California or Bust - The Big Road Trip

I have been taking pictures all along the way on our big moving adventure to California. We left Chicago on June 21st and are not able to move in until the 29th, so we made a vacation out of our trip. It has been interesting to be technically homeless and living out of our car, although Sean says, "everyone should do that once in their lifetime." 


Instead of writing about it all again on here, I just decided to share the link to all of the pics. 


Next post from a California girl!

Precious Friends...

...make my heart happy.


I received an unexpected package on my doorstep last week.

Thanks "Auntie" Allison!

5 Month Shenanigans

I never posted anything when Cora turned 5 months on May 24th, so I wanted to share a collection of pictures and videos that just shows what she is doing and where she is at in her development at this point. Then we can look back and see what we were up to when she is in college. 


Blah, blah, blah.  


Ok, so I just take too many pictures and videos and needed an excuse to share them with you.

had to immortalize those chubby thighs - I just want to kiss her all day

definitely have the grasping down...

...and the smiling...

...and the putting everything graspable into the mouth

yes I had food

She loves to talk and screech. And I love to listen.

The Perfect Pear

Unlike the sweet potatoes, pears were a success... 


Sort of...


I guess. 


You judge.

The Not-So-Sweet Potato

When Cora was born, I toyed with the idea of making my own baby food. After she started cereal, I decided that I would like to take the project on. My friend told me about this great thing called the Baby Bullet, and Sean and I decided that buying it would be a good investment since I will be planning on making food for future kids as well. 


I. LOVE. IT.


It pretty much works like a food processor or nice blender would, but it is mini so you can make extremely fresh stuff because you are not having to make larger amounts and freeze them (unless you want to).

So the whole thing came in the mail last Saturday, and I was really excited to get started with it. It also included a great book with what to feed at different stages, recipes for all stages, and even a "picking the best produce" section where it tells you what to look for with different fruits and veggies when shopping... did I mention how much I love it?


On Sunday after church (Sean had to work) I went to two different places looking for an organic sweet potato which is what I had decided to start with. I blended an avocado as well, so I would have food for the whole week. 


On Monday morning, I steamed my sweet potato to keep all those great nutrients in and blended it to perfection by following my little directions with how much water to add. 

sweet potato and avocado

Then Sean and I got out the iPhone and switched it to video mode, placed Cora in the Bumbo seat with her little bib, and proceeded to attempt to feed her the first non-milk flavored food. We were so excited. 


What a momentous experience. 


Afterwards I couldn't help but think it was slightly anticlimactic after all of my preparations. 

We sure did keep trying for an amusingly long amount of time. We would also prefer to not be judged for the ending where we decided it would be a good idea to shove the food in her mouth, thinking that would make a difference in her appreciation for it. We plead temporary insanity.


It's so easy to forget that babies are people too. They have their own personalities, likes and dislikes, opinions... and they are very adept at telling us if we would just pause to listen. 


Cora teaches me new things every day. I love being a parent.

Just Life

I have been doing nothing but packing and running moving related errands lately, so I have nothing interesting to post about. 


But since I know Gramma and Grandad check in a lot...

on a walk

morning time with Momma

Gramma, this video was taken right after we talked on the phone about Cora eating.