No show!

Good - Christmas was fun, the kids had a blast! We took the week off between Christmas and New Years so we have about 12 days in all with the cutie pies and are living it up doing something fun each day =)

Bad - After two healthy months (Oct & Nov) we have now been sick most of Dec. K had strep and C had a GI but (for 10 days!) and now a cold. I also got the GI bug and M got the cold. Ick. Therefore, no time to post...hoping to be back in Jan for a *gulp* 18 month update for the wee man.

I survived #2

We hosted 17 for Thanksgiving, whew! Everyone pitched in and brought side dishes, pies, etc. so it's not as exhausting as it sounds...but pretty exhausting if I'm being honest. K had a blast showing off and telling stories. C wasn't so sure about having that many people in "his" house and was a little clingy. Can hardly blame him.  Here's the crew =)

The rest of the holiday weekend was very productive and I think we're mostly ready for Christmas. We put up the tree and decorations inside, the lights up outside and made and ordered photo gifts (New Years cards, calendars and 8x10's for grandparents and great grandparents, etc.). I posted lots of baby stuff on craigslist *sniff, sniff* and cleaned outgrown clothes/shoes from closets. Each morning we made it to a park or swimming pool to burn off some energy too. All in all a very busy, productive and fun weekend.  This morning our elf showed up and K is beyond thrilled =) Love this time of year!

PS I fixed the pictures in my last post, can you see them now?

I survived!

M was away on business for a full 7 days, 6 nights and got home last night *WOO-HOO* Luckily my Dad came over for an hour in the evening to help with bath/book/bed time and the kids stayed healthy. All I can say is I don't have any idea how single parents or parents who have a spouse that travels a lot do it. It's TOUGH!  A few quick shots from our week:

It was COLD here, like setting records at -14 cold. So we had to come up with a lot of indoor activities.

Here's my Dad watching a movie with them while I do dishes =)

We had a b-day party to go to. I love C playing with the pink balloon in his skull shirt!

Halloween!

Two years ago on Halloween day C was just a little embryo being thawed and put in my belly...now he's a rough and tumble toddler running anywhere and everyone. How life can change!  Here's the little guy as Sven from Frozen. He had a good time collecting candy and unlike his big sister he already knows what candy is at 15 months, apparently that's a "benefit" of having a big sister =)

K had a great time on Halloween, we got this Elsa costume, complete with wand, tiara and braid and she was over the moon about it. She is getting more and more energy to run from door to door and now starts the bargaining over how much candy she can have a day. We're trying to stick to one piece after dinner. At that rate it'll last until New Year's (without M and I helping of course, which will never happen!).

Here's the pumpkins M carved for them. It's a good thing one of us have enough skill and patience to do this. Ok, I could probably pull of the one on the right.

We just carved them last weekend and last night the Elsa pumpkin had this in it, YIKES! The true horrors of Halloween.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!!!

Pumpkin Patch

This time of year is so fun! The holidays come one by one, the trees change and the air gets a bit brisk. Love it =) Sunday we made it to the pumpkin patch and the rain drops started falling as we left...but not before some photo ops!!!

Arriving - they aren't quite sure about it yet

Petting zoo

First pony ride

Sibling love...creepy pig

Finding the PERFECT pumpkin

Why is trying to get a picture of two kids looking the same direction and smiling so difficult?

Try #2. They look grumpy but they did have a good time.

I couldn't resist including this from outside her dance class this past weekend =)

Walking!

C has really taken off. He took his first steps right before his 14 month b-day (9/16) and is now walking pretty much everywhere and anywhere.  He walks about 80% of the time and still crawls some when walking seems like too much work. Here is some of the first video evidence we got =)

Wish I could say that the tubes cured all his ills but he is sick once again with a cold...and he's getting all his 1 year molars. He's having disrupted sleep and has been crabby. This was taken right after his tube surgery though. I can't help but think he's hearing better now and is starting to babble and talk more.

K is doing great. She's had four ballet classes now and is really enjoying it. We don't get to watch until the very last class so we aren't sure what she's learning but that she's having fun is the most important thing. Her pre-k class is going really well. She practicing writing all her letters and loves telling us what words start with by sounding out the letters.  She is the sweetest big sister on earth, she is patient, kind and care taking of C. It seriously makes my heart smile! 

Work has been crazy busy for me and it's seriously cut into my blogging time. I'll try to get here more often!

Post Op Report

Thank you for all the good wishes =) The short story is that yesterdays surgery went well and our little man is back to his happy little self!

The long story: I woke him up at 11:45 the night before to nurse since he had to go without food after midnight. We got him up at 6:30 am to get dressed and then loaded him up in the car. When we arrived at 7:15 the front desk lady acted slightly annoyed as they thought we'd be coming in at 6:45. I told her the ENT had said 7:15 was fine since he wasn't getting an IV.  Then it was a flurry of activity in getting him into a gown, leads placed, signing consents, etc. I asked the anesthesiologist if I could be with him when he went under.  She said she didn't have a problem with it, this was a big relief to me. I didn't want him entering the cold surgical room without a comforting face. I held him in a bear hug while they put him under.  He flailed his arms and legs and gasped a bit. Then he went limp. I had to lay him out on the surgical table and walk away. This was the hardest part of the day for sure. Then it was the longest 25 minute wait ever in the waiting room. The nurse came and got me and I could hear him crying as I approached his recovery room. They pretty much let me nurse right away and he calmed down some but as soon as he finished he went back to screaming.  It was a combination of an angry and pain cry. It took about 20 minutes for me to finish the paperwork, get discharge instructions, etc. At 8:35 we were headed home and he fell asleep on the way home. I let him sleep in the car until 9:45 and when he woke up he was a little groggy but pretty much back to normal. He wanted to go play, eat, etc. and hasn't had a cross moment since. He is on 2x a day antibiotic and steroid ear drops for a week and has his post-op appointment on 10/7. 

This was taken around 11 am yesterday.  Can't even begin to tell you how relieved I am to have this over and have our happy boy back.  Hope this brings much healthier times ahead!

Need Good Thoughts

C is having tube surgery tomorrow morning.  I know it's quick and routine but this mama is nervous...general anesthesia is just scary. All P&PTs welcome!

Birthday Weekend

My birthday was Saturday and we've had a really nice weekend =)  M let me sleep in both Saturday and Sunday so I'm feeling more rested than I have in quite some time.  That's love right there!  

Friday night M and K made me these adorable rice crispy treats.  After singing to me K declared that I could have any of them except the ones with sprinkles *LOL*

Saturday we enjoyed a picnic up on Flagstaff which overlooks Boulder.  So pretty and the kids had a great time!

Wishing I would have remembered to take off my darn sunglasses in this picture!

Before our picnic we had gone to buy K's new ballet outfits and slippers, here she is trying them on. Her class starts on the 14th, I can't wait for the cuteness overload!

Outfit #2.

In the evening my parents brought over take out from my favorite BBQ place and a DQ cake.  YUM!  It was a really nice day spent with the fam =)

My wish was for everyone to be healthy for a change.  For the most part that happened, at least for Saturday.  C finished his antibiotics for his latest ear infection on Friday and we were doing pretty well Saturday and Sunday morning but Sunday afternoon C started going downhill.  As of today (Monday) it looks like C is sick again.  Disrupted sleep makes me suspect yet another ear infection. That makes two days free of the darn things.  At this point tubes can't happen quick enough, looks like it's time for mama bear to push the issue with the ENT!

Sheesh!

Well friends I'll try not to dwell on this but we are currently fighting ANOTHER ear infection (5th in 6 months - hello tubes!) and hand foot and mouth.  So tired of this crap, I cry uncle.  My b-day is next Saturday and you can guess what my wish is!  Ok, I'll now move to fun things because I know you must all be sick of the whining, I know I am =)

M and I went with K on a field trip about 10 days ago.  This is her and her bestie in one of the little rides.  It was at a place called Casa Bonita and has pretty bad food but fun cliff divers, rides and arcade games.  There were 54 kids on the bus under 8 and K loved having us along.

C has decided that he loves coloring.  He also loves eating crayons =)

You may be wondering what the heck is going on in this photo...yeah, I did too when M showed it to me after being outside with the kiddos.  Turns out C climbed on top of the table and assumed down dog position and K took the opportunity to check if he needed a diaper change.  Too funny!

Cuties!!!

C helping M put in some new sod. He was obsessed with the wheelbarrow and shovel.

Things around here...

I've been quite the blogging slacker!  So while not the most interesting post this is what's been going on...

This past weekend we went to the county fair.  The highlight was the petting zoo.  K loved the pony and rabbit the most. She also enjoyed watching the calf roping.  She has decided we must go back again this weekend to see the pigs and sheep that weren't there yet last weekend.  Who knows we may sneak in a pony ride and/or Ferris wheel ride while we're at it.  

We had a new virus make it's way through the house early this week.  I know you're all shocked.  Hopefully the kiddos are on the path to recovery now.  Last week we started the kids on two immune boosting things (elderberry syrup and a gummy vitamin for kids that has vit c, vit d, zinc and echinacea) in hopes we can fight off some of these things!  Anyone had luck with these, or other supplements? Fingers crossed they help us fight some of these bugs...

Wednesday K went a field trip to Eliches, a large amusement park.  She had a fabulous time.  Today she's going to "Jump City" where they have tons of trampolines.  One more month of field trips and then it's back to class time for her.  She'll move into the pre-k class in September.  Can't believe we'll be enrolling for kindergarten this winter.

The evenings are cooling off a bit quicker around here and the kids are loving time on the patio.  Cole is trying to clean the sand/water table by eating/drinking everything in it.  He's standing and cruising more and more but no signs of walking just yet.  

Some pics =)

Having a talk with the doctor at his 1 year well visit a few weeks ago.

K is loving that he can do more things with her and she is so gentle with him...makes me smile.

Who's eating sand?  This guy!

He's ONE =)

Hard to believe a year has passed since this happy, loving, sweet little man came into our lives.  We are so very lucky!  

Stats:

At a doctors appointment last week he weighed in at 23lb 15oz (87th %) and 30.5" (77th %).  He's wearing 12-18 month clothes, size 3 shoes and size 3 diapers.  He's now had three ear infections and about one virus per month since starting daycare in Oct '13. Not as bad as K had it so we're counting our lucky stars there.

Food:

He's nursing 5 times a day (5am, 7:30am, 11am, 5pm and 8pm) with an extra nursing mid afternoon on weekends. He eats three meals a day and two snacks.  He is great at feeding himself but when he's full big handfuls are pitched over the edge of his tray to the dogs. He likes most anything and eats the same thing we do for meals.

Favorite Toys:

Anything that makes noise and that he can hit on something else. 

Skills:

Crawling proficiently and starting to pull up on things.  He'll take a few steps while pushing a chair or a walker but hasn't taken any on his own.  H'es pretty wobbly so I don't think independent steps will happen too soon.  I should add that he just moved rooms at daycare and is now in with mostly walkers so that could speed up this progress significantly.  He's starting to mimic more sounds and words.  Right now he says mama, dada, dog and hi. He claps, waves, plays peek-a-boo and does "SO big".

Sleep:

Still doing great on night time sleep, typically 8:30pm to 7am with one wake-up to nurse around 4 or 5.  About 3x a week he'll wake up one other time too but we just settle him and he's usually back to sleep in less than 10 minutes.

His daytime naps at school have never been reliable but we're hoping with the move into the new room that will improve.  They lie down every day at 12:30.  On the weekends he typically takes a 1 hour morning nap and 2 hour afternoon nap.

Pictures:

Love this serious expression and the bow tie kills me =)

Such a happy, happy boy!

Ear infections suck!

C is down with another ear infection =(  His fever has hovered between 101 and 103 since Monday and he is miserable.  Sleeping flat in his crib has been a no-go for the last two nights and I'm so thankful I hadn't yet sold the rock-n-play since it's the only place he's been able to string together a few hours sleep. I really hoped summer would give us a break from these sicknesses.  I hope he's better for his b-day one week from today.  Can't believe he's almost a *gulp* toddler...wow!

This past weekend we got some family photos taken and I'll unveil them next week as part of little mans b-day post so stay tuned!  And a little teaser, he's wearing a bow tie *swoon*

Here are some recent pictures, including a few from our mini celebration on the 4th.  Hope all my bloggy buddies are doing well and are having a great start to summer!

They are loving the little mini pool

It doesn't keep C as contained as I thought it might but it's fun none the less. And as a side note, why can't both kids smile/laugh in the same photo?!

On the 4th we decided a big fireworks show might be too much for C so the kiddos sat in the wagon while we lit some small fireworks in the driveway.

They were pretty entertained and not at all afraid.

This was our biggest firework since the ones  thatshoot off the ground ones are illegal here.  It finished with some somewhat loud pops...

C was not at all amused and K was concerned about him.  M and I are bad parents because he is laughing while I'm taking a picture *LOL*  In any case we were pleased we didn't take him to a big show where the pops were sure to be much louder than on our little fountain!

After fireworks K got to hold some sparklers and throw some poppers, this was her favorite part =)

Summer!

I love this time of year!  Spending tons of time outside and enjoying the beautiful weather is the name of the game =)  Quick summary since my last post was two weeks ago (sorry!) and then the real fun...pictures.

• M hired a new assistant for work and I'm hoping this will lighten his load a bit. Since they lost an employee over a year ago he's been doing double duty =(  His Father's Day was fun, Saturday he played golf and we had lunch with my Dad.  Sunday we had a mellow day, went to DQ and just played with the kiddos.  
• K is busy on her 2-3 field trips a week and is having a blast.  Last week they hit 2 parks, an amusement park and a trampoline place.  This week two more parks and a butterfly pavilion.  Lucky girl!  She had her 4 year checkup on Monday and is 40.5" (46th%) and 40.5lb (81st%).  Her hearing and vision and the doctor said she's doing great.
• C is moving more and more.  The army crawl is happening less often and now it's mostly real crawling with pulling up to knees often.  Every once in a while he's pulling up to his feet too.  Crazy how fast they change at this age.  He (and I) got a cold this week but he's bouncing back.  He's 30" (70th%) and 22.4 lb (73rd%) right now. Zeroing in on his 1st b-day here in less than three weeks...eeek!
• Work has been really busy for me but that's good job security so no complaints.  The kids are both so fun and cute right now.  Life is really, really busy.  It seems like every minute of the day there are at least five things I should be doing.  This might explain the lack of blogging =)

M and K being pirates while I was making dinner *LOL*

 

C's first wagon ride and K being his protective big sis

 

M's new drill for Father's Day - boys and their toys!

My Dad reading to K - awe!

C's new inflatable containment for the yard.  We're foolishly hoping this will keep him from eating leaves, sticks, etc.

 

K is in heaven with the slip-n-slide, it came out the first day of summer.  Here she is mid jump!

Last Sunday we went up the Flagstaff, just outside of Boulder, for snack while we were running errands.  K declared, "We're on top of the world!" Funny girl.

Monday K had her 4 yr checkup during the hearing test.

Squink!

That's K's new word for wink since she get's confused between wink and squint =)  Love the funny little words they still use at this age.

We had a full birthday week with her party on memorial day, her actual birthday on Thursday and a dinner with my parents on Saturday.  On her actual b-day we let her pick where she wanted to eat and she chose "Old McDonald's".  Ha!  So we had dinner there, played in the play land for a bit and then came home to have yet another cupcake and give her the bike we got her.  She rode to the corner and back but is taking a while to get use to the brake when the pedal goes backwards. 

On Saturday evening my parents came over and brought pizza for dinner.  Then we enjoyed even more cupcakes. 

My Mom got her tons of clothes (5 outfits) and shoes (3 pairs) and my sister and niece picked out this adorable outfit for her too.   

All in all the b-day week was very busy and extremely fun!  Her official 4 year stats are 39 lb (79th%) and  40.5" (67th%).

In a few weeks it'll be time to start to plan C's 1st birthday.  How crazy is that?!