Easy Like Sunday Morning

I'm not sure if it's because Dustin sings this song to her often, but Cora really adores Sunday mornings. Truthfully I think it's because every Sunday she gets to wear a beautiful new dress that everyone at church will ooh and aah over. I mean, wouldn't you love days like that? This month has been my month to teach our Bible study class and I just wish there were a few extra hours on Sunday mornings. Getting Cora ready, myself ready, feeding her so that she won't need to eat again at church or thawing some expressed milk and fixing a bottle, getting to church, getting her settled in the nursery, getting myself settled after running all morning to teach (this series is about relationships) - ah! And thankfully most Sundays I have Dustin's hands to help out. How did my mom ever do it with three little girls, especially when my dad was a police officer and rarely off on Sundays? I have so much (newly earned) respect for my parents.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. Cora was pretty in pink and was a lot of fun for the women in the nursery. After her church performance, she was exhausted and slept for a long while in her carrier even after we got home. Dustin and I actually watched a whole movie while she napped!

Once she woke up, I had to get some pictures before she got a little more comfortable. At first, Cora just wanted tos how off her dress.



Then she started to get silly!


Cora, put down your dress!

"Mommy, you're so funny!"

Shhh...don't tell Daddy.

Then we went for a little stroll to check out Dustin's food plot for attracting deer. Cora loves trees and you'll notice that she's looking up at them even though she's screaming.


The church's youth group came down to the beach for their end of summer picnic so we stopped to chat during our evening golf cart ride. Cora really enjoyed watching the kids play and splash. She even did some splashing of her own.



With Sundays like that, you can't even be mad about Mondays! :)

2 Months Old!

My precious baby Cora, you are two months old already! I can't believe how the time has flown - or how quickly you have grown into a fun, personable, and completely adorable baby. Sometimes you look so much older than your two months. We have loved every day with you. You have discovered so many new things recently - television, your canine brothers Kota and Jaxon, and that your hands will fit in your mouth. Your awake time is full of smiles and you talking to anything and everything. You have a beautiful little voice and I can't wait to sing fun songs with you. Our scales at home weighed you at 11 lbs 5 oz.
Here's a look at how you've grown:




One of the things your Daddy and I love is how much you enjoy being outside. Just walking outdoors when you feel like fussing will almost always settle you down. You love trees and it won't be long before we're teaching you all about the environment and conservation so you can be our little biologist! You've also fallen in love with the golf cart. We dread cold weather because taking you riding is our never-fail-anti-fuss-solution. You close your eyes as the breeze blows across your face. We just think your post-riding on the golf cart hair is gorgeous.


I love you baby girl!

Putting on my party dress

Cora and Mommy went to a baby shower on Saturday for one of mommy's friends. Cora is very excited that she has a new friend on the way! It was Cora's first party so we made sure to dress up in our best party outfits.
Honestly, have you ever seen anything this adorable?

Mommy thinks she's the sweetest ever!

Papa and Aunt Jennie thought she looked so precious they also wanted pictures with her.

In my mind I'm gone to Carolina...

BEWARE: This post contains LOADS of pictures!
Thursday a week ago, we packed our bags to take Cora for her first visit to her Daddy's favorite state! It was also Cora's first trip longer than about an hour...all in all it went pretty well. The trip down was a little rough and we stopped three times in the last 90 miles. Coming home, though, went much smoother - Cora woke up once to eat and otherwise slept for most of the 5 hour drive!
While we were in NC, we got to see our friends and family and introduce them all to little Miss Cora. When we rolled in the first night we went straight to Grandmommy and Granddaddy's for her to meet her great-grandparents. Cora gave Grandmommy love then had a serious discussion with Granddaddy.


Neither of them would tell us what they talked about!

The next day, Dustin's friend Jason came over with his two little ones and Cora met her Sweet friends! We can't wait til the next time we see them because Cora will be hanging right with them!

That night Nana's side of the family came over for amazingly delicious brownies. Unfortunately we don't have photographic evidence - mostly because Cora cried for most of it. I wouldn't give her any brownies. We really enjoyed seeing everyone and Cora was glad to meet her cousins Luke, Savannah, Jake, Alex and Gracie!

On Saturday Cora met her great-grandmother Martin and on Sunday she met some of the rest of the Martin clan! She showed them her scooting tricks, babbled up a storm, and gave a little love to everyone.

Cora asked, "Who is that precious baby on your refrigerator??"


Cora smiled for Beth...

...and already looks up to her cousin Jaxon!

She showed Aunt Kathy her sweet moves...

and gave her Grandpa some coos.

MeeMaw and Jaxon serenaded her!

Cora said, "I'm very comfortable right here with Aunt Judy, thank you very much!"


And when Cora got sleepy, she drifted off in Aunt Paula's arms.

We also got to see cousin Gracie again and steal some sweet kisses from her. And Cora couldn't pass up an opportunity to cuddle with Grandmommy.


"What - we have to leave already??"

Don't worry, sweet girl, we'll go back soon!

Busy Bees

For Father's Day, Cora and I gave Dustin tickets to see Zac Brown Band and Dave Matthews at the Nationals Stadium. Our first long date away! And driving into D.C.! I was a little nervous and may have cried some, but Dustin and I had a great time. It was hotter than you can imagine, we sweated through every song, and each drank 3 $4 bottles of water a piece. Whew!

What did Cora do during all of this you ask? Well, Nana, Grandpa and Aunt Kelli came all the way from North Carolina to babysit while we were gone! For my sanity, they took lots of pictures and even sent us a few texts throughout the night to update us on what our baby girl was doing. As you can see, she didn't have any fun at all. :)
She got lots of love....


She got to eat...

She took naps...

She played with her toys...

And she even did some swinging.

"What? I didn't do it!"

Then she was just tuckered out!

We also got to celebrate Nana's birthday while they were visiting. We celebrated with a beautiful AND delicious shadow cake from Ketchie Creek!

Sunday was Homecoming at Cobham Park and we got dressed up and looked so cute we couldn't help but take some pictures!

Cora's personal fashion designer smocked her dress. When asked in the nursery who she was wearing, she smiled and answered, "Grammie."

What a great weekend!

Twins!

Kind of...Mom comes over just about daily after Dustin leaves for work to give me a little time to shower, clean a little, and do any other odds and ends. Actually, I think her motivation is really just to spend time with Cora, but she always couches it as giving me time. One day she came over and she and Cora were wearing matching outfits. We love Grammie!