This past weekend was wonderful and busy.  Friday I spent most of the afternoon outside with Cora. The weather has cooled off ever so slightly which makes it bearable to go outside.

Cora loves our cat and even walked across the porch in her pursuit of her.

Friday evening we took her to the local park. We have not taken her their since she was tiny. Of course she loved it.

We love to watch her enjoying new things.

Sweet baby.

Saturday morning we went for a family run.  I love family runs…and Justin never ceases to amaze me!  He ran 4 miles without stopping and he has not run in about a month.  Before we left I snapped some pictures of Cora in a shirt I bought her for her birthday.  I am in love with Target baby clothes.

Saturday evening we spent with friends.

They are newlyweds and she has decorated so beautifully…I had to take some pictures.

Sunday was our nephew Cooper’s 3rd birthday.  I still cannot believe he is such a big boy!  It was a pool party and the theme was Thomas the Train. His Pa painted him this beautiful painting.

Cooper was kind enough to join Cora in the baby pool for a little while.  She loves spending time with her big cousin.

His cake was beautiful…

I wish I had more pictures of his big day but spent most of my time chasing after Cora as she seemed determined to plunge head first into the pool.

I love weekends…if only they were longer!

Yesterday I drove to Atlanta to meet my friend Ashley for a day of thrifting.  We met in high school and have remained friends ever since.  She is teaching with her husband in Hong Kong but happens to be home for 6 months.  I am savoring our time together as I will not see her for another year when she goes back.

It was so fun driving around our old stomping grounds…reminiscing and going into thrift store after thrift store.  Ashley is always so helpful with Cora…pushing her in the cart, taking her in and out of her car seat.  I could not have enjoyed a day of shopping were it not for her!

I definitely found a few treasures.  I love GAP jeans on Cora.  They are cute, they are durable,  and fit her round little body well.  I found the exact pair I was debating buying last year at the GAP and they were $1.60.  I also found polka-dot corduroys and these little leather shoes.

We walked next door to an awesome 2nd hand store called Revive and I found this pea coat for Cora.  Isn’t it adorable?  I would wear it they had it in my size.

I had to grab this brand new J. Crew shirt for my mom.  It is a perfect style and color for her.

I found myself this $.89 pillow sham from Value Village.  It is the exact color of our bedroom walls.  I love the pink, brown and green combo.

An entire day spent laughing and talking with one of my best friends, much needed pants and shoes for Cora…$14.00 later… I would say that’s a pretty good day.  Oh, and a baby who didn’t make a peep until the ride home even though she only took one 20 minute nap…she is such a little trooper.

This past Saturday we celebrated Cora’s 1st Birthday.  It was so much fun. Of course Cora was oblivious to what was going on…as far as she’s concerned everything is about her so it was just another day of attention.

I decided to have her party at 2:30.  That way I would not have the pressure of making a meal and so I served light food.

I made a banner and pom-poms.  I really wanted it to look girly and colorful.  I made sure flowers from our garden were placed throughout the house.

There was such an age difference between the kids at the party that I thought candy treat bags were the best choice.  (I don’t know if parents would have agreed with me)

The cupcakes were from a local bakery.  I wish I could take credit for making them. I made cupcake toppers to place on each one but unfortunately was one short.

I made sure to salvage as many toppers as possible and plan on using them for something…they were so much work I just don’t have the heart the throw them away.

Cora had her own jumbo cupcake and she loved it.  Her first taste of cake!

Cora also received beautiful gifts.  (thanks again to everyone!)

She so “ooohhhh!!!!”  every time I handed her a new book to look at.  She was most excited by the gift bags and cards.

There were sweet babies everywhere.

Poor Will kept getting attacked by the baby girls.

And our only family picture is terrible but at least we have one.  Justin was still holding on to Will…so it’s a family picture plus Cora’s baby cousin.

We had so much fun celebrating our little girl turning one year old.

Dear Cora,

Today you are one year old.  You have been our precious little girl for 365 days, 8,766 hours, and 525, 949 minutes….and that hardly seems real.  It seems like just yesterday I held you for the first time in my arms.  You were just a tiny bundle…so warm and sweet.  So perfectly formed.  So long anticipated.  I feel like last night I was up nursing you, changing you, and laying you in your bassinet…hoping you might sleep.  You were so needy then…and sometimes I miss that neediness.  The comfort you would find snuggled up against me…falling asleep in my arms.  You used to lay for hours with daddy when he came home from work.  But now you have become Miss independence. Unstoppable.  Forget cuddles, or even taking your bottle from anyone.  You want to crawl, cruise, play, and read your books.  You want to explore and conquer the world.

Now that you are such a big girl, your personality is coming into its own.  You are social, just like your daddy.  You love to make people laugh.  You notice everything around you and you don’t want to miss out on anything.  You are full of energy…all day long it’s go, go, GO!!!  You are especially attached to your Mimi and Nan…always wanting their cuddles and attention.  You love to play with the kitty cat and your whole body starts moving in excitement when you spy her.

You can charm anyone…

You chatter all day long…

Every once in a while your temper flares…you clench your fists and yell at the top of your lungs.  But then you quickly switch back to a sweet and jovial little thing.

Cora, my greatest desire for you is that you learn to love the Lord with all your heart, your mind and your soul.  I pray that you will grow up to be a good and godly woman.  A woman who is gracious and kind, a woman who loves others well.  A woman who does not cling to outward things but instead clings to your savior.  I pray that you will live a long, happy and healthy life.  A life filled with joy.  I pray that you will,

“hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be an ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.” -Prov. 1:8-9

You are so precious to us, beautiful baby.  We prayed for you, God heard our prayer, and he gave you to us...He gave you to us to love, cherish, protect and instruct.  You have completely won us over and stolen our hearts.  We love you.  Happy First Birthday Cora.  May God bless you with many, many more birthdays…and bless us with many more years of enjoying you.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ ” -Matt. 19:14

This weekend was so much fun.  Friday Cora decided to take three steps.  I happened to have my camera and captured it in three really bad pictures but am glad I have some!

Friday night we had a dinner party with three other couples.  It was such a fun time…full of serious and light hearted conversation. You’re all welcome back any time!

Saturday Justin and his dad finished hanging the window boxes!!  (I will post pictures soon…they look amazing)  We spent most of Saturday outside.  As I was watering plants, I turned and saw Justin and Cora playing on the driveway.  They were sitting under the  shade of the trees and both looked so precious.  I had to take some pictures.

She loves her daddy.

The excitement of spying the kitty cat.

Cora begging daddy to please pick her up.

“Mommy…will you pick me up????”

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Yesterday Cora and I had nothing to do.  The house was clean, the laundry was done, we had already done the weekly grocery trip…and I just didn’t feel like going anywhere.  So I got really “creative”. (note the sarcasm)

Here are the ingredients to a successful afternoon of fun:

1 mixing bowl

1 measuring cup

2 Gerber baby bowls

And one large towel

Allow child to sit, splash, scream and giggle for 30-45 minutes.

And you will have one very soaked but happy baby.

A certain little miss is an avid music lover.  It calms her, it keeps her happy…so Pandora plays all day long in our home. But when Pandora is not with us mommy becomes a human juke box.  Songs swirl around in my head…I belt them out as necessary.  The best song for keeping her awake in the car is “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.”  I sing it over and over again…one hand on the steering wheel and one hand acting out the song.  I sing the ABC’s…in order to get her to eat her peas. I sing “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” when she is fussy.  Did you know there is a beautiful rendition of “Baa Baa Black Sheep” by a woman named Sophie Barker?  And that Jewel has a song called “Lullaby”?  I am becoming quite the expert on children’s music.

What amazes me is the calming and soothing effect music has on Cora.  I played piano for years and loved it. (despite my laziness with practicing)  I grew up exposed to a lot of music.. classical, folk, christian, bag pipes, blue grass and all sorts of bizarreness played in our home.  Now I do the same thing…sometimes pop…sometimes rap… sometimes Latin music…sometimes classical…sometimes Bhangra.   I almost always have music playing. It never  crossed my mind that soon my house and ears would be bombarded with lullabies.  But thanks to Pandora I find myself singing along and actually enjoying many of the songs!

Anyhow, it’s really cool because the station plays your mainstream children’s songs but also has folk music, Latin music and even African music.  The latter really gets baby grooving.  She starts bouncing her little behind up and down…so cute.  If you don’t already have a Pandora account you should get one.  They play such a variety…we definitely enjoy it!

You will lose your baby teeth,

At times you will lose your faith in me.

You will lose a lot of things

But you cannot lose my love.

You may lose your appetite,

Your guiding sense of wrong and right,

You may lose your will to fight,

but you cannot lose my love.

You will lose your confidence,

In times of trial your common sense.

You may lose your innocence,

But you cannot lose my love.

-Sarah Groves

Cora turns one on August 20th.  We’ll be celebrating her big day with family and friends on August 21st.  Justin already designed her invites and they are so adorable.  It is such a blessing being married to such a talented guy…It is not going to be extravagant but hopefully very pretty because I just like pretty things. And you only turn 1 once, right?

I can’t wait to celebrate our little girl.

This past weekend we headed to Birmingham to spend some time with Justin’s cousin (or 2nd cousin, or 3rd cousin????) and his wife Betty.  We always have so much fun spending time with them.  They are a very sweet, kind and generous couple.  Not only did they allow Cora to play with and drool on their soon-to-be-born little boy’s toys but they had her sleeping in his pack-and-play, using his towels and bath toys…it was as easy as being at home.

Matt was able to get us tickets to the Birmingham zoo and so all 5 (well really 6) of us went.

Cora really enjoyed looking at the animals…especially the monkeys and the kangaroos.  The Gorillas were also intriguing but so were the other children at the zoo…

You see Mr Gorilla in the background?

We were all too hot, sweaty and tired to see the zebras…maybe next time…when Levi is born and old enough to enjoy it.

Thanks for having us Matt and Betty!  We had a blast!