So much to see!

Here you can see Cora in her infant carrier, happy as she can be. This is from a walk a few nights ago that ended up taking about two hours instead of 45 minutes like we figured it would. Stace had her facing forward for the first 45 minutes or so, and then we switched her around and she took a nap, snuggled into his chest.

little fish

After a successful first dip a few days earlier, on Saturday night we went full on with Cora and the pool. We got the swim diaper and put her in up to her neck, and she loved it! She did some kicking and arm waving, and when we held her out she seemed to know to kick intuitively.

The water was warmish, since the weather has been so hot, and the sun had gone down far enough that we were in shade. It was a perfect setting. It was great for Stace, who loves swimming and is looking forward to taking her to classes once she is old enough (six months at the YMCA).

I can also report that as Cora approaches five months, she is becoming MORE. She is more fun and also more demanding. On Sunday, Stace and I had the idea of going up to the English pub to enjoy a Sunday roast dinner, but as we were getting ready we realized it just wasn't going to work. Cora was only happy in our arms, or in the infant carrier, and she would scream/shriek when we put her down. Not exactly restaurant behavior. So as lovely and giggly as she is sometimes, Cora is definitely no longer easily portable!

Play Time!

Cora has her first Gymboree class this week and she loved it! The class is for babies six months and younger, and about nine babies and their mommies participated. She was very enthusiastic and interested in the songs and activities, and especially in the other babies. We sat next to two six-month-olds, and Cora could hardly keep her eyes off them as they sat up on their own and reached for toys during tummy time on the mirror. Cora did very well during tummy time in that she kept her head up high for a long while before tiring out. But she hasn't started reaching for toys while on her tummy yet.
We also did a bit of baby massage and tactile play, using a paintbrush so baby can feel the new texture. Cora really did enjoy herself, and I'm looking forward to taking her back again.
Also this week was Stacey's birthday. My mom came over and watched Cora so we could go out to eat on our own - it was great! That was the fourth time we've been out without Cora, but the first time we've been out on our own. Besides the meal, we had birthday cake all together. When he blew out his candles, Cora cried! I think it was the smoke that scared her.
Another Cora tidbit I can point out - in the top photo, see how the back of her head looks a little like a face with her bald spot forming the mouth? We've noticed in the last couple of weeks that Cora has two crowns.
Also, Cora is now big enough to ride in the infant carrier facing forward, and she LOVES it. Last night we went to Trader Joes and instead of pushing her in the stroller, Stace wore her in the carrier, and she was loving it. She was excited, looking all around, kicking her legs and waving her arms. She is the same when I wear her when I'm doing things around the house.

another round?

Cora had her second round of vaccinations Tuesday afternoon, another four shots plus a liquid dose. You can see her here showing off her bandages, along with her prettiest new cloth diaper. The shots went much better this time in that Mom didn't cry. Cora, on the other hand, did a bit of screaming. She wasn't herself Wednesday, either, and was just fussier than normal. The official numbers show her to be a long, lean baby. She's 25 3/4 inches long (90th percentile!) and 13 pounds 6 ounces (35th percentile).
On Wednesday morning, I took part in a local Stroller Strides class. It was great, and I think I'll start going regularly. The hourlong classes are lead by a fitness instructor and include a lot of strength training along with the walking. I love walking for exercise, but normally don't do much in terms of strength so this will be good for me. Plus it's a chance to meet other moms.

The second photo is from Monday afternoon; we went to the swimming pool (Dad was the only one to get in) and Cora fell asleep on her towel on the lounge. She was so cute, 'sleeping like a baby.'

Choo Choo!

Mommy and I wanted to surprise Daddy for his very first Father's Day. We thought and thought about what to get for him. I did a very good job on my Mother's Day video surprise for Mommy, but I didn't want to do the same thing twice. Finally we thought of the perfect gift - an outing on the historic Fillmore & Western Railway! Daddy loves trains, and we have driven around the Fillmore depot a few times but never been for a ride.

Daddy loved his surprise! The trip was about two hours through pretty orange groves in beautiful weather to Santa Paula and back. I was a very good girl, and stayed awake the whole time and loved looking around at everything.

Also, I've decided that bottles aren't so bad! On Saturday I drank a bit from my funky bottle, and then Mommy got more milk for me and put it in a different bottle that I used to like to drink from. I drank about four ounces all together! I also had more from a bottle today on the train. I don't know why I didn't want any bottles for the last month, but Mommy and Daddy are glad I've changed my mind again.

When we came back home in the evening, the weather was still lovely so we took a little walk and got some dinner. Daddy made dinner while Mommy fed me, and then we all sat out on the balcony. It was a very nice day.

... And the living is easy

We took our first official trip to the pool on Friday afternoon, and Stace took Cora in for her inaugural dip. She seemed interested and happy enough, and even did a little bit of kicking after Dad showed her how, by moving her legs around. Cora didn't stay in long - she preferred relaxing on the sun lounge, where she kept kicking off her towel after tasting its hem.
It's been hot the last couple of days, good pool weather. These photos were taken around 5:30, and it was plenty warm in the shade. In fact, the evening was beautiful and we later went to the Town Center area. Lots of people were out walking around enjoying live music at the Hyatt, where they block off the street on summer Friday nights.

Stace survived riding his bike home in the heat Thursday. Cora and I met him on his way home and we relaxed on the grass at the park, and Cora and I spent some time on the swing while Stace napped. She loved the swing!
Cora now enjoys practicing sitting up. When we reach for her hands to pull her to the sitting position, she anticipates sitting and will arch her back a bit. Also in the week, she rolled onto her back from her front during a tummy time session. She turned over a few times a while ago, but hadn't repeated the feat in a number of weeks.
For those of you following the "will Cora take a bottle" plotline, we can report a bit of progress. This week, when we've offered her the expensive bottle with the funky delivery system (www.breastflow.com), she has taken between 1 and 2 ounces each time. Granted, when she used to take bottles, she would drink 4-5 ounces in 15 minutes or so, and it now takes her that long or longer to take in much less. She seems to play with the nipple instead of taking it in and actively eating. But, it's certainly progress considering we went several weeks where she would scream whenever the bottle nipple went in her mouth.

Beach Day

We picnicked on the beach Sunday afternoon and then took a stroll down Ventura's main drag, which gets cooler and cooler each time we go. More bars/restaurants/cafes, more trendy clothing shops, fewer and fewer thrift stores. It was sunny and warm in Santa Clarita and the clouds were just burning off when we got into Ventura.
In the top photo, Cora is modelling one of the great new outfits she now fits into (thanks, Small fam!). She liked her time on the swing, and sticking her feet in the sand.

Four months!

Look how big Cora is! She is now a "regular baby" instead of a tiny, young baby. I can carry her around on my hip, the "mommy hold," and she entertains herself with her toys now. Her personality so far is very pleasant, smiley and social. She also has started fussing when she wants our attention - she'll make a lot of noise, and then start smiling when we come near.

Cora is 13 pounds, 3 ounces, and about 24 1/2 inches long, putting her betweent he 25th and 50th percentile for both categories, according to an online chart. We'll get the official numbers next week when we go back to the doctors' for her next round of shots. She has outgrown a lot of her clothing, and I spent much of yesterday washing her new, bigger clothes and putting away the newborn and 0-3 month items.

She's now back on the Pacific Standard Time, thankfully. We flew home Sunday night, and she was sleeping in the evening and then awoke at 2 Monday morning. On Tuesday, she awoke at 3:30, and on Wednesday she didn't get up until 5. Thursday our day together started at 7, and on Friday and Saturday she slept until 8, after fussing at about 6:30 and then returning to sleep (Good Baby!!).

Back home

The family trip to Stacey's homeland has come to its end, and Stace is back to work and I'm back to - well, I'm back to taking care of Cora. Wait, I was doing that in England too... Never mind! She is a joy to care for, and it was great having all the help from my in-laws over the last two weeks.
Cora did pretty well on the long flight home. She cried the whole time we were waiting in line to board, making us a bit nervous, and then cried for about 10 minutes in the first hour, making me even more anxious. But then she settled down, and ended up taking a five-hour nap (see photo). Stace and I took the opportunity to watch "Music and Lyrics," the Hugh Grant movie that opened the day Cora was born, and features a character named Cora.
Now that our trip is over, let me offer my best advice for any parents who need to travel long-distance with a baby: Have a nursery completely set up for you when you arrive! We are so grateful to Sue and Gord and our friends/family in Somerset who helped make our travel easy. We were able to borrow an infant seat/car seat, travel bed, changing mat, baby bath, infant bouncer and toys, and Stace's nan bought us a stroller. All we needed to bring was Cora and her clothes. Thanks to the Richards and Bristows for their help! And speaking of Bristows, here is Cora meeting Ben, the delightful 2-year-old son of Stace's cousin Karen and her husband Martin.

As for the rest of our adventure since I last posted, Stace and Gord agreed to stop their DIY work in the kitchen on Friday so we could take a family trip to a tank museum. On the way, the car started acting up, and we ended up instead having lunch in Sherborne, a picture-perfect Dorset town with ancient buildings, great shopping and plenty of pubs and coffee shops. I think Sue and I got the better end of this day, and no, we didn't sabotage the car to avoid the tank museum. In the evening, Cora stayed with Sue and Gord and Stace and I watched Pirates with Dean and Jenny. No, Cora didn't really take her bottle, but we timed it so that I could feed her before we left and immediately when we came home, and all went very well.
On Saturday, Uncle Dean (an auto mechanic) fitted new brakes on the car, and we had a nice family meal in a pub in the evening.
The final, four-generations photo is from our trip earlier in the week to Hawkchurch, the village where Stacey's nan Mary grew up.