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.      

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?

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!    

  

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. 

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. 

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.