Ninja Cole

An hour later...
Me: do you want to be a pirate or a ninja?
Cole: I want to be both. A ninja pirate!
Sounds good to me

Day at the Zoo

Growth Spurt?!?

A few pics from our weekend

Our weekend

Hope you all had a wonderful Father's Day! We celebrated with a rainy trip to get doughnuts then a beautiful afternoon at the Stone Arch Festival... Complete with Spider-man face paint

Ode to Potty Training

If I've talked to you in the past... year it seems... I've probably mentioned Potty Training. It's still a topic of conversation in our house...

As you've seen in previous posts, Cole moved up to pre-school on Monday. Today, he moved back down. Why? He's still not pooping on the potty. Part of me is livid with daycare for moving him up knowing he wasn't fully "there" yet. I even asked about it. It killed me to have to bring him in today and drop him off in the pre-preschool room, as he cried and screamed that he wanted to be with his friends in the other class. Killed me.

The other part of me, that I finally realized last night, was my frustration with my self. If you're a parent you're probably very familiar with this feeling. My lil' man is not abnormal, as I've been reading and talking with other parents/doctors. This is pretty typical for young boys. Then I catch myself thinking: "But he's so smart. He got peeing in the potty quickly and never had an accident with that. He knows all about the potty, and that he should. Why can't he get it?"

These thoughts are then projected to Cole. Jason and I being frustrated. Talking about pooping on the potty ad nauseam. Threatening to take away things. Rewarding with toys, shows and treats. Still, he struggles.

What does all this rambling add up to? Me finalizing realizing that his struggles are making me feel like I'm struggling. Making me feel like I'm not a good parent if I can't figure out a way to make him do it.

So today I'm stopping it. This is not my fault, nor do I have a ton of control over it. My frustrations and insecurities aren't helping him at all. He IS a smart boy (and funny, and sweet). He WILL get it but I just have to have patience. Everyone has said "he'll do it when he's ready" and I guess I have to just trust that. I have to reward the accomplishments but not get hung up on the failures. And I should probably stop thinking of them as failures and more as set-backs, or stepping stones.

Am I hoping that moving down will be the motivation internally for him? Hell yes I am. Will I continue to encourage him to use the potty every night? For sure! Will I constantly think about it and dwell on the fact that my brilliant little boy isn't pooping on the potty? Well, I'm going to try. But I know I will now take a step back, a deep breath, and realize he'll get it when it's his time.

Ramble over.

Hudson: 2 months Old

My lil' guy isn't so little anymore! Well, I guess he never really was...

Hudson had his two month check-up on Tuesday and is currently 25" tall and weighs 15 lbs and 9 ounces!

Other stats:

• Wearing size 2 diapers 
• Mostly wearing 9 months clothes (yes, 9 month) 
• Eating about 30-35 ounces of formula a day (7 bottles a day)
• Has been averaging 5 hour sleep shifts at night (putting him down between 10-11pm, and then waking up for a bottle around 3-4am)
• Is smiling like crazy and has even produced a few giggles
• Can pretty much hold his head up 
• Loves to move and would be crawling if he had any idea how to control his arms and legs 
• Still loves to cuddle but has been pretty content snoozing in his swing (I need to get him napping in the crib) 
• Still rocks the swaddle/sleep sack at night but has been breaking his arms out 
• Has a very sweet disposition - he rarely cries, only has one major fuss period (for Jason around 9:30pm) 
• Jason and I both think he'll be the laid-back one, but will also be our bruiser (Cole will be the mouth and Huddy will have to back it up) 

If you're interested in comparing my boys, Cole has the same height at 2 months but only 13 lbs 10 ounces. More here.

Hope you all are enjoying your Summer. Mine is coming to an end in a few short weeks... or at least that's what it feels like since I'll be going back to work after the 4th of July weekend... This time will be much harder in some ways and easier in others...

Follow Up

Cole at school. See... Cheese ball!

A Letter to Cole

Cole,

Three and a half already. Where did the time go? No seriously, where did it go because it seems like only yesterday you were just barely walking around this place, giving me and your dad mini-heart attacks as you fell down the stairs. Now you're still giving us mini-heart attacks as your bambi legs carry you to pre-school! Yes! Pre-school (summer session).

You are so silly these days and the teachers at school tell us your the class clown. Can't say I'm surprised because you make your dad and me laugh all day and night long. You even mumble in your sleep - talking about Paw Patrol and castles. You have the best timing with jokes, and even your facial expressions have us rolling.

You are also scary smart. You have your dad's memory already and I can't believe everything that you know. We've been practicing rhyming words, counting, letters... I swear there's nothing you can't learn or memorize instantly... well, except pooping on the potty, but you're trying.

You're so sweet and compassionate. You are always worrying about others and have the sweetest hugs. You're not shy about making friends or telling people you love them. You're so great with Hudson, and I can't wait to watch you teach him everything that you know.

You have me wrapped around your little finger. You've figured out how to give me these little looks, and a "I love you mama" and I'm done. My favorite is when you bring over two fruit snack bags, one for you and one for me. Don't think I don't know what you're up to, but I take it every time!

You are going to do such amazing things. Some days I think you'll be a pilot, others a engineer... but I know you'll be happy no matter what. Because you're a happy kid. Always.

You're getting so big but you still like to crawl in my lap for cuddles... though you're not fitting like you used to since you're already almost four feet tall!

You're all boy with scrapped knees, bruises and a love for all things with a motor. Superman and spiderman dominate your wardrobe, and I think you would wear a cape and mask everyday if we let you. Ok, most days we let you!



You are perfect and your dad and I love you more than you can ever know. I'm scared for the day that I don't get your sweet hugs and cuddles in public because you'll be "too cool"/ surrounded by all your friends... I know you'll have thousands. And no more hitting on the ladies at the park. You're already a smooth talker with your promise of ice cream and iPad games. Plenty of time for that when you're 30! For now, just stay my baby and run to me for kisses when you fall down!

Love you lots and lots,
Your mama

Finally Summer

Duncan Wedding

Such a great time! Here are a few PG photos from the weekend. Congrats Matt and Brandy- and thank you Nana and Papa Pugh for watching both boys!

Monday morning chats