Sniffles and uh-ohs

Now that the family health status is back to normal, I believe it’s safe to blog. Unfortunately, the plague started with me and ended with my father in-law with Stacey running a close second. Hardest part about the whole thing was hearing the little one struggle. It was obvious the coughing was painful, and the breathing was far from effortless. Oddly enough, she was able to sleep through the night with cold/flu and diaper rash. How did we luck out there? To my credit, I installed a second bath into our daily routine for the sick days the included a vapor bubble bath/soak. To Stacey’s credit, she had it stocked and on hand I think before Kori was even born for this very occasion. I asked her the other day if there is EVER a time where she doesn’t think of EVERYTHING. The reaction on her face led me to believe she thought I was insulting her but the message was received. Anyways, we made it 7 months sick free with Kori. I know we are fortunate because a lot of parents can’t say the same. Let’s just hope it’s not the beginning to some trend. Although it was nice knowing we could remedy whatever Kori had, we’d rather NOT have to wear the hero cape.

Shortly after her symptoms come and gone, the little one was back to her exploratory ways of pinning Riggles to the ground, chasing cats, playing in the dog bowls, and CLIMBING STEPS. WHO IS THIS GIRL? The other night I was just following her around when she came to the big staircase. Any other time I would of picked her up and give her the ole 180, but I was feeling curious I guess. This tiny little thing climbed about 6 steps all by herself. I had her back in case she fell but she really didn’t even need me there. Scary but pretty impressive. Feel free to comment if this is normal for a 7 month old. Don’t get me wrong she’s not flawless. I’ve seen her take some pretty nasty spills and pull a chair on top of herself. Haha! I realize this probably sounds like we never watch her, but we all know it can happen in the matter of a blink.

Aside from all that, there isn’t a ton to share. Some new found pleasures are a ride in the golf cart, bubbles (can’t decide if I like them for her or she actually likes them), Julie Chin (Channel 2 Meteorologist), drinking from an actual water bottle, shoulder rides on her old man, and outlets. I know!

In nature, fathers are known to eat their young. Is it because they’re delicious? No. It’s because they want to give their female… bear, giraffe, what have you… the honeymoon they never had. Just to be clear: I don’t condone eating your kids, although I sure as heck know why giraffes do it.

~Phil Dunphy

We obviously don't have any sick pictures to go along with the post so I here are some recent fun pics

She has a new found love for the laundry basket....luckily those are clean clothes

 Playing in the snow

 Loving the cheese puffs....and pigtails :)

Two Toofs

The second toof officially broke through. We are so proud. As far as teething (toofing) goes, I believe we’ve followed protocol; frozen wash clothes, teething rings, soft ice in a little mesh bag, etc. But sometimes you got to dig deep in those painful moments and get a little creative; queso, lemons and limes, icing, and my personal favorite, corn on the cob without the corn. Yeah, you’re welcome for that one parenthood. She gummed on that thing for a solid 45 minutes that night. Keep in mind those were just dabs of icing and queso. We weren’t spoon feeding her those things.

On the crawling side, she is pretty much anywhere and everywhere. I think my mother in-law said Kori followed her all the way from the living room to the laundry room which is a decent hike. I really get a kick watching her develop mostly because you can tell she’s so proud of herself. The time she rolled over for the first time was hilarious. Maybe Stacey can throw a few clips on here. You’re probably saying to yourself, “Wow! They got the first time she rolled over on video?” My answer is, “Yes! We did because we are super awesome parents.” She was also grunting like crazy which sort of gave it away. Back to the crawling thing though, I’m not so sure she is content with just crawling since she has already started trying to standup. In fact Stacey walked in on her today after a nap and she was standing up. We have yet to see the pull up in person, but I'm sure that will come in the next day or two.  Well not much to boast about past that, folks.

Life is good in Tulsa. These days all you can ask for is good health, steady income, and cable TV with DVR. When you look at it that way, the Cowley’s can’t complain much. We got to spend some time with our OKC friends recently which is always refreshing. Hopefully, we can make some more time for them in 2011. That’ll do it for me this week.

Ok it's been really hard to upload videos (especially with a blizard going on outside) so I'll post a few random recent pics to hold you all over for now. --Stacey

Bathtime in the sink....probably her best smile we've caught on camera in a while (by the way we see this face all day long but when cameras or friends come around she likes to make them work for it)

                                 Again a face we see all the time.....she LOVES being upside down

     

Ugh, if someone can tell me how to rotate pictures on here I would love it.  I take pictures the right way on the camera and I can edit them on my computer but when I go to post them they turn out sideways.  Anyways this is the first day of the blizard, she was so curious about what was going on outside.

She's really been attaching to us lately so on a snow day and us walking in and out of the room all the time I finally put the baby bjorn to use and she LOVED it

And had to take a pic in the snow....but the wind was blowing so hard we couldn't keep our eyes opened

 Definately random but I thought I would post a pic of Kori's cute little cousin Bailey (about a month and a half ago)....by the way I (Stacey) makes these skirts if anyone wants one :)

 

“Yeah, he gives me a hard time. But that's the deal with a father-in-law. The key is I never let him see just how much it devastates me.”

~Phil Dunphy

Jumpy McCrawlerstien

Hello, everyone! Thanks for tuning into the first blog of the New Year. What better way to welcome 2011 than a tuxedo onesie (see pictures). Shortly after 2011 came, Kori hit the 6 month milestone and started showing some signs of mobility. If I had to categorize, I’d label her as an intermediate crawler. The effort level of course depends on what’s in front of her but the web cam on the laptop and a freshly lit iPhone normally gets the job done. I noticed that her mouth gets wider the harder she tries to crawl, and I’m pretty sure she uses her tongue to help her think. When she comes across something new and/or interesting that sucker is out and to the side.

Stacey and I introduced her to the playground swing this past weekend. For myself, I had one of those "aha" moments that reminds you you're a father. I understand it's been 6 months and I have daily reminders all the time, but I can remember when Stacey was lugging that beautiful belly around thinking, "I can't wait to take her to a playground and push her on the swings." We may have jumped the gun a little early, but I got what I wanted. I wasn’t expecting much of a reaction but Mr. Riggles was there to enhance the experience. There is something about that dog that entertains the hell out of her. It could be pulling his hair, gouging his eyes out, or drop kicking him from the swing either way it’s all giggles with Riggles. To his credit, he is a really good sport about all of it. Anyway, it hit me when I was given her a few pushes and I heard a few giggles come out. All I could see was the back of her head but it was just like I imagined it would be.

Kori seems to be hitting her stride though. I was telling Stacey the other day I felt like she learned several new things overnight. Giggles are turning into laughs, she lifts her arms a bit before you pick her up, and if you're sitting on the floor she'll manage to crawl up your chest to give what I boast as a hug. And before I forget, we can see and feel her first tooth. So needless to say, it's been quite a ride the last few weeks. For all you seasoned parents out there, none of this should come to you as a surprise. I realize her path is just like any others, but it's hard to talk about anything else. You feel me? I remember sitting at the "other table" at work for lunch eavesdropping on the "new parent" table and their efforts to translate baby noises. Now, I catch myself doing the same thing. If you watch Modern Family, you may appreciate my wife's Phil Dunphy references, and how I am going to embarrass my daughter(s) in the same fashion. "Just filling out the application to family camp. You don't win the 'Dirty Dancing' competition and not go back to defend your crown."

Hahaha! I'll take a Phil Dunphy insult any day. In fact, I'll start tagging my sign off with quote from now on. It's true though. The more I am around her the goofier I get. Before you know it, I'll be power walking through the neighborhood in my biker shorts. God help me!

"Claire's a perfectionist, which sometimes is a good thing, like when it comes to picking a husband."

~Phil Dunphy



Fun with Dad

Kori's 1st snowfall

I apologize for these next pictures, for some reason they keep rotating when I try to post them...one of these days I'll figure it out

Happy New Year

All I want for Christmas is…EVERYTHING!

Between the Cowley and Blanchard Christmas festivities, our little Kori walked away with a mountain of goodies. We want to thank everyone for making Kori’s first Christmas so special. We’ve all had our fair share of quality versus quantity debates....I don’t run into too many situations where more is better but I can honestly say that this one ended in a big fat sister kisser or tie to laymen.  From teething tools and clothes to Activity Lions and pink convertibles, all the gifts were great and are promised to get much use. She’s been awake for a total of 8 hours these last two days if that tells you anything. If you’re going to go, go hard I guess!

Christmas morning has always been Christmas morning, but as you “grow up” it tends to lose a little bit of its luster. Anyway, my first Christmas as a parent brought those little kiddy ants back in my pants.  Stacey may word it differently but I’m sure she will agree with me on that one. Personally, I was pretty excited to put on the dad hat and get to work.  At some point, my mind allowed me to stop what I was doing and assess. What did I see? Oh you know…some nerd holding a camera and a video camera trying to operate both at the same time while narrating.  It would have been nice if someone had whispered, “Pst! You know that video camera can take pictures too!” I think it was easier back in the day when the video cameras were as big as a suitcase. At least with those you were only looking out of one lens and forced to use one electronic device at a time.  But then again it was such a pain in the you know what to rewind the entire tape and hook it up to the TV for a replay....thank goodness for digital I guess.  Forgive me with some of the pictures/videos if they seem a little off center…it was my first Christmas tooJ

We didn’t have any raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but, in the spirit of Julie Andrews and her list of favorite things, I thought I might list a few of my favorite moments from the past two weeks excluding the obvious football, food, and booze riff.

I’ll start with our trip to St. Louis…

·         Nothing specific, but I really enjoyed sharing her with the extended family. It’s always a proud moment when I introduce her to someone new but it’s even better when its family and she’s in her Christmas best. I’ll assume time spent with Uncle Nick, Aunt Jaime, Great Uncle Jer-O, Memaw, and Great Zma is considered. It always stings a bit to take her away. (What do you do when the dog bites or the bee stings? I simply remember my favorite things. You see the effect my mother in-law has on me. Referencing the Sound of Music? C’mon, Tom!)

·         Watching Bailey and Kori square off in what could only be described as “showdown.” They sort of collaborate to form the unique atmosphere of bliss and betrayal. Again, I’m on the fence with this one. Dynamic Duo or Bitter Rivals?

·         Kicking it with some ole high school buddies. I almost miss getting made fun of that much in one sitting. Who doesn’t enjoy having all their imperfections, new and old, brought to the inner circle’s attention?

(Do I dare continue after filling up a page worth already? I shouldn’t but I’m gonna. Certainly, there are moments I’ve overlooked in St. Louis, but I’m going to head back to Tulsa for now.)

·         You know? I never thought I would admit this but I had fun at church the other night. They had a candle light ceremony at Asbury on Christmas Eve that all of us attended. Don’t be fooled! I’m no season ticket holder when it comes to church…more of a fair weathered fan if we’re being honest. Maybe I had the right mindset or toy (Kori) in my lap, but I was moved.

·         Grandpa Blanchard kicking off his new “Twas the Night Before Christmas” tradition.

·         Unwrapping the gifties with the little one and putting them together.

·         Reliving the day I proposed to my B-E-A-utiful wife. Three years ago Sunday. (Brownie Pts.)

Wrapping it up! Apologies all over if I left you out. If you stay tuned, I’m sure it’ll come to me in a later blog. In conclusion, it was a great Christmas and I know they are only going to get better. Fade to black…

         I apologize for the sideways pictures, for some reason my computer won't let me rotate them
 Ready to go to church on Christmas Eve

     

 Grandpa Blanchard reading the Night Before Christmas

I hope these will hold her over till her b-day in July

Santa's Baby

Cowley’s are coming at ‘cha quick with the blogs this holiday season. Don’t be overwhelmed, but we thought y’all would like to know how Kori’s first Santa experience went. Well, I tell ya. It went exactly the way Stacey and I predicted, emotionless or as I like to refer to it as the “lazy face.” As parents, some might say that we aced it because Kori was the only kid that we saw while we were there that didn't cry or get scared. She beat out kids were probably 3 and 4 so that may change in a few years or she is just one fearless little girl.  Thanks to my 9/80 schedule (every other Friday off) we were able to get to the mall late afternoon to an empty line. We snapped some photos, bought a picture package, and off we went to the next errand on the list. Thanks again for the pictures, Grandma and Grandpa Blanchard. Money well spent! I don’t have many “Mall Santa” experiences to compare to, but Woodland Hills Mall did a great job recruiting. I wasn’t expecting real facial hair and a great attitude, but that’s what we got. Earlier that day, I shared with Stacey that I wouldn’t be surprised if Kori tugged on some hair and ruined Christmas for the other kids standing around watching.  Ruining 10 other kids Christmases before she's even experienced her 1st would be quit an accomplishment (a very tragic one of course). 

Special shout out to Hines (Megan Gaines) for making the trip to Salsaville (for those of you who don't know, that is Mike's version of Tulsa) this past weekend. It’s always special when a member of the ole West & Maple crew gets together. Aside from Cheddar’s, Petsmart, and Babies ‘R’ Us, She almost stumbled upon something monumental. I’m probably jumping the gun but I feel like Kori ALMOST crawled on Saturday. So close, I sprinted for the video camera. The butt was up, the legs were locked and loaded, the grunts were in full force, and the arms were fully extended. The journey would have been short lived I am sure, but it’s so fun to watch her try. We’ll have to see if we can post the video of her rolling over from awhile back, her determination is pretty incredible. By the way, did you know that Petsmart has a Santa there for Christmas pet pics? Yeah, it happened!

So I’ll sign off now since we hit you guys hard with the last blog. Kori’s gifts are signed, sealed, and delivered. My wallet hurts so good. Roll film xo

Turkey Day for the Little Turkey

What a last couple of weeks we‘ve had! The Cowley family celebrated their Thanksgiving holiday two weekends ago (a week before the holiday) as we’ve done for the last few years to cut down on family conflicts and caloric intake. With every Thanksgiving in our family, come traditional Christmas rituals such as decorating the tree and opening a few “pre Christmas” gifts. Kori made her Christmas picture debut in a stunning red dress which would only serve as a slippery blanket at the photo shoot. The leather couch and floor mat could not provide enough friction to keep her from slipping, head butting her cousin Bailey, or both. Putting an 11 month old and a 4 and a half month old baby in a photo studio together is no easy task. Bailey would smile then Kori would frown and vice versa. It was a little frustrating to say the least especially when the “photographer” started asking us for ideas. Who me? I’m pretty sure we are paying you on this one. Well, we were able to capture a few good poses and get out of there before anyone got hurt!

To be honest, I felt like she slept most of the time while we were in town. Most importantly, my family got to see her before she started getting too big, and I got to see our niece take a few baby steps. I’m sure she’ll be jogging by the time she turns 1 on December 30^th. For those of you who did a double take at the date of her birthday, I thank you. Yes, we share the same birthday. My day of birth has officially disintegrated. Don’t feel bad because I’ve trained my mind, body, and soul to NOT age. Unfortunately, our pleasant St. Louis weekend was capped off with an ill wife and poopy baby. I’ll spare you the details. Let’s just say I earned my stripes that dayJ

As for last week, we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Blanchard’s at the Lake House where days are spent grazing, fishing, napping, and watching football…sometimes all at once. It’s always a great place to get away, and it definitely serves its purpose. For me, the lake house is the perfect venue to catch up with the little one. Kori is a lot of fun everyday, but Friday was an exception. Specifically…I can’t put my finger on it, but I thought she was the funniest person in the world screaming at the top of her lungs just for the fun of it and she made me feel the same with my shenanigans. During the week, I sprint from work to highchair to get her meal started and if I am lucky that is followed by naked time (bath time) then it’s off to bed. I appreciate the days I get to do it all. The holiday weekend was capped off with a very special day, Kori’s baptism, at Asbury United Methodist Church. If you were at the wedding, you should be familiar with the church. She did so good and looked so cute. I’m really glad it turned out the way it did. Of course, I wish more friends and family could attend, but it was short notice and I know we’re not next door.

Since we last blogged, Kori has mastered the art of screaming and/or talking. We aren’t crawling just yet but she can get that butt up and her legs underneath. It won‘t be too much longer till she is able to move across the room without having to roll everywhere she wants to go. That’s all I got for now folks!

 Hopefully these pics don't ruin our Christmas card but here is a sneak peak from our photo session

              We're all squinting here but I thought I had a nice scenery (not the one we chose for the card)

Kori's baptism....not the greatest picture but the only one we got with the whole Blanchard family

By now you should assume everywhere we go is a studio for Kori pictures as you will see following xo

Food for Thought

Greetings! In the past week or so, we've introduced Kori to the next level of food, cereals and solids. To be honest, I'm not sure why it's called solids. The consistency of the carrots, peas, and sweet potatoes are about 1 tablespoon of water away from being pure liquid. Anywho, she's taken to the transition pretty well. Next to bath time/naked time, numming on some nummers (feeding) is my favorite thing to do with the little one. I know my vocab is completely off the grid, but she has the ability to turn you into the giddiest nerd in the world. And yes, I've tasted everything she has year-to-date with the exception of breast milk. In her defense, those peas were awful, especially cold. We'll have to give them another try this week at a warmer temperature. For my viewing pleasure, I prefer to see how messy her face can get before wiping her down. The messier she gets the cuter she gets and the more fun I have numming. I know it's selfish, right? Adjustments will need to be made on my part since Stacey informed me that she stores some of the food in one of her chins, and I'm pretty sure we found some in her nose AFTER A BATH. Live and learn!
On a side note, Stacey has somehow found a way to get the giggles out of her. I mean I'll get lucky every now and again, but I'm not as consistent as Stacey or as I like to be. Happy for the girls, frustrating for me. For those of you who know me can trust that I will find a way even if I have to search google for ideas.
I believe that's all for now. There is no way to capture an entire Kori week in a few paragraphs, but those are the highlights. Kori kisses xxx (That will hurt my guy status for sure)

Roll the pics...

                                          Trying to eat her hand and spoon at the same time

                                           That wasn't the best bite

                                          I'm ready for my veggies

                                            Keep 'em comin

                                            yummmmmm

                                             Dad got some carrots on his face too

This is what happens after 2 bowls of rice cereal, a jar of carrots, a bottle of  milk and rolling all over the living room floor (I think she was in mid-roll)

Once upon a time...

Welcome all! Thanks for taking an interest in Kori's story. Stacey and I have had an absolute blast over the last 4 months and feel extremely blessed to be the authors of such a wonderful tale. We felt a blog would be a proper venue to show our appreciation to such a loving network of family and friends. Plus, it never gets old bragging about your kid especially when you have one that  is so stinking cute. I mean I already want to buy her a car...that's how much trouble I am in.
Anyway, my focus is to keep things short and sweet in fear that I may lose you if I try to cram 4 months in my first post. I will say that we crossed over to big girl food this weekend (i.e. rice cereal and sweet potatoes). As tough as it is, I'm going to limit the focus to a Halloween recap and spare you the Hallmark novel about how I'm the proudest, luckiest pappa in the world. Every good dad has that story BUT it's not A Kori Story.


Finally, yesterday was Kori's first Halloween and ours as parents. Based off Kori's reaction to the bumble bee costume, it must have been a bad batch of honey. It was almost like the costume sucked every bit of emotion out her cause we saw nothing but blank stares.....Stacey may argue differently. Even so, she was the cutest bee I've ever laid eyes on, and I'm pretty sure there are a few neighbors that could say the same. The holiday only lasted about an hour (4 houses) for her, but it was good experience. Stacey introduced her to the pumpkin patch among other things. Next Halloween should be a little more eventful I would think.  Here are some pictures of the past week.



Well, until next time...