Sunday, May 30, 2010

Saipan living...


Oooh it's SO nice to be back on the tiny island of Saipan! We've had an absolute ball so far and are sad to see the weekend go so quickly. The trip here was relatively easy -- only 3.5 hours flight with a change of planes in Guam (it could have been easier if Cora slept the entire way, but lets not split hairs). We are staying in the center of the island and the middle of the action and are borrowing a friend's truck and car seat.

The weather here is HOT.... like sticky, sweaty hot at all hours, little wind and the sun is INTENSE. Cora does NOT like the weather at all.... she's okay in the shade but seems to prefer the cool A/C instead. We are reminiscing about when we lived here before we took 3 showers a day initially and wore pretty scant clothing.... by the time we left we'd wear jeans and long sleeve shirts without a problem (obviously the blood thinned out!)... we're back at the 3 showers daily, tank tops and shorts!!!

We've had the chance to hang out with lots of friends who are still here and it seems like old times, with the addition of some kids and spouses! We were lucky enough to be here for Nicole and Greg's wedding celebration and to see Sue's lovely 6 month pregnant belly.

As Greg golfed with friends (and worked on his "killer" sunburn/tan), Cora and Meg visited Labor and Delivery and the midwives and nurses who worked with Meg for 3 years....we really enjoyed this reunion / introduction! 2 patients who had just delivered were former patients of Meg's, so we got to visit even more special people!

After Saipan we spent a day in Guam where we shopped and ate some favorite foods. Cora was thrilled to spend time at the Westin pool -- she came a LONG way in our few days in the tropics! Greg got his motorcycle helmet, too..... a trip that was well-worth-it!

Cora gleefully taking her first steps on US SOIL! (At our layover in Guam) - she's kinda "island dancing!"

sunset reunion
beautiful flametree in background

walking the halls at Hyatt
in the ocean
back in pool with Cowry (she's 2 months older)

eating sushi rolls with cucumber

loving her time with auntie Nicole!

"the gang" minus a few at Hyatt brunch
with Auntie Susan at Wild Bills
mmm -- spicy yellow fin poki and garlic octopus at Abyss!

Sunset from our balcony


she's ONLY pretend playing (and no we are not at a poker parlor!)
family shot with Gypsy and Kato (buddies of Finn and Bonny)

at Guam airport
stealing and sharing daddy's Coldstone creamery chocolate PB milkshake!
Cora was a star once again and comfortable with Japanese tourists in Guam!
sitting at pool bar in Guam
Splashing water at daddy

practicing her coordination between kicks and strokes in Guam
big girl on bus ride home from the airport

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Happy Birthday, Greg!






We're heading down to Saipan for the Memorial Day weekend & are excited!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

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?

Thursday, May 13, 2010

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!


Sunday, May 9, 2010

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!!!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

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!

Friday, May 7, 2010

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