Remote by Cole

First Solids, Rice Cereral

Look I'm Sitting!

Scarface

Five Months

Ella is now 5 months old. We have been real busy with work and keeping our household together. All four of us got the cold that has been going around. Only Mommy had the pleasure of a fever. Everyone else has just been coughing and sneezing. Cole did not feel well so he did not act well and woke up in the middle of the night in order to sleep with mommy and daddy. We were quite a sight all three of us in a full size bed coughing our lungs out. We have experienced RSV and Croup with Cole before so we knew what to look for. Neither Cole nor Ella were at that extreme and we are extremely grateful for that.
Cole has grown by leaps and bounds, he is 3 foot 2 inches, and we are quite pleased when he is well behaved and listens. He follows directions and joins in the group at his gymboree class. He has been caring towards Baby Ella and shows empathy when you stub your toe or accidentally trip over a stray toy. Pretty amazing this growing up stuff.
Ella is now much more fun to be around. She coos, smiles, laughs and my favorite blows bubbles and raspberries. Her face lights up when daddy or mommy come into view. She can now roll over from her tummy to her back also. It has been reported that she has creeped along like a snake. Ella sleeps on her crib for her naps and has fallen asleep for night time in her crib a few nights in a row so far. We will get there. Can not wait till her room is finished.

Mine!

Opening Valentine from Sean and Angel

Tired little devil

Thanks Angel!

Here's the plan....

Reach!

Ella had her 4 month check up and is following her growth curve just fine. She now tips the scales at a whopping 17 pounds 11 ounces and is a 25 1/2 inches long. She is over the 90 percentiles for both. Breastfed babies certainly do grow!!!
Cole's new love is his Matchbox airplane. He carries it where ever he goes and it takes baths with him. He misplaced his airplane right before bed time and asked daddy "Where go plane?" Daddy and Cole spent time looking for it and cold not find it. Cole went to bed relucently without airplane and slept with a car instead. When I arrived home from work at 10 pm, Chad and I found the plane in the couch. I brought it up to him and he opened his eyes a little and placed his hand over airplane.
I have included pictures of our sleeping beauties, notice Ella loves her car seat. Arrggg. Working on that but at least she is sleeping and at least the car seat is in the crib.

Sleeping with Airplane

Car Seat Drama

Hair's to you

Well we finally got Cole a haircut a couple weeks ago. I was at a local pizza place with him and a man asked if my "little girl" could ride on the carousal with his children. I was shocked!. "girl" so I busted butt, not actually it took me a week, to a local kiddie chop shop where the lady did not listen to what I wanted. His hair was cut way to short and she thinned it out quite a bit. It's only hair so what do I expect. He did sit still, something he does not do for Daddy. I will try a new place next time even though I have to drive 1/2 an hour to get there. Here is some advise, never trust a hair place that has a mullet on their business card!
Ella can now be lulled to sleep on our secret weapon but she spends most the night in her infant carrier, which she is almost grown out of. She has a doctors appointment this week and we are excited to see how much she has grown. She also has a couple of immunization shots and will not like us any, but hey tough love baby. Ella is teething big time. Our current Saturday caregiver has told us how she sticks both hands in her mouth almost gagging herself. We invested in teething toys today. She is not too fussy, she is easily soothed as long as you hold her and move around. Ella's naps only last 45 minutes and usually not at the same time as Cole's so there is not peace for us dear parents. We certainly miss "me" time and "us" time on Tuesdays.
Cole, Ella and I will be attending a Birthday party on Thursday and Cole is really excited. We spent 1/2 an hour picking out the perfect gift for his friend. He is super excited about the party. When the invitation came in the mail and I read it to him he ran around the house holding the invitation shouting "PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!" I think he is excited.

Forced Smile

Ella's Huge Feet

Four Months Old

Rare moment sleeping on blanket

I Did It!!!!

We are so proud! Our little Ella rolled over today for the first time! From her back to her tummy. She really doesn't like to lie on her back for long periods of time but when she rolls over she gets even more annoyed. We are battling the sleep issue still. Ella has mixed up her nights and days. The Colic is long gone but we are still not getting sleep. We are trying many different methods and found one that sorta works but so as not to jinx this method we will not share till she is a self soothing sleeper. Oh how we long for sleep. We are in the process of having our 1970's Luv tub removed and having the sub floor redone as to move my mom into a different bed room so Ella can have her own. Part of her not sleeping through the night is that she can smell the all you can eat buffet and thinks it is open 24 hours. She will just nibble here and there. Cole was in his own room at this point of his life and yes he had a night feeding but he went back to sleep afterwards. Ella likes the nightlife she likes to Boogie. Cole language skills are amazing an I am always wowed by what he will say. When Ella cries in the car he will lean over to her seat and whisper in his own language. She stops crying. One time I think I heard him say to her to suck her thumb that it will make her feel better. Makes me smile. I asked him if Ella loved her big brother he said "Yes!" I then asked if she loved her mommy and daddy. He paused and said not so enthusiastically "yes." Wow they are already talking about what awful parents they have. We are in so much trouble. Not much else is really going on that comes to mind. Cole goes on almost daily walks around the neighborhood and always asks to do so by standing by the door demanding "Walk, Walk!" mumbles a little then grabs his shoes and hands them to us and puts his foot up so we can put his shoes on. He has only put his shoes on by himself once so far. I was so proud that I did not have the heart to tell him they were on the wrong feet. Well enjoy the picks. Cole loves his bubbles, rocky road ice cream and Ella enjoys making silly faces.

Yummy Ice Cream

More Bubbles!

Born in 2005

Chubby Cheeks

Hello

We hope everyone had a great holiday! We certainly had a busy one. Cole enjoyed opening presents and playing with his train he received from Mommy and Daddy. Ella enjoys her play mat that she received from her Auntie Liz and Uncle Eric. Thanks! Nana and Pop Pop Leonard spent Christmas weekend with us and the kiddies. We all had a blast and Nana Joyce admitted to being exhausted after spending four days chasing after our little Man Cole. Ella is now sleeping and the Colic has ended. It was a amazing. Right on her 3rd month birthday it was like a revelation as if she said I am sorry mommy and daddy and began sleeping through the night. Not even waking to eat. We now average 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Cole has had a few rough nights and wakes up at 3 or 4 in the morning. We have decide it is because of pent up energy. The weather has been cruddy rain and we have not been able to let him play outside and Ella has a cough and running nose so we haven't left the house. It also might be because it is too dark in his room so we invested in a night light. One sleeps and the other doesn't. So is life.

My Baby!

Building Blocks

TRAIN, Choo Choo!

Tattoo Pooh and Me

Well been one crazy few weeks with very little sleep. Poor Chad I think he might start finding ways to hook up coffee in IV form. I am just really ditzy, or at least more so than usual. Feel like I am operatating on auto pilot. We have included picture of our little girl and the infamous Tattoo Pooh. She has taken a shine to him. Also one of Cole playing peek a boo in our bed beneath the covers. Hope you all are having a great holiday season. Sorry so short but the princess is wailing for me so I better jet.

Here's looking at you!

Present for the Baby

outfit from nana Joyce. Ella did not really enjoy wearing it. She is anti hat but the idea behind the outfit is cute. She is one of our best presents ever. Thanks you Nana and Pop Pop.

Where's Cole?

Ella singing with Mommy and Daddy

Double click on picture to play video.

SNOW!

Snow! We have snow and all I hear is Cole looking out the window shouting Snoooow Snoooow!!! He is super Excited and could not wait to go outside. When we did all bundle up to head out to pick up a prescription for Ella, baby Zantac, Cole marched over to our friendly neighbors pointed at the snow they where shoveling/blowing and said �look Snow� mumbled in his quick toddlerese then to continue to say �snow cold� Alice and Rich were quite amused . Cole was rather pleased with himself and climbed a snow bank. When were done chatting I told Cole �time to go. lets get in the van� and lo and behold he actually listened. He turned to Alice and Rich and said ByeBye and marched to the van.
Ella still prefers to scream at us from 9 pm to 3 am. Daddy usually gets this shift. He has so much more patience than me and handles her quite well. She does enjoy being laid down to explore her surroundings but still not for all that long. I think the Zantac is helping.
Cole and Daddy went out in the snow today and had fun! Cole refused to wear his mittens so they made short 15 minute trips as Cole hands got cold and he would stand and shake them trying to warm them up. What really warmed up Cole was a nice cup of hot chocolate in his Santa mug. Yummy!

Nice place to sit

Sven!!!

Hello to you all

Lying in my crib, baby!

Shag Rugs and Sleepy Kids

We had a really great Thanksgiving. We were able to go to Nana and Pop-Pop Leonard for the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. We spent the day with Arlene and Lela who both brought yummy dishes and the best darn Orange Rolls this here side of the state. Cole was excited to see Pop-Pop (as he calls Dan Leonard now) and his Nana. He was even more excited to play with Nana's collection of toys. He played himself into a nice long sleep on the car ride home and carried up the stairs to his room where he continued to sleep. Ella was a very good baby and when her witching hour came, 6 P.M. , we were out the door headed for home. Ella has not calmed down yet and loves to scream at us for hours on end. Usually starting at 6 P.M. till about 1 A.M. Chad and I are so sleep deprived we just are running on fumes. I hear this usually ends around the third month. Well three more weeks to go. (sigh) Ella had her 2 month check up and we discussed her Colic. We are trying gas drops, not really working still screaming. We are supossed to give the gas drops a week then try acid reflux medicine. We are just trying Camomille tea from the advice of all the "old wives" from where I work. (I work at the Mecca for "Old Wives") I drink the tea and she gets it in her milk through me. So far this evening she is calm. We are able to soothe her. It is 9 P.M. and she is not screaming. Ella now weighs 13 pounds and 13 ounces, and is 23.5 inches long. She is 94 % for weight and 85% for length. Well I am going to take this quite moment to sit and enjoy a cup of tea and hope this tea thing is working on our dear sweet little screamer.

Take a picture of my Yum Yum!

Little Chad

Sleepy

All Panchoed Out

AMEN!

We finally figured out why our little girl has been screaming non stop for hours this past week and why she has been refusing to sleep. She is teething! She is barely 2 months old. We tried teething tabs and AMEN! She smacked her lips and fell asleep the first time we tried the tabs. It was amazing.
I returned back to work and so far things have been going smooth. Cole told me he would be sad that I had to go to work but when I say bye bye to him he just brushes me off and runs to do what ever he is into at the moment. Ella adjusted well. We introduced bottles early so the feeding part has not been a problem just the lack of sleep and the crying.
Cole's vocabulary is still growing. He is quite the parrot mimicking words and you have to be super careful what you say around him. This is the fun time. Ella is Cooing and at long last smiling. Cole and Ella are almost the complete opposite as Babies. Cole was as independent as he is today. We had to buy a front Carrier because she refuses to be set down and left for more than 15 mins.

Returns

Well we are awaiting the return of Dan and Joyce Leonard from a wonderful trip to China. Cole looks forward to seeing his Nana.
He has had so much fun with me being on maternity leave these past seven weeks I know he will be angry when I go back to work. Or will he? Will I be hurt that he isn't devastated by my absence? Well Thursday is my first shift back. 1230 pm till 1000 pm . Shoplifters beware! I most likely will be cranky!!

Balloons and Grumpy Faces

Balloons are good when they have air and float. Cole gets extemely upset when his Balloons lose their air. Well we had a melt down today when he couldn't make his balloons fly. We brought home two from his friend's, Lizzie, 3rd birthday party. When the Balloons started deflating Cole tried to give them strength by feeding them some of his dinner, Mac n Cheese and carrots. Unfortunately they did not make it. We were lucky that our family out night the restaurant had Balloons. It made him oh so happy!
I have included pictures of our little girl who seems oh so serious. Most babies have learned how to smile and love to show off this new feat. But Little Ella seems so serious and pensive, almost judgmental. She seems to look at you as if saying "why you? Why did I get you people?" I hope it is a phase that she grows out off because come her teen years she will be thinking the same thoughts all over again. Dios Mios!

Seriously!

Seriously. Seriously!

Hurray! This is My Smile!

Hurray!!! Ella slept in her crib last night for 7 hours!!!! This is monumental for us because we have to hold this little one pretty much 24 hours a day. Does not like to be set down or left out of her eye site which right now is only a few inches. Been a little trying holding her and chasing young master Cole. Cole is now getting into imagination play with out the aid of a mommy or daddy. This morning I heard him talking to his toys and playing in his room before waking us for at least 20 mins. That is a Cole record. Part of me thinks "oh no what is he into" All I have to do is remember the Magic Marker incident where he created the first and world renowned Tattoo Pooh. We are all off to a Movie, a fabulous birthday gift to my mother from her daughter Angie. We plan on seeing Chicken Little. Hopefully it shall enlighten and entertain Cole and the rest.

Who me?