Cuddle CuddleUppets

Taryn is totally an advertisers dream.  Every commercial she sees, she wants the toy.  She went through the Target toy catalog and circled almost everything. 

 

The CuddleUppet is one of these many commercials that caught her eye...  (Part blanket, part puppet...  Yeah...) 

 

I thought this was the perfect opportunity to bribe Taryn into napping at preschool.  So, I told her that if she napped THREE times at preschool, she would get something she wanted.  I didn't tell her what it was.  SO...  One week she slept twice at preschool.  Then she stalled out.  I began to think she would never sleep again at preschool, so I decided the CuddleUppet could be a Christmas present.  I wrapped it up and put it under the tree. 

Christmas Photo Shoot

I usually try to get some pics by the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  However, this year we will be at Lee's parents' on Christmas Eve and will be a little rushed to get to my grandma's house for lunch on Christmas Day...  SO... Random Christmas photo shoot!!  

 

 Taryn kept demanding to have MORE solo pics than Cole. 

 Good thing Daddy stopped home to get Cole smiling while I took the pics!

 Can't wait to tear into some presents!

 Serious Christmas pose.

 "Santa please come fill my stocking!!"

"Wish I could blame this belly on Christmas cookies!"

Miracles Do Happen!

Miraculous moment caught on film...  Both kids (and Dora) taking simultaneous naps! 

Big Sis Stuff

One of the definite challenges of baby #2 is entertaining the big sis while also meeting the needs of a newborn.  Fortunately, Taryn still has preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week.  She has ballet on Tuesdays and even went to daycare a few times.  But, what do we do to fill those long days while Cole is napping and eating?  

 We built a gingerbread house!  I wish I could blame Taryn's assistance for how crappy this house looks, but I gotta take the majority of the blame.  This just isn't in my realm of talents!  Taryn has also wanted to decorate a TON for Christmas.  We spread the decorating out over about 4 days, but still everyday she says "Maybe we decorate today?"  I asked her what was left to decorate and she said the kitchen.  Hmmm. 

 "I can't wait until he is playing with some better toys." 

 Looking through these pics, I realize we've spent a lot of time in our pj's...  Yeah, that's about right. 

 Taryn loves to keep my on my toes at the moment.  I am sure it is some sort of toddler way of reassuring herself that I will still be there for her even when I have to care for the new baby.  However, it really gets out of hand sometimes.  She will pretty much ask me to do something every 30 seconds.  Even if I am already doing something for her, she will ask me to do ANOTHER thing simultaneously.  Makes for a hectic day. 

 Fortunately, Gramma comes to play sometimes! 

 And we have a lot of apps downloaded on the Nook! 

We keep telling her that SOON he will be able to play...  I'm not sure if she believes it! 

 

Side Story:  To illustrate how demanding Taryn has been of my time...  One day my Mom and I had both kids out doing some shopping.  We were heading out to the van.  I was carrying Cole in his carseat, a drink, my purse and some shopping bags.  My Mom was carrying nothing but her purse.  So, my Mom went to lift Taryn into the van and get her buckled up...  "NO!  MOMMY DO IT."  "But Taryn, your Mommy has her hands full.  I don't have anything.  Just let me buckle you in."  "NO!  MOMMY."  Sigh.    



Hello Smiles!

 Cole has a lot of pictures recently where he looks like a deer in headlights.  He has started to notice the camera and when he sees it he just stares at it...  Thus the deer in headlights look. 

 I make this polo look GOOD. 

 "Daddy does this weird CUCKOO thing all the time to try to make me smile.  Little does he know I'm laughing AT him."

There's a new Sheriff in town and his cheeks are CHUBBY.  

Ho Ho Ho

 The holidays have definitely arrived at our house...  The tree is up, the outside is decorated...  And we just had the Holiday Stroll in our town.  Santa's little helper Taryn has been DYING to do everything holiday related. 

 While Taryn's "baby brudder" has been sleeping through most of it.  Except for when I forced him into this reindeer outfit and made him cry. 

 This weekend was especially busy with Taryn's ballet recital, dress rehearsal, and the holiday stroll.  Here she is ready for her dress rehearsal.  Hair in bun, CHECK.  Makeup (on a 3 year old), CHECK.  Ridiculously cute and ridiculous holiday ballet outfit, CHECK.  Remembering the dance, er, not so much. 

 Taryn chose her & Cole's outfits for the holiday stroll.  Very holiday-ish!  We started the day with a trip to the craft bazaar at our church.  It is HUGE and I was able to get gifts for Taryn's teachers and a few things for myself (beer bread, yum!).  Side note:  I told Lee I was going to buy Taryn's teachers some small gifts.  I'm a teacher, hello!  I know how nice it is to get a little something.  He said "Teacher gifts are overrated."  My response...  "Really?  How were your grades in school?"  Bazinga!

 This picture just cracked me up.  Taryn trying to throw the stocking over the "chimney"...  The lady's face...  The tinsel getting caught up in Taryn's ridiculous holiday dress. 

 But, despite the trow, she still got a treat in her stocking! 

 Taryn and Gramma decorate a cookie!  Yum! 

 And Cole chilled in his pea pod and got fussed over quite a bit by random people.  And only got mistaken for a girl twice.  Hello, dudes can totally wear red overalls with a snowman on them. 

 We managed to get one of the best Santa pictures we could ever ask for!  Taryn had a letter to Santa.  I wrote it (obviously), but I wrote exactly what she said.  It was pretty funny.  A 3 year old's train of thought is pretty scattered. 

After visiting Santa, we headed home for a family nap before getting Taryn ready for her big performance.  Here is the star of the show post-performance. 

Cole Leroy - 1 month!

Well, I managed to get the 1 month sticker on him and some pictures taken ON his 1 month birthday.  Pretty proud of that...  We'll see if I can continue the trend. 

I LOVE the progression of these photos taken.  From somewhat content to full on PO'd. 

 1 Month Likes:  The picture frames on the wall, sleeping with mom, riding around in the sling or the Baby Bjorn (anything that simulates being in the womb), BATHS! 

 1 Month Dislikes:  Tummy time, waiting to eat, the hours of 6:30pm - 10pm.

 New skills:  Focusing on things and following things with his eyes, rolling from stomach to back (he has done this twice, which is CRAZY for his age...  He really hates tummy time!), smiling. 

 I absolutely LOVE this little frown-y face! 

1 Month Stats: 
Weight - 11lbs 12oz
Height - 23.15 inches
Head - 39.6 cm

The doctor confirmed what we already knew. He's long and slender. He has definitely grown a lot and is starting to get a cute double chin and belly.  Still no baby rolls to speak of.  He is a long lean fella.  Definitely the opposite of Taryn at this age! 

We had a ton of illness in the house in Cole's first month.  First Lee had the flu and Taryn had a cold.  Then, I came down with a high fever that ended up being mastitis.  NOT a fun experience.  Amidst all of that, Cole apparently ended up with some excess mucous in his little body and one morning he choked on it.  He couldn't work the mucous out and was turning a deep red/purple color and stiffly had his head arched back 1/2 gasping 1/2 coughing for like 10 minutes.  We ended up calling 911 and having the paramedics come.  Lee started using the snot sucker to pull mucous out of his nose and throat and the paramedics did the same when they arrived.  A short time later, he was back to normal and sleeping in my arms.  Still one of the scariest moments of my life, for sure.  Hopefully we can all avoid the medical drama a little more in this next month! 

One day Cole was in his bassinet and I got in the shower.  The bassinet was over behind Lee's recliner.  When I got out of the shower, it was over by the couch.  "Taryn, did you move Cole?"  "Yes.  I careful.  We playing farmer.  Cole is a baby farmer."  Taryn can't wait to play with her baby brother.  She is so proud of him and talks about him all the time at school.  She is our amazing big sister and despite some bumps in the road in her behavior, she has really taken on her new role well.  Things will only get better as Cole gets a little less dependent on me and a little more interactive! 

We have LOVED welcoming Cole into our family.  We can't wait for more smiles and personality to emerge.  And Taryn can't wait for a playmate! 

Halloween 2012

This is the year of Cinderella and the pumpkin. 

 Actually, this entire year has centered around Cinderella.  Cinderella is the theme Taryn chose for her 3rd birthday.  She went to see Cinderella, the musical, with my mom & dad a few weeks ago.  And, of course, it was her chosen Halloween costume for the year. 

 Cole did not get a choice in his costume.  It was pretty much the only thing that came small enough to fit him!  The unhappy pumpkin! 

 This costume gives me scared hands! 

For those of you country fans, in a horrible twist of timing, I heard the song "Stealing Cinderella" like 5 times in the weeks around Halloween.  Each time I would just sit there and cry.  I blame a mix of post-pregnancy emotions and dealing with Taryn's changing role from baby of the family to big sister.  Really, that song is like 5 years old.  Why the hell was it on so much that week???  Conspiracy.

 

I came to see her daddy
For a sit down man to man
It wasn't any secret
I'd be asking for her hand

I guess that's why he left me waiting
In the living room by myself
With at least a dozen pictures of her
Sitting on a shelf

She was playing Cinderella
She was riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed
And looking for a pillow fight

Running through the sprinkler
With a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad
Looking up at him

In her eyes I'm Prince Charming
But to him I'm just some fella
Riding in and stealing Cinderella


Pea Pod

In the evenings, Cole likes to turn into a major grumpy pants.  For some reason the thing that calms him down is riding around in a sling baby carrier.  Taryn HATED any sort of baby carrier, but apparently Cole LOVES them!  We call it his pea pod and as soon as he gets in it, he stops crying and falls asleep in like 5 minutes!  (Thank you sling!) 

Road Trip for Jay!

A week ago, our family made our first road trip down to Cleveland, TN, for Lee's friend Jay's wedding.  When we planned the trip, it seemed like Cole would be a lot older than reality.  When it came time to go and he wasn't even 3 weeks old, it seemed a little overwhelming.  But, we pulled it off and had a successful little trip!  Both kids were angels on the 9 hour drive.  Cole slept the whole way and Taryn watched multiple DVD's, napped and chilled.  

 The theme for the weekend was that Cole slept through everything.  Here Lee and Taryn are taking advantage of the hotel's pool...  While Cole slept

 Here we are at the church waiting for the wedding to start...  And Cole is sleeping! 

 Taryn was IN LOVE with Jay's wife, Meagan.  It goes along with the princess obsession, I think.  At one point I told Meagan I would understand if she took a restraining order out on Taryn.  She was rather stalker-ish.  Later in the evening Taryn was dancing up a storm on the dance floor and made friends with a couple of folks in their mid-twenties.  When it was time for us to leave, I went up to get her and both her new friends were like "NOooooooo, we just requested a song for her.  Does she know Rhianna?"  Um, do you remember she is THREE? 

 And Cole slept...  While Lee & Taryn had a Daddy/Daughter dance.  Lee was in the wedding and since all the dudes were wearing their Navy uniforms, Jay asked Lee to wear his cop uniform. 

 Congratulations Jay & Meagan!  Here is to hoping you get a great start to your marriage in Virginia Beach!!!  So glad we could make it down to the wedding!