Beach Baby

I am finally getting around to posting pics and videos from our trip to Saint Simon's Island. The only way I am going to get this done is to just throw the pictures on here with some brief captions. The thought of narrating the whole trip is what has psyched me out thus far.

So, here it is in brief:

Cora's first trip to the Beach!!

She did wonderfully the whole trip, and even started sleeping longer than ever. Most nights: nine and a half to ten hours! (Yes, I know I am stunningly lucky and yes, I am desperately grateful for such a good baby.) We think it had something to do with the sea air.

These are pictures from her first foray down to the beach:

First, as a guide to how close we were to the beach, this is the two of us looking off MaMa and Pop's balcony, and the sand starts just past this courtyard area. You just walk out the gate and there you are. This is actually her first view of the beach:


This is the still shot from (one of) Cora's first dip(s).


How cute is my kid?? Love(!) the little water coming off her foot!

As you can see on the video below, she really didn't like her very first time because I put her in right as a big wave came up. Sorry, baby: Mommy couldn't see behind her. After that, though, I sat her on my feet like so


and she liked the waves splashing up over her.

This is Cora with her daddy


And with her mommy (sweet shades, huh? I forgot who gave those to us...maybe the Englekings?)


The whole beach family


And because we're (read: I'm) a little obsessive about pictures and videos, we also videoed her first time in the sand and the first time in the ocean. I've put them below. Check out how sad she gets when the big wave scares her. Oh, and my apologies for the end of the surf video - I don't know how to edit yet!







Next: Cora takes on the Pool!

I'm so cliche

Felicity is in trouble.

Apart from the many, many other things she has been doing of late (including mischievous morning activities that have woken up the baby...for which she is very lucky that she is not homeless), she has been trying to chew on anything and everything she can find.

Today she tried to gnaw on part of my [very expensive] breast pump. I didn't leave it out irresponsibly - I was in the middle of using it! So I go to shoo her away before she can puncture the plastic, and it causes me to spill almost half of the milk I had just been pumping.

I was livid. This is my body. This is my child's nourishment, which I had just labored (not very comfortably) to retrieve. And it spilled all over my clothes when I was trying to get ready to go to choir practice.

It had already been a tough day and I'm not feeling well, so that might have contributed to this, but I actually teared up I was so upset about the loss.

Yes, that is correct: I literally cried over spilled milk.

When it rains, it pours (poo)

What happened today could really have been on a sitcom. I think the episode would have been entitled "Bodily Fluid Extravaganza."

I heard a substantial development in Cora's diaper, so I went to change it pretty soon after it happened in order to avoid any unwelcome leaking incidents. Apparently, however, I jumped the gun, and she was not finished after all. I had taken off the first diaper, cleaned her up, and slid the soiled diaper out from under her with the new diaper already under that one (a little trick my favorite nurse taught me at the hospital). As I started closing up [dirty] diaper number one, I heard her begin further proceedings in the new, open diaper. I hurriedly reached for another wipe to clean her up again, and as I did, she had an explosive burst of poo that spread outside diaper number two and onto the wall of the changer. I had to laugh.

So I remove diaper number two and place it inside the still open diaper number one, and reach for diaper number three to put on her. Before I can even reach the pile, however, she decides that back end maneuvers are not sufficient, and it's time for a front end attack. She spits up a little, and before I can even finish thinking, "Yeah, that's just what we were missing," she begins to vomit voluminously. Keep in mind that she's lying on her back, so barf is now all down her front, soaking her romper and bib, is running down her neck, and is pooling behind her head. Her hair is soaked. There is puke in her ears. And she's still naked from the waist down.

I can't see any other option than to strip her down the rest of the way, pick her up, whisk her off to the bathroom and run a bath one handed. I finally got her cleaned up and calmed down, and then wrapped her in a towel on the bed. I'm attempting to dry her, diaper her (in diaper number three) and clean the puke that is still standing in the changer all simultaneously. And of course as soon as I get diaper number three closed up, she poos again. So I laugh, remove diaper number three, replace it with diaper number four, and get her dressed.

Then, as I place her on the floor for some "tummy time," I apparently activate her expulsion reflex yet again because I hear another poo. How she still has anything left to move is beyond me, but nonetheless, she did.

So, to recap, that makes the total damages rendered in a span of about ten minutes:

four soiled diapers, plus the one she's wearing now

eight to ten dirty wipes (including those used to clean up changer)

two cloth diapers, soaked in puke

one snappy romper thing, soaked in puke

one cloth bib, soaked in puke

one wet towel

one wet shirt (mine)

Now, that's efficiency.

Where Have All the Postings Gone?

...Long time passing - O, Pete Seeger, how I love thee! But I digress.

I'm coming back, I swear!

I was in Texas visiting my family, and when I got back, the laptop got sick and is still at the Mac doctor. It's been there a week, so we better hear something soon.

Whenever I get it back, though, I have lots to tell and many pictures (and videos!) to share. So don't stop checking in on us -- we'll be back soon!

Update (31 Oct): The laptop is no more. Long live the laptop. I promise to update again soon, though. Thanks for your patience!

Consider yourself warned

A notice to all my family who will see us this weekend:

Wear nothing that is dry clean only.

Miss Cora is particularly barfy this week, and spit up is a-flying.

Just don't say I didn't warn you...

Mama and Pop

We went to Georgia to visit Coleman's parents and to the beach the first week in September. I am just now getting to those pictures. However, one of the things that was keeping me from tackling them was how many and how many different ones there were. In order to spur myself into action, I decided to break them up into several posts.

This one is devoted to pictures of Cora with her grandparents - Mama (pronounced properly with a Southern drawl, resulting in "Maw-maw") and Pop.

Cora loved to watch tv with her Pop - especially football!

This is the two of them hanging out. Check out the sweet ducky pjs (formerly known as chickie pjs until I was overruled...I still think they look like a good mix of the two)!

Cora loved sitting out on the balcony, enjoying the sea air. She especially loved doing it with Mama

Just look at that sweet smile.

After the beach, we went back to their house and got to hang out with some of their friends and neighbors who wanted to meet the baby. She had lots of fun sitting out on the back stoop watching the "hummers" (hummingbirds) at their feeder. See?

This one cracks me up:

I know that's a lot of the same shot, but I really liked them. :o)

I also thought these were sweet:

This one is my favorite. Look at how she is hanging on to her finger. Pre-cious!!

One of the best parts of the week was getting to meet her Uncle Tripp for the first time (Well, she met him for the first time. Obviously, it was not OUR first time to meet him!).

It was a great visit and we hope to stage a repeat soon. Cora loves her Grandparent Fannins and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual!

Limber, anyone?

You know how I told you about Cora's new bending in half habit?

Well, just a minute ago, she got all the way bent over...and then fell asleep. We've told people that when she wants to sleep, she's going to sleep (and the converse holds true as well: when she doesn't want to, she is not going to sleep), but this may be a new level for this claim. Who sleeps like this, with your head on your feet?? Jen, I know you can fall asleep anywhere, but I think this even beats you!

I wish more than anything that I could have gotten a picture, but the camera battery was plugged in, recharging, in the other room. Stink!