Earlier in March (I can't believe there's only one day left!) Doug and Kris and their kids came to visit Colorado. I think this is another occassion when we are fortunate to live near Brad's parents. Anytime one of his siblings visits Mom and Dad we usually get to enjoy seeing them, too! And we love it.
Cora absolutely adored her cousins, Auntie and Uncle, and we had a great time being with them, too! We're so glad they were able to come and visit. Thank you for making memories with us!
Click here to see my photo album of pictures.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
6 Random Facts
Hmmm 6 random things about me (I wrote this a month ago and never posted it. I think I'm supposed to tag some people...go ahead and tag yourself if you want to do it!)
1. I believe that Skittles and Starbursts make my eyelids sweat. When I eat them, that is.
2. I never fully learned how to drive a stick shift until I was 28.
3. My golden birthday was also my 16th birthday - pretty cool, huh?
4. During both pregnancies I've experienced a strange bulge on the left side of my abdomen which is only noticeable when I wake up in the morning and am laying on my back. The Dr. said it's probably caused by a full bladder pushing something out of the way, or getting pushed out of the way...Sorry - TMI? She's not concerned, so I'm just amused by it.
5. We have 4 different versions of strollers - for one child. And I'm embarrased by it...But to satisfy the curious mind, here's what they are:
a)the original stroller (the kind that the infant carseat can clip into - usually part of a "travel system");
b) a jogging stroller, essential for speed-walkers like me;
c) an umbrella stroller - handy for keeping in the car for trips into places that don't have shopping carts (like the library) when the child is too heavy/akward to carry for more than a few minutes;
d) a bike trailer that converts into a stroller and can hold either one or two children. I've never used this as a stroller, but will perhaps use it when baby #2 is big enough to sit in it if it's sufficient for fast-paced cardio walks. If it's not, I fear we'll be looking for a double jogging stroller. Now to put your calculating minds at ease, since we're bargain finders and we recieved some of these as gifts, it would NOT have been cheaper to get one stroller that does it all. Is there even a light-weight, big-wheeled (so it can handle a fast pace), infant carseat friendly, trunk-friendly, shopping-friendly, one- or two-child bike trailer/stroller ALL in one? Betcha it costs a fortune...
6. I wrap my wet hair in a towel the opposite way of the rest of the world. Instead of tossing my head upside down, twisting the towel around my hair and flipping my head back up so the towel hangs down the back, I wrap the towel around my hair while it's hanging down, then twist the towel up on top of my head and tuck the end under the front part of the towel on my forehead. And I don't care who sees me like this. I have yet to meet anyone else who does it this way. Do you?
1. I believe that Skittles and Starbursts make my eyelids sweat. When I eat them, that is.
2. I never fully learned how to drive a stick shift until I was 28.
3. My golden birthday was also my 16th birthday - pretty cool, huh?
4. During both pregnancies I've experienced a strange bulge on the left side of my abdomen which is only noticeable when I wake up in the morning and am laying on my back. The Dr. said it's probably caused by a full bladder pushing something out of the way, or getting pushed out of the way...Sorry - TMI? She's not concerned, so I'm just amused by it.
5. We have 4 different versions of strollers - for one child. And I'm embarrased by it...But to satisfy the curious mind, here's what they are:
a)the original stroller (the kind that the infant carseat can clip into - usually part of a "travel system");
b) a jogging stroller, essential for speed-walkers like me;
c) an umbrella stroller - handy for keeping in the car for trips into places that don't have shopping carts (like the library) when the child is too heavy/akward to carry for more than a few minutes;
d) a bike trailer that converts into a stroller and can hold either one or two children. I've never used this as a stroller, but will perhaps use it when baby #2 is big enough to sit in it if it's sufficient for fast-paced cardio walks. If it's not, I fear we'll be looking for a double jogging stroller. Now to put your calculating minds at ease, since we're bargain finders and we recieved some of these as gifts, it would NOT have been cheaper to get one stroller that does it all. Is there even a light-weight, big-wheeled (so it can handle a fast pace), infant carseat friendly, trunk-friendly, shopping-friendly, one- or two-child bike trailer/stroller ALL in one? Betcha it costs a fortune...
6. I wrap my wet hair in a towel the opposite way of the rest of the world. Instead of tossing my head upside down, twisting the towel around my hair and flipping my head back up so the towel hangs down the back, I wrap the towel around my hair while it's hanging down, then twist the towel up on top of my head and tuck the end under the front part of the towel on my forehead. And I don't care who sees me like this. I have yet to meet anyone else who does it this way. Do you?
I've popped, and LOTS of other thoughts
I'm 15 1/2 weeks pregnant but feel much more. It seems that in the last week, my tummy "popped", as they say. My friend has kindly loaned me 2 "Bella Bands" to allow me to stretch out a few more weeks in regular pants with out using a safety pin to keep the button area fastened. This is not a fun stage since maternity pants are a little too loose, maternity shirts are still too huge, but regular pants and shirts are mostly too tight. Do I go for the "Is she pregnant or just chubby?" look by wearing too-tight clothes? Or the "90's baggy clothes/balloon" look in maternity clothes?
I apologize for the recent lack of pictures. I am tempted to blame Brad since I was finally motivated today to transfer pictures from our camera to our computer so I could upload some here but he took our personal camera with him on the youth group outing. I didn't realize it was gone with him until I decided to upload the pictures but couldn't find the camera. But, to be fair, I can't blame him since the camera has been hanging on the same hook for over a week and I had plenty of opportunity to upload pictures earlier. How is it that it seems like the times I really want to use the camera are the times when it gets commissioned to be a "church camera"? Such is life. Sometimes I find it frustrating sharing anything that is ours with church. That's another post, though.
Cora has a middle ear infection. Did I post this before? I can't remember. It's her first ear infection and she spent 10 days on Amoxicillin which caused some vomiting and a suspicious rash. The Dr. said "it's a sensitivity, not an allergy". But when we went back for the Dr. to check on her ear and found out it hasn't gotten any better I wasn't eager to re-up on the antibiotics. We are trying a nasal spray to open up her sinuses to hopefully allow some drainage in the eustacian (sp?) tube. We also have to put an earplug in her left ear for swimming lessons. Anybody know some other homeopathic/natural remedies for ear infections? Cora isn't in discomfort - unless she's gotten used to the pain, which I doubt is the case - so at least that is not a concern.
Also, maybe you heard about our vehicle drama of 2008? It was a nightmare. In January, this year, we finally got the Jetta in good working order and decided to sell it while it was good. A few weeks later we purchased a 1994? Toyota Camry. Our hope is that, even though it is an older car, it will run better for us and when it does need work done it will be easier and cheaper to find someone to work on it than the Jetta. Anyway, what I'm excited to tell you is that the Toyota is a manual transmission. I had never learned (sadly) to drive a stick shift before but now I have the opportunity and necessity to learn. I'm proud to say that I've been driving it by myself all over town for a while now and I think I'm even getting comfortable enough to have a conversation while driving! Earlier this week I refused to drive my friend Kami to MOPS because I would not have been able to enjoy the 15-20 minutes in the car with her if I was driving (and Brad needed our other vehicle so I would have had to drive the Toyota) so she graciously drove her car. Next time, I'll drive, Kami! :) And we'll be able to talk, too.
Finally, in case you didn't know or forgot, the pastor of our church took a call elsewhere early last fall. Brad's dad has been working as the interim pastor for us since then, preaching regularly and giving leadership and guidance for council and other things. I was reflecting today on how God's hand guided this even years ago when Mom and Dad decided to purchase a home in Montrose and we ended up moving to GJ. I have always selfishly liked how it worked out because I've enjoyed living near them. But it has come to be a blessing for our whole church to have Dad and Mom nearby! Again, selfishly, I am thankful to be able to enjoy hearing God's word taught to us by my dad-in-law. He is a truly gifted preacher and teacher and Brad and I often hear from others in the church how much they enjoy and are blessed by his sermons. I don't know that I would ever tire of hearing Dad preach.
It saddened me when it dawned on me today that I only know of one lunch invitation they have received from someone in our congregation. Maybe it's old-fashioned to invite people over for Sunday lunch? The invitation did come from one of the oldest couples in church, actually! (And I know Brad and I don't very often follow through on our intentions to have other people over for Sunday lunch.) Anyway, the point is that I hope Mom and Dad not only are appreciated but also feel appreciated and welcomed...We sure love having them at church on a regular basis! So "Thanks Mom and Dad!" Cora loves it, too. Church is now associated with: Daddy's work, playing in the nursery with friends (who's names she likes to list) and seeing Grandma and Grandpa. I think that's wonderful for a 2 year old!
I apologize for the recent lack of pictures. I am tempted to blame Brad since I was finally motivated today to transfer pictures from our camera to our computer so I could upload some here but he took our personal camera with him on the youth group outing. I didn't realize it was gone with him until I decided to upload the pictures but couldn't find the camera. But, to be fair, I can't blame him since the camera has been hanging on the same hook for over a week and I had plenty of opportunity to upload pictures earlier. How is it that it seems like the times I really want to use the camera are the times when it gets commissioned to be a "church camera"? Such is life. Sometimes I find it frustrating sharing anything that is ours with church. That's another post, though.
Cora has a middle ear infection. Did I post this before? I can't remember. It's her first ear infection and she spent 10 days on Amoxicillin which caused some vomiting and a suspicious rash. The Dr. said "it's a sensitivity, not an allergy". But when we went back for the Dr. to check on her ear and found out it hasn't gotten any better I wasn't eager to re-up on the antibiotics. We are trying a nasal spray to open up her sinuses to hopefully allow some drainage in the eustacian (sp?) tube. We also have to put an earplug in her left ear for swimming lessons. Anybody know some other homeopathic/natural remedies for ear infections? Cora isn't in discomfort - unless she's gotten used to the pain, which I doubt is the case - so at least that is not a concern.
Also, maybe you heard about our vehicle drama of 2008? It was a nightmare. In January, this year, we finally got the Jetta in good working order and decided to sell it while it was good. A few weeks later we purchased a 1994? Toyota Camry. Our hope is that, even though it is an older car, it will run better for us and when it does need work done it will be easier and cheaper to find someone to work on it than the Jetta. Anyway, what I'm excited to tell you is that the Toyota is a manual transmission. I had never learned (sadly) to drive a stick shift before but now I have the opportunity and necessity to learn. I'm proud to say that I've been driving it by myself all over town for a while now and I think I'm even getting comfortable enough to have a conversation while driving! Earlier this week I refused to drive my friend Kami to MOPS because I would not have been able to enjoy the 15-20 minutes in the car with her if I was driving (and Brad needed our other vehicle so I would have had to drive the Toyota) so she graciously drove her car. Next time, I'll drive, Kami! :) And we'll be able to talk, too.
Finally, in case you didn't know or forgot, the pastor of our church took a call elsewhere early last fall. Brad's dad has been working as the interim pastor for us since then, preaching regularly and giving leadership and guidance for council and other things. I was reflecting today on how God's hand guided this even years ago when Mom and Dad decided to purchase a home in Montrose and we ended up moving to GJ. I have always selfishly liked how it worked out because I've enjoyed living near them. But it has come to be a blessing for our whole church to have Dad and Mom nearby! Again, selfishly, I am thankful to be able to enjoy hearing God's word taught to us by my dad-in-law. He is a truly gifted preacher and teacher and Brad and I often hear from others in the church how much they enjoy and are blessed by his sermons. I don't know that I would ever tire of hearing Dad preach.
It saddened me when it dawned on me today that I only know of one lunch invitation they have received from someone in our congregation. Maybe it's old-fashioned to invite people over for Sunday lunch? The invitation did come from one of the oldest couples in church, actually! (And I know Brad and I don't very often follow through on our intentions to have other people over for Sunday lunch.) Anyway, the point is that I hope Mom and Dad not only are appreciated but also feel appreciated and welcomed...We sure love having them at church on a regular basis! So "Thanks Mom and Dad!" Cora loves it, too. Church is now associated with: Daddy's work, playing in the nursery with friends (who's names she likes to list) and seeing Grandma and Grandpa. I think that's wonderful for a 2 year old!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"Heavy"
Cora is so entertaining! Did you know she makes sound effects? Is that normal for a 2 year old? She pretends to pour water and makes a pouring sound. Or when we see an air hand drier in public restrooms she makes a blowing air sound. It always surprises me! I've never been a big sound effect maker so...she didn't learn it from anything she's seen me do!
Yesterday we were reading a book called "Bear's Busy Year" about a bear who loves to be outside in all kinds of seasons and weather doing all kinds of things. I think it's the perfect book for Cora because she's the same way. When it's the fall, Bear is outside helping his mom and dad pick pumpkins and squash and apples. You see a picture of Bear in a pumpkin patch. Cora cupped her hands around the picture of the pumpkin like she was pretending to hold it or pick it up and in a strained voice said "Heavy pumpkin".
Surprise and delight bubbled out of me in the form of laughter. I hope it's OK to laugh at your child in moments like that! I'm so thankful to spend my days with someone who makes me giggle and surprises me day after day!
Yesterday we were reading a book called "Bear's Busy Year" about a bear who loves to be outside in all kinds of seasons and weather doing all kinds of things. I think it's the perfect book for Cora because she's the same way. When it's the fall, Bear is outside helping his mom and dad pick pumpkins and squash and apples. You see a picture of Bear in a pumpkin patch. Cora cupped her hands around the picture of the pumpkin like she was pretending to hold it or pick it up and in a strained voice said "Heavy pumpkin".
Surprise and delight bubbled out of me in the form of laughter. I hope it's OK to laugh at your child in moments like that! I'm so thankful to spend my days with someone who makes me giggle and surprises me day after day!
Imming Lessons
In order to crack the code of Cora-language, you need to know that words that start with "s" or an "s" sound lose that sound when Cora says them. So we go "imming at the pool". Sometimes the "s" sound gets replaced with a "w" or "h" sound. "Wit down" for example.
There are other codes, too. But I'll start you off slowly. :)
Today we had our first swimming lessons at our indoor community pool, which we are fortunate to live only a mile away from, unlike most other things in GJ. I wasn't going to do lessons for Cora for a while because in the past they only offered a water introduction class for 6 month to 3 year olds that involved playing games and singing songs that help kids feel comfortable in the water. The next available class was for 3-5 year olds who were independent swimmers. If you know Cora, she is a fish. She loves the water and is very comfortable in it, so the younger class wasn't necesary. On the other hand she thinks she's an independent swimmer, because with floaties she can get around on her own pretty well. The problem is when we don't put the floaties on she thinks she can keep her head above water, but sinks like a rock.
This spring the aquatic department included a new class for 2-5 year olds who are comfortable in the water but aren't able to be in a class with out a parent yet - that's Cora. It's 30 minutes twice a week for 4 weeks. Tonight we played a few games that help introduce swimming skills and Cora loved it. She was disappointed when it was time to get out after only 30 minutes. Even in cold water, she loves swimming! She's tougher than me! A fun highlight of the class is that my friend Kami and her son Liam are taking the class, too.
There are other codes, too. But I'll start you off slowly. :)
Today we had our first swimming lessons at our indoor community pool, which we are fortunate to live only a mile away from, unlike most other things in GJ. I wasn't going to do lessons for Cora for a while because in the past they only offered a water introduction class for 6 month to 3 year olds that involved playing games and singing songs that help kids feel comfortable in the water. The next available class was for 3-5 year olds who were independent swimmers. If you know Cora, she is a fish. She loves the water and is very comfortable in it, so the younger class wasn't necesary. On the other hand she thinks she's an independent swimmer, because with floaties she can get around on her own pretty well. The problem is when we don't put the floaties on she thinks she can keep her head above water, but sinks like a rock.
This spring the aquatic department included a new class for 2-5 year olds who are comfortable in the water but aren't able to be in a class with out a parent yet - that's Cora. It's 30 minutes twice a week for 4 weeks. Tonight we played a few games that help introduce swimming skills and Cora loved it. She was disappointed when it was time to get out after only 30 minutes. Even in cold water, she loves swimming! She's tougher than me! A fun highlight of the class is that my friend Kami and her son Liam are taking the class, too.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Phrases we often hear...
More please
Up there
Right there
Here you go
Outside!
Spider! (Any little speck has become a "pider" lately.)
Have it, please
Cora do it
Mommy do it
Cuddle ("tuddle")
NO!
Yah
Ummmm
I don't know (or actually sounds like "I o-know" while hunching shoulders)
All done (she still signs this one while she says it, also)
Up there
Right there
Here you go
Outside!
Spider! (Any little speck has become a "pider" lately.)
Have it, please
Cora do it
Mommy do it
Cuddle ("tuddle")
NO!
Yah
Ummmm
I don't know (or actually sounds like "I o-know" while hunching shoulders)
All done (she still signs this one while she says it, also)
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