Tonight, we went to our church's Live Nativity. Our church is so wonderful and very intentional when it comes to teaching our children about Christ. They provide so many activities each time they enter the doors to learn and hear about Jesus and we as parents are so thankful to the church body and all the preschool workers who love our kids throughout each week.
My Little Shepherd Boy (Not too sure about all this yet...)
Cole with "Joseph" and his friends, Macy and Jack
Cole with "Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus" and his friend, Anderson
Craft Time!
"All the ANIMALS" (in Cole's words)
The BIG Finale of the evening:
All Cole really had to say about this was "It's bumpy..."
Back at the end of October, we went to the senior pro golf tournament in The Woodlands with our good friends Jon and Stephanie. It was a great afternoon to walk a golf course and catch up with friends. Cole is an old pro at attending pro golf tournaments, since he has been to the Shell Houston Open a few times. Brent can't wait to get him out playing for real, but that may be a couple more years. :) (38 week preggo here and hoping all the walking would get something started, but no.)
Admission to the tournament was free, but what wasn't free were the passes Jon had which were to get inside the luxury tent on the 18th hole. All the food, drinks, and ice cream you could eat. Just the snack Cole and I needed on somewhat of a warm day.
The highlight for Cole was being given a golf ball by a pro golfer, Mark O'Meara. We have a friend named Mark, so we know Cole would say his named, so when Mark O'Meara was coming towards us Brent told Cole to say, "hi Mark." And he did! Next thing we know, his caddy is dropping one of his golf balls at his feet. Then (shown in picture), Cole proceeded to play golf/baseball with his hat. He loves the outdoors, sports and is just creative. Too fun.
A couple weeks ago, we went to Kroger and there was a security cart/golf cart there. The first thing Cole said was, "I want to go golfing." It took me a minute to realize what he was talking about and where that came from. He proceeded to ask to go all throughout the store and I told him he would have to talk to daddy about that. Then I asked, "who did you go golfing with?" He replied with a big smile, "Jon and Steph! And we rode the bus!" He never forgets a thing.
Sunday, we are on our way to church. It is a bright and sunny day. The direction we are headed happens to be the direction allowing the sun to directly beam Cole in the face. Blinding.
This is what we heard from the backseat:
Cole: It's bright, Claire. The sun is bright. I need my glasses. (Several more things were said which I can't remember now, but led me to say this...)
Me: Yes, Cole, it is very bright outside. What a beautiful day.
Cole: No, Mommy, I am talking to Claire. Claire, it's bright...
Oops. My bad. I thought surely I should respond to him since Claire is not able to herself quite yet, but apparently not. That boy loves to talk to his sister. Keep it up Cole!
On December 4th, Claire turned one month. I am a few days late, I know, but life is just busy right now. Blogging is on the furthest back burner ever right now. But I also know the importance of writing down the sweet moments in her little life. They are moving too quickly already and mommy brain is in full force and I can't remember where I left my shoes last much less all the little milestones happening around me.
Breathe.
Anyway. Life is good. Busy but good. I think the holidays are attributing to that a bit with Thanksgiving just behind us and Christmas just 12 days away.
Claire has been one social butterfly attending a Women's brunch and SS class Christmas party last week. Tuesday morning Bible study and various ministry meetings and worship services at church on Sunday and small group on Tuesday nights.
She is sleeping and eating and growing well. A little congested these days and you can tell it is hard to breathe at times. She HATES to have her nose sucked but who wouldn't. She has started to follow objects with her eyes more and her wake time during the day is getting longer. Claire also has baby acne which showed up at 3 1/2 or 4 weeks but is getting better, still there but better.
The nights have not been too bad at all. No, she is not sleeping through the night like her brother did at this age but I was fair warned not to expect that from our doctor. If I can feed her in the 9 or 10 o'clock hour, then she has been making it to the 3 or 4 o'clock hour and then sleeping on to 7 or 8am. Perfect. I can handle once a night. It is when she wants to eat in the 8:30pm zone that really throws us for a loop. She might get up 3-4 times that night. How does 30 minutes make that big of difference? I don't know. All I know is it does, so I do all I can to make her eat around 9 or 10pm. I haven't decided when I want her wake time to be just yet which I already knew that with Cole at this point, but with two schedules I am trying to figures out how to make them line up a little so I can have a break/nap/clean, etc. uninterrupted some afternoons.
Claire:1 months, 3 days old
Big brother Cole is doing awesome with his sister as well. He loves to talk to her, hold her, kiss her, and help mommy get was she needs at that moment. Last week, I was in the dining room and Cole was sitting next to Claire in her bouncy seat in the living room just having the sweetest private conversation with her. I overhear him say, "I love you." Too sweet. Just blesses my heart to hear that sweet boy love on his sister like that. He always wants to know where she is, what she is doing, etc. So cute!
Claire is 1 week old today! She is absolutely amazing and I love the way it sounds to say "kids" now. Wow, I have 2 kids! Incredible!
This week has truly been great. Brent has been off the entire week and it has been so great to have him home as we discover what a family of 4 looks like and how it will work. We have been out and about a lot this week, partly because I can't drive for 2 weeks and Brent is home this week and not next week, so we needed to get a few things done. So it will just be me, Cole and Claire staying home all week next week. I don't like to stay home all day, every day. I go stir crazy and Cole likes to go too. We like our just hang at home days don't get me wrong, but a whole week. Yikes. I am going to have to be good and follow doctors orders. But it will be good to just take it easy too. I must take advantage of this time. The Birth Story: Thursday, November 4th, we drove to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning. We were scheduled to be induced. My doctor was going to be out of town that weekend and didn't want me to go past my due date and since my body was showing signs of being ready, we decided to have Claire on the 4th if not before.
At around 7:15am, my doctor came in to see me, break my water and get the medicine going for the induction. I was at 3.5cm at this point. I waited until about 10am to request my epidural. I kept going back and forth when to get it but finally Brent just said "it's time" and went and got my nurse. Sadly, 3 hours later from the first check, I was still at a 3.5cm. I was so disappointed and nervous because the epidural was in and I was afraid it would make the progression even slower. I did not want a c-section if that could be avoided.
There was a point between 10 and noon that Claire's heart rate kept going up and down so I was put on oxygen to help regulate it and that worked perfectly to keep it steady, so I was on that for the duration of the labor, which made it a great excuse to nap since I couldn't exactly carry a conversation on that easily.
At noon, my doctor came back and I was given a bit of good news. Claire was face up. Not that that is good news, she definitely needed to flip over, but it was her fault I was not progressing and not my body refusing to. Yes! The nurse and doctor agreed that once she flipped that she might be ready to come, so they flipped me on my side and we waited. At this point, I was a 5.5cm, so there had been some progression.
Around 2pm, I started feeling pressure. When Cole flipped, I felt a bit pain in my back. This was not the same. I told Brent to please find my nurse because this baby is coming out or flipping. My nurse came in at 2:09pm to see what was going on and sure enough Claire flipped and I was at a 10cm! Wow! Fast!
At 2:15pm, my doctor had made it downstairs. When Cole was born she was only in the room a couple minutes before he was born because I did all my pushing with the nurse. I had not pushed once. My nurse told me not to move while the doctor was called and she got the room ready. I told my doctor, "wow, you will be here longer with this baby." She said probably not. She was right. At 2:19pm, only 4 minutes after she arrived and 4 pushes later, Claire made her entrance into the world! It was incredible. I was so much more present and aware of what was going on this time around. With Cole, I did not feel well and very out of it. It was amazing to hold her right away, watch her get cleaned up and just remember the moment. Her cord was tightly wrapped around her neck so the doctor did have to cut it off, probably the reason her heart rate kept going up and down. She was perfectly fine though.
Claire weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Perfect.
**Thank you to all those who prayed for us during the labor and delivery and days after. Your prayers were heard and answered. We are all doing so great. I feel great and healing quickly which is super great with a 2 year old to chase around and want to keep up with. Claire is healthy and growing and sleeping great as well. We appreciate and love you all!**
Today, Claire had her first doctor's appointment. It went great. She looks great and is gaining her weight back nicely. We left the hospital at 7lbs, 5oz and was 7lbs, 9oz today. The doctor said that was about an ounce a day since we left and they typically gain about a half to 1oz per day, so she is eating well and on track.
Wow. The head percentile makes me laugh. Cole has always been in the 90th+! haha. Her head is perfect to me. It fits her tiny body just right. :)
Outings: Sunday Night (3 days old): Spring Creek BBQ Monday (4 days): Target, HEB, and Double Dave's Tuesday (5 days): SWAT (women's ministry) Meeting and Home Group Wednesday (6 days): La Madeline, Staples, Academy, 3 Salsas, Bear Creek Park Big Brother Cole: Cole LOVES his sister Claire. He loves to hold her, kiss her and talk to her. The hardest thing for him is me not being able to pick him up and hold him right now, so we are having to get our snuggle time in other ways. We did have a few rough days in the potty training area, but now that we are back home, on his regular routine, things are back on track. I have a slide show below with pictures from the week, but I have to highlight this one of Cole and the first thing he said to his sister: Brent brought Cole in the room first to meet Claire so we could have some family time and his moment. He sat on the end of my bed and I introduce her to him. She didn't start to cry but just made a little squawk, and Cole immediately pointed his little finger at her and said "don't cry!" So so funny. He has truly been hilarious with her. So sweet. And so helpful. He loves his big brother role. Love you, Cole! You are doing a great job!!
I will leave you with this slide show of pictures to enjoy if you haven't already seen it.
Last month, my super great sister-in-law took some long overdue family/maternity photos of us. She posted a few of her favorites on her photography blog.
Okay, Claire's arrival is soon approaching! Tell us your prediction of when she will make her big entrance in the world. Tell us how much you think she will weigh and how long you think she will be.
I know most everyone that reads this uses Google Reader and I don't think Claire's post ended up there this time when it was actually finished. It was accidentally posted a month or two ago and went to Reader then, so I have a feeling it didn't put it there again.
I started this post almost 2 months ago. We were making great headway in Claire's room for a couple weeks and then it just turned into a storage unit again and absolutely no work was able to happen. Finally, tonight, I was able to get back in there, do some organizing, putting things away in the dresser and hang a few items on the wall. It is all coming together! I am so excited!
I decided that I wanted to have the bedding made because I did not find one that I just loved. There were parts to many but I was not able to buy just the parts, so instead I went to JoAnn's and found a pattern. I did make some modifications to it though. I found 3 fabrics on Fabric.com, 2 at Hobby Lobby and 1 at JoAnn's. My mom was able to do all the sewing for me. Thanks Mom!
I really hope Claire is a fan of bright colors because as you can tell her Mommy is a big fan!
The Old Guest Room...Is Now Claire's New Room!
It went from this...
Check out the before of the dresser in the corner. Brent's mom found that for him when he was moving to Houston for only $5!!! And it is heavy, solid wood, just needed some TLC. Thanks Dena!
To this... Overview
The Wall Makeover
The Dresser (See above for original look.) A little primer and a little paint can dress anything up.
Please forgive the color. It is not showing up right in the picture. It is called something Red Wine, so in person it looks more cranberry.
The Updated Pulls (Spray paint has been a HUGE friend of mine during this makeover.)
Finished Product The Bookshelf
Before Of course, I forgot to take a before picture. This shelf was mine as a girl and my parents bought it down from Tulsa for Claire to use in her room. It was solid white, but I thought it needed a little touch of color.
After
Bedding (Crib skirt not shown here since it is already on the crib.)
Close-up of Bumper
Close-up of Favorite Sheet (this one is from PB Kids...matched perfectly...couldn't resist)
Close-up of Quilt Side 1
Close-up of Quilt Side 2 (my favorite side)
All Assembled in Crib
Curtains
The shears are from my college days and have been just hanging in my closet since then waiting for a place to be hung again. I am excited to use them again for Claire's room. Wall Decor
Today is Day 6 without TV. Yesterday was the first day the TV was turned on in Cole's presence but it was golf for Brent. The first few days he did ask for it a couple times, but by Saturday, he didn't ask for a show once! Yay! Yesterday and today, he has asked one time, but I think that is the result of seeing it on for a bit yesterday. But we are having progress.
I am seeing him WANTING to play again, whether it is with us or independently, and I am loving it! All we needed was a break from TV for a good few days.
I am so thankfully to have my silly, funny, creative boy back playing actively!
**I didn't mention in the first post how much Cole is like me. The shows he does watch are great. I have watched them with him to make sure. He does learn things from them, but he is a zoner, just like me. They ask him questions or tell him to do something like stand up and jump. He just sits there. I ask him a question. He just sits there in silence. He completely spaces out. I don't think it would be as big of a deal if he were responding in some way, but he is like me when it comes to TV and we both need to limit our TV time. :)**
Did I just say that? Yes. But it needs to be done for Cole's sake. I didn't say I was giving up TV. I love to sit down and relax with a show or two during afternoon nap or after he has gone to bed, but his TV time has gotten WAY out of hand and it has got to stop, not completely, forever, but for awhile. It does not need to be the first thing he asks for every day. It does not need to be better in his mind then playing outside or with his toys, actively playing. He didn't even want to play with me yesterday. Sad. He rather sit, in silence, in front of the TV.
Please know that I do not think watching TV is wrong, but I also think that TV for babies and toddlers is not the best option. Their little minds are soaking up everything they see and hear and it definitely takes away from their ability to have creative/independent play as I have seen with Cole over the last few months.
When Cole was first born, I had the TV on from the moment we woke up in the morning. He was a baby. He didn't care, right? I don't know and definitely didn't think so. Well, for my benefit because there is too much TV for adults too, I decided to limit myself to 1 hour of TV during the day while Brent was at work. I was WAY more productive. Imagine that!
Another eye opening experience was the day Cole responded to what I was watching on TV. He was not even a year, maybe 8 or 9 months. I was just watching CSI, nothing terrible or anything but not great for a baby to be absorbing. I had NO idea he was even paying attention because he was off playing on the other side of the room by himself, not even looking at the TV. I guess someone was leaving or something and said "bye" so his natural response was to tell them "bye" as well. Whoa. Wake up call for me.
At that moment, I knew, no more TV while he was awake. So we had about a year with no TV while Cole was awake. And that was our shows. He never once had watched his age shows ever, at least at our house.
Then at about 20 months, so only 4-5 months ago, I was pregnant and sick/tired all the time. TV was an easy thing to turn on and him be entertained. Yes, at first, he barely made it through a 25 minute show and he was finished watching and ready to get back up and play. That quickly changed. He literally could sit in front of the TV all day long now and never wants to turn it off. He wakes up in the morning asking for a show. He gets up from his nap asking for a show. It's bad. He is completely addicted. How did this happen so quickly?? We were doing SO well without TV. I had a plan of no TV. It makes me sad because I see with my own eyes what TV has done to him at such a young age. His play time has seriously declined to the point of I wonder if he knows how to play anymore. Sure at new places, with new people, and new things that aren't his own, I see him play some, but here at our house, hardly ever, unless Brent and I are trying to engage him. Super sad.
And again, every kid is different and this is only my experience, but wow, it really took a hold of him and we have to put it to a STOP.
So today, we are having our first TV free day! We haven't had that in I don't know when and I know the first few days will be hard, maybe even the first few weeks, but we must get back to creative/independent play.
Moms, what are some activities you have around your house for your kids that have nothing to do with TV? How do you distract them from wanting to watch TV?
We go on outings but we can't be out all the time and he used to love just playing at home with me or by himself. We have lost that love and we need to get it back.
I started this post this morning at breakfast and it is now 2pm. Cole just went down for a nap and the TV has not been turned on and only asked for once when he got up. I sat him down and explained that we weren't watching TV today and that we are going to play with our toys, go outside, etc. I am shocked it hasn't come up more, but super thankful because I know I shouldn't give in to fits and whining but when they won't quit you know it is hard other moms, right?
Today, we have been to the library and mall. So not a lot of home time yet but this afternoon we plan to just hang around here and play outside and with our toys inside. Now, I need to go nap so I am ready to play and don't give in to my temptation even to turn it on.
About a month and a half ago, I posted a to-do list because I was so behind on many things around the house and just lots of things put on hold due to all the sickness with this pregnancy. I am glad to say I feel so much better these days and there is a ton of work being done around my house.
Original "To-Do List":
1. Re-read "Baby Wise" 2. Read "Potty Training in 3 Days" 3. Finished magnetic chalkboard 4. Start using coupons again/Organize all coupons 5. Read all my "Real Simple" mags that are unread 6. Finish painting Cole's kid table and picnic table 7. Make Cole a headboard 8. Redecorate Cole's room into "big boy room" 9. Create nursery (one sex of baby #2 is known, June 29th!!) 10. Do prenatal yoga and cardio routine at least 2-3 days a week. 11. Attempt potty training for Cole starting in July. 12. Start blogging again! 13. Unload months of pictures of my cameras. 14. Start taking quality pictures again. 15. Finish moving all my old computer to my new one.
Completed Items:
2. Read "Potty Training in 3 Days" 6. Finish painting Cole's kid table and picnic table 7. Make Cole a headboard 11. Attempt potty training for Cole starting in July. Success!! 13. Unload months of pictures of my cameras. In Progress Items:
8. Redecorate Cole's room into "big boy room" 9. Create nursery (one sex of baby #2 is known, June 29th!!) It's a GIRL!! 12. Start blogging again! 14. Start taking quality pictures again.
Haven't Started Yet Items: 1. Re-read "Baby Wise" 3. Finished magnetic chalkboard 4. Start using coupons again/Organize all coupons 5. Read all my "Real Simple" mags that are unread 10. Do prenatal yoga and cardio routine at least 2-3 days a week. Only twice TOTAL. 15. Finish moving all my old computer to my new one.
So I have been told that some posts showed up in Reader that were not technically posted yet or weren't supposed to be. They are works in progress, so check back when they are complete. :)
Twice a year, in Roundtop, Texas and surrounding area, they have a HUGE antique fair that my sister-in-law, Larra, and mother-in-law, Dena enjoy going to and checking out all the junk and treasures people bring to share with us. We typically go in Spring but have gone to the Fall one once before but it is not as big. It is so fun to walk through fields and fields and be creative and decide how we can re-purpose items for our use in our homes.
In April 2008, I found this classroom bookcase for Cole's nursery for $20! I don't have a before picture and I really wish I did because this thing was in a major need of some LOVE. It is old and showed it, but after some good sanding, prep and coat of paint, it was as good as new.
Then this past weekend, we repainted it to go better with our living room and to give it more of a weathered look. It is now where all the toys belong that used to be just hanging out on the fireplace. Ahhh, so tidy now! :)
(The picture would not turn for me, sorry.)
Back in April 2009, I found this for only $20!
An Antique Door:
The door was originally was purchased to make a headboard for our guest bed, but one year and a few months later, it stood in our garage unused. I am so glad! Because of my lack of whatever that kept me from getting to this project, allowed us to instead create a headboard for Cole's big boy room. I can't be more thrilled with the result!
Plus two $8 fence posts from Lowe's and we got this!
Finished Headboard (Of course, I forgot to take an after picture BEFORE bolting it to Cole's bed.)
Also found in April 2009 was this kid table and chairs:
(Of course, I forgot the before picture, but it was just plain wood with an old finish.)
I am looking forward to going next Spring to see what we can find. Maybe this time it can be a kid-free trip???
Wow! I thought a baby changed so much from birth to age 1 and they do so don't get be wrong BUT their second year of life is filled with so many more changes as they go from a baby to wanting to be an independent toddler.
6 Days Old
13 Months
12 or 13 Months
2nd BirthDAY
In the month of July 2010 alone, Cole was potty trained, upgraded to a twin bed, and no longer sits in a highchair but in a booster at the table with us. He also started climbing! Yikes. He his been able to climb on lower objects like his old toddler bed and couch for awhile but never could manage our bed or even attempted the dining room table chairs. But sure enough a couple weeks ago, I turn around for two seconds and he is up sitting in his booster ALL BY HIMSELF. Talk about panic.
Counting is another thing that has really taken off the last few months. For whatever reason, it helped to count his toes while trimming his nails, so the counting begun. Then, we also discovered that counting to 10 and sometimes 20 helped calm him down if he was having a meltdown. You can't talk to someone and them understand you while they are screaming and crying so this really helped in this area. That lead us to count lots of things around the house and out places. His loves it. Cole can count to 20 on a good day, but will usually leave out 6, 14, and 16. Funny. Why those numbers, we don't know. But he is pretty consistent about it.
Common Phrases Around Our House: "mommy, hold joo (you)" -- which is his way of saying "hold me" "I want to drive daddy's truck." "I want to play washERs."
Cole has also become VERY polite and persistent. He will remind you to say "excuse me" if you forgot and will not stop saying "thank you" until you acknowledge him with "your welcome." He also has a real desire to PRAY! Which hearing a 2 year pray is incredible!! No, they aren't elaborate or fancy prayers, but he is giving thanks to his God and it is completely precious and honestly sometimes shocking when you walk into a room and you see him with his head bowed, eyes closed and hands folded. Keep on praying and praising, Cole!
A favorite part of my day is my morning wake up call and the pitter-patter of Cole's little feet running across our living room to my room, with him saying "Mommy, I slept GOOD!!!" Super sweet moments.
Some of His Favorite Books Right Now: "read yours" = Dinosaur Garden (He can almost read this to us!) "ham" = Green Eggs & Ham "george" = any Curious George book
Favorite Show "a-go", which is diego
On July 30th, we had our 2 year check-up. It went so great. Our doctor told us Cole was in her GT program, that is verbal skills were outstanding and his motor development great too. She said it is more typical for boys to have more of the physical development down then verbal and girls visa versa, but he is doing super and above in both, in her opinion. Keep it up little man!
Napping 2-2.5 hours, starting between 12-1pm. Bedtime around 8-8:30pm, wakes 7:30-8am. The last week it has gotten a little earlier, but not typical so we are working on getting that corrected. We started locking the door again this week so he will just play until I get up. naps down to 2-2.5 hours.
