Cora is mobile, too

And off she goes!

Cora's second time on her big-girl bike brought her cycling success.

Amazing.

With help from Daddy, Uncle Dean and Pop, Cora was pedaling around the fields of Ham Hill. She was balancing as she turned into wide circles, and stayed upright when she went over a rock.

The terrain wasn't flat, with lumps and bumps, but that all just added to Cora's fun.

We figured it was safer to practice there, since we hadn't yet bought Cora a helmet in England.

As Cora excitedly put it, she's a lucky girl to have bikes and, soon, helmets, in TWO countries!

She was so happy, beaming from ear to ear, as we all were.

It's hard to put into words how proud we were to watch her riding for the first time. Right before my eyes, my baby-turned-toddler-turned-little-girl seemed to grow into a big girl.

Just once, I was the one to give her a starting push. It was hard for me to know when to let go.

I feared that if I let go too soon, she'd fall over and get hurt... and yet, she was just fine. When I took my hands off the handlebars, she took off faster and faster, all on her own.

What a metaphor for parenting, eh? Give 'em just a little push, then LET GO, and watch them take off.
Love you, Cora Rose.
Loads and loads.