Quick Smile

It's blurry and only partial but it's still a smile!

A Day In Pictures

A short look at my day-to-day life in pictures:

repeat about 20 times...

Just kidding... Haven't turned it on yet (stupid low-back)

Insert about 4-5 more feedings, a few more crying pictures, many more cuddle pictures and you have my day.

[note: Yes, these pictures were taken over the past few weeks... Cole is not the biggest fan of the camera mid-meal or mid-cry]

Cole Update

For all the pictures I post, I haven't really done a "Cole Update" in a while... So here it goes:

Cole is....

• Getting SO big - We had to bring him in to the doctor last week and he's now weighing 11 lb. 8 oz
• Why the doc? His little tear duct is clogged so we had to get drops for him... small infection
• Changing his sleep schedule daily - some nights he's a champ and lets me and J sleep most of the night - Other nights (like last night) he's WIDE awake and not wanting to sleep
• Starting to smile more - This morning he decided to not eat his normal amount and as I started to get frustrated, he broke out a full-blown smile assault - I was helpless - this will be a problem
• Showing us how strong he is by standing up (when you rest him against your chest or BARELY hold under his arms) - Some days he fusses until you let him "walk around" - I can see the next purchase will be a bouncer
• Now to big for 0-3 outfits and even some 6 month onsies - he's too long for them
• Following objects, mainly people, with his eyes
• Oh so handsome!

Quick Weekend Recap

This weekend:

Stayed up too late with Ashley and Andy Friday night

Was very lazy Saturday due to late night :: Jason played hockey and promptly napped on the couch after

Went to yoga in the morning and then went to see Country Strong with Amanda and Nicole as the boys cheered the Packers to a victory!

Here are a couple of new pictures - Notice how he's holding up his head!

The Many Faces of Cole

I've been trying to put together a birth announcement/Valentine's Day card for the past week with little luck. It's not that I haven't taken about 300 pictures of Cole... It's the fact that he's started smiling but REFUSES to do so for the camera! I have tons of cute pictures but I want to send one with a smile...

Don't worry, I'll keep trying... but until then, please enjoy some of the out takes:

"Hi there!"

"I'm not happy about all these pictures"

"Oh! A bird!"

"So bored with this"

And Grandpa Dude... Notice the oh-so-cute Rock Star onsie (on Cole, not Gene) ... first and last time wearing it... he's gotten too long for most 3 month clothes!

Weekend Update

Where did the weekend go? It was here and gone faster then I thought possible!

What happened:

I went to my first post-prego yoga class!!! It was amazing - like going home. It was a 90 minute Hot Yoga class and while I couldn't do everything (stomach got in the way of some postures) I was remarkably not as bad as I thought I would be. This will be a weekly occurrence!

Also on Saturday I went out to brunch with my good friend Nicole - mama date - I would love to say the conversation didn't totally focus on kids but it did. And it was awesome!

Jason went and played hockey outside and then brought some of the guys over for football, beer and pizza!

Sunday was a lazy day at home until the Packers played... then it was a lot of yelling, cheering and dancing... they won if you didn't catch the game! J is calling Cole his good luck charm as the Pack have not lost a game since he's been born. No pressure on the kid or anything!

Cole Update: Since my last post our little man has decided to shorten his night sleeping (going back to 3-4 hour shifts) and become a needy napper. Normally he is content sleeping in his Pack 'N Play during the day but the past two days it seems like holding him is the only option. I'm not complaining... I do LOVE to snuggle with him... but that means daytime activities are put on the back burner [this post has taken about 30 minutes to write due to the fact that I'm typing with one hand and holding him with the other]. Hopefully this is just a phase and my cute non-crying baby will be back soon!

One Month!

It's been a month... Thinking back I don't know how this is possible. Some events seem like they were months ago and others seem like yesterday. Actually giving birth feels like an eternity ago - Most of it I can't even remember... or I'm blocking it out, one of the two!

Cole is...

• Getting bigger by the day - and stronger! He can hold his head up most of the time
• Is eating about 5 oz. a sitting
• Looking more like his dad
• Not smiling yet... but close
• Figuring out how to drive mama crazy during the day (he is NOT a quiet crier)
• Figuring out how to melt mama (he's got the greatest expressions already - once he realizes how to control them I'm in BIG trouble)
• Is a pooper - I swear this kid sharts every hour
• Has figured out his nights and days - he usually does a 5-6 hour shift at night! Again, happy mama
• Loves TV already - I know he can't actually see it but he constantly tries to watch it when he's downstairs

I am...

• Getting better at figuring out Cole's cries - and realizing that sometimes he just needs to scream (though I hate it)
• Starting to settle down during the day
• Learning how to take extra quick showers
• Drinking a pot of coffee every morning... not a good habit but a necessary one!
• Anxious to start working out again... My body feels pretty foreign still so I've devised a workout schedule that will be starting as soon as my back gets better (yep - threw it out again)
• Very happy

Here are some pictures of Cole and his bear:

"Dude, I don't think she's anywhere near being done with that camera!"

Just chilling in the big bed as I attempted to shower and get (somewhat) ready this morning:

"Aren't I handsome? My shirt says I am..."

Tummy time on his jungle mat...

I'm trying to remember to take video since we got an AWESOME flip camera from Leah - here is a trial run - ignore my annoying voice....

Papoose's New Whip

Had to post these pictures of J and Papoose (Carlos is gone and Papoose is the new nickname around the Rogowski household) in his new ride. We haven't put on the top yet so more pictures of that later!

"You guys are taking pictures of this?"

THANK YOU SO MUCH to Jason's aunt Nancy and Uncle John for this amazing gift!!!!!

Winter Weekend and Maternity Leave

This weekend was full of visitors... and Cole stayed awake for most of them!

Saturday morning brought Joe and Sarah... and a very cute outfit! In the afternoon JoeJoe and his girlfriend Lindsey stopped by with an amazing Chicken Potpie (Joe, I really want that recipe) and Cole's first sword! I'm sure he'll love it once he masters that whole "these are my hands" thing!

Andy, Stacy, Adam and Amanda came over for dinner (thank you Andy and Stacy for the yummy Olive Garden - we're still eating it!) and some drinks. It's amazing how a little wine gets to you... and how it makes you feel during a 3am feeding!

On Sunday we had both grandparents stop by... and then of course, a Packer victory! Hopefully someday Cole will be able to hear again! :)

Many of you have emailed asking how maternity leave is going after my previous rant. I'm happy to report that its going a lot better. I think the key has been NO TV and Cole being awake more. He doesn't nap too much during the day so that means lots of "play time". When Cole does sleep I'm made myself fall back in love with reading... though this week I will be forcing myself to nap!

So that was our weekend... hope all of you had a great one and are staying warm!

Bath Time

"Seriously, another picture????"

Maternity Leave

Warning: The following are the ramblings of a woman who is used to being extremely busy and overly productive each day and is now on maternity leave.

I'm counting today as my second official day of maternity leave even though it actually started on the 13th. With the Holidays there was always someone else here with me... Jason, family, friends... I was never really by myself. Now I am. Jason started at Denali yesterday so it's me and Cole from 8am-6pm. I have mixed feelings so far. I'm trying to the take advice that I've received from my many wise friends:

Buy a planner and write down ONE thing to do a day.

Nap.

Watch bad TV.

Try to fit in a shower.

All of these things seem easy enough... yesterday I filled in a planner with daily tasks and then completed three days worth. I didn't quite manage the shower but happy to report I got one in this morning. I still can't figure out the napping part but that may be due to my pot o' coffee morning routine. I watched LOTS of bad TV (ask me anything about Taylor Swift or Pretty Little Liars, I've got it down) and even started reading a new book.

Since I've strived to be honest and open on here (as much as possible knowing parents and grand parents are reading this) I'm going to tell you the truth: I'm VERY nervous for the next two months. I know... it's only been a day, but I'm bored. When Cole is up and awake it's awesome but when he naps, which he's great at, I'm constantly checking the clock. I feel the need to be doing something but at the same time I'm fighting the voice in my head telling me to just sit and relax. I'm all about lounging on the couch after a long day at work. Or after a killer workout. But I'm lounging on the couch after a long day of lounging on the couch! Just doesn't sit right.

To those of you thinking "go out and do something" - easier said then done with a newborn in January. It's oh-so cold out and he's still on a three hour eating shift. He's too young to bring to the gym daycare (plus those little 13 year olds they have working there are not capable in my "new mom" eyes) and I'm still scared of him catching anything before he turns 1 month.

So what's the point of this post: It's me warning you. Expect lots of ramblings on here. Expect me to know your facebook profiles in and out. Expect me to know every E! True Hollywood Story. Expect me to anxiously text you once 5:00pm hits wondering if you're almost home (that one applies to you Jason). Expect me to be a little antsy when you stop over. Expect me to LOVE any movie, book, blog, TV show advice. Expect Cole to be a little attention seeker when he gets older as he will be getting all of mine!

With that said, my cute little man:

Happy 2011!

I hope you all had an amazing New Years and wish you all the best for 2011!!!

Here are some pictures from our crazy night... Jason made lobster (so good) and then I fell asleep by 7:00pm... Yep, crazy night!

Here are two pictures from our mini photo session - I'm still trying to figure out my camera and photoshop...