How's Cora been?

I'm so impressed with how Cora has handled our topsy-turvy life lately.

Partly to reward her, and to have some weekend fun before we're super busy remodeling the bathroom in our spare time, we took her back to the zoo Saturday.

She was very excited about our trip, and while there it was tough to contain her. The L.A. Zoo is quite spread-out and hilly, but Cora had enough energy to walk for nearly our entire visit. When Stace would ask if she wanted to see the (fill in an animal name), she would shout "Yeah! Yay, yay, yay!" and start jumping or dancing.

When we checked out the kangaroos, she decided to show them how to jump, since they weren't jumping. She also snuggled up to Daddy on our way to the exit. Maybe she'll turn out to be a daddy's girl after all!

I was surprised we managed to leave Minnie and Pooh Bear in the car while at the zoo. These two have been her constant companions for the last week-plus. She talks to them constantly, and makes up scenarios for them to play. This photo is from the hotel hallway on our way to our (cooked to order) breakfast the other morning.

Another hallway story - Cora's imagination is getting more active. The other day she said there was a dinosaur down the hall! We needed to walk fast!

When I asked what color it was, she said, "Red. And green and brown and blue." Other Thomas the Tank Engine fans might recognize that sequence of colors - it's from the theme song, the colors of the engines. Cora loves singing that song.

And speaking of songs, Cora's favorite "real" song is from U2's latest album, "Get on Your Boots." A couple of months ago, I had it on and was impressed when she started singing along. Now, she asks for it whenever we're in the car.

A couple of days ago, we were in the car and the song ended. She asked for it again, and then again, and then again. When I refused to put it on one more time, and instead moved on to the next track she kept yelling, "I don't like this song! Get on your boots!"

I then put the radio on, and she kept saying, "Not this one! I don't like this one!" Then I switched to AM to hear the traffic, since we were soon to be getting on the freeway. More protests. Until I switched to KFI, where the news was just starting. I'm a KFI girl, so Cora is very used to hearing it on in the car.
She quieted down, and then said, "I like this one, Mummy." That's the first time she's ever mentioned the radio station. I guess she really does notice what I have on!

Cora likes to talk about the sequence of events. She often says things like, "When Cora wake up (from nap,) Cora go to park." And she makes us laugh with her pronouncements about the future: "When Cora gets older, Cora will drink coffee," "When Cora gets older, Cora will wear makeup," and "When Cora gets older, Cora will go to school."

Her pronunciation of her name has evolved from "Dora" to "Tora." I'm sure we'll be hearing the hard "c" soon. And we'll surely cry. She already has switched so many "baby" words for the "right" words.

One last Cora tidbit - she might have two English-speaking parents, but Stace and I obviously have our own ways of putting things. One minor difference is that we Americans typically use the word "hug," while the English will say "cuddle." Cora lately has been asking for "huddles," with her arms wide open to us. I also hear her using that new word when chatting with Minnie and Pooh Bear. So, in our house, huddle it is.