Mom Monday

You Know You're A Mom When....

- You never thought twice about shots when you were getting them even as an adult but you contemplate over and over the shots you are giving your son (i.e., how many at once, when, what ones, etc.)

- You dread shots for your son more than you ever dreaded them for yourself!

- Even at a year old you continue to examine your son's poop every time you change him; it is like it has become a habit!

- You get sick and don't think about yourself but immediately think about all the ways to avoid giving it to your son and how bad you will feel if he gets it!

- An argument between your husband and you is no longer about who does the laundry; it is now about whether or not you are too protective of your son (our latest ongoing one is that I feel I am just following CDC recommendations, wash your hands, etc. and he feels I have become a germ-a-phob with our son.)

- Visiting Santa for the first time has never been more fun.

- Your heart can easily explode with happiness with one smile from your son or just as easily break into little pieces with a tear from your son.

- You find yourself more proud of your son's accomplishments (no matter how small) than you have ever been about any of yours and you have 20 years of experiences to his one year!

Thanksgiving with the In-Laws

This year was the year we do Thanksgiving with Tony's family. It is nice because it is so small. I love the big gatherings, don't get me wrong, but sometimes a smaller one is nice too. It was just Tony's parents and brothers and Cole and I. Here is the day in pictures....

Helping Mommy make a pie...


Tasting the "fruits" of his labor :)


Taking some time to play...reaching deep into the toy box :)


All those toys and he picks the lunch box to play with!


Nap time!


Picture with Mommy :)


And the next three...Cole's version of a smile...this is what he does when you say smile now :)




Picture with Daddy :)


My attempt at a group photo :)


Thanks to Gramma, this one is much better :)


Cole and Daddy


Riding the horsie at Gramma and Grampa's

And lastly...enjoying the chocolate cream pie that Mommy and he made :)




I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as wonderful as ours!

Friday's Fun Facts

Waiting on Mommy to get him his breakfast :)

Here's what Cole has been up to...

- Growing out of some 18 month clothes now and into some 24 months and 2T!

- Still in size 5 shoe but I think a size 6 shoe is fast approaching!

- Still in size 4 regular diaper and size 5 overnight but he "peed out" of the size 5 for the first time in a while and woke up wet so I will have to watch to be sure we don't have to go up a size...not sure if they make bigger than size 5 overnights in Pampers!

- He has now tried cooked broccoli and LOVES it! He also tried stuffing for the first time. He likes olives and pickles (sweet) and he had some bacon for the first time as well. He tried grilled cheese but wasn't as excited about that. He is back to eating chicken as long as I put the melted Havarti cheese on it! LOL.

- The boy continues to love to eat! He had lunch then ate a full kid's plate of food for Thanksgiving an hour later then had a full bottle a couple hours after that!

- He continues to prefer his milk in a bottle and warmed :)

- He continues to walk/speed walk everywhere and everyone that sees him is impressed with his walking for his age. (Proud Mommy here!)

- The past two days he has started talking more (praise the Lord!) He is saying sounds and attempting words he hasn't before. He was in the bath last night and suddenly started climbing out and SAID not signed, all done! I was floored. I praised him and got all excited and he didn't seem to see what the fuss was all about. He also has said, "Dada" again which has made Tony so happy. Last night he called for me in the middle of the night for the first time...made getting out of bed a lot easier :) He has also said "Grampa" several times today and said "yeah" and "k" (for okay). He has said a few more things but it is all at once suddenly and I am so excited I can't remember them all!

- He has had a few playdates....last week with Rosylnn and then Madison and today with Josiah and Benjamin. He loves other kids.

- I really am seeing the toddler in him and my husband showed a little sentimental moment when I talked about what a big boy Cole was and he squeezed Cole tight and said, "No, he is still my baby!" Awww....

Keep up the good work little man! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!

Thankful on Thursday...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This Thursday I am thankful for my son. I know I talk about how much I love him and how I can't imagine my love being able to grow anymore and it does with each day. I just cannot say it enough. From the moment I realized I was pregnant the place in my heart where he is started to grow and it hasn't stopped. I am amazed at the miracle of life. I love that I carried and nourished him and that my husband and I created him. I am thankful I was able to deliver him naturally and experience all that hard work and then hold him right after I delivered him. I am thankful for every kick to the ribs he gave me while I carried him and I love that he was delivered face up like he didn't want to miss a thing...he is still that way! I love that he kept me up many nights where I was able to just hold him while he was colicky. I love that I got to breastfeed him. I love his smile, his kisses, the way he loves to sing and dance, that he loves his lion lovey, that he wants me to carry him everwhere, that he is asserting his independence, that he can make me smile when I feel my worst and that he looks at me through rose colored glasses. I love his innocence. I love him more than I ever could have imagined. I love him, I love him, I love him! I am thankful for this amazing gift God has given me, my son.

Wordless Wednesday

A new favorite game...
Peek-a-boo

Roar!

Mom Monday...

Cole's version of sorting the mail.... :)

You Know You're a Mommy When...

- For the first time in the MANY years you and your husband have been together you are buying milk by the gallon.

- Your living room now has a toy box.

- You have to schedule in 15 minutes a day to try to get housework done just to try to catch up on the mess you call your house and often, this is still done with a toddler attached to your leg.

- You leave the house 3 different times in the morning because your memory is shot and you headed out each time thinking you had everything you needed only to realize as you got to your car you forgot something (one of those things being your breakfast!)

- You now get twice as many cards on holidays because your son gets his own cards in the mail!

- You don't remember the last time you ate before 7 P.M.

- You don't remember the last time you had a dinner out with your husband where it was just the two of you (and you actually don't mind this one bit!)

- You no longer hear the sermon at church because you are downstairs coloring on the chalkboard wall in the toddler room :)

- You now get to have first pick of the coffee hour food each Sunday at church because your son often wants to taste something while you are hanging out in the gathering area because someone got a little restless about halfway through church :)

- Your outings often are catered to that of a 1 year old and you enjoy it just as much and maybe sometimes more than him!

Poll Results: Nationalized Healthcare

I am kind of surprised that the majority of people are against nationalized healthcare. From the group I have talked to and the fact that the House passed it, I thought that more would be for it.

Me? I am against it. I feel like first, just like the same-sex marriage that this should have been put to a people's vote first. Issues as big as these, the people should have a voice. Yes, I know that we vote for representatives to be our voice but if there are more Democrats than Republicans for example, that could be the deciding factor on which way a bill goes. I think we should be able to have a voice first. Second, I feel like it is too rushed. I feel there needs to be some attempts to change our current system first rather than "re-inventing the wheel." Plus, I agree with someone who said, "the government can't run social security and Medicare, how can they run this?" Finally, I admit, I worry about what will happen to me who has good healthcare and is happy with it. Don't get me wrong, I understand the plight of others very well. I have a brother with Crohn's Disease who has no job yet and has a few months to try to figure something out before he is looking at big problems due to his "pre-existing condition" and high cost just to maintain his current status with pills and infusions. He however, even agrees that now is not the time for nationalized healthcare.

So, what are your thoughts for or against it?

Friday's Fun Facts

Here's what the little man has been up to this week...

- I am sadly realizing he is growing out of his hooded towels...I have started wrapping one around him like a "big boy" (see photo above) and I think he may need some "real towels" soon :(

- I had a dream the other night about breastfeeding Cole again...I think I am realizing he is growing up! With that, he is a size 5 shoe still and a 18-14 month shirt and a 12 month waist but 18-24 month length in pants...this poses some difficulty!

- Cole still LOVES to dance and sing to music and still doesn't really watch TV (Mommy really is okay with this!) He even dances and sings to the music in church :)

- He contines to LOVE to be outside as much as possible.

- He is finally drinking milk in a bottle. He takes it out of cup but doesn't get the amount he is supposed to (16-24 ounces) and he wouldn't take it from his bottle. Daddy finally got the idea to heat the milk in his bottle and voila! We have a boy who loves his bottles of milk now! Phew. Mommy was getting worried he wasn't getting enough milk!

- He still LOVES to eat. The boy eats non-stop and we have noticed he can get grouchy when he is hungry and needs a snack :) He continues to LOVE blueberries, grapes and his Earth's Best cookies. For veggies he is partial to green beans and peas. His latest foods have been chicken with melted Havarati cheese on it (he started refusing it plain and really, who can blame him!), cantalope, and he has decided there is a food he doesn't like...cucumbers! He tried soda (Mommy finally let Dada give him a sip) and he liked it! Mommy said that he COULD NOT have anymore....mean Mommy.

- At a previous MD visit he was 24.04 lbs! He continues to be long and lean.

- He continues to be a great walker/speedwalker but he LOVES to be carried.

- He continues to LOVE other kids. We went on a playdate to the playground and he LOVED watching the other kids and following around the little girl we met there.

- He LOVES tractor rides with Grampie.

- He enjoys dogs. He likes my parents' dog and looks for the neigbor's dog when we go for walks.

- He got his top two canine teeth! This makes 16 teeth now! He has been a teething machine since 3 months!

- He continues to be the light of mine and his Daddy's life!

Keep up the good work Buddy!

Thankful on Thursday...

This Thursday I am thankful for the friends I have. The other day I was thinking about the one I lost too early in life and it reminded me of how close my group of friends were/still are. Some people have many friends in life but I have always had a few close ones. I have some great college friends I am in touch with but the friends I went to high school with I still speak with fairly regularly. In fact, one is currently visiting from her home in FL and we have had one "play date" with our kids already and are planning another. We are always figuring out how to see each other as often as we can while she is up. Another friend lives right down the road from me and although we don't manage to see each other a lot we keep in touch and Tony, Cole and I were lucky to be a part of her youngest son's birthday recently. Others live out of state too but we get together when they are here. We all still talk and we all still get together when we are all in town. We all pulled together stronger than ever when our friend passed and I know if one of us were having problems, needed help, etc., we all would be there for the other in a heartbeat. How many people can say that about the small group they spent all their time with in high school? How many are still close with those friends today?

There were six of us. One has passed away but we all remain strong and there are still six of us, one is just watching over the rest of us now. I am so thankful for this group of six that I could count on then and know I can still count on now. For that, I am thankful.

What are you thankful for this week?

Wordless Wednesday- Boys and Their Toys!

Driving the tractor...hey Buddy, keep your eyes on the road!

Letting Grampie take the controls while posing for a picture of course!

Back to serious business...manning the controls!

He sure loves his Grampie and is big ORANGE tractor :) Thanks to Auntie he even has a shirt that says, "Grampie's favorites...Kabota and Me! :)

Mom Monday...

Cole wrestling with Daddy and stopping to smile because he saw the camera...lol Cheese!

Oh and FYI...what Cole and Daddy are wrestling over is a bermese mountain dog costume Cole wont let me pack away (he literally pulls it back out of the box) because he likes to play with it and has since I brought it out to try on him before Halloween...lol.

You Know You're A Mommy When...

- You let your son feed you even if it means eating food he took out of his mouth (you don't even think twice about this...until after the fact of course!)

- You are a speech therapist and know what you would tell a Mom worried about the speech of a son like your's but you STILL worry!

- You watch your son kill and try to eat a ladybug and know this is the start of many things like this to come!

- The new CD you play in your car has songs like "Five Little Monkeys" and "Wheels on the Bus" on it and you find yourself happily singing and dancing along to it sometimes with more excitement than your son!

- You don't think twice (although you should!) about what you eat but read the labels of everything you put in your son's mouth!

What do you have to add?

Thankful on Thursday...

With Thanksgiving coming and with such frequent negativity around us it seems I thought I would start trying to do a "Thankful on Thursday" post. It is easy to think of all the bad things in your life or things you wish you had, etc. but aside from being thankful every day and in awe of the amazing little man in my life, I, like many, often forget to give thanks. I will say I have been good in prayers about being thankful and not just asking for needs but I think it is time I outwardly be thankful as well. When I really stop and think I realize how blessed I truly am so I want to make sure to be outwardly thankful more often. So here goes my first one...

I am thankful for the fact that my husband and I are able to provide the basic needs for ourselves without having to worry about making sure we have the finances to do it. Yes, we live fairly frugal but it is because we choose to and by doing so, we are able to have a house, put food on our table, pay or bills and never worry at all about being able to do so. We also are able to go camping in the summer so it isn't like we live so strictly we don't do anything fun. I know many people have to live paycheck to paycheck and maybe can't buy a house or need to skimp on groceries, etc. I am thankful we have enough finances not to have to worry about this. I am thankful.

What are you thankful for?

What A Difference....

I don't know if you can really tell well in these pictures but Cole is wrapped in the same towel in the top and bottom picture. The pictures are taken just under a year apart (12/28/08 and 10/18/09 respectively). I couldn't get over the fact that he was almost lost in the towel at just a few months old and now is busting out of it at just over a year. It is neat to see how much they grow with comparisons like this.

Wordless Wednesday

Who is that boy in the window...the window...

Note: Before you worry, if you look in the background Tony is right there and holding onto him and the window is locked. Furthermore, it is the window that looks out onto our deck so the fall wouldn't be far at all IF for some reason he fell with us both there.

Don't Cry Little One...

Why is Cole crying? He has an ear infection. (Well that isn't really why he is crying in this photo...Dada took this and Cole wanted the camera...lol.) Anyway, I suspect he has been fighting this since he got the sniffles the Friday before Halloween. He was very congested at night and had a runny nose during the day. He then started sleeping restlessly and I assumed initially it was because he couldn't breath. I was also well aware that a "plugged" nose can lead to "plugged" ears so I kept watch. Then he tugged at his ears and his balance was off (he has become a VERY good walker.) I called the MD but he wanted to let it go since there was no fever (thank God) and no other symptoms. Then, the nose stopped running and he started sleeping better. There was still some night stuffiness so I started the humidifier in his room. Then, sleep became restless again. The nose ran a little again. The ear tugging and ear plugging with his fingers began. The balance was still off. Then, Sunday night, Cole awoke screaming. I got him back to sleep only for him to wake and stay awake crying most of the time from 1:30 A.M. to 3:30 A.M. despite attempts to entertain him with toys, our bed, T.V., the coveted remote, etc. and so Mommy's MD appt. Monday turned into Cole's (we have the same MD) and that is when we got the diagnosis...a red, bulging eardrum. We decided to treat it this time (I say we because one thing I love about my MD is he makes it OUR decision.) Last night was horrible again but better. Cole was exhausted but awoke screaming after just being asleep for a 1/2 hour. I held him for the next 4 hours while Cole slept restless in my arms (thankfully he finally let me sit down!) Then, Cole perked up. He signed "more" for me to sign "You are my sunshine" for the 100th time to him and then did his usual "hmm?" several times when I asked if he was ready for his next Tylenol dose. I then asked Cole if he was well enough to lay in his bed so Mommy could get ready for bed and he obliged. I checked on him at 11:30 after getting ready for bed and he was laying quietly. I decided to attempt sleep. Mommy and Cole slept until 6 A.M. this morning. So what about tonight? So far, Cole is sleeping since I put him in bed. We shall see what the rest of the night holds. I really should head to bed in case we don't get through the whole night without a waking but lets pray we do for Mommy's sleep deprived body (that is a story for tomorrow) and for Cole's comfort and tired body too. Stay Tuned...

Poll Results: H1N1 Shot

I am not surprised that some of you said you would get the shot and that some of you said that you will get it if it is available. However, I am surprised more of you are undecided and that just as many are not getting it. I was undecided for a long time but am leaning more towards if it is ever available now. I am definitely still on the fence at times though. More so regarding Cole than myself. I worry most about him naturally. However what led me to think that I might get it for him (and naturally if he gets it I will too if I can because if I put it in his body, I am putting it in mine!) is how scary it can be if he gets sick (prayers for his health!) and also one expert said that it would have been put in the seasonal shot if it had not already been made and nobody would have thought twice about it (I decided to get the seasonal flu shot for him...he has had his first dose and is going to get his second in a couple of weeks.) However, since it all came about later they needed a separate shot for the H1N1. Who knows what is really right. I guess I look at it as this, if it is available and I don't get it and Cole gets really sick, I would feel like I ignored the experts and look what happened. I have an expertise in a specific field as well and would hope people trust my opinion when it comes to matters in the field I am an expert. I really don't know what is right though...

As many of you know my brother has a compromised immune system and he is NOT getting the shot. He has strong feelings that it was too rushed. I definitely see that side but also see the other side too. So, I have put it in God's hands or fate, whichever you may believe. The shot is currently NOT available to us. If it is meant to be, it will. For now, it is apparently not.

What are your reasons for/against the shot?

Here I am Lord...

This is a hymn we sang in church today that I absolutely LOVE. It brings tears to my eyes whenever we sing it and I just feel His presence. It hits me hard in times where I am struggling and touches my heart in times I am at peace. I don't know what it is about it...but I love it. It is hymn S-8 in our hymnal books and I forgot the actual name of it but the words and Music are by Daniel L. Schutte, copyright 1981. I have posted it below...

1.
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.

Chorus
Here am I, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

2.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Chorus

3.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.

Chorus

4.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus

5.
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.

Chorus

6.
Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus

Friday's Fun Facts....on Saturday.

It has been a while; so what is Cole up to? So much! Here is just some of what my big 1 year old boy is doing these days...

- He weighs 23.14 lbs as of his 1 year appointment on the 19th of October...he is int he 60th percentile for his weight.

- He is 30 inches tall and in the 90th percentile for his height...he continues to be long in lean with pants often needing to be rolled at the waist so they stay up because I need to get them in a size 18 months to fit his length....12 months fits his waist.

- He continues to wear a size 4 diaper and a size 5 overnight diaper.

- He wears 18-20 month clothes and size 5 shoes.

- He is definitely a walker now but he still LOVES to be carried and points for you to chauffeur him around on your hip to places he wants to go :)

- He continues to LOVE to be outside no matter what the weather.

- He loves to play with leaves.

- He still loves his lion blankie.

- He LOVES music and loves dancing, clapping, and grooving to it with Mommy and Daddy. It is so cute when he tries to sing too :)

- He is eating more solids and less puree but still is particular at times. He recently tried Goldfish crackers and animal crackers and likes them. He enjoys graham crackers for an occasional treat. Peas are currently his vegetable of choice and continues to enjoy noodles. We are working on dropping bottles and increasing milk intake from a cup over formula from a bottle but that has not been as easy. Although he did really well today and only took one bottle! He continues to be a big eater. I couldn't put the green beans I cooked him for dinner in front of him fast enough and he had a huge plate of noodles! He continues to like to try everything we eat...he had a veggie burger with Mommy today! :)

- People are starting to say more and more that he looks like me...it used to be that he looked like his Daddy.

- He loves the camera and "hams it up" for it.

- He has started to play the "where is it?" game where I hide something in front of him and he finds it or he hides something (barely) and I (or he) finds it. It is so cute. He even puts his hands in the air to say "where is it?"

- He continues to say "hmm?" for everything you say!

- He is "talking" more and will attempt to imitate more. His most consistently used word is "up."

- He uses signs. He says "more", "all done", "please" and shakes his head "no." I have introduced "sorry", "eat" "sit down" and "thank you."

- His receptive language impresses Tony and I constantly. The other day he picked up the remote and I told him no and pointed to his pile of toys where his remote (the one he broke and became his...lol) was and said his remote was over there. He put the working one down, went to his pile of toys, pulled out his remote and played with that....we were so impressed.

- He is starting to have "tantrums" when he doesn't get his way.

I really could go on and on. I just am so in awe of him. I am in awe that my husband and I created him, I "grew him", I gave birth to him, he is growing and learning, and adorable. I am so in love.

I Love Lip Balm!

I love this photo because I think I have posted before that Cole loves my makeup drawer. He is always reaching into it and pulling stuff out but what he pulls out the majority of the time and often gets into it to look for, is my lip balm. I am not sure what it is about it but he loves to carry it around. In this picture I had stuck it in his pocket and he walked around with it in there. I bought three of these over time; why I don't know, but it is a good thing I did because he often carries it around and drops it when something else gets his attention so I often can't find at least one of them! Sometimes he chews on it, sometimes he likes to watch me apply it over and over again but mostly, he just likes to carry it! LOL.

Bottoms Up!

Wordless Wednesday

Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man....

Baby Blues and Power Tools...

The other day the three of us were outside (I am telling you my boy would live outside 24/7 if he could) and I got a few pictures of Cole. When I looked at the photos later I could not get over how the coat brings out the blue in his eyes....


Daddy pulled out the power tools and Cole loved watching him use them. Here Cole got a close up of the tree trimmer Daddy was using...boys and their toys....sigh.

And here Daddy made it look like Cole was running the show...lol (notice Tony is ducking and holding Cole up.)

Halloween Week!

Yes, you read that right. We started celebrating Halloween 2 Fridays ago with the Ghost Train at the Railway Village. Cole had so much fun and I read in our local paper that there were over 700 people in attendence in the few short hours they ran it. They had the train ride (of course) and then hayrides. A few scary costumes were there but it didn't bother Cole and neither did the gorilla that jumped out at him on the hayride...lol. Overall they kept it very kid friendly and his costume was a big hit.Fierce Dragon...


Dragons ride dump trucks right? :)


Me and my handsome dragon heading out to the Railway Village...


Daddy and his Dragon riding the ghost train...


Fun was had by all at the Railway Village...this little dragon was a hit among others there...as you can tell by this photo...this dragon was ready to call it a night :)


Later in the week we (aka I) carved the pumpkin while Tony fed Cole since he wanted little to do with pumpkin "guts" and really just wanted to use the knife I was carving with!
This is how Cole chose to pose when I tried to get him with the pumpkin we carved...


The pumpkin carving team and their finished product


That's a little better Cole (truth be told I got lucky...he was actually walking in front of the pumpkin...lol.)


The pumpkin shining bright


Cole got some Halloween PJs from his Grammie and he has been wearing them in the weeks leading up to Halloween and of course on Halloween!



Playing with his blankie he came home from the hospital with...he sleeps with it every night and has started playing with it some...here he just realized the afghan has holes in it...lol.


A little Kung Fu...actually he was starting to fall when he turned while walking but it looks like he is doing a karate move! LOL.


Cole pointing out the "boo" on our pumpkin (it is what he calls ghosts and pretty much anything Halloween.)


And we are off to trick-or-treat. Yes, we managed to stuff the little dragon in his car seat, costume and all :) Notice he is forward facing now...what a big boy!

Happy Halloween everyone! Ours was a blast I hope yours was too! I can't wait until next year! Oh and for those of you who guessed Cole would be the dragon....you were right! Daddy thought the dog costume would be too hot (it was one piece and we were blessed with unusually warm weather) but Cole didn't like it when we tried it on either. The dragon he did a trial run as you saw at the train and loved it and he loved it again on Halloween. He wore it the whole time and loved the feet :) I was prepared for him to refuse to wear anything; as you saw in some "down time" Halloween photos, he was wearing a Halloween shirt :)