Cora's 4th Birthday

and just like that...  Cora May is 4 years old.  When I was going through her pictures last week (replacing the old with new), I realized that she really hasn't changed (looks-wise) from being 3.  But she definitely has grown up.  She's just a little trooper at everything... with a big heart, and a big attitude to add to it.  :)  We love you Cora soooooo very much.

Some of the major things going on right now are: 

• Cora moves up to the 4 year old room at daycare Monday.  More to come with that...  it could be a disaster, only because she's had the most amazing teachers and she's been rather spoiled there.  :)  But I know the next room has great teachers too.  Just an adjustment.  
• Counts up to about 60, gets slipped up on transitioning to 50 from 49, etc.  But doing well.
• She's the 'helper' at daycare --- the teachers have joked that she should wear black (like all the teachers) and she should get paid.  haha.  Funny. She's very bossy and really enjoys telling her friends how to do things.  But also a big helper with art or snack (so we are told!)
• TALKS ALL THE TIME.  This has not changed from her turning 3.  We have a talker on our hands.  She talks to us, she talks to her baby dolls, she talks to herself.  But the second a 'stranger' to her shows up - she's quiet. 
• Very independent --- wants to do everything on her own.  Including brushing her teeth, getting dressed, pottying, cleaning herself, getting things out of the fridge.  The list goes on.  This is all great - definitely a change from brother.  She's so 'second-child'.  
• Little Momma - Cora is a little mother hen right now.  Her babies are her world!!!  She plays so well with them...  using her imagination, everything.

Basic information:

• Clothes - mostly big girl 4/5 besides bottoms.  She's got a tiny rump/waist... so we still do 4T.  She's still got the long torso.  Right now - she refuses to wear shorts - only wants dresses or skirts.  She's been asking for leggings, but it's been too warm...  except for today, she wore capri leggings.  SO CUTE!! She's very demanding when it comes to clothes.  
• Shoes - size 8 or 9 or even a 10, depending on brand.
• Diapers - size 6 (bedtime).  Still doing pull-ups during naps as well, but we've tried about a half a dozen times doing just underwear for nap, and it's gone well.  But I feel like we still have a ways to go.  (She'll probably be like brother and take forever to be completely out of diapers.)
• Has recently shown A TON of interest in the iPad and electronics.  She's figured out how to maneuver on the iPad - finding shows and videos.  She's really into 'Daniel Tiger', 'Paw Patrol' and anything baby related.  
• Loves "Full House" - like the Full House that we used to watch as kids!  LOVES LOVES IT.  She asks to watch it everynight before bed.  Yes, we DVR them.  :)
• She gets her feelings hurt quickly.  She doesn't seem to be very sensitive, but she is!!!  She definitely gets bothered with Daddy is upset with her.  
• She has trouble listening to me... but does well with Daddy.
• Cora hates thunderstorms and hard rain.  If it's storming right at bedtime, she has a really hard time relaxing and falling asleep.  She's even been woke up by the storms before.   She just doesn't like them. 
• Still loves to do art - coloring, markers, paint, stickers, etc.
• She likes to sing still - She sings in the car a lot, and puts in requests all the time.  Favorites songs get switched out about every 2 weeks.  :)
• She's not as interested in books as she used to be.  We still read every night, but I don't find her just flipping through books like she used to.
• She's attached to her 'softie' and blanket - needs them when she's tired/bedtime.  
• Eating is still a rollercoaster.  Still will not touch vegetables.  We've figured out she eats good for about 6 days, then we have 6 days of not eating much.  
• Bed/Sleeping - We've switched bed to about 8:30 in hopes that she would fall asleep quicker.  This is not the case at all.  She's in bed around 8:30 (done with books) and she lays in there, talks, sings, tosses around for about 30 minutes (sometimes up to 45 minutes).  Besides that, she sleeps really well - and has a really hard time getting up in the mornings (weekdays).  (However, her little internal clock will wake her at about 6:50 on the weekends).  She still is very picky on her blankets - doesn't like the comforter that much, so she uses other blankets, and she still has one blanket laying on her pillow.