Christmas at Phipps

This past weekend we visited Phipps as we do every holiday season. They have beautiful flowers, a great railroad set up with trains, and a very kind / non-pushy Santa. This year they also had the Pgh Ballet doing 30 min sessions with the kids. So off we went!
Things seemed to be going well at first - we got out the door on time after baths, no traffic getting there, and we even found a close parking space. We watched the trains for a bit then headed off to get a seat for the ballet session.
The ballet session was getting crowded but we found a good spot up front. The kids sat on mats so they could dance when it was time, and the parents had chairs set up behind them. Cori waited really patiently for a good 25 minutes, which is asking a lot for her (or any 3 yr old surrounded by other kids and lots of excitement!)

The ballet spokesperson did ask us to not post any pics of their faces on the internet, so I want to respect that; most the pictures will just be of Cori. But they had an 18 yr old dancer dressed up as the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker; she'd been dancing for 14 years! She read the kids a story about the Nutcracker and talked a little bit about the story. The kids loved it. She then talked about ballet and her shoes and outfit. Then it was time to dance! She explained the 5 ballet positions to the kids and showed them how to do each. She then also showed them some "moves". Finally she turned on the Nutcracker music and they practiced what they learned.After the ballet session was over, we changed Cori into her beautiful new dress from cousin Tracey .
We got in line to see Santa, and it was a really, really long line. Obviously everyone had the same idea of visiting Santa after the ballet, plus Santa had just gotten in from the North Pole. We waited probably for about 45 minutes. Luckily we were near the trains so Cori could watch them, and for the most part, she was good. But we were getting close to both lunch time and nap time, and patience in general was starting to wear thin. Cori was very nice to Benjamin though!
Finally we got to see the big man himself! Both kids did great!
After Santa we played with their produce display. What, you don't shop for produce in a fancy dress?
At this time, we'd all had enough and went to head home. Here's where the wheels fell off the cart and the tantrums started. Too tired, too hungry, and done with it all, Cori just freaked out in the family rest room. Ben was scared of her screaming and chimed in too. I wanted to bang my head off the wall and silently wished I could teleport us all home. The rest of the day was particularly tough and we just couldn't figure out why. The next day we discovered that both kids had a horrible cough and congestion; the doctors trip on Monday showed that their lungs were clear and they both had bad colds. (We also found out that Ben weights almost 17 lbs at 5 months!)

It's been a rough few days with the colds and I've been working at headquarters on a huge project which has meant getting up early to leave earlier (it's farther away) and getting home later. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday, and looking at this very cute picture of the kids (it's one of my favorites) helps me remember them in a non-cranky state.

Random Pics

A few weeks ago we had a big storm move through that gave a beautiful rainbow in our back yard - had to share the picture:
Our little guy is now 5 months old, and yesterday rolled for the first time. He went from belly to back - just kind of pushed himself back over! Here he is right before he rolled:
I didn't capture the roll on film; I was too busy cheering!

Silly picture of the kids. The cheesy smile on Cori just makes me laugh. The drool from Ben makes me kind of cringe. What the photo!
The way Ben is sitting in this picture makes me laugh.
We've had a really hectic 48 hrs that has kind of taken its toll. This picture pretty much sums it up. Note the look of disgust on Cori's face; I'm in the midst of begging her to behave. More on our long (and super busy) weekend when my eye lids aren't so heavy.

Kennywood Holiday Lights

We've been social creatures as of late. With 2 kids, it doesn't take much to say you're socially active since most of the time we're occupied with them. Saturday night we attended a birthday party for a good friend of Dave's (in a very cool, urban chic loft space in East Liberty) and on Sunday I was lucky enough to go to the Steeler's game. My voice still isn't 100%. To say I had a great time would be an understatement.

Last night we went to Kenny for the opening night of their new holiday light event. This was Cori's reward from months ago for being fully potty trained. Her excitement was almost unable to be contained. She kept saying "I'm going to Kenny wood because I pooped on the potty!". We expected her to tell people there that too, but luckily she didn't.
Now, I grew up about 1 mile from Kennywood and used to go there a few times a year (more so when I was in high school). So it had kind of lost it's lure for me, but a promise is a promise so I took Cori along with my mom. I was pleasantly shocked that it wasn't crowded at all; while there were lots of people there, it was nothing at all like it is in the summer. Lots of room to walk and navigate, and hardly any lines for the rides. Most of the rides we walked up and got right on!
There were also lots of fun activities like cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa, visits with Frosty, Mrs Claus, and Santa, etc. All free!
And the lights - wow. The lights were wonderful! So beautiful! I really can't imagine how long it took them to do all that they did. And no detail was too small to be over looked - I noticed that even the signs were re-done in red, green and white! Christmas music played throughout the park, you could smell wood fires burning all over (mmmmm) and it was really neat to hear the carousel pipe organ play Christmas music! All the workers were very nice - everyone wished us a Merry Christmas when we'd leave the ride, said thank you, smiled, etc.
Cori had a fantastic time, and we did as well. The highlight of the night was probably when I won her this huge stuffed Rudolph animal - her favorite! She was so happy; I was shocked that I got a little ring on a bottle neck ring toss!The night was capped off by fireworks which made it extra special. I'd really recommend visiting if you have a little one (or if you just enjoy Kennywood or Christmas Lights). They are open Fridays and Saturdays from 5-9 through the 17th.

Social Committee

I decided to join a new "social committee" which will help plan events for the families in our development. Figured it would be a nice way to get to know my neighbors and their kids (cause we have A LOT of kids in the neighborhood). I was a little nervous at meeting the half dozen other women who also agreed, cause it seems like they all know one another very well. There are already lots of events in the plan that I've not yet participated in - book clubs, pig roasts, walking groups, play dates, holiday cookie exchanges. It was more than a little intimidating; I'm always nervous in new social situations where I don't know anyone. But the women were very welcome and we came up with a great idea for the holidays.

Here's the flyer I made that we're going to distribute. Cori is already excited about participating!

Flowers

This past Monday I received the nicest surprise - flowers from a friend in thanks for doing a "pay it forward" kindness to her. Who doesn't like to receive flowers, especially by total surprise?! And receiving such lovely ones make the joy even better.

Handsome Man

Love this photo of Ben!!

Funny Stuff

Corinne is one funny girl! Here is a page from her recent daycare assessment. Check out the second question and her answer:
I don't know where she gets this stuff! We've not talked much about community and what a cop does, and luckily we've never had any run-ins with the law, but that is one random answer!

More on her assessment in another post. It has my head spinning - apparently preschool is the new Harvard. Times sure have changed from when I went to school.

Sweet November

November seems to have just flown by; I'm having trouble accepting that Thanksgiving is next week! We've been doing okay for the most part. The kids both had some lengthy colds and then Dave caught it and it turned into bronchitis. Thankfully I managed to not contract anything other than some sinus migraines from the temperature swings.
At 3 and 1/2, Cori continues to awe me in how much she is growing up. Our little toddler certainly is losing most of the "baby" aspects and she just seems to big to me now! Last week we raked leaves for a while at Um-ma's house and got some great shots.
Ben is also getting bigger and bigger. He was 15 and a half pounds at his 4 month appointment earlier this month. He loves to bear weight on his legs and stand, and he is days away from fully rolling over. But he is really just a very happy baby - lots of smiles and laughter. Cori is his favorite person it seems because no one can bring a smile to his face like she can. He will look for her should she leave after playing with him for a bit. I didn't think that kind of "attachment" happened for a while, but he will scan the room looking for her!
We gave Ben some cereal last week and at first he didn't seem very interested. The next night he did better, was much more vested in the process, but ever since then, each attempt has been met with apathy. I'm not concerned - he should be getting his nutrition from breast milk anyway, and we have plenty of time for solids.
Today we're taking the kids for pictures and to ride the train & see Santa at the mall. Cori got about 5 inches of hair cut off and looks so stylish. More pictures to come.

4 months old

Ben is really growing so much! Today's doctor appointment showed him to be 15 and a half lbs and 24 and a half inches long. That places him in the 63rd percentile for weight and 34th for height. This weekend we started putting away the size 3 month clothes and broke out the size 6 month ones. We are still so lucky to have so many clothes from which to use - the generosity of friends and coworkers is a huge savings since clothes aren't cheap, and Ben isn't in them for long!Recently Ben has found his hands and has discovered how to reach for things. Here's a cute shot of him on his activity mat reaching for his toys.
We've also placed him in his bumbo seat - he seems to really like the change in position and to be able to watch his big sister. He smiles and laughs at her so often - it's really fun to watch them interact.
Ben is also wearing quite a thinning hair / bald spot on the back of his head! It's amusing to me since Cori never had one, but then again, we held her to sleep the first 4 months of her life!

While we love both Benjamin and Corinne so much, we sometimes marvel at how different they are in personality. Not that one is any better than the other (though we do appreciate the easier sleep attitude Ben has!) but maybe it's also the confidence that comes with having a second child that is making the parenting experience much more enjoyable this time around. Maybe it is that we know Ben is our last little baby; I am really trying to soak up the joy and fun in each moment. So much of the anxiety that I had with Corinne has been replaced this time around with a more laid back attitude this time around.

bye bye October

November is here already? October flew by in a flash! We got some yard projects finished before the weather turned colder; one of them was adding some stone to the flower bed area. I like how it turned out, and now the dirt won't wash away as much. I do plan to cover the dirt with mulch in the spring, but didn't this year since it would just wash down the hill.
I also was able to plant a good 100+ spring bulbs here so I hope they come up okay. But we still need to do some things from simply bringing in the lawn furniture to the more difficult job of sealing the drive way (ugh). There just never seems to be enough time, and when we do have time lately, the weather doesn't cooperate. Here is what we woke up to last Saturday:
I found the mixture of fall leaves and fat snow flakes kind of funny and very pretty! But even my Christmas cactus was confused by all the snow and has been blooming:
Ben and Cori are doing great - they've had a touch of some bad colds but are doing well. Ben keeps smiling and babbling and playing with some baby toys. His hair is definitely lightening up and he is sleeping well for the most part. Anna, I got a TON of compliments on the sweater you made him. So cute! Cori enjoyed the anticipation of Halloween and REALLY enjoyed trick or treating. She went out for about an hour and that was enough for her. Dave said she was down right giddy at times - childhood joy is such a magical thing! It's a shame that it rained - it really cut down on the number of little kids that were out.
Here she is ready to head out for her candy, uttering the battle cry of CHOCOLATE! Just kidding.
Don't knock the make up job - it's taken me years to do my make up and she kept wanting more on. Plus it was Halloween - part of the fun is to look a little scary! Ben was much less enthused about Halloween as you can see below.
Here she is with some of her loot.