Best friend?

One of Cora's favorite places in the house is the door to her friend's room.  After I finish changing her, she likes me to carry her over to her "friend's" room so she can play with her friend and her mommy(who looks just like me).  She grins from ear to ear when she sees her friend and her friend's mommy.  She tries to give her friend a kiss but there's always a barrier between them.  She'll laugh and grin at her friend and her friend's mommy for the longest time.  She'll carry on a conversation with her friend and they'll both laugh at the funny things they share with each other. And then she'll try to give her more kisses, but again, the barrier is always there.  The other day she tried to pull the barrier down and look behind it to see where her friend and her friend's mommy were.  She can't understand why they won't come in her room and play with her.  I realize I'm being corny, but this seems to be Cora's point of view.

 

Cora absolutely loves to look at herself in the mirror.  The first time I ever held her in front of it to really study herself, she cackled and cackled.  And ever since then, she loves to visit the baby in the mirror.  She truly looks for her when we go in her room.  I must confess, it is one of my favorite games to play with her, too.  I'm cherishing this game because I'm afraid of the day she'll stand in front of the mirror and say "Mom, this looks awful.  I don't like the way my hair looks.  I hate my nose, etc."  Even as I see that in words, I am beginning to pray that she will see herself as God sees her--his beautiful child whom He loves and values.  Perhaps then there won't be a day like the one above.  For now, I'm enjoying every minute of my little girl's life.  Excuse me while we go play with our friends in the mirror some more.

Cajun Crawtator

Its official--Cora's Cajun!  Well, half anyway. The three of us along with Geron's parents headed down south right after the morning service last Sunday.  Cora's first trip to meet her Mimi Brown, last of her living great grandparents, was 12 hours long.  She was a trooper! When we got to Uncle Duke and Aunt Judy's in Lake Charles, LA, she was sound asleep, or so we thought.  She woke up briefly to greet Jenn, Joni and Judy.  (I guess she wanted to make sure everyone noticed she'd arrived.) 

 

Cora had tons of opportunities to experience the fine cuisine of Lake Charles.  Firsts for her--that are neccessary if you're going to spend time in Lake Charles, LA, were bites of: 

                    1. Meatball Poboy (like a sub sandwich) at Tony's

                    2.  Whole peas and garlic bread at Aunt Judy's (part of a meal that also included beef brisket, baked beans and potato salad)

                    3.  Burrito and spanish rice at Casa Manana

                    4.  Roll at Pat's of Henderson (Great seafood and steak restaurant)

                    5.  BOUDIN from Hackett's  (boudin is a combination of rice, sausage or seafood, and spices in sausage casings)

We didn't give her any seafood this time--I think its still a little too early--but she'll be having her share of crawfish ettoufee soon enough, I'm sure.

   

Our "shah baby" (cute baby) was spoiled rotten by the Quinton Brown's, the Jonathan Brown's, the Jonathan Brown in-laws (who were down from Indianapolis), PawPaw and YaYa Brown, MiMi and anyone else who could get their hands on her.  She especially enjoyed attempting to play with Jonathan's miniature schnouser puppy, Jasmine Claire, who was quite afraid of Cora.  Wednesday night after church, Jonathan brought Jasmine over.  We'd heard a lot about her and how hyper she is, so people were kind of concerned how she would be around Cora.  When they arrived, Jasmine came bounding into the living room wagging her tail at everyone, making her rounds and then she spied Cora.  Of course, Miss Co was especially excited about seeing a dog and started bouncing up and down trying to get at her.  Jasmine GROWLED at Cora.  She barked and barked and would come close and back off when Cora tried to grab her.  It was hilarious to watch.  Eventually, Geron and Jonathan were able to tame their "babies" and introduce them to each other.  After that they were friends, or "cousins". 

 

Another dash of excitement came by way of a quick storm one afternoon.  I say quick because it was not in the least way small.  If you've been to Lake Charles, then you know it is very flat and there aren't nearly as many trees as Tennessee to block the winds that come with storms.  Also, considering that the hurricanes hit not so long ago, we were quite frightened.  Rain just started pouring out of nowhere it seemed--like God had just turned on the shower head in Heaven.  Winds were blowing so hard and suddenly it started hailing!  For a girl who hasn't seen much hail, these pieces looked huge!!  Some were as big around as quarters, maybe even pingpong balls.  Fortunately, the storm didn't last very long, quick, I tell you.  Made me thankful to live in beautiful Tennessee. 

 

A quick little funny to show you how much Cora has taken to her cousins....Wednesday night, we went to church with the Quinton Brown crew.  Cora and I attended Kids Club with Cousin Jennifer--an excellent children's teacher, by the way!  In the children's room, there are several bins full of all different kinds of puppets.  One lad, Logan, was taken to attacking Jenn with a rather realistic looking orangutan puppet.  He'd shove the puppet toward Jenn and make a loud growling sound.  Cora was sitting on the floor watching.  Everytime Logan's 'puppet would attack, Cora would make "muscle arms" and yell at the orangutan--as if to say "Get off of my cousin you hairy freak!" It sounded more like "Yaaaghhhhhhhhhhh!!! EEEEyaaaaaaaaaghHHHHH!!", but I'm sure it meant what I said before.  She was really quite good once Bible study started.  She loved being around the older kids and watching them interact with each other.  I know she was longing to chase after them.  She made a good buddy, too--Audrey.  Audrey is three and tried to hold Cora's hand a lot of the time....Cora also found out how much cousin Jennifer loved HER when she let loose on us one day.  I'll just say, Cousin Jennifer endured MUCH in helping me give Cora an extra bath that afternoon. 

 

Cora's first trip to Louisiana was certainly worth every minute.  She loves her "new" cousins, Jennifer, Joni and Jeffrey (oh, and Jasmine, who can "praise the Lord"--another blog entirely).  She loves playing with Aunt Judy and watching Uncle Duke turn into a complete crazy when he sees a baby.  Her Mimi Brown holds an extra special place in her heart, even though you couldn't tell by the way she smacked Mimi when it was time to say Goodbye.  Of course, seeing the country with Mommy, Daddy, YaYa and PawPaw will be a cherished memory for her.  But the cajun food is what she is looking forward to most when she goes back--by then she'll have teeth!!

 

swimming

Cora is a water baby!  She definitely takes after me around the water.  Our best friends from Richmond came down this past weekend to spend time with Cora and us, and we tried the pool out one afternoon.  Holly, Cora, and I, that is.  We had emptied the pool and were refilling it.  Holly suggested we let Cora sit in the pool as it filled.  Cora was all about it!  Except she didn't want to sit.  She kept getting down on her stomach trying to swim!  It was hilarious to watch her!  She'd flip over and wave her arms and kick her legs--kind of like when she's trying to crawl--she loves the water!  Eventually the pool filled and she played in her crab for awhile, bending over every now and then trying to take a sip of water.  I'm so glad she is enjoying her pool.  BUT I think she's taken it a little too far.  Since we've bought the pool, Cora seems to think everything with water in it is a pool.  Taking a bath is a whole new adventure!  She keeps splashing down on her belly to swim in it, too!  We'll have to post video of it soon, too.  I'm thankful I've got a little swimmer!

She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow...

Bikini!! We bought Cora a swimming pool today and the perfect accessory to go with it--a bikini!  Its not actually yellow, though.  More aqua.  Her pool is one with inflatable rings instead of walls.  Its large enough for Geron and I to get in with her and have plenty of room for her to play.  She absolutely loves her pool!!  I don't know how long I let her play in it, but she loved every minute of it.  Of course being the swimmer that I am, I had to let her go under the water a few times so she would learn to love water, too.  She didn't fuss a bit.  She splashed and floated and jumped--while holding on to the side of the pool, of course, or Mommy or Daddy. If you need a baby to take a nap, just put them in the pool for half an hour and let them wear themselves out.  Cora took a great nap this afternoon and is taking another as I type.  Swimming pools are da bomb!

 

P.S. For you worry warts out there, I lathered Cora in sunblock 50 before we went out so no burns there. 

Yelling and other things

Cora loves to yell.  She discovered her voice quite awhile ago, but has just recently learned how she can make it loud or soft.  She really enjoys making it LOUD.  Yesterday was no exception.  On the way to work, once again, she was letting her presence be known in the backseat--yelling away--not angry, just yelling because she thinks its fun.  Louder and louder she grew.  Geron and I couldn't hear the radio nor each other.   "EEEEAAAAGHH!  EEEEAAAAGHH!  EEEAAAAGH!" she'd holler over and over again-joyfully, mind you-at the top of her lungs. Finally, Geron said "Cora, you need to stop that now.  You need to quiet down. " Without a second's pause "EEEEAAAGH....EEEEAAAAAGH....EEEEAAAAGH".  Of course we lost it.  I don't know if she knows she's that funny or what, but she cracks us up. 

 

Also, in the Cora news this week, she is ready to crawl.  I'm sure it is only days away now.  Scooting is getting old.  She's taken to rolling over to get to wherever she wants to go.  Remember rolling down a nice big grassy hill when we were kids?  She kind of looks like that as she rolls across the living room floor.  Most of the time she'll roll right under Geron's recliner and I have to come from wherever I am to get her so he can get out of the chair.  Now, she can stay up on her hands and knees for quite awhile, but doesn't go anywhere.  In fact, if we put her in that position, she'll stay there until she's ready to sit down and she'll put herself in a sitting position.  Or, if she's tired, she'll just plop that belly right down onto the floor--and then we get the fish out of water dance.  Funny to watch Geron imitate, too. 

 

Pulling up--another big milestone she is desperately trying to do.  Her sitter says that they discovered yesterday Cora is the one pulling all the plastic bins off the shelves--perhaps in her efforts to pull up, or perhaps because she's a little turkey.  Now, she's wanting to pull up on the soap shelf in our tub.  Not gonna happen,  She also tries on the bumper of her crib and is unsuccessful, of course. 

 

Cora is growing sooooooo fast.  People told me this would happen, but noone can tell you exactly how quickly it happens.  I'm relishing these moments while she's still not really crawling because soon she will be into everything.  My absolute favorite moments are still just holding her when she first doses off to sleep.  So precious.  I'm so thankful for my beautiful little girl. (My beautiful little HAM of a little girl.)

Update on temperament

Yeah, so all those prayers Geron mentioned for Cora to have my temperament? Unanswered! I think we have a little Geron on our hands.  Lately, whenever we're riding in the car, well, pretty much any time she's awake, Cora is LOUD, LOUD, LOUD.  Geron and I sit in the front trying to talk about whatever is on our mind and we hear "Aagheeeeeaaaaabuhbuhbuh Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaagh buh buh buh buh pbstpbpbpbpbpbststststssssst" (Hard to write the sound of one blowing spit bubbles, but you get the point.)  Geron mentioned the other morning "I thought your parents said you were a quiet baby."    I responded "They did.  SHe gets that from YOU!"  Yes, Cora loves to talk and I think sing---seems to be what she's doing in the car, anyway.  I'm sure if we listened to a music radio station as opposed to Geron's favorite talk radio shows, we'd probably get some actual melodies coming from the backseat.  Whatever the case and whosever the temperament, we have a very happy LOUD little girl who is tons of fun to have around!

Mother's Day

My first Mother's Day was awesome!! We went to church--I got to play the piano for a change because the pianist was out of town, yea!!  After church, we had lunch at a cajun seafood place downtown.  Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo=YUM!  Following lunch, we headed to the older Browns home for some cheesecake and a good long nap.  Some might say that was a waste, but it was a real blessing to get to sleep that long!  We topped the day off with a trip to Coolidge Park, downtown.  One of the best sites in Chattanooga, if you ask me.  Cora and I rode the carousel twice.  She really seemed to enjoy it.  Best gift I got?  My Beautiful baby girl, of course!