Family Pics

After such a great photo session with Cole we decided to go back the following week and have family potraits done by the same girl. She really works with whatevers happening in the moment and once again we ended up with some GREAT shots.

Potraits

After our first potrait session with Cole at Superstore by a not so enthusiastic photographer we were skeptical to try another. I'm glad we did though... we ended up with so many great shots. We did this one at Walmart, and the girl Andrea there did a fantastic job shooting Cole. I can't even pick a favourite so here's a little collection to view...

Happy Birthday Grandma!

A birthday message and pictures for a very special mother and grandma. Thinking of you today and wishing you all the best in the year ahead! Love from Jeff, Lorraine and Cole

Green and loving it! The whole family eats it now. Plus Cole is on probiotics... gotta fight those daycare bugs! Suprisingly, he eats it without any fuss at all.

birthday outfit from Tracy, who I work with at Herbal Magic
a newer "Cole face"

trying out a bike seat... he loved the ride so much that when we were back home and took him out he started crying

modelling the new helmet

pre-swim

cooling off with Daddy

A Little Update

Sadly, I don't think I will be back to posting each week... work has me much too busy. I am enjoying it though! And it just makes what time I do get with Cole that much more precious.
Our little boy is getting sooo big! His ear infection that he got pretty much when he started day care has now finally... (knock on wood) gone. His appetite is back full force and he has boundless amounts of energy which he's been using up doing more walking... and not just a few steps between mommy and daddy anymore.
Above, pictures of Cole and Daddy with his new wagon that he got with bday money from Grandma and Grandpa as well as his Great Grandpa and Grandma. Below, walking (yes, with a cornpop in mouth--not allowed but I needed a quick picture!) and the last one in his firetruck ball pit he got from Alison... he was so excited to get this birthday present and loves playing in it!

Happy 1st Birthday Cole!

On Saturday May 1st we had Cole's birthday party. We were happy so many friends and family were able to make it to celebrate his 1st year with us. I can see now why it I've read that "keeping it small" is better for them though... Cole was a little out of sorts for the party and spent most of the time in my arms. The most confusing part to him was his birthday cupcake and he didn't know what to make of it or that everybody was watching him! He didn't really end up eating much of it at all. He must have gotten enough of a taste to know what it was though since the other day at daycare they had cupcakes (for someone's bday) and I guess he started clapping when he saw them and then polished off his... all except for what ended up on his shirt and in his hair! Cole was spoiled with lots of presents from his grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends. Because I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted to with being busy I'm going to list everyone who was here so Cole knows in the future. Friends from our mom and baby group-- Nicole and Alyssa, Sarah and Emmitt, Laura and Alexander, Meghan and Allie, Julia and Sadie Jane, my friend Alison and friend Darlene with her little girl Charity, Aunt Kim and cousin Noah, Uncle Sean and Aunt Shannon with cousin Kristen, Aunt Miriam with cousins Caitlin and Mackenzie, Uncle David, Grandma, Grandpa and (later) Uncle Daniel.

Cole with his birthday cupcake, pumpkin with cream cheese frosting
waiting for the cupcake with cousin Noah...looking excited...

just not really sure what to do with it!

chilling in the playroom...

Darlene and sweet miss Charity

Alison reading to Cole (post party)

Cole with cousin Caitlin

Aunt Kim and cousin Noah with Cole who was not in a mood for pictures

Vroom, vroom!

Some pictures from this evening for you... Cole loves his car and will push himself around on it but prefers getting a ride of course.
Quick update... Sunday afternoon Cole came down with a fever and a croup cough it persisted for a couple days but Motrin really seemed to relieve it for the most part and since he had that bout of croup a month ago (where he sounded way worse) we stuck it out and figured we were in the clear yesterday when he seemed like he was getting better. This morning he woke up with a fever again though so off to the doctors we went. Thank goodness I took him because he has an ear infection. I'd been watching for any signs of one with the ear pulling but apparently they don't always do this. Now he's on two different antibiotics, one for the croup and one for the ear infection... oh to be at home with him again and have a healthy little baby:/ The odd thing is he really doesn't seem that sick, as you can see in his pictures... nights have been a little rougher of course but I'd never have guessed he was this sick. The doctor said any other baby would have been screaming. What a tough little boy we have.

A Couple Weeks Ago...

Some pics on the camera that I've finally downloaded to share. It's been BUSY since I went back to work. I'm not sure how I'm going to find time to keep up this blog but I'm gonna try even if it's just with photos!

sporting a cozy outfit

a little pose while at the patio door

Cole outside with Daddy
a saturday AM (complete with Jeff yawning!) Cole trying to get the camera

putting the shapes into his car

showing off an outfit

Cole loving an early bday present from his Uncle Matt, Aunt Miriam and cousins Caitlin and Mackenzie

TGIF

I'm so glad it's Friday. I'm not back to work until next week but this week has been tough emotionally with Cole starting his daycare visits. Pictures above and below that are from their website. Monday-Wednesday were 1 hour visits then yesterday and today he was in for 6 hour days. Next week he will be there f/t from about 8:30-5:30 through the week. He's been upset off and on through his visits and they haven't been able to get him to nap other than a quick catnap in a bouncy seat-- well, better that than nothing I guess. Thankfully his eating doesn't seem to be affected (which I'm told can sometimes happen) if anything he is eating more. He's just started eating table food recently so even though I'm fairly certain he'll do fine with their menu I've been packing a lunch for him as well. I guess he's been polishing off both lunches quite nicely... Jeff and I joke he must be an emotional eater! His teachers at The Toybox are Miss Arlene, Miss Andrea and Miss Tammy. Arlene and Andrea are identical twins and I'm having quite the time telling them apart. Everyone there is really nice and I'm glad I'm able to call to check-in at anytime through the day. I love that we're able to drop off just Cole there everyday... nothing has to be brought back and forth... diapers, sunblock, bottles, etc are all brought in and stocked there, even a spare set of clothes and if anything happens they put the clothes in the wash there. Among other things that I love about this daycare is the security system there. It was designed and built to be a daycare and is well set up with cameras covering everywhere from the parking lot to each individual room. Additionally there is a key coded entry. At the end of everyday we get a paper with the details of his day-- what and how much he ate, results of diaper changes, nap times, and a little summary of the day. Yesterday's summary was funny because along with him being sad off and on throughout the day they had written that "he loved sitting with the baby dolls!" Jeff didn't seem to find this very funny though, but I say whatever makes him happy!

above: feeding area in the infant room

below: play area in the infant room

also not shown there are 2 rooms going off behind... they are all assigned a crib where they (hopefully soon, in Cole's case) nap

above: outdoor play area

below: splashpad area for summer