So when we reviewed the photos, and I realized that the ONLY picture of the girls really smiling was the picture that included a picnic basket and fake (FAKE!) fruit, I knew my "only-one-shot-$14.95-picture-karma" had caught up with me.
I hope the grandparents can get past the cheesy background and see my little babies' smiling faces...
I think that Quinny said it best:
Quinn Elise's (just a little shy of) 6 month portraits
I hadn't been in since Quinn was born (we did fancy newborn shots with Quinn instead).
And, I always tell them to not do cheesy backgrounds and props because I won't buy any of them. So when they shot a series of Cora in front of the neon yellow background, I wasn't impressed. When they put Quinn in this basket, on a silky cushion cover, with this background, I knew we weren't all speaking the same language.
I think that Quinny said it best:
Friday, September 7, 2012
We LOVE Bristle Blocks
Aunt Feather is here! (pics from the week will be posted soon)
The arrival of Aunt Feather means new toys pulled out of suitcases each day and extra-special-yummy pancakes filled with strawberries for breakfast. Only Aunt Feather doesn't put strawberries in every pancake because Landon (her kid brother) doesn't like fruit in his pancakes; she cuts the strawberries up and inserts them in half the pancakes as they are frying, so that everyone gets made-to-order pancakes.
We're feeling spoiled!
A couple quick stories.
Aunt Feather's first birthday present for Cora (seriously, there's a new present each day) was a set of Bristle Blocks from Lakeshore Learning (where she works). Because Heather works at Lakeshore, she brings the classroom size package of toys, which is pretty stinking awesome. The set that she brought had all of the parts to make cars, helicopters, and boats. It also includes a "family" (daddy, mommy, Cora, and brother... poor Quinn!) and four little red flags.
Cora loves the family. Cora loves the flags.
She walks around with the flags and family. The flags fit perfectly with her obsession with the American Flag (have I mentioned this?). We've been making a big deal about American flags. It started at the Tanger Outlets (the quintessential American location), where there is a ginormous American flag flying high at the entrance. We used it as a toddler distractor while exiting the 25 cent pony ride one evening. We did that a second time. Then, when driving by Rick Hendrick (a car dealership, another truly American establishment...), Landon noticed that the flag was huge, pulled in, opened the sunroof, and sat right under it hoping Cora would become entranced then fall asleep (no such luck). Now Cora notices every flag we pass, excitedly declaring, "Its an Murican Flag!!! Look Mommy!!! EEEsa Murican Flag!". If I'm still not acknowledging the flag with excitment, that's followed by, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! LooOOOk!!! Murican flag". Even material that's covered in American flag print gets the same reception.
So, these four little red sticks with triangle flags attached to them have become Cora's play version of the American flag, and she becomes frantic about them. "Where's my Murican FLAAAGs?!?!" "It needs an Murican flag on it".
Tuesday morning, Cora sat down for breakfast and set the people up around her plate. It was a rushed morning, so I was getting ready while she ate. I walked in to see her gazing sweetly at the "Mother" bristle block person, then saying, "I love Mommy".
If I could've, I would have bought her a million Murican flags at that moment.
The arrival of Aunt Feather means new toys pulled out of suitcases each day and extra-special-yummy pancakes filled with strawberries for breakfast. Only Aunt Feather doesn't put strawberries in every pancake because Landon (her kid brother) doesn't like fruit in his pancakes; she cuts the strawberries up and inserts them in half the pancakes as they are frying, so that everyone gets made-to-order pancakes.
We're feeling spoiled!
A couple quick stories.
Aunt Feather's first birthday present for Cora (seriously, there's a new present each day) was a set of Bristle Blocks from Lakeshore Learning (where she works). Because Heather works at Lakeshore, she brings the classroom size package of toys, which is pretty stinking awesome. The set that she brought had all of the parts to make cars, helicopters, and boats. It also includes a "family" (daddy, mommy, Cora, and brother... poor Quinn!) and four little red flags.
Cora loves the family. Cora loves the flags.
She walks around with the flags and family. The flags fit perfectly with her obsession with the American Flag (have I mentioned this?). We've been making a big deal about American flags. It started at the Tanger Outlets (the quintessential American location), where there is a ginormous American flag flying high at the entrance. We used it as a toddler distractor while exiting the 25 cent pony ride one evening. We did that a second time. Then, when driving by Rick Hendrick (a car dealership, another truly American establishment...), Landon noticed that the flag was huge, pulled in, opened the sunroof, and sat right under it hoping Cora would become entranced then fall asleep (no such luck). Now Cora notices every flag we pass, excitedly declaring, "Its an Murican Flag!!! Look Mommy!!! EEEsa Murican Flag!". If I'm still not acknowledging the flag with excitment, that's followed by, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! LooOOOk!!! Murican flag". Even material that's covered in American flag print gets the same reception.
So, these four little red sticks with triangle flags attached to them have become Cora's play version of the American flag, and she becomes frantic about them. "Where's my Murican FLAAAGs?!?!" "It needs an Murican flag on it".
Tuesday morning, Cora sat down for breakfast and set the people up around her plate. It was a rushed morning, so I was getting ready while she ate. I walked in to see her gazing sweetly at the "Mother" bristle block person, then saying, "I love Mommy".
If I could've, I would have bought her a million Murican flags at that moment.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Quinn: 5 Month Update
Better late than never, right?
Quinn gave herself a 5 month birthday present - she rolled from her front to her back (Memory: I was on the Schottland Scholar trip in Atlanta, and I announced the milestone to my students. We were on the bus. They all cheered with me). Arguably, she made this move because she hates her belly... but she still did it. She is now almost 6 months old, and is just starting to turn from her belly to her back. Every time she does it, her look says, "Shucks. I've gone and done it again." Just kidding - now that she is stronger she doesn't ENTIRELY hate belly time.
In fact, she has a new nemesis. Food. I've been fortunate to be able to produce milk for Quinn as long as I have. We've introduced a little formula, but have gone through only about 1 container of formula total. It really is more of a back-up. After Quinn's 5th month-birthday, I introduced cereal. She wasn't a fan.
And she still isn't a fan. They've been feeding it to her at school each day, and each day they tell me she is refusing it. I'm secretly pleased! I don't want her to cheat on me yet with real food! Ha!
Lately I've talked about three things that Quinn hates: Belly time, cereal, and the nemisis flower on her exersaucer (Cora hated that same flower, too!). But I promise, those are about the only things that make Quinn cry. She starts to fuss when she is hungry (but usually just starts giving open-mouth kisses to whoever is holding her). She also starts to fuss when she is sleepy, but calms as soon as she is given her binky and lovey.
I was away from her for 5 straight days, and Mom came to stay and help Landon (dad joined them midweek). The report was that if they added every moment when Quinn cried while I was gone, including every fuss, the time would total less than one minute. I believe it. If Quinn starts to cry we all immediately react because she almost never cries.
Just today, she and Cora were playing in the floor. Cora did a couple of things that made me cringe and leap to intervene... but Quinn laughed each time, rolled in Cora's direction, and tried to grasp onto Cora to pull her closer. Quinn was loving it. Sometimes Quinn gets Cora's hair and Cora yelps. When we remind Cora that Quinn is just a baby, Cora always leans over and kisses Quinn.We'll sure be lucky if they stay like this!
My 5-month old baby standing flat footed in the exersaucer... it is on its highest setting.
When Cora was a baby, the dangling duck and frog were almost always attached to this jungle gym. Now it is a scavenger hunt to find them. I laid out the mat this week, and was installing the bars. Cora immediately went to Quinn's toy drawer and pulled out the dangling ducks and frogs, and started hanging them on the mat. Good big sister!
Quinn watching T.V. with the fellas.
And an afternoon nap with Daddy.
What Messal blog would be complete with out a Cora update?
I started ordering diapers from diapers.com. Great deal. The best part is that they come in a big box... that box has kept things moving around here all week. She's crawled in and out, treated it like her very own art easel, pretended to sleep in there, asked to have the top closed around her...
There are a lot of giggles around this place.
Quinn gave herself a 5 month birthday present - she rolled from her front to her back (Memory: I was on the Schottland Scholar trip in Atlanta, and I announced the milestone to my students. We were on the bus. They all cheered with me). Arguably, she made this move because she hates her belly... but she still did it. She is now almost 6 months old, and is just starting to turn from her belly to her back. Every time she does it, her look says, "Shucks. I've gone and done it again." Just kidding - now that she is stronger she doesn't ENTIRELY hate belly time.
In fact, she has a new nemesis. Food. I've been fortunate to be able to produce milk for Quinn as long as I have. We've introduced a little formula, but have gone through only about 1 container of formula total. It really is more of a back-up. After Quinn's 5th month-birthday, I introduced cereal. She wasn't a fan.
Lately I've talked about three things that Quinn hates: Belly time, cereal, and the nemisis flower on her exersaucer (Cora hated that same flower, too!). But I promise, those are about the only things that make Quinn cry. She starts to fuss when she is hungry (but usually just starts giving open-mouth kisses to whoever is holding her). She also starts to fuss when she is sleepy, but calms as soon as she is given her binky and lovey.
I was away from her for 5 straight days, and Mom came to stay and help Landon (dad joined them midweek). The report was that if they added every moment when Quinn cried while I was gone, including every fuss, the time would total less than one minute. I believe it. If Quinn starts to cry we all immediately react because she almost never cries.
Just today, she and Cora were playing in the floor. Cora did a couple of things that made me cringe and leap to intervene... but Quinn laughed each time, rolled in Cora's direction, and tried to grasp onto Cora to pull her closer. Quinn was loving it. Sometimes Quinn gets Cora's hair and Cora yelps. When we remind Cora that Quinn is just a baby, Cora always leans over and kisses Quinn.We'll sure be lucky if they stay like this!
My 5-month old baby standing flat footed in the exersaucer... it is on its highest setting.
And an afternoon nap with Daddy.
What Messal blog would be complete with out a Cora update?
I started ordering diapers from diapers.com. Great deal. The best part is that they come in a big box... that box has kept things moving around here all week. She's crawled in and out, treated it like her very own art easel, pretended to sleep in there, asked to have the top closed around her...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)