Watch Me Grow...

Cole in the Daddy's White Shirt tradition...

Cole's 2nd Birthday and Nanna & Auntie Annie's Visit

Our sweet prince turned two and was able to celebrate his day with Nanna, Annie, and Hailee. We were so grateful for their visit!

My Dinosaur

These words are from one of Cole's favorite books, "How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You" by Jane Yolen. It is quite fitting for the days we have had lately.

We love you, our Little Dinosaur. 

You woke in the morning in such a bad mood...

then sat at the table and fussed with your food.

But then you blew kisses and waved from the door.

I love you, I love you, my dinosaur.

Out in the sandbox you threw lots of sand...

You ran from the slide after slapping my hand.

But you suddenly turned with a smile I adore.

Oh, I'll always love you, my dinosaur.

You moped through your nap time and slept not a wink...

You flooded the house when you played in the sink.

But you got out the mop and then cleaned up the floor!

I love you so much, little dinosaur.

Off in the car, you kept kicking my seat...

And when we got out, you were dragging your feet.

But you held my hand tight when we walked in the store.

I'll love you forever, my dinosaur.

Dinner disaster! You made such a mess!

Would you stay up past bedtime?

The answer was YES!

But when you smile sweetly and hold back your roar,

when you kiss me and hug me once, twice, even more...

...that's when you give love, and I know this is true,

because that's how a dinosaur says

I Love You!

A Few Days Before Christmas

Cole loved helping his daddy put up the Christmas lights, just like he loves to help his mommy put clothes in the washer and dryer.

A quick hug!

A cheesy grin!

A little smooch.

The girls made some yummy cookies for Santa...

Two Weeks Shy of 18 months

Our little Cole is growing up!
Last Sunday he went into Nursery for the first time by himself and did awesome! No crying, no resistance. Though the teacher said at one point he just hung his head and stood there (poor little guy!) but did really good. We peeked in on him a couple times and it was so cute to see him sitting on the little chairs eating a snack or making a craft. Eighteen months is the greatest!
He has just about all of his 20 baby teeth, he won't let us keep his mouth open for long, but he has at least 17 or 18. No wonder he is crabby sometimes! It usually takes two and a half years to get them all!
He is talking a lot more and his vocabulary is growing, which is so exciting. He can say shoe, sock, Daddy, Mer Mer, star, wow, ball, balloon, thank you, cookie, yes, hi, bye and blues clues.He does the animal sounds for cat, horse, cow, chicken, duck, tiger and lion. For shark he says na-na like in the movie Jaws. That's our favorite! For please he says pa-lease, pop for popcorn, and pup pup for dog. If we start singing 'Old Macdonald' he'll sing 'ee-i'ee-'i-eeewwwww not ooooo. He's starting to count but misses one and goes straight to two, three...
There aren't any babies in our house anymore, just sticky fingers, loud squeals and food all over the floor at mealtime. And that's the way we like it!

Water Hose

Little ones are always at their cutest when they learn the joy of playing with the water hose. Cole has now experienced it and can't get enough! These were taken one random day on the camera phone...

Watch Me Grow...

Cole's first Daddy's white shirt picture.

Handsome Boy

Cole's one year old pictures taken by his Uncle Ryan...

Happy 1st Birthday, Cole!

The Little Man has had quite a birthday week... starting out with getting tubes in his ears because of all the ear infections he has gotten in the last few months. He had stopped eating everything besides his bottle and an occasional graham cracker, so it time to do something to help him feel better.

Two days before his birthday he left bright and early for the doctor, with an empty stomach but in a happy mood. We sat together in a chair behind a curtain while the doctor, anesthesiologist and nurses came to explain everything. Then they grabbed him and took him off to the operating room. Within 7 minutes he was back in his mommy's arms coming out of the anesthesia. After what seemed like two days, he stopped crying, but only after vomiting all over his mom. Which was ok, poor little guy had been through alot.

The night before his birthday we took some bath time pictures.

 The birthday boy and his daddy on his birthday morning...

 Then it was off to go shopping with Grandma Diana who visited for the week.

 We went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner that night, picture courtesy of Meredith Dowland.

 Cole ate from his very first plate of restaurant  food, white and rye bread and bananas, the latter of which was, of course, not touched. He won't anything wet or slimey, which leaves out many, many, healthy food choices, unfortunately.

 He loved it!

 The boys getting ready for the car ride...

 Coley LOVES his daddy.

 Happy 1st Birthday Cole!

 Now, what usually happens during a first birthday party involving cake is the child cautiously eyes their cake but then eventually digs in and becomes a giggling cake monster.
Not our sweet boy. He became terrified of the cake and the texture of the frosting.

 Even after sitting on his mommy's lap and having another round of the Happy Birthday song, he still was having none of it!

 But as soon as he got a hold of his new Elmo, he was a happy camper.

 Our little man has had some not-do-fun-things happen in the last few months, but in the end in is the most lovable, sweet boy ever and even through tears will give anyone a smile and some loves.

  Happy birthday, our little prince. We love you!