Three Months

Dear Cole,

This month brought a new routine and new challenges for our little family of four.  Mommy went back to work, and you started spending the day with Levi at Misty's house.  Levi was so excited for you to go with him.  I was a little bit worried he might try to boss Misty around, but it seems to have been a smooth transition.  Mommy hates being away from you and your brother all day, but slowly we are all getting adjusted.

Sorry for these pictures kiddo.  You aren't wearing any pants, but this was the best we could get this month!  I had good intentions of taking some better pictures of you but time got away from me.  We're getting dangerously close to your four month post, so I decided I'd go ahead and use what we had!

You've acquired quite a list of nick names.  Daddy's favorites are Coltrain and Coley Moly.  Pops came up with Colar Bear, and Mommy usually calls you Buster and Mister.  

Likes: You are noticing your toys on your bouncer and play mat more this month.  You lay and talk to them and sometimes look like you might be reaching towards them.  You like to be on your tummy or sitting up.  This month you've also become really interested in your hands.  If you don't have a paci in your mouth, you probably have your hands in there!  You still love loud noises like the hair dryer and vaccuum!  You also love to be outside or be near open windows.  

Dislikes: You do not like to be laid down on your back (unless you're sleeping).  You still aren't a big fan of your carseat unless it's moving.  As soon as you get to Misty's house, she says you're ready to get out!  You especially hate it on Wednesday nights.  I guess it's just a long day, but you always scream when we're on our way to Summit Group.

Eating: You have been taking bottles like a champ during the day.  Most of the time you eat about 4 ounces every three hours.  At night, I've been getting you up right before I go to bed to do a dream feed, and then I'm usually able to sleep until my alarm goes off.  When I get up, I do another dream feed before I get ready for school.

Playing: Like I said earlier, you are starting to "play" more with your toys.  I love listening to you talk to them and watch your little feet kick and kick.  Today you were watching your brother play.  You started talking to him, and he got so excited!

Sleeping:  Most of the time you are still taking good naps after your "playtime" and before your next feeding.  At night you sleep 6-7 hour stretches.  You are starting to move around in your crib more.  I think it's mostly from trying to wiggle out of your swaddle.  We've stopped swaddling you in blankets and only use the saddlers.  You somehow still manage to get out of those.  We'll find you with your legs out but your arms still swaddled.  This morning when I went to get you, you only had one arm that was still in the swaddler!  

We love you sweet Cole and are so thankful God has blessed our family with you!

Two Months

Dear Cole,

This month has been a busy one!  You took your first few car trips and did great- even when we were stuck in Thanksgiving traffic.  You are still a mellow little guy and seem to go with the flow most of the time.

Likes: You are still a cuddler and love to sleep in someones arms.  This month you've enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights.  When we're sitting on the couch, you'll stretch your neck so you can see the lights.  You also love loud noises (which is good considering the loud big brother you have!) especially the vacuum, bath water, hair dryer and even the blender!

Dislikes: You are beginning to have a strong hatred for your car seat when it is sitting still.  As long as we're moving, you're ok, but as soon as we stop, we start to hear grunts that are typically followed by screaming!  This is great for longer car trips but terrible for our trips around town.

Eating/Sleeping: Not much has changed in this department since last month.  You are in a pretty good schedule during the day.  You eat just about every three hours.  Then you have some "play" time and then you sleep for an hour or so before it's time to eat again.  At night, you've had a few longer stretches of sleep, but for the most part, you're still waking up about every 4 hours.

Playing:  We've seen lots of smiles this month, and you've started talking to us lately too.  Baby coos are one of the sweetest sounds.  We all love listening to you talk- especially your big brother!  He tries to translate for us sometimes.  I've also noticed you focusing more on the toys that hang on your bouncer and swing.

Stats: You were a trooper at your 2 month appointment.  Of course, you screamed when you got your shots, but it wasn't long before you were mellow little self again.  You are a tiny little guy.  You weigh 9 lb, 10 oz (4%), and you are 22 inches long (12%).  You are still growing right along your own little growth curve, so the doctor isn't concerned.  You're still wearing newborn diapers and clothes.  We have a closet full of 0-3 month clothes that I'm ready for you to grow in to!  

This next month brings some big changes for our family as I head back to work and you start spending the days with Misty.  Levi is excited to have you at "school" with him, and I know you'll do great.  We love you so much Cole!

Santa, Trains, and Gingerbread Houses

This Christmas season has already been so much fun with Levi!  Levi is totally into all of the excitement of the season.  In fact one night (actually early one morning!) he woke up and seemed to be upset.  When I went into his room and asked him what was wrong he said, "I just wanted to talk to you about Christmas cheer!"

Levi got to see Santa (from afar) and ride a train through Aunt Blair and Uncle Kyle's neighborhood.  His obsession with trains has intensified over the last few months.  When he's playing with his trains or sees one somewhere, he'll look at me and say, "I just love trains so much!"

We pulled out Polar Express one weekend and with a 3 year old boy you can't get much better than the combination of trains and Santa! We've already watched this movie more times than I can count.  We even had a family pj party with popcorn and hot chocolate.

We have done a couple of crafty Christmas activities (which I much say I'm pretty proud of considering we have a newborn in the house!)  We decorated a foam Christmas tree and gingerbread house from Target.  They were perfect for us this year.  They came already constructed and with a variety of stickers to decorate with.  Levi loved it!

We also decorated a real gingerbread house.  Levi was very particular about where things went and loved getting to play with the icing and candy!

We also made a trip to see Santa.  We went at 10:00 one Monday morning with Sarah and Miles.  We were the only people there and were able to walk right up without waiting at all!  Cole was crying which concerned Levi.  He was worried Cole might be put on the naughty list!  Santa was great and even called Levi and Cole by name (which Levi loved!)  

We had talked about going to visit Santa, but I wasn't sure how Levi would do.  I was pleasantly surprised with his reaction.  He walked right up and started talking to Santa.  He climbed up in his lap and smiled for the picture.  Then he told him he needed some new trains- a new engine and a few passenger cars to be exact- and some new cars too.

We have had a busy December so far and are looking forward to more fun with family and friends!

Brooks Thomas Griffith

Little did we know that when we left Dallas after Thanksgiving we'd be back in less than a week!  Blair called me on Wednesday morning and told me she thought she was having contractions.  They were strong enough that she cancelled all of her clients that day but seemed inconsistent.  According to Kyle she had a very productive day at home and even had a productive shopping trip to Target- lots of nesting!  Right before we left for church, she called me back and told me they were headed to the hospital!

Wednesday was my dad's birthday, and I think we were all hoping Brooks would make his appearance in time for him to share a birthday with Pops!  Things did progress very quickly, and my mom, Aunt Amy, and I enjoyed texting back and forth all night long.  We had so much fun waiting to hear that Brooks was here, and I was glad to have some "company" up with me for Cole's 12 am feeding.  

I guess Brooks decided that he wanted his own special day, and he was born at 1 in the morning on Thursday, November 29th.  He was almost 9 pounds and had a beautiful head of hair!  I wanted so badly to be there with Blair, so Cole and I headed up first thing Thursday morning.  We spent a lot of time hanging out at the hospital holding sweet baby boys.  We enjoyed the confused looks and comments we got when nurses and doctors came in and saw Cole and Brooks!  They were almost the same size- and Cole was 5 weeks old!  

It has been so fun to be pregnant and due so close to my sister.  We have compared notes and complained to each other throughout our entire pregnancies (and now life with newborns!)   We're so happy for Blair and Kyle and so excited to welcome sweet Brooks into the family!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was a little bit different than past Thanksgivings but still a great holiday spent with family.  This year we spent Thanksgiving with my side of the family.  Most of the extended family got together in San Antonio, but since Blair was so close to her due date, she wasn't able to travel.  Mat, Levi, Cole and I headed up to Dallas to spend the holiday weekend with them.  (Getting there through holiday traffic and the construction on I 35 was an adventure in itself!)

It was a low key weekend since we had a newborn, a toddler and a very pregnant aunt.  We spent time playing with Levi, watching movies, playing games and relaxing.  Blair and I did cook our first "grown up" Thanksgiving meal- turkey and all!  We cooked the Turkey in the crockpot (and Mat was skeptical), but it turned out great.  I think we were both impressed with ourselves.

Kyle and Blair

 Levi swinging at the park

 Feeding the ducks- The white ones terrified him!

One Month Old

Dear Cole,

You are already one month old!  Most of the time you are a pretty mellow baby.  You don't cry very often- really just when you need something (food or a new diaper).

I think you are learning quickly to protect yourself from your big brother.  He loves you so much and is always interested in you- especially whether or not you are awake.  He always wants to see your eyes and isn't afraid to move you around so he can see you.  You don't seemed too bothered by the noises or movement, but sometimes you flinch when you hear him coming close or sleep with your hands up around your head almost like you're protecting yourself.

Our little monthly photo shoots are going to be a bit more challenging with you since we have a little helper that wants to play peek a boo!  

We went to the doctor and you weighed 9 lbs, 4 oz.  You are still wearing newborn diapers and clothes.  I've noticed that you've got more hair recently too.  You're brother is very concerned about your lack of eyebrows right now.  (They're there- just light and thin!)

Likes: You love to be cuddled and will happily sleep all day long as long as you're being held.  You also love staring at fans and windows.

Dislikes: Usually you let us know something isn't right by grunting.  You don't like for your feet to be uncovered.  When we're changing your diaper, you'll scream or fuss or grunt until we get your feet covered back up, and then you seem pretty content.

Sleeping: During the day, you'll take pretty good naps as long as you're being held.  Sometimes you'll keep sleeping after I lay you down, but usually not for long.  At night, you'll sleep for about 3 hours after eating.  I try to feed you between 10 and 11, and then we usually only get up once during the night around 3:30 or 4.

Eating: During the day you eat just about every 3 hours.  You are a good eater and are pretty efficient which I am thankful for!  You haven't seemed bothered by what I've been eating which I am also thankful for!

Playing:  You are definitely interacting with us more.  I even think you've been smiling (at more than just gas!)  You seem to smile a lot at Levi, and he thinks that's one of the greatest things ever.  You sleep well in your swing but don't seem to excited by the toys on it just yet.

These two pictures show the differences in personalities between our two sweet boys in their first month.

Levi, October 2009

     

Cole, October 2012

  

Cole, we love you so much and are so thankful the Lord blessed us with you!  We love watching you grow and change and can't wait to see what this next month brings!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Happy Halloween

Tonight we went to church for our annual Trunk or Treat.  Levi dressed up as Curious George which fit on so many different levels.  It is his favorite TV show/book right now, and he is quite possibly the most curious little boy ever!  The family next to us had lights and music set up in their trunk, and Levi spent a good chunk of the night trying to figure it all out!

 Mat dressed up as the Man in the Yellow Hat (Curious George's owner).  Levi was so excited to have his dad dress up with him!  

Levi did a great job trick or treating!  He made sure to say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you" to each car.  In fact, at one point he forgot his thank you, so he had to run back and make sure he got that in!  After we made our way around the parking lot, Levi had fun passing out candy to other kids.  If they got remotely close to our car, he'd chase them down and put candy in their buckets (Although I'm pretty sure some of the kids thought he was trying to take candy out of their buckets!)

It was a beautiful night, so Cole made his debut at church tonight.  He spent almost the entire night asleep in his car seat.  As we were driving home, he woke up, and he was M-A-D.  His cries almost sound like he is asking "why" so as he cried, Levi asked "Why" over and over and over again!  In spite of the chaos in our car, Mat and I enjoyed a good laugh.  13 years ago tonight Mat and I started dating. As we drove home with our boys screaming in the backseat we laughed at how much life has changed in that time.  I'm thankful for Mat for many different reasons but tonight I am thankful to have a husband that will dress up in a ridiculous costume to help make his little boy's night!