Cora has reached 4 months already - wha, wha, whaaat?? Seems like just yesterday she was still in my belly. She is such a smiley girl (when she isn't crying, of course) and generally likes everyone. She's as strong as I don't know what. She loves to stand on her own two legs, has taken to kicking a lot, and is pretty close to sitting up on her own - just working on a little thing called balance. Lately she's gotten good at grabbing and putting anything she gets her hands on directly into her mouth. We've also seen her roll over a few times!

She and I are taking a Kindermusik class on Tuesdays (our day off together). Super fun!

Here is a succession of age photos for you to enjoy, as well as a few other fun ones:

• 2Weeks
• 3Weeks
• 1Month
• 2Months
• 3Months
• 4Months
  
• Who is that in the mirror?
• Bathtub fun!
• So sleepy
• Curious George!

For more Cora photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/108162670371151261209/CORALAINE4thMonth?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Hope you are well!

Kyle, Connie, & Cora-Kiddo

KidSisco made her debut 11 weeks ago today. (I emailed her birth story yesterday to those of you who wanted to read it. If you didn't get it and want to hear the details, let me know.) I feel like I am the one getting spoiled hanging out with her everyday, but sadly I'll be heading back to work in just over a week. I think it will be good to get back to a work routine, but I'm a little nervous about the transition. Thankfully, little Cora will get to keep hanging out with family - YiaYia Selin will be our nanny a few days a week. :)

New firsts for Cora:

• Grasps a rattle, with some assistance from mom and dad
• Met other little kiddos - friend Ava Doornbos and cousins Natalie & Joshua Hekman
• Met a lot of the GR crew
  
• Went to the movies with Mama (the new twilight movie) - she slept through most of it
• First babysitting evening at Katie and Marshall Lichty's place (little Everett was there too, but he was sleeping)
• 1st round of vaccines to keep her healthy - she cried during the pricks, but feel asleep soon after and slept the day away
• First holiday skype conversations - Thanksgiving with Auntie Tricia & Uncle Grant and Uncle JonJon
• Sitting on the couch and reading her first book about animals - Zebra is her favorite

As promised, I put together a picasa account for the bazillion photos we have of Cora, for those of you who want to see more. You can find it here: https://picasaweb.google.com/108162670371151261209

I'll continue to upload photos here, so feel free to check back again later too!

And now a few photos for you here:

• Meeting some of the guys in MI
• With cousins Natalie and Joshua
• 11Week Old Photo
• Trying to get out of a Mama kiss
• Tummy Time - 10Weeks Old
• Sitting on the giant couch, just hanging out
• Thanksgiving Skype Session
  

Today marked Cora's 1st snowfall, which is surprising for Minnesota. We ventured out through the neighborhood, with Cora nestled snuggly in the trusty off-road BOB and accompanied Dingo on a hunt for squirrels. Her eyes never drooped sleepily (as they usually do when she is tucked in for a stroll), but inquisitively watched the passing sky and trees and flurries. By the time we made it back to the house everything was coated in a beautiful layer of white snowflakes.

This weekend Cora reached 2 months. Cannot believe the past 8 weeks have flown by so fast! Looking back at the end of my pregnancy, her birth, and our first weeks getting to know her, the whole experience seems surreal - like it happened to someone else. I feel we have made it out of the newborn haze, stumbling here and there as we began to figure out our parenting legs. Each new phase with Cora will present new challenges, joy, and laughter and I look forward to sharing it all with my favorite person in the world, Kyle. Starting this journey together has only brought us closer, which brings a smile to my face everyday. Love you, Ky.

Okay, some other thoughts/memories as I look back:

• Cora looked like such a zombie at birth - I'm sure she'll enjoy zombie pub-crawls later in life :)
• In fact, even photos of her at 4 days old she looked super puffy, yet still so dang cute!
• Cora will be the flower girl in her Auntie Tricia's wedding next August. She helped the bride shop for wedding dresses...by sleeping through the entire experience (and Mama says thank you!).
• On a trip to Michigan with YiaYia, Cora met both Michigan great-grandma's (Sisco/Boelkins & Selin) - priceless.
• Cora moved into her own bedroom this week - sleeping each night in her big-girl crib (no more bassinet). I am both happy and sad about that.
• She is just about too long for a few of her newborn sleeper outfits - maybe she'll get daddy's height?
• She found both her tongue and her fist this week and has begun more pronounced cooing. Before we know it she'll be chattering and singing away.
• Baths in the kitchen sink are still super fun for her - so glad about that!
• Dingo loves to give Cora kisses everyday. She has just started to notice. :)

Photos for you to enjoy! Oh, and I plan to set up a Picassa account for the bulk of her photos. I'll let you know where you can find them once I finally get it all set up.

• 2 Months Old!
• Zombie Baby at Birth
• 1st Meeting with Auntie Abbe (Cora 1 day old)
• Snuggling on the couch - can you tell I am loving maternity leave? (Cora 6 weeks old)
• Bath-time in the kitchen! (Cora 5 weeks old)
• 4 Generations! Great-Grandma Boelkins, Bepa Sisco, Mama, and Cora (Cora 7 weeks old)
• Cora and Great-Grandma Selin and doggy Emma (Cora 7 weeks old)
• Napping in the bassinet

Hope you are all well!

Cora milestones and fun we're having with her lately:

• smiles
• crazy strong neck action
• consistent 4 hour stretches at night
• entertained by mobiles and rattles
• sits (sorta) in her bumbo seat
• getting bigger - pretty much 50th percentile in weight, height, and head circumference!
• baths in the kitchen sink
• rocking in her swing
• walks with Dingo - in both her sweet off-road stroller and carried by Mama in her baby sling
• attempted hand and footprints with finger paint (didn't work at all cause she kept her hand balled into a fist, will need a partner to help)
• shopping outings with Mama and YiaYia Selin
• halloween pumpkin photo-op
• meeting fellow baby, Abigail Allen
• attending a La Leche League meeting with Mama
• 1st baby-sitting hangout with Grampa and YiaYia Selin while Kyle and I hung out with adult friends (woohoo!)
• accompanied Mama to a visit with our wonderful midwife, Susan Tighe
• 1st trip to Menards and the Mississippi Market!

 

Many more fun moments to come. Here are some photos of Cora-Kiddo:

• Happy Halloween!
• In the Bumbo with Daddy
• Swing Action
• Bottle feeding with Kyle
• 2 Weeks Old
• 3 Weeks Old
• 4 Weeks Old
• Go Wolverines!
• Face shot!

 

Today marks Cora's 11th day...cannot believe how fast the past time has gone by and we are essentially "not doing anything". Ha!

Here's a recap of her first moments/experiences with us:

• 1st Song: Michael Jackson's "Bad" - Kyle put it on our little ipod speakers at the hospital within moments of meeting her.
• 1st Meal: Pretty much right after getting acquainted with us - she's a champion eater!
• 1st Stats: 8lbs even, 20in long, 14in head circumference, full head of brown hair, dark blueish-gray eyes
• 1st Bath: she enjoyed it immensely!
• 1st Impressions: looks like Connie, calm and peaceful - cried when they cleared her airways, then she calmed down and just stared at us (I think we scored big time with this kid).
• 1st Pediatrician Visit: Cora is the picture of health! Already back at her birth weight, with great looking skin, and functioning body parts :) 
• 1st try at getting a nighttime sleep routine in place - 3 good nights in a row!

Here's a recap of what we have been doing at home:

• Eating, sleeping, diaper change, repeat...
• Tummy Time to help her strengthen her neck and upper body muscles
• Baths in the kitchen sink!
• Mama laying in bed for a week straight (glorious!). Thank you for waiting on me, Kyle!
• Rocking in the lazyboy - she absolutely loves it!
• Couple of car rides with Mama and Daddy
• Eating, sleeping, diaper change, repeat...
• Washing cloth diapers (trial and error)
• Cora sleeping through (and not being disturbed in the slightest) Kyle's drumming, Dingo barking and howling, general city noises.
• Minimal curiosity from the kittens (they are cautiously intrigued by her cries - tiptoe up to her and sniff)
• Acceptance and what we think is love from the Dingo - no jealousy and he gives her little licks once in a while.

And now some photos:

• Making faces - 9 days old
• Introductions - moments old
• 1st of many diaper changes - 30 minutes old
• With our amazing doula, Nicole - 45 minutes old
• 1st bath - 5 hrs old
• Cute little leggies - 2 days old
• Cora being a rockstar, with a little help from Dad - 2 days old
• Dingo welcoming home his little sister - 2 days old
• Chilling with Mama in bed - 4 days old
• Cora helping Daddy with some very important data - 6 days old
• Cora in crazy fast action! - 9 days old
• Tummy time - 10 days old
• Loving the bouncy seat - 11 days old

Hopefully all of those photos load!
The Sisco Clan

P.S. For those of you interested I would be happy to share all the details of Cora's birth story, however I don't want to put up "too much information" content on this blog for those that don't care to hear all the not so glamorous specifics. Send me an email to let me know you want to hear the story and I'll send you all the details.

Kiddo - you are approximately the size of a mini watermelon these days and you are getting ready to join the outside world. When will you decide to make your grand entrance? We're ready for you!

Hey All -

Still in good spirits and getting really, really, really excited to meet Kiddo - will you be a boy or a girl?! will you have thick greek eyebrows? will you have the classic Sisco happy moon-shaped eyes? will you be dutch blond or greek brunette? Can't wait to see your face!

Car seat has been installed, kid's room has been painted, bassinet has been updated (the same bassinet I was in as a baby and the very same bassinet my mom was in when she was a baby!), laundry has been laundered, hospital bag has been packed, birth classes have been taken, doula has been signed up...what else is there?

Do we feel prepared? I think so. And for those of you who don't know, Dingo has given us a bit of a scare over the past few weeks - he's on the mend now, but he has certainly given us the opportunity to preview what it will be like to be up every hour or two throughout the night. Let's just say we have adjusted a bit already to short nights of disjointed sleep. Kid, we're ready for ya!

And for your viewing pleasure: photos of the new and improved bassinet, a few baby-bump photos, and photos of the kid's room, which is still a little bit of a work in progress, at least regarding the final touches.

Cheers to our guess-date finally arriving - 5 days and counting down!

Hope you are all well...Mama-to-be & KidSisco (still in utero)

Eek! 3Weeks!

For those of you who have just joined us or for those of you who forgot our "Guess Date", September 21st is sneaking up on us quickly. Cannot believe we are here already.

Still, it's been a great week - I'm still feeling awesome, we are working on getting Kiddo's room ready, and this week we got our baby-bump photo shoot pictures back - super fantastic!

Kid room photos to come once we get everything in order. For now, please enjoy our baby-bump photos. Thanks to Corina Bernstein for taking amazing pictures!
http://corandemphotography.wordpress.com/

Well folks - we have officially made it to the home stretch. Tomorrow marks 36 weeks (out of 40) for little KidSisco. Kiddo's size is somewhere around 5.5lbs (think of a honeydew melon) and is expected to spend much of this last bit of time in the oven putting on weight. You can imagine that on my small frame, things are starting to get a bit crowded. But not to worry - we're still having a blast, staying active, and feeling good!

Here are the highlights:

• KidSisco and I went to the debut CD Listening Party for Neal Peterson's "The Persistence of Tides" album release, which featured my vocals and piano playing on a few tracks. Super fun! (Check it out here: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/nealpeterson3 )
  
• Kyle and I went to a few Childbirth Collective classes - crucial for us at this stage in the game. More classes to come in these final weeks as well (tomorrow: infant CPR!).
• Had a fantastic meeting with our stellar doula, Nicole Stecker - super pumped to have her on our team.
• Kid and I went to our first La Leche League gathering. I have a feeling having that group of local St. Paul mommas is going to come in handy.
• My sis Tricia came to visit! She spent this past week just hanging out here and there and ever so kindly helped me pickle my gigantic cucumber harvest.
• Mom, Tricia, and I spent a fun evening making Dolmades - delicious! (see more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolma )
  
• We finally took our last little getaway weekend before our family dynamic changes - Tricia, Kyle, and I drove to Milwaukee to meet Grant (who drove all the way from Pittsburgh) for a whirlwind 1.5 days in that fine city. Brewery tours, drives along Lake Michigan, fantastic food and beers (sadly, none of those for me), and sunny walks made for a packed weekend that was really more fun that I thought it could have been.

Milwaukee photos for your viewing pleasure:
1. 8 Months Along (flushed from a sunny walk in downtown Milwaukee, along Lake Michigan)
2. Tricia, Kyle & Grant strolling along Lakeshore State Park
3. Brewery Tour at Lakefront Brewery! Tour guide gave me a very tasty Rootbeer to enjoy :)
4. A stop at the Pabst Mansion
5. Three Thumbs Up at the Hofbrauhuas (Old German Beer Hall)
6. Team Sisco

August has arrived and with it more kiddo stuff on the calendar.

Items Completed:

• Interview and pick a Birth Doula - Check!
• Begin practicing HypnoBirthing techniques each day - Check!
• Finalize needed baby items list - Check!
• Schedule childbirth education classes - Check!
• Have professional Baby-Bump photos taken (photos will be shared in a few weeks) - Check!

Still To Do:

• Pick color and paint kid's room
• Paint artwork for kid's room
• Test new car seat in the baby-mobile - Mazda3 Hatchback
• Attend childbirth education classes
• Finalize names
• Decide on a pediatrician
• Relax with Kyle, basking in the quiet calm that is our life right now...the calm before the storm

KidSisco is still trucking along right on schedule - weighing in just over 4lbs and approximately the size of a pineapple. Can't wait to meet the little tyke!

Some other fun things we've done during the last couple weeks:

• Attended Mpls Aquatennial to see Kyle's band, Our American Cousin rock out
• Enjoyed delicious nachos and beer (well, Kyle did) from Town Hall Brewery
• Celebrated the marriage of friends, Johnny & Tracy, at their Bryant Lake Bowl wedding, followed by the coolest backyard reception ever. And yummy beer provided by Sisco Brewhaus!
• Helped three friends move (I carried pillows, artwork, and made sandwiches)
• Attended the summertime big top show of Circus Juventas
• Went late night swimming at a friend's house on Summit Ave
• Took my Dad out for a very belated father's day brunch

 

And now for your viewing pleasure, some baby bump photos:

• 30Weeks - Kyle & I with our Brussels, Belgium hosts - Gail & Tom (they were in town for the Johnny & Tracy wedding that we all went to!)
• 31Weeks
• 32Weeks
• 33Weeks

Getting excited about labor and delivery!
More to come...