Silly Cole

Beefing up baby

With the 4-day wait rule, not to mention trying not to overwhelm Cole with a new, expansive buffet, it is taking some time to introduce--not to mention reintroduce--Cole to some of the foods that pack the strongest caloric punch. So far, the big winners seem to be rice cakes with almond butter (lots of almond butter eaten, but very little rice cake) and waffles with cream cheese. He also eats lots of yogurt and oatmeal, although they don't receive the same enthusiasm. This next week the new foods will be mashed potatoes/sweet potatoes with sour cream and gravy and creamed soups with parmesan cheese. Doesn't sound too bad to me...

It's alright to be little bitty

This week, Cole had a serious round of doctor visits--pediatrician, physical therapist, and nutritionist. The consensus: a very engaged, highly observant, cute little character. It seems that sweet Cole must be carrying nearly half his weight in those adorable little cheeks. At a slim 16 pounds and 3 ounces, he doesn't quite register on the regular growth curves. The recommended strategy, however, is one that the rest of us can only dream of--basically, to add fat to everything. Vegetables should smothered in cheese, breads saturated with butter, fruits laden with cream, mashed sweet potatoes mixed with whole milk sour cream, breads spread with nut butters and cream cheese, and the general rule to mix oils and mayonnaise with anything possible! It almost seems like the food pyramid in reverse. Lucky little guy! But, most importantly, while leaner than what makes his gamut of doctors and specialists comfortable--he has 5!--they all agree that he is unquestionably thriving, hitting his milestones, developing the most wonderful personality, and charming literally everyone who comes around.

Please save your applause...

Two nights ago, Cole woke us up around midnight. As I stumbled (and grumbled) into his room to check on him, I found sitting up in the middle of his crib! I think we were both a little shocked. When Cole hits one of these milestones, I like to clap and give him a big smile and cheer, which he always reciprocates with great enthusiasm. This night, however, the little guy didn't have patience for all that fanfare, and just wanted a big hug. Anticlimactic, but understandable, I suppose!

Cole at 9 months

Latest smile--in the park this evening


Latest frustration--coordinating crawling


Latest favorite food--what everyone else is having


Latest fascination--the wrist chord on the camera


Latest accomplishment--pushing up onto his knees

Is that happiness to see me?

I don't think there is any question that Cole adores Franny.... I love his little "yahoo" at the end!

More on books

Cole absolutely loves to read books. He'll sit in my lap as I read book after book after book. And he isn't a passive reader--he likes to scrutinize each, touch the pictures he likes, and coo and chatter along. Now that he likes to turn the pages (with his left hand--interesting), I am beginning to understand more about how much his is taking in. He will sit and examine a page for a minute or more, before he turns to the next page. Once I started to turn the page, only to have him put his hand out to stop me. He is quite the contrast to Franny, who could breeze through half a dozen books in a matter of minutes. Right now, his favorite book is I Am A Bunny which has lots of beautiful illustrations by Richard Scarry. It has more complex pictures than most of his previous books, depicting the seasons through the eyes of Nicholas Bunny, and he is enjoying it tremendously. I guess the little guy is growing up...