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Friday, December 16, 2011

Modern Twist


Case was in his first school Christmas production this week.  Each class sang a song in front of a packed house.  Call me biased, but I think Case's class had the best song choice of them all.  Everyone else sang sweet little renditions of Christmas classics while Case’s class sang 'We will, we will jingle' while shaking jingle bells singing to the tune of 'We will rock you.'  Tell me that wasn't cute!  Maybe I just prefer a more modern twist.    

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Bathtime Brothers

 I am thankful for my boys. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Big Boy Bed


Case is in his big boy bed. It took some convincing, but we finally talked him into it, and he is doing fine.   

Friday, December 9, 2011

3 Years Old

Once again I am shamefully late at getting a birthday update for Case. I wrote about our birthday celebrations but this update is strictly about Case and his developments over the past years. Here goes.


Case is 3 years old and I am the proudest mother alive to have him as my son. He is a tiny little guy only clocking in at around 26 lbs but chock full of personality. Case is sweet and compassionate. He always picks up the toys his brother throws on the floor, is concerned when Cole cries and wants to pat Cole awake in the morning. Case is sweet to the cats and always pets them nicely. Case loves to wake up early in the morning and cuddle in bed with me watching tv while we steal a few uninterrupted minutes together before Cole wakes up. Case is shrewd negotiator and can talk you into just about anything. Cody and I say he will either be a used car salesman or a politician. Cases mind is also growing leaps and bounds. He is imagining and pretending all the time. He sees dragons, bats, caves, treasures and is often the hero that saves the day. He started preschool and loves it. He practices writing his name and sometimes you can even distinguish a couple of the letters. Case understands that the leaves fall off the trees when it gets cold and things turn green when its warm. He knows that snow and ice are actually water and can turn back and forth depending on the temperature. He knows that plants, animals and people need water and sun to grow. Case can add and subtract simple numbers and he knows the difference between a carnivore and an omnivore. His knowledge base is extensive to say the least. His big boy status doesn’t stop there. 3 has been a year of accomplishments. One day out of nowhere, he woke up and said he had to go pee pee in the potty. The rest is history. He has been in big boy pants ever since. He has also learned to climb the rock wall in the back yard, uses the ladder to get into the trampoline and he isn’t afraid to go down a big slide solo either. He is a joy and a blessing and I am forever grateful for the time I have had and will continue to have with this great boy, Case Gary Gray.







Dreams

For the first time, Case was able to articulate a nightmare he had during nap time. Here is what he told me: “Mommy, you were so mad at me. Then you put me in the truck and left. I drove the truck and tried to find you but I never did. And you never came back.”

If that is not the most scary nightmare you can have at 3 years old, I don’t know what is. No wonder he wakes up screaming and crying sometimes. No wonder. Needless to say I was able to reassure him I would never leave him and apologized profusely for my bad behavior in his dream. I may even make Cody sell the truck.  Bad dreams go away from my baby!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Name That Child

This evening when I walked in the door, as soon as soon as I said good bye to the babysitter, mass quantities of projectile puke flew everywhere, everywhere being all over the floor and mainly on my leg and shirt and a child’s arm and stomach.  Repulsed by the smell and unable to clean up the floor while soaking wet myself, I covered the spots with paper towels and assisted the dripping crying child upstairs to change clothes.  The child’s clothes were changed and then I went to change my own puke covered clothes.  In the 30 seconds it took me to throw on some clean clothes all the kids were downstairs and one was eating the puke soaked paper towel.  Let me just say that part again folks.  Eating..The.. Puke.. Soaked.. Paper.. Towel.  I will give you 1 chance to name that child. 

So which boy was it? Child # 1 or child # 2.


     

Monday, December 5, 2011

Deck The Halls

The house is decorated for Christmas.  The nativity is up.  The stairway is trimmed with garland and lights.  The Christmas tree is adorned with special ornaments from every year of our lives, major milestones and vacations taken as a family.  I love how the house just feels different in anticipation of Christmas day.  I love seeing twinkling lights and glitter everywhere.  I love the smell of cinnamon apple all over the house.  And this year I was able to love seeing my boys enjoy helping in the preparation.  Case put the glitter balls, candy canes and pheasant feathers on the tree.           

This area seemed a little heavy on the candy cane.  Later I dispersed a few when Case wasn't looking. 


Cole worked on organizing the beads and garland and spent the majority of the evening decorating himself. 


I look gooooood in red! 

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Cruising

Cruising can have advantages and disadvantages.  Getting wedged in between furniture is definitely a disadvantage.  Having mom leave me wedged in the furniture to get the camera….super disadvantage. 

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Thank You Uncle Quinton!

I wish we had be able to spend more time with you, Nana, Hanna and Aaron over Thanksgiving break, but am so so grateful for the little time we were able to steal with you.  Case keeps talking about his cousin Hanna and Cole absolutely loves his new race track.  As you can see Cole enjoys cheering on the cars.   
 Hey, let me try.  Why should the cars have all the fun? 


It also doubles as a sit and spin! Hooray for fun toys and time spent with family!



I'm Not Exaggerating

This is how Cole looks 90% of the day and I am not exaggerating.  I can not keep this boy clean. 

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving has come and gone and I am definitely glad it is over.  The trip started out with Cole crying 10 of the 11 hours in the car and the DVD player breaking during the first movie.  I am so very grateful for places like McDonalds who have indoor play centers which we stopped at for the boys to stretch their legs and burn off energy while on the road.  This McDonalds not only had a large play center but a video game station, a wall of puzzles and indoor toddler play equipment which Cole gratefully used.     



The car ride was brutal horrible torture but once we arrived at Lele and Papa’s house things finally settled down a bit.  Case enjoyed seeing family and having an audience to perform in front of at all times.  Cole was a bit more skeptical of the crowd and kept a very close grip on mom the entire trip.  Cole’s need for "me" was exhausting but blessings were not overlooked and those included both boys sleeping for the majority of the night and taking short naps during the day.  As far as keeping schedules and avoiding major meltdowns, this was actually this was the best trip with the boys to date, aside from the drive up. 
A 6 day trip is never long enough, especially when 2 of those days include traveling so I lament that we didn’t get to spend more time with family on both sides and friends.  One thing we did get to do, which I have wanted to do for the past 3 years, is go see Christmas lights.  Sadly Colorado doesn’t have beautiful elaborate parks decorated with lights so I was glad Case saw some light magic.  We toured 2 parks one night.  I was amazed, but then again it would be hard not to be in awe with these spectacular displays.




Case did enjoy the sights but he was slightly distracted with the idea of……ice cream afterwards!  Can't say I blame him because Braums is delicious!  And I would be lying if I didn't say I went twice for some gingerbread ice cream during our short trip.

 I look forward to a visit in the future when Case will be old enough to sleep in his own bed or on the floor instead of sideways in the Queen bed with Cody and I.  I look forward to the day when both boys will be entertained by movies or video games so I won’t have to move from the front seat to the back seat 1,000 times to entertain children during the drive.  I look forward to the time when we can spend enough time in Oklahoma that we get to see and enjoy both friends and family.  Awww, who am I kidding.  I actually I just look forward to the next time we can come home and be with loved ones again!  Thanksgiving was happy because we were with family.      

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

1 Year Update


This one year update is a little late, but better late than never.

The world and my life have been graced with this little man, Cole Jack Gray, for one complete year.

Cole is an active little fella who plays right along with Case each and every day. I love that Cole makes pretend car noises (brrrrrrrr) while playing with vehicles. I love that he holds his play phone up to his ear while pretending to talk and chat away. He loves chasing cats, pulling the cord out of the computer and of course, throwing a ball is his favorite game of all time. All of that playing makes a little boy tired and Cole is a great sleeper. He naps at least 2 hours every afternoon and snoozes anywhere from 10-12 hours at night.

Cole is “opinionated” and knows what he wants which he shows by pointing and grunting and/or yelling until we wise up to his desires. Cole is also a yeller, thrower and a spitter when he gets mad. He laughs when he shoves mooshy food in your face and you grimace and yanks out my ear rings every chance he gets.  He tests my patience almost daily but I know this guy will teach me some great lessons in parenting and make me be a better person when it is all said and done.

Cole wants to be a big boy and doesn’t like things that separate him from his big brother, like high chairs. Cole likes to sit in the big chairs and eat along with the rest of us. When he eats with his 4 brand new teeth (2 top and 2 bottom) he likes crackers and cookies, soup and pudding.

His growth streak has finally slowed down and he may only be 16 lbs but knows how to throw his weight around in the house.  Just because he is small doesn’t mean this boy can’t get around. He is an expert crawler and can pull up and move along furniture with the best of us. Cole has also mastered the stairs BOTH ways up and down. The stairs continue to make mama nervous, but we are both getting more and more confident with his abilities each and every day.
Cole is still my cuddle bug/mama’s boy who LOVES to held, kissed and whispered sweetly to. In fact he loves to be held so much a tiny temper tantrum will erupt if you ever put him down without his consent. He would happily perch on my hip all hours of the day if I let him. Holding him has built up my biceps but what I love most is how he lays his head on my shoulder and cuddles into my neck as we walk or rock at night. Those special little moments are the ones I hope I never forget. 

Cole is 1 year old and I love him to pieces. After looking at his 1 year pics how could a person not just love him to death?









Thursday, November 17, 2011

Night and Day

Wow, if I didn’t believe that personalities were already developed at birth I am a believer now.  My boys are night and day different: Case (my clean child) and Cole (my pig pen child).  Cole relishes in filth and absolutely hates to be cleaned in any way form or fashion.  He puts food in his hair, loves snot on his face, can't stand for his hands to be washed and typically has some form of crumb trail following him where ever he goes.  Just this morning, Cody and Case were sitting in a chair together watching tv.  Cole was standing in front of the chair playing when he projectile puked all over himself and the chair.  In no time flat, Case did some kind of matrix back flip move behind the chair to avoid the mess and proceed to gag.  Cody is a sympathetic puker as well.  He hopped up in front of the chair and started to gag with Case.  All the while, Cole was slapping his own puke yelling a joyful Ahhh!  Ahhh! Ahhh!  Night and day different.  

Cole not only enjoys BEING a mess but MAKING a mess as well.  Myabe I should just stop cleaning my house now, since it is obvious  that as long as this little mess maker is around I will never have clean rooms again.   I didn't do it I swear!    
  

Saturday, November 5, 2011

At-ti-tude

This morning Cole woke up and wanted a bottle.  I walked in his room.  He was standing up holding his empty bottle in his hand.  As soon as I cleared the doorway he threw the empty bottle at me!  Oh people, this one is a pistol. 

Friday, November 4, 2011

Trick Then Treat


Jimmy Kimmel requested viewers to video parents telling their children they had eaten all of the Halloween candy.  The video clips were just too sad and too funny at the same time.  So what did Cody and I do this morning?....Told Case we ate all of his Halloween candy.  With this little trick, I think Cody and I will definitely be on Santa's naught list.  Don't worry the ruse only went on for about a minute or two.  Hopefully no permanent damage was done. 

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Mr. Independent


Messy, messy, messy.  These days, Cole won't eat anything without doing it himself thus mealtimes typically require nakedness and a lot of wash clothes.  This independent whipper is h-e-a-d strong and has the ability to test my patience.  For example, Cole expresses himself while eating by throwing food.  Just try and give this food critic something that is not satisfactory to his particular pallet and it is flying across the room as quick as you can say, duck!  Cole also wants to forgo the high chair and sit at the dining room table with the big kids.  However that is one fight I am not giving in on yet.  So for now the only table time he gets to enjoy is playing at Case's wooden play table and chairs.  He is doing things all on his own and thinks he is ready to take on the world at 1 yr old.  Oh well, at least some of it is getting into his mouth.  


Trick or Treat 2011

Halloween is officially over.  Case was a spooky ghost as we trolled for candy at Chapel Hills Mall.  Case decided to forgo his nap that day so unfortunately half way through the adventure he had a melt down and we ended up leaving early.  Despite a few tears we all had a good time. 
  

Cole was intrigued that people kept giving him candy.  What a sweet little spirit, he kept trying to give others candy as well. 

Surveying and diving up the goods is a time honored tradition no matter where you trick or treat.  Call me a bad mother if you may, but both Case and Cole loves suckers.  Thank goodness Nana sent a couple large bags of lollypops.  I think we are set candywise for a while.   


Here is the trade.  I'll give you two tootsie rolls for one tootsie sucker. 

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy

Case went fishing for the first time today and had a blast.  About 5 minutes after loading up the pole with a couple crickets Case reeled in his first big one.   


The fish was a fighter but in the end Case championed. 


Case reeled the fish in all by himself but dad helped take off the hook.  To say Case was excited and proud would be an understatement. 


Like a true fisherman, Case worked on his perfecting his fish tales.  Every fish reeled in was, "This is the biggest fish yet!" 

  
Cole wanted in on the action as well so we decided to let him touch the fish.  However 'just touching' is not Cole's style.  He went for the double fisted death grip fish hold.    


After a kiss for good luck the little guy was released back to his home.  The good luck kiss must have worked because Case ended up catching at least 10 more fish before we had to call it an evening. 


Fishing is hard work!  Good thing the snack cooler was full because both boys had to take a pretzle break before we wrapped the afternoon up.