#TBT: Kingston @ 9 Months.

One of my favorite photos of our oldest when he was a babe.  How is this not yesterday... but instead nearly four years ago?!  Kingston is such a sweet boy and I absolutely love being his mommy.  Especially after what happened last night.

Rarely cranky before bed, Kingston was a little sassy last night when it was around that time.  He finally calmed down and was ready for bed... we read a book... I tucked him in... and that was that.  But then, a few minutes later, he called for me to come to his room.  As I enter his bedroom, he apologized for his behavior earlier, said he loves me, and that he wants to make me proud.  All of those words, all on his very own.

Did I mention how much I love this oldest boy of mine!?  One of the very sweetest.

Newborn Photography: Favorite 5 Photos of Norah Anne

I'm thinking newborn photography is where it is at... I mean, how much fun is it to look at a sweet new baby?!  Norah's momma was also very pleased with how the photos turned out.  Which makes it even that much better.    

Sneak Peek: Baby Norah's Newborn Session

Last Sunday I took a few photos of this little beauty, at only two days old!  She was such a sweet baby... and surprisingly kept her eyes open and alert for most of the photo shoot (except for the last 10 minutes or so, when this photo was taken).  A black and white photo, complete with the headband flowers in color, was a special request from her momma Rachel.  I was unsure about the idea at first, but am pretty pleased with how it turned out.  

Oh, and I'm only sharing this photograph... for now.  I have a bit more editing to do before I deliver the final product (a CD of this darling baby girl) on Friday.  So be sure to check in next week to see my favorites from this shoot. 

Cole: 11 months

One month and you, my little Cole, will be one year old.  We've started planning your first birthday party and are very excited to celebrate you!

Next well-child visit will be at the end of June/beginning of July, so no updates on weight and height this month.  But seriously - look at those thighs.  Probably still 100%, or pretty close to it I am sure.

Oh, and with daddy's help (and maybe a few yogurt bites), we were able to take a few photos of you today.  Sitting still was not in the cards for your 11 month-monthly photos.

Here are a few other fun little facts about our little:

• So yeah... Cole has yet to sprout a tooth.  There were some thoughts of a possible canine-tooth-sighting, but nothing ever came of that.  Now, it seems that Cole's top two front teeth may be the possible first-tooth/teeth candidates.  I'm not holding my breath.
• He sat through his first haircut and looks pretty cute with this little trim.  
• If there were awards for foot-thumping while laying in a baby crib, Cole would win hands down.  The boy thumps his foot to fall asleep... when waking up... or sometimes, just because.
• Cole has started to show a little frustration when he doesn't get his way and seems to be understanding the word "no." 
• For Cole, there is nothing better than getting to climb up and down the stairs.
• While the boy gets very excited for bath time, he tends to take very quick (maybe 5 minutes tops) baths. 
• He can stand, unsupported, for quite some time (as seen in the photos above).  But that is all... he doesn't seem too interested in taking a step or two on his own yet.
• Everything goes in the boy's mouth.  EVERYTHING.
• Patty-Cake has to be the best game ever, just ask Cole.
• In another big-boy step away from babyhood, Cole can now hold his bottle when he is drinking milk at naps or bedtime. 

Want to see Cole's post from last month?  Click HERE. 

Looking Sharp.

{First Haircut -- May 12, 2103}

So I finally let the hubs talk me into getting Cole's haircut.  His first haircut... which is a pretty big milestone, if you ask me.  I know most parents don't have their little's hair cut until they are one year old or so... but I had to admit the hubs had a pretty good argument for it before then.  I mean, the boy's hair was starting to rest on his collar (which probably would have turned into a pretty sweet mullet if we would have let it), it was pretty puffy on the sides, and would stand straight up from his cowlick on the top/back of his head.  And when I heard the cashier at the grocery store say "I like his crazy hair" - I knew it was time.  

We opted for short on the sides, a wide faux-hawk-ish middle (similar to some MLB player) and my mother-in-law trimmed Cole up in no time.  The hubs is happy and I have to say I'm diggin' Cole's new look - looking sharp, my boy!     

Hula Baby + Sunny Friday

My parents-in-law brought home this sweet little Hawaiian outfit for Cole when they returned from their spring get-away a few weeks ago.  So I decided this warm weather we are having today deserved a little Hawaiian-flavor.  

While I couldn't get Cole to turn around for a front view - check out those little legs in his outfit.  I die. 

Happy Friday, friends!  

Cole: 10 months

... Is a baby on the move!  Our little guy is definitely keeping us busy these days.  And let me just say that capturing his 10 month photos this month was quite the challenge.  I was lucky to get him in a clean onesie and have him sit still for a few moments...

Here we are.  Cole, now 10 months old.  I have to say I am a little in shock and it is a little bittersweet for me.  My baby is growing up, which is fun and exciting for our little family... but also a little sad, as we are so very quickly leaving the baby stage.  I returned the breast pump I had rented from the hospital over the weekend (also a bittersweet moment) and couldn't help but wish for those first few days with our little again.  

And I'm not sure if you noticed, but our little is not so little these days.  While we did not take Cole for a well-child visit this month, I am almost positive he is still in the 100% for almost every thing.  Just call him moose. 

Here are a few other fun little facts about our little:

• First tooth sighting!  While he still has yet to officially have his first tooth, we are seeing a dot of white through his translucent gums... and it is not one of the two middle bottom teeth.  Randomly, it is his right bottom canine tooth.  Ahoy, baby pirate Cole?
• Cole can now wave hello... when he wants to. 
• He is a cruising-machine.  Like I said before, Cole is on the move... but he would much rather be cruising than crawling.  And he is getting pretty confident with it.
• He is also an eating-machine.  As I type this list, he made his way over to the hubs and they are sharing some goldfish crackers.  And an apple.  Pretty cute.
• Cole's hair is coming in pretty thick... and the hubs thinks it almost looks mullet-like.  I'm pondering his first haircut before he is one... we'll see.
• He is quite the little wrestler and is not picky on his opponent.  Daddy, brother, momma... or even our cat Jack.  
• And he enjoys a good thrill.  Whether it be a fun game of peek-a-boo or bouncing on momma's lap and dipping backwards sporadically.  
• One of Cole's favorite things is to crawl into our kitchen and pull all of the plastic baggies out of the bottom drawer.  Or find his baby wipes and pull all of them out of the container.  
• Dressing Cole is an absolute challenge these days.  And so is diapering. 
• He just figured out how to shake his head no and thinks it is pretty fun.

Want to see Cole's post from last month?  Click HERE. 

The shirt says it all.

I pulled out more of Kingston's hand-me-down clothes for Cole a few days ago and found this fun shirt.  It kinda works more for Cole, since he is his daddy's little twin (compared to the hubs's baby photos).  So you know I had to take a few photos of them together...   

Cole: 9 months

And then, just like that, you were 9 months.  Only three little months until you are one year old.  You constantly amaze us these days, with how quickly you are becoming a little boy and less a baby with each and every day.  Please stay little just a bit longer Cole.

But, based on your stats and the strength you have, I doubt that will happen.  

Weight: 29 lb., 6 oz. (100%) 

Height: 2 ft., 6 in. (98%)

Yow-wee!  My little chunk-a-monk be a-growin' and a BIG boy! 

Here are a few other fun little facts about our little:

• As I have mentioned before, we have a crawler!  But his new thing: the bear crawl.  He likes to get up on all fours and walk around the house.  I mean really, a standard crawl is something an 8 month old does, not a 9 month old.  Silly boy.
• Still no teeth... and really, not that much drool.  Maybe we'll have to invest in some baby dentures.
• He is able to pick up food off of his tray and feed himself now.  
• Cole is a very content little guy; one little toy can hold his interest for a long time.
• He says the word "Mama."  Not "ma ma ma ma ma ma..." Not "ma."  But "mama."  Better yet?  He will say it and look at me with the sweetest little smile.  Melts my heart every time.
• Cole already wants to do every little thing his big brother does.  That heart I mentioned in the bullet above?  Yeah, re-melted. 
• Cole is a water baby.  Although I have mentioned his love for bath time before, he loves to splash around in the tub each night before bed.  Definitely one of his favorites.
• Apparently, our little is a big sports buff.  He likes to sit around with his daddy and catch-up on the sports highlights of the day.
• He has a love/hate relationship with his stroller.  We're working on it.
• Because he is a crawler, he can pull himself up into a sitting position... and a standing position pretty quickly.  I think lots of tumbles and possibly cruising could be in our near (but hopefully distant) future. 

Want to see Cole's post from last month?  Click HERE.

We Have a Crawler, Friends.

Cole decided it was time to be mobile about a week ago today - a week before he turned 9 months old. The same day one of my co-workers and I were talking about if crawling was in the near future for Cole (and I mentioned that I thought he would not be moving for a few more months), the boy proved me wrong and began crawling.  A little mixture of army crawl/standard crawl, Cole definitely has his own way to get from point A to point B.  I am hoping to take a little video of it this weekend.

Cole: 8 months

Oh my.  8 months, Cole... didn't I just blog about you turning 6 months old?!  I think about how quickly your big brother has grown... and I cannot believe how your precious babyhood is flying by even faster!  I swear that if I blink you might just be celebrating your third birthday...

Like last month, you did not have a well-child visit at the doctor's office.  So, we don't have your official weight/height/head circumference stats this month.  But, I can tell you this:  My little baby isn't quite a baby any more.  After all, I sat you on the scale a few days ago and you were 27 pounds!  Aye ca-rumba!

Here are a few other fun facts about our little:

• Cole loves to pull hair.  He is fascinated by the texture... so much so that he loves to yank handfuls at a time of his momma's hair (I fear I may go bald soon).  
• His fine motor skills are getting better and better with each day - today he mastered the art of holding a toy car in one hand and spinning one of the wheels with his pointer finger of his other hand.  The boy's got skillz.
• One of his favorite things to do is wrestle with his daddy or his big brother.
• Cole's two favorite children's shows:  Yo Gabba Gabba & The Fresh Beat Band.
• He is a baby who loves his routine.  Naps, meals, bath time and bed time are always around the same time... or this boy starts to whimper.
• Cole is already an animal lover.  Our kitties and the doggy at daycare make him so very happy.
• He is probably the biggest fan of his own voice... and the raspberries he likes to blow.
• The boy is very ticklish on his feet and ribs.
• Just like his daddy (when the hubs' was a little boy), Cole has a little fear of men with facial hair. 
• Cole is a boy who loves to make decisions and will make sure you know it.

Want to see Cole's post from last month?  Click HERE.

Cole + Foam Numbers = Teething?

Our little Cole likes to put foam bathtub numbers in his mouth during bath time.  You know, so that he can hold 3 numbers instead of just two... or play hands-free while still holding on to a toy.  Sort of like a pocket.  And kind of like a puppy dog.   

Close-Ups

{Cole, 7 months.  Kingston, 3 years.}

These two finally started to feel a little better on Sunday - their colds hit them pretty strong this last week and I am thankful they are finally pulling through.  Maybe it was having some of their favorite people in town this weekend that helped.  

Photo credit: THIS lady.

Cole: 7 months

And another month has come and gone.  And our little turned seven months old yesterday.  Which means only five short months until we are celebrating Cole's first birthday.  This is all moving way, way too fast.

No doctor appointment this month... so no update on this guy's stats.  Although, I'm sure he is still a big and healthy baby boy.  I mean, he's 7 months old and he is wearing 18 - 24 month old clothing.  And we thought Kingston was a moose when he was this age...

Here are a few fun facts about our little Cole:

• Cole has/had his first cold(s?) recently... and seems to be powering through just fine.  No runny nose, but a pretty raspy cough that is now just an occasional dry cough.   
• He has yet to pop a tooth, but sure drools like it is coming soon.  We'll see.
• You know how they say that babies are ready for solid food when they show an interest in the food you're eating?  Yeah... this boy ALWAYS shows an interest in my food.  His brother's food.  The hubs' food.  And probably your food too.  He loves food.
• Cole's reaching and grasping capabilities are really strong - he can reach for pretty much whatever he wants now.  
• The boy's motto:  Why sit when you can stand?  If you try to sit him down, he will stiffen his legs so that he remains standing (while holding your hands because he can't stand on his own quiet yet, of course).  
• Not quite a crawler, but definitely a rotator.  Cole will turn his body/rotate to where he wants to get, then adjust his body into push-up position.  I think we're close, friends.  Which means we should probably get busy on baby-proofing again...
• Cole is definitely not a push-over; he will fight his brother already for the toys he wants to play with.  
• He's decided that he needs to sit in the tub next to his brother, sans baby bath chair.  
• He is probably one of the happiest babies you will ever see when he wakes up... even if he has just been crying, he will light up with the biggest grin when you come in his room.  Hard to stay mad at the little guy, even if it is the fourth time you've been in his room that night and it is not even past midnight yet (some nights, not all nights... but definitely some nights)...
• So far, this boy is the best traveler.  We went away this weekend, traveling about 2.5 hours in the car without having to take a break.  No tears, but lots of happy coos.  And maybe a nap or two.

Want to see Cole's post from last month?  Click HERE. 

Instagram Challenge: 5 Photos "Looking Up"

From left to right:  Cole looking up at me, Knight Kingston looking up at his sword/sky on Halloween, looking up at my Anthro kitchen timer, looking up at two little hand prints on our fireplace mantel (see blog post HERE), and looking up at a fun/colorful lantern on a shelf in my kitchen.

Last Friday I was tagged by a good blog friend of mine to participate in a fun little challenge via Instagram.  Such a fun idea; when you post your photo of the day, you then have the task of tagging five other friends (each with their unique theme) in hopes that they will participate.  So far, four of the five ladies I tagged have accepted the challenge and I cannot wait to see how creative they get.

To see each of the photos above (to include who I tagged and who tagged me), click on the "Instagram" link in the menu bar above.      

Baby Leggings

Baby Leggings.  For both girls and boys.  This trend has not been lost on me, as I am a card-caring member of the grown ladies in this world who still wear a few pairs of leggings in any given month week.  So when I found a pair of heather gray baby leggings for $3, I just had to give them a whirl on my little Cole...

And I'm in love.  I feel baby boy pants can be a bit too baggy and expose too much skin during the cool winter months - this is a nice, comfortable option that will keep my little warm.  

Lazy Day.

With two little men that I know.

One {sitting} Baby

This baby thinks he is pretty cool to be sitting all by himself.  In fact, most of the time he wants to be sitting (in this position) instead of lying around on the job.  I should have taken these photos from another angle, too - so you could see that he is in fact sitting by himself, not leaning against the wall behind him.  This six month old is definitely working on being a big boy.

{And just for an idea of the big boy-ness he is rocking these days - that sweatshirt is OshKosh size 18 months!}

Cole: 6 months

On December 27th, our little turned six months old.  This is big.  This means Cole is half way to celebrating the big O-N-E year old birthday!  Wow-wee.  

We took Cole to his well-child visit on Friday.  Yeah... check out these stats:

• Weight: 23 lb. 10 oz. (100%)
• Height: 28.5 in. (100%)
• Head Circumference: 45.8 cm (99%)

Wow-wee is pretty much right, friends.  Here are a few more notable things about our little:

• Cole is an assisted-sitter!  If you sit him open cross-legged style, he can sit on his own for a good two minutes.  He reached this milestone about a week or so before he turned six months.  
• He graduated out of his infant car seat into a convertible backwards-facing car seat.  He thinks he is Joe Cool.
• The boy loves to suck/chew on his lower lip or fingers.  Pacifiers need not apply.
• If you think there is anything better to Cole than his momma, you would be wrong... the boy is definitely a momma's boy.  
• Cole started physically interacting with Kingston this month, rolling and "wrestling" in our living room with his brother (gently and very carefully, of course).  
• Thank heaven for a baby dedicated to his schedule - the boy has two naps daily (10:00AM and 2:00PM) and is in bed between 7:30 and 8:00PM every evening.  What a beautiful thing.
• Cole enjoys his solid food; we are already working through our fourth box of single-grain oatmeal and he has added peaches and sweet potatoes to his favorites.
• Our little likes to make sure he gets his workout in...his favorite toy is his jumper.  The boy works it daily.
• Another nickname for Cole?  "Juicy Joe," in reference to the pools of drool we see each day and some spit-up.  Hooray.
• Christmas tunes may be here to stay in our household, regardless of season - Cole loves listening to Christmas carols... and maybe loves them that much more when I jump in and sing a line or two...

We are truly blessed and spoiled to have another sweet baby boy in our family.

Want to see Cole's post from last month?  Click HERE.