6 months!

Cora has had a big month! She started rolling from back to tummy and does it every time you put her on her back to play. She also does it in her crib, getting stuck on her tummy and crying. She hasn't decided that she can sleep on her tummy yet. She sits pretty well now and we tried solid food for the first time. Her first food was banana, and she's also had avocado, sweet potato, mango, asparagus, pear and carrot. She's still not crazy about food, but eating more and more every meal. She continues to wake up at least once a night to nurse. She LOVES her daddy and will stare at Matt whenever he's in the room. She's also discovered Allie and Lucy and tries to pet/grab them when they come near.

Eating avocado for the first time

We surprised my mom for her birthday with a weekend trip to the Oregon Coast. She was VERY happy to see Cora! We hiked a bunch through the dunes and Cora rode in the hiking backpack for the first time. She loved it for about 5 minutes before she fell asleep :)

5 months old in February

5 months old

Cora changed a lot in her 5th month - she is much more aware and curious about everything. She nurses more often (every 2 hours), but only for 5-10 minutes at a time. She took her first plane trip to go see Matt's family in California. She did great on the flight - charming everyone with that smile, but went on a nap strike once we got there and stopped sleeping through the night as well. She's sleeping 7pm to 7am with one or two wake ups to nurse. She's discovered her voice and loves to squeal/scream for fun. She chews everything, but no sign of teeth yet. We started solids around 5.5 months - more on that in her 6 month update.

Snow storm & visit from great friends

Cora's first time at the beach - Huntington Beach, CA

with cousin Lauryn

Cora's first time at In N Out (she loved it!)

4 months!

Cora is a big, healthy girl! At her 4 month appointment she weighed 15lb 10.5 oz (72%) and was 26in long (92%). Where does that height come from??

She is still very calm and happy most of the time. She continues to sleep through the night - usually 8pm to 7:30am. She's lost a lot of hair and it looks like it's growing back blonde. Cora doesn't mind tummy time and is very strong holding her head up and pushing up with her arms. She rolled once from front to back, but it may have been a fluke because she hasn't done it again. She loves to suck her hands and can now grab toys and bring them to her mouth. She also likes to look at herself in the mirror which always makes her smile and laugh. 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas seems like it was ages ago, but here are some pictures finally.

Cora LOVED the Christmas tree lights and spent lots of time staring at them. 

She got to meet the rest of her aunties on Matt's side... Heidi, Lisa and Jenna

She also met Great Grandma and Grandpa and all her cousins!

Lauryn, Cora, Mason, Darrin & Mya

Cora's Baby Blessing

Cora was blessed at church by her daddy on December 8, 2013. Matt's dad, stepmom, brother and sister, as well as my parents made the trip up for the the weekend. It was a frigid weekend! Like in the 20s. We went to Multnomah Falls where everything was frozen, which made it even more beautiful!

Our great Portland friends came too - Michelle, Aren, and Molly

Thanks everyone for coming!

3 months old!

Cora is such a happy baby! She is quick to smile and laugh and loves to "talk" to us. She loves when we imitate her sounds. On her 3 month birthday she started sleeping through the night (8-12 hour stretches)! We went on a 14 hour roadtrip to see Matt's family and Cora did great! She has figured out how to put her hands in her mouth and loves to suck on her fist and fingers.

Thanksgiving

4 generations

Great Grandpa

"The kids"

all smiles!

2 months old

One month!

Meeting friends and family

1 day old with Uncle Yann & Auntie Kate

2 days old with Molly

6 days old with Grandma & Papy

5 days old with Michelle & Aren

2 weeks old with Nona

2 weeks old with Auntie Becca & Allie

3 weeks old with Auntie April

2 weeks old with Lauren

4 weeks old with Bella

4 weeks old with Katurah

4 weeks old with Ana

36 weeks, 1 day... she's here!

Cora Mae Oates was born 4 weeks early on September 23rd at 11:41 pm. She was 5lb 15oz, 18 in long, perfectly healthy with a head full of brown curly hair.

My water broke Sunday at 8pm. Matt was at the airport about to leave for a business trip! But luckily I caught him, he came straight home and we went to the hospital. I couldn't have asked for a better birth experience...everything went according to "plan" and the nurses and doctors were amazing. I went into labor on my own with only a little meds to help thin my cervix and some acupuncture to keep things moving. Matt was AMAZING! We were able to labor and deliver with no pain meds and I know I could not have done that without his support. 

Here are pics of our new family in the hospital..

36 weeks

We had a busy weekend the days before Cora was born!

Saturday, Molly and Michelle threw a great baby shower for Oregon friends and family (thanks Nicole for coming all the way up from CA to help celebrate!)

And Sunday, our very talented friend Nicole took maternity photos in the rhododendron garden next to our house. Her cute family was here too :) Little did we know what would happen this evening...

Tim, Bennett & Nicole