10 months- I never want to forget

I can't believe another month has come and gone! And like I have said every month so far, it seems like she has exploded in learning!

-Her waving. I squealed so loudly when I saw this for the first time. And now she waves constantly at herself! She has also waved at friends a few times. My heart.

-How she follows me around. This is hilarious because she gets so excited when she finds me in the bathroom. Look at this!

-Her talking. Her new word is "Bwap!" She says it all the time. She is also starting to mimic words. Her first one was "No" (of course), but she has also said "Yes", "Yep", and something that sounds a lot like "Poop". Haha I guess that's what I say to her a lot.

-Her crawling. So last month she had just started this flop crawl deal, now she is REALLY crawling everywhere! She is so fast when she wants to be. With this new independence has come a lot less screaming when I walk out of the room. If she cries I turn around and say "Come on!" and she will crawl after me. She even follows me to the bathroom... That's actually her favorite room so we have to shut the door when we aren't in it. Luckily she doesn't find the kitchen as interesting... yet. It's lucky because we currently are at the tail end of a bug problem (EW), and I don't want her in there with them.

-Her expressions. Even the fake crying ones, as demonstrated by our Valentine's day picture. She was mad that I wouldn't let her roll all over the carpet.

I still love on her constantly, and squeeze her when I can (when she will let me), and I am so thankful for her being in my life! Happy 10 months lovebug!

9 months- I never want to forget.

Seriously, 9 months now?? That is madness.

Cora has exploded in her movement and personality this month. Maybe because the first half of it was spent with so many different people? But she has really learned a lot, and it is so fun to watch her grow.

-Her crawling. She crawls! I watched her do it on Saturday (her 9 month birthday), and I told Brandon it was like watching the raptors learn to unlock the door in "Jurassic Park". But more exciting. She still prefers to roll, since she has a good system down of rolling and pivoting that can get her anywhere. But if she sees something she wants (like Puffs), she will move for it!

-Her curiosity. She is into EVERYTHING. As I'm typing, I'm watching her push a box of wipes across the floor as she rolls. She only wants the things that we touch, like the wipes, the computers, the cell phones, the stroller wheels but NOT her toys that we touch. And EVERYTHING goes in her mouth. But I think that one of the best things we can do for her is not make her feel like she is being punished for being a normal curious baby. We just keep the dangerous things out of her reach!

-Her silliness. She is starting to figure out when people are laughing, and she will give them a huge cheesy smile. It is the cutest!

-Her voice. She is so communicative, even if she can't actually speak yet. She is ALWAYS making new noises! I can't wait until she learns words. She has been directing traffic from her stroller, which is pretty hilarious.

-Her headstands. I don't know where this is coming from, but she has lately been doing this weird headstand kind of thing. I think she is trying to stand, but nooooo need to rush that!

- How much she loves Brandon. If we are perfectly honest, Cora does tend to prefer me at times. When she is tired or not feeling well she usually wants nothing to do with him. But when they are together and playing, it melts my heart! I mean, look at this picture. All the heart eyes!

We sure do love this mobile child! (And yes this is a month late, because she turns 10 months tomorrow. And yes I still need to finish her 8 month post. Whoops!)

This was the best picture I could get of her, she would roll over IMMEDIATELY after I would lay her down. Oh well!

Book Blog

Another one of my new year's resolutions is to read 20 classics. With other books in between, of course. I was able to read 50 books last year, which I was proud of, but a lot of the books I read and didn't feel very fulfilled by. So I want to elevate the quality of books I am reading. I'm also putting them on their own blog, because I like this one to be about our little family. If you like completely non-eloquent writings about random books, check it out. Enjoy!

(and yes I did steal this from Alyse, even though I can't write about what I read nearly as well as she can.)

http://camillesreadinglist.blogspot.com/

2016, bring it on.

Wow, I can't believe it's 2016. 2015 was such a huge year for us (obviously). And this year will be pretty big too between my parents going on a mission and Brandon graduating PA school!

I did complete some of my resolutions from last year! I read the Book of Mormon by myself (and we finished it together for the 3rd time since being married!), I read 50 books, I logged 200 miles on MapMyRun.

I also failed dismally at other resolutions. I did NOT go to the temple and bring 12 family names. I did NOT stick with a budget. I did NOT plan 3 meals a week (although I was closest with this one). But oh well! New year, new start right?

I have some new resolutions. I am going to run another half marathon! (and stick with a training plan this time) I already found one in Key Largo in November. I really wanted to run one that goes into Everglades national park, but they're all on Sundays. I am also going to log 500 miles this year! 200 was perfect for having a baby last year, but I want to step up my game. I'm giving up soda (for real this time) all year. Don't tell Brandon how long, he said he doesn't want to know so he doesn't try to keep me accountable. He just knows I am not drinking soda, and when he sees me drink one he'll assume I am done. I want to cut down 10% of our hospital bill debt. That might not sound like a lot, but when you have no income it is!

I have a ton of little goals, so I won't list them all. I'm also going to update all the posts I have drafted. I have been so bad at updating about trips, which is the whole point of this blog. So stay tuned for some old posts!

I also want to take advantage of this great place we live in! We are going to find more fun (and cheap or free) places to go and things to see. So bring on 2016!

Christmas Break 2015- Irvine

I've been in a blogging slump lately. I've been writing posts, but not attaching pictures so I can't post them. But here we go!

We left at 4:30 AM to make our flight to California. Cora was thrilled.

Flying alone with a baby is stressful! Even a good one like this one. She needs to be fed, and I can't put her down, and she wants to be walked around. And she hates nursing under a cover which makes things awkward for me.

When Cora gets stressed out, she likes to eat my hair. This was us after the first flight.

When we got onto our flight for Dallas, Cora was laying in my arms and looking out the window, then she looked back at me and passed out. Thank goodness, she slept like that for about an hour.

 When we got there, our first stop was In-N-Out of course!

 Cora is such a good helper.

The time change was a rough one for a few mornings. We were up at 4:00, so we looked at the tree for a while!

 This is the same snow globe that Dallin looked at 20 years ago.

 It was SO cold for us Miami people! Cora was not happy about the cold and having to wear a sweatshirt every time she went out.

 How is that comfortable?

 

 Bah hum bug! With her 1 tooth,

 Cora was thoroughly unimpressed with the BYU football game.

 She is starting to get ready to crawl!

 She loves watching Cole play the piano!

 Build-Your-Own Poke bowl! SOOOOO good. And something I can get when Brandon isn't there.

 Cora liked watching Murphy, but Murphy didn't enjoy watching Cora.

This is the closest we got to snow... looking at a backdrop of it on the campus of UCI.

 I haven't gone to the temple in a LONG time. It is so hard with a baby who will not take a bottle, and a husband who is so busy at school, etc. etc. etc. So I asked my mom if I could go to the temple one night, and she watched Cora (who was asleep) so I could go to the session. It was amazing. I haven't gone back to Newport Beach since we got married, and I loved it! And Cora woke up about an hour after I left, so thank goodness she did OK for other people.

Cousin time! Both Cora and Graham were learning how to rock back and forth (before crawling), and it was adorable.

 3 cute cousins.

 One night we went to Balboa Island, and saw the lights. Graham and Cora spent some time trying to get to know each other.

Cora was SO happy to have Brandon back on Christmas Eve. Look at that squishy little face and how content she is... I'm pretty sure she even fell asleep like this.

The cousins got festive with their matching sweaters!

 In our Christmas nativity, Cora was baby Jesus. She was very reverent and just stared at everyone as she laid in the "manger" on the ground.

 Tanner and Alyse came by with their kids, and we finally got a picture with all the kids together.

On Christmas morning, Grandma gave Cora her first doll! She and Graham loved it.

  

 Look at those BLUE EYES!

 Merry Christmas from us!

 Those brothers have gotten so much more alike since they have been living together.

Christmas game of Risk

 Seriously? Look at her!

 Look at the difference in eye color there!

 

 I love this picture. My dad looking at Cora, oblivious to the fact that Dane is pulling Graham off his lap.

 They kill me. This is about 75% of the reason I want to live in Texas.

 Uncle Cole. A very dedicated uncle.

 

 This is Papa and Cora's redemption picture from a few days earlier in Miami.

Time flies way too fast! On to Oakley!