Baby Overboard!

This morning as I was taking a shower, Cora came into the bathroom. She likes to pull the curtain back and try to play with the water dripping from the faucet. Today was no exception. Since I was washing my hair at the time she came in, I was a little oblivious to what was going on. I looked down at one point and saw her with the curtain back, reaching in as far as she could to splash in the water. I assumed Geron was close by to grab her and take her in the other room. He apparently wasn't close enough because the next thing I know, I hear a "thump" and see Cora lying on the bottom of the tub, face down, legs up in the air. Leaned over a little too far, I guess. She rolled over and looked up at me like "Oh, hey Mommy." I called for Geron, who came and got her out of the tub--did I mention she had on all of her clothes except her shoes? So, I continued my shower and Geron proceeded to remove Cora's wet clothes--all the while, me thinking he would put her in some dry things. But then, I turn around and he's put her back into the shower with me and she's still wearing her socks! I took them off and just let her play with her tub toys while I finished cleaning. I guess this is a normal occurence for a mommy of a toddler.

Feeling guilty

I don't know if every 2nd time mommy experiences this mix of emotions or not, but I"m feeling kind of guilty for not being as excited this time as I was with Cora. I definitely want another child and want it now, but everything isn't just so brand new this time. 3 teachers I work with are expecting their first babies right now and they are ALL about baby talk and nursery decor and ultrasounds, etc. Is it normal to just want to play with Cora and tell Cora stories and relish my time with her as an only child? When I think about friends who have tried to have 2nd babies and have miscarried or haven't been able to conceive at all, I feel as if I'm being cruel or insensitive to them because I'm not just overwhelmed with emotion for this new little one. But I think about Cora and all the firsts we're going through with her and I just want to hold on to those moments as long as I can. She's growing so fast. Its weird to think that a new baby is going to come into our family and Cora won't be the baby anymore. She'll be the big sister, and she's not even two yet. Mommies of bloggerdom, please tell me what is going on here. Any words of wisdom?

It's That Time Again

Bottles, Sippy Cups...TOILETS??

If you know Cora Sophia, then you know she is fascinated by almost everything in a bathroom.  She is learning how to wash her own hands when we put soap in them and hold her up to the sink.  At bedtime, she opens her mouth wide for me to brush her teeth at the sink.  The toilet paper stand is a microphone, she's sure of it!  And taking a bath, no doubt, is her favorite pasttime!  Who doesn't love playing with their rubber duckie?  For Christmas, Santa brought Cora her very own potty chair which is one of the new highlights of visiting the bathroom.  She hasn't quite figured it out yet, mind you--take off her diaper and sit her on the potty.  She'll sit for a few minutes, do nothing, then walk across the hall to her room, go to a corner, squat and pee on the floor(thank the Lord for hardwood.)  But Cora is most enthralled by the BIG porcelain throne.  Quick anecdote--Mom/Granny was here a few months back and decided to wash dishes for us.  Instead of using the dishwasher, she just washed a few in the sink with a washrag.  Cora observed and later was found "washing dishes" in the toilet, washrag only--no dishes.  Phew!   Since that time, we have made it a point to keep the toilet lid closed as well as the bathroom door.  Better safe than sorry. 

 

Lately, we have failed in keeping the invisible padlock on the potty and a few times have walked in to Cora splashing her hands in the toilet water--pee free, thankfully.  We've washed her hands, told her not to play in the potty, and shut the door.  Tonight was, once again, a failure on our part and an even newer adventure on Cora's.  I had gone downstairs to work on laundry.  Due to the hardwood floors throughtout our house, I could hear the pitter patter of little feet running overhead.  I then heard some stronger footsteps and a "Cora, NO!  Mommeeee, come help!"  I quickly went upstairs to find Geron and Cora in the bathroom, the front of Cora's shirt and pants soaking wet and her animal crackers swimming in a pool of water in the kiddy bowl Geron had fixed for her earlier.  Apparently, the princess had dipped her animal cracker bowl in the throne and decided to have a DRINK!!!  SPEW!! YUCK!! GROSS!!  Definitely thankful there was no peepee in the water this time.  We stripped her down and gave her a bath and brushed her teeth extra long tonight. 

How about you guys?  This was definitely a first for me--I've never heard of any other children drinking from the toilet--puppies, yes, but children, no.  Any wild toddler/potty stories out there? 

Parties! Presents! and PawPaws! Oh my!

We have certainly had a Merry Christmas this year.  Cora is at a very fun age and has been able to really enjoy some aspects of Christmas.  She's attended several parties, one of which being the youth party held at our house.  This one was especially fun for her as Daddy's white elephant prize was a "kitty kitty" that she went crazy over. (Daddy, not so much, but noone would steal it from him after they saw how much Cora loved it.)  Cheeseballs--cheetoh's type--were also a new thing for her at the party and her body was a little orange for a few days afterward, proving how much she loved them. 

 

Presents--an entirely new experience this year.  Last year, Cora wasn't even sitting up yet at Christmas and seemed to be in a daze from staring at the Christmas tree lights.  This year, she was crazy about presents and was pretty good about keeping her fingers off the tree.  I know, it was an amazing accomplishment on our part!  HA!  Gift bags seemed to be easier for her to tear into--pulling tissue paper out and throwing it over her shoulder seemed to be a very fun game.  Who cares what was underneath it all?  She was also able to rip paper off some packages if someone started it for her.  And the look on her face and "Oooohhhs"  that accompanied her new discoveries were priceless.  Favorite present for Cora?  I would guess her bounce and spin Zebra.  Its also one of my faves to watch her play on. 

 

Finally, Cora spent plenty of time playing with both her PawPaws --PawPaw Brown and Grandpa Meadors.  Christmas Eve and Day were spent visiting the Brown side of the family, eating lots of good food and watching Cora play with new presents and try on new dresses.  I have a feeling she doesn't want to be a model--she wasn't too fond of her wardrobe changes.  My folks and brother came down on Wednesday and stayed til Saturday.  More games with Cora, way too many more presents from people who we rarely get to see but love to spoil our Cora, and more good food. 

It certainly has been a wonderful Christmas.  Here's looking to a Happy New Year!

Mrs.Brown is at the liquor store and her van blew up!

That was word around school the day of our fire. A school bus had passed and Geron motioned them down to relay word to the school that we were stranded. We were parked in a liquor store parking lot which was located at a VERY VERY busy intersection. Lots of children had seen us out in the cold as they rode to school that morning. In fact, that's how my good friend, Laurie, received word of our accident. A student had told her that I was at the liquor store and my van had blown up.

Meanwhile, a good samaritan had driven up in a large SUV, and allowed Cora and I to wait in its warm cab while he remained outside talking to Geron. He'd offered to take us anywhere we needed to go, but I knew my in-laws were on the way, so we decided to wait. And, he let us stay in the vehicle as long as we needed. Within minutes, Laurie showed up and parked her car in front of the store, not in a space--but keep in mind, neither were the van, SUV, FIRE ENGINE, nor my in-laws' van (they'd shown up just after Laurie) parked in one. As Laurie loaded Cora and I into her car, the owner of the liqour store whose lot we occupied came out and asked Laurie to repark her car properly in a space. She was going to hurt his buisness. I don't know what kind of buisness he thought he'd get with the van-shaped inferno and FIRE TRUCK in his lot, but Laurie's small car was certainly going to cost him some sales--GIVE ME A BREAK!

Anyway, we are thankful for God's protection and provision in this time. I am certainly thankful for the good soul who offered us a warm place to wait from the cold, for my friend Laurie who showed up right away and took Cora and me home. For my in-laws who have helped us numerous times and waited with Geron for the tow truck that day, For the children at school who gave me such huge hugs on Friday when I returned to work, telling me they were so glad I was okay. And for my young, hispanic, second grade friend who said "I'm glad you were able to get your baby's things out of the van. That would have cost you a lot of money to have to buy new stuff." I couldn't believe such a young mind understood a problem such as that. Church family who said they were so thankful we were all safe and noone was hurt--friends even willing to loan us their vehicle until we can find another. None of this is about people being nice. GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO US. He uses those who are willing to bring about his good work. And for this I am thankful.

toast

yesterday in the middle of our morning drive the van started smoking...

i pulled over and turned the motor off and it got worse...

i realized sometime shortly later that our van was on fire...

we all got out ok and are fine...

but the van is bad...real bad....it's toast


here's the pics