Update on Cora

I've got some more picture-posting catching up to do, but wanted to take a quick moment to update (for those of you who care) on Cora's physical development - aka the "new" things she's able to do. She started crawling about a week or ten days ago (she's 7 1/2 months old now). Within a day or two of starting to crawl, she started pulling up. Two days ago, the dishwasher door was all the way open to it's flat position and she crawled over to it, pulled up to her feet and proceeded to climb all the way onto the door. Joel and I have noticed how her balance has improved remarkably in the last week. Maybe she'll be an 8-month-old walker just like Daddy!

We've got a climber

Lately, Miriam hasn't been going to bed as well as she used to, which I think (hope?) is pretty typical for her age. One evening, about a month ago, after putting her to bed in her "big girl bed" then going through the "letting her cry for awhile and going back in and comforting her cycle" a couple times, we just let her cry until she went to sleep. When we went to check on her before we went to bed, this is where we found her. Remember... she's supposed to be sleeping in her bed now so that Cora can sleep in the crib. Fortunately, Cora was sleeping downstairs in the Pack'n'Play that night. I thought parents usually have trouble with kids climbing out of cribs... she has yet to do that but she's climbed in several times now.

Fort

Daddy built us this awesome fort that we really enjoy playing in!

No more monkeys jumpin' on the bed

"Baby" gear for toddlers

Cora's walker is a common place to find Mim these days. Evidently it's much easier to get into than out. She's even figured out how to run in it, then sit down and pull up her feet to give herself a little ride. Haven't caught that on video yet; sorry.

Genny's visit

Several weeks ago, Mommy's college friend, Genny, came down to visit and hang out with us. She's a great story teller!

Peek-A-Boo

See the similarity?

Cora on June 16, 2008

Miriam on July 3, 2007

Where did they get that flexibility? It sure didn't come from Mommy... and I don't think it came from Daddy either... ;)

The whole family went to Dubuque (Mom, Dad, Hannah, Emmett, Stephi, Miriam, Cora, and Joel) for the weekend of 6/14. The four of us ran in the Grandview Gallop on Saturday morning. We are each wearing a bib with our per mile splits listed (Clearly Jamie won)

Backyard fun

Mim just loves to do whatever Isaiah does.
Nice floatation device, Mim!

Happy Father's Day, Grandpas!

The girls were able to see both of their grandpas (and Daddy too) on Father's Day!

Lunchtime snooze

I turned around to look at Mim the other day while she was eating her lunch and this is what I saw. This is why toddlers shouldn't get up at 5:30a.m.

(Please excuse the shaking of the camera during the video. I couldn't suppress the giggles well enough.)

Rockin' and a rollin'

Cora will just sit and rock like this for long periods of time. Somteimes she actually moves the chair across the floor just by rocking. She's got the perfect personality for a second child - laid back and easygoing.

Desperate times call for...

Sometimes a tired mommy will do just about anything to get a little extra sleep.

I'll take you for a ride

Listen closely and you'll hear Cora trying to apply her "brakes."

Hanging out with Grandpa Steele

To the zoo with friends

A few weeks ago, our friends Linda, Emma, Madison, Cheryl, Lakota and Max came down to meet us at the zoo. We had a fun time!

Emma was a huge help keeping track of Miriam!

Madison, Emma, Lakota and Max

Mim and Max rode beside each other on the Zooline Railroad... and it looks like Mim thought the tunnels were a little bit more fun than Max did.

Mim: Are you sure about this, Linda?

We've got a biter

Actually... the one being bitten in this picture is the real biter in the family... so far, anyway.

SO big!

New wheels

"Watch this..."

Memorial Day Weekend with the Hesses

There's a little nook in the wall in our master bedroom and Miriam thinks it was made just for her.

Cousin Naomi: "Don't you even think about pulling my hair, Cora Mae."

Room for two?

Indianapolis Half Marathon

On May 3rd, Joel and Marcus ran the Indianapolis Mini (aka Half) Marathon. Mommy and Daddy had some time away from the girls and an enjoyable weekend with Uncle Marcus and Aunt Shanna and Grandma and Grandpa Steele enjoyed spending some time with Miriam and Cora. The video at the end shows Mim's reaction when we arrived to pick her up.