Elmo Class.

One of my favorite things about Visalia are the city classes that we get to do so many cheap classes through the city. I'll probably talk about it time and time again, but I LOVE it!

I was a little bit nervous about bringing James there, because it is right during his naptime, but he is still so portable that he either napped in the wrap or the stroller. 

Cora got to be part of an Elmo's world class through September/October. We missed the last class because James had a doctor's appointment, but the other classes were fun!

 The week we learned about community helpers, Cora got to be a fireman and help with a fire brigade. It was so wonderfully chaotic.

 

 The week we talked about dance and movement... yeah she didn't sit still the whole time.

The week we talked about fall leaves, Cora got a major kick out of hunting for them.

One week we talked about cowboys, which is a current obsession of Cora's. So now she has a real cowboy hat!

 

 

(She was much happier than she let on.)

She also got to sample apples, make many  (too many) crafts, and got stickers at the end. We love Visalia!

4 months of James Murphy

Oh tiny James. You aren't quite so tiny anymore! (16 pounds 11 ounces and 26.5 inches long as of his checkup)

- I love how much you love your dad. This month James has really taken to watching Brandon when he walks in. If he gets ANY attention from Brandon he just lights up. It is good, since for the first little bit he didn't want to be around Brandon.

(Watching Brandon walk in after work)

- I love how you love your sister. Even if she IS a little bit scary. 

James LOVES watching Cora run around. He flinches when she gets close, but he is trying so hard to touch her when she gets close. She loves him too. Even if she threw the duvet on his face the other day and made him cry.

-I love watching you try to grab! He focuses SO hard on his hands while he grabs at things. 

  - I love how go with the flow you are! You will sleep anywhere, which is so helpful right now in this big transition from one to two kids. Plus you like a baby carrier, which is more than we could say about Cora at this age. With one kid it was easier to just carry her, but we need help with 2.

  -I love how STRONG you are. You don't snuggle anymore (which is sad) because you just want to sit up and look around. You aren't floppy at all (but you haven't been for a long time). We started the Bumbo seat this month and you have no problem sitting in it for a long time. Now, how long you WANT to sit there is another question.

(You hate your tummy time, but when you do it is pretty amazing!)

 -I love watching how proud you are when you do something! The other night James tried to roll, and with a little bit of help (one finger) he rolled over. He was SO excited. 

 Then he rolled by himself and was not so thrilled to be on his stomach. 

 James, you are the sweetest. You light up our lives and we love you!

Cora Quarterly report- 2 years 6 months

I am in a little bit of disbelief that Cora is already 2 and a half years old. I keep forgetting that she is so much older than she seems to me. I feel like she's the same baby that she was when we left Miami. It makes me realize just how much time has passed.

She is the epitomy of sugar and spice right now. First, the sugar:

- She is so sweet with her baby brother. She loves to be in his face (too much), and talks to him all the time. He loves her, and is also a little bit afraid of her.

- If Brandon or I seem anything less than happy she says "Beeee happy!!!" Or "Beee nice!!!" It is a good emotional barometer.

- She says things like "You're my BEST friend!" to me. I love it.

- She is our most snuggly kid. James wants nothing to do with us snuggling him, he'd rather look around. But Cora wants to be held and sit with us and all that.

- She is OBSESSED with princesses right now. Which is why I didn't even bother introducing her to them, I knew it would happen on her own time. First it was Moana, then it was Rapunzel, then Belle. She also loves Ariel, but has never seen the movie (that she remembers, she watched when she was about 36 hours old and in the hospital). She asks every day to watch "Booty and the Bees".

- Her memory is ridiculous. She not only knows most of the songs to Beauty and the Beast, but knows what is happening in the score songs. She says "MOM, THE BEAST IS SO PRETTY NOW! THEY'RE KISSING OOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" (At top volume, hence the caps lock)

- She is a sweet and empathetic girl. She doesn't always get when people her age aren't being very nice, she just loves to be with them. (Dancing with her friend Hayley)

- She knows all the words to the songs I sing to her before bed. So her singing along to 'Love One Another' is one of my most favorite things ever.

Then, the spice:

- She is picking up incredible sass. She says things like "I told you NO!" all the time.

- We went through a rough patch where she refused to eat EVERYTHING. It took reading a book about teaching French kids to eat and a lot of prayer to get it under control. She says all foods are too spicy.

- If she doesn't want to do something she says "I don't WANT to!" In an extremely whiny voice.

- Her napping has been horrible. She still needs a nap, but most days she just refuses. We're now compromising by saying she can read books and play with toys in her bed, she just needs to be quiet so she doesn't wake up James. It has helped us a lot. (And when she DOES nap...)

- A failed potty training experience. She didn't even care when I decided to stop, which shows me that she wasn't even ready. So we'll try again later.

I have felt like such a bad mom lately, because my patience has been basically nonexistent. So last week I did 2 things- I cut out the TV and I made it a goal to not raise my voice. And I did both of those! Amazingly, it feels like I have my little BFF back. So now we will continue to work on both of those.

Cora says (part 2)

Cora has been KILLING ME with her quotes lately. Again.

She calls swimsuits "swim-swoots". So cute!

We have been discussing potty training lately, and one day she picked up her Moana doll, lifted up its skirt and said "Moana with the butt goes poop in the potty". What???

She has been really into people's rear ends (shockingly). She likes to try to pull down people's pants or lift up my skirt. Hopefully she is only doing that to her parents and not anyone else.

Her new thing is "I'm so happy to see you!" Even when I'm super mad at her, it is so cute.
She also says "Mom, you're my best friend." Cue the heart eyes.
When James smiles at her, she says "Ohhhh, he likes you!" (since that is what we usually say)
When I ask her what I just said, she will always say "I love you!" She's too cute.
She also says "No I won't!"
If she gets frustrated trying to do something she will say "I'm trying so hard!"
Instead of repeating what you say when she agrees with you, she is finally starting to say "Yeah". It's from the cutest little voice.
In the last week, she has picked up "Hold on Mom". I have nobody else to blame but myself for that one.
She's learning that trick every child does, where the largest of something is "Daddy _____", the next largest is "Mommy _______", the third largest is "Cora ______" and the next one is "James ____" or "baby ______".

She is so cute, even when she tests our patience!

Random September 2017 Happenings.

Just a giant photo dump of the things we did in September.

 James got to experience his first story time at the library. He liked the scarves.

Then of course he had a blowout and had to leave without any clothes on.

 James and Clive! Such cute little buddies.

 Learning to do tummy time!

 I love this swaddle. He looks so cute.

 James put himself to sleep at Music Makers. Such an angel baby.

 We went to Cafe Rio one day, and Cora tried horchata. It was a hit!

 Again, sleepy buddy boy.

 Selfies!

 James is just learning how much fun his sister is.

 Of course she never took a pacifier until her brother did.

We had a Minnie Mouse party for Cora's friend Clara. It is so darling that Cora has so many cute girls around her age that she can play with!

 (Typical Cora. Always ready for the next party.)

 Brandon blew a raspberry on James' stomach. It didn't go well.

 He is so fair and tender and sweet. I love him. 

 Story time with everyone.

 In order to get a break from Veggietales and Moana, we introduced Cora to some of the traditional Disney movies. Here she and James are loving Pocahontas.

 Mother's lounge lyfe!

 Even at 2.5 months old, he's getting so steady!

 We love "the Office", so this outfit was perfect!

 We got pumpkins and Cora lined them all up to watch her eat lunch.

 Oh Jamers, we love you!

 Cora is obsessed with riding on the back of the Target cart, and it always ends in her falling off the back of the cart.

 Finally cool enough for long sleeves and pants! Kind of.

 This is basically how church goes. He's grumpy in class then a total hoot in the mother's lounge.

 Super dad. That's close to 50 pounds of kid/car seat to carry.

 Superdad part 2!

 Wrap crew.

Our friends Tiffany and Emerson came back into town, it was so fun to see them!

 Sassafras. 

 Gosh I love him so much!

 Bye Emerson! We'll see you again soon!

 I mean seriously, look at how sweet his face is watching Cora. I love them so much!