Happy Birthday Cole!

You gave us endless happiness by just coming into our lives and with each Birthday of yours that happiness only keeps growing. We are so proud of you. Happy 3rd Birthday Cole !!! xoxo - Daddy & Mama  

Wordless Wednesday

Yep its back..at least this week. The headband. The serious face. The blue eyes. It's just to much.

 

Oh Hi!

So I'm slacking on keeping this up to date. Life with two is a bit crazy. I wear many hats through out the day, working lady, mama and wife. And lets face it there's only so much time in the day and blogging takes a back seat. But at the encouragement of my husband who has asked me to please blog and document our lives. Cause really life is just moving so fast and one day I will be so happy I sat down and wrote down this special time for our family.

So what has the month of June looked like for us....

There has been endless hours spent outside in our backyard playground. Cole loves running around with his pals Austin, Bryce and Reese. Given any day you will find them all together enjoying the days of summer in either the Butlers, Ervicks or our backyards!

There has been time spent in the sprinkler of course...

We joined a pool this summer and it's been great so far. Cole is beyond happy about being able to go in the "big pool".

He is fearless and of course wants to do everything by himself. Mr. Independent has a long way to go before he can swim on his own but he is learning slowly. We have to drag him away from the pool every time its time to go home. I foresee him being a pool rat like his daddy and me when he gets older.

Ms. Emery has certainly warmed up to the pool too. She has no time for cold water so as long as it feels like bath water she's a happy little girl.

Emery is certainly one busy girl these days. She really is trying her hardest to sit up before 5 months. I love watching how determined she is ....I just wish she would slow down!

She also can't get enough of her big brother. She really thinks he's the funniest most interesting person in this world.

Cole started summer camp last week. And in true Cole fashion his first day went seamless. Cole walked right in said Hi to the teachers kissed me and said OK mama goodbye! I won't lie as I drove away after drop off I cried a little. My big boy is so independent and outgoing, I knew he would do great it's just hard sometimes to think how fast he is growing up. I'm so proud of him!

 

Most days are crazy, fun, exhausting, hysterical, overwhelming and just plain awesome with these two little kiddos. I wouldn't trade any part of it for a second!

4 months old!

Sweet Emery girl you are 4 months old now. You are a bundle of joy and sunshine.

 

 Here is what you’re up to these days;

 - You have 5 bottles a day at 6oz.  At times I feel like we are making you eat, you don’t scream for food. I’m wondering if your just waiting for the real food to pig out.

 - You love to sit and stand. You are no a mission to be independent. Your little eyes grow so large and you smile so big when you get to do either.

- You enjoy tummy time and in fact have started to move a few inches forward.  I’m a bit nervous about this…you need to slow down.

- Just recently you have started hanging out in the jumperoo. You really seem to enjoy it. Which is great cause you were never a real fan of the swing.

- You talk so much, I think your just trying to keep up with us all.

  

       

     

      - You smile so much and are generally a very happy baby. 

   

       - You love watching your crazy brother run around and look in awe and wonderment at him.

- You take 4 naps a day, generally it’s a cat nap early morning right after you wake up then two longer naps then a cat nap around dinner time. I wish you were down to just three but this will happen in time.

- The past 2 weeks you have been going through a bit of sleep regression.  You’re learning so much and are so alert to the world around you. Thankfully it seems to not be every night but we ready for you to get back to 10 hrs of straight sleep on the regular.

- Your bed time is around 7 pm most nights, some nights a bit later depending on how long your dinner cat naps is. You take your bottle in your room with either mama or dad. We read you book then rock you for a bit before putting you down to sleep.

- We have recently stopped swaddling you.  With this we have discovered you prefer tummy sleeping.  I was nervous at first to let you, but you sleep so much better on your tummy unswaddled.

- Your wearing 3-6 month clothing and some 6 months. And have moved into a size 2 diaper.

       

- You weigh in at 13lbs 9oz and just a little over 24 inches long. (50% for both) 

       

- You love your Dada and get so excited to see him. A daddy's girl in the making.   

      

- Your a grabbing hold of pretty much of anything within arms length. And then try and insert it into your mouth. Mama's hair included. :)

- Your rolling from belly to your back all the time. 

- Your drooling so much, I believe we have some teeth making there way. 

   You have truly brought so much joy into our lives and I just can't imagine life without you my sweet little girl.

 

Potty Training

I’m writing this down so when I have to do this again in two years I will remember what worked and how it went. My little guy is officially potty trained. Yep and it happened quick. I was a bit terrified to try, and really I just jumped right in with my fingers crossed that my approach would work with him. I set aside 3 days that we could stay home and work on it. I took away the diapers completely and hoped for the best. I gave Cole an incentive for using the potty in the form of a treasure box. I filled it with target $1 bin goodies and fun candy.

Day 1-
We set up camp for the day in the basement, its one big room so I could contain him in it. He was really excited to wear his toy story undies, however within 5 minutes of having his undies on he did pee in them. He yelled I’m peeing. I didn’t make a big deal of it just said it’s OK pee pee goes in the potty. I sat him on potty while I Cleaned it up and we moved on. He spent most of the day in his undies or naked. I filled him with lots of juice and fruit to get him to pee. And did he ever, I swear he was going every 10min that first morning. He was getting a real kick out of getting a treat from the treasure box and he loved emptying the pee in the big potty and flushing it. By nap time we had not had any other accidents and he was starting to run to the potty when he needed to go. It was working. After nap I got him to poop on the potty, it was amazing. We were both very excited about it!

Day 2-
Only one accident. He waited too long and peed standing right next to the potty. This is part of the process, he is learning how long he can hold it before it’s too late.

Day 3-
No accidents. He’s announcing when he needs to pee and poop .He’s even asking for privacy in the bathroom. We go on our first out of the house outing to the doctors and to the grocery store. No accidents and he’s fine using the public bathrooms.

It was an exhausting 3 days, well really it was just day 1 that sucked. I watched him like a hawk and kept on him asking him to use the potty, which is hard when you have a 3 month old. But it worked. Cam said I earned my mom badge for the year. Ha funny guy.

Playing with his friends for the first few times was a challenge and he did have an accident. I get it though he’s just too busy playing to stop to use the potty. He’s doing much better now, and takes breaks from playtime to go.

Of course there will be accidents over the next month I’m sure. But I try my best to make sure they don’t occur. We always pee before we leave the house and I let him know where the potty is if he needs to go when we are out. We carry a change of clothes at all times just in case. The first few times we left the house I brought the potty chair, but there really isn't a need for it now. He does great going before we leave or using the restroom when we are out and about.

I’m so proud of him! He was ready and it showed.

   

 Think he’s proud of himself?!?       

Sweet Cole

Sweet Cole,

It’s been way to long since I have done a post about just you. Life has been busy but don’t worry I remember just about everything…a trait you seem to have gotten from me. I swear I tell you once and you remember it. Well kid you turn 3 very soon, I like to say your 2 turning 12. You are a little man with such an amazing personality. I don’t know a more outgoing and outspoken little 2 year old. I hate to use the word advanced cause that makes me feel like I’m a bragging mama but it’s the truth. From an early age something clicked when it came to speaking, and nothing has slowed you down. You understand things and say things no kid your age should. Your dad and me always look at each other like is this kid for real! You are hilarious and you know it! You are not scared to talk to anyone at any time. 

Your imagination is unreal right now. Whenever we have play time these days we are taking are trains to the aquarium where you then tell me all the sharks and fish we see. Then it’s off to the Air and space museum to see planes and rocket ships. We always stop for food along the way, you make us both ice cream with green gummy bears and toppings.This age is so fun stinking fun. 

You are very proud to be a big brother, I can’t lie it took you about six weeks to adjust and realize everything was OK and that Emery is pretty awesome. You still talk about me going to the hospital every now and then. You were not a fan of mama being there. You include Emery in everything you do…You say “ Emery see “ about 30 times a day. 

You love love love your friends. You talk about Austin, Reese and Bryce all the time. “ Mom there my best friends, I love them.” It’s so sweet and nothing makes you happier than being able to play with them every day. 

Of course it’s not always rainbows and puppy dogs, you do have tantrums thankfully not to many these days but they happen. Your Mr. Independent and don’t like not getting your way all the time. The best is when you try to bargain with me. “ Few more minutes mom, ok? Sounds like a good plan right?” It takes everything in me not to laugh when your bargaining with me. 

You seem to be making the transition to no more naps. You still have quiet time on the days you decide not to nap. This week we are starting potty training, I'm really hoping it goes well. All this grown up stuff is making me one sappy mama. 

You are a big boy now but you will ALWAYS be my baby. I love you Cole!

Xoxo, 

Mama      

3 months!

 

Emery,

 Holy hell how can this be? You are my sweet little baby who is just so happy and content! Here’s what you’re up to these days; 

You are all smiles and get so excited when anyone talks directly to you. Your eyes get big, you kick your legs and smile. I love it. 

The one thing that really upsets you is really loud noises and if you stay up past your nap or bedtime. You let us know loud and clear that your tired and need to be asleep. Trying to gauge when that window of sleepy and just dame overtired has been a challenge for this mama. But I think we’re getting better at it every day! 

I just love the sweetness you ooze. Mama loves being able to dress you in adorable dresses and of course bows too. You seem ok with it now so I better get my fill in of it before you say no more mama! 

You love to snuggle. If you had your way you would nap on me, sleep with me at night and life would be grand. But it just can’t be baby girl. You take about 4 naps a day still. I would say half of them are in your crib. It’s a work in progress. 

As for night time you’re doing great, generally you sleep 9 to 10 hours straight. You wake around 430, eat, then go back to sleep. Most of time with mama. I can’t handle CIO yet so till I can muster up enough strength for it you will have sleep time with me.

  Blowing bubbles all the time 

You are growing so fast. Somehow you seem to be on the slightly long side. You don’t get that from me sweetie. You are now in 3-6 month clothing. 

Your favorite thing to do is sit up. We can’t leave you alone when propped up because you try to sit up on your own. I mean really your 3 months old lady this nonsense needs to stop. It’s too early for you to being trying to do this! 

You seem to enjoy tummy time now that you have no harness, your rolling from tummy to back. 

Just like your brother you’re a talker. You seem to have lots and lots to say. I guess you’re trying to keep up with your fast talking brother. 

You laughed for the first time the night before Mama and Dada left for Mexico. A belly laugh. Nothing better than that. 

 And above all your favorite thing to do is watch your brother. I imagine your watching him thinking what on earth is this crazy boy talking about! ha

 

I just simply adore you and love watching you blosoom. I just wish time would slow down so I could soak it all in!