missing brother

This week is spring break. Cade has ventured to Indiana for the week to hang out with Gran and Pop. We know he's having a ball and being spoiled to pieces, but we are missing him dearly. Cora misses him tons! He really is her best friend. She keeps talking about what she's gonna do "tonight when Cade gets home." She had a complete breakdown yesterday right before her nap and cried herself to sleep saying, "Cade....i...miss...Cade." So daddy and I have been doing our best to keep her busy. She helped daddy plant a garden.

They even made a little spot for the grass that she planted at school along with her pet bunny "rocky."



We've played doll babies and dress up with Clara, started painting the living room for a redo, and have a picnic planned with our favorite big girls tomorrow.



But I'm not sure any of these things compare to playing Indiana Jones in the front ditch. This little girl can't wait until Saturday! neither can I!

camping

last weekend i left the house for 2 hours and came home to this....


cora totally naked in clara's bouncy seat, every article of clothing from her closet still on the hanger in a huge pile, and every book from our "library" in a heaping pile on the floor. (this was the biggest part of the nightmare for a teacher/mommy who has the books stickered and labeled in baskets according to their genre.) I said, "whoa! What are you doing?"
Rob replies, "they're playing camping."

duh... how could I have not gotten that?

ballet with interruption

thanks, cora

This morning I put a cute one piece outfit on Clara that had elastic around the ankles and made them look puffy and gathered.

Cora : that is a CUTE outfit Clara is wearing. It sorta looks like a genie. Today we can be princesses and she can be Jasmine (from Aladdin) that outfit looks like Jasmine.

And I will be Cinderella because I am wearing a light blue leotard and Cinderella wears a light blue leotard.

Mama (dressed for the gym in a white t shirt and black work out pants): Well who can I be? Who wears black and white?

Cora: Cruella DeVille. You can be her.

Thanks a lot, Cora. I am noticing a pattern here. I am always assigned to be the mean disney villians

Chemo Day

Cora had a clinic visit yesterday.
It was perfect.
She's making up for lost time and growing like a weed. (much to her dismay she's outgrown all of her shoes in the past month, even her golden sparkly ones)
Her ANC was 1100 (text book perfect).
She took her vincristine like a champ.
And we were out of there by 11.
praise God!!!
Cora makes this maintenance chemo look like a breeze!
I hope all ALL patients have this much success once they reach maintenance!
Only 10 more months and we're chemo free!!! It's within reach!

flower head

Today Cora did NOT approve of Clara's outfit. It was green with apples on it! Cora was convinced that she looked like a boy! This is the only way Cora would agree to let Clara keep it on without a fit! Poor Clara!

Her face says it all!

mommy and daddy

this morning before school Cade and Cora were playing "mommy and daddy" aka Mandy and Rob. It was very eye opening! It went something like this!

Cade lays on the couch and says, "I'm so tired!"

Cora marches around and SCREAMS at him to move his shoes, take out the trash, take the baby, pick up toys, help some more!!!

Rob says, "do you hear her?"

I reply, "yes! Cora does mommy sound that mean?"

Cora, "sometimes!"

Me, "but sometimes I'm really nice too!"

Cora, "yea, but there's no time for that part!"

Cora then shoves a baby doll under her dress and says to Cade, "Look , honey, I have another baby in my tummy!"

Cade, "AHHHHHHHHH!" as he runs screaming out of the room!


hmmm............ouch!

Clara's 1 Month Update

In an effort to not short change the third child, Clara will be updating on the 5th of each month on her growth and progress!!! Here it is!

Hello Everyone! I am officially one month old today, and what a month it's been! I was having a bit of trouble gaining weight the past few weeks, but mommy and daddy have been feeding, feeding, feeding in order to plump me up a bit! Today we visited Dr. Stone and their hard work is paying off! I weighed in at 8 lbs. 3 oz, that's up 7 ounces in 7 days!!! I have grown one whole inch, I am now 21 inches long. I am in the 51st percentile for length and the 25th for weight, but hopefully those will continue to even out as I continue to gain! I am getting pretty strong! I have more control of my head each day. I am drinking about 3 ounces of milk every 3 hours. I am starting to be more alert during my wake times. Today mommy even got a small smile out of me just by chance. People always comment on how alert and mature my little face looks for a one month old. Everyone already tells me I look like my siblings, especially Cade.

Mom and Dad say I'm a pretty good baby. If I fuss it's because I am tired, hungry, or stinky! There's no mystery to me. I'm easy to figure out. I'm also really snuggly and love to be held tight and cuddled. Mom hopes I stay that way!

Just this week mommy has taken me some really fun places. Yesterday I went to story time at the library and Cora wanted to hold me on her lap to do the rhymes and finger plays with me. Then today I went to Cade's school as his "show and tell." His classmates were very respectful and looked from a distance at me without touching. They thought I was pretty cute! I am so glad I've got such a great big sister and brother to keep me busy! Mommy just hopes I don't wind up spending my life in my carseat running them around. That's all for now! Hopefully next month's update I will have a few new skills to share!

Love, Clara

Party Like A Rockstar!

Saturday night Cora and Cade and I went to our big girl friend, Addi's, rockstar 13th birthday party! Addi and her 11.5 year old sis Emma are my friend Stacie's girls. I taught them first grade (a long time ago) and we've been friends ever since! Cora LOVES the girls! She wouldn't have missed this party for the world! She picked out her outfit and laid it out like 6 days before the party! She barely said two words once we were there, but hasn't stopped talking about it since! So glad Cora has such sweet big girl friends to look up to, but hoping she gets that this was their "rockstar party look" and not daily attire!!! Oh well...I'm pretty sure Cora has her own since of style already!

Evie, Cora, and Emma (aka Lady Gaga!)

Cade and Aiden (Addi and Emma's brother) working the door (notice that the back of Aiden's shirt says "security." He was the bouncer!



Cora's first time on the "red carpet"

rockstar pose #1

rockstar pose #2

Cade loving on his lil sis! It took him awhile, but now he can't get enough of her!

Sweet Love! We still think she looks just like Cade as a baby!

Whose legs are this tiny???? For real! I can't get enough of this tiny baby! I want her to stay small forever! She's so cuddly and snuggly and cute. It's very hard to put her down!

Ready for preschool...rain or shine!