Towa!

On the occasion of her 2 year - 5 month birthday, it's time for a little Cora update.

21 weeks pregnant with 2 sweeties

I would imagine every mother feels this big mix of pride and awe in her children. To watch them grow and become such interesting, intelligent, unique little beings is very cool - a lot of times fun and sometimes just plain sucky.

Jacob and I constantly comment on Cora.  Things like "She's something else" or our favorite "She's your daughter" (aka "This is all your fault.)

We were playing around with astrological signs when we found out we were having a new baby and we looked up Jack's and Cora's signs.  Cora is a Gemini and her zodiac symbol is "the twins."  Yeah, that about sums her up - two personalities in one!

We can be at our wit's end with her one moment and then so enamored with her charm and sweetness the next.  It's a bit of a roller coaster but it keeps life very interesting and I couldn't love a little girl more!

I mean these two pictures were obviously taken less than a minute apart!!

 

Why Cora is so sweet

- The way she talks!  Her vocabulary is extensive with lots of big words, but she continues to be missing many consonants so everything she says sounds cute!  And she's so expressive, which just adds to the show.  With Halloween recently passing and many houses in our neighborhood decorated, we constantly hear about how things are "Toe Tary!" with clinched fists and a big grimace.  She also continues to say "My" rather than "I" most of the time: "My like peanut butter Mommy; do you like peanut butter?  Oh my LOVE i-keem; do you love i-keem Mommy?"  And when she's been told something and she wants to make sure you know she's planning on listening; she emphasizes "WILL or WILL NOT" as in "I WILL NOT run, Mommy" with hands pressing downward in emphasis or a finger wagging.
-  The way she commands life - After a few walks where she'd screech "Toe Tary!" when we'd pass spiders or witches on porches, she came up with a way to repel the fear.  Now she roars at anything that scares her.  It's her way of dealing with fear and I love that she came up with it on her own!  She's also not shy to tell you what she wants, when, and how.  If I ask her to go get something, she makes sure I know my instructions too.  "You stay RIGHT here Mommy; DON'T move!  I'll be RIGHT BACK!"  Which leads me to...
- The way she moves - anytime Cora's on a mission, it's a sashaying one.  She definitely is a toddler as she toddles wherever she goes.  She's also one for big movements.  She'll throw herself in your arms for a hug or launch herself up at you when she sees you coming through the door.
- Her helper instinct - The child spends a good portion of each day perched on the counter top "to help."  She sits up there as I get lunches packed and breakfast made and she'd rather sit up and watch Jacob or I make dinner than play.
- Her joy in playing - With her being in school until 1:00 and then taking a long afternoon nap, she doesn't get as much time at home to play.  When she does have time to play in the dollhouse (our child sized room under the eaves of our house), you could not find a happier child.  She likes to fix meals of pretend foods and then call us:  "Tum see Mommy, tum see what I made!"

Look at me on the BIG GIRL swing!

- The upside to her Mommy attachment - It's awesome to get so much love.  I love having her little body all collapsed into mine for a big hug.  I love how she lays her head on my shoulder.  I love her kisses.  But...

Why Cora is such a rascal

- The downside to her Mommy attachment: I have no desire to do EVERYTHING for Cora.  And that's the way she'd like it currently.  It's equally frustrating to me and Jacob to have to listen to her whine and complain if Mommy's not the one putting her in her high chair, getting her out of the car, putting on her shoes, reading her a story, etc!
- The whining; the crying: There are no shortage of tears from this child.  We've had our windows open over the last month and our neighbors must think we spend the day beating the poor child.  She cries when we don't carry her up the stairs; she SCREAMS throughout her bath, especially if we have to in any way touch her hair; she screams some more when it's time to comb her hair; she cries and cries and cries about half the time when it's bedtime because "I don't WANT to go night-night!" 
- The sibling drama:  There's no denying that any toy Jack wants, Cora also must have and probably has already snatched.  She's also been known to knock Jack over the head for reasons that only she knows.  Now he's not entirely innocent as he also enjoys watching the Cora show when he does things to get under her skin.  But she's two and definitely the aggressor most of the time!

A double time-out: two at fault this time!

- The need to be disagreeable: I try to be extra patient at school pick-up because I know she's overdue for her nap, BUT it's amazing how quickly a disagreeable child can wear down your patience.  First she doesn't want to leave school, then she doesn't want to hold my hand in the parking lot; then she's having to be pulled reluctantly because I've insisted she hold my hand.  Then she doesn't want to go get her brother.  Then she doesn't like the level of independence I allow her in buckling her carseat.  Then she wants whatever Jack has...   Once home, she announces in no uncertain terms that she doesn't want her diaper changed or to go night-night.  They don't sell patience in such large quantities!
- The borderline cute rascally-ness: This is the "In a MINUTE, Mommy" which is what she loves to tell us when we ask her to come get ready/come eat/etc.  This is also the cute little coy face that walks in the room when we're about half a second from yelling "THREE!" after the "Cora, if you do not come and get dressed by the time I count to three..."

Other Updates

- Potty training: what was going great in June, fell apart in the late summer as Cora became very anti-potty.  We dialed our efforts down, but still kept up a before school focus on going to the potty.  She's no longer disagreeable to pottying and is very proud of her successes.  We're planning a big push over Thanksgiving.  If she's ready, great; if not, we're in an okay place now, saving a few diapers a day.

- Nursing update: I go back and forth between wanting to be very open about still nursing a 2 year old and then giving in to the notion that it's easier not to broadcast since I know this is a novel concept to many.  Breastfeeding an older child has been a rewarding experience at our house.  As a La Leche League leader, I'm well educated on the fact that the benefits of breastmilk and breastfeeding never diminish so there's that knowledge in the back of my mind.  But mainly I'm just after a natural and peaceful conclusion to a part of my mothering I've known from the first day my children were born.  Jack weaned gradually between 18-23 months.  Cora was resistant to weaning in that timeframe, but I did set some limits in those months.  By the time she was 2, it wasn't hard for her to transition to a once a day nursing session.  Those after-school moments I spoke of above?  Being able to pull her into my lap and have her calm down immediately (and usually fall fast asleep) while nursing has been such a blessing for both of us.  As my belly has grown and knowing that Cora has a strong Mommy attachment, I do want her weaned several months before the baby comes to help separate these two transitions.  This past week we made the big step toward ultimate weaning and she's been nursing only every other day.  Knowing that the end of our nursing relationship is now just a few weeks away if that, I'm sure I'll feel a little sadness but mainly I'm happy to know that we shared this long bonding and nurturing experience.

Photo Updates