The ultimate act of sharing

Earlier this week, Franny decided to share Doll with Cole during his nap. Although she reclaimed her dear friend after only five minutes, it still was a very sweet gesture.

Sibling revelry

I used to be somewhat concerned that Franny would be a source of anxiety for Cole--although she is sweet, she is also loud and can be (unintentionally) rougher with him than I would like. But recently, I have began to think the opposite may be true, as his expressions, smiles, and cooing have become increasingly directed at his big sister. While it is fun to see his interest in her, I love the fact that she is so pleased by it. Today, during some floor time, the two seemed to almost be talking with each other in their own special way. When I heard Cole cooing at her, I went to take a picture of them, and caught this series of images. They are in their true sequence.

All gums

I have been seeing fleeting smiles from Cole for the last couple of weeks. First, in his sleep; then, many brief grins that left me wondering, Was that a smile? But, the last few days I can definitively say that Cole is smiling. Catching it with the camera, however, is a challenge. But, last night, I was able to get these two shots of his charming, toothless grin. I am sure I will get a better picture soon, but I couldn't resist sharing these in the meantime.

Cole has also been cooing at us for the last week or so. His cute conversation, in addition to these grins, marks the beginning of Cole's exodus from the "blob stage". His personality is slowly emerging and the real fun is starting. Newborns are very sweet in their blob state, but nothing can compare to these moments as they develop and grow. I can't wait for the giggling to start...

Dad's got you, babe

Down time with Cole and his daddy

It was a good thing that we didn't have any plans for our vacation, because everyone needed a lot of down time to regroup, relax, and rejuvenate--each in their own way. Cole and his daddy frequently spent their mornings sleeping in, catching up on some much needed sleep. And then, they enjoyed some lazy mornings before retreating to the back deck for some more down time. In contrast, the girls were up and about relatively early, had breakfast, read multiple books, and had a tea party before the boys even awoke and ventured down the stairs. And while we didn't get the additional sleep, as well, it was a much needed respite to just be able to focus entirely on Franny. Having two kids is wonderful, but I am still adjusting to dividing my attention between the two--a skill that is proving to be exhausting to learn. I know it will come, but until then, for me, an extra set of hands is vacation enough.

Sweet slumber

Cole snoozing through the Fourth of July parade

Have a baby, and everyone's first question is "How does he sleep?" Maybe the fascination with this aspect of a baby life is from the fact that every parent has suffered from sleep deprivation and every parent has either forgotten this or has the magic solution on getting more Zs. As a long-time sleep-deprivation survivor, I make a point to never ask this question. And, now, a little over a year since we found our "magic solution"--being, she finally decided she was ready--I still have no patience on any type of unsolicited comment relevant to sleep. Babies are so amazing and have such tremendous and interesting developmental leaps, why focus on something as mundane as sleep? I know how they sleep--like babies. Real babies, that is.

I am apprehensive to even tentatively comment on how Cole will sleep in the future. Currently, he sleeps well at night, typically giving us one nice five hour stretch. During the day, however, anything is possible. He still can sleep all day, awaking only to eat and stretch before again, going down for a sound nap. Or, he can be awake most of the time, napping for only brief periods throughout the course of the day.

Cole definitely naps more than his sister did, but when I consult my journal from her early weeks, I see that she was sleeping five hours at this same age, as well. It was not until she was four months that we "learned about loss", as their daddy likes to say. I am trying to enjoy the sleep, especially when it occurs during the day and I can get a lot done, but I will wait until we get past the crib-transition before I really relax. Until then, I suppose only Cole knows what our future holds. And, for now, he's not talking.

The power of sucking

The pacifier is a wonderful thing and a parent's best friend. It can ease the wrinkles in Cole's forehead, silence the cries, and put him into a trance-like state, making life peaceful once again. The only flaw I see with these little gizmos is that they are lost much too easily. From different doctor visits and his NICU stay, we have accumulated five of these "soothies". However, when the cries are at their worst and Cole's "V" is a blazing red, we are hard pressed to locate even one. Someday, I will put my education to use and market a smoothie that has a locater incorporated into it. That should propel me into a comfortable, early retirement.

Superhero Cole

Cole was born with a number of nevi simplex across his forehead and on the back of his head and neck. Also called"stork bites," "angel kisses," salmon patches, or vascular stains, these are blotchy pink or purple flat marks that are formed by dilated capillaries near the surface of the skin. This is the most common type of birthmark, with up to 70 percent of babies having one or more. Unlike what I had originally thought, they are not the result of the birth or position in the womb. Before birth, every child has these--they are actually leftover patches of the way the blood vessels looked during fetal circulation.

These types of birthmarks become more noticeable when he gets upset or mad or when there's a change in temperature. The ones on the back of the neck, usually last into adulthood. The ones on the forehead or eyelids, usually go away anytime from three months to age two.

Regardless, some friends and family have referred to the largest of them as heart-shaped and "V for victory". Personally, I think they make him look like a superhero, not unlike Black Vulcan on Superfriends. Now, I barely notice them unless I'm viewing a photo where the flash has made it look more prominent. But, it will be interesting to see when they actually fade away.

Photo: two weeks old

The first month--under the microscope

Where did the first month go? Looking back at the calendar, Cole had nine medical appointments, including seven doctor visits, two lactation consults, four blood draws, an eye exam including dilation of his pupils, and a circumcision. I can't even imagine what he must have been thinking about his new life. Fortunately, he hasn't had to be poked or prodded for the last two and a half weeks. Lets hope the trend continues!

After too much delay...

Cole Mitchell was born three days following my last post. He was 6 pounds, 7.5 ounces and 19.5 inches long. His birth was rapid, and he arrived into the world at 12:46 am. Our family is now complete. Although I will not be detailing his first week of life, I will include a few backdated posts that will update the Cole Blog to the present. Needless to say, he is an amazing little guy and are looking forward to see him grow and his personality emerge.