6 - 9 months

I am writing this as Cora turned 9 months. Time FLIES....

Looking back, I will say that 6 months was my favorite age. Full of laughter, sitting *still*, easy to please, easy to lug around. Not that I'm not enjoying her age now, its just different! Ill never get that 6 month Cora back -sigh. 

OCTOBER (6 months)

We went to Newport Beach with the Wood family. It was a blast. Cora at first hated the sand and water but started getting brave & enjoyed it by the end of the week. The weather was perfect. So warm, almost too warm. No crowds. Had a beach house right on the sand & boardwalk, it was fabulous. 

6 month stats

14.99 lbs (31%) 

27.56" (97%) *although she's always been long I think this was an error you'll see why at 9 mo*

16.5 head cir (37%)

Almost sleeping though the night - wakes up at 5am to eat then will fall back asleep

Likes 3 naps a day -short-long-short

Will roll to wherever she wants to go & then sit up

Laughing like crazy to BOO

Loves being held & stroller rides

Loves baths & chewing on anything she can get 

The jumperoo is her best friend

Has 2 bottom teeth

Loves everyone 

Still breastfeeding morning and night but mostly drinking pumped breastmilk & 1 formula bottle a day

Puts her fingers in my mouth & nostrils while she eats

Babbling mamamamama & babababa

NOVEMBER (7 months)

CRAWLING. 7.5 month CRAWLER ALERT 

We went to Arizona for Morgan Wood's wedding in Gilbert & stayed with my parents Friday-Wednesday. We had a lot of fun going to Lifetime Zumba classes, Top Golf & taking walks around the neighborhood. We got gipped on the warm AZ weather, it was actually really cold. 

Thanksgiving was eventful. We had a house full of family for a week. That resulted in a house full of sickness & stomach flu. Cora developed croup & we had to visit the kids instacare the Saturday after Thanksgiving for a 103.5 fever. Luckily all was well after that! 

7 month stats

Cora loves FOOD & will get angry if I don't share what I'm eating

Breastfed till 7.5 months then 100% formula fed. Didn't seem to notice a difference 

Sleeps through the night! 11 hours

3 naps a day

Loves her jumperoo more than anything

Great traveller

Still in some 6 month but transitioning to 9 month clothes

DECEMBER (8 months)

December was SO MUCH FUN! Cora and I crashed Joey's NJ/NYC biz trip. It was 60* and beautiful! We went to Rockafeller square, Top of the Rock, 9/11 memorial, Eataly, Grand Central Station, Macy's & walked all over the place to see the Christmas lights. It was a blast & Cora was perfect! I'll do a separate post about NYC later. 

Cora's first Christmas was obviously magical. I can't wait till next year when she will understand more. We took Cora skiing on NYE & she pretty much hated that. It was 6* and just too cold for her I think. We only did 2 runs. One of which was a black diamond cause Joey dropped his glove off of the lift. Poor Cora!

8 month stats

17.06 lbs (36%)

Pulling herself up

Sleeping 11-12 hours a night

Loves every food 

Loves discovering everything bad for her...plug sockets, cords, stairs

9 month clothing

Plays in her crib when she goes to sleep and wakes up without making a sound

Loves being thrown in the air

Acid poop gives her diaper rash a lot

Thinks its hilarious when I put her toys in my mouth 

JANUARY (9 months) 

This brings us up to date. I can't believe how fast the last few months have flown, its so sad. I was practically crying during New Years cause 2015 has been the best year ever. I wish I could relive it. I highly doubt 2016 can be as good as 2015. No way. 

9 month stats

17.7 lbs (30%)

27.36" (44%) - She shrunk from age 6 months???? I don't think so. She's gone up a size since then.

Head cir 17.2 (42%)

Pulls herself up on EVERYTHING

Constantly on the move, I have to watch her like a hawk

Has toy ADD, needs something new every few minutes

12 month jammies but 9 month everything else

Sleeps 12 hours a night but is transitioning from 3 naps to 2 naps a day...

Still doesn't hate any type of food, feeds herself hand held bites

Will sometimes hold her own bottle

Started spitting out food cause she thinks its hilarious

1st yeast diaper rash

Still laughs to BOO

Walks around the ottoman & walks well holding both hands

Got a weird rash on her face that went away in 2 days with no meds

Babbles all sorts of things

3rd Anniversary

Its been THREE years. This day was so perfect. Look at the weather! And no one was at the temple. Only 4 weddings that day. 

Joey is a GREAT husband because he...

• Never complains, ever. He rides his bike to trax, then takes trax to work and back, then bikes home from the station. Day after day, sleepless night after sleepless night. No complaining.
• Always gets me an ice water before bed. Such a sweet gesture that I appreciate every night!
• Will do anything I ask of him, he is so serving and giving
• Not picky, I get to choose every time where we go out to eat. Except when it comes to gear...than he's picky :)
• Provides for our family 100% I am so grateful that I get to Choose to work 1 day/week & not have any pressure to even just do that
• Handyman. I don't remember how to do anything because Joey just does it all. 
• Best dad (obviously makes him a great husband)
• So Stylish...I can't go shopping without him! I have my own personal fashion consultant who also doesn't mind a lick when I just wear sweatpants ..which is often.
• Takes care of me when Im sick...which on this anniversary I WAS! :(
• ETC ETC ETC

Joey I love you, Happy Anniversary

Anniversary on a Sunday, Selfie

5 months

F I V E - M O N T H S on L A B O R D A Y

We spent Labor Day in Park City this year. It's become a Wood fam tradition. This year we even tackled the new Extreme Tubing at the olympic park. I pee'd my pants just a lil' bit. ;) It was a fun stay-cation & always great to have an extra full day with Joey!

I love this picture because they love each other. Cuddle fam!

Swimming for her 5 mo bday - Labor day in PC

How things change so fast! She is so self aware. Continues to amaze me how much she is changing & growing.

Started eating oatmeal cereal with fruit & veggies mixed in. Isn't very good at swallowing food from a spoon...blows half of it out as she's trying to scoop it off the spoon.

First pony tail -9/17/15

Is now 50/50 nursing/bottle.

Sits on her own..occasionally falls over to the side.

Can scoot turn around on her belly.

Can roll all 4 ways, but still struggles with tummy to back on occasion...its the arm.

Reaches for everything in sight, then puts it in her mouth.

Loves touching my face, especially as she nurses.

Prefers to be with us all the time morning & night....which brings me to...

Bad sleeper! Takes average 3 try's to put her down for naps & bed. Has a hard time falling asleep.

Prefers to sleep on her side with a binky & stuffed animal to cuddle.

Flings her legs in the air to turn her on her side.

Loves her car seat.

Loves her jumperoo & play mat.

Gets really slap happy at night & will laugh at everything.

Cuddler.

Baby

Sitting on her own

 Sick again...

Grabs feet & sucks on her socks

Cutest baby girl

This is 4 month Cora

4 M O N T H S

• 13 lb 8 oz (41%)
• 25" (81%)
• Finally getting a little leg roll
• Rolls onto her stomach both ways
• Holds her feet 
• Laughs & play screams like a raptor
• Loves standing & bath time
• Loves both her grammys (laughs the Most with them)
• Touches my face, pinches my nose, holds my chin while nursing
• Thinks putting her fingers in my mouth is so funny
• First (double) Ear infection 
• Interacts with toys a lot - everything goes in her mouth
• Started eating about 4-5 oz/feeding

We went camping the day after her 4 month birthday. Alexander lake in the Uintas with the Wood & Jensen clan. It was really cold. Like RE A L L Y cold. Poor cora hated it at night time. I think the cold air hurt her little lungs. Plus come to find out 5 days later she has a double ear infection..poor thing did not feel good. 

last day of 3 month old. Funniest onesie EVER.

3 month highlights

She is already 4 months. WHAT?

Here is a post about her life as a 3 month old.

MILESTONE
At 3.5 months she could roll from her back towards her left side and onto her stomach! Of course, the very FIRST time it happened she rolled off of the ottoman and hit her head...I was one step away from catching her. It was a soft hit...she slid onto her feet then bum then head, BUT STILL. I felt terrible.

Just under 4 months she could roll to both sides onto her stomach. She can't roll onto her back yet, so in the middle of the night I have to often go in and flip her over to her back. *as i hear a muffled "ahhh ahhhh....ahhhh"*

• Cora is laughing lots more & will smile at you whenever you look at her. She's the happiest little thing but has been a Terrible eater & sleeper. Didn't gain much weight till the end of her 3rd month. More about this in my next post. 
• She's been doing good at Daycare. (1 or 2 x/week) They always report that she's been really happy. But surprise surprise doesn't eat or sleep well. We got her faster flow nipples which have been helping a lot. She will come home really tired and go to bed a little earlier than normal days.
• Preferred sleeping method: On her side
• Perferred activity: standing & walking
• Only crys when: she is tired or is alone when shes awake/cant see me or someone
• Happy when: Basically all the time. Even with the wettest, poopiest diaper
• Still eats about 3 oz every 3 hours. Has picked up some in her last few days of 3 months

Old man hair-doo. Crib rub off

New cousin baby Ginny

All 4 girls @ Milly's 1 year party 

Loves her binky & even between this and now (2 weeks) she really interacts with her toys more

"catch yourself with your hands" or not.
Loves standing!

Everything goes in her mouth

12 week giggles, Kids Day, Camping & the 4th of July

I only went back to work 1-2 days per week... I guess it was inevitable...

I missed a first while I was at work :( At least it was caught on video by her grammy.

How could something so cute, get any cuter? ADD GIGGLES. *June 30th*

K I D S  D A Y

We celebrated kids day on June 25th, A tradition started by my parents that Joey and I have decided to carry on. I know that "everyday is kids day" but as a kid (long ago) myself I always looked forward to the *extra* love and attention that day. Cora got her very own jumperoo to grow into. Shes so small, yet so strong. It is crazy to me that she can walk (of course holding her weight)

We also went swimming in celebration of Kids Day

C A M P I N G

Everyone was so surprised that we took her tent camping in the Manti mountains being only 11 weeks at the time. But she did great! Just another night of sleep for her. Only with extra blankets.

We went to go see the Manti pageant. It was so fun we want to make this a family tradition as well!

Setting up camp, BIG TENT & little baby

 We reserved our seats as the gate opened, then rode our bike around and ate food since we had 3 hours to kill!! 

Biking puts her to sleep

Waiting for the pageant to start at dark, She fell asleep right as it started

Packing up to go home! Fast trip, but full of memories

4 T H  O F   J U L Y

Starting our celebration on the 3rd of July (Friday) Joey and I took Cora to daycare, since I have to pay for Fridays despite it being a holiday due to reserving her spot, We took advantage and went mtn biking! Sounds so fun until this happened...

Happened right at the start, I went to instacare to get the numbing gel to clean it out *worthit* All is well! Next time Im wearing knee pads and elbow pads! 

On the actual 4th of July we had a neighborhood bike parade led by a firetruck and it followed with breakfast! We then celebrated by eating Sushi for lunch, test drove a Kia sorento for fun, Ate Mexican for dinner & went to IKEA for a TV stand. Nothing about that is America...or is it. Love our melting pot country :) For the fireworks we put Cora to sleep in her crib and watched her on the camera while we watched fireworks on the hill a few houses down! You could see countless firework shows going on in the valley. We will probably do that every year. No crowds!

Ended our celebration eating Sunday dinner BBQ style at the Woods. Always a good time

Fathers Day

Joey's 1st Fathers Day! He is such a good dad. My favorite has been every Sunday morning (Yes, even on Fathers Day) when Cora gets up, he takes her downstairs and lets me sleep in. Sunday's have been his day and its so sweet to see him take care of her all day (not to mention being excited about it). I think I'll always remember his voice the way he says, "Shes Sooooo cute"

Since this post is about Father's Day its only appropriate to have Joey share his feelings about fatherhood...

"What an adventure! It's crazy to imagine how my life has evolved into fatherhood. I have a renewed motivation to succeed with Cora and Kari to take care of. It's amazing to get to come home to a beautiful wife and baby everyday. When I see her smile, stand up, or make cute noises, my heart just melts. It's fun to take her to church. She loves the Hymns and listening to the organ. Life is forever changed and I'm excited for the next adventure that lies ahead. I love my Cora and my wife."