Cole: 4 Years Old!

Cole. My goodness. I don’t even know where to start.

You are one of the funniest kids I’ve ever met. Seriously. You have this amazing comedic timing. You deliver lines perfectly and with the best mannerisms.

You are WAY too smart. Your vocabulary is better than most adults. You constantly shock your dad and me as you casually throw out words beyond your years. And math… You’ve either memorized all the addition questions on your Wild Kratz Math app or you’re currently doing 1^st grade level math. [your Dad is beyond excited about this BTW]

You’re cute. And you know it! I’m so wrapped around your finger 95% of the time. You have this “look” locked down. Slight chin deep, big blue/grey eyes and this adorable little smirk. Gah! I’m gone.

You’re kinda a klutz. You have these long Bambi legs that often have you falling down at totally random times. One minute your standing, then next you’re on the ground. I think you’ll grow out of this. I think.  

You’re getting too big. At the doctor this week you’re measuring at 45” tall and 45 lbs. We measure – you’ve grown 3” since your last birthday! Size 11 shoes. Size XS/S shirts and size 5 pants. Slow it down kiddo!

You are so sweet. You have a kind heart and truly care how others feel. You cuddle with your mama almost every night. You are quick to call-out when someone isn’t being nice and even quicker to apologize if you hurt someone’s feelings. You’re a gentle soul and I love that so much. I hope you never lose that.

You are SO loved by everyone who knows you, but most of all, by me and your Dad. You’ll always be my baby no matter how old, tall, cool, etc. you get. I know you’re going to be a force to be reckon with and I can’t wait to watch you grow. But try to slow down a little… I’m in no hurry!

Love you lots baby. 

Huddy: 5 months old

What can I say – he’s huge, cute and oh so sweet!

• I would guess around 22 lbs
• Wearing size 3 diapers and 18 month clothes
• Eating 5 bottles a day (6 ounces except for the one before bed which we do 8 oz)
• Is a champ with rice cereal – currently doing it around 6pm at night
• We’ll likely start baby food in a week or so
• Does 1-2 short naps a day and sleeps from around 8:00pm - 6:30am most days
• Is so flipping happy all the time. The kids just smiles, squeals and coo’s all day/night long
• LOVES Cole – just laughs and laughs at him
• Is a cuddle bug – always want to nuzzle into your neck
• Has zero stranger danger – again, he’s a lover
• Is grabbing and holding onto things more and more
• Loves to eat his toes – the kid is flexible
• Has rolled from his back to tummy a few times, but is always rolling from front to back (not a fan of tummy time)
• Can’t quite sit up on his own yet, but we’re getting close
• Has the funniest laugh – it’s kinda wheezy and oh-so awkward
• Has gotten too big for the Baby Bjorn (sigh)
• Is simply awesome. Nothing short of perfect! 

If you want to reference where Cole was at 5 months: click here 

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...

Dear Cole

Dear Cole,

Where do I start? First, you are seriously funny and oh-so cute. You are constantly making everyone laugh – your one-liners are perfectly timed and you give some of the best looks ever. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy my mornings and nights with you during the week. When you ask to cuddle or give kisses, my heart totally melts.

You are also one of the smartest kids around – for your age that is. Every day I’m shocked by something new you say or the questions you ask. Seriously kiddo, two-year-olds should not have memorized a book with 100 cars/trucks/planes/boats in it. You probably shouldn’t be telling me all the parts to an airplane and then all of the other things that fly in the sky. You probably aren’t supposed to be counting to 20, or spelling your name, or asking on-point questions based on your surroundings… But I love it and I look forward to the next thing that’s going to come out of that crazy head of yours.

You’re also creepily coordinated. You sprint around the house on your toes and then start doing line-drills like a pro. Your slap shots are getting scarily accurate and you’ve somehow mastered EVERY puzzle in the house. I don’t even want to tell you how good you are at the iPad because it might make your grandparents sad since you understand it better than they do. I’m not kidding. You not only know where all your games are, but how to find movies and videos on youtube. You also manage to rearrange ALL my apps in 2 minutes flat!

Your laugh has got to be one of my favorite sounds. It’s this throaty giggle that you can’t help but laugh along with. You also have this horrible fake laugh that you do when you think somethings supposed to be funny – or you want us to laugh at something you’re doing – but it’s just so hammy that I end up laughing at you anyway. And yes, I said hammy because you ARE a ham. The faces you make, your body language, even the fluctuation in your voice! I’m sure you got that from your father… J

With all that said, you are also the biggest pain the butt! I say this with a smirk on my face and a bruise on my shin. You have entered the terrible twos with a vengeance. Sometimes I think there’s some under the table contest going on at daycare – whoever can make their parent’s put them up for sale the fastest wins.

You’re initial reaction to the word “no” is to hit and kick. It’s not just the actions that scare me but this crazed look you get in your eye when you do it. I sometimes fear for my safety at night after receiving one of those looks. I’m not kidding. Why do you think that gate on your door gets tighter/higher every night?

Your Dad and I haven’t quite figured out how to break this issue you have with authority. We’re not at the end of our ropes… yet. It’s a good thing you have so many “God, I love my kid” qualities (as mentioned above) or you might have won that daycare bet last week.

I guess I just wanted to get this note out there where you’ll someday find it – I tend to throw most things in the house away - ask your dad, he says I’m not sentimental enough.

What I REALLY hope is that you find this when you have a two year-old who makes you both giggle and scream in a two-minute time span. Apparently your Nana found one she wrote about me… I’m sure I was perfect but I have a feeling I was just like you are now… not nearly as cute… but I was already potty trained so I guess I got that on ya!

Love you baboo – though I sometimes flick you off behind your back, you are no doubt the best thing in my life (don’t tell your dad)!

Love, Mama 

written: 3/10/13

2 Years Old

It's totally and utterly crazy to know I have a two year old son. If there was ever a time for a "WTF" this is it!

Yearly Update on Cole:

• He's the smartest kid in the world (not biased): he's mastered every puzzle we've given him, the pre-school Monkey game (on the iPad) is a snap, he can count to 13, knows pretty much every animal by name and sound they make, knows all his body parts, his vocabulary is better then some adults, he can recite almost every book he owns, he can spell his name, he applies "feelings" to different situations, he corrects his sentence structure and uses the correct tense (past and present). I feel like he's a four year old! 
• He's coordinated: whether we're putting together a puzzle or shooting hockey, the kid's hand-eye coordination is unreal! 
• He's a charmer: he says his "please and thank you's" on a regular basis, but lately it's the "I love you mamas" that make me melt. 

• He's kinda a brat: Those terrible-two-tantrums started early and boy, are those fun! I would love to say they only happen once in a while... but I'd be lying. We typically see some form of Eloc (Cole backwards = his scary side) daily - sometimes it's not that bad... other times, well, let's just say I'm learning patience like never before.
• He's really cute 

Cole - 15 Months

A short update and some pictures:
Cole...
Has molars on top and bottom... both sides!
Is starting to talk more and more: cracker, hockey, milk, mama, dadda, tractor...
Loves to read books
Constantly asking "whas dis"
Loves dogs
Makes animal noises for snake, dog, hen, sheep, cow...
Goes to bed on his own at 7:00 and sleeps until 7:00am
Is in the toddler room and is doing SO well
Gets at least one accident report a week (lots of bumps and bruises)
Is a bit of a bully at daycare but we're working on it
Lasagna is still his favorite food but the kid isn't picky
Gives hugs on command and likes to wave "bye" at everyone
Carries hockey sticks all over the house and outside (see pictures below)
Loves to take B-A-T-H-S (can't say it out loud or he's running to the tub)
Is super smart but I'm probably bias
Is a big kid (starting to outgrow 2T pajamas) *we'll have official stats next week
Has had way too many ear infections and is now a champ at taking his meds
Now does the signs for milk, more, thank you and please (also says it while signing some days)

Loves other kids... there's nothing better then dropping him off at daycare and watching him run and laugh with friends

Home Alone

Rolling around with Mom

show-off

playing hockey outside... in March

still carrying his hockey stick

happy boy

helping pick-up sticks

no more snow!

10 Months Old

I think this is my favorite age yet! Cole has getting more of his own personality every day... and learning so much... it's insane! Here's a quick run down before lots of pictures!

Cole...
Has six teeth - four on top and two on the bottom
Has a underbite - I think its cute
Knows how to wave (this is new as of two days ago)
Is eating more and more foods... we're keeping our fingers crossed that the butt-flu doesn't come back
Is a ham - no clue where he gets that from :)
Has this laugh where he opens his entire mouth as he smiles and goes "haaa, haaa"
Whistles - it's so stinking cute
Does not like being told "no" - damn only children
Is eating three meals, and four bottles a day - I assume we'll drop a bottle soon
Sleeps around 11 hours at night and typically has two 45 minute naps a day (during the week - weekends he usually takes longer naps)
Has a couple of older girlfriends at daycare... but apparently a few of them also have lil' crushes on Jason...
Constantly has bruises on his head/face... he pulls himself up on EVERYTHING and thinks he can walk/ tries on a regular basis
Is wearing 18-24 month clothes and size 4 diapers
Is roughly 32" long and weighs about 25 lbs.
Loves music and dancing and dogs

Now for some pictures:

 

Just playing in the leaves   

Love that little waddle 

Helping dad rake 

"CHAARRGGEE!"

the 10 Month picture with Blue Bear

Trying to get away (notice the bruise)

"But I want it...." 

Trying to smile his way out of it 

9 Months and more...

My oh my it's been a busy month! I can't believe it's already the middle of September and I REALLY can't believe that Cole is 9 months old! I'll try and write a longer "Cole Update" this weekend to tell you more about him... In the meantime, enjoy the pictures:

Wanting to feed himself - this is the end result

matching blue eyes

learning to walk... sorta

checking out the yard... you know - man things :) 

HeMan

Rosey cheeks - he's been under the weather all week 

this face will be the death of me!

ooohhhh!

Just reading my book

My happy lil' man!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!