Family Visit

I drove up to Dallas to pick up my parents and brother Dan when they came to Texas for a visit and while waiting for their plane to come in Corinne and I met up with Nathan's uncle Mark and Uncle Jeff. It is always nice to visit with family and too bad we don't do it more often. We are looking forward to going to Nathan's grandma's birthday party in March and seeing all of them then. This was Mark and Jeff's first time meeting Corinne. But the reason my parents flew into Dallas instead of Houston was so that we could visit with some of my Dad's cousin's on his mothers side who he had not seen for something like 40 years. We spent a day and a half visiting and getting to know them better. It was really interesting to see the similarities in interests, career paths and political ideologies between the families even though there has not been the best contact over the years.

Below is Vicky holding Corinne. We had to look it up to figure out the relationships, but Vicky and her sisters Terri, Angie and Marsha are my dad's first cousins; because I am his child and therefore one generation removed from them, they are my first cousins once removed. But they are all Corinne's second cousins and their children are Corinne's second cousins once removed. It has to do with how many generations back you share grandparents. I wish I would have taken more photos while we were all together.
While Mom, Dad and Dan were in Houston we went out to see the battleship "Texas". It is actually the last surviving battleship that was used in both the first and second world wars. It was a cold and windy day while were were there, but it was neat and Nathan and I will likely go again when his brother Aaron and his wife Carolyn come out. Corinne spent most of the time asleep in the baby carrier strapped to my front. Talk about an easy kid.
You could still move the big guns around and look through the sights. It is amazing to think about how much technology has changed in the 100 years since this battle ship was built.
While Dad and Dan were driving around and looking at neighborhoods they thought were interesting because of the lack of zoning in Houston, Nathan and I took Mom and Corinne to Brazo's Bend to see the alligators. We have gone a number of times and have so far only had one trip where we didn't really see anything. This was not that trip. There were quite a few alligators out trying to soak up some sun and Mom got some pretty good pictures. Hopefully she will send a few my way too. My iphone was already too full of photos of Corinne so I missed out. Look how lazy I have gotten that if my phone is full I don't get a real camera out. It is just so convenient.

Chubby Bunny

Cora has been growing and putting on weight. It is so cute. I love her rolls and chub.

Baby's First Christmas

This was Corinne's first Christmas!! We didn't go too wild with presents this year because we figure she won't remember until later years anyway. Nathan found a deal on Amazon where he got Corinne the Disney movies Car's, Up and Monster's Inc. on blue-ray for $30. We thought they would be gifts she would enjoy later, but she seems to be pretty entranced by the TV already.

Having gone to Seattle in July and again in October to pick up Corinne, we decided to stick around Houston for Christmas this year. This was our first Christmas by ourselves. We hung out with a number of friends from the ward that also do not have family in the area. This was also our first wedding anniversary not spent with family in Seattle or in the airport headed to Seattle. So what do we do? We both forgot until that evening and went to lunch together a few days later.

Making faces: 8 weeks

Cora has gotten more responsive and makes funny little faces.

Leaa's Blessing Outfit

While in Seattle mom gave me the outfit I was blessed in. My grandma Perkins knitted it. I was six weeks in the photos I have of me in it and Corinne is six weeks in these photos too. Corinne will be much bigger by time we bless her or we could have used the same outfit. I love the little rhinestone buttons.

First Dr. Appointment

We took Corinne to her first doctor visit here in Texas on the 19th. Since being born she has grown more than three inches and gained almost four pounds. All that in six weeks! She is in the 90th percentile for height, at 23", 70th percentile for weight at 10 lbs 10 oz. and 40th percentile for head size at 14 3/4". She is a good little eater and it shows. She also had immunization shots, which she actually did pretty well for. It was later in the day, after a nap that I think they hurt the worst though. That afternoon was the most I have ever had her cry. She is doing fine now though.

One Month Photos

I took Cora to get some one month photos at Target. She slept through the first part where she was wearing the cute little outfit I picked out, but she was awake for the ones where she was just wearing the diaper cover. So of course I like the ones where she is awake better.