Battles

She looks quite innocent here, I know. But, she was really quite devious yesterday and I have to take a moment to vent. Do other moms out there feel like they are fighting a battle ALL DAY LONG? I have felt like that quite often lately. I am not sure if it is because Coranelle is teething like crazy, or if it's because she knows so clearly what she wants- but she can't articulate it.

Yesterday- Battle 1- changing her diaper. Why is this such a hassle? Why won't she listen when I say "Don't touch".
Battle 2- getting her dressed. She's crying, twisting, rolling and thrashing around. Geez!
Battle 3- putting her hair in pigtails to keep her from ripping her hair out. She was throwing her head around and screaming. I would like to prevent her little bald spot from getting any bigger before her Uncle Stefan gets married in August.
Battle 4- Breakfast- she sees something she thinks she wants, so she won't eat her oatmeal. Instead, she spits it out all over herself and me. When I peel the banana and offer it to her (since she's been saying "naNana" over and over)- she rejects it.
Battle 5- Sunscreen. Such a painful task
Battle 6- Short walk in the stroller- She's yelling and crying the whole time. I give her juice, snacks, toys, etc. and she's still throwing a fit. So, we stop at the Rec Center so she can play at the indoor play place. I figure she is ready to get out and run around.
Battle 7- the indoor play place. Now that she's out of the stroller, I'm apparently not allowed to put her down. She just cries and wants to be held. What?
Battle 8- Diaper change all over again.
Battle 9- Nap time. She's clearly tired, but spends at least a half hour kicking, thrashing and whining in her crib.
Battle 10- lunch time. No kidding- the only thing I could get her to eat was cottage cheese.
Battle 11- getting the swim suit on for a play date, then getting into the car seat
Battle 12- trying to prevent her from drinking the pool water or walking into the pool
Battle 13- changing into clothes and diaper
Battle 14- finding that she had pulled out both rubber bands and eaten them. Given, these are like tiny braces rubber bands, but still. At this point her hair is sticking up in two long points- almost like horns and she's in all red. Yup, she looks like a devil child as we walk up and down the aisles of Sprouts.
Battle 15- She sees the box of strawberries in the cart and really wants some. But, they're not washed or paid for so I refuse and she melts down.
Battle 16- another nap
Battle 17- leaving for Body Pump
and it goes on. I think you get it.

Anyone else have days like this. It's like nothing we do is fun to her. I have to stop and wonder on days like these if it makes any difference that I am home with her. So, I looked into some preschools around the area. Did you know that some preschools charge $1,534 a month per child! Whoa! I guess I'll just keep pushing on at being my own preschool and trying to keep my little one entertained and as happy as possible.

For those of you reading that are pregnant or have young infants, I am not writing to scare you. Keep in mind, Coranelle is one of a kind!

Speaking of the peanut, I'm going to go start all over again with Battle #1 and pray that today goes a little more smoothly!

Mork Family Camping

Trail mix while hiking.
serving up ice cream in honor of my birthday day! The best ice cream ever!
Mother/son shot!
Bruce and Claire making ice cream
Coranelle spending one of her many many moments with her uncle Josh.
Weeeee!



This past weekend, we had our annual Mork family camping trip up in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was a little different than camping with Coranelle when she was 8 weeks old, but we had a great time. She toddled all over the campsite and park, always wanting to hold someone's hand and lead them around. We enjoyed good food over the campfire, ice cream with the ice cream ball, relaxing in the hammock, walks with beautiful views and chatting around the fire.

Coranelle loved being outdoors, but didn't love sleeping outdoors. She fought her naps, but gave up if I would lie next to her pack n' play and pretend to sleep. Both nights, she woke up in the middle of the night crying and had a hard time going back to sleep (as did we). One night we had creepy howling coyotes that Coranelle got started with her cries. But, after a bit of cuddling and humming, she went back to sleep. All things considered (cold nights, strange place, odd noises) she did great. She LOVED the tent and running around in it.

Now is my call for advice... or someone who can relate. Coranelle has started pulling out her hair. Odd, I know. Sometimes it's single strands, other times it is entire chunks. It seems to be self soothing and something she does when she is tired. Since Thursday, two upper molars have come through and it may be a pain coping method. The pediatrician says that we need to distract her and teach her not to pull out her hair. The things to worry about are her eating her hair or it wrapping around fingers like a tourniquet. The strange thing is that sometimes we do find her chewing on her hair. Any other moms out there ever seen anything like this with their kiddo? Any other advice for me?

I hope you are all enjoying your busy summers.

Amazing family Vacation!

Walking around at the top of the gondola
Bringing dad his water bottle
Playing downtown. I love this picture!
Heading up the gondola again.

taking a break in Frisco on our mountain bike ride
eating ice cream in our "fort" during the rain
playing in the fort
walking around peak 8 in the rain
Taking the gondola up
Hiking from Mom and Steve's campground
Self taken shot on our date night
hanging out by the river watching the kids play in the water
Playing in the sand
The top of our hill climb on our mountain bike ride


Family Vacation Fun

We just returned from a truly marvelous trip to Breckenridge, Co. I wasn’t ready to return home. I kind of felt like a puppy on a leash who didn’t want to leave her adventure, but was tugged and forced away by the owner.

We rented a beautiful condo just a few blocks from Main Street. It was the nicest lodging we have ever had ( even honeymoon!). It was very modern, with great views, 2 bedrooms, lots of DVDs, games, a well stocked kitchen and 3 bathrooms! It was a great price because the expensive time is ski season. Coranelle did fabulously the entire trip. She was perfect in the car, didn’t fight the stroller much, went for walks in the pack and borrowed ergo carrier, splashed in the pool, and enjoyed babysitters and adventures.

My parents and sister, Amanda, came up Fri-Sun and camped nearby in Frisco. They came up to Breckenridge to hang out and have dinners with us. They watched Coranelle so that Ryan and I could go mountain biking and out on a date. The mountain biking was great fun and gorgeous. Later that day, we got to head out to the Brewery and sit out on the deck with amazing views of the slopes and mountains. It was a romantic time to wander town together, share a cookie and watch the sunset. Meanwhile, Coranelle had a blast with her GPS, Grandmadele and Auntie Amanda. It has been really fun to see Amanda and Coranelle bond now that Amanda is home from Haiti. Coranelle has been walking all over the place and loves to take your hand and lead you around. She really enjoyed the river walk and watching all the other kids and dogs around town.

Despite having more than enough to do, we took full advantage of Coranelle’s naps. We enjoyed time to read, watch movies, relax, or take turns wandering into town, finding a cup of coffee, checking out the farmer’s market, or getting a nice haircut(that was me☺).

Sunday, and then again on Monday (because it was free) we took Coranelle up the gondola to Peak 8 and watched her walk all over the ski lodge and check out the fun park. It was cold and rainy the first day, but she could not have been happier. When the rain continued and we were stuck inside for the evening, Ryan made a fort out of the couches and she had a ball. She was such a blast on the trip. Monday, she shocked and amazed us with her perfect behavior in the bike trailer. We rode all the way from Breckenridge to Frisco and back! It was almost 20 miles and she never complained, or even fell asleep. She just checked out the view and enjoyed her pacifier and little plush frog. We stopped for a snack in Frisco and headed back up to Breck. I was pretty exhausted when all was said and done, as I was pulling her as well as all of our water, toys and snacks and it gets heavy cycling up hill for that long. It was totally worth it as the day was perfect and the views were amazing!

We loved not ever having to move the car. We could walk into town and get a pizza to take home, head over to the city market, grab a cup of coffee or sit by the river and we never had to put Coranelle in the car seat. I miss that now that we are home!

Coranelle is getting to be more and more fun and it was a family vacation that I will remember and treasure forever! I would love to come here every summer and make this a tradition!

Clarification

I have heard from a few people recently that my blog post last month seemed like it was targeted at them in a passive aggressive sort of way.

http://mommamork.blogspot.com/2010/06/15-pieces-of-advice-for-friends-and.html

I just want to make it perfectly clear that this post was not, in any way, meant to be pointing a finger or making accusations towards people for something they did or did not do. It really, truly was a post for me, to help me remember how to be supportive to new parents for when our friends and siblings have their own kids. I know that Ryan and I sort of paved the way when it comes to starting a family. With that, comes the fact that no one else has been through it and that means they cannot possibly know what you are going through, what is hard and what might be helpful. I realized early on that I cannot expect for people to know or understand what I was going through, being anew mom. I am really appreciative of all of the kind things people have done for us and how much our friends and family love our daughter and have made an effort to get to know her. A thousand apologies if the blog seemed to be accusing anyone in anyway. That was not my intention at all. Thank you to all of you for all the love and support.

In My Arms

The following is a song I wanted to share. I first heard this song in prenatal yoga, when I was only about 30 weeks along. Our yoga instructor told us that the song was by Plumb. So, I found it through Itunes and made it my ringtone. This morning, while at the rec center, the complete song came on my Nano, and I just listened to the lyrics again. It made me tear up to think about how perfect this song is for me and for my little girl. Yesterday, I was just overwhelmed with love for my little one, as I watched her proudly walk all over Kohls, screeching with excitement at her new found skill. She has truly been such a joy to us and I am so thankful for her! It is amazing to watch her really start to grow up and imagine what the future holds for her.

In My Arms

Your baby blues, so full of wonder
Your curly cues, your contagious smile
And as I watch, you start to grow up
All I can do, is hold you tight

Knowing clouds will rage and
Storms will race in, but you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down, waves will crash around
But you will be safe, in my arms

Story books, full of fairy tales
Of kings and queens, and the bluest skies
My heart is torn, just in knowing
You’ll someday see the truth from the lies

When the clouds will rage and
Storms will race in, but you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down, waves will crash around
But you will be safe, in my arms

Castles they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
But you are never all alone
Because I will always, always love you

When the clouds will rage and
Storms will race in, but you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down, waves will crash around
But you will be safe, in my arms