My Little Love Bug

I love this photo! Doesnt' Cole look like the little bug next to him? They both have a little round head and hair sticking up on top. So precious!

Also, the elephant toy he is holding on to...it is a Christmas gift from his Great Uncle Glenn and Great Aunt Sarah and he just loves it! The lion blanket is still a top contender for his favorite thing though. If you look closely at the photo you can see the lion's head peeking out from under the bumbo tray :)

P.S.- If you are going to have a kid (or another) the bumbo is great! A little pricy (like $40) but Cole went in it before 3 mos. (recommended age) cause I knew he could do it and now it has helped his trunk control so much that he now sits up with minimal trunk support without slouching too much after just 1 month!

Updates All Around...

Weight Update: Remaining stable. Need to bump up the exercise I think. Hard to cut back on eating as with breastfeeding I am hungry all the time lately!

Cole Update: Rolling, rolling, rolling. Daddy witnessed a role from back to belly to back today and forgot to tell Mommy until she mentioned Grammy saw a back to belly roll and that Mommy then saw a back to belly (arm got stuck) and then onto his back again. Can you believe Daddy forgot to mention this!? :) As you all know he has been doing it but hasn't shown us yet. Eating 7 oz. now when he takes a bottle...or more! Drooling a ton! Smiling when he feels like you are worthy of it. Loving his voice.

Operation Shut-Your-Mouth Update: Gone almost a day twice in a row now. 30 days is looking so far away. Not giving up though! So hard to shut your mouth when your husband is questioning everything you do or giving you crap about something. Gonna require even more strength than I had anticipated.

Work Update: Going well but busy. Pushing really hard to get job to hire another SLP full-time. A huge long shot. However, at least they are entertaining the thought! Definitely a big step in itself! The 28th is the big day for my boss to plead the case. Be sending prayers for this that day!

And finally...of course, a picture of Cole :)

So true...

I look down into your eyes and feel you tugging at my breast but it feels like you're tugging at my heart...

I Am Failing...

...Big Time! I found this on a fellow bloggers site. She wrote about how becoming a Mom has shown her even more how much she resents her husband when he gets a break or goes to bed while she is up with the baby or she has to clean the house while he watches TV, etc but secretly in side she wants this...she wants to be the perfect housewife. I thought to myself...that is me! Then I was reading my book (I read during my infrequent bath sessions...resentment rearing its ugly head hear!) and found this written in the story (ironically about a couple about to have a baby)

"Don't act so indignant...You are not the only one who has to make sacrifices when it comes to being a couple. You think you are getting the short end of the stick? Men have to make sacrifices too. Correct me if I am wrong but you want him to hold your hand and snuggle as you watch a movie, you want him to share his feelings and listen, you want him to spend time with your son and earn enough not only to buy but renovate the house. Well, I'll tell you straight up that no man says to himself walking down the aisle, Gee, I'm going to work hard and sacrifice so I can provide a good living for my family, and I am going to spend hours with my kids even when I am tireed, all the while hugging and kissing and listening to my wife and telling her all my troubles, and meanwhile, I am not going to expect a single thing....A man promises to do the things to keep you happy in the hopes that you, too, will do the things that keep him happy....Like I said, you're in this together."

WOW. That is me in a nutshell. Do you think God is trying to tell me something? So when I came across the blog about shutting your mouth for 30 days and just doing what needs to be done, I knew I had to do it.

Sigh...unfortunately I haven't even made it a day yet. How am I going to make it 30? I am glad I am doing it though and oh how I will rejoice when I make it to 30 days. I say "when" because I WILL make it to 30 days....I may be 70 years old when that happens but I will make it! Wish me luck...I obviously can use it!

Poll Results: Significant Others

My husband and I on our honeymoon (we are atop a mountain in Bushkill Falls, PA.)
My husband and his "little man" or "mini me" as he most recently has called him :)

I was surprised to see that for quite a while the results were unanimous! Most of you like your significant other's values the most and a couple liked his/her personality. I think I would have to go with values too. My husband's values are rooted in hard work and love of family. Those are two things I value most too and I think sharing common values is what has kept us together for 13 years now!

I love that we both are hard workers who save every penny and discuss at length any purchase we make. I love that we both value our family and that we actually have to figure out how we are going to see both his family and mine for holidays since we value those deep rooted family traditions.

I do love my husband's personality though. He can make me laugh when I need it and he can bring a smile to my face with his silly actions. He is quiet and shy at first but then is suddenly the life of a party, cracking jokes and making all those around him laugh. I love that he wanted nothing more than to be a father and how good he is with his son.

I also do love my husband's looks. I can't deny it is what drew me to him at first. That smile can light up a room and those eyes...so glad my son has them. They are beautiful. I love how he isn't too tall or too short...he is just the right height for me. I also love that he isn't a stick but he also is by no means overweight. He is just right. And I love his butt (he will kill me for saying that...and sorry Mom and Mother-in-law!) but he has the smallest butt it just makes me laugh.

I also do love my husband's job. He has a great job with great benefits. He loves what he does and the guys he works with. I love how he puts up with the summer people (no offense to summer people by any means!) with a grace I never could. I love that the summer people respect him so much we get gifts for our wedding, our child, and just as thank yous for his hard work. I also love that he works extra (mowing lawns, plowing and shoveling) and does this to make extra money but does it so well that these people also ask him each year to return to doing it and although thinking about giving it up he can't because he is a hardworker but also because he feels a sense of loyalty to them.

Yes, I love my husband; which I guess is a good thing since I married him and just had a child with him!

Look What Happened...

First I have to say I love this photo...lol. But the real reason for the photo is look what my little man did to his face! His nails grow so fast I can't keep up! He is better at sleeping so I have been better able to trim them (I have to do it when he is napping in my arms) but often I get one hand done and not the other because he is laying on the other!) He has been a scratcher since Day 1. He pulls his ears and hair too! I will have to try to get a shot of his balding spots from hair pulling!



This was Tony's solution to the scratching...he put socks on his hands! Why not the mittens? They don't stay on very well right now so socks it was! :)

Here's Taz!

As mentioned in the previous post...here is a perfect picture of why I call our little guy Taz at times. He was very colicy early on so he cried a lot. This picture was after a long day of Christmas events. I can't blame him...I was tired too. Also, the lion blanket in the photo is the one he just loves. Grammie bought him two more so she can have one at her house (where she watches him) and a spare in case washing one turns out in disaster! The pjs were also courtesy of Grammie after he had a blow out in his nice Christmas Eve outfit while we were out and about with Grammie! Thanks Grammie!

Baby Names

The above photo is a few months old but explains why we call our little guy "Mr. Serious" a lot. (Everyone comments on how serious he is.) Someone asked the other day what nicknames we have for Cole and this is one I use a lot. I called him "Buddy" throughout my pregnancy and still do sometimes. Another name he inherited was "Taz" for Tazmanian Devil because as I can show you in a photo I will post later (it is on our other computer), he can go from 0 to 10 as my husband and I say, on the "pissed off" meter in seconds, which reminds me of the Tazmanian Devil in Bugs Bunny. I sometimes call him "Little Man" too. Poor guy...I wonder if he even knows his real name? :)

What do you call your little ones if you have them? If you don't, what do you call your friend or relative's little one?

I am 3 Today!

Hi Everyone!

It's me Cole again and I just had to let you know I am 3 today! 3 months that is! Mommy says I have grown so much and by looking at this photo taken right after birth...

...compared to this photo taken not too long ago, I guess I have!
I was pretty long back then and am still growing! I am 3 months but mainly wear 6-9 months clothes due to my length...I swim in them width-wise!

I have accomplished a lot in 3 months...I am still breastfeeding but when I am given a bottle I now drink 6.5 ounces! I have gotten eczema now on my legs and slightly on my arms but I handle this well so far. Mommy says it is to be expected as my Grampie had it bad and still deals with it.

I stick my tongue out a lot, which Mommy says is also like my Grampie! (Daddy also did this while playing basketball a lot Mommy says!)

I am sleeping a little better although I am still not the best napper...I do a 4-5 hour stretch most nights now and last night I surprised Mommy and Daddy by sleeping 8hours; Daddy was happy cause it was his feeding shift I slept through! Mommy was proud of me even though she got less sleep. I also gave in and showed Mommy how I can roll from belly to back the other day (Grammie caught me on tape and showed Mommy so I figured I might as well show her myself.) She still hasn't seen me roll back to belly though...I just did it again last night in my crib without her seeing me...he he he.) I have also found my hands and love them. I gag myself sometimes when I try to chew them too much...they just are so fun! I drool a lot too. So much so that Daddy put a bib on me today as he sad I was soaking my shirt.

Daddy and Grammie say I have a "toofie" (pre-tooth) as they say I have a white gum but Mommy insists I don't. Not sure what I think yet....

I talk a lot too...I sure love doing that! I especially love it when Mommy copies what I say. I have a favorite blanket too. You may have seen my yellow lion blanket in photos. If not, I will have Mommy post a picture. Hmmm....I guess that is all for now. Except to say Mommy calls me Mr. Serious cause she says I always look so serious and only smile when I feel like it :)

~Cole

With My Car...

I hit a seagull! I couldn't believe it! I had Cole with me and there was a seagull in the road that kept diving for something. I obviously have seen this before and thought it would move. However, as I got closer I began thinking it wasn't going to move so I started slowing down. A car was coming in the other direction so I couldn't swerve and I hit the seagull. It got stuck to my grill for a few moments and then rolled up over my hood and came at my windshield wings spread and feet first. It hit my windshield and I know I shouldn't have but I closed my eyes and began freaking because had I not closed my eyes...it was stuck to my windshield in my line of vision! It then rolled up onto the roof of my car and over. I looked in my rearview expecting to see it lying or flopping in the road. Nope! It was flying!

When I got to my destination I immediately checked my grill expecting to see some feathers...none. No scratch in my paint, dent in my hood, or chip in my windshield either (from what I saw) and it seems the seagull survived too!

As for Cole, I looked in the rearview to see him just staring back at me aw if to say....what's the big deal? It is just a seagull. LOL.

Can You Keep a Secret?

Hi Everyone!

It's me Cole. Guess what I do in the privacy of my own room in my crib when Mommy an Daddy aren't watching. I roll over! First I figured out I can move all over my crib like if they put me in lengthwise I will turn myself so I am vertical instead of horizontal. Sometimes I squish myself in a corner and sometimes I push myself right up against the rails. Don't worry my arms and legs don't get caught cause Mommy put a breathable bumper in the crib that I think she said Grammie got for me. Anyway, back to me. Guess what I figured out the day before she went back to work? I rolled from back to belly. She put me down on my back (I don't know why she insists on this as I like my belly better.) So I had enough of that and rolled onto my belly. She found me this way but I don't think she knows I put myself this way...she didn't see me do it!

Well today while I was supposed to be taking a nap I rolled belly to back. Again, she doesn't know cause she didn't see me do it. Boy I sure can do all kinds of neat stuff when she isn't watching!

I roll onto my side a lot too and sleep that way but unfortunately Mommy has witnessed me in action with this move so nothing exciting to report about that...

Stay tuned...

Poll Results: New Year's Resolutions

So most of you want to lose weight as your resolution. Mine personally ws to enjoy life more. I tend to be a pessimist and a worrier. I have an amazing son now who really does help me see the good in life and not just the bad. His smile alone can brighten my day so I want to be able to see life through his eyes a little more.

In the spirit of what most of you are working on...I have posted some pictures of the progress of my weight loss. This is a never ending battle for me. Not only do I love to eat but my PCOS makes weight gain easy and weight loss VERY hard. Prior to pregnancy I was with a nutritionist who specializes in my condition and we were finally making gains (I lost 30 lbs.) Then I got pregnant and gained 35 lbs. Here was me towards the end of my pregancy
Here is me soon after I gave birth to Cole
Here is me about 1 month after giving birth to Cole.


And here is me now...around 2 months after giving birth to Cole.

I must admit I am somewhat proud of myself when I think just 2 months after giving birth to Cole I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I had some help in that I think a lot was fluid (I apparently was retaining more than I realized.) However, I am still proud. I know a lot of woman don't bounce back so quickly so I feel thankful I did. However, my goal is not to stop here (where I am currently stuck...the scale is no longer going down.) For my health and happiness I want to lose more. My goals are small though and therefore more attainable. I want to lose 11 more lbs. to reach my next goal. I don't have a long term goal except to be healthy and happy with my weight. My blood pressure is normal again and not sure about my cholesterol (I should check that.) I think once I can exercise a little more that will help because to lose my weight last time I had to exercise A LOT. I am back to yoga again so that is a start. Good luck to you all who have the same resolution as me....to enjoy life more. I will keep you all posted on my ongoing weight goal too...it will keep me in check that way :)

We Made It...

So today ends the first week of work for me (I have tomorrow off so Mom can take a CNA course.) It went well but since I have Friday off and only did half-days this week, next week will be the real test. I am not looking forward to full-time next week and initially planned to take half days next week too but Cole has done well this week and I think I am just prolonging the inevitable. I thought I wouldn't like returning to work at all and would want to be a SAHM as I got ready for my return, but now I think I am glad I am back but really wish I could just do part-time. However, I have a commitment to my job right now and will give full-time a fair shot before making any rash decisions (for example, I was all set to quit and stay home but now am glad I did give part-time a shot...I really think it helps me to charish my time with him even more and in the end makes me a better parent.)

Anyway, here are photos from Cole's week with my Mom. Looks like he misses me huh? :)

Tomorrow's The Big Day....

....The day I leave my little man to go to work. Words cannot describe how much this is breaking my heart. Tears are whelling in my eyes just thinking about it. Even though he sure can be a lot of work that really taxes me to my limit at times, the thought of being away from him kills me inside. Everyone said you don't know love until you have a child and I agree. I love him unconditionally. He has been with me since conception. I saw his first smile, his first laugh, had many a conversations with him and watched him learn to roll onto his side and almost onto his belly (he still can't get his arm unstuck to get his top half over onto his belly) and I breastfeed him exclusively. Not anymore. Now he will get a bottle from someone else, now he may have a "first" with someone else, and someone else will tuck him in for naps and have many a conversations and laughs with him. It really does break my heart. However, the positive is that I am blessed to have my mother watching him. He will get all the love and attention (and more!) from her. I know I am leaving him in good hands. However, it still breaks my heart...

Wish me luck everyone...I will need it. I just pray I make it through my clients without shedding tears!

PS- If you read this Crystal...thanks for the phone call. It is good to hear a pep talk from one working Mom to another...I just wish I got my summers off and scheduled vacations to have with him though...can you tell I am jealous? :)

Poll Results: What Santa Gets

Waiting for Santa...I'm SO excited!
Is that him?!
Getting bored...Can't fight the sleep any longer...

Now for the poll results...I must say I am impressed someone leaves fruit/vegetable for Santa. I am thinking if I can convince my little one to do the same I think it is a great idea. I will tell him that Santa needs some healthy food too! We will see if that goes over well or not :)

I grew up leaving Santa cookies (Oreos were his favorite), milk, and a carrot for Rudolph...I feel bad now thinking about how I neglected all the other reindeer!

Tony and I (or should I say I) left Santa stuff at our house too after he showed up one year and we didn't expect it. However, Christmas Eve was always so rushed (he came on Christmas Eve at Tony and my house) that a few times I forgot, which may be why he didn't show up this year. I know he will return with a little guy in the house now though starting next year...Mommy will make sure of it :) He was sure to fill our stockings at Mom and Dad's house though. Yes, we double dip. We have stockings at home and at my parents'. That will be fun for Cole as I remember when I was young and we used to go to my Grandmother Paine's house for Christmas and my cousins and I all had stockings that got filled by Santa there. It amazed me that Santa filled a stocking at two different houses for me so I think that will be a fun tradition for Cole too.

Christmas with the Hyson Family

Cole started out Christmas morning with the Hysons with a little nap. Doesn't he look like a little elf? Especially the way his ear is pointy looking sticking out of the hat :) Notice the lion blanket he is holding...he has fast become attached to this gift. Mommy is wondering how to get another one exactly like it for fear we lose it...it came from a nurse Mommy works with when the nurse was visiting friends in MA...uh oh!
Then on to a little TLC from Uncle Eric.
Hanging with Dad as we open presents (Uncle Todd is in the background.)
Getting a little love from Daddy.
Uncle Todd wondering why a tool kit needs paperclips and picture hangers in it. He is using Mommy's new gift, a pink tool kit, to put his present together.
Enjoying more TLC from Uncle Eric...he is so good to me!