All About Cora....

Where do I begin?! Cora is 21 months.  Cora changes so much every day, it's impossible to give a proper blog update on everything she is up to these days!  Cora is another strong-willed little girl.  So many traits and characteristics that Sonoma started to display at this age and on, I am seeing in Cora.  The littlest things remind me of Sonoma.  Cora is such a sweetheart - a really happy, joyful child.  She says hi to everyone she sees, and is known to blow everyone we walk away from a kiss (*MUAH!*).  She doesn't know a stranger right now and it's really cute, but also really scary!

About a month ago, at 20 months, Cora started walking up and down the stairs all by herself!  I try to make her hold a hand or hold on to the wall, but she likes to do it alone. She likes to try to do most everything by herself - put on shoes, get dressed, put seatbelts and straps on, climb into the highchair, and so forth. She also started doing forward rolls about a month ago as well, and does them over and over and over.  I look forward to putting her in gymnastics too, but will wait until she is older.

Speaking of climbing - Cora is a monkey!  I found her standing on the kitchen table the other day, and have also seen her climb out of her playpen, up onto a book shelf, and other shelves and tables.  Every time I turn my head, she is getting into something, standing on something, or pulling something over.  She knows what she is not supposed to do, so she definitely tests us.  She can be quite mischievous and will sometimes put little things into her mouth - pony pieces, flowers, knobs, etc.  And then other times she will play Barbies with Sonoma and won't put anything near her mouth.  I think she does it to get attention. Thank goodness she has not tried to climb out of her crib.  One of the biggest mistakes we made with Sonoma was moving her out of her crib too soon.  If she stays in, Cora will be in a crib until she is 4.  Seriously.

Cora still LOVES her sleep.  Takes a great afternoon nap, and sleeps 12-13 hours a night.  She is still the only kid I know who you can bribe with sleep.  If she is having a meltdown or tantrum ( and yes she has both all of the time now! Bring on the Terrible Twos again!) I can usually bribe her with going home and taking a nap.  Or sometimes we will be out running Sonoma around and Cora starts crying "nap, nap, nap."  She only takes her pacifier in her crib, and spits it out every morning and afternoon when I get her up.  She carries Coffee her pink mouse lovie everywhere. She tells me when he is dirty and when he needs a bath in the washing machine.

Cora just started saying two word phrases.  "Please Mommy, Thanks Mommy, Sorry Mommy, More Mommy, Hi Mommy."  It is so darn cute and I love it.  I probably hear the word Mommy a few hundred times a day.  Cora is wonderful with her manners and always says please and thank you ("Mease" and "Thank.").  She also knows when to say Sorry ("Sow") when she is bad.  Cora is kind and empathetic.  She will kiss anyone's boo-boos and offer hugs and kisses to anyone who is hurt or sad.

Cora has been telling me for a long time when she has a dirty diaper and now she has started telling me when she wants to use the potty.  The past few times she has told me "potty!" and she has gone!  I am so not ready to dive into potty training right now, so I will probably only put her on the potty when she asks for now.  It will definitely be challenging the second time around since we can't just sit at home every day and plan all of our outings around Cora using the potty when you have another child!

Cora LOVES her big sister.  So much that she copies EVERYTHING she does.  Sonoma is working harder at being a good example for Cora.  It doesn't matter what Sonoma is doing, Cora will do it, or do everything in her power to try to do it.  She is very confident and  resilient and bounces back from all of her little falls and injuries she so frequently gets!

I'm amazed at how many words Cora can say now, and just how much she continues to understand.  I love our little talks and I love having conversations with Cora.  She is a good listener if you can be patient and take the time to explain things to her.

Cora BEGGED me to paint her toenails!! It was her first time and she did great!

Cora loves to read books, sit in your lap, cuddle, build blocks, play with her little plastic animals, play Little People, dress-up, princesses (she can correctly recognize so many of them!) and also likes to play kitchen.  She LOVES to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse every morning and does the Hot Dog Dance perfectly.  She cries to watch Mickey and calls him "(Meeka! Meeka!")  She also enjoys watching Sesame Street and Peppa Pig.

Cora makes me feel a love I never knew was possible after loving another child with all of my heart!  It's amazing how happy she can instantly make me feel from giving me one quick smile or giggle.  I love everything about her and look forward to watching Cora grow as she turns 2 later this summer.