Boy vs. Baby

It's a daily struggle, not between Reed and Cora but between Reed himself. Is he a big boy or is he a baby? He can't choose so he's decided to be both, not simultaneously, which ever suits him best at that particular moment. Most of the time he is happy with his 2 1/2 year old big boy life, playing with big boy toys, eating big boy food, and the like. However, there is something still so appealing about being a baby and Cora is there everyday to remind him, sitting on Mommy's lap, nursing, being cuddled.

Maybe I shouldn't indulge him while he pretends to be a baby, but they are babies for such a short amount of time. He has a lot of time to be a big boy. And if it means more cuddle time with me, I am not going to pass that up. Very shortly he will be shielding my kisses and not wishing to sit on my lap or snuggle as much.

Here is a clip of his typical baby routine when he's just looking for a little attention. Cora seems oblivious to the whole thing. It's funny that he never took a pacifier as a baby but will suck on one now because in his mind that's what babies do.

Feed Me

It may not be a turkey dinner that Cora will be eating this Thanksgiving but at least it is a little something more than just milk. We started her on rice cereal recently. Maybe she'll even score some sweet potatoes this Thanksgiving. Hold the brown sugar, butter, and marshmallows.

Halloween Festivities

One of the mom's in my playgroup threw a big Halloween playdate bash on Saturday morning. The kids had a ball dressing up. I didn't think that we would be able to round them all up for a photo but before we headed home we headed next door to the next door neighbor's house ("Grandma" Donna) for extra treats. They all filed onto her front porch, and while there was a lot of squirming and a little complaining we able to get a few group shots.

Cowgirl Lizi, Cupcake Lexi, Chickie Nina, Doctor Leo, Dragon Griffin, Mermaid Addie, Spiderman (Who is that masked boy?...Reed is checking out his muscles), Power Ranger Reed, Giraffe Benjamin

Little ballerina Cora napping with Melissa

Sunday, Halloween day, was official Trick or Treating. After naps we dressed the kids and took them over to Grandma and Grandpa Mihelich's. Reed passed out candy over there for a while and then we headed back to our neighborhood and trick or treated on our block, which is plenty for a 2 year old. Halloween wouldn't be complete without visiting his cousins, Mason and Porter, so we headed over there next. By then Cora was ready for another nap.

Cora's cold weather outfit for trick or treating, Little Miss Penguin
(Yes, this is the same penguin costume as Reed wore but notice the PINK bow)

Reed's cold weather outfit was going to be a repeat of his dragon costume from last year but at the last minute he decided that he wanted to be a Power Ranger again.

This is how Cora Rolls

About a week and a half ago, we learned how Reed rolls (in a tractor). Today we learn how Cora rolls. From her back to her stomach and also from her stomach to her back. Yesterday I wrote that it seemed like Cora was going to start to roll. Later that day she was in the pack 'n play, I left her on her back and I returned and she was on her stomach. Reed was standing right there so I asked, 'Reed, did you help Cora roll over?' His reply was yes. I was unclear whether to believe him.

This morning the same thing happened but she was in her crib and it was clear that there was no assistance. Since then she has been working on her rolling skills and I even caught one of the rolls on video. She has only rolled once from her stomach to her back so we'll see if she has truly mastered both ways.

Call me crazy but lately when she's on her stomach it seems like she is trying to get up on her knees. She can definitely raise her chest off the floor. It makes me slightly panicky that crawling is around the corner. It seems to me that she developing physically what seems like overnight. She has not mastered sitting independently yet but it's around the corner.

Balancing

She has started sitting in the high chair at meal times and likes it. I think we'll be starting rice cereal before too long. How is she growing so fast?!

Goalkeeper

Over the weekend, Reed got into Bob's bag of hockey equipment and wanted to try everything on. As you can see the shin guards look more like the full leg padding that goalies use. He is also sporting his very own hockey helmet. I picked it up at the thrift shop (in Greenville of all places...who's children in Greenville play hockey?!) for Reed to use as he learns to ice skate this winter.

On the Cora front, I could have sworn that she yelled out 'Mama!' clear as day as I was walking out of the room today. I'm sure this is probably a fluke but I'm accepting it because Reed's first word was 'Dada' proceeded by 'Boo-ba' for blueberry. Mama was pretty far down the list. She is also developing a little more spirit, you might say. She almost rolled over today as she was expressing her dissatisfaction for being laid down. The combination of kicking and back arching almost did it. Keep working, little girl.

Homecoming

I'm running a little behind on the posts but trying to catch up. Last Friday was Homecoming for Larkin High School and after school was the Homecoming Parade. We only live a few blocks from the High School, where the parade starts. It travels the street at the end of block to the downtown. So on Friday Reed took his nap early to be sure he didn't miss the parade or the promise of candy (I can thank my neighbor for cluing him in on that idea.) As soon as we heard the marching band we packed up and ran to the end of the block. Reed was pretty much the only kid where we were standing and of course he is really cute so he was showered in candy. We've contemplated using that as our trick or treating candy, perhaps it will just supplement the supply if we run low.

It is good timing to get all this free candy because I'll be needing a stash of treats for my potty training boot camp that I am planning. Unless something comes up between now and then, I am planning to potty train Reed the Friday after Halloween. Goodbye diapers, hello super hero undies!

Four months...happy baby

Yesterday was Cora's 4 month checkup and, as we all suspected, she is growing and thriving. Good girl. I had no idea of what to expect when it came to her size. I've heard every guess of her age (based on size--we're talking strangers here--whatever stock you put on that) from a few weeks old to 7 months. My guess was that she was on track with Reed but it seems she's a bit smaller. Hey, that's okay; there is nothing wrong with a petite lady, Cora.

Cora - Reed
14lbs, 4 oz. - 14lbs, 12 oz.
25.5" - 26.75"
(4 month height/weight comparison)

Her favorite thing now, besides her hands or mommy, is her feet. She's either showing me that she was paying attention en utero while I was practicing yoga during my pregnancy or simply that this IS the pose that a "happy baby" enjoys best.