Bicycle - no training wheels

In a matter of 10 minutes Cole went from training wheels to no training wheels.  It was amazing.  He is a pro!  He is so excited about it too.  Very proud of himself.  :-)

Such a big boy now!

growing up

Siena's going to be 2 in less than two days.  How the heck did that happen?  My little baby (who is still little) is becoming a big girl.  I told her tonight that this weekend is her birthday and she gets to have a party.  She looked at me with her big blue eyes and I proceeded to tell her she was also going to get presents and she looked at me and started jumping up and down and yelled "Woo hoo!!"

House Rules

Yesterday my mom had suggested that we start a house rules list for the kids to help with some of the objectional behavior they have been displaying.  So I asked Cole what some good rules would be and here's what we came up with:

Well tonight while I was at work Cole dragged Mike over to the chart and point to the bottom one and says "What does this say?"  Mike responds with "no arguing" so Cole points again "What does this one say"  Mike say "no hitting".  Cole goes "See Siena, you are not supposed to hit me."  HAHHAHAHHAHAHHA!!!

Somebody smells good!

I knew the day was coming soon.  Every time Cole is left alone in the bathroom he is putting on Mike's deodorant so when we were at Target a few weeks ago and Cole spotted a mini version of Mike's body wash he yelled "Look mommy, a tiny one just for me!!"  So I let him pick out a big guy body wash.  He is so proud, cant' you tell?

What a funny kid

Cole's favorite color these days is "greeeen". He only wants the lime popscicle, he only wants to wear the green shirt, and he will eat any vegetable that is green. So actually this may be working out in our favor. Last night at dinner we told him to eat anything green. I have never seen him eat so much zucchini.

He is constantly referring to himself in the third person. When he wants to do something he will say "Cole (point to his chest)" and then tell you what he wants to do. If you ask him who made that or who did that he will say "Cole".

He tells Siena to be quite by saying "Sea-ah-na, no scream".

This past weekend we were given some advice on how to handle Cole's behavior towards Siena which of course includes biting. The suggestion was to ask Cole what he is going to do when he goes near her. It causes him to pause before touching her and he must respond to the question before he can touch her. His usual response is "hug". However since implementing this rule he has not bitten her. So we both feel this is a good start to a non biting child. He is however getting a little annoyed with us asking him what he is going to do. The look on his face is kind of like "what, do you not trust me?" No, son we don't.

He knows words that we have never actually asked him to say so it totally surprises us when he answers a question with the correct word. He is really seems to have a general understanding of the context of words as well which is great. He may not talk as much as some kids his age but when he does he uses the correct words. Also, if you tell him you don't understand what he said he will sit and look at you and rethink how to say it to you.

Siena and the play gym

I finally brought out the play gym for Siena. I have kept it away for awhile for fear of her getting her head stomped by a certain big brother, but he has now backed off a little bit and is giving her some breathing space.

On the first day she just stared at it.

Then the monkey caught her attention causing her to laugh at it.

She wasn't sure what else there was to do.

But then she discovered she can grab that monkey that was making her laugh.

And then she realized the monkey's legs stretched. They stretch far.

Far enough to be eaten.

Here is a great example of what I mean when I say she doesn't stop moving her legs. She is seriously crazy with those things. I am thinking they might be a defense mechanism against Cole.

Our first born

Dear Cole,

Sometime in the next week you will no longer be an only child.  This is not a decision that your dad and I included you in on and for that you may not forgive us for a while.  I know that you are to young to understand when we talk about the baby or your baby sister, but please know that this was not a secret we were keeping from you nor did we have any intention of "ruining" your life as you may tell us one day.

It may seem like you are not getting as much attention as you have been accustomed to receiving but understand that it in no way means that we love you any less now that you have a little sister.  You will still get the same love, hugs, kisses, cuddles, high fives, and tickle time that you have now, but you have to understand that your sister will also be getting it too.

Both your dad and I can relate to exactly what you are going through because we both are the oldest children in the family.  We experienced exactly what you are about to and we made it through.   I don't expect you to be perfect.  I do expect there to be some jealously but please be nice to your sister.  She is coming into to this world not knowing what it is like to be an only child.  She will only know life with her big brother Cole and she will just adore you.  She may pester you at times but to her you walk on water and she just wants to do what you are doing and be just like you.  

Please try to make it easy on your mom and dad over the next few weeks.  This new addition is not only affecting your world but ours as well.  Mommy will do her best once daddy goes back to work to give you all the attention you need.  Sometimes I may be very overwhelmed by all the new responsibilities but I will do my best to not snap at you.

We love you Cole, more than you will ever know.  That is not going to change just because you now have a sister.

Love

your mom and dad

Happy New Year!

A new year and many new beginnings for the Fredy's.  I hope every one's first day of 2009 went well.  Our started out with Cole pretending he did not have to pee on his potty and then standing up and peeing on the bathroom floor 3 times and laughing while he peed.  He also had 3 more melt downs and has turned up the decibels in his voice by about 75% during normal activity.  

In a few weeks we will be adding one more to the Fredy bunch! Mike and I both are turning 30 this year!  Exciting times ahead.  

Our New Years Eve was spent very low key with dinner from Luigis and bedtime by 10:30 pm.  Yes we have become old and boring.  Actually I did not feel to good so sleeping sounded PERFECT!  

Last night we all sat down and came up with a list of "resolutions" or "goals" that we would like to work on this year.

Aimee:

Learn to knit

Not use the word "no" so much

Live in the moment

Acquire more photography clients

Lose 30 pounds by May

Mike:

Not eat Fruity Pebbles in front of Cole or just not buy them at all since they cause HUGE problems

Cole:

Stop head butting

More petting and less kicking with Onyx

Stop acrobatics

Learn not to dribble pee down his leg after standing up in excitement from peeing on the potty

Learn that water belongs in the bath tub and not on the floor

Sleep past 1:50 am

Onyx:

Have less injuries than in 2008

2008 injuries list included

3 fox tails

1 sliced paw

1 gashed forehead

1 loose knee

Minkie & Bebe:

Learn to cover poop in litter box

Not whine so much when babies are sleeping

A boy and his dog

From the very beginning I knew Onyx and Cole would be buddies for life.  Watching their relationship grow has been amusing at times and also sad at times.  When we brought Cole home from the hospital we had been gone for 3 days.  Onyx was so excited to see us that she didn't even notice Cole.  About 30 minutes later she finally realized that there was some one new around here.  She would walk up and sniff him and then walk away and go lay down as if to pout for our attention.  She would do a "drive by" lick almost hourly just to say "hey your not too bad"  She was a trooper when Cole got mobile and climbed all over her.  He used her for everything and she put up with it all.  Even when Cole "discovered" her tail she never once raised a lip to him when he would tug.

Lately Cole hasn't been too nice to Onyx.  He stomps her feet, pokes at her butt, and hits her on the head with random toys.  So when I saw this photo opportunity I just had to capture it.  He was so comfy, but I do think she was a little more cautious than comfy....

Mastering the Big Boy Bed

I never thought that I would have a 21 month old that only slept in a bed, not a crib.  The idea of him being able to get up when ever he wanted did not sit to well with me since I treasure (like most moms do) nap time.  That is my "alone" time and it is hard for me to give it up!

So it has been a week now since the crib was taken out of Cole's room.  There has been NO head butting on the big boy bed.  When it is nap time, I pick Cole up and tell him it is time for a nap and I lay him down on the bed.  Give him a kiss and close the door.  I turn on the moniter to wait a see if he complies.  Usually the mobile turns on and after about 5 minutes I go back in the room.  Cole is usually still in his bed but sitting up with Elmo or the Sleep Sheep.  I tell him again that it is nap time and that he needs to lay down and go to sleep.  Another round of kisses and I close the door and that is the last I hear from him for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours.  So much better than the struggle we were going through with the crib.

Bedtime Cole is still fighting.  He does not like falling asleep alone.  I think the funniest part is that he has now realized that at night his bedroom door is not closed so if he wakes up he will scream, if we don't come quick enough he gets up and runs towards our room.  Sunday morning I was greeted by Cole and Elmo.  This morning it was Mike's turn and when they met in the kitchen apparently Cole saw Mike and turned and ran back towards him room screaming even louder.  I get up to pee and mend the situation.  Poor Mike, Cole is quite the instant I pick him up.  He is always trying to help and Cole does not make it easy on him in the middle of the night.

Hopefully Cole can come to some kind of terms with it because I really don't see how I can hold two crying little ones at 3 in the morning!

Time Out

So we have come to the realization that time out is now a game to Cole. Tonight he walked up to me and head butted me. What's new about that right? So I told him he needed to go take a time out. He walked over to him time out spot and sat down for about 10 seconds. He stood up and Mike asked him to come tell mommy he was sorry and to give me a hug. Luckily I was being cautious because Cole came over and looked at me with those baby blues, leaned in and head butted me again and then turned and walked back over and sat down in his time out spot.

Not sure if that second head butt was a screw you or a love tap, either way he punished him self.

Changes

There have been a lot of new happenings going on around our house lately.  Cole has learned some new things and also has adopted a new attitude that he shares with his parents.

Cole learned to open the front door and also close it on his way out to the front yard.  Thank goodness we live on acreage and he can't get to a road quickly!

It is also virtually impossible to get a diaper on him.  He flips out and screams on the changing table or takes it off him self as displayed above and runs around.  I can't blame the child for wanting some freedom from the diaper but I am not prepared to clean up poop and pee all over my house.

He is having major separation anxiety from mom right now.  We have to practically bribe him to take a bath with Mike in the room and not me.  Last night I got home from work at 9:30pm and he must have smelled me or something because he was awake within 10 minutes and would not go back to bed.  He would sleep on me on the couch but the minute I took him to him room he would wake up and cry.  I would tell him it is time for bed and he would shake his head at me.  I can't pee in peace.  He stands at the door or gate bawling his eyes out.  I have to hid in the office with the door closed so I can eat a meal with out being treated like a jungle gym.

I know it doesn't last forever and he will get big so quickly (he has already) and that I should cherish every waking moment with him but sometimes I just would like to close the door and pee in peace.....