Mother-daughter bonding time

Today, Ellie and I got to spend some quality time together. Where you ask?!? Where else other than the nail salon! We are going to the beach on Wednesday so I wanted to get my nails done and Ellie always asks to have her nails painted so I thought it would be a special treat to let her tag along with me and April to get her first "pedicure". She did not get the works - just her toes and nails painted but she loved it! She got little flowers painted on her big toe nails and her thumb nails and she thought that was the greatest thing ever. She came home and showed daddy her "fwowers". Here are some pics I snapped of our little Diva.

My off-roadin' buddy!

Cole LOVES Ellie's power wheels 4-wheeler. He has used it more in that past month than Ellie ever has. We have taught him to press the button himself. It is so funny! He won't sit right on it though. He either stands up or hangs this legs off the the side. Here is his video...

Missing Grampa...

Today marks one year since my Grampa passed away. He (and Gramma) fought a long battle with alzheimers disease. He passed away two days after Cole was born. So, the first day at home with Cole we packed up all of our stuff and headed to Athens to be with the family. It was such a hard time because I was going through the emotions of just having a baby, trying to get used to two kids, not being able to be at home, and then dealing with the loss of a grandparent. I was on total overload! With all of that going on I never really got to do a good post about my Grampa so I figured today would be a good day to do that.

I wish Grampa was here to see these grandkids together. He met Ellie, and they got a long so well. We always joked that mom would take Ellie with her to "babysit" Grampa while Gramma would go to the doctor. Ellie just kept him from having a alzheimers "moment" and he thought the world of "that little boy" as he would call her. haha! But, if he were to see these two boys too he would just be beside himself. With Luke's spitfire personality and Cole's sweet heart he would have been in love!

Gramma, back in April, moved into a new home leaving her home with Grampa of over 55 years! That was a big move for her, but her new house is a much better fit for her. We all miss Grampa so much. When I was little I remember spending the night there and him telling me stories about him being in a banana boat in Africa during WWII. Not sure what he was doing in a banana boat in Africa...but it made for a good story! Come to think of it...I wonder if that was true or if he was just telling me a made up stories like I tell Ellie sometimes...I will have to check on that! But, anywho, we miss Grampa and still think of him!!

Cole's results

We got word from the doctor today that Cole is still has low iron, it is up from his last blood work up it still requires his iron drops. He seems to be getting better as far as his ear goes so that is a good thing! So, we are moving Cole to an all spinach diet...haha...just kidding! But, we are going to have to change a lot of what he eats to make sure it is packing in the iron. If anyone has good high iron recipes...please feel free to share!

Also, I don't know how many read my sister, Katie's, blog but Luke has been diagnosed with allergies to Milk, Soy, Nuts, and cheese. So...not much he can eat right now. So, if anyone has any recipes not including those items...please share too!

Cole's "well" visit

Today we went to see our favorite doctor, Dr. Washington. We just love her! Cole does too - he always shows off for her! We went in for Cole's "well" visit. It really was not a "well" visit. He has an ear infection in his right ear. Which I knew he had...he had been acting like it! We went to the ENT already but of course he was healthy when we went so we did not worry about tubes. We thought the winter weather that was causing all of the ear infections. But, we are going to see how they go from here to see if we need to go back to the ENT.

If Cole knew I was writting about the next topic...he would be so embarrassed! He has to go see the Urologist (sp?). He has always had a problem with his "little buddy" down there if you know what I mean. He was circumcised when he was born but has consistantly had a problem with the skin adhearing back. Today when we went it was pretty bad so we have to go see the specialist to get "it" back to normal. Poor buddy (both of them! :))

The blood work went SO MUCH BETTER! The lab guy was able to get the vein on the first time and there was no Ellie in the background screaming "my broder, my broder" He fussed a little bit but was nothing compared to the last time! We should get those results tomorrow! Hopefully his iron is up!

Cole weighed in at 22 lbs 6 oz which is only 4 oz more than he weighed at his 9 month appt so we are going to watch that to make sure he is eating enough. He was 30.5 inches tall and his head is 18.75 inches. He is average is weight and above average height and head width.

We have to go back next week to get his shots since he was sick today. I will update once we go to the urologist and get his lab results back.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLE!

Happy Birthday Cole-Man

Tomorrow is my baby boys first birthday. I cannot believe it. I could hardly believe Ellie ever turned 1, 2, or 3 much less Cole! Time goes by even faster with the second one! We go for our 1 year appt tomorrow so I will update his measurements tomorrow! Cole is doing lots...he is walking 4-5 steps at a time then plunk...on his butt. He loves to clap his hands and listen to us sing "if your happy and you know it" He says Momma, Da-da, juice, Nana, and I think I have made out some "ellie's" here and there. I think he has an ear infection now, he has just not been himself. He is very fussy and looks like he has no energy. So, we will get that checked tomorrow as well. We have to have blood work done to recheck his iron levels. Hopefully they are up! I am not looking forward to the bloodwork though...if you remember my last post from his 9 months appt...the blood work did NOT go well. I will let everyone know how it goes! Anyways...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet Cole-Man!

He is on the move...

The few days Cole has really made an effort to start walking. He will take 4-5 steps and then fall. He is doing really well! I finally caught it on camera today!

Today was Ellie's first day of school. They had a traveling petting zoo come to the school. Ellie loved it! She was so excited to tell me that she "petted a wizard" which if you know Ellie that means she got to pet a lizard. We (she) are excited to go back tomorrow!

My little Cheez-it!

Lukey has a new skill..."cheesing it up" It is SO CUTE! My two kiddos spent the night with Grammie Saturday night so we got to spend some good one on one time with Lukey. We went to dinner after a wedding Saturday (Congrats Kelsey and Jimmy!) and he was such a camera ham for us...here is the video of Lukey new trick. You say "cheese it up Lukey"...and he makes this face...

33 years of _______

Fill in the blank...hopefully Mom and Dad would fill in the blank with happy marriage! Today they have been married for 33 years! Way to go guys! Love you!

What makes me smile...

Today Ellie, Cole and I ventured out around town looking for a good invitation/gift shop to get some invitations for some up coming baby showers I am hosting. We drove all over Buford and had some good conversation with Ellie along the way. The best one was:

It had started raining and of course as soon as it did...Ellie asked her new favorite question...WHY? "Why is it raining, mommy?" and I replied "Because God wanted it to rain today" She did not ask any other question, you could just see that info processing in her little brain.

On our way home, the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. It was quiet in the car except for Thomas the Train palying in the background and Ellie pops up and says "Mommy, I guess God wanted it to stop raining, huh?" SWEET BABY! I did not say and word for about 2 mintues...then I just replied "Yes, Ellie he wanted it to stop raining" She melted my heart!

Happy 5th Tim!!

While Tim and I were at the beach this weekend we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary! I cannot believe it has been 5 years. Seriously...I just cannot believe it! I hope we are as happy 50 years from now as we are today. He really is my best friend. I am so proud of us and our life we have created over the last 5 years. He is an fantastic husband and father...can't wait for 5 more, then 5 more, and so on...

Cole put the "Monkey" in Monkey Joes!!

Today, Tim was off from work today so we wanted to take the kids somewhere since we have been at the beach for 4 days without them. So, Ellie got to pick and we headed to of course, Monkey Joe's! This was Cole's first time playing. HE LOVED IT! He did not even skip at beat...we put him in the toddler area and he took off up the ladder and down the slide...he was so cute and had all the moms there laughing!