capturing some of Cora's steps...

here's Cora's latest art project from school.... the katakana says Cora Madea-chan

We're trying to get some on film before she becomes too steady! Her stubborn self finally decided that walking is MUCH easier than crawling and she's non-stop :) Her sensei at school say that she is constantly walking around and she escaped yesterday after lunch...

ut oh... little Greg?!?!

had your V-8 today?

newest stats

We had Cora's 12 month doctor's appointment yesterday which included shots (she screamed) and a bit of a consult for her gunky eyes and discharge. Turns out they think it's seasonal allergies and NOT pinkeye. It's still been a doozy of a work week taking time off to keep her home. So glad Greg's colleagues are understanding and allowed him to share the responsibility!

Anyways, here's how miss Cora-chan measures up:

Height: 30.75 inches (apparently mis-measured at her 9 month appointment)

Weight: 24 lb 8.6 oz (still hasn't tripled her birthweight as she was expected in one year, but pretty darn close....)

Head: 19 inches

Cora, day 2

Cora, day 1 year plus 2...

It's so much fun to look back at the photo library we've created of Cora's life so far!

HAPPY mother's day...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL OF you Mommies reading this entry! We hope you are appreciated somehow by your children today :) Special wishes to our moms and grandmothers... we love you!

family picture at the Harbor View Club on base, where we had brunch today

at the rose garden in the Zoo

Cora presenting her first mother's day gift to me (a calendar with her footprints), I cried!

Sadly, the next present she may/may not have given me is PINKEYE, ugh!!!

school picnic

On Saturday we had a school picnic at the Sasebo Ishidake Zoo -- the weather was wonderful and we really had a lot of fun!

Cora finally gets a hat!! These cute hats are worn by all the school children in the city to label what school they attend -- it's the first had she's actually kept on her head.

Cora sitting with some classmates... clearly she doesn't get the holding up peace sign with her fingers yet!

Cora and a playmate during songtime (good participation, huh?)

Cora on her favorite perch...

Cora and mom singing the lunchbox song...

family picture

Cora showing off how well she drinks from her sippy cup

our Kame-chan pets the BIG kame!

Happy 1st birthday, Cora!

Wow how the time has flown. It's been a joyful year and we had a lot of fun reminiscing about a year ago today.... we all had a very long day at work/school today and look forward to a weekend of family time!

Cora's best friends await their morning fishes that she handed out

"kame" sugar cookies we made to share at school. (kame means turtle)

Look ma, no hands! Cora posing on fence outside house. Greg swears he was holding her in this picture...

I want to OPEN these boxes because I know they are filled with gifts!

Contemplating the candle on her birthday cupcake

it's like she's had one of these before... very daintily eating her cupcake (in whole...)

besides some frosting for mom's nose, of course...

ALMOST done...

sorry dad, I'm so over this...

ribbons are still her favorite!
Riding her new "horsey" from Nana and Duke
Showing off those drinking skills in her pewter cup from Nana and Duke
Looking inside her Vera Bradley purse from Oba and Sofu

Playing her concertina from Oba and Sofu

an end to golden week...

Today was "boys' day," which is the last day of Golden Week. Technically all children are celebrated on this day. Around the neighborhood, people with sons hang carp windsocks in their yard, one for each son. Boys seem to be highly valued in Japan.

Below, Nitta, Lauri and Sanae join in shopping in Arita over the weekend.

I joined my buddies for a final day of shopping --- today at Hasami -- a GIANT tent city filled with china made locally. I didn't really have any expectations, but wow, what a sight! Ended up with a few more tea cups and a pot, ice cream bowls, planter and an eyeglass stand for Greg (who's forever asking me "have you seen my glasses?). Cora was very tolerant of being in the stroller all day... I think we have another shopper in the family!

OH the joys of an almost-one-year old...

Having a week off from work and being mommy full-time has been EXHAUSTING. We are having fun, but I'm learning that Cora may be fast-tracking to the terrible twos... hope these bring a smile to your face :)

She's loving gohan (rice) and really lights up when we go to the neighborhood Sushi-go-Round. They love her, too. Notice the rice all over her face and hair! I wish we had captured a picture when she grabbed a packet of wasabi (japanese horseradish) and started to suck on it --- it was priceless...

Here's Cora playing with the dried fish that we love to feed Finn and Bonny -- she's obsessed with shaking the packets and removing the tiny fish and spreading them all over the kitchen floor. Finn and Bonny are fans.

Cora has discovered the dogs' water fountain. She just got the yellow rubber duckie from our friend Erin and she promptly took it in her hand and walked over to the water bowl. She managed to splash most of the water outside the bowl and onto her (I am forever amazed at the absorptive power of disposable diapers!!!).

MORE TO COME I AM SURE!!!