tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570533131906790872024-02-02T02:06:33.909-08:00Everything Eathertona family blog about the lives of matt, heather, braden & coleHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-7304244417300182642014-10-20T20:43:00.002-07:002014-10-20T20:43:51.653-07:00Back in Action, Aug-Oct 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a long time... again. Aaaaarrrrgh (shakes fists in air)! We've had a lot going on and I wish I would have kept up. Maybe I'll go back and do a couple updates on the last few months later. But I'm back now and hope to keep up. We'll see.</div>
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We moved back to Chicago at the very end of July and are living right around the corner from Matt's parents house. It's a great place, but it's a rental, so we'll be moving again sometime soon. Can't wait for that. Here's what we've been up to since August....</div>
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Brady started Kindergarten! He is going to the same elementary school that his Daddy went to and they are both thrilled about it. I'm just happy that it's in walking distance to our house, well, until the snow comes!</div>
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He is getting so big! (5 years, 8 months)</div>
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We waited to have Cole's 2nd birthday party after we settled into our home, so we could celebrate with family. He was so happy to have his aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents there!</div>
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Big slugger trying to bust open the pinata</div>
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Hanging with a bunch of friends (and all their little boys!) Watch out world, Cole learned how to cheese it up for the camera.</div>
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We went apple picking with the cousins (Aubrey, age 4.5)</div>
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Brady gets ready to run at his school's fundraiser (he did almost 3 miles!)</div>
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Cole playing cars in our new basement</div>
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Lounging before nap</div>
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Watching Bubba play on the iPad</div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-12723367229846423772014-01-07T23:32:00.000-08:002014-01-07T23:32:23.980-08:00Post-Nap ColeCole isn't the... cheeriest of folks... when he wakes up. Not in the morning, not after nap. I go in his room every day oozing sunshine and rainbows and he just cries and tells me, "no!" But I keep trying, hoping one day he'll break out of this post-sleep funk.<br />
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Today I decided to sneak in the camera to capture the fun. There weren't any tears, but I got the usual stone face, covered with his paci and blankie.<br />
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I have a hard time with lighting in his room, so I had to use the external flash, but I just love the way the walls bring out the blue in his eyes. This one and his eyes. Certainly doesn't get them from me (the grumpy thing yes, eyes no).<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPT_9X4Q4sQ/Usz9pHseFnI/AAAAAAAAOJQ/fiL3dXIGRMI/s1600/IMG_2261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPT_9X4Q4sQ/Usz9pHseFnI/AAAAAAAAOJQ/fiL3dXIGRMI/s1600/IMG_2261.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>7/365: Post-nap Cole</i></div>
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He looks so snuggly, doesn't he?! I'm just glad this isn't a video project :)</div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-12095457312503449742014-01-07T23:21:00.001-08:002014-01-07T23:21:20.827-08:00Weekend Recap: Aunt Amanda Was Here!So I'm not quite hitting the "post a day" mark, but I have posted more in the last 7 days than I have in the last 7 months. That has to mean something, right?! :)<br />
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My sister Amanda was in town visiting this past weekend, so we were very busy playing and talking about wedding stuff (she's getting married in June, for those of you who don't already know!) It is always so wonderful having her here. She is my very best friend and I miss her with all my heart. Having her here always brings out the best in me, and the boys.<br />
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<i>4/365: Brady & his Aunt Amanda. Reunited!</i></div>
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<i>4/365: Playing "Steal the Blankies" </i></div>
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<i>4/365: Love on Coley!</i></div>
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Amanda cared for Brady when I went back to work after maternity leave (way back in 2009), for months 3-6, so they created a very special bond that no one can match. Despite the distance, they have always been extremely close and Brady really cherishes the time he spends with her. He gets so sad when she leaves, it's hard for this Mama to keep it together...<br />
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<i>6/365: Last dinner with Amanda</i></div>
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I am looking forward to the day when we are all back living in the same state, and saying goodbye will really just mean, "so long for now!"<br />
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I have been really good at getting out my DSLR every day to take a photo for this Catch the Moment 365 project. I even took my camera to dinner at a pizza joint the other night, just to capture our last meal with Aunt Amanda. But sometimes, a day goes by and I don't get a chance to use it, so I have to rely on the trusty-dusty cell phone photo. Here is a shot I took on Sunday during the SF 49er's game vs. the Green Bay Packers.<br />
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<i>5/365: Cheering on the 49'ers vs. the Packers</i></div>
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As a die-hard (ok, sometimes fair-weather) Chicago Bears fan, I wanted nothing more than the Niners to crush the Packers in the first week of the playoffs. And while it wasn't a full-on spanking, per say, the Niners were victorious in the end and I was one very happy lady. You know what they say, "when in Rome..."<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-50405306289551256622014-01-03T23:47:00.002-08:002014-01-03T23:47:52.728-08:00Brady: Name of the Game is "Sports"!On New Year's Day, it was the Stanford Cardinal. Yesterday, he was "rolling tide" with the rest of the 'Bama fans. Tonight? He's all decked out in Missouri black and gold (thanks to Grandpa Steve!)<div>
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<i>For the record: We live about 5 miles from Stanford, and Matt's parents, brother, sister-in-law, cousin, and cousin-in-law all went to Missouri. I have no idea where the Alabama thing came from.</i><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>3/365: Waiting for the field goal.</i></div>
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Brady eats, sleeps, and poops sports right now. Football. Basketball. Hockey. It's 24/7. If he's not watching a game, he's checking scores on his "sports apps" or talking about yesterday's games. Or last week's games. Whatever he still has on his mind.</div>
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Or watching Sports Center, for the love of Pete.</div>
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Currently his favorite teams include... Denver Broncos, Miami Heat, Chicago Blackhawks, Alabama Crimson Tide, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Stanford Cardinal, Missouri Tigers, and Michigan State Spartans. I've tried talking to him about loyalty a thousand times, but he just cannot put all his eggs in one basket. He's a bandwagon fan, at it's finest. And it's just fine by him.</div>
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In one breath he can go from talking hockey highlights, to BCS standings, to a bad call on on the Chargers on 3rd and 8. I'm a sport-loving kind of girl, but I have sports whiplash most days with this one. Is this a normal thing with boys?!</div>
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But he's passionate about it and it makes him happy (well, mostly happy. Boy had a MAJOR BREAKDOWN when Alabama lost to Auburn a few ago. Oh maaaan....) I have to say, what I love most about his sports addiction is how educational it has been for him. When he talks scores, he always includes, "they're winning by 7!", or "they lost by 22", or "they're ranked higher because they have 2 more wins". I am really amazed at how his math skills have soared in the last 6 months.</div>
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Two years ago he was so into guitars and <a href="http://jbonamassa.com/" target="_blank">Joe Bonamassa</a> that I thought for sure he had found his true calling, but now... he can barely recall the words to his old favorite song, "John Henry". So, who knows what the future will hold for this one, but right now, sports is the name of his game!</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-41518244063495951492014-01-03T23:20:00.000-08:002014-01-03T23:50:12.488-08:00A boy and his dog.To say that Cole is <i>obsessed</i> with Tinley would be an gross understatement. Brady was definitely into Tinley when he was very young (and sadly, his interest has faded over the years), but Cole, man is he all over this dog.<br />
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From the minute he wakes up, 'til the minute he goes to bed, he's always looking for "Tin-la" (the phonetic way he pronounces his name, so adorable!) He wants to give him water. He wants to give him (his) food. He wants to give him bones and his rope. He also wants to give him random things like cars, his paci, his blankies, and his... hat?! Nothing surprises me anymore.<br />
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Poor Tinley. He's getting up there in age (7.5 years, that's crazy!) and sometimes he just looks at me like, "really lady?!" But Cole is really very gentle with him and wants nothing more than to make him happy. So I let them be. After all, Tinley is very capable of getting up and running away if he's had enough, right?!<br />
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Yesterday, I was busy taking shots of my <a href="http://bit.ly/187fo4T" target="_blank">Holiday Card Holder</a>, as part of my <a href="http://stavishclan.com/2014/01/top-tips-successful-project-365.html" target="_blank">Catch The Moment 365</a> project, when I turned around to see this exchange between a boy and his dog...<br />
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<i>2/365: A boy and his dog.</i></div>
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<i>Cole is saying "hat? hat?" and Tinley is (clearly) saying, "no hat, no hat".</i></div>
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<i>So Cole says, "that's okay Tin-la, I still love you."</i></div>
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And he does. No matter what.<br />
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For the record... here is the shot I was capturing when I got distracted with the cuteness on the couch. Now that the holiday cards have stopped coming in, my <a href="http://bit.ly/187fo4T" target="_blank">card wreath</a> is complete. And it's so beautiful, I just can't bear to take it down with the rest of the holiday decor.<br />
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<i>2/365: Blessed with wonderful family & friends.</i></div>
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I love looking at the faces of all the people I know and love. It might just have to stay up a little longer!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-88199105714549818832014-01-01T22:13:00.000-08:002014-01-03T23:49:00.570-08:00Back From A Break. Welcome 2014!A few months ago I decided I was done with writing on this blog. At the time, I was throwing myself into work and my <a href="http://www.mamadish.com/" target="_blank">other blog</a>, and I felt that this one had (sadly) run its course. But then I realized that giving up on this blog meant giving up on chronicling our family's lives, and that didn't settle too well.<br />
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Over the years, I have shared so many details of Brady's life on "Everything Eatherton", but have talked so little about Cole and his development over his first year and a half. Such is the life of a second child, I suppose, but I need to try and give him as much attention as Brady received. So I decided I would breathe new life into this blog in 2014 and that's what I'm here to do!<br />
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<i>1/365: </i><i>Just like his big brother-- this boy LOVES to read.</i><br />
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<i>Fave books: Little Blue Truck, Going on a Bear Hunt, My Truck is Stuck, Big Red Barn</i></div>
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I've decided to participate in a new project that will (primarily) live on this blog. It's called <a href="http://www.nurselovesfarmer.com/2013/12/lets-project-365-together/" target="_blank">Catch The Moment 365</a> and it's a photography challenge that encourages us to take a photo every single day of the year. Ideally with your DSLR, but if that's not possible, a phone will do. I decided to do this for 2 reasons... 1) I need to practice more with my DSLR and 2) I was recently at a friend's house who did a similar Project 365 then printed a book with all the photos. It was so incredible to see their life unfold and I knew immediately that I wanted to do it this year.<br />
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So, without trying to capture everything that's happened over the last 6 months (maybe I'll do that another time), let's just agree to move forward from this point together, m'kay?!<br />
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Keep checking back every day for a new photo, and maybe, just maybe, I'll write from time to time. And if you can't come every day, peek in on <a href="http://www.mamadish.com/" target="_blank">Mama Dish</a> every Friday for a week in review.<br />
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Happy New Year! Here's to a fantastic 2014!<br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-71035725256361716642013-06-10T12:01:00.001-07:002013-06-10T12:01:56.154-07:00Another School Year in the Books!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I've said it before and I'll say again, I can't believe ANOTHER year has gone by. Friday was Brady's last day of Three School (I know it's confusing, especially since he's 4 1/2, but it's called that because he was 3 when it started) and I find myself just shaking my head...</div>
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The physical change isn't all that dramatic. Only a little taller, but definitely more mature looking. His smile is definitely getting... more natural looking. In the photo on the left, he's wearing 2T shorts, 3T shirt, 2T jacket and size 10 Nikes. On the right, he's wearing 3T shorts, 4T shirt and size 10/11 Crocs.</div>
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He continues to be extremely comfortable at school and very outgoing. Everyone (including parents) knows who Brady is and he is always being asked to attend birthday party and playdates. We often joke that he's the "Mayor of Montecito" (his school) because when we walk on the property, everyone calls his name and waves. It's crazy!</div>
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His teachers say is a joy to have in class. He is always welcoming the new kids and wants to include everyone in games and activities. He's very good at sharing and has learned that he doesn't have to be the first one to stand in line, answer questions, and share during Show and Tell.</div>
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Brady has developed a love for writing and drawing this year. The amount of "art" he brings home every day is overwhelming. He can write his first name clearly all by himself, and can write pretty much anything else if you tell him how to spell it. His drawings have really taken shape as well; his bodies have arms, legs, hands and feet, and his faces even have foreheads!</div>
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He continues to play with his best friend Lyla at school, but has also become a "boy's boy" and has started playing more with his buddies Lucas and Logan. And he really enjoys staying for the after-school enrichment program, where he gets to play with the bigger boys from the 4 and Pre-K classes. His favorite older friends are Robert and Calvin.</div>
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Brady & Lyla</div>
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Brady & Lucas</div>
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Brady performing at his Year End Sing-Along</div>
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Next year, Brady will be returning to Montecito for his 3rd and final year of preschool before he goes into Kindergarten. It's going to be a tough year because Lyla will be transferring to a school closer to her home and most of his other classmates are going into the 5 day program (Brady is staying in a 3 day program again next year). But because he's shown that he can adapt to any situation, I know he will do just fine.</div>
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Way to go buddy, Mom & Dad are so proud of you!</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-7658391831744054442013-05-06T20:51:00.003-07:002013-05-06T20:51:40.876-07:00Brady Said What?! (Mother's Day 2013 Edition)I didn't think it could get more bizarre than when I heard Brady tell Matt last year that they should get me a piece of asparagus for Mother's Day. Delicious? Yes. Practical? Yes. Desirable?! I don't think so.<br />
Then I had this conversation today with Brady...<br />
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I should start off by saying, Brady cannot keep a secret. And he doesn't like to wait to give a gift. As soon as he makes/buys you a gift, you're getting it. So I knew something was coming out of his mouth right after we saw a commercial on TV where someone was getting a gift for Mother's Day--<br />
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Brady: "Mom!"<br />
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Me: "Brady, I don't want to know. If you have a secret for Mom about Mother's Day you need to keep it. Don't tell me."<br />
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Brady: "But Mom, I have to tell you. I'm giving you hummingbird earrings for Mother's Day. 2 hummingbird earrings. For you. For Mother's Day."<br />
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Me: "Brady!"<br />
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Brady: "They were $5."<br />
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Me: "Oh yeah, where do you buy $5 hummingbird earrings?"<br />
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Brady: "At the mall. At a store called 'Jewelry for Moms'".<br />
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Oh Brady, you sure say the funniest things. And you have a wild imagination.<br />
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(Note: I am 99.99999% sure there are no hummingbird earrings in my future. Thank goodness.)<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-30704742972667868242013-02-19T20:18:00.000-08:002013-02-19T20:18:09.071-08:00More Milestones ReachedIt feels like Cole has just been running down the milestone list lately, checkin' off boxes...<br />
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- Sit up on own. Check.<br />
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- Sit in a highchair at a restaurant. Check.<br />
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- Get first cold. Check.<br />
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- Clap. Check.<br />
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- "Crawl" backwards. Check.<br />
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- Rock on hands and knees (in prep for crawling forward). Check.<br />
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- Sleep on stomach for extended period of time. Check.<br />
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- Cut teeth. Check. (The bottom two are visible but not really "up" just yet. Very soon!)<br />
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It's been a very exciting time, minus the cold part. So exciting, in fact, that's you'll notice how "sleeping through the night" is still not on this list... damn.<br />
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Just today, Cole learned to pick up a Cheerio and put it in his own mouth! It takes a little while to get there, but I have a feeling he'll have it down pat by Thursday. And ohmygoodness, don't you just want to eat those chubby hands?! He is so yummy.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XvfZ8-Rlyk4?rel=0" width="420"></iframe>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-67883552350624636242013-02-11T13:31:00.000-08:002013-02-11T13:31:18.467-08:00February Check-InHaven't posted in a little while, so I just thought I'd catch you up on what's goin' down...<br />
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First, Grandma Linda came to visit! It was just for the weekend, but we're always happy to see her. Cole was a little unsure of who she was when she first got here, but he quickly warmed up to her and he and Brady were sad to see her go on Sunday. We all went out to dinner and Cole sat in a highchair and ate spinach! It was very exciting. The highlight of the evening was when Brady asked us, "our waiter is very pleasant, isn't he?" I don't know where he gets this stuff.<br />
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Brady showing Grandma his shell collection</div>
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Grandma pushing Cole in the swing</div>
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Cole eating like a big boy!</div>
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Daddy & Cole horsing around</div>
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Right after Grandma left, the cold bug invaded the Eatherton household. Somehow, Matt got it first. Then Brady. Then Cole. Then Me. Then Matt, again. Nothing too serious, just low-grade fevers, sore throats, and lots and lots of boogies. I am not joking at all when I say we've gone through about 10 boxes of Kleenex in the last 2 weeks!<br />
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It's so funny to hear Brady talk about us being sick... he thinks there's an <i>actual</i> bug that is going person to person in this house. "First, the bug went into Daddy's mouth and got him sick in the throat. Then, the bug came into my throat and got me sick. Then, the bug flew into Cole's mouth..." Could you imagine if that were really what happened?! Yikes. I just hope the cold bug flies itself right out the front door because I am done wiping noses around here! If we're all due for a round two like Matt, I'm screwed.<br />
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Do you know what a cold does to a baby who is a poor sleeper?? It makes them an even worse sleeper, especially when you throw teething into the mix (there are tiny white spots on his bottom gums, so they are on their way!) Cole has been waking up multiple times a night for the last week and we've been very attentive to his needs since he hasn't been feeling well. Looks like we'll be starting back at square one with sleep training (again!) once he's well. Wish us luck!<br />
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Now don't go thinking that an illness and lack of sleep will keep this baby down. No way! This week, Cole decided to become a bonafide sitter (one that rarely tips over) and clapper! He doesn't do it on command just yet, but we catch him having a private clapping moment with himself every now and again. It is so cute! He is also starting to wave hi/bye/night-night and rock on his hand and knees. I imagine it won't be too long before he's crawling. Brady better hide his good toys now!<br />
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Big Sitter!</div>
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Speaking of Brady, he's been very busy at school lately. He's gotten very interested in "art" and started taking a hip-hop dance class after lunch. Don't ask him to show you his moves though, those are for school only. Also, I think he has a crush on his dance teacher! We've been busy making his valentines for school, which he'll pass out on Wednesday during his Valentine's Day party. We'll be signing him up for t-ball for the first time next week and he is really excited. I can't wait to see him in his first "game"!<br />
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The cutest laundry helper in the world!</div>
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In other news, our niece Reese turned one this past week and we were sad to miss her first birthday party. Sounds like she had a wonderful time and enjoyed her cake. We look forward to being at all the parties in just a few years! And my sister and Tim signed on a reception hall in Rosemont and finally picked a date-- June 28, 2014. We can't wait!!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-79281093427563815882013-01-30T14:06:00.001-08:002013-01-30T14:06:51.347-08:00Messy ColeThe other day, I decided it would be fun to give Cole a teething biscuit, to entertain him in his highchair while I made dinner. Turns out I was the one who was being entertained! It was hilarious to watch him gnaw this biscuit down to a nub... and MESSY!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HdXDJ65BuSU?rel=0" width="420"></iframe>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-14488036340180979582013-01-25T10:37:00.000-08:002013-03-13T13:19:07.029-07:00Halfway to One! Cole is 6 Months old.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Why is it that I only seem to post when one of my kids is celebrating a "birthday"?! Must correct that. But, at least I'm chronicling the important stuff, so yay Mom!<br />
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Yesterday, our little Cole Bear turned 6 months old. I cannot believe he is halfway to one! He has grown and developed so much in the last 4 weeks, it's almost like he's a completely different kid. I can only imagine all the new things he'll be doing in the next 4. I am saddened and excited for this, all at the same time. I find myself missing a snuggly little newborn some days, but let's be real, this kid has never really been "little". It's almost if he came out of the womb looking for a turkey drumstick...<br />
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Speaking of turkey drumstick, our big boy has been going to town on solid foods and has the stats to prove it. Let's get into the details, shall we?<br />
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<b>Cole's 6 Month Stats</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>Weight- </b>19 lbs, 10 oz (whoa, baby!)<br />
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<b>Height- </b>A long (but not necessarily lean) 28 inches. This puts him in the 94th percentile!<br />
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<b>Clothing Size-</b> We are up to a new clothing size, again. Cole is comfortably fitting into all of his big brother's 9 month clothes, and could probably get into a few 12 month items as well. Again, this makes me sad because there were so many adorable 6 month outfits that he never even got a chance to wear. I have a feeling this will be the same for the 9 month lot, unless his growth slows a bit.<br />
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We may be in trouble when it comes to hand-me-downs as Brady's 12 month clothes are mostly pants and sweaters (think December in Chicago) and Cole will be looking to show off his milky white thighs in some shorts here very soon!<br />
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<b>Teeth-</b> Still nothing popping through, but his bottom gums look a little swollen to me. Brady got his first tooth at 7 months, so we shall see!</div>
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<b>Sleeping Habits-</b> Ugh. Sleep.<br />
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Still having trouble in this department, but we are diligently trying to get him to be a better sleeper. We are following the "2 hour window of wakefulness"for naptimes to a T and this seems to be helping a bit. We do a solid 20-30 bedtime routine each night which helps him go down easily on his own... most nights. The one thing we haven't been able to tackle is the night wakings. He's still up 2x a night looking for food (around 12-1am and again around 4-5am). At his doctor's appointment yesterday, I got reassurance that he does not need to eat this much overnight and that this is likely a behavioral issue. We are going to start "night weaning", but reducing the number of ounces in one of his bottles a little bit each night. Over a week to two weeks, Cole should hopefully drop one of the wakings on his own because he'll only be getting a very little amount of formula at that time.<br />
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Wish us luck!!!<br />
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<b>Feeding- </b>Cole gets about 36 oz. of formula each day (6oz/6x/day). The doc says once we wean him off one or both of the night feedings, his daytime bottles will likely increase so he continues to get the same amount.<br />
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He is still loving (most) solid foods! Rice cereal is still a staple morning and night, but I'm hoping to get him off that now that he can eat more iron-rich foods. Favorites of Cole's include bananas and peas (not together :)). I recently purchased the Baby Bullet and am excited to start making all of Cole's baby food from here on out, now that he's 6 months old and can start trying a bunch of new things.</div>
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<b>Daily Activities-</b> Daily activities are still pretty much the same-- hanging in the exersaucer, playing on the floor on his belly, and watching his brother and Tinley. He loves stacking rings, chewing on Sophie, and playing with tags. I cannot wait for our new highchair to arrive so he can sit in it and play while I'm cooking!<br />
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When we take walks while Brady is at school, Cole has started sitting in the stroller seat (vs. his car seat). He loves being able to look around more and seeing all the people, cars, trees, etc. We're going to need to buy another seat soon or kick big brother out of the stroller for good!<br />
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Speaking of car seat... now that Cole is pushing 20 lbs, it is getting harder to carry him in the bucket car seat. We transferred Brady to the convertible car seat at 10 months, but I have a feeling Cole won't make it that long. That is crazy!!</div>
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<b>Mobility-</b> Cole is a rolling fool. Front to back, back to front. We lowered his crib mattress two weeks ago (it had been on an incline for his acid reflux), which allowed him the opportunity to roll around in bed. And roll around he did! At first we thought maybe he'll discover that he loves sleeping on his belly and we'll finally get a full night's sleep... but that was not the case. Turns out he isn't happy about being on his belly in his bed at all. Every time he'd roll over he'd scream bloody murder until we rolled him back on his back. Thankfully, now he'll roll himself back over if he finds himself on his belly, but he has been known to sleep on his side from time to time.</div>
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He is doing a much better job sitting up on his own for longer periods of time. In the next week or two, I'm sure he'll be a "sitter" for real. So exciting!!<br />
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He is also gearing up for crawling already. For real. He can move around in a circle pretty quickly, and combines this skill with rolling to get him all around the floor. But in the last day or two, he has been kicking his legs, pushing up onto his knees, and trying to launch himself (almost like a frog) to move forward. It is hilarious and scary, all at the same time! Brady started crawling at 7 months, so I'm sure Cole isn't too far off. Yikes!</div>
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<b>Vocal Skills- </b>Cole has definitely found his voice this month! He is babbling a ton, blowing bubbles and doing raspberries, and squealing. He is starting to repeat various sounds, like "hi" and "gah". We are working on Ma Ma (of course) and Da Da, but that might take a little while. That's okay, his big brother does enough talking for the entire family!</div>
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Taking his monthly photos have become a bit of a challenge now. When I put him on the rocking chair he wants to launch himself off, which gives me a heart attack. And the stickers?! Forget about it. He knows what they are and all he wants to do is eat them...<br />
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But I was able to get a few good shots yesterday, so here you go!<br />
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Heather @ Mama Dish http://www.blogger.com/profile/09770164387908447627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-72986498511976423362013-01-06T00:08:00.003-08:002013-01-06T00:11:16.894-08:00Brady Turns 4!The holiday season is a busy time for everyone, but at the Eatherton household, we get to "relax" the day after Christmas with a birthday celebration every year! Things have been a little bit easier now that we're having Brady's kid birthday party in the summer (on his half-birthday), but we still want to celebrate the birth of our first born son the good old fashioned way... with pizza and cake (and, of course, singing)!<br />
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This was the first year we were not in Chicago for Brady's birthday, and Matt even had to go to work :( But we decorated the house and made him a special birthday breakfast (pancakes ala Daddy). Matt came home early and Brady opened gifts and cards from his family. Then we met up his best buddies Lyla and Leo for dinner.<br />
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Even though Brady was a little unsure if he wanted to wait until June to have his birthday party, I still think it's a good idea to space it out from Christmas (not to mention most of his friends have birthdays in Dec & Jan as well). I have a feeling he'll be happy as a clam in a few months when we get to celebrate his special day all over again!<br />
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It seems a little cliche to say "Oh, I can't believe my baby is 4!", but people say that kind of stuff for a reason. Time really flies when you become a parent. I simply cannot believe that it's been 4 years since the first time we held him in our arms (though most days you'd think you were talking to a 13 year old, I swear!) Not only is Brady incredibly smart and talented, but he is outgoing, warm, caring and so, so, so much fun to be around. He loves to dote on his baby brother and I've been told by many different people that there's just something really special about our little boy.<br />
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His Mom, Dad and Cole love him to the moon and back. He really is something.<br />
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Brady's 4 year check up is next week, so I'll update the blog with all his official stats at that time, but here are a couple fun facts about our now FOUR year old...<br />
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- Brady attends school 3 days a week and stays after for Lunch Bunch and Afternoon Enrichment. He loves going to school and I've never heard him say once that he didn't want to go.<br />
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- His favorite breakfast food is Oh's cereal. Lunch is PB&J. Dinner is a touchy subject... but I'm guessing he'd prefer to have pepperoni pizza every night if he could (or chicken fingers, just like his mama!)<br />
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- Brady can write his name, along with Cole's and the names of his friends Leo, Lyla, Halle and Bella.<br />
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- Brady's favorite sports to play are soccer and baseball. And man, can that kid swing a bat!<br />
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- Brady's other current interests include: collecting "treasures" (rocks, leaves, and other misc. items he finds in the sand at school), coloring or "doing projects", playing Angry Birds on the iPad, playing "educational games" on the iPad, dancing to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0" target="_blank">Gangnam Style</a>, making his baby brother laugh, riding his balance bike, going to Starbucks with Daddy, talking in gibberish, and playing roll call with the 40 stuffed animals that sleep with him in his bed.<br />
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Who's 4? This guy right here!</div>
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LOVING his "Box of Rocks" from Aunt Lindsay & Uncle Jason</div>
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Batman is always a winner Aunt Megan & Uncle Justin</div>
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Brady loved his iTikes Piano from Grandma Linda & Grandpa Steve</div>
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Getting his groove on with his new guitar from Mom & Dad</div>
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Thanks for the cash Aunt Sue & Uncle Brad! </div>
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Brady, Leo & Lyla </div>
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Happy Birthday Buddy!</div>
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May all your dreams come true.</div>
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xoxo</div>
Heather @ Mama Dish http://www.blogger.com/profile/09770164387908447627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-17548703643251849702012-12-26T22:49:00.000-08:002012-12-26T22:49:37.469-08:00Merry Christmas Eve & Happy 5 Months to Cole!On Christmas Eve, Cole Joseph turned 5 months old. It was a very busy day at the Eatherton's, as we were preparing to have our California family (the Kirkpatricks and the Kalvarias) over for a non holiday-specific and not at all religious Dec. 24th party. To add to what was already an exciting day, Cole decided to roll over for the very first time all by himself! If you haven't already seen it, you can watch the video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Yd3AM-33I" target="_blank">here</a>. Even though the guests all departed by 8pm, a good time was had by all.<br />
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Spreading "Reindeer Food" in the front yard</div>
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Baby's First Christmas (Eve)</div>
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This Christmas baby is ready for bed!</div>
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(Thanks to the Schrimpl family for the PJs)</div>
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So much brotherly love</div>
<b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Cole's 5 Month Stats</b><br />
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<b>Weight- </b>18 lbs of pure yummy chunky baby (by Mom & Dad's scale)<br />
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<b>Height- </b>Will have to wait for Cole's 6 month appointment for that stat<br />
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<b>Clothing Size-</b> This boy is flying though his clothes at warp speed! He is officially too big for his 3-6 month clothes. He can fit into some 6 month onesies, but not pjs (poor baby has a little blister on his pinky toe because the footies on his 6 month jammies are too small!) He has just started wearing 9 month clothes from Carter's. I cannot wrap my head around this! Brady was in 0-3 month clothes until he was 5 months.<br />
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We have sadly moved from size 2 Swaddlers to size 3 Pampers Cruisers. He isn't cruising anywhere yet, but if he decides to up and crawl, well, I guess his diaper will be ready!<br />
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<b>Teeth-</b> Not a one, but the drool is out of control. I swear we go through 5 bibs a day. Cole will chew on pretty much anything he can get his chubby little hands on, but his two favorite chew toys are his squeaky Sofie and Mom's finger (go figure). I'm thinking about getting some of those <a href="http://www.chewbeads.com/" target="_blank">Chewbeads necklaces</a>... anyone ever tried one of those? Thoughts??</div>
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<b>Sleeping Habits-</b> Sleep is still a delicate subject in the Eatherton household. We had started getting into a better rhythm with Cole just before our trip to Chicago, but when we returned the bottom fell out. He started waking again multiple times throughout the night and his naps went back to 30 minutes. We were all miserable... again. So we decided to spend the 4 day weekend sleep training again, which unfortunately, produced a bit of crying (Cole & Mom). But he's slowly adjusting back to his "routine" and we hope to be down to one night feeding only very soon! Fingers crossed.<br />
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<b>Feeding- </b>Sadly, we stopped breastfeeding Thanksgiving weekend, so Cole is 100% formula fed now (Similac Sensitive). It was just not working for either of us. Since we made the switch to formula, Cole and I are both much happier, so I think that it was the right decision. Four months is a good amount of time and I'm glad we were able to make it that long.<br />
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Cole also started eating rice cereal and oatmeal shortly after he turned 4 months. He had been watching us eat food like a hawk for weeks, so as soon as we got the a-okay from his pediatrician, we started. He immediately knew what to do! I think he'd probably eat anything we gave him, but he definitely prefers the rice cereal over oatmeal, and his favorite purees are bananas, sweet potatoes and peas. I hope, hope, hope he is going to be a good eater! If not, I think we'll send him over to Miss Jolie's house for a little Food 101...</div>
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<b>Daily Activities-</b> Cole is taking 3 naps a day, which doesn't leave much time for activities during the day. If he's not eating, sleeping, or pooping, he enjoys gnawing on toys in his exersaucer, watching his big brother and Tinley play, and pinching the tags on all of his stuffed animals. He also gets a kick out of pulling Mom's hair!</div>
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<b>Mobility-</b> He started rolling over from his back to his belly on Christmas Eve and hasn't stopped since (though he's only rolling over one way). We wonder how long it will take before this creates a NEW sleep problem.</div>
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<b>Vocal Skills- </b>Cole makes a lot of gurgling sounds (goos/gaas) but he's proving to be the strong but silent type. If you catch him at the right time, he will babble a bit for you, but he's mostly pretty quiet. He is also very stingy with the laughs! He'll smile and give you a few giggles, but he has still not done a full out belly laugh. I am anxiously awaiting that day!<br />
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Heather @ Mama Dish http://www.blogger.com/profile/09770164387908447627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-81352377084186067682012-12-26T14:45:00.000-08:002012-12-26T23:14:51.603-08:00Cole Rolls Over For The First Time!<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G4Yd3AM-33I?hl=en_US&version=3"></param>
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G4Yd3AM-33I?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-28238924783197241642012-12-25T23:47:00.004-08:002012-12-25T23:47:39.031-08:00An Early Christmas In ChicagoAs I mentioned, we made the trek home to Chicago a few weeks before Christmas this year. One reason is that airport travel around the holiday is nuts. Another reason is that some of our family goes out of town for Christmas. But the main reason is that we have never had our own Christmas morning in our own home, with our own tree, our own gifts, etc. I know it may sound selfish, but now that Brady is getting older and understands the holidays a bit more, we wanted him to be able to experience what it's like to wake up on Christmas morning and see what Santa brought for him and his little brother.<br />
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Even though we didn't get to see everyone for as long as we'd like (the trip home is always too short!), we think it ended up working out well for our families too. We spent the first half of the week in Plainfield with my family, and the second half of the week in Park Ridge with Matt's. It was so nice getting to spend time with our nieces, who we only get to see via Skype, and for the boys to get to spend time with all their aunts and uncles. This was the first time Cole met Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Jason, Uncle Justin and Aunt Megan (and of course, Aubrey and Reese). We cannot wait until we move home and all the kids can grow up together!<br />
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Here are a few photos from our trip...<br />
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Cole encountering his first Christmas gift!</div>
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Brady and his sleeping bag from Grandma & Papa</div>
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Aunt Amanda & Cole</div>
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Grandma Debbie & Cole</div>
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Grandma Linda & Cole</div>
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Cole and Sofie</div>
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Cole's first "Christmas" family shot</div>
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Brothers!!</div>
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Aunt Lindsay & Cole</div>
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Reesey Piecey (aka, Reese)</div>
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The Eatherton cousins in the Christmas pjs</div>
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Watch out Reese, he's almost as big as you!</div>
<br />Heather @ Mama Dish http://www.blogger.com/profile/09770164387908447627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-4465031297807228372012-12-25T23:21:00.001-08:002012-12-25T23:21:21.313-08:00Cole's BaptismWe decided to make an early trip to Chicago for Christmas this year, for many reasons. One very important one was that we wanted to have Cole baptized at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Downers Grove (where Matt and I were married and where Brady was baptized) and we knew it would be hard to do around the holidays.<br />
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We were very blessed to have both our immediate families present at the service, including Cole's sponsors, Uncle Mike, Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Jason. Auntie Susie and Ashlynn also came! It was a very nice service, and except for when the pastor poured water directly into Cole's eyes, he was extremely well behaved.<br />
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After church, we had a luncheon back at Grandma Debbie and Papa's house, just before we hosted an Open House for my family and friends. Unfortunately, in all the commotion, we never brought out Cole's cake. But aside from that, we had a very nice time celebrating Cole's special day.<br />
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Cole & I found something to be hysterical</div>
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Baptismal water in eyes, uh oh!</div>
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Ashlynn & Cole</div>
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Auntie Susie & Cole</div>
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Cole and his sponsors-- Uncle Mike, Uncle Jason & Aunt Lindsay</div>
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Our family!</div>
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Cole with all his grandparents</div>
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The Eatherton cousins-- Aubrey, Reese, Brady & Cole</div>
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Cole with his baptism blanket, knitted with love by Grandma Debbie</div>
<br />Heather @ Mama Dish http://www.blogger.com/profile/09770164387908447627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-74295086996452291722012-12-24T09:56:00.001-08:002012-12-24T09:58:22.672-08:00Cole Turned 4 Months (A Month Ago!)It's hard to believe Cole is 5 months old today! What's not hard to believe is that I forgot to post his 4 month stats/photos (even thought it's been in "draft" since 11/30!) Hey, I've been busy... :)<br />
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<b>Weight- </b>16 lbs 13 oz (72%)<br />
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<b>Height- </b>26 inches (80%)<br />
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<b>Clothing Size-</b> His 3-6 month clothes are getting a little snug and he is officially filling out his 6 month clothes from Carter's.<br />
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<b>Teeth-</b> None yet, and the doctor said she doesn't feel any coming up. He's still a drooling fool though and will gnaw on anything he can get his hands on.</div>
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<b>Sleeping Habits-</b> Just saying the words "sleep" and "Cole" in the same sentence brings on a ton of anxiety! With an inconsistent nap schedule and frequent night wakings, sleep has not come easy around here the last month or two (and makes for a super cranky Mommy!). Without knowing if it's a behavioral or medical issue (he's still taking 2 ml of Zantac 2x a day for acid reflux), we are just trying to "coach" him into falling asleep by himself by putting him down for naps/bedtime drowsy but awake. This is supposed to help him transition from sleep cycles on his own, without needing to be rocked or fed. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't (50/50).<br />
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To deal with the frequent night wakings, we have set designated eating times for him (midnight and between 4-5am) and are <i>trying</i> not to feed him at the other times (we cleared this with his doctor). Consistency is key... so Matt has become "official night soother" when he wakes at off times. God bless him for that; I just don't have the willpower to not pick him up and rock him back to sleep. Thankfully, he <i>seems </i>to be learning to rest a little better. Fingers crossed we are finally on the right path!!<br />
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So, right now, here's sort of what he does...<br />
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Wakes around 7:15 am<br />
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Morning nap between 9-10 am (usually for 30-45 mins)<br />
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Goes down for another nap 2 hrs after he wakes from his morning "nap" (usually between 11:30-12). Sometimes he'll sleep for 40 minutes, and sometimes I get really lucky and he sleeps for 2 hours. We never know what we're going to get!<br />
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Takes a short afternoon nap, again about 2 hours after he wakes from his lunch nap (usually 30-45 mins)<br />
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Bedtime routine starts at 6 on the dot (so we can establish a 7pm bedtime). Bath, lotion/massage, pjs, singing, bottle, book and bed.<br />
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Wakes to eat around 12 and again between 4-5am. Hopefully he'll drop one (and then both) feeding soon. He has slept through the night one a couple of occasions over the last 2 months, so we know he can do it!</div>
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<b>Daily Activities-</b> Cole's "activities" include tummy time, playing in his exersaucer</div>
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<b>Mobility-</b> He can roll over from his tummy to his back. This started about 3 weeks ago!</div>
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<b>Vocal Skills- </b>Just the same "goos" and "gaas", but they sound wonderful!!</div>
Heather @ Mama Dish http://www.blogger.com/profile/09770164387908447627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-76192725839749422362012-11-30T16:37:00.000-08:002012-11-30T16:37:00.594-08:00Raising an Ad ManIt's official... marketing blood runs through Brady's veins. I'd like to think it's because he spent 9 months in utero roaming the halls of Leo Burnett, soaking up all the creative juices around him. But, chances are it's all the TV he's been watching lately, while we're dealing with his baby brother who doesn't like to nap...<br />
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It all started with his Christmas list-- Cuddleuppets. Stompeez. A pogo stick. All from commercials.<br />
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Then, a couple days ago, he asked Matt if he'd like some Chex Mix because "it's a bag of interesting".<br />
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Yesterday, we were singing Christmas songs and Brady belted out "Nationwide is on your side". Just to make sure he wasn't biased, I followed it up with "Like a good neighbor..." to which he replied, "State Farm is there". Yikes!<br />
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The clincher was this morning when he informed Matt and I that there was a man on TV that sounded like Tow Mater who has heartburn (Larry the Cable Guy is in a Prilosec commercial).<br />
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Something tells me we're going to be in big trouble when Brady starts telling people they should call their doctor if they've had an erection lasting more than 4 hours.<br />
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<i>** Please note that all these commercials (minus Viagra) air during age appropriate TV shows. It's not like Brady's watching Dancing with the Stars or anything... ok, maybe he watches that. **</i>Heather @ Mama Dish http://www.blogger.com/profile/09770164387908447627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-33693159674634418742012-11-29T09:42:00.002-08:002012-11-29T09:42:53.537-08:00Baby's First ThanksgivingSeeing that he was a few days shy of 4 months old, and his diet consists mainly of breast milk and formula, Cole's first Thanksgiving was pretty uneventful. In fact, he even napped through dinner (by Mom's design). Brady was almost one at his first Thanksgiving, so he was able to eat some of the delicious turkey and potatoes. Something tells me Cole will get (more than) his fair share next year!<br />
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On account of all the madness that's been going on in our household, we opted for a quiet Thanksgiving at home with just the 4 of us this year. It's always hard to be away from family on the holidays, but there's something to be said about not having to get ready, pack up 2 kids, and run from house to house.<br />
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Always the photographer and never the subject (which is good since I didn't even take a shower!), here are a few pictures of the 3 things I'm most thankful for this year.<br />
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Dad and his two boys!</div>
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Almost ready for nap</div>
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Such a proud big brother!</div>
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Next Thanksgiving I'll be walking!</div>
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We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We look forward to celebrating an early Christmas with the family back in Chicago in just a few days.</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-27179786941196120472012-11-20T13:54:00.000-08:002012-11-20T13:54:57.528-08:00October RecapThere were so many fun events/milestones that happened in Oct., I'm so mad that I didn't get them up on the blog as they happened. Unfortunately, we've had our hands full with Cole the last few weeks--he has not been eating or sleeping well-- so when I got a "free moment" (laughs out loud), I really just tried to relax and get some rest. But I really want to get these photos up, so here is a recap of the month of October... you know, just before November ends. Ugh.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">More Firsts for Cole</span></b><br />
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First Storytime with the big boys</div>
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First "Brother Bath"</div>
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First time on the Playmat (without tears)</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Brady, The Soccer Stud</span></b><br />
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Brady has been going to soccer every Saturday morning and has been loving it! Even though the lessons are more about learning to listen and follow directions than actually playing soccer, he is picking up on the fundamentals and getting in a little game time. I'm sure every parent says this about their children... but he has some mad athletic skills!!<br />
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Cole and I finally made it out to a practice and captured a ton of photos. Here are a select few...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Pumpkin Patching</span></b><br />
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It's hard to believe we celebrated our 3rd Halloween in California. I love that we have a "tradition" of going to the same Pumpkin Farm every year. It's great to see Brady in the same environment year after year, to mentally picture how much he has grown. He loved taking Cole to Pasterino Farm and showing him how he can ride the train through the haunted house without breaking a sweat. Unfortunately, when it came time to pick pumpkins and take pictures, Cole had had his fill... so we didn't get his photo with Brady, but we did manage to get a few good ones!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween 2012</span></b></div>
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For Brady's first 3 Halloweens, I was pretty much responsible for choosing his costumes. This year, he knew well in advance that he wanted to be Batman for Halloween. Given that I didn't have a lot of time to go hunting and pecking for a "make your own costume" this year, I was happy to order him a Batman costume online. And when he requested that Cole be Robin, I ordered him one as well! Brady requested that Matt and I dress up as The Joker and Catwoman, but well, that didn't happen...</div>
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Brady at his Halloween Sing at school</div>
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Brady and his best gal Lyla </div>
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Halloween parade-- lots of Super heros this year!</div>
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Decorating cookies at school</div>
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Baby's 1st Halloween! </div>
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Spiderman Leo & Batman Brady</div>
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Baby Robin (not too thrilled!)</div>
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The Dynamic Duo!</div>
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Phew, that was a long one. Now that that's done, I better get started working on November's recap... Or take a nap :)</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-29030418496253802812012-10-31T21:59:00.002-07:002012-10-31T21:59:39.125-07:00Cole is 3 Months!Technically, today, Cole is 3 months and 1 week. But these photos were taken on the 24th, so this post is still totally legit. The reason for the delay in this post?! Cole. Poor little guy has his first cold and we believe he is cutting his first tooth as well (or he has a runny nose caused by teething). Who knows anymore?! Either way, Cole is not a happy camper lately. He is barely eating and barely sleeping. This is causing a lot of stress on his Mommy! He is currently taking one of his "famous" 25 minute naps right now, so I'm trying to type this as fast as I can!!<br />
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Because Cole doesn't have a doctor's appointment at 3 months (he goes back next month), I don't have formal stats to report this month. What I can give you is his height and weight, as measured by Mom & Dad. I also want to start sharing more specific details about his behavior each month, so we can use these posts as references for the future. You know, if we're ever CRAZY enough to bear more children :)</div>
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<b>Weight- </b>15 lbs, 6 oz</div>
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<b>Height- </b>25.5 inches (that's how big he was at 2 months, but by my measurement, he hasn't grown)<br />
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<b>Clothing Size-</b> We just packed up pretty much all his 0-3 month clothes, so he's officially in 3-6 months.</div>
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<b>Teeth-</b> None, but we think he is actively teething. He is constantly soaked in drool and everything goes into his mouth (hands, blankets, toys, etc.) We finally broke out the Sophie teether from Aunt Nina and he seems to really like it. He has a very small white speck on his bottom gum, so we keep watching to see if anything sprouts up! </div>
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<b>Sleeping Habits-</b> No real pattern/schedule yet. He was a great sleeper around 6-9 weeks, then at 10 weeks, everything went haywire. Now he's up at least once a night (sometimes 2 or 3 times). He goes down for "bed" around 8-9pm and generally wakes up around midnight and/or 2am, but can be soothed back to sleep with a pacifier. He'll wake again sometime between 3-5am and needs to be fed. He wakes for the day anywhere between 6:30-8am. For the last 4 weeks, he's been taking terrible naps (approx. five 25-40 minute naps a day). We were trying to "sleep train", but then he got sick/started teething. I hope to get into some sort of a schedule soon! </div>
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Cole started sleeping in his crib overnight on Oct. 13 (at almost 12 weeks). He had been taking some naps in his crib at this point, but we made the full switch over and I'm happy to report that the Pack 'n Play is packed up and put away. We now have 6 more cubic feet in our room (which surprisingly makes a HUGE difference!)</div>
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We went back and forth about whether or not Cole still needed to be swaddled to sleep and decided to stop at 13 weeks. He was fighting us every time we wrapped him, though he seemed to sleep better with it. We made a "soft transition" by swaddling him for a few days with his arms out. Then, we stopped altogether. It took a couple days, but we think that he's settled into his swaddle-free way of sleeping just fine. We do use a sleep sack though, so he can stay warm.</div>
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Cole doesn't care much for his pacifier, unless it's time for bed. He seems to soothe himself better when he has his paci in his mouth and his Little Giraffe lovie in his hand. We see him forming the same bond with his blankie as his big brother.</div>
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<b>Daily Activities-</b> Cole HATES tummy time. He actually screams at the ground during it! Not in an uncomfortable crying sort of way, but in a "damn you tummy time, arrrrggghhhh!" kind of way. He gives us all a really good laugh when he does it. He'll generally roll himself over about 10 seconds after being on his belly. I have no idea how we'll get him to build up his arm strength!</div>
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He is not short on neck strength though, that's for sure. He has full support of his head and can sit supported in his Bumbo. He pretty much refuses to sit in a semi-reclined position and always strains his neck to sit up. He is in such a hurry to grow up!!</div>
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<b>Mobility-</b> He can roll over from his tummy to his back. This started about 3 weeks ago!</div>
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<b>Vocal Skills-</b> Lots of "oooh", "gaaah", and squeals. He likes to have little chit-chats with Matt and I when he's on his changing table. And giggle!! Cole is great at giggling. No full blown laughing spells yet, but he gives out little giggles every time he is tickled (under his arms and on his belly) and Brady can usually always get him to chuckle with his crazy antics.</div>
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So that's what's going on with Cole Bear at 3 months. Stay tuned for his formal stats at 4 months... his next doctor's appointment is on my birthday!</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-65628553941586000292012-10-19T19:29:00.000-07:002012-10-19T19:29:02.164-07:00Brady Said What?!So often Brady says or does things that I say I'm going to write down so we never forget it... but then I don't. And we forget. Before we know it we're going to have two little jabbermouths to keep track of, so I've decided that the blog would be a perfect place to catalogue all these little tidbits, considering this <i>is</i> their virtual baby book. Here are a couple of good ones of late--<div>
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A few weeks ago, I told Brady to be careful around Cole. Brady said...</div>
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"Yeah, cuz he's made out of glass. And skin."<br /><div>
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This morning, Matt asked Brady what he wanted to be when he grew up. Brady said...</div>
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"I want to be the government. And a Manager, like Daddy."</div>
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Not work FOR the government. He wants to BE the government. And a Manager.</div>
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One thing is for sure, Brady is not interested in working for The Man. He's going to <b>be</b> The Man, one way or another.</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-9329535275593768762012-10-07T21:09:00.001-07:002012-10-07T21:09:02.380-07:00Then & Now: One Month<i>Oops! I just realized this post was still in "draft" and that I never published it. I could just delete it, but it's too good not to share...</i><br />
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Sometimes I still can't believe I have 2 kids. It feels like I'm speaking a foreign language when I am talking about Brady and Cole and refer to them as "my children". No longer just "my son Brady"... I have <i>children</i>. Yikes!<br />
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I'm sure the first rule of having more than one child is to never ever compare your kids. Ever. I'll try to keep that in mind as they continue to grow, but for now, I just can't help myself. Seeing Cole in Brady's old clothes and in his chairs and swing, I can't help but recall the moments Brady was in the exact same place, at the exact same age. Luckily, I take about a zillion photos of my kids, so I'm able to literally place these moments side-by-side for comparison.<br />
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Like this one... of Brady and Cole in the same newborn size sleeper from Carter's, in the blue Boppy chair, at exactly one month.<br />
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Cole was only 1 lb 5 oz larger than Brady at birth, and we are amazed at how much of a difference that has made. We had a big box of newborn diapers that we desperately tried to use up, but after the first week, we reluctantly went up to size 1. And while I can still get him in a few of the newborn sleepers, Cole has primarily been wearing 3 month clothes already (something Brady didn't do until, well, 3 months).<br />
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If he continues to grow at this rate, he'll be bigger than his big brother in no time. Poor Brady!<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957053313190679087.post-91084540475938651712012-10-07T20:56:00.000-07:002012-10-07T20:56:29.456-07:00Cole's Two Month StatsCole had his 2 month appointment on Wed., and because I'm terrible at making appointments, he was actually 2 months and 8 days. Oops. Guess that explains why he tipped the scales... again.<br />
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Because I totally underestimated his size at his first month check-up, I was a little more generous with my 2 month prediction, and I was almost spot on. My guess was 14.5 lbs and Cole weighed in at 14 lbs 2.5 oz. This puts him in the 86th percentile for weight, which is something his big brother has never made it to! He also measured at 25.5 in in length (90%) and his head was (surprise, surprise) in the 99%! Hey, at least his big noggin is actually in proportion to the rest of his body!<br />
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{We learned just after his appointment that he weighs only 8.5 oz less than his cousin Reese... who is 5 and a half months older than he is. The boy is a moose!}<br />
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Cole received 2 shots (4 vaccinations) and the oral Rotovirus. He was NOT a happy camper-- thank goodness Matt was there to help him (and Mom) get through it all. I am such a baby when it comes to shots. But he did fine the rest of the day and even took a 3.5 hr nap.<br />
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Our next visit to the doctor isn't until 4 months, but we'll do our own at-home assessment and let you know how he's coming along. My guess is that he's on the fast track to double his birth weight way before 6 months. Size 3 diapers are just around the corner!<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730868544911120092noreply@blogger.com1