Cole Thomas

Cole Graduated!

2009-06-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

Cole was tested again yesterday to see if he qualified for Speech Therapy (again since we moved to another region). He measured right on age (28 mos)!!! He has well over 50 words and is making sooo many sentences. He's definitely had a language explosion. Here's a few of his new words/comments:

"Where's Daddy at?"
"Come on!"
"I wanna go!" (as he holds on to my leg when I leave to go somewhere)
"ooops! I go poo poo!"
(In a store bathroom), "Oooh, Mommy go poo poo? No? Ohhh...Mommy go PEE PEE!"
Baby Food
Thank you Mama

He's sooo funny!! I just love this little guy!!! He's glued to me these days and I'm so glad to be home with him!!

HEaring appointment

2009-03-04T19:06:00.000-08:00

Cole had his hearing appointment today. He is perfect!! No fluid on ears & can hear as low as 10 decibals. Normal is 10-20. He wore headphones & the talked into them at different volumes. He had to point to items on a board. He even knew what an ice cream cone was...we were shocked. He's never had an ice cream cone! Then he was given directions to stack blocks when he heard a whistle. He did it! So smart!!!

The audiologist thinks his hearing is just fine and that he is overall just fine!!!

His EI evaluation is next thursday 3/12! More updates then!!!

24 month appt

2009-02-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Stats:
Height: 38.75 inches (with shoes...about 37 with out) Over 95th %
Weight: 30 lbs About 60th %

He does have a speech delay. We are having his ears checked out and having him tested for Speech Therapy. It's a little scary, but we think he is just perfect no matter what! I really think he's just fine!!! He got one shot & will get another one in 6 mos!

Big little boy!!

Cole is 2!!!

2009-02-17T08:43:00.000-08:00

Cole turned TWO YEARS OLD on February 11!!!! WOW!!!

We had his b-day party on Saturday, February 7th. It was Thomas the Train themed. He LOVES trains. I'm not a big fan of trains, but you can't change your kiddo's minds!

We had a great train cake that our family friend Rita made for us (tradition) as well as pizza & ice cream. Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Jess & Danielle, Mimi & Papa, Uncle Jeff, Auntie Kendra, Garrett & GAvin, Gladys, LaDonna & Mackenzie were all present.

Cole got a ton of trains, trucks, cars, books & leggos. He was enjoying playing with them when he threw up EVERYWHERE! He got a stomach bug. He continued throwing up every hour until 5am. He slept in bed with Justin & I for the first time. It was VERY scary!! He's doing much better now though!!!

I DON'T LIKE SANTA!

2008-12-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

This evening we went to see Santa at Mimi's work, (Waggoner National Bank). Cole saw Santa last year & thought he was ok (he was 10 months old). This year was a different story. We have been talking about how cool Santa was for a few months now. He can identify santa anywhere and even tries to say it..."SSSSSSS....ADN". I thought FOR SURE he would like him. He waited in line patiently with Mimi & Natalie. The minute it was time...I picked him up & put him on Santa's lap and he CATAPULTED out of there screaming. Everyone stopped and stared. I guess its not normal for Vernon people to be scared of santa?? (can you tell I thought they were being rude??) He would NOT do it! I finally managed to sit next to Santa and Cole KIND OF stood there too. We're going to try again next week in Wichita Falls. Here's a pic...and I had to add one of Cole's cousins...too cute!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-02T06:50:00.001-08:00

Watching the Charlie Brown Pumpkin Movie

Umm...it's chilly!

I love my Jack-o-lantern!

Going to Mimi & Papa's

I'm here...ready to give out candy!

Hello Pumpkin!

Mommy, Natalie & Cole cleaning the pumpkin

EWWW...(he hated his hands that dirty!)

Big ole pumpkin

adorable

We had fun for Halloween this year! Surprisingly it was just Cole, no baby sister yet! We started out carving a pumpkin and then started trick or treating. It has been tradition to start at Donna Stribling's house. Donna is the mother of one of Justin's friends from highschool...so it was his tradition too. She makes the BEST cookies and popcorn balls...not to mention the TONS of candy she always gives out (I'm talking...hundreds of dollars of candy). I did NOT take a picture (oops). Then we went to a couple of my friends' houses & to Mimi & Papa's where we saw cousins Garrett & Gavin. After that, we went to Justin's boss's house where they made a spooky house (porch). Cole was so scared he wanted me to carry him the whole time. We ended the night watching the Charlie Brown Pumpkin show! I bought the 3 holiday dvds...so we'll make this a tradition too!!!

Cole as Mickey Mouse!

2008-10-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

Cole decided he wanted to be "tootles" for Halloween! I made the costume with random things (sweat pants, long sleeve shirt, stick on foam buttons, women's socks, toboggan and mouse ears). It turned out PERFECT! Once he realized he really was tootles...he LOVED it!!!

Cole Dancing and Reading...He's growing so fast!

2008-10-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

Cole Dancing to "Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk

Cole Reading...he climbed up onto the couch and proceeded to ready about "tootles" (mickey mouse)

New Ouchie!

2008-10-19T09:36:00.001-07:00

Today I attempted to take a bath while Cole played in the bathroom. I've done this a lot (yesterday included)...and the worst that happened was he'd through the entire contents of the bathroom in the tub with me. No big deal!

TODAY...Cole was sitting next to the tub. I don't know how it happened...but his chin SLAMMED into the side of the tub. It was soooo loud. I grabbed him and picked him up (remember...I had been in the tub...so I was lacking clothes). We ran through the house trying to find a washcloth (I use a loofah in the tub). By this time he was not crying...just looking at me like I was crazy. Then we called Daddy at work. I managed to FINALLY look at the cut and it was deep.

I took him up to the store (after dressing) and a nice lady/LVN/United employee Monique helped us out. We bought "glue" for this ouchie and off we went home to fix the ouchie.

Now...imagine me...9 months prego...holding a 30 lbs 1.5 year old over a sink trying to clean out a wound with peroxide...hold his hands down and then "glue" it shut. IMPOSSIBLE. BACK to United we went where Daddy came to the rescue & fixed it.

Sigh...I'm sure that this will happen again PLENTY in the future...but it was so scary! I'm glad he's ok! I sure hope he doesn't remember me running around the house without clothes and 9 months prego searching for the phone & washcloth!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

2008-10-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Cole at the Pumpkin Patch!

Cole September Videos

2008-09-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

Cole getting ready for the football game in his new jersey!

Cole "driving" at Papa's farm!

Ouchies and Tractors

2008-09-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

Cole was so excited to go outside when daddy finished working on the old lawn tractor. This is Cole's FAVORITE past time...riding on the tractor! You've seen my previous blogs about this obsession. He is SO happy in his little "trailer" that daddy rigged up! The first of the video I do a quick turn...it's because the dog was headed straight for the belly to jump...urghh...

On another note, Cole and Justin just rushed in. Apparently he fell & busted his knee while chasing a soccer ball. He was wimpering & bleeding. I got peroxide and soaked his knee. We tried to make him feel like it was "cool" to have a cut. He then, of course, started pointing to his knee saying, "Cool". He loved the Neosporin and bandage. Immediately afterward he was off running to the yard again to play soccer with Daddy! I just love that he thought his boo boo was "cool"! All boy!

18month Doctor Appointment

2008-08-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

Today Cole is 18 months!

Stats
Weight: 26.5 lbs (16mos was 24.2!) 50th percentile
Height: 34.25 inches (16mos was 33.25!) 95th percentile

I can NOT believe he's grown that much in TWO months!!! Everyone says he looks bigger, but to have gained 2 pounds and one inch is amazing to me!! He is such a big boy!

Lucky for him, his shot was out (Hib shortage nation wide?) So no shots...next time (24mos) he'll get a lot.

Other than all of that, he's PERFECT! Or that's what his favorite Nurse Practitioner Nicole always says!! Next time, Baby Natalie will come along!! hehe...

Tractors

2008-07-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

Cole loves tractors. He has several at home. Any time we are driving and he spots one he yells, "Tractor"! and points! It's realliy very cute. He also has several tractor books that he loves to "read".

One day last week I noticed him pulling his tractor and his blankie. Of course...most kids carry a blankie & stuffed animal...or suck their thumb. Not my little boy. He drags a blankie and a tractor!

Rangers Game and the Zoo

2008-06-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

Justin is on vacation...so we decided for a quick trip to DFW.

First on the list was a Texas Rangers game. We wanted to go while Cole was an only child. Justin had "secured" tickets from a vendor for 2nd row behind home plate. We've never sat that close...super excited. when we went to pick the tickets up...we found out they were for the night before. OH WELL...we bought 15$ tickets in the nosebleeds (5 rows from the top) since that was ll that was left.

We also went to the zoo. It was Cole's first time. He LOVED it! The best part was when the lions woke up. The girl woke up the boy by "spraying" his face. Then he groomed her & they started "talking". They took things inside after that...probably a good thing! Cole loved the carousel also! He & daddy became very scared when a snake attacked them through the glass in the reptile room. It was HILARIOUS!!

16 month appointment

2008-06-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

Cole had his doctor's appointment on 6/10.

Stats
Height: 33.25 inches (90th percentile)
Weight: 24.25 pounds (45th percentile)

So...he's slowed down quite a bit on weight & height. I hear that is normal between 1 & 3 years of age. We are used to him being OFF the charts on height...but now he's at the top. I'm glad he's weighing lower than 50th percentile...because don't they say that have of US kids are obese?

He got 2 shots and he did REALLY well. It was the first time I actually looked at him during shots. I normally turn my head & cry...but he was so sad & wanted me, so I held his hand. Justin held him down. He was fine once I carried him again :).

We finished up the appointment by having El Chico. Cole ate a whole soft taco and another tortilla with his beans & rice. I told him he was a real hispanic because he was dipping his tortilla into his beans like a pro! hehe...

Oh...on the same day, Cole found out he is going to have a little sister! I've been showing him baby pictures on the internet and saying, "BABY", and then telling him there's a baby in my belly. He gives my belly sugars too! Sometimes if Justin and I are feeling the baby move, Cole will come up and hit my belly. Not in a mean way...I think he's just getting little Natalie ready for play time!!

Tractors

2008-05-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

Cole's latest love is tractors. He got a book for Easter about tractors. about a month later, Papa got a new tractor that he got to ride in. (It has a "buddy seat"). Since then...he's been addicted to them.

I took him to school with me the other day and he pointed and said, "Tatoo". I looked, and next to me was a tractor! Now he calls trucks and tractors "tattos".

Watering the Grass

2008-05-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

Cole also loves watering the grass! I got a new watering pole & he is addicted to it. I guess it makes him feel big! He will stand & water until his curiosity takes over and then he will end up IN the water with his other favorite thing...mud!

Loving the MUD!

2008-05-04T21:34:00.000-07:00

Cole has found a new love...the mud. It never fail to amaze me that he is CERTAINLY all boy! This was his first time out in the mud that he really knew what to do!

Fun & Random From March & April

2008-05-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone?

I've been so tired with pregnancy & school, I have just left this blog alone. I'm trying to come back with a vengeance!

Here are some random fun pics from the past few months!
Cole's 1st ouchie on his lip

Easter

2008-05-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

This was Cole's 2nd Easter. He sure has changed!! He spent a few days before Easter with Grandma & Grandpa & Auntie Danielle.

He also had an Easter Egg hunt at United. He didn't really understand the process & some kids stole his eggs :( He DID get to play with a real bunny though!

Finally he had his real Easter. He was so excited the Easter Bunny came. He loved his presents. We went to church and then to Mimi & PaPa's. There, he saw his cousins, Garrett & Gavin. They had a blast! I can't wait until Gavin & Cole can really play together!

Cole is going to be a Big Brother...so he's WAlking!!

2008-03-06T07:11:00.001-08:00

On Sunday, February 24, I woke up from a dream that I was REALLY pregnant...like 7mos along...and the baby was moving alot. I thought...Hmmm...I can't wait to feel that again!

I suddenly thought...hmm...when am I supposed to "start"? Well...turns out I was 2 days late! I can't believe I forgot! Cole and I went up to Walmart and bought 3 pregnancy tests. They were all positive! OH MY GOODNESS! Due date is October 31, 2008. By the end of 2008...I will have a 2month old! By Jessica's wedding (in May), I will have a 2 year old and a 7month old! WOW!

It was my dad's birthday...so we took some fun pics of Cole & a paper saying "Happy Birthday Grandpa...I'm going to be a big brother!". And then the same for Justin. I actually made a photostory video for Justin to the tune of "I did it again" by Brittany Spears.

We are in complete shock...but sooo happy!!!

That night, Cole was really doing well cruising everywhere. I kept putting him in front of me & trying to get him to walk. He did it! At first it was just a few steps...but then he would take 3 & 4. Justin & I spend about an hour getting him to walk between us!

So...He found out he was going to be a big brother....and he decided to walk all on one day! WOW!

Cole and Maverick

2008-02-15T19:21:00.000-08:00

Well...Cole and Maverick...It's almost like they were separated at birth...2 peas in a pod. As I type this right now...Maverick keeps trying to go into cole's room to wake him up. (he's already managaed to open the door twice...both times I found him sitting next to the bed sniffing and looking at Cole...so sweet.

Maverick loves giving Cole kisses on the face. Sometimes that annoys Cole...but he really likes it most of the time. Cole feeds Maverick Cheerios & loves having him lick his hands.

Tonight Cole discovered Maverick plays ball. He would THROW the tennis ball & get a KICK out of Maverick chasing it. Cole would burst into the cutest belly laugh!!!

Here are a few pics of my little boys!

Cole is ONE!!!

2008-02-15T07:13:00.000-08:00

On February 11 at 10:24pm...my baby became a toddler!!! HE's ONE!!! I can't believe that a year ago I became a mommy. Our life has changed so much...in such a wonderful way. I often wonder what we did with all that free time and extra money we had...we have nothing to show for it. But we definitely have the most amazing little boy to show for this past year of hard/joyful work!!

We spent the weekend in wilson. It was "Granny"'s 80th birthday! (My grandma). Cole definitely enjoyed being around all the people & showing off. On Sunday he had his OWN birthday party at the farm. Grandma made his cake(s) for him...and the theme was farm animals. It was so cute and there were sooo many people there! Almost all of his great aunts & uncles were there as well as cousins!!! He got so many toys. Because we kept taking the toys away for him to open new ones...he decided he would rather play with the wrapping paper :) The cutest part was when he opened his present from Uncle Adam...a soft bunny rabbit. He took it and KISSED it! Uncle Adam loved that!! (By the way...he will be officially Uncle Adam sometime next year...he proposed to Auntie Jess on Valentines day!)

We came home that night and had his "home" party on Monday...his real birthday. We had a monkey cake made by our sweet friend Miss Rita. It was ADOREABLE and made to match his new dinner set. He REALLY got into his cake and pizza...probably because he had to show his cousins up! Mimi, papa, Auntie K, Garrett, Gavin & Rita attended.

THEN...his big present arrived Wednesday night...(ok...it was a family present). We got a new dog! He is a 9month old Black Labrador. His name is Maverick and he is SUCH a good doggie! He loves to lick Cole...and Cole LOVES him! I'm so amazed that he is good around Cole. I have some sweet pics of them I'll post soon!

It's been an amazing year watching my baby grow into a little man. I know this year he will change so much! He will start talking more and his little personality will really grow...I'm excited...but sad to see my baby grow up. A good friend told me that every age will be my favorite...so far its true!

Birthday Time!

2008-02-12T07:06:00.000-08:00

Cole had the best time at his birthday parties!

We went to Wilson for my grandma's 80th birthday (Feb. 9). I remember last year I wanted sooo badly to have Cole on her birthday! Granny pulled Cole around in her new "work" wagon.

On Sunday, we had a BIG party for Cole at my parents house. There were a TON of people and 2 chocolate cakes that my mom made. They were PRECIOUS!! The theme was farm animals. His big gift was a 4 wheeler from Grandma & Grandpa & Auntie Dani.

On Monday, his real birthday, we had a small party at home in Vernon. Mimi, Papa, Auntie K, Garrett, Gavin, and Ms. Rita (who made his cake) attended. We had a white monkey cake & Pizza. Cole really dug into the cake this time.

His big gift was a "garage" from Mommy & Daddy. He also got clothes and money!

Cole loves Daddy

2008-02-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

I never imagined how much more I could fall in love with Justin until I had Cole.

He is the most AMAZING Daddy in the whole world. Cole already wants to do EVERYTHING Justin does. Here are a few cute pictures I snapped today. I left to go somewhere...when I came back they were quite a pair!

Finally I'm updating

2008-02-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

When I got sick...I just let the blog slide...sorry!!!

New Pictures...www.flickr.com/photos/janetmp10

New things with Cole...
~He is ALMOST walking. We catch him from time to time standing on his own. Last night at Mimi & Papa's house...he took a lunge/step toward me from the coffee table. It was not an official step...but I think that is right around the corner!
~He got a molar! I think he skipped a few teeth...it's really weird. He completely skipped all of his canine teeth & got a molar on the bottom.
~He is on whole milk about 75% of the time. During the day he only drinks whole milk, but at night & morning it's half formula and half milk. It could probably be all whole milk...but we have a lot of formula...so we want to use it!
~He says MANY words!! Mama (yes...finally), Dada, KeeKat (Kitty Kat...that's the one that he ONLY says when he sees Cooter), No No (I feel bad about that one!), Hi, Bye Bye, and AAAYAAAA? which means, Hello?

Here are some photos of the cutie pie!

First Haircut

2008-01-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

Cole got his first haircut today! It was bittersweet. I love his long messy hair... It was really getting to bother his ears though. AND...I could put it in pony tails (yes...I put 2 ponytails on him & he looked just like I did when I was younger!! He was pretty good! A little confused at first...but good

1st Christmas

2007-12-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

Last year I couldn't even fathom how much fun we would have on Christmas with that little kicking baby in my belly. It was a BLAST! My parents & sisters were here to help us celebrate. That made it even more festive! Cole woke up at around 5:30am & around 7am we woke up the rest of the family. Cole LOVED his red wagon, tricycle and Red Pajamas that matched daddy's!

He got a truck & police car from grandma & grandpa...some toys from Auntie Jess...a riding horsie from mimi & papa...& just a ton of toys. He's really had so much fun with it all!

Making Cookies & Playing Around!

2007-12-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

Today we made sugar cookies! Cole and I are going to make this a Christmas Tradition. I'm really looking forward to Cole getting older & more able to help out. It was sad doing it all by my own after he went to bed. (Plus a LOT of work!!! WE probably won't be doing icing again for a while!!!)

Cole discovered the bows on some presents under the tree. He crawled over to them & took them all off. He kept trying to eat them, so I just stuck them to his head. He never realized they were there & crawled all over the house doing normal things with bows on his head. It was so cute!!!

We can't wait for Christmas Eve tomorrow!! Grandma & Grandpa & Auntie Danielle & Auntie Jessica are coming! Yay! Then we will leave cookies out for Santa! I told Santa to pick out his cookies early so no one eats them! haha.

Trip to DFW

2007-12-16T19:08:00.000-08:00

This weekend Cole and I went to go visit Auntie Jess for a weekend off! We went Friday and Cole slept the whole 3 hour trip! When we got there, Uncle Adam cooked a YUMMY meal for us. The next day he left to Lake Tahoe (poor Uncle Adam). The girls and Cole went shopping. On our way back I happened to call Ashly (one of the Angels). We ended up going to their house & having pizza (thanks again!!!). There...Cole really had fun with their almost 2 year old daughter, Lexi. Cole and Lexi are exactly one year apart. They had sooo much fun together. Cole scored his first kiss too!!! I always joke that they will get married one day...and I have to tell you...they couldn't keep their hands off each other! It was ADORABLE!!!

Saturday night Afton & Patrick came over and we all had a fun breakfast Sunday morning. Patrick was the "punisher" when Cole was acting up. (hehe) Then we went to see Amber & Mike's new apartment. Very cute! They are prego with a little one due on July 18th! We can't wait!

It was very fun!!!

Look what Cole got into at Auntie Jess's!

Please send Cat food for Christmas

2007-12-12T07:08:00.000-08:00

Cole has a "thing" about grabbing Cooter's cat food or splashing in her water. This morning he grabbed the food and I took it out of his hands and said, "No!". Then I moved him by me as I got dressed. After I got dressed I noticed his back to me. I picked him up & his mouth was closed TIGHT. I stuck my finger in there because I didn't know WHAT he had eaten. Sure enough, cat food. He was just sucking on it like it was a piece of candy. I half expected him to Meow at me. (It was really funny...to tell the truth!)

For the past few days Justin has been SWEARING that Cole can whistle. I just blow it off thinking...there's no way a 10 month old can whistle. Ummm...yeah...HE CAN. This morning he was whistling away...to no toon...but doing it. He's so congested that he breathes out his mouth a lot and some how he learned how to whistle. It's pretty darn cute.

I've got a cat food eatin' whistler on my hands...what's he gonna be like when he's 15????

First real boo boo

2007-12-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

Last night Cole got his first real ouchie. Justin and I were making supper and Cole was playing in the kitchen with us. He usually get's into his cabinet with plates & bottles so he feels like he's "getting into" something. He loves to stand up next to the water dispenser too.

I have some aprons hanging from a cappucinno maker that sits on top of the fridge. Somehow he reached the apron string & was pulling on it. The next thing I know...in slow motion, the cappucinno maker falls--hits the water dispenser (thank God, because it made it slow down)--bounces off & hits Cole on the head. He sat there & started WAILING. I grabbed him up and passed him to Justin as i hid behind a door & covered my ears as Justin checked him out. He has a big scratch on his head and a small bump.

He was pretty fussy last night...but slept well. I called the doctor & he said as long as he wasn't knocked unconsious...he was probably ok. Justin checked on him about midnight and he woke up (we had to do this...per the doctor). No vomitting...he's fine!

It was soooo scary!!! The first of many ouchies!!! (i'll get a picture up soon!)

First visit with Santa!

2007-12-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

Cole sat on Santa's lap for the first time today! I was nervous he would cry because he's so shy these days...but NOPE! He loved Santa.

At first he just watched him and waved at him from the line. Then we went up to Santa and talked with him & Santa showed us some snowmen to touch. Cole loved it! Then Santa had me sit next to him & slide Cole over on his lap. Cole was fascinated with Santa! He smiled and smiled!

Kind of made me wonder if there wasn't something super-special about this Santa...hehe...

First Thanksgiving

2007-11-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

Wow...1st Thanksgiving! We are soooo thankful to have our little/big man with us this year!

We drove to Lubbock early Thursday morning & spent the day with Grandma & Grandpa, Auntie Jess, Auntie Dani, Aunti Suz, Aunti Bonnie & Uncle Kieth, & Granny. Cole is very shy of strangers these days and clung to me like crazy. It's very unlike him, so we hope it's just a phase. All of the excitement kept him up late that night (2am). Justin and I were very irrational as we made plans to leave the next day. (not really...but at 2am...you make wierd conversation).

The next day Cole stayed with Daddy & Grandpa while the women went shopping. Thankfully he acted like himself again & wasn't sick. Saturday was the big dinner at Granny's & he saw tons of family members & STILL clung to Mommy.

The best thing about the weekend was the snow. It snowed pretty much the whole time we were in Lubbock. Cole didn't get to see it too much because it was so cold, but he seemed to enjoy it! I have a few pictures that I will try to post today!!!

Mom's new page

2007-11-21T19:28:00.000-08:00

My mommy wanted to have her own blog...so she made a new one! Here it is!

http://janetandjustin.blogspot.com

YES....this is all mine!

love,
Cole

1st basketball game

2007-11-20T06:51:00.000-08:00

Cole attended his 1st basketball game last night! We watched the Vernon Kittens (little lions!) play against Barwise (wichita falls). We saw the 7th grade "A" team win and the beginning of the 8th grade "B" team.

He LOVED it! Of course he was more interested in playing with all the kiddos around. We sat in the bleachers with the 8th grade "A" team as they watched the game. (no...I didn't sit with them...they sat with ME! haha...I choose not to embarrass them). He loved playing peek-a-boo with them. THEN...he stood up and YELLED and YELLED as one 8th grader shot a free-throw. That was the same one who threw me a baby shower last year. I thought that was adorable. (the young man came up to Cole and said, "I'm the one who threw you a shower when you were in the womb!"....too cute).

All in all, it was a great day...only wish I'd gotten pictures!

When it rains....it pours!

2007-11-15T19:31:00.000-08:00

Cole and I were getting all better...so we thought. I guess Monday, Cole was coughing ALL night long. I hardly got any sleep. Tuesday night he didn't sleep well at ALL. Wednesday morning he slept in until 7:00 when I woke him. Sure enough...fever...102. Justin was hunting and by that time it was 7:30 and I hadn't even called school about a sub. I took him to daycare and ended up getting a sub quickly & we stayed home.

Around 4pm, his right eyelid swelled almost shut...the doctor said he thought it was a skin infection of the eye due to sinus problems & prescribed an antibiotic because, it could be serious. (Did I mention I woke up with pink eye also?)

Today we went to the doctor(s)...yes...I have pink eye...yes Cole STILL has an ear infection and sinus issues. SO...now we have antibiotics & decongestant for him and an eye drop for me.

On the way home, we stopped at Marketstreet to get my medicine. Cole was inconsolable in the carseat, so I took him out to feed him while Justin ran in. Cole coughed and gagged and then threw up a little. I stood him up and put him over my shoulder to ease the strain on his tummy...but he PROJECTILE vomitted all over the back seat of the car. I was amazed at myself for not flinching or vomitting myself. He did that twice...and all over me. I rode home from WF in nothing but my skivvies and a jacket on. NICE...

The week can only get better...right?

I'm behind!

2007-11-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've left ya'll hanging on the blog! We are both better now!

Halloween was so much fun, but I'll post about that later with pictures.

Cole is now "cruising" all around the house. He sure does fall alot though!

On a sad note, he is now strictly formula fed. I had to start this when I was put on 2 medications for my ear (eustachian tube dysfunction). I only planned on doing this for 10 days & then resume regular feedings. He didn't want to go back to regular feedings! It has been heartbreaking for me...but liberating in a way.

More later!

Halloween!

2007-11-05T17:04:00.000-08:00

Cole's 1st Halloween!!! AWWW!!!

He had a very busy day! First Justin took him to the bank to see Mimi and her co workers.

Then Justin took him to United to see all of HIS coworkers (proud papa...not even embarrased to be the "Man in the Yellow Hat")

THEN...Thomas Jefferson (me) came home and we went trick or treating at Donna Stribling's house (our favorite because she gives sugar cookies and popcorn balls to the "special" ones!)

and at Mimi's house!

We're getting better!

2007-10-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

Well...slowly but sure we are getting better!!! Cole seems almost 100% other than the occasional snot fest sneeze. My head sometimes feels like a basketball...but it's getting better everyday. I actually have energy today...so that's awesome!

We will be going to Lubbock tomorrow or Saturday...Yay!!!

Oprah Show

2007-10-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ok...so this blog is turning into a journaling thing for me too...SORRY ALL YOU COLE WATCHERS! There will still be plenty of Cole stuff too :).

Today I actually made it home in time to watch Oprah (1st time all school year!) It was about people with cancer. The last segment had a guest named Randy Pausch, a college professor, who is dying from pancreatic cancer. He only has 3-6months to live. His college has always had a lecture series about what your last lecture would be if you knew you were dying, (or something like that....your last lecture to be remembered by...etc). He was invited to do that...and yes...he was dying. It is truly an eye-opening thing to watch. He speaks of achieving his childhood dreams and mainly...what's important in life. It brought me to tears when he said the REAL reason he made the lecture...was not for the faculty and staff at his college...but for 3 more important people...and he showed a picture of his children. They don't know he's dying yet...they are all under the age of 5, so they're waiting to tell them until his symptoms are evident.

I can NOT imagine being in his shoes. How do you live knowing your days are numbered...and not for very long. He is living life to the fullest and CHOOSING to have fun and go out with a bang.

The thing is...we don't know if tomorrow will come for ANY of us. I've been thinking of that a lot lately. One day, I will not exist anymore (physically anyway). That's beyond my grasp.

I was really touched by that...so I came online to find the video to show my Teen Leadership students who are learning to give speeches & what qualities real leaders have... As I was searching, I had Cole in my lap...he was fussy & pulling stuff left & right and pulling my hair. I sat him on the floor and he was pulling my pants to stand up and crying. Why wouldn't he just let me find this video about living life to the fullest?????

WOW...what was I doing? It hit me...here I am amazed at what this man was saying...but I was doing the exact opposite. I dropped what I was doing and Cole and I chased eachother around the house on all fours. We tickled each other and laughed (and coughed and sneezed because we're STILL sick!). I told him, "I'll love you forever and like you for always...as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be". And then I fed him his yummy yummies as he stroked my hair...until he fell asleep.

To me...being a mommy is living life to its fullest and REALLY being PRESENT for him is what I'm going to focus on.

Thank you Dr. Randy Fausch!
(go to www.oprah.com to watch the video...he's amazing...and pray for him)

Still sick :(

2007-10-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well, we are both still sick. Thursday it was just Cole. Friday started off with Cole still having fever and me feeling kind of crummy. By Friday afternoon I had 102 degree fever. Saturday Cole had to stay at Mimi & PaPa's place. We are so happy that he REALLY had a good time! He was there from about 7:30am until about 4:30. Good job Cole!

Just when I think things are getting better for us, one of us gets fever again.

Thankfully Justin has been taking over when he gets home. He is the BEST...in fact...he'll be home any time now ;)

We missed church AGAIN today. It's so hard taking Cole by myself these day. (actually its hard with both of us too!) He is so loud...well...happy loud, and the cry room is a MESS...he could learn some really bad things in there! ha! The weekends are the times I wish Justin had a regular job. We get to go to church together twice a month if we're lucky. We ARE getting more involved and that makes me happy. The weekend of November 3 we are helping with the "Cultural Fiesta" in the American booth...go figure...ha!

I've been talking to one of the teachers I work with who does a lot at church. She keeps telling me there are all different types of ministries I can help with...when I'm ready. I REALLY want to do something for couples. My friend Ashly and Casey do couple's Bible studies and I REALLY like that idea. Justin does too. We don't know many young people...so that would be where we'd want to start. Who knows... If we were in Lubbock, all of my cousin's go to my old church and they do this sort of thing. I miss home!!! Oh well...I'm really starting to love Vernon too!

we're sick!

2007-10-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesday afternoon Cole came down with a sneezing fit. I figured it was allergies so I gave him some Children's Claritin. Thursday morning he had a fever of 100.5. I took him to the doctor in Wichita Falls and he said Cole has a Viral Infection of the throat. Poor little man! His fever got worse...all the way to 102.

Friday it's back down to 100, but now I'm sick! Here's a picture of Cole being sick (hmmm...is he faking it?) He's wearing the shirt we got him at Billy Bob's, "I was Made in Texas". Yep, he was! ;)

Daddy's Birthday

2007-10-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Today was Daddy's (Justin's) 31st birthday. We woke up early, as usual, and had an early birthday party! Cole & Justin LOVE the movie CARS, so we had a CARS party. It was cute! Cole wore the party had for a little bit, but then it scared him...not sure why.

more pictures!

2007-10-14T04:56:00.000-07:00

Family time!

2007-10-14T04:32:00.000-07:00

Today Auntie K took our family pictures. These are the first REAL ones since Cole's been born. They turned out AMAZING!!!

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Pumpkin Patch in Chilicothe. It's not really a patch as much as it is a Pecan Grove that is decorated with pumpkins. Unfortunately it was REALLY windy and Cole was tired :(. We still got a few cute pictures!

A Walk in the Park

2007-09-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

This morning we woke up and decided it was a beautiful day to take a walk!!!

It was a little chilly, so we put Cole in his new windpants and sweater! What a cutie!!! While we were at the park, I couldn't resist pictures!!!

Sneak Peak at Halloween!

2007-09-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Cole has wanted to be Curious George for Halloween since he was born :). (And Daddy wants to be the Man in the Yellow Hat!) We looked online, but the costumes weren't that great, so we found this one at Target. It is just adorable!!

We had the HARDEST time putting his feet in it. We soon realized that one of the feet is sewn on backwards! Check it out! It's the left foot if you're looking at the pictures. We laft soooo hard!!! We hope to either exchange it or let Mimi fix it for us!

Learning new things!

2007-09-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

Righhhhht....so didn't do so well with posting! EEK!

Well, recently Cole has started crawling!!! He was 6.5mos when he started and is just adorable. Now he is starting to pull up on EVERYTHING to the kneeling position AND standing! While I was gone for 4 days (HORRIBLE!), Justin got some cute pics of him in the act!!

He also attended his first Vernon football game. Vernon won, of course. He also took a cute picture with Justin's boss's daughter Madison. She was a little cheerleader that day!

New Blog

2007-03-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Today I am beginning a blog for my baby boy, Cole. I will post pictures and daily events and ventures. Hopefully I'll use this to make my scrapbook also! I'm horrible at writing things down, but LOVE my computer & the internet!

Birth Story

2007-02-15T18:28:00.000-08:00

February 10, 2007 Saturday

After an uneventful doctor's appointment on Thursday, I was pretty bummed out. I thought for sure I would have had the baby on Friday. Saturday was a lazy day. I took a shower but didn't put any makeup on or get dressed up. I watched basketball all day. In fact, I sat on my exercize ball and bounced through all the games. I bounced specifically hard during the Texas Tech game...yelling at them while eating chips and hot sauce. I had remembered Linda, my mother-in-law, telling me that she ate some spicy food the day Jeff was born. Around 8:30pm, I called Justin & asked him to bring me something VERY chocolatey!

That night around 9:10pm I was lying in bed and felt a pretty strong contraction. It was odd because I hadn't had any all day. I sat up and had the wierd urge to push. Nothing happened, so I got up to go to the bathroom & then to the internet. I checked my pregnancy message boards and got up to go to bed. Suddenly I felt like I was wetting myself...but I KNEW my water had broken. Sure enough! I called Justin again. He almost didn't believe me, but hurried home. I then called my mom. By 9:40pm, we were on the road to Wichita Falls. We came up on a police car and passed him...sure enough we got pulled over. Justin knew him...and I thought he was never going to let us go...he wanted to chat!

By 10:30 we were at the hospital. I chose to walk to the room...and water was gushing! Better yet, they made me strip down completely, other than a gown, in the room. I was only dialated to a 3. They told me that if I hadn't improved in an hour they would give me pitocin. I did NOT want ANY drugs, even an epidural. They checked me an hour later and I was at a 4. By that time Linda was there. Around 3am or so my family was there also. I continued very slowly progressing. My family helped me through the contractions. They really weren't that bad. I spent my time on the birthing ball or walking or leaning on Justin.

Labor continued through the morning and afternoon. I got maybe an hour of sleep. By 7pm, the contractions were getting a lot worse, I was dialated to about a 7 or 8. By 9pm I was a 9. The nurse decided to have me start pushing through the 9 at about 9:30. I could tell I wasn't pushing good...or was unable to. He was so high up in me that it was worthless. However, this was the beginning of the worst pain in my life. Cole was "sunny side up", meaning he was head down, but his spine was pushing against mine...back labor. Duh...i should have told someone that before. I hadn't experienced any belly labor..only in the back. By the time the doctor checked me, I had swelled to a 6-7 in dialation. He told me I had two options. 1-get an epidural to relax me & see if I open back up...no guarantee. 2-c-section. I was in so much pain (biting Justin's hand) and so tired & hungry...I chose the c-section. The doctor though this was a good idea because he thought the baby was stuck anyway. I just couldn't wait for the spinal...I was in soooooooo much pain.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER...I was wheeled into the OR and given the most wonderful shot ever. The pain was immediately gone. I discovered that Dr. Hurst was actually from some South American country and we spoke Spanish. (Obviously I was drugged..I never do that in person!) Then Justin came in and we got started. I didn't feel anything, even the tugging they say you feel. I remember the doc saying, "Wow, this is a BIG baby!". A few seconds later I heard the most amazing sound ever...Cole crying. It was very surreal, like...is that MY baby? Justin immediately went to him & was with him every second after that in the hospital. About 10minutes later they brought him to me. He was so cute & had a swollen lip...not sure why. I was so nautious that I made Justin take him away so I wouldn't get sick on him. He was born on Sunday, February 11th at 10:24 pm. 25 hours after labor began! He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and 22.5 inches long. Long and skinny!

I was sewed up & sent to recovery and waited for my baby. It took about an hour! His blood sugar was so low from trying to come out that he was in danger! Justin had to feed him a glucose water bottle. As soon as he was in the clear, he was brought to me to nurse. He wasn't very hungry that time, but he SURE made up for it later.

We stayed in the hospital from Saturday through Wednesday...valentines day!