Let the walking begin :)

Cole has been able to stand and cruise along furniture for at least 3 months. He has been able to stand unassisted and take a few steps for about a month. He never wanted to take more than 3 steps at a time and I was OK with that. The fact that he started crawling at 5 and 1/2 months and going up stairs at 6 months, I was in rush for a walker. We worked with Cole on walking but never pushed him. Well on 1/22, Cole started walking around the house. He'd fall on occasion but instead of crawling to his final destination he'd stand back up and walk some more. The first day of this was full of falls by day two we had less falls and by day three I hardly saw him fall. He isn't running yet but he can move pretty dang fast. Along with walking he has discovered he has soul. This boy LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to shack it! Any form of music gets his feet and hands moving.

I am having fun watching him explore his world from a new vantage point. I am very proud of my son and can't wait for the next phase in his growth, which I am assuming is talking. Let's just hope he takes after his father in talking rather his mother. I've been known to talk a little too much :)

I just want to gooble him up!

Weekly Writing Challenge

When I first was pregnant with Cole I freaked out. I did my fair share of babysitting as a young girl but I didn't know how to be pregnant, how to prepare for a baby and what changes were about to happen in my marriage. Needless to say, I was terrified! I started doing research on the Internet and I found a website that had a wealth of pregnancy knowledge, support groups and much more! I joined this website and found a group that seemed perfect, I joined the Dec 08 Moms Group. This group of women were from all over the world and they were facing the same joys, fears, questions that I had. We spent 9 months helping one another, giving advice, providing support and being non judgemental. We've had the heated vaccinations debate, the circumcision debate, the political debate and religious debate but through all these conversations we have kept it civil. They were there to support me and I was there to support them. After our children began to arrive I was worried we would loose contact. This fear was quickly squashed when I saw a core group of woman hung around. We no longer were giving pregnancy support but baby support and 1 year later we no longer have babies but toddlers. These women have become a huge part of my life. I may never meet most of them in person but I will always be forever grateful for their unconditional love, support and friendship.

How does this post relate to my title, well there is a mom in my group who has a blog I follow. She has put out a challenge to her blog followers to write 1 post a week for a month. I am always up for a challenge.

Happy 1st Birthday, Cole!

Cole has turned 1. WOW, where did the time go?!?! I have been so blessed to watch my son grow, learn, explore and be a boy! He is climbing all over the place. He has started to walk. He says mama, dada, more and nigh nigh (which I think means mine). Cole has brought so many laughs, smiles, joy and love into our home. I am so thankful for being blessed to be his mother!


On Cole's actual birthday Brian was out of town, so I packed him up and took him to great grandma's house for a mini celebration. I bought a small cake and we watched Cole have a sample of what was coming Saturday. As you can see below, he enjoyed his cake!

On the Saturday following his birthday we had a small birthday party. We had grandma's, grandpa and great grandma join the festivities! We ordered pizza and enjoyed each others company.

I think Cole enjoyed the balloons the most!

He would only wear the hat for a brief moment.

First chance at the cake...

Wow, look at all these colors on my hand :)

He needed a spoon to shovel in the cake.

YUMMY!!!

Great Grandma & Cole

Grandma & Cole

Grandma, Grandpa & Cole

Mommy, Daddy & Cole

Cole feeding mommy some cake....hhhmmmm

YAY! That was fun!

Cleanup time :)

All clean and ready for some presents

Daddy & Cole opening gifts

Family Day

Something that is very important to me is creating and having Family Days. To me, a Family Day is doing something out of the everyday hustle and bustle of life. For example, painting a room with dad, creating a garden, going sledding, going to the park, the zoo or the beach...anything as long as you're together with no phones and just each other! I know this sounds silly but I think is important to circle back and reconnect with our loved ones.

This past week we spent our Family Day at the beach. The weather was in the high 70's and we couldn't resist. We had a great lunch at the beach. Getting outside and spending the day with my family is so refreshing. It helps ground me. After our lunch we stripped Cole down put on his bathing suit and let him play in the sun, surf and sand. I am so blessed to have these two amazing men in my life.