Time = Flying By.

That is how I feel as you approach your first birthday.  Almost one year already?  What!!??

Coleman, your life is all about action words – one might say that you have a verb-filled existence as an 11-month-old.

CRAWLING – like a speedster – you head from my office to Dad’s office to all the other rooms of the house, playing as you go

LAUGHING – you laugh because you think things are funny but you have perfected the courtesy laugh as well – thanks, son

CRUISING – barely hanging onto furniture, walls, Dad’s chair as you walk around

CLIMBING – up the stairs lightening fast – down the stairs…not so much

EATING - favorite foods: toast, yogurt, pasta, string cheese, treats from Dad

SNUGGLING – oh wait, you’re too interested in looking around to sit and snuggle

ACTING- you were an excellent Wise Man in our family nativity – even though you refused to give up the frankincense to baby Jesus

SLEEPING – we could set the clock by you – ready for bed by 7:30 pm and up by 6:30 am

WALKING – mastering the art of walking with your shopping cart….really fast

KISSING - who doesn’t love a nice open-mouth smooch?

THROWING – favorite toys are definitely balls that you can bang together, and of course, throw around

SPLASHING – just turning the water on in the tub gets you laughing and excited for your bath

WAVING – you’ve gone from a high-five move given randomly to an actual wave when we say “hi” – good job, little man

TALKING – latest noises: trilling your tongue; growling with joy; still click-click-clicking but on demand now; clearing your throat (we think that’s what you’re doing); singing to yourself; ma-ma-ma-ma and a whispered da-da-da-da (neither is in the word category yet, though)

WATCHING – you want to see what is going on by either craning your neck for a better view or heading to the middle of the action to watch it all go down

CHARMING – you have us all wrapped around your little finger with your larger-than-life personality that only grows bigger as the days pass

Cole, if I could bottle up the essence of you I would do it.  I love you little one – and every part of your action-filled life.

XOXOforever,

Mom

Back in September our nurses at the Reproductive Care Center called us.  They had just met with the rep for Ferring Pharmaceuticals and had an offer for us.  Ferring was sponsoring an essay contest for those who had used their drug during IVF and were successful in getting a baby.  The nurses, after months of treatments and doctor appointments, were now our friends and thought of us for this contest.

I ended up putting it off until the day it was due a month later and was under the gun to try and write an essay as well as get my doctor’s signature that the information was accurate, gather photos that they needed, blah, blah, blah.  It seemed like a lot to do and I considered just ignoring the whole thing.

Then I realized that I could piggyback off my blog writings – why start from scratch when I had plenty right here at my fingertips!  I sifted through a few key blog posts that reflected what I wanted to say about our invitro process and pieced together what I wanted for my essay.  Our Reproductive Care nurses were fabulous enough to get the right paperwork faxed back to me in the middle of all the other things they had to do that day.  With photos chosen and package compiled, we sent our entry to Ferring just in time.

A few weeks ago we received a Fed Ex letter saying that I had won the essay contest and I just received an email saying that the prize, a $3,000 scholarship for Coleman, had been transferred to his education fund.  We were so excited and I admit, I am very proud of myself for winning.  But it still kind of amazes me that I almost didn’t even try.  Things were busy, there were quite a few steps to follow to enter the contest, I was probably feeling like a regular tired mom that day – and I almost just ignored the opportunity in favor of a nap.

When my niece, Brynne was in junior high she ran for student council every year.  Every year she lost.  Her sophomore year of high school she ran for junior class officer.  Worried that she might be setting herself up for more disappointment, my sister asked her daughter, “What if you don’t win?”  Brynne said, “Mom, I already know what it feels like to lose.  I’d like to see if I can win.”

Brynne - beautiful on the inside and out

That year, after four years of trying, she won.  She won the next year also and had a fabulous experience planning, leading, learning, making friends, and doing all the things that student officers experience.  But what if she had given up?  Watching Brynne taught me a lesson that I still think of often.  Even if you don’t win, it doesn’t hurt to try.

It’s almost the beginning of a new year – now is the time for a fresh start, don’t you think?  Afterall, it doesn’t hurt to try.

Another Christmas first.  It’s been about 35 years since anyone in our little family has sat on Santa’s lap.  I predicted that Cole would not cry but opt for his serious face that he gets when he’s not sure about something.  I was right.  This picture captures him perfectly with his chubby belly showing, his shoes and socks kicked off and the transfixed stare directed toward Santa’s jingle bells.  I love every part of him and this journey we’re sharing together.

I’m learning that starting traditions and renewing old ones is what having children is all about as we look at life always with the thought of what is best for Cole.  Some things we want to do exactly like our parents did because we know it helped us become who we are today.  Some things we want to tweak or change because it fits our family better.

But whether we’re talking about Christmastime or our family habits that last all year, one thing is for sure – traditions take on a whole new meaning when children are a part of them.  We are grateful beyond words for this new phase of our lives.  We were late in getting started but are embracing the adventure of parenthood the best we can and establishing the traditions that will help our little one have a happy life as he becomes all that he is meant to be.

Here’s to family traditions – at the holiday season and every other day of the year.  Enjoy!

I think it goes without saying that we are loving our first Christmas with a little one in the house.  Things are just different this year.  We find ourselves wanting to do things that maybe we didn’t care about before simply because we want to start our own Christmas traditions with Coleman.

Over the years we have never collected very many ornaments for a tree.  In fact, we often didn’t even have a tree because either our space was too small or we were going to be gone for the holidays and I didn’t want to bother with it.  Last year, when we moved into our new home we got a tree that could last us for a long time.  I looked at the our ornaments that we had saved from our childhood or gathered from places we had traveled and it was a meager collection at best.

We have heard of many of you who get one ornament for your children or grandchildren each year to add to their collections and have decided to do the same in our family.  We like things to have meaning of some sort and so I hunted and hunted for something that would represent our little man this year.  In my search I found the following stocking letters from Anthropologie and immediately fell in love.  I knew that they would be perfect for his “first ornament.”  They didn’t have an “O” and so I decided to substitute it with a round ornament we already had.  I think I like it even better this way than if it matched.

So here’s to new ornaments, new traditions and new memories.  Cole likes to crawl under the tree on his way from one room to the other and likes to look at himself in the shiny ornaments on the bottom branches but so far we’ve been safe from any “baby destruction.”  And trust me, we’re not giving him any ideas!

Have a fabulous week and consider creating a collection of your ornaments this year.  I used three storyboard collage templates and placed them onto one document to create my ornament layout in photoshop.  Love those storyboards!

Enjoy!

I put up the Christmas tree yesterday and a flood of memories came rushing back of what I was doing just one year ago.  I was 7 months pregnant, feeling good but different in my new body, and wondering what motherhood was going to be like.  Now, just 12 months later, I can hardly remember life without Coleman.  I find myself living my life through his eyes.  Wondering what he is seeing and thinking and caring about.  Plus, I can’t get enough of all the signs around us, like his dump truck under the tree, that say, “there’s a little one in the house.”

While last month was a time of discovering new skills, this month seems to be all about trying to refine those skills.  Cole, each day you get a little more confident and a little more independent.  You crawl easily and getting yourself from crawling to sitting and back again is a piece of cake for you.  You pull yourself up on anything and everything and are even brave enough to stand with just one hand holding on or leaning against whatever is propping you up.

You hang out with Dad and like to explore his wheelchair.  It’s the best toy we have and lucky for us, it’s always with us!  You have figured out that when you hear his chair “click” that it means he is going to move so you let go and sit yourself down on the floor.  You definitely think that getting rides with Dad is how everyone should live their lives as you kick your leg to let him know it’s time to start cruising.

Dad has taught you how to share yogurt-covered pretzels with him and you are a pro at biting off the yogurt while you leave the pretzel behind.  You two definitely work out your own systems of doing things that surprises me sometimes.  We never imagined that your Dad would be able to be as involved in your life and your care as he is and it has been an amazingly wonderful gift to watch you grow together in your relationship.  It’s clear that you make a good team.

Coleman, you have decided that being cooped up in your jumparoo isn’t as fun as crawling and climbing so we’re handing it off to your cousin Jack to play with next.  This makes it more challenging to have you hang out with Dad while his aide is getting him ready in the mornings because you want to get in his way the whole time.  You sit on the floor next to your Dad while he is getting his hair washed or on his lap while he’s brushing his teeth, not letting the aide stand in his regular spot without having to work around you.  But I’m grateful that Daddy’s aides are patient with you and let you be a part of that time with your Dad.

You still like your big wooden beads to play with and chase but what you really love to do with them is put them on your finger and crawl around.  The bead tap-tap-taps on the floor as you get from one place to the next.  You have also learned to throw – including playing your first games of catch.  Our neighbor taught you that and you laughed and laughed when you figured out how to toss things back and forth with someone.  You think that is the funniest game ever.

We’re working on eating table food more and more and with your four teeth, you are figuring out how to chew more things.  I think you get impatient with all the chewing, though and want to eat some baby food to get the meal done.

You loved being in the middle of all the action during Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Hall’s house.  All of our family was there and you crawled around watching and playing with the other kids.  That’s where you learned how to push the big trucks along the floor and Grandma even let you take a Tonka truck home with you to play with.

Just like your parents, you love all things Mac.  Your favorite toy is Mom’s iPhone.  You know how to touch the screen to make things move and we just have to watch to make sure you don’t call someone accidentally.

You love baths and squeal with excitement when I start the water going and take your clothes off.  Putting on your diaper and pjs is a totally different experience as you squirm and cry and wrestle with me.  I’m usually sweating before we’re done with that fifteen minutes of our day because you put up such a fight, you little turkey!

You have been doing all of your tricks for Grandma and Grandpa Coleman on Skype and I send them videos from my iPhone all the time so they can be a part of everything you are doing even though they live in the Dominican Republic.  They love you and miss you so much but are grateful you have your Grandma and Grandpa Hall nearby to help out.  We’re thankful that we have parents who are willing to serve the Lord even if it means sacrificing their time with their grandchildren to do it.  They are great examples to us.

Coleman, I love that this is your first Christmas and our first with a little munchkin around.  The holidays will definitely be different from now on and we can’t wait to live it up with you.

We love you with all of our hearts and feel so blessed and lucky to have you.

XOXO forever,

Mom

One of my favorite things about the new iPhone 3G is the fact that you have an instant video camera at your fingertips.  Then, to make it even better, you can now text video and photos.  Before I upgraded my phone I analyzed the features and really didn’t think that I would use or care about these particular ones very much.

I was wrong.  I take and text videos all the time.  As a matter of fact, just tonight when I was giving Cole his bath I videoed a little clip of a new crazy splashing thing that he has been doing and texted it to Jason who’s aide had already laid him down for the night.

Yes, we were in the same house.  But I love that I can take quick photos and videos and easily text them to Jason or our parents.  It keeps everyone in the loop in a fun and quick way.  I really love this feature of my phone.  Really.

So here is the photo I captured today simply because I had my phone handy.  Click here to see it on Jason’s blog.

I’m learning that this photo is what parenthood is all about.

Enjoy!

Mover.

Coleman, that’s what word describes you best as you turn 9 months old this week.  I think that you are even happier than ever because now you are independent enough to go where you want to go on your own instead of having to wait around for someone else to do it for you.

You still love checking everything out but now you can crawl (military style and on all fours – depending on the floor situation) to the source of the action and not have to settle for just watching the world around you.  Our house has measuring cups, wooden spoons and other favorite toys stashed all over it and you just head from one to the next, grunting and talking and singing to yourself the whole way.  Of course, you still stop to lounge on your side when you feel the urge – that is definitely your signature pose, but you are also a pro at getting yourself in a sitting position, too.

You have learned to clap your hands and like to show off your talent.  Also, just this last week you have figured out that you can pull yourself up to stand next to all the furniture, onto Mommy’s lap, and you even like to think that you can tackle climbing Mount Daddy.  Good thing you often get sidetracked by his shoelaces instead.

You definitely have a good gig going as you have also learned how fun it is to take rides on Daddy’s lap.  When Dad holds you over his shoulder you know how to turn yourself around so that you are ready to slide down into your riding position.  Then, you know that when his chair “clicks” that it means you are going to move.  You watch his controller like a hawk, kicking your leg like you are revving an engine to make sure he knows that you are ready to get going.  It didn’t take long for you to realize that Dad is very entertaining – plus he gives you treats to taste, making sure you don’t bite it off with your little chompers.

Cole, you have four teeth!  Two on top and two on bottom, just like lots of other babies.  You weigh almost 23 pounds and you are still in the 95% for height but we think that you are starting to grow into those cheeks of yours.  You must think those teeth are really interesting because you grind them all the time (irritating) and stick your tongue over, around and out (super cute) as you get the feel for these new things in your mouth.

You had your first bad cold this month and the doctor gave you a prescription to clear up the eczema patch on your cheek but that’s about the worst of it for you.  You love being around other kids and we like it when you are so that you get used to a little chaos.  You like to scratch things to feel their texture and you flick, flick, flick at stuff with your little hand.  You’ve done that for the longest time.  You are getting good at picking up food with your two fingers instead of your whole hand and you can actually get it into your mouth.  Now that’s an achievement!

Coleman, you are the best ever.  We just love being around you, especially as you figure out so many tricks to get yourself going.  I often look at you and wonder what you will grow into.  What will you be like?  How will the things we are watching you do right now develop into your personality?  It’s all so fascinating to watch – as I’m sure every parent knows.

I’m so lucky to be your Mom.  Thanks for being you.

XOXOforever,

Love, Mom

Coleman has a cold.  I thought it was just teething (he officially has four new teeth that have broken through) but then came a little cough and the runny nose that is has escalated into the “eeew yuck” category.  It doesn’t alarm me.  No, I do not think he has H1N1.  But I am curious, all you parents out there, what are the best solutions for helping little ones get over a cold?

He doesn’t have a fever.  He is fairly happy most of the time.  He only coughs a couple times a day.  He’s eating OK – except that he can’t breath when he takes his bottle so that is a slower process.  Mostly it’s just that nose that is causing problems.

So, what do you do?  How do you treat the symptoms of a baby’s cold?  Maybe nothing can be done.  Teach me, friends.  This new mom is ready to learn your best tricks and secrets to treating the common cold.

Thanks, in advance!

Now that Coleman has perfected his stellar scooting ability, he continues his fixation with large wooden beads in the following edition of “ColeTV:”

And I have to tell you that I’m grateful today, in a big way, for Jason’s willingness and expertise in making home movies…it’s nice to finally have someone else helping with our family’s history projects.  I told him I had to post this video on my blog even though he was already doing it on his simply because this mom thinks it’s hilarious.

Jas…you, Cole and your Mac are iMovie rock stars!

Last year on October 1, Stacy Julian spearheaded a Blog Blitz that focused on celebrating “the present” where we each created a mini, mini scrapbook of our present life.  I think it’s fitting that today, as she revisits this concept one year later, that our newest month of the Big Picture Scrapbooking workshop, “A Life Well Crafted” starts.  It is called “Pay Attention!” and it is all about embracing the window of time that we are living in, right now (click here to register).

I have spent the last 12 months trying to savor and soak up the moments that make up our current life.  Everything has been new to us.  Everything has been a discovery process.  And I am grateful that we have been able to experience the joy that comes from “celebrating the present” that is each new day for our little family of three.

I love my life.  It’s not perfect.  We have struggles and health issues and days where things don’t go our way.  But I still love my life and all that makes up this amazing adventure.  So, here’s to savoring the present!  A gift we give ourselves.

And instead of creating a scrapbook page about my experience, I decided to finally learn a new skill and share my current thoughts about this moment, this time, this little man, using Rhonna Farrer’s collage storyboards.  They truly were easy to create using the instructions that came with the downloads.  All I needed was Photoshop and some digital photos and I was at it in no time.

Cole, you are our present, our future and even our past.  You are the culmination of everything we love about life and so I celebrate you as you turn 8 months old this week.

Coleman, I feel like we have had a whole year packed into the last month when it comes to you.  You have grown and developed so much during September that it seems like you learn something new every other day.

Here are your top 12 firsts that have happened this month:

#12.  rolling over both ways (thank goodness!)

#11.  sitting up on your own (mom’s personal favorite because it means new-found independence)

#10.  stage 3 foods + mashed up table food + cheerios = one happy baby

#9.   finding your toes

#8.   discovering your favorite toy: an infant toothbrush

#7.   swimming like a little fish with your face in the water

#6.   holding your own bottle

#5.   that coughing/laugh/yell thing that you do these days – you definitely like the sound of your own voice

#4.   drinking from a cup with mom’s help

#3.   your first tooth (that grandma had to come from the dominican republic to find!)

#2.   meeting uncle clint, uncle brandon and baby jack

#1.   the infamous one-armed soldier crawl that, after much hard work,  you mastered on your 8-month birthday

Cole, you are fun and interesting and determined to get moving.  We just can’t get enough of you, little one.

Love, Mom