14 month update

Lots going on for the Landrys these days!  For now, here's the update on Miss Cora...

This last month has been more challenging for us.  And that is because we have a shrieker on our hands!  I've reminded myself a few times that this was about the age when Jack started hitting his head on the floor whenever we would leave the room - maybe it's just a difficult age!  For Cora, she has a shriek sound she uses when she doesn't like something, and she has a yelp sound she uses when she wants something.  We've been working to teach her "please", with no luck.  It makes total sense that this is the age where a child acts out somewhat; they now have very clear emotions and wants, but don't yet have the language to convey it.  So they headbutt or shriek :)

As for the sleeping...  We felt there was no point in making a big effort to work on sleep habits pre-international trip...or on the trip...and then July was so busy...and then Cora and I went to SC...and now she's 14 months and is so headstrong that our efforts are failing.  Case in point.  We had "decided" not to let her nurse until after 5am.  Well Cora "decided" she didn't like that plan.  The baby that could once be patted to sleep refused to lay down, arched her back, pushed away, and all but spit in Jacob's face, as she reached for the door demanding her mommy.  A few times we've given in, depending on the time of night, and a few times we've just shut her door and let her cry.  We're going to try to be more consistent.  It's just hard when one child is waking the other and you know all will be quiet with a few minutes of nursing.

Naps have also been hard lately.  Part of it is having babysitters.  Part of it is that she no longer needs two naps every day.  We're figuring it out.

Cora will start school on the 19th. I'm excited and hopeful she will like it.  She'll go two full days to match my two full work days.  On Friday mornings, my other work day, she and Jack will be home with a sitter.

Now for what is going well!  She is still Miss Personality and a very aware/observant child.  Lots of smiles, waves, and "hi's" to friends and strangers.  She pays attention and remembers where things are and what our routines are.  If you ask for something by name, she can bring it to you. When we visited pregnant Aunt Kristen, she knew to point to Aunt K's belly when asked "where is baby Billy?" She loves, loves, LOVES her blankie, "dankie," and drags it (luckily any of a set of three matching ones) around the house.  She also loves real and fake dogs and often has her pink and white "DOG-gie" clutched in her teeth as she toddles around.

Her new words this month besides blankie are thank you "da-doo"(when you give her something), "wa-wa" (which means her cup, but also can mean milk), "petty" (pretty), and "baby".


With the challenges are intermixed all the delights :) We are so infinitely blessed by these two beautiful creatures, so full of life!!