Corinne "Mountain Biker" Young

While Allana was at school, Gideon, Corinne and I went on a little adventure. I wanted to see if my stroller would fit on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (it did, but not very well). Corinne rode her strider bike and gideon hiked most of the time, which left me with an empty stroller to push. We parked the stroller and kept on going.

This was the first time Corinne has ever taken her strider bike on the trail. It is a single track trail and her favorite parts were the spots with lots of gravel, rocks, or hills to ride down. I haven't seen her smile that big and laugh that much for a while. She would go down a hill and laugh and laugh and then ride back up and go down again.

When we got back home she said to me, "Mom! Now you need to call me Corinne "Mountain Biker" Young!" If you know Corinne that is a pretty big deal. Ever since she could talk if you call her anything, like "Sweetie" or "Cute" or anything she would get really upset and say, "No, I Corinne!!!" So this is the first time I've really seen her taken another identity besides "Corinne"

Be Yourself

Tonight Andy was holding Corinne. She was resting her head on his shoulder and he began asking her what she wants to be when she grows up:

"Corinne, what are you going to be when you grow up? The president of the United States? or maybe a doctor? Or what about a..."

"No dad! I going to be Corinne!" (almost with tears in her eyes and in her cute high pitched voice)

Don't we all wish that we were happy with just wanting to be ourselves?

"Corinne, you're my best friend."

Many times I have loved to watch Allana and Corinne play happily together. Of course they have their battles, but more often they are looking out for each other and taking care of each other.

When I do their hair they watch a DVD and this morning they were sitting down together waiting for the chosen show to start. As I walked out of the room to gather hair supplies, Allana put her arm around Corinne and told her, "Corinne, you're my best friend." I am sure that statement will hold true as they go through life together and become closer as sisters and friends.

Together Forever

Giulia and David stopped by Sunday before David headed south to Vegas to pick up Potatoes for Connie and Grant. We talked them in to staying for a few minutes and eating lunch with us before leaving. After saying goodbye to them, Corinne and Allana continued peeking out the window to watch Giulia and David say their goodbyes. As they watched Allana was explaining to Corinne that Giulia was feeling sad that David had to leave, "Giulia lives in Provo and David lives far away in Las Vegas."

Then after Giulia and David drove off in their separate vehicles Allana asked me, "Why do they want to be together forever?"

"How do you know they will be together forever?" I asked back.

"Because they are going to get married and then they are going to have children..." was her reply. I wish I could describe the all-knowing intonation she used as she made the statement. Use your imagination...

I can't keep my eyes open

These eyes are so beautiful, but Corinne can't keep them open for long in the morning. I've been trying to get Corinne to take just one afternoon nap instead of taking one in the morning as well. Today I took Allana and Corinne to Macaroni Grill for lunch. Corinne was happily sitting in her high chair and eating when her eyes started to flutter shut. I put my hand on her shoulder to support her neck and she fell asleep sitting up in her high chair! Then I made her a bed in the back of the MADSEN and I biked back up the hill with Allana cheering "You can do it. You can do it! You can do it, mom!"

Our Poopy Day

We ran out of diapers completely, so this morning when Andy changed Corinne we put her in a diaper doubler (kind of like a maxi pad) and a pair of Allana's underwear. After she wet in our diaper creation, I took her diaper off and then ran downstairs to switch the load of laundry from the washer to the dryer. As a mother I have to multi-task, right? and it was only going to take me a second to switch the laundry.. I was going to run back up and find something for Corinne to wear for a diaper as soon as I was done...

...As I began switching the loads I heard Allana frantically yelling, "MOTHER! MOTHER! There's poop on my floor! MOTHER! MOTHER! There's poop on my floor!" I ran back upstairs and took Corinne to the toilet. She did not want to be there, so after I wiped her bottom I took her with me to the bedroom to see the damage. Luckily the poop was just the right consistency that it stayed perfectly in a cylindrical shape, and didn't plop onto the carpet. I picked up the poop with some toilet paper and carried Corinne with me to the toilet explaining that poop belongs in the toilet. Then I said "Goodbye poop!" as I put it in the toilet and flushed it. Corinne waved to the poop and then as it flushed out of sight she blew a kiss too.

Since we were out of diapers this time Corinne ended up in a pull-up.

Happy 1st Birthday Corinne!

Corinne is so little that when she walks or stands it looks super cute! When Andy put Corinne down to walk back to our table, it seemed like everyone in the restaurant stopped to watch Corinne. Her cute hair-do is compliments of her dad.

Corinne's birthday cake didn't taste as good as Allana's did, but it looked pretty cool. It was a chocolate cake with strawberry ice cream between the layers and cookies and cream whipped cream on top.

I think Corinne's favorite part of her birthday was probably riding in the cart at Target. She got to ride in the seats that say they are for ages 2-5 years old. She was smiling and kicking the whole time.