Caught in the act

He is not always as innocent as he looks...

Cole's crazy curls

Depending on the day, Cole can really have some crazy hair.  Since we've never had his hair cut, all the uneven lengths only accentuate the it's incredibly curly nature.   Today, with Franny at school and his hair resembling a curly mohawk, I finally decided the time had come to take him to get his hair cut.  And although he protested the entire time--protest is a actually a very kind word for what transpired there--we got it done and he looks great!    I really do love Cole's curls, but they are definitely best kept short!

 

Did you say something?

Cole's vocabulary is very quickly expanding.  I understand him best while we are reading books, but more and more frequently I am beginning to hear his words throughout the day in a multitude of contexts.  Yesterday, while I was making him lunch, I heard the word "flower" so clearly that I thought it had to be my imagination.  As I looked at him (standing next to a vase of tulips), he repeated it several times and then did the sign for flower, as if to say, what are you not understanding?  Apparently, not as much as I should be!

Balancing it all out

Since Cole first started eating solid foods, all his doctors wanted to focus on boosting his intake of calories, fat, and anything that would put weight on his slender frame.  And, we tried just that, with little focus on the balance that typically defines a healthy diet.  Although I can appreciate both their intent and concern, as time went on, I became more and more concerned that Cole wasn't eating the fruits and vegetables and all the nutrients and vitamins they contain.  And, also afraid that as a result he may not really feel as good as he could, I decided that I would focus on giving him a better balance of foods, while still maximizing his calories whenever possible.  For over six weeks, I have continued to present fruits and vegetables with nearly every meal and snack.  Cole was not responsive--at best, he would squish a raspberry or drop a carrot.  It has been deflating, as well as concerning, to say the least. 

This week, however, we have finally made some progress!  First, with some spinach/cream cheese bake on Monday, and yesterday he ate grapes and broccoli!  I am ecstatic and very encouraged.  And, since his previous extreme fat diet didn't put the pounds on, maybe a balanced one will.   We'll see.

Its official!

Cole spent his California trip taking an occasional two to three steps at a time, but really not near the point where we could say he was walking. Well, either he was inspired by his sweet cousin Meredith or he was just waiting to get home, but less than two hours after returning from the airport, Cole began taking up to 20 steps at a time. This video clip was taken the next day, and in just the few days since, he has begun teetering down the hallway and all around the house, and is clearly making the transition from crawler to walker. Look out world!

Just one more

 

Cole taking it all in at Legoland

The younger cousins

Under the sea

It is hard to adequately describe the incredible enthusiasm and fun that both Franny and Cole had at the Sea Life Aquarium. I expected Cole to be excited--he loves to watch fish we had already witnessed his intense fascination at the San Diego Zoo. But Franny was running from exhibit to exhibit shouting, pointing, and literally jumping up and down. Jellyfish, rays, seahorses, sharks, and even kelp thrilled them both to no end. They loved it and we loved watching and listening to their reactions to each of the exhibits. It was a great time!


The interactive tide pools


Watching the "Nemo" fish

Cole getting as close as possible


Cole at the San Diego Zoo

At the Sea Life Aquarium

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No longer eating like a bird

Cole's appetite underwent a dramatic change during our vacation--he ate constantly, rarely going more than 30 minutes to an hour without some sort of snack from the morning into the afternoon.  On this walk in La Jolla, however, he soon discovered that he needed to keep those snacks hidden, as the local gulls were quick to pick up his trail!

Beach boy

This vacation included Cole's first visit to the ocean.  Although he didn't dive in head first like his sister, he definitely enjoyed getting his feet wet and playing in the sand.

 

On the mend

Poor Cole spent the weekend battling a nasty stomach flu.  Although his appetite took an upswing today, over the course of his virus he lost nearly a pound.  It may not sound like much, but for a previously-19-pound toddler, that's a lot. With his weight-gaining history, we just hope he gets that back sometime before Christmas.   To top it all off, this morning his face and body broke out in a post-viral rash, which sent his mama into a minor panic.  Fortunately, with a quick call to the doctor, all anxieties were eased and he spent the rest of the day enjoying a very uneventful and  mellow day at home.  Now, with a lot of TLC, he is recuperating and should be to his regular, sweet personality in the next day or two.

Sweet siblings

When they ride it together, Franny likes to call Cole's little car the "four wheeler".  And, they definitely have fun on it as they zip around the house. 

 

The aftermath

California was fun, but we all came back exhausted, to say the least. Our first day back, the kids got up from their naps, only to spend the next 30 minutes quietly hanging out on the couch and eating a snack. For these two, who are nearly always in constant motion and wake up from their naps energetic and ready to play, this was unprecedented. It took just short of a week for everyone to start moving at full speed again. While I am glad that everyone (including myself) is feeling back to normal, I do miss those 3 hour naps...

Bonjour Butterfly!

Our trip to Discovery Kingdom was a great adventure, and allowed us to have one last big outing with our friends.  Cole loved the butterfly garden (in the second picture he is doing his sign for "butterfly") and was very intrigued to watch them flying around.  It must be incredibly fascinating for him to finally see things up close that he has only before seen in books.   His obvious wonderment is a joy to watch--his eyes get bright, he smiles from ear to ear, and his whole body bounces up and down.   I love it!