Five Months and Growing...

I'm nearly five months and weighing in at 20 pounds! My Daddy thinks I'm freakishly huge for my age. Mama is ready to agree with him and seeing all my measurements now fall into the 90th percentile or higher (95% in weight!). The thing I keep hearing the most..."You are SOOOO not like you're older brother."

Anyway, Mama took some pics she wanted everyone to see and keeps asking when I'll get them up on the blog, so here they are:




You can't see everything in the pic, but this was Daddy's Not For Profit Organizations Day. He's sporting items from all his favorite charities: Autism Awareness, California Trout, SETI Institute, and Sea Shepherds. I wonder what organization I'll inspire him to support...

Tata for now. Need a nap.

Cole.

Pics of Me! How Neat!

So, here I am in all my glorious funness. Enjoy.




I'm growing up pretty quick, my eyes are blue still but now with a hint of green spreading out from the pupil. My hair is still dark but not quite as dark. And I eat like I might not get another bottle. I'm sure that's a breath of fresh air for my Mama, and my Dada for that matter.




Oh, I enjoy spitting bubbles, smiling and laughing. I put everything in my mouth, even things I probably shouldn't. Mama likes to tell me, "Swiper, no swiping" because I quite deftly grab and hold onto anything that gets close to my long-fingered hands. The world around me really is taking on quite a different feeling, one I'm finding I enjoy rather a lot.

I'm in the habit of taking several 30 minute naps throughout the day, which if frustrating for those in charge who have numerous tasks to complete and find it difficult to do so, but I do sleep through the night, so that's something, right?

I am getting big. I'm super happy. And right now, everything is rather nice. I'll post again soon. Love to all.

Cole

Things I'm Doing...

Just wanted to take a moment and tell you about some of things I'm doing at this point in life. First, I love to Raz. I'll pucker my lips up and just blow until the spit flies! I know, sounds gross, and maybe if I were 18 and doing it, then gross would be the best way to describe it, but right now, it's just fun and messy.

Also, I love to laugh. My Dada does this thing where he like hums on my neck and it just cracks me up. Laughing is great which means I smile a lot too. That's almost as much fun too. Everyone loves to see me smile, so I try and do it as often as I can.

What else am I doing...I eat. A lot. Much more than Hunter ever did apparently. I love to eat, can't hardly get enough. Mama's back to work, so my food is coming at me in bottle form, which I'm totally okay with.

The nerve thing is getting a lot better. We're doing lots of Tummy Time, to try and strengthen my upper body and neck. Mama worries I've been cursed with my Dada's somewhat weaker upper body. Fortunately, I make up for it with his undeniably handsome face and bring-a-smile-to-your-face charm.

So, things are good, really good. Just in case you were wondering. Oh, and here's a pic. And, yes, it's a pic of me doing a Raz.

3 Months Feels Good On Me!

Today is the last day Mama will get to spend off work. It's been twelve weeks since my birth and I've managed to keep life interesting for everyone around. I survived the first bout of Flu to hit our home in years (poor Ethan, Caleb, and Mama), my physical therapy is going well (little nerve damage, nothing serious), and I've made a quick transition from nursing to bottle feeds (thanks to the Flu and Mama's 105 degrees of super warmth).

I don't mind the bottle so much, in fact, most of the time I can't wait to get it in my mouth. It's probably a good thing too because I had a hard time nursing in any position other than laying on my left side which, I've been told, is the reason my giant melon has an odd shape to it. Mama and Dada had to do some shopping to change up some of my routine positional choices and Dada had to MacGyver one of my bouncer chairs to encourage my exploration of everything to my right...


Mama helped and Hunter sacrificed the belt system from his carseat, but man, my Dada can solve just about any problem you throw at him. I've never seen anything like it.

Mama and Dada celebrated my 3 months last night with a movie date. I was here with Grandma and Hunter, and that got me thinking about some of the great memories I have of the last three months, and I know the only reason anyone checks this blog right now is because they're look ing for pics, so here ya go...

















So, that's some of the things I remember about my first three months on this planet. I have a good life with great parents, awesome brothers, and lots of family that loves me. Talk to you all again soon. Cole.

Busy, busy.

Hi. We've been busy, busy, doing all sorts of stuff, mostly for my big brother Hunter who has all kinds of fun stuff going on. There's been tree decorating...



...where I was mostly a spectator, as you can see. Hunter did the heavy lifting. Then we had Hunter's school Christmas Pageant...





I slept through pretty much the whole thing despite the nearly 300 hundred people cheering, clapping, and other general crowdly noises. Mama and Dada never stopped praising Hunter for the excellent job he did. It was quite something to behold, I understand. Perhaps I'll see a little more of the show next year. We've had birthday parties at Pump It Up where I slept most of the time.



There was the Little Gym Show Day and Hunter's Birthday, oh, and Mama and Dada trying to get a picture of me smiling...




Life is good. I'm almost eight weeks old now and weighing in at 11 pounds. It's a neverending grind for Mama and Dada, but it's good to be here. Bye bye for a bit. Need some milk.

Cole

Brothers, no doubt about it.

My big brother Hunter posted some neat pictures on his blog of him when he was about my age with photos of me. I couldn't believe how much we looked alike at this age and wanted to share the pictures with those who might be reading here and missed it on his blog.

This first picture is of my brother when he was about five weeks old.


And then there's me at about three weeks old...


Hunter week one...



And me, two weeks ago...


Mama and Dada did good by us, no doubt about it.

911

So, I continue to grow and explore my world. I've met most of my close family with those I haven't met making appearances shortly for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I eat. I cry. And I sleep. My head is still quite heavy but I'm trying to take control of my melon. My hair is still dark and my eyes are still blue. I've already regained and added to my birth weight. Everything was going just perfect until Friday November 12th.

There was nothing real special about the day, but I'd been giving Dada and Mama a bit of a hard time with all me fussin'. I hadn't been sleeping well, naps, nothing, and I was wearing Dada out. After two days like this (Wednesday and Thursday) and with Friday now looking like the worst of the three, Mama and Dada decide to try some Gripe water to see if that would help settle my tummy.

In between cries, Mama administered the water, little by little, until the last little bit went in. I cried, swallowed, and immediately started choking.

Breaths came in short, really short ships of air.

My face got red. I couldn't cry, scream, nothing.

Through wide eyes, I stared up at my Dada. I could hear Mama crying in the background, pleading with Dada to do something.

Suddenly, I was facing down and getting solid smacks on the back. I took a couple quick gulps of air, but still struggled to breathe normally so Dada gave to order. Call 911.

Sirens rocked to night seconds later in our neighborhood as emergency personnel raced to our house. Dada put me on the couch, rolling me onto to my side as Mama talked with the 911 Dispatcher. After a couple more solid smacks on the back, I spit up and started to take some good breaths just as Antioch Police Officers arrived at the house.

AMR and Station 88 firefighters were right on APD's heels.

By the time the whole team was there, Dada had me breathing normally again and after a quick check by the firefighter/paramedic, we got the all clear. Dada knew one of the firefighters and he called to check on us in the morning. I was doing good.

We've made some adjustments to my feeding which seems to have helped a lot, but November 12th was one scary night. Thanks APD, AMR, and CFD for being johnny-on-the-spot when we called, and to my Dada for keeping his cool in a really not cool moment.

Anyone wants baby pics?




Well, the holidays are fast approaching and my Aunt Dani and Uncle Ben just got here for a visit, so I'll chat you up and get more pics up again soon.

Cole