Christmas photos and ear tubes

I think I would be a skinny person if I opened a photo studio as I sweated my hiney off trying to take photos of these two over Thanksgiving.  Below is one of the silly photos where Cole is trying to remove cousin's bow that will be cute in a picture collage.  Christmas cards with a photo are already sitting on my desk to be mailed earlier than normal this year but sit on the desk they will stay for at least one more day. 

We are all pooped after a long night and early morning for Cole to have ear tubes inserted.  He has only had 4 ear infections over the last nine months which compared to most isn't that many but he had fluid last for 2 months this last time after taking several antibiotics, steriods and antihistamines (well, the medicine he swallows and doesn't gag and throw up).  He couldn't eat after 2 am this morning and was none to pleased being denied his organic pacifier at 3:30 am so we all got up.  The surgery thankfully was very short and went smoothly and after a 3 hour nap, Cole is running around like nothing happened.  Mama and Dada are not as perky as this parenting is rough!  Hopefully this will reduce the number of infections and get that fluid out quicker so that his hearing won't be impaired.  Thank you to everyone for your prayers!

 



A first!

We had our first experience on a coin operated ride at the mall with cousin a few weeks ago!  It was an ice cream truck in the mall that lasted surprisingly long compared to most other rides that last for 5 seconds.  Both of them thought it was the coolest thing ever!

Shoppin'

Here's some pictures I've been meaning to post for a while and haven't had a chance with our crazy schedule.  Be prepared for many back to back posts!  Everyone knows Cole is a big fella and pretty darn strong too.  We constantly work with him to "be nice" by using "nice hands" on the dog and everyone because his love pats can pack a wallop.  Most other kids get annoyed with him quickly when he tries to throw his weight around but not Miss Lizzie.  She's a year older and weighs less than Cole but she keeps him in line just like a future daughter-in-law should:).  I think they already look like a little married couple going to the grocery store!

A few weeks...

That's how long it's been since I posted which is horrible, I know, considering this is not only a blog to keep friends and family updated but as a "baby book" to look back on.  I had made the excuse of not posting considering most people want to see pictures, many of which have been the back of my active childs head, and not read the babbling of someone who hums the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song during the day.  Today I was pleasantly surprised to find several decent picutres from the last few weeks stored on my camera and have a couple in this post and maybe another post or two later today.  Many of you will be pleased to see that Cole actually owns clothing as many pictures I post here are of him in his diaper but, hello, it is in the upper 70s during Thanksgiving week!

 Mommy's big helper around the house.  He helps me hang up his clothes (aka take all the hangers out of the closet), take laundry out of the washer/dryer (aka through clean clothes on the floor), and sweep (aka through soil from the potted plant onto the floor to have an excuse to go get the broom).  Oh well, he stays out of trouble and I still get some chores done!

Going out to see cows in the country and getting a driving lesson from Dada. 

Trying to crawl into Baxter's bed... 

 Succeeding at crawling into Baxter's bed...

Wondering why Baxter wanted to go outside and not be in his bed anymore!

Fall photoshoot

We had some time to kill the other afternoon and the lighting in the front room was good so I thought I would try a photoshoot with our baby pumpkins.  Normally, I take 20+ pictures especially when Cole is in a good mood which he was that day.  However, he must have had ants in his pants and I got about 5 pictures that are ok with some being too dark because I was playing with my camera settings.  If I had the time, money and a computer that could handle it, I would totally get photoshop!  Here are a few alright photos for your viewing pleasure....



Halloween 2010 - Part 2

After the lunch, we can home, napped and then went to a festival at a local church.  Most of the games Cole will be able to enjoy next year, but he really loved the petting zoo!  We then went back to Nana and Pop's house to trick-or-treat as our neighborhood doesn't do much for Halloween (coming from the people who have never had their light on for Halloween...).  I am not a big fan of the gory, gross and slutty Halloween things but think dressing up and being creative is good for the imagination and we all had good, clean fun this year so I'm glad we participated this year!

 Wrangling goats...

 Saying hi to our buddy Darren, aka Woody!

 Trick-or-treating at Nana and Pop's neighbors house.  I'm totally blowing this up and sticking it on the fridge as motivation as why I need to run more as soon as I get off the phone from signing up at a tanning salon.

Checking out our loot that Mama doesn't think I'm old enough to eat yet... Yes, I've morphed into a total granola mom.

Resting after a busy Halloween on my new pillow from Nana...this is my favorite picture from the day!  Hope everyone had a fun and safe weekend!

Halloween 2010 - Part 1

We began Halloween this year with travelling to Grandma and Grandpa's house to go trick-or-treating as we were attending a benefit lunch over in that neck of the woods.  Cole was dressed up as a golfer and cousin was a little lady bug.  They should have dressed up as busy bees as neither would stay still to have their photo taken!

 Here we are in our costume, minus the hat!

 I liked this photo because Cole's shirt was making his sweater pooch out like that but it still looked like he had an old man's gut hanging over the top of his pants!

 Here is the best picture with cousin before she ran off with the golf club!

  

Opening goodies from Grandma and Grandpa!