Pretty Little Snow Leopard Twins

Our daughters are guaranteed to hate us when they grow up! 

(This awesomeness deserved its very own post) 

Bobbing Along

Plunging back into the insanity of work, combined with the stress of searching for Cora care in April and trying to find time to hang out with my family and visit with Kathryn and her ADORABLE little Clara (who were awesome and visited us last week!), these past couple of weeks have been really tough to find balance. I feel like I'm barely bobbing along trying to stay afloat and I'm just exhausted!  I'm sad too because I don't feel like I get to spend as much quality time with my little midget, but we are all doing our best and Nat and his parents are helping out as much as possible too, thank goodness.  

Continuing in our path of chaos, this weekend we are going to SLC for a ski getaway with a bunch of friends and I can't be more excited!  While Nat has circumnavigated the world multiple times since Cora popped out, I've only ventured as far as Boise and Twin Falls so I'm dying to get away, find some fresh powder and enjoy some good laughs with an amazing group of people!  Cora is going to be so stoked for her first ski weekend and she'll get to meet a new boyfriend for the first time, Mr. Webb Bristow!!

Since I've written last, Miss Cora recently weighed in at 9'12 and is 23 inches long! She's still in the 1% of smallness, but she's growing at the correct rate, so we are not worried anymore.  She just might be tall and skinny her whole life, until she discovers cheese, wine and bread, that is :) Because she is getting a terrible skin rash from her leads, last night Cora spent her first night cordless since before we hooked her up to The Machine way back in November.  I don't think I slept much at all and was up constantly poking her to make sure she was still breathing.  I know she is probably just fine and is old enough and strong enough not to choke on her tongue anymore while she sleeps, but not having her on The Machine kind of freaks me out.  I'm hoping it will get easier ....

Last weekend Kathryn and little Clara (who is almost two and is so, so cute and good) came to visit and we had so much fun!! It was quite a trip for a two-year-old but I think she had a really fun time swimming at the Y and running around playing with Tanner and the baby.  I LOVED seeing Kathryn, and really wish we lived closer! 

Here are a few fun photos from the last couple of weeks:

      

(She's pissed she has a bow on her head! Ha!)

Day Care, Rolling Over and Valentine's Day!

Cora had her first official week at the "Grandpooba and Buddy Day Care Center" and had a GREAT time, while I had my first week back at work and had a much harder time. The transition has been really tough. I miss my little midget so much when I'm at work and the logistics and planning of it all (especially trying to get out of the house by 7:30 a.m. with everything for the day) is a bit tricky. Luckily though, I have such a great set-up and am able to work from home Thursday and Friday so I know it will get better once we all get used to the transition. 

At day care, Cora plays on her jungle mat, eats, listens to music, gabbers (or squeals!) away and plays with her grandma and grandpa all day long.  Everyone has a really great time!

On Friday, Cora weighed in at 9 lbs and 7 ounces!  We love that she is getting bigger and I'm excited that she has finally graduated from Newborn diapers at 14 weeks! Plus, now she is fitting into some of her adorable 3-month-old outfits. Also, she is rolling over from her front onto her back! She's a strong little thing. Hopefully I'll capture a video of her roll in the next week.

Nat's birthday also happens to be on Valentine's Day so we did a lot of celebrating this past week. Cora did her best to dress for the occasion!

Here are a few more photos and videos from the past week!

"And the days go by ..."

My idealistic and career focused 20-year-old self would have been in disbelief knowing that at thirty-one I would be living in a tiny town in Idaho, married, and have the most beautiful little girl in the entire world. My life focus has drastically changed since I was 20, when my concerns revolved around finding the perfect major to help launch me into a successful high-paying career, traveling abroad to experience and digest all the world has to offer, and of course, figuring out what bars had free cover and best "ladies night" specials.  When I would think about my future back then, I probably figured I would be traveling the world as a photojournalist or running a non-profit in a third world country. I'm sure I would have sprinkled an amazing husband and a kid or two into the picture, but it just seemed so far away and intangible.

Well, yesterday, I turned thirty-one and today little Cora turned 3-months old. Although my only trips in these last three months consisted of driving to Boise and Twin Falls (oh and numerous trips to Alberstson's), and although I am not traveling the world as a fancy journalist or non-profit executive, I have had some of the happiest days of my life as a mom and a wife these last few months.

I have to return to work on Monday, and have mixed emotions. While I've NEVER before wanted to be a stay at home mother, the idea now sounds like heaven. These precious days revolving solely around feeding, pumping, changing and playing with little Cora have been indescribably amazing and I am so sad they are melting away so quickly. I also feel like I'm FINALLY not constantly worried that she isn't eating enough, or that her machine will siren because she stops breathing and it's so nice to just relax and play with her and enjoy her now. I also feel more comfortable about dealing with her cleft palate issues which is great. Of course, all of this is finally happening when it's time to go back to work ...
 

Thank goodness though- Nat's parents will be watching her for a while and I will only be in the office three days a week to start, which I know is the most ideal situation I could possibly ask for. I feel so lucky and fortunate, but I know it will still be a little tough. But I do really enjoy my job and love the people I work with, and, if I didn't go back, I know I would be letting my 20-year-old "I can conquer anything" self down.  So, I better suck it up and go back to work. Hopefully I won't be a total wreck next week ....

On a happier note- here are some fun photos from this week!