Beyond Belief

The other day I was sitting in my own little world and had honestly forgotten I was a mother for a brief moment. I sat in my chair wondering how I was ever going to get all my work, work done, house cleaned and the bills paid then, this little guy walked into the room……


I was so relieved I let out a deep breath and smiled because I had something more important in my life that work and chores. Everything else is second fiddle to my babies. I am lucky beyond belief.

2 Month Check Up

Cole had his 2 month check up this week. He weighs 9’13 oz and is 22 inches long. Cole is in the 10th percentile and I just can’t believe how big he is getting! Cole is a super great baby and I love his laid back personality. He is defiantly our lazy bones baby. Cole is already sleeping through the night, one 4-6 hour stretch and then two more 2-3 hour stretches. Amazing! Case didn’t sleep like this until he was almost 1 year old. Cole also likes to sleep in. I literally have to wake him every morning by 10 am so we can go and run errands. And by the way he is growing; you can tell he is a good eater. Also the Dr. said he has great head control and very strong legs, but Cody and I already knew that. Cole loves to stand and practices standing with daddy in his chair every evening for at least an hour. We are always amazed at how long he wants to do this without getting tired. Cole is a little smiling machine and will offer up his super cute gummy grin every time you look at him and either start talking or smile. He has even laughed a time or two if the occasion is particularly funny. Cole has found his hands and I believe he will be our thumb sucking or paci baby because he loves both. Yup its official, we have another amazing baby and I am the luckiest mommy in the world.

Big Man in Red

Big day today, Case went to see Santa. No tears or fears, he just went right up to Santa and sat on his lap. With a little prompting he even told Santa he wanted ‘candy and a red bike’ for Christmas. Trying to get Case to produce a proper smile was not so easy. Cole was a bit more silent with the big guy seeing as how he has everything he wants and needs at this time in his life but at least he was picture perfect. Only 3 more days!

Random Toddler Humor

Today when Case called daddy to talk on the phone Cody was getting off an airplane. Case could hear people talking on the intercom, beeping and background noise. Apparently he thought Cody was at a drive through because he then promptly told Cody to order fries and juice. I think we may have a precocious toddler on our hands. What a hoot!

Ways To Tell You Are Really Really Tired

1)Feeling your toothbrush to see if it is wet because you can’t remember if you have already brushed your teeth before bed or not.

2)Wandering around the house sniffing the air trying to find out where the burning smell is coming from only to remember the fireplace is on.

3)Wondering why your toddler is upstairs babbling to himself 2 hours after bed time only to realize later in the evening that you left the lights on in his room all night.

All of these things I did this week. I need a nap.

Hanging With The Boys

A little brotherly bonding on the activity mat.

Watching tv with dad.

When did this one get so big?!

No Pictures Please!

No pictures please! I know poor Cole feels like a super star with the paparazzi after him all the time, but how can I resist taking tons of pics when I have a subject as cute as this?!


Look at me smiling! Mama almost cried the other day because after I walked into Cole's room he produced one of the biggest, whole face smiles I have ever seen. Sniff, sniff. It was beautiful.


Mama thinks I am pretty. :)

Such a good boy.

Too Young

Its official, Cole is too young for the father son game of “get you.” Case loves to play “get you.” This game consists of Cody chasing Case around the house and trying to “get” or catch and then tickle him. This game is played daily if not more. Well tonight, Cole was lying on the floor watching Case and Cody wrestle and play “get you” when Cody looked at Cole and said, “You’re next boy.” Cody reached down and tickled Cole on his tummy. Cole promptly screwed up his face and began to cry and scream. As sad as it was to see Cole cry Cody and I both began laughing because his response was so prompt. Any-hoo, we are guessing Cole needs to be at least a couple more weeks old before he joins in the fun.

Thanksgiving Part 3

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a trip to see Cody’s family. We had a great lunch out and spent some time back at Grandma Frankie’s house where she was able to meet and hang out with baby Cole for the first time.

Cheesy cheese Case.


Grandpa Bobby took some time to chat it up with Case before hitting the farm for some serious fun.

Here is what I mean by serious fun, Grandpa Bobby and Case rode horses! Oh my gosh, who doesn't like riding a horse?!

Case even rode a 4 wheeler. Daddy and Case drove around and checked out the horses and cows. Sounds like an afternoon made in heaven for a little boy.

After all the outdoor fun Case came inside and warmed up by playing with Cole, his Nana and cousins Hanna and Aaron. It was great to see everyone and we can't wait for our next visit!

Thanksgiving Part 2

We were able to sneak in a couple visits while in Oklahoma. Kristy and her family visited us in Colorado about a year ago and Case and Cora met each other for the first time then. Here they are warming up to each other during their reunion. Both are adorable. I think it's a match made in heaven.

We also introduced Cole and Emma to one another for the first time. Can you believe these two guys are just a few weeks apart in age!? Amazing how quickly babies can grow.

Jeane and I were able catch up for a quick second and show off our new babies.

Case even got to spend some time with John who gave him an up-close and personal juggling lesson.

Case loves juggling. It's his new favorite. Thanks for the lesson John!

We had a great time seeing everyone but there were so many more special people we did not get to see (ie: Susan and Whitney). I wish we had more time to do and see everyone.

Thanksgiving Part 1

We made it through Thanksgiving. Traveling 10 hours and then messing with 2 little ones schedules is exhausting but I think everyone enjoyed each other and at least we were surrounded by family. Speaking of surrounded, sleeping with everyone in the same room was an adventure and Case slept in mama and daddy's bed for the first time.

I know we have so much to be thankful for. For example, having great grandparents! Case and Lele took a couple strolls down to the creek in the afternoons for sessions of kicking leaves, throwing sticks in the water and crossing bridges.


Cole met Uncle Jason for the first time. Uncle Jason is a big hit with both boys. Case loves Jason and has some kind of private code with him. Whenever Case talks about Jason he always says gibberish, gibberish, gibberish and then chicken. Case even wanted to call Jason one night. When we asked him what he wanted to tell Jason he said, 'chicken.' It must be a private joke.


The whole family took a trip to the Omniplex. I was surprised at how many activities were geared towards small children. There are a ton! Case loved the afternoon. The falling ball maze by the front doors was a big hit if you can't tell from the excited look on his face.


I'm a sucker for taking pictures in large cardboard pictures with cutouts for heads.


Playing with some of the displays.


Can you believe I didn't take 1 picture on Thanksgiving day?! I must of been too busy stuffing my face and toting around an over stimulated crying baby. Oh well, here is the recap. We ate a bunch of food. Everyone took turns holding Cole. Case was the star of the show and entertained everyone by playing on the piano and giving dinosaur lessons. Cole cried most of the afternoon. Football was watched and naps were taken anyplace you could find to sit or lay. A typical traditional Thanksgiving. :)

Smartie

Call me a proud mama, but how many 2 year 2 month old children know the difference between a Spinosoarus, Triceratops, Velociraptor, T-Rex AND can identify and say the names of each?! Case’s vocabulary is always a source of wonder to me. Today he said, “Let’s go on an adventure.” Really?! Where does he come up with this stuff? And his understanding of concepts blows me away. His new thing is telling me that dolphins blow water out of their blow hole. Sometimes he varies it and says, humpback whales or orcas blow water out of their blow holes. I think I have a smartie on my hands.

1 Month

Cole had his 1 month check up and is doing great. He weighs 8 lbs, is 21-1/2 inches long and is in the 10th percentile. I was super excited to see Cole hit the charts since Case has never been big enough to be in a percentile. I am calling Cole our “Top Shelf” baby because I am convinced he will be big enough to reach thing on the top shelf for us in the house someday!

Babbling Idiot

Am I the only one who is unable to hold a conversation while my children are in the room? Sometimes I feel like I haven’t perfected the ‘ignore the crazy kids while I talk to someone else’ parenting skill because I swear I don’t make sense half of the time. I start a sentence or thought and never end up finishing my conversation because I have to re-direct Case. Or I lose my train of thought because I am watching what he is doing and trying to predict if he is going to get too loud, in trouble, throw a toy or do something that will hurt himself. Or I am totally distracted because of a crying, pooping, burping, spitting up baby. I feel like a nonsensicle babbling idiot who never makes sense half of the time I am around grown-ups. So if you have been around me in the past 2 years, please don’t call the looney house yet, I’m not crazy, just distracted. And I hope one day in the next 18 years I will be able to finish a sentence and hold a complete conversation.

Trick or Treat

Case discovered Halloween this year and he loved it. The whole holiday was dinosaur themed since Case is in to dinosaurs right now. Of course pumpkin carving was on the agenda. Case didn’t like the slimy insides but he ended up observing while daddy whittled away.


Cody and Case carved a “tops” for triceratops pumpkin which turned out amazing.


The boys showing off the final masterpiece.


Honestly, have you ever seen a more adorable dinosaur?! As if his little voice saying, Trick or treat wasn’t precious enough his manners won most people over instantaneously. Case is one of the most polite little children ever. He is always using manners and says a lot of pleases, thank you, excuse me, I’m sorry and your welcomes.


We had a small problem getting him to wear his outfit in its entirety but overall the outing was a great success. Cody and I had more fun wearing the hat than Case did.


Cody and I started prepping Case a couple days early by randomly telling him to go and get his pumpkin and say Trick or treat and then giving him a tootsie roll. By the time we went to the mall he was a pro and ADORABLE!

Taking a break from candy scavaging and hitting the slide at the park outside. Wheeee! I love to slide.

And of course our sweet little puppy dog Cole. Cole was less enthusiastic than Case but I am sure

he will pick up on the fun factor more next year.

Adjusting to the Brotherhood

Case has been adjusting to big brotherhood very well. We have moved most of the good toys into Cole’s room so Case has things to play with while I am feeding Cole, which is a very time consuming part of the day. Case asks to “kiss sweet baby head” and often introduces himself to the baby, “I’m Super Case.” This is followed by shaking Cole’s hand and saying, “pleased to meet you baby.” Case will inform us that, “the baby is crying” or “baby’s sad” whenever Cole makes a peep. And sometimes he will tell us to, “change the baby” because the “baby is dirty.” There have been a few more tears in the house, a bit more whining and a couple toys thrown, but overall I would say Case had done remarkably well with such a huge transition.

Okay, so maybe Case has had a few throwbacks to babyland. Here is Case feeling nostalgic and reminiscing about the old days while relaxing in his swing.

But can you blame him? Afterall, it was his swing first as evidenced by this photograph of Case enjoying the swing shortly after arriving home from the hospital 2 years ago. My what a big boy he has become!

First Weeks Home

Cole has been a part of our family for a little over 2 weeks now and his personality is showing through which I find hilarious. First of all Cole is a little spit fire. I can tell Cole is his father’s child because of his attitude already. For example, Cole doesn’t really cry, he just gets mad. His cries consist of short bursts or yelps accompanied by a red face and shaking fists. He really just looks pissed instead of crying. He is a proficient pooper and doesn’t like baths. Cole is a great eater but hasn’t shown any interest in a bottle. Apparently all our children will be cursed with colic because Cole starts crying or yelping around 8 pm and goes on till around 1 am (Cody is also a late night owl). Despite this rough patch in the evening, Cole is really a good sleeper and sleeps the rest of the day and night. He is already in his own crib and out of our room whereas Case bunked in our room for months. Cole is also a cuddler who loves to lie on my chest curled up under my chin. He prefers me to hold him over anyone else, ahhhhh, a mama’s boy! Here are some pics from his first weeks at home.

Tonsils are in good shape.

I look so small in my crib.

Can anyone say, I'm beautiful?

Baths are not my favorite thing.

Thank goodness that is over!

What kind of face is that?!

Just me and my brother.

Giant Case

Case’s imagination is in full swing and it’s adorable. Recently he has been taking on different personas. For example, sometimes he becomes “SUPER CASE to the rescue.” He calls himself Super Case and even has a Super Case pose that he strikes just before taking off to rescue whatever needs rescuing.

“Little Case” shrinks up and walks with his head down.

There is also “Giant Case” who stands on his tippy toes and reaches for the sky.

Speaking of Giant Case, I think one of the biggest surprises about bringing home baby Cole was suddenly how big Case became. Before, Case was my little 23 lb 2 year old baby boy. He cuddled on my lap and I carried him upstairs for bedtime at night. Now he seems huge. Every time I help him in his jammies I think, your legs are huge! When I give him a kiss on his beautiful head, I think, your noggin is ginormous! There is a big difference between 23 lbs and 6 lbs and suddenly Case seems like a grown man. Although at the rate Cole is growing he won’t be small for long. Case was born 6.7 lbs and 1 week after his birth weighted 6.13 lbs. The boy is defiantly getting enough to eat! At this rate I need to start saving for groceries for the teenage years now.

Similarities

Does anyone else see the similarities in these pics? The first pic is of Case after he was born. The second pic is of Cole after he was born. The third pic is of both the boys. I'd say we made a little Case clone.