Dear Cora, on your 4th birthday

My dear Cora,

Hugging your pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.

You have taught me a lot this year - I learned that I have great patience for messes, but not for puzzles; that there is always time for one more hug; and that a snuggle can cure any wrongs, especially when the snuggle is with someone as loving as you.

Jumping in the leaves!

Somewhere in the course of this year you became a little girl, full of little girl opinions (princesses are the best), best friends, and favorites of all kinds (chocolate, princesses, and, like most other girls, anything Frozen). I am continually in awe of your imagination, which has only grown with each passing year. Every day you concoct some grand make believe game that we are all required to participate in, whether we want to or not. You have also discovered card games and board games, which gives us a chance to slow down and play something where the rules don't change every few seconds.

Sassy girl

Rhys is your biggest fan. He adores you so much - he always wants to play with you, and you are generally really good about including him in some way or another. Whenever we go to the park I usually see him tagging along after you, and I can hear you calling for him to "come this way!" or to "follow me!" And, like all siblings, there are times when you just don't see eye to eye, but I get it. I have a brother too.

Brrr, it was a cold winter!

In September we started you back to preschool 2 days a week. It was a rough transition - you had been home with me and your brother everyday for over a year, and you were not happy to be away from us. It took a long time, but you made some wonderful friends who made school fun for you. The switch to your new school after our most recent move went pretty well, and you've got a new best friend that you look forward to seeing. We have definitely noticed that preschool has been wonderful for you. Your social skills have greatly improved, you have really learned how to play by yourself, and you are very interested in learning how to read. It is also becoming apparent that you are a natural leader.

The height of fashion

These improved social skills are apparent at home, too. We have real conversations about how our day went, what you like and want to do, and how things are made/work/fit together. You have a pretty extensive vocabulary, which gets put to great use between all the questions and conversations. Best of all, your sense of humor has gotten bigger as you have learned to pick up on some really important things, like sarcasm. Occasionally you decide to tell us a joke, but they usually don't make a whole lot of sense.

Before the haircut

 

After the haircut!

So let's see what things played a big role in your life this year:

Books - the Disney Princess Collections and your big book of fairy tales.

Flower child

Food - Mac and cheese, jambalaya, pasta carbonara - you still aren't picky about most foods, except that you just aren't a fan of fruit. But you'll eat almost any vegetable.

This is what happens when we let you pick your own outfit.

Movies/TV - Frozen (We watched this so much that you actually managed to get tired of it for awhile. We don't watch it so much anymore, but you still insist on being called Elsa much of the time), Tangled, and Cinderella. Not surprisingly, you really enjoy the show Sophia the First (about a princess), but also Daniel Tiger, Paw Patrol, and Wallykazam.

Fun at the beach!

At the Monarch butterfly farm

Toys - Douglas, of course, continues to claim the biggest part of your heart. But also dolls! You have all these Disney princess dolls that you adore and play with each and every quiet time. They're always naked (what is it with little girls and taking off doll clothes?). Any puppy toy is immediately cherished, and lately Andre has become your snuggling companion during quiet time.

Activities - drawing and painting, playing with Play-doh, swimming, playing with the water table, any sort of pretend play. Recently we have started taking you on Daddy/Coco or Mama/Coco dates, to do things like see a movie or get some ice cream. We all really cherish these times together.

You still love painting

And you still love donuts.

Having you around has made the last 4 years terrific, and we look forward to all the years we have ahead. You are a wonderful and special girl, and I love every little part of you!

Love always,

Mama

P.S. Please forgive how late this letter was. I actually wrote it right before your birthday, but the pictures were on your Daddy's computer, and he really needed it to study for his board exams. I'm sure you'll understand.

Dear Rhys, on your second birthday

Dear Rhys,

Somehow, another year has passed and you have moved from toddlerhood to little boyhood, and it is an exciting and occasionally alarming stage in our house. Although you are no longer a baby, you are still cuddly and loving; rarely do I get a chance to sit down without you (or your sister) climbing into my lap. I love it!

Never a dull moment!

This past year you have gone from walking to running and jumping, galloping, and attempting to do forward rolls. The last one still eludes you, but you have reached a high level of proficiency in the rest. In fact, the only times you are really still and quiet are when you are sleeping. Which, I might add, has improved leaps and bounds! At some point this year you finally started sleeping past 5 am! Now you reliably sleep to past 6, which is a miracle, and you wake up happy - no more standing in bed yelling for Mama to come get you immediately.

Yes, rocks need hugs too.

If you aren't actively moving and running around the house, you are probably playing. Toys are still a big part of your life, but you also love playing with Cora and tend to chase her around the house. Whether this is something she enjoys or despises varies from day to day, but you always love to chase!

You like to "help" bake.

Not only are you active in body, but your little brain has been really developing this year. You can speak in full sentences (although it's still a language that only we can understand), recite your ABCs (you tend to get hung up on K - H I J KKKKKKKKKK L M N….), identify a few colors, and count to 10 pretty reliably.

Playing in the leaves was a fall favorite.

Look at you go!

Pretend play and imagination is big right now, and you continually tell us that you are a superhero; your favorites are Superman, Captain America, and Mr. Incredible. Thanks to your daddy's influence, you are also a budding fan of the Ninja Turtles, or the Ninna Tuddas, as you call them.

Deep in thought.

In January of this past year you started daycare a few days a week. I'm not sure who it was more rough on, me or you! After 18 months of hanging out with you everyday I was sad to not have you around! It took awhile, but we've both adjusted, and now you happily roll into class and are starting to make some friends at school. You are learning to share and not steal, and, although we are having a problem with pinching lately, you always tell us you are sorry when you do.

Snack time!

I don't know who you get this from (yes I do, but it's not nice to point fingers) but you are a flirt! You do this super adorable thing, mostly when around girls, where you cock your head to the side, smile a little closed-mouth smile, and batt your eyelashes. Once you've caught her attention, you either smile bigger and wave, saying "hewwo!" or you laugh and run away. You'll be a heartbreaker, my boy.

See, more baking "help"

There are some definite favorite things in your life:
Books - The Three Little Pigs, Curious George - I am so tired of reading these books that I'm tempted to hide them

I have no idea what this was about.

Food - Pasta, mac and cheese, quesadillas, peanut butter sandwiches, chicken, pizza, and cheese. Lots of cheese. You aren't picky in general, but veggies can be a challenge, and usually get left on the plate.

Somehow, you both still fit in there!

Movies - Frozen (your sister has a little influence in the movie choices, but you always, always, ask for Frozen first) and The Incredibles. You also enjoy some TV shows on occasion: Little Einsteins, Daniel Tiger, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

It's a hard life for a little guy.

Toys - You never connected to a toy the way Cora has to Douglas, for which I am grateful. But you do love your Pirate Ship, Cora's Anna doll (from Frozen), cars and trucks, and playing catch.

Recently you've gone through a shirt-hating phase. 

Activities - Playing with the water table, swimming, blowing bubbles, drawing, and chasing everyone around the house, including the cat. You love to ask us to "be Marshmallow" (also from Frozen, do you see a theme?) and then we chase you around the house too. Basically, we do a lot of chasing.

Shoulders, Daddy, shoulders!

All in all, it has been a wonderful year, full of changes and fun. We all love you and adore you, and I hope that, as you grow, you never lose your sense of wonder or your love of cuddles.

Happy birthday, Little Man,

Love,

Mama

Cora's first haircut

For the past month or so, Cora had been mentioning that she wants to cut her hair. She would tell us one day that she wants to cut it short, then a few days later she would change her mind and say she wanted to grow it "as long as Rapunzel's!"

Since I am of the long haired persuasion, I was a bit reluctant to cut her hair super short (read: chin length), but I have always said that I will not force her to keep her hair long. I will let her be her own person and make her own decisions.

Before, looking like a beach girl out in the sun!

I know, it might sound strange to talk about letting an almost-4 year old make her own hairstyle choices, but Cora is very strong willed and definitely knows what she wants! So on Saturday we took her to get her very first real haircut. I say real, because although I have trimmed it a couple of times and once cut some bangs for her, she had never been to a professional.

In preparation we looked through some pictures of her cousins and of her when she was younger to try and decide how she wanted it. Then we compromised, because I insist that we keep it long enough to put in a ponytail. Mama really does know best about some things, and with summer just around the corner, a ponytail will be essential very soon!

Sitting nice and still for the stylist.

Cora sat very still the whole time, and did a great job! We started just taking off a couple of inches, but Cora wanted it shorter, so we cut off about 4 or 5 inches total. Then she said she wanted bangs (another thing she had wavered on throughout the day), so bangs were cut!

Oh, she was so happy!

Cheese!

A little braiding from the stylist and some spray-in glitter made her even happier!

So excited she could hardly stand still.

Of course, every day of pampering at the salon needs to be followed by frozen yogurt.

Post-pampering frozen yogurt.

As you can see, she is thrilled with her new 'do. She requested to wear it down for school today so that she could show it off to all her friends and teachers. Several of them commented on it as soon as they saw her, which made Cora even happier!

The next day, with her hair down, being super silly.

Does she look older now to you too?

As a side note, Rhys had a haircut on Saturday as well. I believe it was his 6th.

Growing up

I personally don't think I will ever be a "grownup"—not sure I want to be one to be honest—but today we feel more grown up than ever. We signed a contract on our very first house!

Our soon-to-be new home! Door will match the shutters, and posts will match the white trim.

Corn maze!

Now, I know we are way behind on posting about all our travels and family visits this summer. Maybe one day I will put up some pictures from this summer, but this is not that post. This is actually a post about something we did recently. Like, less than a month ago. I know, it's a miracle.

So a few weekends ago we went to a local farm for a corn maze/pumpkin patch/kids free for all play area. It was a blast! There was so much to do and I think we wound up spending almost 3 hours there playing all the games, going down the slides, jumping on the bounce houses, and picking our pumpkins.

Pumpkin heads