YSNYWC

Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention. We did actually go to it and it was wonderful. But there's not much that I feel like sharing about on the blog, nor did we take any pictures of the convention. So, just know that we were there and learned some great stuff. Ever heard of "social aggression"? A nice term for bullying - or, more accurately, a common form of female bullying. It's the way girls push each other around and basically make each others' lives miserable, especially in middle school. We have had a certain situation at church and hearing this "social aggression" spelled out like it was at one of the seminars turned on so many light bulbs for us. Hopefully we can take our newly lit bulbs and shed some light at church, too.

Anyway, more for your interest from the weekend. Here is a link to some pictures on facebook of some friends we were able to see while in SoCal. (Of course, most pictures involve Cora...What can I say?) We were there when the fires all started and thankfully weren't near any danger zones. They closed may freeways we'd take to get out of the area where we stayed, however, so we had to take a longer way home. But we're thankful to have made it home safely, and that our friends' homes are safe from the fires!

Goings on...

Happy Birthday (yesterday) to Grandma Bierma (Henrietta = Brad's grandma). She is 90 years old!

1 dog + 1 dog = 3 dogs???
We watched our friends' dog last week - Bailey. Bailey came over Monday night before we went to a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner at a friend's house. By the way, shouldn't we celebrate every country's Thanksgiving day with a wonderful meal with good friends? Anyway, when Brad and I came home that night we opened the garage door to park the car and out ran Jack, then Bailey, and then some pit bull! We've never seen this dog before and our yard is totally fenced in with a 6 foot high privacy fence. How in the world? Where in the world? What in the world? ??? Well, the dog ran off and Jack and Bailey went back inside. The next afternoon the dog was back in our back yard. We discovered that it jumps over our fence to come and go as it pleases. Not cool! We are generally biased against pit bulls and there are SO many around here. Well, it's one thing if someone has one and keeps it in it's own yard and under control but to let it roam the neighborhood freely and our "secured" backyard...We don't like it. Animal control got involved and caught the dog on Friday after Brad followed it down the street talking to the officer on his cellphone till she got there. We found out this was the second time this dog has been in the pound, so it must have owners who "care" about him. Well, today it came back to our yard, messed around with Jack for a little bit, then left again. So hopefully some resolution comes soon for this dog, before he starts causing real problems. Grrr.

No news, but here's some pictures
This is our neighborhood horse that we often walk by and stop to visit. Cora loves animals and this is no exception. She bounces up and down and giggles while we talk to him. It's so adorable!

I left this drawer open the other morning while putting dishes away. Cora crawled over, pulled up to it and proceeded to pick up each thing, one at a time, look it over and suck on it, then put it back in the drawer! I'm thankful she didn't throw everything all over the kitchen!

Cora's newest facial expression. She does this at any random moment, but usually when she's face to face with someone. She scrunches up her nose and then breathes short and fast breaths through her nose. What a ham!

This is Brad's imitation of Cora. Pretty good, huh?

Aw, Daddy, you're so funny!

Off we go!
Brad, Cora and I are driving to San Diego, CA, tomorrow for a Youth Specialties Convention this weekend. We'll hopefully be able to see some friends/family while there, in between the seminars and such. It should be a wonderful weekend...and busy. I'm a little curious to see how Cora will do. We're hoping she'll just hang out in her stroller like a good girl and take her naps there and such, but I will probably have to miss out on some of the sessions to make sure she gets a few good naps in. We definitely do NOT underestimate the importance of sleep for Cora! Pray for safe travel, inspiration and learning at the conference and flexibility for Cora and us!

Hokie-Pokie

So, I was wondering today if the author of The Hokie Pokie lyrics came up with the words while dressing a nine month old. Just imagine:
"You put your right arm in, you put your right arm out, you put your right arm in and you shake it all about. You do the Hokie Pokie and you turn yourself around...That's what it's all about!"

No kidding. Cora is such a blast, even when she's doing the Hokie Pokie on the changing table...
That's all for now!

9 months old today

WOW! Time really does fly. Everyone told me when Cora was very young that she would grow and change so quickly and to cherish every moment. I have really tried to cherish every moment (though there have been some moments I wished would pass quickly!) but no matter how much you drink in the joy of the moment, it is still just that - a moment. Then it is gone!

So I'm a little sentimental tonight. Cora still frequently falls asleep while nursing before bedtime. I know it's not highly looked upon by some people but I've come to enjoy it and not worry about it having adverse affects. She falls asleep on her own for naps and when she wakes up in the middle of the night. She also has many nights where so goes to bed awake and falls asleep quickly and easily. So I don't let myself worry about nursing her to sleep causing sleep problems.

Tonight she fell asleep nursing and I just held her for a while, drinking in the sound and rhythm of her breathing, her smell, the peaceful look on her face, the softness of her relaxed cheeks and the warmth of her little body. It is such a precious time. I often enjoy a few minutes of her sleeping like this, knowing that she won't always do this. But tonight I realized that the end is drawing near as she will probably start weaning in the next few months. So I will drink it in all the more.

Oh, yeah. She now has 6 teeth! Two more cut through this morning.

Change happens fast!

(NOTE: New video in post below this one)
Wow- so many changes lately! These are some changes we've experienced in the last couple weeks:
1. It's October...and the grocery store ads have Christmas items already.
2. Cora and I are both healthy now and Brad never got sick - Praise the Lord!
3. Cora cut her first top tooth last Sunday (Sept 23) and I think I see the other top one and a bottom one pretty close to the surface.
4. Cora is crawling now...
5. Cora is pulling up to her knees on things like chair rungs and occassionaly to standing in her crib.
6. Cora is babbling up a storm with mamama, dadada, bababa, rarala, yayaya, and her ever-favorite "thbbbbbb" while blowing spit all over. Who taught her that?
7. I've started substitute teaching again on Mondays while Brad watches Cora at home (it's his day off) and some Friday's which means he takes Cora to work with him.
8. Brad is ITCHING to get out and go hunting. Soon, honey, soon.
9. It is now 40 degrees in the morning when we wake up. Brrr. Our morning walk needs to change to a later time but it's hard to change to a new routine.
10. I've learned about something called Elimination Communication. Anyone heard of it or have experience with it?
11. Cora is no longer taking a third nap. Kinda sad.

Here's some pics. Enjoy!
A new outfit from my Aunt Meridel. Cora's eyes looked so amazingly blue in this outfit.
This was the first morning we found her pulled up like this in her crib - Sept 26. She couldn't have seemed any prouder!
Sweet moments are the rewards of motherhood.

Crawling Cora

Cora started crawling a little bit last week but I would officially say she's crawling as of the last couple days. She's not moving too quickly yet, which is good. Boy is it different having her crawling! I've been giving piano lessons twice a week and in the past she would sit contentedly on the floor or in her play yard. During yesterday's lesson she started crawling toward the piano (she loves the pedals) and almost tickled my student's feet! And she wasn't as happy in her play yard since she couldn't go very far! New adventures are on the horizon...

Creeping Cora

Here's the video I tried to post earlier. I think this was taken around September 22? No more sweeping the dirt under the rugs. Ha ha ha.