Down Time

After 3 exhausting weekends we finally had a weekend at home for some good ole down time. We spent 3 glorious days doing just about nothing and it was great! Don't get me wrong, the little one keeps us running (literally these days!) but after continuous weekends of being away, it was just good to spend some time at home. Craig and I did get to scoot off to a movie for our anniversary, thanks to the Reed Family for keeping Cole occupied for an evening. We also took Cole to the pool. He was a little timid of so much water but I think he'll warm up to it after a few tries. Otherwise it was just time at home...blowing bubbles, reading with Cole and running after our new walker :)

Go Team Gram!

It's hard to believe that it has been an entire year since Cole's Gram, Nancy, left us. Their spirits passed each other as Gram was on her way to heaven and Cole came into our lives.

We remembered her with a family Chinese take-out dinner that even Gram would have been proud of (we sufficiently over-ordered so there would be PLENTY of left-overs!). We also participated in a walk in her honor, the Walk for the Whisper, held in Reston this past weekend. We made t-shirts for Team Nancy and Cole strolled along in her honor. It was great fun and even better to have everyone together. Thanks Team!

Happy First Birthday

Our little man hit a HUGE milestone today...one! We celebrated this weekend with a big party and lotsa cake. I think Cole had fun?

Spring has Sprung...

and the Little one is loving the outdoors. For the past two weekends, we've had glorious weather in DC and we've taken full advantage of it by spending the majority of our days outside. Last weekend Cole assisted in remulching the planting beds by plopping himself right in the middle of them and eating the mulch. Then he helped to wash the car and ensured a full supply of soapy bubbles by playing in the water while mom and dad did all the work!

He's also full swing into ALMOST walking. It's his favorite day time activity and when the big people are too busy to assist in his activity he is likely to throw a HUGE fit. Thank GOD for toys that help with this, although the big people have to help steer them :)

Cole's First Cut

So after much debate and turmoil, we finally decided that it was time to take the plunge and cut off those curls. Who knew it would be such a hard decision? If it were Cole's to make, I'm sure he would have trimmed his hair long ago. All the hair tucking behind the ears, the neck hair tickling him and the bangs hanging in his face. As cute as he was with the little angel wings, he's even cuter with his little boy trim. More pics to come soon...

So Cole says "yea, this Easter Bunny guy...."

"...he brings some good stuff. Just look at this shiny thing i have here. I chewed on it, because it is so neat looking, and this good tasting stuff starting coming out. Then Mom came and took it away from me...I guess I wasn't supposed to do that! Oh well, It sure was good while it lasted. Back to the Easter Bunny...he also brought me these odd shaped balls that were filled with things that made noise when I shook them. They're fun! Later on we went and searched for those same things out in the yard. My pap helped me. We found 12 of them, and every one had something inside that made it rattle. Oh what a good time."

One hikin' fool

Cole was a little skeptical at first about being dragged up and down a mountain on dad's back but he eventually grew comfortable enough with the whole experience to take a nap in the pack.

Here we are climbing to the top of a mountain in Phoenix with friends Jake, Rhoda and Nathan so that we can get an aerial perspective of the City. Neato!

Oh so Grand!

We just returned late Friday night from our very first vacation with the little one and we had a great time! Cole loved being outdoors so much and out west that's what you do...spend time outside! We had great weather to do all sorts of things like visit the Phoenix zoo, the Botanic Garden and the Grand Canyon. Cole hung out in a pack on dad's back as we decended into the Grand Canyon over 1,600 feet down on the South Kaibab Trail. More pix soon...

What you lookin' at?

 

Mom, Dad and Cole spent a nice weekend together preparing for our upcoming trip to Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. Cole, however, had to take a few moments away from our planning to cheer on his favorite team (Go Hoos!) as they competed in the NCAA tournament (too bad they lost). Regardless, he looked awefully cute sporting his new sneaks and UVA gear.

Ewwwwww!

boys will be boys

Kiss me...

... I'm Irish! Actually, I'm not sure whether Cole has any Irish blood but you would think given his fair skin and my reddish hair, there is likely some in our lineage somewhere!

Old Town's yearly St. Patty's Day parade was on Saturday, amidst 60 degree temps and sunny skies. Cole thoroughly enjoyed the bagpipers, marching bands, police motorcycles and various dog groups. Best of all we got to enjoy it with our family, even Cole's Pap and Grandma made it down from Johnstown, PA!

Cole also turned 10 months on Tuesday. Wow time is flying!

Crawling is for babies

Our little man continues to be anti-crawl and apparently when he takes a stand over something he's going to be stubborn about it (the Taurus in him!). He does LOVE to pull up on everything within reach, however unstable it may be.

An update on Cole's other milestones at the moment....he is a constant babbler of "da da da" with an occasional "ma" thrown in. He's up to 7 teeth right now, with the 7th just popping through...still a little pain to go through. We finally hit the 16 lb mark! 9 month clothes here we come (Cole's almost 10 months so he's a little petite!). Much to our dismay, Cole seems to be a needy little boy...requiring someone's (mostly mom's) constant attention and love. For now, I don't feel bad giving him the attention, but I also don't want to raise a spoiled little boy. Is this normal?

Snow bunnies

ahhh...we finally got to take the little man out for some good ole' fashioned sled riding. I think we were taking it a little too easy on him though because we never could get a reaction out of him. I think we should have taken him on the "big boy" run complete with a jump...that would have been sure to get atleast a smile.

Ladies Man

Our trip to Suffolk/VA Beach was a ton of fun as shown by Cole's rendezvous with his friend Ella. The weather was great and Cole was a good boy during the 3 ½ hour drive. Our friends Carl and Erin hosted us and we had our own floor in their house! It was truly bliss as far as traveling with a little one goes.

Cole enjoyed himself too as he got acquainted with Carl and Erin’s 7 month-old little girl, Ella. At one point they grabbed on to one another and seemed to be downright “making out”! We also got to see my friends Rebecca, Sophie (with her 2 little boys that Cole just did not seem to be interested in) and our friends Scott and Allison….phew what a trip!

Drool Meister

I thought this photo captured the essence of the last month or so very well....a drippy, wet baby (zoom for the good stuff!). No, not from swimming pools or fun bath time experiences, but from drool-filled teething, snotty noses and such! I discovered tooth #7 on Saturday!

All I want to know is when can we move on from teething to crawling???

One Sick Fellow

...it seems that the month in between Christmas and now all we have done is nurse our little one back to health. First a cold with cough...and I thought that was bad, but a fever surely tops it all. Cole caught a virus...although not diagnosed by the doc (he said it was a stomach virus going around)...we think it was roseola and it sent his temperature to a blazing 104 for 3 days. Then came the rash just when I thought things had turned the corner and of course, the pediatrician was closed!

Either way our little man has returned (Thank God) and although a little cranky from the incessant teething (#5 is here...#6 on the way) he's generally himself again. Maybe now I can go to the bathroom without holding him :)

Playtime at the Atkins house

Cole's cousin Emory took over the play mat on Friday night and someone was not too happy. Then again it could have just been the teething...or the separation anxiety. It's always something isn't it?

Teeth #5 & 6 are on their way and we were paying for it all weekend. The little guy really turns into a clingy, momma's boy when he doesn't feel well. Oh well, just an excuse to hold my little man even more! 

Our Winter Wonderland

...consists of playground visits and long walks through Old Town this winter. Apparently Old Man Winter decided that Washington wasn't worthy of a visit this year. With two weekends in a row of unseasonably warm weather (76 last Saturday and 60 both days this weekend), we're getting awfully accustomed to no jackets and flip flops in January!

Cole is loving the outdoors as usual, particularly since his cold has disappeared and the teething has calmed for a bit (he now has 4 of them!). His current activities include long attempts at crawling, which end in frustrated cries for "maaaaaaa". We've also started a "signing for hearing babies" class, which has introduced Cole to 10 other 7.5- 10 month olds....he is fascinated!

To be a kid again...

We are so sorry we haven't posted in so long. The holidays kept us quite busy. Cole's first Christmas was at his Pap's in Alexandria on the Saturday before Christmas. On Sunday, Christmas Eve, we packed up and headed to York, PA to spend several days with Craig's family. Monday brought on Christmas #2, with Craig's brother's family including Dave, Amy, Connor & Blake as well as Cole's grandparents...Pap and Grandma Denise and Great grandma Lena. Tuesday brought on Christmas #3 with Cole's other grandma, Carol, and 2 uncles, Shane and L.J. Cole is one lucky little boy. Of course, the most fun part, in Cole's eyes, was the ribbons and the wrapping paper :)

New Years was low key this year...not because we wanted it to be but Cole came down with a nasty cold that kept us in the house for 5 days. Of course the addition of 3 more teeth in one week didn't help the situation either!

Anyway...we do wish you all a Happy New Year.....with much luck, prosperity, and love for the coming year.

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!