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! 

Welcoming Cole Leroy!

 Our last picture as a family of 3!

 This is my birth coach?!?  He at least woke up when it was time to push.

 So happy to have him in my arms instead of my belly!

 8 lbs even and 21.75 inches long.  Much more slender than his big sis! 

 So proud of my 2 kiddos! 

 Cole meeting his boss, I mean, sister. 

Checking out his new pad. 

Silly boy! 

 

I can't believe I haven't blogged about Cole and he is already 9 days old! 

 

My doctor and I had discussed how long she would let Cole back in the belly considering Taryn (a girl and my first) was almost 9 lbs, I didn't want Cole to get much (or any) bigger!  I knew I would likely be  induced at some point during the week of the 15th, but I didn't know when.  On the 15th I went to my normal appointment and my doctor said "You ready for tomorrow?"  What?!?  So, we were asked to report to the hospital at 7:30am the next morning.  That evening was a blur of preparations.  Lee and I kept joking that my water would break because that is what happened with Taryn.  My water broke the evening before we were to be induced.  But, not this time! 

 

After very little sleep, we got up and took Taryn to Lee's parents.  We got to the hospital and got settled in.  Around 9am they started the Pitocin and my mom showed up.  (Thank goodness since Lee was not a lot of company!)  The contractions were coming, but were not very painful.  Around lunchtime the doctor came in and broke my water.  A little bit later the contractions started hurting and they put in the order for the epidural.  When the epidural was put in, Lee started saying that my coloring looked bad.  I felt dizzy and like I might puke or pass out (or both).  I was scared that I was having a bad reaction of some sort.  But, the doc new what to do and just had me roll over to my left side.  Immediately I felt better and my coloring came back.  It was a scary moment though. 

 

Even with the epidural and the pitocin, I was still not dilating quickly at all.  FINALLY, at about 6:30pm my contractions were coming like clockwork and I was feeling some pressure.  The doctor came in and said it was time to push (6:45pm).  She went out in the hall and had the nurse push with me to get things in the right spot.  After pushing through just 3 or 4 contractions, Cole was right where we wanted him.  I had to wait while the doc came in and they got the bed/table ready to roll.  Probably the longest 5 minutes of my life!!  Finally, they were ready.  Two contractions later, I had my little boy at 7:10pm!  Compared to my first labor, this was an absolute cake walk.  Cole was long and lean at birth.  He looked tiny, but weighed in at 8lbs even.  He had light brown hair and blue eyes.  He definitely is the spitting image of Lee's baby pictures, so we think Lee may have actually gotten some DNA in the mix this time! 

 

We stayed in the hospital for 2 days and had lots of visitors...  Especially the Big Sis Taryn.  She wanted to be in every picture and wanted to be holding Cole at all times.  She also thought she could dictate who did and didn't hold him.  (Generally nobody could hold him except her.) 

 

On Monday before Cole's arrival, I had gone to look at a minivan.  (Yes, a minivan.)  The plan was for Lee to go back Tuesday and check it out.  Well, since we ended up having a baby on Tuesday, that didn't happen.  On Thursday before we left the hospital, Lee went and checked out the van and ended up buying it!  So, we left the hospital, and went and picked up our new (used) minivan.  May as well jump right into this whole two kids thing!  (By the way, Taryn loves the van too.  "Thank you buying this van to me!") 

 

Needless to say, it has been a whirlwind.  But now Taryn is back to preschool and Lee is back to work and things are settling down for a bit. 

Shadow

A few weeks ago, we got a surprise guest at our back door.  A SKINNY, young, black kitty.  She was clearly nursing kittens and was total skin & bones.  Though Lee tries to deny it now, he was the first one to go downstairs and get the cat some catfood.  My mom was visiting that day and we walked around looking for where this cat's kittens were.  We never found them, but everywhere we walked, this skinny little cat followed us like our shadow.  And thus, Taryn gave the kitty her name.  Shadow. 

 We like to take walks over to the cul de sac by our house.  The road was made just before the housing bubble burst.  So, on the whole road, there is only one house.  Needless to say, that makes for very little traffic and a very good place for toddler biking. 

 We took Taryn and her tricycle over there and our little Shadow followed us all the way over.  She has really adopted our family! 

After seeing Shadow playing in the long grass, Taryn decided she needed to as well.  Is this really the same girl that was SCARED of grass when she was little? 

Why Doesn't She Sleep at Preschool?

So she can fall asleep at the dinner table...  Of course! 

Bonfire With Cora

Awhile back Lee's sister Sonia and her family bought a new house.  It is on an amazing lot in West Lafayette that has a ton of huge trees and backs up to a ravine.  They have been working on the yard and trees a lot which means they have an excess amount of branches and firewood...  That can only mean one thing:  bonfire!  And THAT can mean only one thing:  SMORES! 

On Saturday Taryn and I were able to go join them for pizza and a bonfire.  It was great for me because I didn't have to make dinner and Taryn had built in entertainment!  Plus, did I mention the SMORES? 

I didn't have my camera, but I got this one pic with my phone.  I guess I'll have to wait for Sonia's pics...  I think a couple little blonde girls like marshmallows a little too much!! 

Randoms!

 Apparently this is what happens when you are 45 minutes late with lunch...  I found her in the kitchen standing on a chair eating potato chips and bottled water. 

 This is Taryn's psuedo-cheerleading outfit.  She outgrew her Purdue outfit and we have yet to replace it (Christmas, most likely).  We have her convinced that this tutu and tank top are the next best thing.  Here she is standing like the cheerleaders do during the National Anthem. 

Is there anything Grandma won't do to entertain her favorite granddaughter?  I think not!

SIX Years!

 On Sunday Lee and I celebrated our sixth anniversary.   Lee had to work Saturday & Sunday nights, so we had very little time to do anything special.  My mom watched Taryn and Lee and I got to enjoy lunch alone.  I hardly remember what it is like to not have to talk over a loud 3 year old at meals! 

Since Lee had gotten off work at 3:30am, he was up for breakfast, so we chose a breakfast place.  I sure didn't mind mauling some french toast!  Afterwards, we had a romantic trip to Toys R Us, Target, Rural King and grocery shopping. 

 (Taryn clearly did NOT want her picture taken just with Lee!) 

Though it wasn't the most festive of anniversaries, it was still a good time to reflect on all the adventures we've been through.  And to think about how excited we are to be just a few weeks from completing our family of four!  We definitely feel like a lucky couple!