On Sunday, October 3, 2010, Daniel, Kate and I welcomed our new addition to the family into the world. Cora weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. (1 oz. less than her big sister) and was 19.5 inches long (1 inch shorter than Kate). Still, although she was born one week early, Cora arrived with chubby cheeks and a temper that could only rival her father's.
Everything about Cora's delivery was different from her sister's. Because she was in the breech position--and despite all our efforts to help her move head-down, including several visits to the chiropractor, multiple attempts at headstands, and even a version, which is where two doctors atttempted to manually turn her head-down--I had to have a C-section. With Kate I went into labor and progressed normally and naturally with no medications or interventions. Cora was just determined to stay bottom-down. All in all, though, the surgery was not as bad as I had anticipated, and it is a blessing to know that Cora was perfectly healthy.
I also want to confirm and reaffirm that everyone who told me having two children was hard, especially two under 3 years of age. Kate has her moments when she only wants Mommy and that can be hard, especially when I am feeding Cora or trying to get her to sleep. Yet, Kate loves her little sister very much and tries to hold her and love on her all the time. She is particularly helpful when I'm changing Cora's diapers, bringing me the wipes and throwing away the dirty diapers. I do have to watch Kate very carefully because yesterday when I was on the phone with a doctor's office, she was lying on top of her little sister. Sweet Cora never cried or made a peep but just looked at her big sister with wonder.
We are truly blessed with two beautiful little girls and thank God for them.
