Tinkerbelle!

Oh, Halloween. Not my favorite holiday, but with this little sprite in the house, it was actually fun! Here's a few pictures of Miss Moo's transformation from Cora to Tinkerbelle!

Aww, The Fam

This is probably as close as we are going to get to a family photo before we go from a family of three to a family of four. I am six months pregnant in these and not very comfortable but hey, they are cute pictures anyway :) These were taken way down Waikiki Beach at an end-of-summer BBQ with some of Mel's nursing student friends. It was a great time! I've never actually been that far down the beach before, it was really nice and not crowded at all... I know where we are going from now on when we want to beach it in town! Anyway, this is short, just checking in and letting y'all know that things are progressing, both in pregnancy and in school. Mel will be graduated in December and we will be on to a new life adventure... family of FOUR in VIRGINIA, woot woot!! One love, peace out, sauerkraut!

Cora Lue is THREE

I can't believe it's been three years... really, I can.not believe it. What an amazing sojourn it is to be a parent. I thought I never wanted this adventure but there are not words to describe how wrong I was. Being a parent is the single most important, most treasured, and most rewarding part of my life. Thank you Cora, for being beautiful you. We are so blessed and honored to your Mommy & Daddy. Happy 3rd Birthday!!

15 Weeks

Pic of the Day: Kaneohe Sandbar

Today, I am 15 weeks pregnant. Woot woot!! I think it's finally starting to sink in... I'm going to have another baby. Even just writing this blog, focused on baby 2, feels so weird. This is Cora's blog (WAS Cora's blog) now she has to share it, like so many other things. She is very excited though. She asked me a couple days ago, "Mommy, when can my baby brother or sister come out of your belly?" I told her not until Christmas time. She said, "I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL CHRISTMAS TIME!! I just can't wait!!"... so cute. And when we went to the baby store to do a little shopping she kept asking to buy things for Baby Nugget, she didn't ask for a single thing for herself. What a sweet little soul, now, if only she can keep that outlook once baby is here, in her reality, sharing her space, sharing Mommy & Daddy, sharing her toys... we shall see! We have so many changes coming in the next six months, I'm not sure I'm ready, but time keeps ticking along without any concern for me... But yeah, back to baby, I had my 14 week appt., everything seems to be going well, we got to hear a very loud, very strong heartbeat, which made me smile :) I kept asking for an ultrasound because I've been very nervous about this pregnancy, doc wouldn't give me one but hearing that little thump thump was very reassuring anyway. 25 weeks and counting...

I'm a PRINCESS!

"I'm a princess with monkey feet!! I'm a princess with monkey feet on a bicycle!!! Look at me, look at me!!" Miss Cora Lue was in rare form today. Not only was she a "princess with monkey feet," but throughout the day she was also "Superhero Cora, to the rescue!" (her pink blankie doubles as a cape) and a Lick Monster (who chases you through the house, tackles you and licks/drools on you to gross you out.) She learned how to do a headstand on the couch, and discovered that if she stands on the couch she can jump ALL THE WAY across the living room and land on her monkey chair "and see Momma, I don't hurt myself, I'm ok. I can do it, it doesn't hurt." How silly of me to suggest she stop, she clearly had it under control. It's definitely been a day, no complaints though, I laughed all day long :)

For My Mother (AND GINA!)

Boxcar races!

FIRST SNOW! (She nailed Mommy in the eye with a snowball!)

Time spent with friends

Happy Dance for her brother/sister on the way

The girl loves to shop

As was brought to my attention (several times,) I have not updated my blog since Christmas!! I know that is unacceptable and I will do my best to get back into the habit! 2010 has been a crazy year. Cora has been a hundred miles a minute, growing, learning, and thriving. Mel has been absolutely swamped with school, and we have been trying FOREVER to get pregnant. But now, Mel is on (albeit short) summer vacation, I feel less stress and have more help, and I'm pregnant(!!!) so things are looking good right about now... time for some reflection, if only I had memory enough to recap that last few months! But let's be real, I don't know what I did earlier today, much less a few months back (Ginko, if only I would take you...) In a very short and not very detailed recap, we played play-doh, painted pretty pictures, swang on swings (not a word, but perfect anyway,) had lots of park time, beach time, and pool time. We celebrated birthdays, made friends, lost friends, had Valentine's fun, traveled to visit family, had Easter extravaganzas, Sealife Park tours, Zoo fun, and Mother's Day celebrations. In short, we've been livin' the good life these past five months!

As for current events.... Cora is the light of our lives. She is like this little magnet for happiness and I can't say enough how much fun "two" has been with her, there was no "terrible" in it at all, but alas, the time is short until she turns three!! I fear since two was so great, three must be where "the terrible" kicks in! But, I am beaming with pride for her right now. Last night Mel took off the front of her crib to transition her into her big girl bed she will get on her 3rd birthday and we are both absolutely shocked at how well she did her first night without bars. We told her that she had to stay in her bed unless she had to pee, no getting up... and she listened!! She got up one time to turn off her fan and get a book, but she yelled for me and asked permission before she got up. And just now, at her first naptime in the open crib, I heard her open her door so I went to chastise her for getting up without asking and she was sitting on the toilet going potty!! I am just so impressed at what a sweet, smart, amazingly obedient and kind little soul she is. I just love her!!

Christmas & New Years

It was all a blast. Too much to type. Let's just have a little picture-fest instead.

Snow White in the flesh

Christmas Joy

LOVING her presents from the Grands

Party naked! It's New Years Eve!!

Lovin' Life

Honolulu City Lights

We took the Honolulu City Lights Trolley Tour! The trolley was a little scary, not being buckled in and driving in Honolulu traffic was a little nerve-racking for a worry-wart mommy like me. I could tell Cora was a little nervous, but she loved it at the same time. We had fun, but now I feel bad because she's been sick ever since :( I exposed her to some cold bug somewhere down there, grrr.

Now she keeps asking to go back to the "elf store" and "watch them make toys for her." SO CUTE. I am so excited to see her on Christmas morning, it is going to be a beautiful thing! I hope everyone out there has a great, GREAT Christmas! Much love!!

Mommy & Me Tea

Cora and I went to our first "afternoon tea" today! It was such a beautiful little tea room and we had a blast!! We met new friends, ate chocolate covered strawberries and bananas, had cute flower shaped tea sandwiches, muffins, and cupcakes, and of course, delicious tea. The best part was crafting and that Cora got a magic wand (star shaped and everything!) so she can be a temporary fairy just like Alice (in one of her favorite books!) It was the perfect afternoon tea, and we can't wait to go again! Dressing up for tea has never been more fun.

Nightlife

I'm posting a few photos of nightlife in the Turner house. I love my life. I can't believe how beautiful my little girl is becoming. She is growing so much every day and is a complete parrot. She repeats EVERYTHING we do and say. Lucia today, taught her a little something. Cora came up to me and said "Mommy, this is my finger and THIS is you" then she twirled one finger around her other finger... get it? I'm wrapped around her little finger. I cracked up. It was so cute, but if Lu had been home she mighta got hit! We are getting decorated and really excited for Christmas. Cora sat on Santa's lap and let him read her a book and talk about what she wants for Christmas, it was a really priceless moment, AND we got it captured on film. I can't wait for you all to see it.

Anyway, off to bed and to watch The Holiday... I hope you enjoy the photos of a really great evening :)

Halloween '09

Let's start by saying, trick-or-treating with a two year old isn't the brightest idea, but, after a few failed attempts, she started to have a good time. Stranger Anxiety (anxiety isn't quite the right word)... Stranger Anger, is strong with Cora. She doesn't like strangers and she's not nice about letting them know that. At one house a lady leaned down to put candy into Cora's witch basket and she yells "NO!! That's MY witch!!" We tried to explain that she wasn't going to take her witch that she just wanted to put a treat in it, and Cora's response? To bend over her witch (to protect it, I presume) and start bawling. All we could do was laugh. But like I said, eventually she got the hang of it!!

When we asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween she said, "DADDY!" So, she was daddy, a nurse, as you can see. She was so cute! (but doesn't have the best bedside manner)

Celebration & Family

Wow. It's been awhile, eh? It's hard to update my little "journal" lately, we always have such a houseful, I have no downtime! It's fun though, I've spent so many years away from family, I'm soaking up every second I have with my cousins while they are here. I love them (Cora LOVES them, also.) This morning Cora was telling Sophi, "No Sophi, you no go to work today, stay here with me!" And every day when they get home from work she runs into their arms like she hasn't seen them in years! It is so cute, and I'm so happy that she has family around (besides boring ol' mom and dad!) The picture above was taken while Gramma Deana was out visiting. We went to Kaneohe Sandbar and chilled on the ocean for the day. Lucia and Cora were loungin' together, gettin' some rays!

August was a good month! Mel and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on the 24th. We went out on a little date while Gramma, Sophi, and Lulu stayed home with Cora. It was nice to get out alone and just focus on one another for a few hours. But alas, we missed Cora, and didn't want her to go to bed without us telling her goodnight, so we came home early... as it turns out, being parents is our first priority, above a night on the town. Six years into marriage and we are so connected, so "on the same page," and it was great to go out and talk, just us, to reaffirm our commitment to each other and to our FAMILY as a whole.

So yeah, a couple days after our anniversary I turned 32, not happy about it, so let's just skim over that little particular (Mel bought me a gorgeous painting, some beautiful flowers (pink lilies,) and he and Cora made me a gorgeous, GORGEOUS cake!) I got to blow out the candles with my babygirl, that was the best part of the day. Seeing her excitement in celebrating my big (OLD) day made turning 32 fun (almost!)

July was INSANE

July flew by! I was absolutely INSANE. Cora turned two (woot woot!) Mel turned 28 (woot woot!) Cambria, Scott, and Brooklyn came and stayed with us for two weeks (BIG woots!) Then Sophi and Lulu flew out to live with us for the summer (I discovered they are my soul sisters!) So, it was busy, busy, busy all month long, I didn't have time to blog AT ALL. So here are a few photos of the highlights of the month... ENJOY!

Guess Who's....

POTTY TRAINED!!!

Big congratulations to Cora for being a big girl now!! We decided that when she turned two it was time for her to learn how to use the bathroom like a big girl, in the toilet. We read an e-book a friend had called Three Day Potty Training, really liked the concepts and ideas (no punishment for accidents, no coercions, just positive reminders, LOTS of praise and rewards for success) of the process described and decided to go for it and in three days she was potty trained! I am so amazed, so impressed with her (and us) for being so successful! She is in big girl undies all day and hasn't had an accident in her underwear since day three of potty training (it been two weeks.) She still wears a pull-up at night but those too, will soon be gone, we are going to start that phase of the training soon. It was a stressful first three days....

..but we are all smiles now!!! Congratulations Cora, on your big success!!

Mamaw & Papaw

Bubbles!!

Thank you soo much for the money to buy my bubble mower!!  I went through two bottles of bubbles already and I just got my mower! (because Mommy and Daddy took FOREVER to get it for me!) 

It is a little hard for me to push by myself but I still love it, Mommy says that when I get the hang of it I will probably go through ten bottles of bubbles a day!  I think it's really fun and its the first noisy toy I've ever had that doesn't scare me :)  Probably because it makes bubbles, nothing that makes bubbles could be scary!!

Anyway, I just wanted to send you both a little thank you note to let you know that I got it, that I love it, and that I love you!

Love, 

Cora

Cora & Phoey

Boating at Kaneohe was so beautiful. We had a great day! The tide was low so we didn't see very many fishies but the turtles were around (they never disappoint!) so Cora and Sophia (Phoey) got to see them for the first time! We even saw a baby one!! We got a lot of sun, checked out some reefs, hunted for seashells, played in the water, and played in the sand. We all came home with big smiles and pink cheeks (and can't wait to go again!)