8 months a few days ago

What a fun time! Here are some things I want to remember about Korrali right now:

She keeps me hopping with her crawling; she still army crawls sometimes but it's mostly all fours now.
She loves to bounce up and down on her knees to music
Screaming for fun is routine around here - it's especially funny in Sacrament Meeting, I truly can't help but giggle as I try to shush her. At home we have entire conversations in scream.
When she is excited she still kicks her feet like crazy and breathes excitedly
Her pincer-grip is precise and deadly in combo with the desire to put everything into her mouth. It keeps me running around picking up dirt clots (from paws or muddy shoes), those said muddy shoes, cords that dropped to the floor, papers, bits of whatever else came off of a dog toy and pieces of carpet that she pulls up
She has learned how to bump aside the barricade I made to keep her out of the kitchen, and how to unload the silverware from the dishwasher (yup those happened within the same hour)

She naps! O glorious day she naps. Twice in a day. For at least 45 minutes.
She still has zero teeth, but does a great job feeding herself food anyway
Bath time is an adventure because she tries to climb out of her little tub, even when she is distracted by toys.
She loves to say repeated sounds - dadada, babbo, thh. She says dadababa when playing with her Dad (we call him daddy and papa) She only says aaaahhhmmm when she is wanting me. It's usually accompanied by an angry face. It's most common when I'm making dinner or in the middle of the night.
She ignores our attempts to say "good job!" or "yay!" when she falls or bonks herself and just cries away anyway.
She loves to help get herself dressed and undressed, and protests when those things are just done to her
She refuses to stay still when I change her diaper unless she is completely distracted.
She does stay still for massages
She is still a skinny girl - about 27 in and 16 lb.

Happy Tuesday!

It is slightly possible that I put forth a little more effort to dress nuestros chica when I know she is going somewhere to be Oohed and Aaahed over. Like "spontaneously" dropping by my husbands employee-only Christmas Party (ok yes, he asked if we could drop by for a couple minutes to show her off. He's a proud Papa.) At any rate, Happy Tuesday from all of us at Korrali's House!

Nap time with daddy

It's not often that I get Korrali to nap with me, but I do occasionally. She's so freakin cute.

Playing with Daddy

Korrali loves to play with Daddy. Her face just lights up when she hears him wake up, or when she wakes up from her nap and hears him on the phone in the other room. It's so neat to watch her bond with him. He likes to play with her too, and introduce her to things he loves.

Like movies

She loves to play with the remote

Also, teasing. Teasing the dog, teasing her (some of her favorite things are things he did to her, like blowing quickly on her face, or "wrestling", or jumping out from behind something to play a more intense version of peekaboo, making her dance... the list will only grow I'm sure.

oh, did I mention putting the laundry bin over her and then letting her roll around in it?

Needless to say, we will miss him when he is away this weekend in Arizona.

How much is that puppy in the window?

I found two little four-legged family members waiting for me at the door when I came home. Apparently, the view is AWESOME. Or maybe we just really need to go for a walk today.

Dude, did you see that tree? It just, like stood there. Whoa.

OMGZOMBIEAPOCALYPSEFAMILYPHOTOSYEA!

What family photo shoot is complete without zombie apocalypse photos?

Naturally, all family members have to pull their own weight in post-apocalyptic life, no matter how small.

A family that guards together, stays not undead.

"What, what does this say?  Wait a minute!"

Zombie bait?  See these ears?  Zombies LOVE me!

Nothing to say here.

Train tracks, always good to see whats behind and ahead of you.

Don't mess with Mommy and her axe!

Meet the Quillens

No Zombies here!

Look how cute she is!

Look mom, I have a gourd!

Check out these cuties!

Baby Boot Camp

Yup, push-ups, now Army Crawling. OO RAH.

Parenting Lesson #206

Parenting Lesson #206:
When your child's face looks like this:

Caption this photo!

It's probably better to back off, re-evaluate and try something different instead of forcing the issue.

Answer after re-thinking dinner: Baby-Led Weaning.

Gotta be tough to live in this family

Korrali is learning to use her body. Unlike some quick-moving babies (a certain adorable cousin comes to mind) who seem born to know what to do with their legs, she is an experimenter.

What happens when I do this? She seems to ask as she non-hurriedly performs various gymnastic feats. She is extremely mobile, but until recently just rolled about. Then, she discovered rocking (I'm sure you know the pose, hands and knees, rocking back and forth as if about to take off). 

Then, she discovered push-ups. 

Don't let the tutu fool you; there are no girl-push ups for this little lady. Go perfect form, or go home.

I didn't know how she planned on using that one to get anywhere, but she sure does. First she rocks. Next she pushes up, finds herself forward a tad bit and moves to her belly. Last, she pulls herself another few centimeters and bingo. She's traveled in a linear fashion. I'm still not sure how this will translate to crawling, but it's fun watching her antics.

Happy Novemberween!

Love, Granny, Little Red, Woodsman and Big Bad Wolf. Sorry, I'm a little late.

Six months and counting

With winter coming up, I realized we need to take a family picture if we hope to send out Christmas cards.
We took some pictures of Korrali today, and I learned a lot.

Lesson #1: Pretty sun means squinting = grumpy baby face.

Lesson #2: It's cold and damp in the fall. Again = grumpy baby face.

Lesson #3: Babies who are already grumpy from getting the flu shot and not sleeping well the previous night probably will mostly have a grumpy face, even if you are singing their favorite song or clapping or calling their name.

Lesson #4: The amount a child is willing to smile is inversely proportional to the amount of time they have been subjected to being placed on the damp ground, next to cold gourds, with the sun shining in their face.

This was the last one we took. She does a fun grumpy face.

We did get a few nicer ones.. I don't know that they will be winning and baby photo awards but they'll do for documenting this stage.

The first one we took. Note the difference in expression between this and the last one.

 She is sitting up on her own here, despite my attempts to prop her up on a gourd. It's actually the first time she has held herself up without any support whatever. And, even though her cheeks are so round, she is actually only 36th percentile on her weight - 15 lbs 2 oz. This means she fits into 3 mo dresses and 6 mo and 9 mo outfits too.. (9 mo because she's 26 in tall). She rolls everywhere and is practicing getting up on her knees. She's not in any hurry though (thank goodness) and seems to just be testing out her knees to see if she can do it. She is mobile enough without the knees to get anywhere she wants to go and play with lots of things she likes to play with. I had underestimated the intelligence of babies... but for an extra challenge I started put all her toys into one basket on the floor every night, and then in the morning after I vacuum (yes, with our dog, I have to vacuum every morning or else pull dog hair out of Korrali's mouth all day long).. she rolls right over and grabs the toys she wants and spreads them around the floor..

JD taught her to turn the pages on her exersaucer piano too so right now I'm listening to a variety of musical and animal noises as she turns the page and changes the type of sounds it makes.
And we went trick-or-treating with her wonderful Eldredge cousins and as we went around receiving goods and saying trick-or-treat and thank you, she started holding her bag out and smiling right at the person doling out the goods as we went along.

It was pretty chilly on this rock too.. this is the only picture where she is even vaguely smiling.

I can't believe 6 months has already flown by! Every day I am grateful that JD's job allows me to stay home and be just a mom full time. (For now anyway.)

Bazaar R Us

So there's a cute little girl in our ward who was born with heterotaxy and polysplenia.. and her poor family has been dealing with all the issues that have arisen from that for almost 9 years now. This includes almost monthly Dr visits, not counting the unplanned ones due to sporadic heart rate or low oxygen levels due to problems with her inferior vena cava! Their family holds yearly fundraisers for her medical bills. This year our family gets to help (one more reason I'm grateful to be a stay-at-home mom!). They are having a 5k run, and a Bazaar full of really really fun crafts and clothes and treats.. etc. There really WILL be something for everyone. It's on October 26. If you are around here, please go. And maybe just buy 1 thing. My 1 thing is a hand-made animal winter hat for the babes.

I've been creating and crafting now for a couple weeks.. mostly these:

Lots of this type of thing, actually. And lots of bigger, poofier ones.

But then I made these for Korrali's Halloween Costume (the pattern is here). These were fleece-lined, so they came out a little bulgier.. and not quite as finished looking as in the original.

I thought the ruffles were too cute to pass up... 

So when there was a ton of satin left over from hair-flower making, I tried the slippers in blue..

I actually like these better I think!

Anyway, it's been a little bizarre in our own home... we won't even show pictures of the crafting area.. it's too scary. But, hopefully the event will be a big huge success and lots of people will run, and everything will sell (although, if they don't sell at the Bazaar, they WILL be available online later). 

Korrali is hitting a sweet-spot of long afternoons of self-entertainment. I know it could be any day that she starts to crawl and I have to chase her, so I'm trying to crank out the crafts that involve hot glue, needles, and not having a baby in my lap or face now. What's that you say? You need a baby in your face?

Ok.

Cousins!

A week or so ago our fun cousins from Arizona, Geneva and Miles, left Chicago and returned to their home. We miss them! While they were here we had lots of fun....

Babies played and piled

I think they enjoyed discovering what another baby felt like

We went to the Arboretum, it was very pretty and fun too. I especially like that the two boys have the same expression on their faces

I am a homemaker, not a housekeeper

When we decided it was time for children, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to quit working outside the home. I looked forward to a life of fulfillment doing the three Cs- cooking, cleaning, and crafting. In other words, I knew how to keep house and how to entertain myself.
Then, my perfect "bun in the oven" came sliding out with a thick crust of reality.
I felt inadequate because I couldn't cook, clean, and take care of a baby. Slowly I have realized a truth all great moms already know; housekeeping is not homemaking and no amount of cleaning or cooking creates a home on its own.
In fact, a family home is exactly that. It's tailor-made by a family, for that family. We are new to this, and have a lot (really, a staggeringly large amount) to learn. But I am proud to own the job title on my bank account: Home Maker.
What makes our home? Well right now our best days go like this: start with some good sleep, add three meals or more. Mix in a healthy scoop of Hard work, then a double portion of Don't sweat the small stuff , stir. Fold in some exercise and let it rest. Add adventure to taste. Serve immediately to family members with compassion; don't forget a tall, tall glass full of forgiveness for the aftertaste of inadvertent emotions.
Time for a simile. Being a home maker is like singing in a chorus of cats. No matter how well you know and love all the kitties, it will still take a shocking amount of perseverance to orchestrate a pleasant melody and the amount of accomplishment you feel is directly related to the amount of luck you have.
Who knows what the secret to our recipe will turn out to be; I do know that I wouldn't trade my family of melodious felines for anything. We learn together, make wonderful awful hilarious memories together, and work together to create something resembling music. I aspire to be as accomplished a caterwauler as the many mothers I know. For now, I'm learning to let the housekeeping go a little and focus on the happy home-making and that's enough for this cat.

Banana

Today, I was eating a very ripe banana, Korrali was in our Ergobaby, and she reached down and grabbed the banana by its peel, pulled it to her mouth, and chomped.

Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

I quickly ran down the "checklist" (per our pediatricians office) of when baby is ready for solids:

Sitting well supported, sometimes sitting on her own. Yeup.
Losing her tongue-thrust reflex - yes. She is chomping more and more.
Interest in my food. Yes. Proof? Banana.
Over 4 mo? she is just over 5...

So, we gave her the rest of my banana.


Her proudest moment was when she leaned over and used her arms to scrunch the entire
banana into her face. She looked up after a few chomps and grinned.. "hahah!"

Squishing and grabbing said banana.

It's an egg! It's a Pancake! No wait.. it's A Sterilized Pacifier!

Yes, I was distracted. For a few minutes longer than I thought I would be.

Doggy Daycare

I was cooking the other day, and Korrali was rolling around on our carpet. I popped out to check on her and this is what I saw:

Teo had come and was babysitting while Korrali played with a little crunchy sack I made her.

This is also fairly common.. He can't keep himself away from her. And feels like he must love on her.. or pop her bedroom door open to peek at her.

She usually giggles when he licks her.. and its usually her hands or feet.

Even though some days he makes my life difficult, I sure am glad we have a Dog Daddy around too. Maybe I could train him to change a diaper?

Reading is for babies!

I have been struggling lately with boredom. Not my boredom - K's boredom.
K's review of "Exploration Encouragement" Toys:
Playgym
 "It's nice. For about 30 seconds. Then I prefer tummy time."
Tummy Time Toys
" They're fun, if Mommy is holding them when I'm not doing Tummy Time"
Tummy Time Quilt/BLanket/Alternate padding under her
"I've seen it."
Books out at Tummy Time
silent baby for 10 min at a time, then all I have to do is turn the page!

Shh! I'm reading!

Today

Has it really been 12 years? It feels like far less time has gone by since I heard the early morning news report in the car on the way to seminary. The time: 5:54 am on my dad's car radio is still easily called to mind. I heard a strange report... and went to seminary. I remember feeling confused, and a vague sense of aprehension and concern as I sat through seminary and a full day of school before rushing home to learn more. The weirdness of detached reality as I watched what appeared at first to be a movie... the smoke billowing out of the World Trade Center, and heard the newscaster exclaim "in what looks like an accide- no! the other tower has been hit!" and then watched it over and over as the news channels all covered the same footage as the rest of the story unfolded.
I lost my sense if indestructibility.
My blind faith in the security of America.
My naive belief that because I loved America, so did everyone else.
I gained increased faith in God.
Respect for the armed forces.
The realization that as an ordinary citizen, I must be aware of my surroundings, and actively work for good and to prevent evil.
I learned that life is precious; as a young teenager I was taught that my choices today matter because there might not be tomorrow.
That God inspires us to do small things which have life altering consequences. That He is everywhere, even in an event of catasrophic proportions. He does not prevent the use of agency to do evil, but He does inspire to stay away, leave early, or heal the wounds of heart and soul.
That vengeance leads to vengeance, hate leads to hate, and that the only way to end violence and hatred is to feed hungry bodies, teach hungry souls truth, and enlighten hungry minds with right principles. When people are cared for and know christ-like love the powers of hatred and revenge are abolished.

Tonight, I hope for the strength to teach my daughter how to learn from the past, and make a positive difference in her future world.

quatre mois

Bon Voyage Papa et Maman!

We celebrated the completion of Korrali's 4th month by.. 

• Beginning watching a new friend (a slightly special needs young lady in our ward) every afternoon  after school 
• Initiating a weekly babysit swap with a little boy a few months older than Korrali (I just realized all her baby friends are boys... I think I feel a tom-boy coming up.)
• Taking her swimming, and dipping her head under! (She did great!! Thanks, Auntie 'Lena for the tips on how!)
• Speaking to her in English, French, and mixing in Spanish (I sure hope she doesn't get hopelessly confused!)
• Flying to California for her Auntie Debbie's wedding - she loved the flight over, and all the new people and places. She didn't take more than a total of 1 hour of naps every day we were there until after the wedding.. but she didn't even complain. That's my girl. 

I had to include a picture of my radiant sister. She is so gorgeous.

• Amongst the many new things, Korrali got to see a real live bride! I feel sort of guilty, at being able to enjoy my sister's wedding without doing anything to help with it, but more excited for Debbie!

We hung out with Grandpa Henderson on his birthday

• Korrali met so, so many new faces, and some already known and loved ones too. My Dad's birthday was the day before the wedding.
• At the reception, she learned she loves Party Rock (but really, who doesn't?), slow dancing with Daddy, and table dancing in general.

She loved Auntie Michelle's lap

Her favorite Auntie, Anna, watched her while we were in the Temple

• She met some of our best Fargo friends (they and their adorable little boy moved to California), and she discovered the Ocean!
• Oh yeah, she had her visit to the pediatrician too...

All 25 in, 13 lb 7 oz of her crashed out hard after the shots

Stumped

A question has been bothering me, nagging at me for a little over a week. It's starting to get a little serious. So I want to pose it to all of you and see what you think...

That question is:
Where has all the Tupperware gone???
At one time, not long ago, we had it coming out of our ears.
We bought 2 of these:

at costco a while back... and This is the state of the cupboard now: one medium tall purple box, one flat one, one short green one, one square one, one small bowl.
There is one large box with a handle on the counter with cookies in it.
There is one flat boxy purple one in the fridge, one in the freezer. I lent two of them out with food in them. Where have the other three gone?? And what about the 10 little round ones? One in the cupboard, one in the freezer, two in the fridge, one in the dishwasher. And the other five??? I know where one other of the squares are, and where the large flat one is.. and where one of the two larger bowls are. But the remainder?
 For the life of me, I don't know where it all could be.
Thoughts anyone??

Maybe, there is a little fairy who has decided I need to buy GLASSERWARE! or glass tupperware whatever you call it. And so this kind fairy is stealing all my plastic ones. It could be a sign.

Hats!

Today we went to go get a Sun Hat for Korrali. We often take her to the park or to the pool, but that sweet little girl's eyes are just too sensitive for the bright sun. Lianna's friends said she got a Sun Hat that was very cute and a good deal at Meijer, so we went looking for one. This is what we found. She's a pretty cute little girl!

a mishmash of summer activities

Look, we went swimming. And the water was so nice, we all enjoyed it.

Korrali took a little while to get used to the water, but once she did, she really enjoyed it too.

Then, JD's cousin and her husband stopped by on their way across the country - and we are so glad they could drop by and stay with us! Elena has baby magic - the moment she picked up Korrali our little girl giggled and belly laughed until she got the hiccups.. and she just loved her Auntie. 

On Tuesday we (our family, Elena and Aaron, and Katie, Logan, Ali and Eli ) went to Cantighny - a beautiful historical place that used to belong to Colonel Robert R. McCormick. We had so much fun playing with Logan and Ali and Eli, and enjoyed the wonderful cool weather.