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!

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?