"Cora May Taylor" & "Kayson Michael"

This is one of those posts to share the little happenings and quirks of our daughter and son.  We say "CORA MAY TAYLOR" a lot.  :)  And we say "KAYSON MICHAEL" a lot too!  I think it's funny that Cora is already having the full name hollered at her!!!

CORA

• This girl has more blow-outs than I can count!!!  EVERY DAY she has a blow out at daycare...  I know that daycare doesn't just take care of (only!) her, so she tends to wiggle and create a blow out!!  I can't remember the last time she came home with the same clothes on!
• Along with the blow outs, and still spitting up... I do SO MUCH LAUNDRY!!!
• She scoots and scoots...  she's going places!  It's crazy to get up and walk away, and with in 10 seconds she's in a different spot, facing a different direction and completely off the floor blanket!!
• When changing her diaper, if she spots something she wants (usually something in her basket next to her head), she tries to completely turn over.  Oh dear, little girl!!
• Routine is going pretty well...  she's a happy baby, so that's a great thing.
• Speaking of routine - she's used to me doing bedtime... and last night, Ryan took over mid-feeding, cuz he's going to be gone the rest of the week.  She cried and cried once she was done with her bottle.  She really gave him a fit!  I feel terrible... 
• She LOVES Kayson. She gets to laughing so hard at him... I can just tell she's soaking all that stuff in that he does!!!

She's gonna be a stinker.  :)

KAYSON

• I've said this over and over again this winter - this little boy LOVES TO SHOVEL.  Last night we got home...  driveway was completely covered with the 4 or 5 inches... he DEMANDED that I snow blow and he shovel.  (Really - with Cora awake and ready to get out of her seat?!?!)  But I did - we bundled Cora up and sat her in her seat in the garage, while I snow blowed as much as I could.  He could have stayed out there for hours!  When Ryan got home (7:30), they both went back out and shoveled and snow blowed!!!  HE LOVES IT!
• Mr. Kayson likes to say words that he's learning at daycare (from his little friends).  These words are not appropriate and we are trying as best as we can to explain to him that we don't say those words.
• He's learning to tattle as well.  Oh boy.  That's a tough one for me.  I want him to explain things that are happening to me, but I also want him to stand up and be strong... and not think he needs to tell me, Ryan or someone else everything that's going on!  Again, tough one. 
• He jumps on the couch ALL THE TIME.  I don't know how many times a night we tell him "The couch is for sitting!! Kayson Michael!"

He's a good kid, who loves his sister and us.  We are pretty darn lucky!

Here are a few recent pictures.

My snow babies!

Oh little boy!!!

Trapping her to watch a movie.  She liked it!  (Painted toenails & all!)

 

Fun Saturday

We had a FUN day today!
First, it started by sleeping in a little... that's fun for me! :)  Ryan and Kayson went outside this morning and played - Kayson shoveled the deck (imagine that!) and they got out his sled.  They had a ton of fun!!  I only wish Cora would have been napping, so I could have went out with them!!!  They had a blast.  

Late morning, our good friends, Clay & Holly and their two kiddos came for a visit.  We had lunch and played ALL.DAY.LONG.  We had a great time... catching up and laughing a lot!  The kids were GREAT too.  Gillian and Kayson played awesome together.  I was so pleased!!!  The only meltdown was later this evening, and it was simply because they were both tired... (we skipped naps today).   I made an easy supper of tacos...  and then they headed home.  I'm guessing both of their kids were asleep before they got to the interstate!!  Kayson was wiped out... but we had some quiet time, and read books... and he crashed.  Cora was a little out of sorts, super tired, so she went to bed fairly early.  

It was just a great day.  I really enjoyed having Clay and Holly here...  it meant a lot, and I'm so glad it worked out.  We'll be visiting them next (this summer), once they are settled in their new home. 

Gillian & Kayson

Perfect snow angels!!

Loved sledding!

I'm now officially wiped out!!  Tomorrow is another day at home...  laundry and a nap for all of us!  :)  (That's my goal!)

Daycare

There are obvious pros and cons about sending your kids to a daycare center.  This week I've learned about a big pro... or maybe it's just the people that we've run across and trust our kids with. 

I've never said anything bad about our daycare center, we've been pleased from day one.  Sure, I may complain under my breath about how something is happening with my kid, but within a day, I will say something or confront the 'concern'.  And it's handled... and we move on.  That's how I like it. 

Anyway, Cora is doing great... and she's been with one specific teacher since she was 3 months old.  This teacher has been great - very social, very outgoing, interested in our lives, cares for Cora (and Kayson too), is funny, just one of those people who is 'liked'. 

Thursday, I got a call from this teacher...  she wanted to just talk about Cora and let me know some of the things she's been seeing.  For example: Cora is still hungry after her 6 oz. bottle... mad and is searching for that bottle ("WHERE DID IT GO!?!?" - type of thing!)  The teacher said that she noticed that Cora hasn't been napping well, etc...  so we just talked.  I asked questions, she asked questions... and we came up with some options together.  And it was WONDERFUL. 

Ryan and I know Cora is growing...  she's been up in the middle of the night a couple times this week, hungry...  She sucks her bottles down, like they are going out of style!  So getting this phone call really wasn't a complete surprise, but it was a great thing from the teacher and the center.  I was glad the teacher took the initiative. I was pleased!

There's something about having others take care of your kids...  I struggle with it.  I think it's just one of those Mom things (or a Janelle thing).  But I got to thinking last night - daycare teachers are the next best thing to help Ryan and I with our kids - they are the ones that spend the most time with our kids during the week.  Heck, they probably know our kids better than we do in some aspects!!!  So when it comes to the daycare teachers caring and wanting to help, I'm all for it!  :)  I want to see ALL the teachers do this!! I hope that we start to see a difference with the changes we are making over the next few days... 

Cora - 6 Months Old

My daughter is 1/2 year today.  WHAT???  How in the world did that happen?  This morning I have 'reminisced' about my time with her on maternity leave.  OOOo it was wonderful.  Sure we had some rough days, but my goodness - I would so go back to that 3 months in a second.  I remember the first week being home by myself with her (Ryan was traveling), K was at daycare... Cora and I layed on my bed several mornings - her in her Boppy, and me just laying next to her.  She wouldn't move for a good 2 hours.  Me neither.  :)  It was the best.  I'm so thankful for memories and just having that time with her.

Cora is great - she's changing a lot.  I mean, a lot.  She's growing as she should, but in my opinion - way too damn fast!  Here are all the things she's 'doing':

• 6 oz. bottles about every 3.5 to 4 hours.  This has been a huge change, for the better.  Spitting up is pretty much gone (besides a few random ones -- oh, and EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.SHE.GETS.IN.HER.CARSEAT she spits up!!!  Weird, I know.)
• Sleeping is going well - naps are still pretty random.  But I'm seeing a little bit more of a routine on time wise, just not length wise.  I'm hoping daycare will start to help with that?!?!
• Coos and talks... and giggles.  Oooh, she has such a great giggle.  Last night I had her belly laughing - those hard, deep laughs. 
• Rolls and rolls... and gets up on her hands so tall-like... it's awesome. 
• Gets up on her knees now!!  She will rock back and forth for about 10 seconds, then flops down.  Kayson NEVER did this!!!
• Loves her toes - not only has she found them, she puts them in her mouth!
• Sitting up on her own (still a little wobbly) - we support her with her Boppy...  but I'd give her another 2-3 weeks and she should have that down!
• Loves her foods - especially green beans and sweet tators.  :)  We'll be introducing fruit this weekend (I think!)
• She wants to be IN THE ACTION.  She's always wanting to see someone in the house...  (there goes my thought of her being the independent one!!!)  She loves to watch brother - if he would stop for a second.
• She is a Momma's girl - again, I don't remember K having such melt-downs, but Cora definitely has that part down.  I feel bad for Ryan...  she loves him and thinks he's awesome (talks and smiles like crazy to him), but apparently she wants me if I'm in the room.
• Wearing size 2 diapers (probably could go to 3, but waiting).
• Wearing all 6 month stuff - we have a few 9 month items that she's wearing (sleepers and a few tops).  Her torso seems long, or the clothes just shrink from being washed and dried 1,000 times!

oooo my sweet baby girl.

 

Weekend ended up Good

Our Friday afternoon was not fun for Kayson... I took him to the doctor to have his ears checked and his throat.  Throat culture was done (which is TERRIBLE for a 4 year old - and an adult!)...  positive for Strep.  And his right ear was infected... however the doctor said it wasn't nearly as red as he thought it would be.  His guess was Kayson thought it was more sore due to his sore throat. I asked the doc about K throwing up the night before... he said that's a sign of Strep, ones tummy just gets upset from all the junk and icky stuff, that it makes your body want to throw it up.  YUK.  But totally makes sense.

We headed home.  I instantly started cleaning...  even though I did a bunch on Thursday too.  The cleaning went into Saturday morning too.  Floors were scrubbed, counters were scrubbed twice, door handles were disinfected, bedding was cleaned...  what else?  I think I touched everything. I hope!  We had made plans (about a month ago) to spend the day with Blair, Martina & Tate.  Mart and I had kept in touch through the past couple days...  and I had checked with the doc about seeing family, he said as long as Kayson was on the antibiotic, then we'd be ok.  I told him I'd clean like crazy too - he smiled.  :)  They came for their visit, and I'm so glad they did.  I really enjoyed myself.  Martina and I hit up Carter's (which could be DANGEROUS!!!, oh but fun!)  We pretty much just hung out at the house.  It seems like we don't just see them very often... and it was nice.  I'm glad it worked out.

Today has been a lazy day...  laundry, grocery shopping...  that's it.  I have a terrible kink in my neck, so I'm try to do lots of stretching it out and putting heat on it.  Eeehhh... not feeling better.  I'll be calling the chiropractor tomorrow.  I've been out of whack a lot over the past couple weeks. 

Kayson is doing better...  he's attitude and whining is back, so he's feeling better for sure!!  Cora is doing well too.  She seems to be really changing...  enjoying more toys and trying new things.  She's definitely a Momma's girl.  I walk in the room and she INSTANTLY cries and wants me.  OOps.  I remember Kayson going through that stage, but I don't remember the reaction she's giving!  Oh well, I guess that's the nature of a Mommy and a baby.  We'll get through it. 

I hope everyone else had a good weekend!

Our Valentine's Day

It's really just another day for us...  but we still had fun with Valentine's Day. 
Monday and Tuesday night, we made Kayson's Valentine's for his daycare friends...  I have a picture on my phone, but I can't get it uploaded!  We didn't spend a DIME on them!  I had red construction paper and oodles of Dum Dum suckers.  We cut out hearts and put the suckers in them (through slits).  They were pretty damn cute.  :)

Anyway, Cora was cute as ever today... sporting two different 'heart' day shirts.  Yes, two.  :)

"Made with Love"

"My 1st Valentine's Day!"

No pictures of Kayson.  He's had a rough day.  He told us this morning that his ear hurts, and his throat... still from last night.  He went to daycare, and we think he had an ok day...  but tonight when I picked him up, he was exhausted.  He wanted to lay down, and he slept for almost 2 hours.  Not exactly what we wanted, but it was obvious he wasn't feeling well.  

He didn't fight us at bed time... we kept him up a little later than normal...  but then within 30 minutes or so, he threw up.  He said his tummy felt better after that...  but then was just upset and a little worried, I think.  He's rocking with Ryan now...  just trying to get him to relax a little.  Poor kid.  I don't know if it was truly just an upset tummy...  I hope it's not the flu.  I'm taking him to the doctor tomorrow for sure... get his ears checked, and his throat.  He'll hate that...  but we can't be doing this over the weekend. 

I've disinfected the bathroom and his room... moving on to the rest of the house.  YUK.  I'm so ready for SPRING. 

So with that...  Happy Heart Day.

Tonight

Nothing new...  just hung out tonight.  I don't think Kayson feels the best...  he's got a raspy sound to his voice, and is just tired.  He was in a fairly good mood, but I can just tell he's 'off'.  I hope he's not getting what Cora had.  (When you have two kids... I guess the sicknesses last longer!)  Cora is doing well...  her cough is gone!!!  She's scooting around on the floor like crazy...  AND she is getting up on her knees and rocking back and forth!!!  It doesn't last long at all, but it's amazing!

Anyway, we took a few pictures tonight...  the main one is my favorite, even tho Cora isn't smiling, that's ok.  :)

My world.

Working on Valentine's for his friends!

Weekend!

We've had a really nice weekend... it's been a busy one, but as of about an hour ago, it's slowed down... the kids are napping and Ryan and I are sitting.  ENJOYING THAT!

Friday evening we got together with our backyard neighbors... Jess & Lex and their little girl Presley.  They are SUCH nice people...  great food, great conversation...  the kids had a great time too.  Jess and I opened a bottle of wine that we had...  drank it all, and it was fabulous!  I'm not a big wine drinker... or drinker at all, but my good friend, Nicky had introduced a wine to me, and I loved it! 

Cora is still coughing pretty bad...  but the meds are in her, and we are hoping to see some improvement by tomorrow...  I'm sure her ears are feeling better, but she is still fighting the cough.  She's sleeping good still... and still in great spirits, so we'll just keep an eye on that cough. 

Saturday morning Mike and JeanAnn came to stay with the kids for a bit.  Ryan's boss had invited us to go to Baconfest!  I was a little hesitant at first, but really - we had a great time...  neither one of us had been (heck, none of the group had been before!), so it was all new.  It was nice for Ryan and I to just go do something alone...  and something different for sure.  We tried some interesting food items, that's for sure!  We got home mid-afternoon and just hung out...  Papa and Kayson played some more...  then we were lucky enough to see Ashley too.  Jill, Ash and Ash's friend stopped by b/c they were in town buying their prom dresses!  (Oh to be 17 again!)  So we saw them for a short time too...  Saturday night we just hung out at home...  a great day.

Today we got to spend some time with Trish, Hope & Hope's boyfriend, Logan.  Another great couple of hours.  Kayson was WIPED out from playing with Hope and Logan.  He was so tired at lunch, rubbing his eyes, etc...  then he got a second wind, played some more... then crashed!  

Ryan's got chili on the stove...  I've done some laundry...  picked up (just a little!)...  and am just enjoying our Sunday afternoon.  

Here are some pictures from our weekend!  Wish it could last another day!!

At Baconfest (with a bacon brownie).  (I look huge... what's up with my neck/face!!??! - weird.)

Better picture!  :)

Sporting one of the Baconfest Hats we got.  ha.

Being silly!!!

Happy girl with Cousin Hope!

Sick Cora

I've been saying that Cora's been coughing for about a week now...  well this morning, she just was wheezing a little more than was comfortable for Ryan and me.  Ryan took her to the doctor this morning - she has bronchiolitis AND double ear infection!!!!  It's a darn good thing we took her in. 

She'll be on some meds for the ear infections and then also meds to help with her lungs.  Doc said she could cough still for another couple weeks, but the meds with help.

Weight: 17 lbs. 5 oz.

I'm concerned about both of these issues she's having...  but am thinking more about those ears.  Gosh I hope she doesn't have the trouble that Kayson had (2 sets of tubes). Oh boy! 

This and That

• I'm addicted to The Bachelor.  STUPID and intriguing all at the same time.  Weird.  :) 
• Miss Cora has a cough.  Awesome.  She's also been waking in the middle of the night...  Sometimes the paci can pass the time, other times, she wants a bottle.  Oh little girl - I need you to sleep!!  
• How do we get Kayson to stay in his bed?  (Yes, he still gets up in the middle of the night and wants to be patted).  But what I'm talking about is, our bedtime routine.  We read books in his room, talk sometimes a little, then lights out and I pat or scratch his back for maybe 30 seconds.  We tell him to stay in bed, good night and we love him.  Not even 20 seconds after the door is closed - out he comes.  He does this at least 3 times a night before he finally falls asleep or we raise our voices to him and he cries, then stays.  I hate going through this every.single.night.  Any suggestions would be awesome!  :)
• I'm still doing laundry from this past weekend...  Usually I try to do a couple loads a week, then finish up on Saturdays.  We headed out on Saturday and I just didn't have the time.  So I'm STILL catching up...  ugh!
• I'm back to playing volleyball... had it tonight, and it was fun.  I'd like to say, we are pretty good for some old, hot Momma's (except for one gal - she JUST turned 22!!!)  Man, that makes me feel old!
• My boss's last day is tomorrow...  still makes me super sad.  I hope we continue to keep in touch.
• I haven't had much of an appetite lately...  (I'm not complaining!), but right now - at 9:20, I'm hungry.  ha.  I really should 'fight' through it, but I'm pretty sure I'll go hunting in the pantry pretty darn soon!
• That's all for now!

Cora's Baptism (and Picture Overload!)

Saturday afternoon we headed to Clarion...  We were having Cora baptized in my home town church.  We did the same thing with Kayson.

We hung out Saturday afternoon...  had pizza out with one of my sisters and her family...  and did a lot of nothing.  Trish came out to the farm for a bit when we first got up there...  thank goodness for her.  Kayson was itching to go outside and just was 'bugging' us!  ha.  Trish went outside with him and they shoveled for awhile (his favorite thing)... and then came inside and they played puzzles and laughed and laughed (totally kept him busy!)  Thanks Aunt Tricia! 

Cora decided to give us a hard time Saturday night/Sunday morning...  up around 12:30...  then again around 5:00.  At 5, I was able to get her back to sleep and rest with me...  I, on the other hand, did not sleep.  Sleepy Momma here!

This morning we got ourselves out the door, on time, and to the church.  We had a great turnout - my family, and Mike/JeanAnn and Blair and Martina joined us to celebrate Cora's baptism.  Pastor Bill did an awesome job (just as he did with K), I'm very pleased...  and we all are so blessed.   After the service, we had decided that we would just have our luncheon at the church.  This seems to be a little easier on my Mom - we don't need to her fussing over getting her house ready for tons of guests...  so I hope it was a success for her.  I think everyone else had a great time - the kids ran and ran, and played ping pong (yes, the church has a ping pong table!).  We ate and ate, and just had an awesome time.  Again, super blessed and lucky.  

Here are the overload of pictures... Enjoy!

With Aunt Tricia

By Papa's snow blower - on his tractor!  K thought that was so cool!

My babies.

Cora's Sponsors - Uncle Blair & Aunt Jill

The Hardy family - first picture of all of us in YEARS!

The Taylor family - hard to get the kiddos to look!

Perfect cake!  Thanks Grandma JeanAnn!

Our beautiful child of God

Working on sitting up...

"Little Sister" loves her toes!

Five Question Friday

1. What is your favorite book to read with your kids? I have a couple favorites right now...  Llama Llama is a new fav.  We really like Curious George, and we have one that is 'God' related, it talks (in simple terms) how to be a brave, good boy...  Kayson and I talk about how to do the things that the book talks about.  It's a sweet book.   As for Cora - "I Love You Through and Through"...  such a nice book for children.
 
2. After having kids, what body part has changed the most? My tummy... and thighs.  First - I've always had bigger thighs ("Hardy thighs" is what we call them - it's in the family!)  Anyway, they are thicker and there's this thing called cellulite on them.  NOT ATTRACTIVE.  Moving on to my tummy - it's fairly flat, BUT it's jiggly.  I like to call it "lots of extra skin" and I don't like it.  I don't do anything to help either one of these 'problems', so I'll just try to keep my mouth shut about them!  ha.  :)

3. Would you ever go back to college? What would you study? My first thought is - hell no.  I hated school, hated college, hence why I only went for 2 years and got a job right away.  My second thought is - if I didn't have two kids, MAYBE.  What I would study? -- maybe architecture.  I've always thought that would be cool to build homes or buildings.  Or to really REALLY learn how to be a professional photographer.  
 
4. How do you close a phone call? Bye, bye bye or other? "BYE!"
 
5. What is the one food that will always be your "cheat food" on a diet?  Carbs -- bread, pasta... ugh!  I'm also a sugar fan lately (due to having Cora - blaming it on her!)  I like candies, M&Ms...  cookies.  DOUBLE UGH!

Another Week has Passed

Seriously, it's February 1 already.  And another week has passed.  Time just flies. 

We've had another interesting week.  Cora now has a cough and cold...  I was called to get her yesterday, due to her having a high fever.  The fever is down, but I can't take her to daycare... especially since they KNOW she had a fever!  So... home we are today.  I am fine with being home with her... I can get some extra things done around the house... BUT my works needs done too.  

Work has been crazy busy over the past couple weeks... and yesterday, my boss announced that she has accepted a position in a different area at PFG.  BOO HISS.  While I'm very happy for her... this is something she's been wanting for awhile now... and the position is EXACTLY what she wants to do.  I'm thrilled for her.  BUT - there is a side of me that is very sad...  her and I have become close, not only work related (she's been a great leader, and I feel like I could really talk to her about work/personal/anything), and just became friends.  She's fun...  and she cares.  She will be missed greatly.  

With her leaving, there's a lot to take over...  until a replacement is made.  We are heavy into reporting (getting several done and created for 2013), and she was a big part of that... so we are tackling that, plus just other adjustments we'll have.  I hope the transition goes well.

Kayson is doing well... his cold and cough is gone.  And he's back to eating like he can't get enough!  (Which I love!)  He's at daycare today...  he said he wanted to be there, which is good.  :)  He would be much happier there, then home with me and Cora!  

Ryan's traveling - left for Nebraska Wednesday, back tonight.  He's getting over his cough as well...  or at least I haven't noticed him coughing as much when we are on the phone or computer!  I just want everyone BETTER!!  I'm so ready for Spring!

I'm feeling better too.  My sinuses are clear...  no headaches, no pressure...  I'm good.  

Cora - it's your turn to get better!  She's been fairly happy, just sleepy.  My sister said it's probably viral, due to her fever just hovering at 101 and then dropping back down...  must be Cora's way of fighting off viral stuff.  (or at least we hope!)  We don't think it's teeth - not feeling anything coming through for her...  and she hasn't been tugging at ears...  

Again, no new pictures...  but I'll have some this weekend.  Cora gets baptized and I'm so excited!  

More to come later!!