4 Months Old!

4 months old Cole! Where has the time gone?! I know I say this with every month that passes but it's going by so fast now! I need a pause button so I can soak in this stage of your life. I love you so much!You are such an easy going baby, you just love life and all the wonderful people that surround your world.

What you have been up to this month,

* When your hungry you kick your feet and make grunting sounds...like FEED ME!
* You smile ALL the time!
* Just started laughing
* You sleep around 10 to 11 hours a night
* If you could you would be standing all the time, we stand you up and you have such a proud smile on your face.
* You love all animal noises. Especially Dogie, Dukie and Cow.
* Your hair has really come in and it's very blond!
* You love bath time and when we sign you the rubber duck bath time song.
* You like to be propped up on the coach like a big boy.
* Blowing Raspberries is your new thing to do these days.
* You weigh about 15lbs 10oz
* Your in six month clothing
* You get a kick out of peek a boo
* Tummy Time has become a good time for you, thank goodness!
* You have rolled over from your tummy to your back, and I think the other way is very soon.






I love watching you grow, learn and become you!

xoxo

Mommy

Halloween On the Way

Cole's first Halloween is approaching, and we have two adorable costumes for him to wear. I realize that this is more for us to see him all dressed up and looking adorable but what can I say, I LOVE IT!

He's Aunt Coco gave him an adorable Bear costume that I put Cole in this week. He was such a trooper even when feeling under the weather. He loved it!





Second Costume will be for this weekends festivities and we will be sure to take pictures!

Friday Films

So Cole has been really close to rolling over these days when doing tummy time. I had a feeling it would be this week so I got the camera ready just in case....this is what you call the Slow Roll. Please ignore the over joyed parents at the end who just witnessed there son rolling over for the first time! Happy Friday!

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today I found out I was pregnant! Wow what a year! I remember going to the CVS by my work during my lunch break to buy a pregnancy test and thinking I should wait till the morning to take it. But I couldn’t wait... I drove back to the office and went straight to the bathroom. I still remember looking down at the test thinking OMG! I just couldn’t believe it...I couldn’t stop smiling. I was on cloud nine the rest of the afternoon and just couldn’t wait to get home to tell Cam. The surprise, joy and disbelief that crossed Cam’s face when I told him the news will stay with me forever.

We had no idea how much our lives were about to change. We didn’t realize how LUCKY we were but looking at Cole today we do! I couldn’t have dreamed of an easier going, loveable, happy little baby. The love and joy Cole has brought us is beyond words. I can’t imagine what the next year will bring as we watch Cole grow from a baby to a toddler. Life forever changed one year ago today!

Wishing it Away

I told myself I wasn't going to write about this on here but I feel compelled too since I tend to stalk other blogs reading how other new mom's are doing it. What I'm I talking about? Getting rid of this pregnancy weight!

Weight pre-pregnancy was always a struggle, I'm not blessed with a fast metabolism and have always had to work at keeping trim. When I became pregnant with Cole all this went out the window, I stopped working out and ate anything and everything. The scale tipped +45 by the time Cole arrived.

Is it to much to ask to just want to fit into my old clothes?!I HATE buying clothes in my "new" size today. To be healthy and feel good about myself is my goal. I want to be the best version of myself for me, Cam and of course Cole.

Thankfully with little effort from me, all but 15 pounds of it went away almost immediately. I started working out around 8 weeks consistently but found it was going to be a slow road back. I think the extra 15 pounds and no physical activity for 10 months made working out impossible. My legs, knees and back killed every time I ran. So I started walking, then walking/running, and now slowly just running. And in 4 weeks I lost 5lbs...nothing crazy but I want to lose it the healthy way and not do some fad diet.

The real struggle for me is fitting in the time to workout since going back to work, when I'm not at work I want to spend that time with Cole and Cam not hitting the treadmill. The two weeks since I have been back I have worked out a total of 3 times. Pathetic! How do women balance being a mom, having a full time job and working out? Thankfully Cam realizes this struggle and we are now having our house cleaned every other week to give us both more time with Cole and each other.

I suppose I have two options...way before the sun rises at 5am or working out after Cole has gone to bed at 7:30pm. Don't even get me started about trying to lift weights or do sit ups. Fitting in a run is as far as my mind can handle right now. I'm going to start running at night and see how that goes. I'm hoping by being open with this on this blog thing..it will help me stay motivated!

So here's to losing these last 10 pounds before the New Year! It's going to take a lot of work and lots of self control over the holidays but I'm ready!

Friday Films

So I slacked last Friday...lots to do and with us going away last weekend I just didn't pull it off. Enjoy!TGIF!


Cole loves him some animal noises,

Oh how I love Wednesday's

Wednesday's are the days I get to work from home and also spend time with my baby. And this awesome weather just puts me in such a great mood! Happy fall to all!

Enjoying the day ...oh how I wish it could be like this every day!

World Traveler

I did it I actually took Cole on his first plane trip by MYSELF! Yea I know to some veteran mommies this is a walk in the park but I was very anxious about it. Our destination was Chicopee, Massachusetts for my cousin Rachel's baby shower. I kept trying to picture it all out...wake him up and feed him at 6am then have a bottle ready for the flight which left at 8am. Seemed simple enough except I kept thinking what if he doesn't get his catnap in before the flight left? To me it seemed like the perfect storm...extremely sleepy baby who is far past falling asleep on his own crying his eyes out ...stuck on a plane! So when Saturday morning rolled around to my delight Cole woke up own his own at 5:45am, I fed him before we left and off to the airport we went. Being the wonder women I'm (ha), I told Cam not to worry about parking and coming in with us. I can handle the stroller, diaper bag, suitcase and baby...and I did! I checked our bag and got through security (note breaking down a stroller and hurling it onto the security belt while holding a baby = not easy). We had about 30 min. until boarding so I walked around trying to get Cole to fall asleep. But he didn't sleep at all, standing in the boarding line (BTW so annoying they don't let babies get on before everyone else) Cole is there rubbing his eyes and yawning...I was all ready for a full out cry! But much to my surprise he never let out a peep he sat there in my lap watching everyone board, I pulled out his little Mozart music toy with lights and it kept him entertained. As soon as the plane started moving toward the runway he started to cuddle up in my arms and fall asleep. Cole slept the entire flight! My arm was half asleep by the end of it but he did great! So now he's ready to travel the world! Well maybe not just yet...
The rest of the weekend went great, it was great to introduce Cole to so much family and to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Ella Grace! <3

I met the love of my life at 12...

This past Monday was a special day in the Shinaberry household it marked 2 years of marriage! Yep two glorious, life changing and lightning fast years since we said I do! As many of you know the story of Cam and me was in the works long before we ever realized it. We met in middle school, Cam sat behind me in math class and loved to joke around and call me names. All in good fun of course but that was the extent of our relationship. We went through high school as mere acquaintances and ran in different circles. Cam likes to say I was a swimmer so all I did was swim...truth is I was kinda of a good girl and Cam was more outgoing and had a good time. :)
Fast forward seven years later, older and wiser about life, love and everything else we find ourselves on Christmas Eve together at a bar in Baltimore talking into the wee hours. No idea what we talked about...Reconnecting and catching up I suppose, whatever it was it would be the start of us.We have been together ever since and I can't imagine life without him! I love you hubby!

Working Mom

A working mom...yep that's what I'm now. I have been dreading the day I would have to go back to work, I remember telling myself at week 4 no problem you will be ready to get back out in the world. Talk to people,speak in full sentences and feel like I'm contributing to our family. It was all a big fat lie...I was just trying to convince/talk myself into thinking it would be easy.

So this Monday was day one of me being a working mom, I did pretty well with the help of my parents sending me pictures of Cole throughout the day. I picked him up around 5pm and the little man was so worn out he fell asleep on me at 5:30 till 7:30.And that's when the tears started...I'm holding him and thinking ...I only saw him awake today for an hour and half! But I calmed down and held him enjoying my time with him even if he was asleep.

Then came day two, I dropped him off at our family friends and couldn't even make out the door before the tears started. I cried while I drove away...how do people do this?!? I feel like he is being torn away from me. I called Cam and just cried...it was good to get it all out but it didn't change anything. I had meeting all day and called only twice to make sure things were Ok. That night I picked him up around the same time and within 10mins of being home he feel asleep again. And then begin the tears again...I cried and cried. Cole must have sensed my sadness because out of complete surprise after just 40mins he woke up and smiled at me. I could tell he was tired but he just wanted to hang out and so we did. We sang songs, practiced are standing skills and exchanged about a million kisses. It was just enough time that it saved me from a complete breakdown.

Day three, thank god I have Wednesday's with him...hump day...is now officially my favorite day of the week! I get to work from home and hang out with Cole! And that is just what we did!

I'm so grateful for my wonderful husband,Cam truly has been so amazing this week. Letting me call and just cry to him,understanding that it's strictly Cole and Mommy time till bed time at 7:30pm and picking up the slack for everything else. I know it will get better and I will adjust... we all do...it's just so much harder then I ever thought it would be.

So I'm taking each day one day at a time, today there have been no tears... so far :)


Enjoying his walk yesterday...

Friday Films!

It's Friday Films! Here are some I took this week...3 for the price of one! Enjoy!