Party season

I know ...i know...i'm a bad mom. I'm already enabling the little one and his bad habits....no really, Cole LOVED the cold sensation of a beer bottle on his gums at Jordan Honeyman's Holiday open house on Thursday night. In fact, Cole was quite the partier this weekend....Thursday night my office party, Saturday night he made it to Craig's office party...all the while entertaining the party guests in his "Santa Baby" outfit!

In daddy's hands

We headed up to Johnstown this past weekend for a pre-Christmas visit...Cole got his first taste of snow (literally!) and of opening presents (mmm...wrapping paper tastes good!). We had a great time :)

ho ho ho.....

...what a cutie!

Wow, he's going to kill me when he's older for doing this stuff to him! I just can't help it, it so darned cute!!!

Tis' the Season

We got our Christmas tree this weekend and at first glance, Cole was super confused. One of his favorite things, a tree, was now in the living room. There was only one thing missing...the wind to blow the branches that captivate him so much.....Cole fixed that one as he grabbed onto the garland within reach and gave the entire tree a good shake.

Yeahhhh....it's finally here!

Cole's first tooth (granted it's teeennny tiny right now) finally emerged on Saturday, November 25th. I was delighted to discover it as he was gumming my thumb...more pics to come as it emerges.

Please excuse my poor Photoshop work!

Giving Thanks

Cole didn't want anything to do with this picture but he sure did love his Stage 2 Gerber Turkey with Sweet Pototatoes (and the mashed potatoes from mom's plate!). I figured it was a necessary part of his First Thanksgiving...too bad the tryptophan didn't put him in the slumber that crept through the rest of us in the afternoon.

Cool Whip was also a first....he loved that on pumpkin pie!

The next generation...

...of Atkins boys! Pap and Grandma came to visit on Friday in Alexandria. We strolled through Old Town in the evening for dinner and on Saturday afternoon we drove to York, PA to visit with Dave, Amy, Connor, Blake and Great-Grandma Atkins.

Cole is still a little young for the fun and games of 1 1/2 and 5 year old Blake and Connor...but this time next year...look out!

All in a day's work

As many of you may know, I'm very fortunate to have a flexible work schedule that allows me to work from home on Thursday and Fridays. Cole and I get to hang out and play, take walks and other fun things and during his naps I get to squeeze in time to work. This week...Cole wanted to help!

Here he is...getting a little dirty in some "trash", among one of Jordan Honeyman's latest plans for a residence in Delaware.

Rainy Days

Not sure where you are reading this from, but the weekend's weather on the East Coast was night and day. Saturday was gorgeous...sunny, mid 70's....with a back drop of yellow, red and orange fall leaves...beautiful. Sunday, on the other hand, was cold and rainy...but the perfect day to stay in and enjoy the antics of the little one.

Cole experienced his first teething biscuits...ok'd by the pediatrician at his doctor's appointment on Friday (wewhoo...14lbs 8.4 oz!). He also showed mom and dad that sitting up is old news as he bent his little body in half and then returned it to sitting position.

Here's a pic of him chowing down on a biscuit....hilarious... as one of them stuck to his pajamas and he continued to search for it on the tray. I nearly fell to the floor laughing!!!!

Half a year

Wow I can't believe our little one is 6 months old today. During that time he has captured my heart in a way that I cannot begin to describe and is well on his way to becoming a "Momma's boy". Craig watch out!

Each evening I can't wait for the morning to come so that I can wake up to his smiling face, which melts my heart each and every day. On the weekends, we cherish the mornings when the 3 of us can hang out in bed..even if it means that we don't get to sleep in anymore.

It's amazing how much he's changed our lives. Even Craig, who was so frightened at the prospect of a little one, turned to me before we both drifted off last night and said "take good care of him while i'm gone" (leaving for a short business trip the next morning). Awwwwwww!

Boooooooooo.........

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Thanks to Grammie for making Cole this extra special costume for Cole's first Halloween :)

Teething Bites

So we've been teething for what seems like months now and all along we keep asking ourselves...is this it...when is the first going to emerge? Runny noses, crankiness (which is unusual for the little guy) and drool to no end. It seems that I can change his bib 3 times a day...and yet he's still able to soak through his clothing underneath! I wondered if we'd need all 17 of the bibs that we accumulated between showers and gifts...guess i have my answer now :)

Despite the crankiness, Cole seems to be taking the experience in stride. Biting on anything within reach of his uncoordinated fingers, including my hair. He was even a trooper this week when we filled his room with the stench of Vicks to open up his poor nasal passages filled with goop...teething or a cold? I'm sure we'll never know.....when is that tooth going to get here?

Carolina on my mind

We went on a much needed excursion this past weekend to our old stomping grounds. We had a great time showing the little guy where Mommy and Daddy met as well as showing him off to some friends, Jimmie, Kristen & Nathan in Durham, Miles, Adam & Reagan in Raleigh and to our family, who were in town for the wedding of my cousin Adam.

We also got to go to the North Carolina state fair! Cole sat back and took it all in and particularly loved the lights of the rides at night time.

Time’s flying

Wow…I can’t believe our little guy is 5 months old already! To the little one’s dismay, mom dragged baby outside for his monthly portrait. It’s amazing, but he finally seems to be cooperating with her incessant picture taking and even smiled for a few!

It was a nasty Saturday in Virginia but the weather held out for a quick session on the neighbor’s front lawn…where we hear they are going to start charging a sitting fee J

Mommy musts...

There are lots of things that I suppose as Cole's Mommy that I should be showing him, teaching him and encouraging him to do...but every once in a while you just have to take a step back and watch. I thought I'd share a couple of pix of Cole's finer moments lately.

He seems to have a nack for tasting everything ...including cute little girls. He also seems to understand exactly what to do with a straw....if only he could get it to stay in his hand.

He's also flipping over everywhere now! Last night i found him in the crib spanning the width, with his head touching one side and his feet touching the other. He was quite frustrated to find that he couldn't move in this position!

Boys will be boys

So the football season has begun and this year instead of one freaky fan in the house...there are two! Cole seems to love the game already at the tender age of 4 1/2 months. I'm certain that for him its the bright colored jerseys and the constant motion on the television. Still, Dad loves the idea of having the little one to sit around with on a Saturday afternoon to watch some college football.

Playmates

Cole would like to annouce the arrival of his newest playmate, his brand new cousin Emory-Grace Catherine Reed. She arrived (11 days late) Monday morning, the 18th of September at 1:17 a.m. Auntie Tiffy barely made it to the birth center and was assisted by Cole's Uncle Jon, Cousins Devon and Chloe (current playmates) , his Pap, and his Mommy. She was a big girl at 9lbs 5 oz. and is sure to outweight Cole is no time! Regardless, he is anxious for her to grow up a little so he can try out his newest wrestling moves :)

Through all the chaos, confusion...and joy we remember our dear "Gram" as she passed away 2 days before Cole was born and ironically, Emory was born on Gram's birthday. These 2 little ones are sure to carry on her spirit.

His first first

So i knew this would happen eventually, particularly now that i'm back to work. I knew i'd eventually miss out on some life changing experience of Cole's, that my mom would be the first to see. Cole turned over yesterday. This is a big thing for a 4 month old...and his mother. I tried with all my might to get him to do it again in the evening...no show for the mama...guess i'll just have to wait a little longer.