Park

As per annual tradition, we brought Cole to the park near my parents' house again this year.  Last year, my little mister was so teeny tiny!  And then this year...  well, let's just say I had a few tears in my eyes watching him play and remembering our last visit.

 Going up the stairs ALL BY HIMSELF!

 Going down the slide ALL BY HIMSELF!

 Going up the slide ALL BY HIMSELF! (are you sensing a theme here?)

 PS.  I know, I know, it's against the great unwritten Park Rule Book to let kids go up the slide instead of down.  If I had a dollar for every time I shouted that during playground duty, I'd be a millionaire.  But just look at the smile...I couldn't tell him no! :)

 When Cole is concentrating really hard, he sucks in his upper lip:

 "No, no, Daddy, I don't need help. I got this!"

 And for one last tear... this was last year at the park:

 And this year!

I can hardly believe it myself!

Backyard

We need to get this kid of ours a back yard.

Seriously, he spent over an hour running around outside in the backyard while we were visiting my parents.  Not playing, not DOING anything, just running in circles like a crazy person while I watched and took pictures.

 He did, however, take a couple of quick breaks to give me some special rocks...tell me those big brown eyes don't make your heart melt!

He's so easily entertained.

Eating with a spoon

Well, we're still practicing the whole getting-food-IN-the-mouth thing...but at least most of it's getting on his face! That's an improvement - eating with a spoon is not an easy skill!

Christmas Excitement

Cole's getting excited for Christmas:

Can't you see the excitement in his face?

The top-secret baby information the CIA doesn't want you to know

Are you sitting down?


Ok...here's the most valuable little nugget of information you will EVER get when it comes to your baby.


It may save you hundreds, no, THOUSANDS of dollars.


And no, it's not the magic formula to get your baby to sleep.  Seriously, people, if I had that I would be buying Chris a motorcyle for Christmas instead of what I am actually getting him (which is not a motorcyle). (Sorry to burst your hopes, babe.)


It's this: YOU NEVER EVER EVER NEED TO BUY A BABY/TODDLER/YOUNG CHILD A SINGLE TOY.


EVER.


Truly.  Toys are the most unnecessary objects created for babies.


Why?  Because they will play in/with/around a box quite happily for hours.

Case in point:

See? Aren't you glad I just saved you a bunch of money?

You're welcome.

Family Photos

When Chris asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year, I told him what I wanted most was professional family photos of us. 

See, as a sorta-photographer, I end up with tons of adorable photos of Cole, but I really wanted pics of our whole family (especially after trying to take a family photo last year).  Two weeks later, I was on the phone making an appointment with the incredibly talented Crystal of Borrowed Expressions Photography. So here are the fruits of her labor:

 (Cole was looking raptly up at an airplane!)

 My favorite! :)

 One of Cole's favorite books:

What do you think? Which one was your favorite?