Classic.

Thanksgiving

We hosted Thanksgiving this year, and it was a full house. We were blessed to have both sides of our family here and we had a wonderful day. I am still loyal to my apple cider-brined turkey - wicked good.

In the photo we are holding up our Gratitude Garland, I found the idea over at Somewhat Simple. We are wrote down things we were grateful for and put it up on the mantle. Here's what people said...

I am grateful for:

• the challenge and JOY of relationships
• family, health and knowing God
• creative thoughts
• Family. Luckiest guy in the world for my family and extended family
• My two wonderful children and my wife that I couldn't imagine life without
• Sunsets - an amazing creation by God
• Teachability through experience
• My dog
• God
• Freedom and balance of life
• Freedom of speech and religion
• Joy, hope and love
• for a very loving Lord, who guides and protects me. I am grateful for the support of family and friends and to live in a free country.
• new opportunities to pursue in fulfilling God's purpose for my life
• new job opportunity and this point in my life

I am one year old today

The truth is, I don't like writing this post. I may have cried a little in the checkout line yesterday when I bought a "1" candle for Stella's cake. It's just going way.too.fast. I feel like I will blink and we will be dropping her off at college bawling our eyes out.

To say we have enjoyed our little Stelly Belly just doesn't suffice. I cannot imagine a bigger blessing to our family and have had many moments this year where I pause and just stare up to the heavens in gratitude. It's awfully fitting that our baby girl celebrates her first birthday on Thanksgiving, because we couldn't be more thankful for our little miracle. It has been quite the year for us as we adjust to having a family of four, but all the more joyful to our everyday lives. Happy Birthday baby girl. We love you, adore you and can't imagine our lives without you.

I am saying "doggie" all day long
I give kisses
I can book it up the stairs
I am very close to walking and stand on my own now
I love taking baths with my brother
I am enamored with my Daddy
I love being in my stroller
If I don't want something, I am quick to chuck it across the room
I find great pleasure in emptying out drawers
I like to spoon feed myself

I am 11 months old

I like to hold on to chairs and walk around
I point to things and say "what's this?"
I think it's funny to shake my head from side to side and say no, no, no
I am trying to figure out how to climb up stairs
I love music and having dance parties
I love to be held by my Dad
I will drop anything I'm doing and make every possible effort to get to a laptop so I can pound on the keys
I hate wearing socks and would rather chew on them
I am starting to love my dog Dee

We love you baby girl and can't believe in just a month we will celebrating your first birthday!

Thank you Aunt Jean!

My sweet Aunt Jean heard that I was having a baby last year and showed up with a huge box of gorgeous hand knitted things she had made for both Cole and Stella. Sweaters, hats, mittens and all sorts of cuteness.

She recently just finished this sweater and hat for Cole. After he opened the package, he immediately put them both on and insisted on wearing them while riding his bike around the neighborhood. Even though it was 90 degrees out! Adorable. Thank you Jean!

I am 10 months old today

 

 

I am crawling

I am pulling up to standing

I can take a few steps when I'm holding on to something

I can say Daddy, Mama, Dee (our dog) and Yes

I love to dance

I sleep 7 to 7

I have two teeth

I like to nod

I have a lot of hair that is getting lighter



1st day of Pre-K

Mr. Cole is just growing up too fast. He is so excited to be back in Miss Vicki and Miss Wendy's class as a Busy Bee this year. He had a perfect first day!

Beach weekend

Sandcastles. Donuts. Never ending Monopoly games. Early morning beach walks with coffee. Perfect beach weekend.

I am 9 months old today

 

 

I can wave

I am crawling

I loooooove my brother

I drink from a sippy cup

I like to go swimming and a rock a bikini

I just learned how to give high fives

I am very verbal, and loud!

I am 8 months old today

I have a signature nose scrunch

I sleep from 7 to 6

I am trying so hard to crawl

I love it when my brother pulls me up to standing and hugs me

I join Daddy for runs in the morning in the jogging stroller

I have liked every food I've tried so far

I say "ma ma" and "da da" all day long

I tell you, these two are getting more and more bonded each day. They are starting to "play" together and Cole has a hard time waiting for her to get up from naps because he says he misses her. It brings tears to my eyes that our little baby is already 8 months old and getting so close to being mobile. It's going too fast!

Swimming

Cole was terrified to start swim lessons this summer. So, like any good Mom, I just didn't tell him what were doing on his first day. He had a moment of panic and didn't want to go but as soon as the teacher called him over he let go of his fears and is having a blast. Here are a couple of videos I took to show to Jeff.

And here he is at the outdoor pool with his friends Hannah and Danica. He has already declared his love for Hannah and tells me daily that he plans to marry her. When I ask him what it means to be married he says, "to be really good friends".

I am 7 months old today

Photo by Heather Beam Photography



My nicknames are Stelly Belly, Stellar and Baby Girl
I bite my bottom lip all the time
I have slept through the night once
I love to eat, I'm now eating solids for breakfast and dinner
I am "talking" a lot - da da, mum mum and ma ma, and lots of squeals
I love remote controls
I like to make fart sounds with my mouth to make my brother laugh
My thighs are impressive
I am a very happy girl

Preschool graduation

Cole graduated from his first year of preschool last week, he's moving on from the Terrific Turtles class to the Busy Bee's next year. He's had such a wonderful year at Noah's Ark Preschool, we were so impressed with his teachers Miss Vicki and Miss Wendy. Hard to believe he only has one more year of preschool until Kindergarten!

Gone fishin'

It was a dudes only day today. Jeff, G-Pa and Cole got up early to go fishing, and they came home with two fish! Cole wasn't sure about eating his catch, but after a few bites he eagerly ate up.

And a picture of these adorable 4 year old legs. Always bouncing, jumping, running. In shorts constantly even when it's cold. The knobby kneecaps. *Swoon*

6 months old

I just started sitting up

I am eating all kinds of foods: sweet potato, banana, pear, avocado - I love them all

My hair is wild and still likes to stand straight up

I am so entertained by my big brother, he makes me laugh and giggle all day long

I am still a mama's girl

I love it when Daddy plays the guitar and sings to me

I am full of smiles

I am a drool machine

I love my sock monkey

I can put both of my feet in my mouth at the same time

Happy half-birthday baby girl!

5 months

Stella is 5 months old today!

Our little baby who spent the first 4 months of her life crying all.day.long with colic, has turned into the happiest, smiliest little peanut with the most adorable chubby thighs. She is such a joy, filling our home with coos and giggles all day long now. She seems to feel so much better and now I can say I have the easiest baby! She has settled into a nice routine and just goes with the flow of our daily lives.

Of course, when blogging, it's so easy to paint a picture like we've got it all together. But, the reality is that our house is almost always a mess, the espresso machine is worn out and my wardrobe has gotten progressively more pathetic! On Christmas Day this year, we were driving home from Christmas dinner and we were both so tired, we decided to get a coffee. We completely forgot it was a holiday and no place would be open. While both kids were screaming their heads off in the back, we were cruising around Vancouver in our mini van wondering why no coffee shops were open. We burst out laughing when we started to talk about how our lives had changed over the last few years. Parenthood is no joke.

But lately I've been trying to stop and remember all the little moments amidst the chaos of our daily lives, because it is just flying by with these two. Cole is no longer my baby, and if I'm being honest, he's just not all that into me anymore. It's all about Dad these days. I remember how busy he was as a two year old and how I wanted to get through that stage faster. And now I would love to go back if I could. The things that drive me most crazy today, are the things I will miss the most in the future. The 30 Hot Wheels perfectly lined up down the hallway that always manage to be underfoot. The 5am wake up calls for a snuggle. Waking Stella up early from a nap because he missed her. Standing in the pouring rain because he wants to learn how to buckle his carseat by himself. "Helping" me in the kitchen. Hearing the word "poop" 400 times a day because he thinks it's just the funniest thing ever.

And Stella. We were in such survival mode during the first few months all of those first little moments just slid by. I never want to forget that she "talks" so loudly in church that we always have to step out. Her little crying fits that force me to stop whatever I'm doing and to just hold her for a bit. The last feeding before bed where I get to hold her and read for 30 minutes. The constant spit up that means multiple outfits changes a day, getting full use out of her adorable wardrobe. Checking on her in the bouncy chair every few minutes while I shower. Moving everything off the changing table so that Cole can sit next to her while I get her in her jammies.

Our lives are far from perfect but rich indeed.

Snippets

Four years old is such a wonderful age. I was telling a friend the other day who is in the terrible two's stage what there is to look forward to. I sat down with Cole and started asking him some random questions. I had to bribe him with tape, his favorite medium these days.

What is your favorite thing to do?
Play with my truck and building signs.

Who is your best friend?
Jax. Actually, I mean my cousins. (sorry Jax)

Where do you live?
Inside my house. In Vancouver.

What is your favorite toy?
My purple car.

What do you learn about in school?
I don't know. Playing puzzles I guess.

Where is outer space?
Way up high.

Where does Jesus live?
In Mexico.

Why don't dogs talk?
Because they don't talk.

What is the best part about being a big brother?
I like it when she scratches me.

What is the worst part of being a big brother?
When she eats my toys. ?

What does your daddy do for work?
He fixes teeth.

What is your favorite food?
Carrots

How old will you be on your next birthday?
5

Where do you want to go on vacation?
Mexico

Why do birds fly?
Because they have wings.

I am 4 months old today

12lbs 8oz (27th %), 24in (43rd %)
A lot less crying and much more smiling
Constantly entertained by big brother
Learning to sleep better
Fascinated by the discovery of her own hands and feet
Thumb sucker
Very close to rolling over
Grabbing at objects
Mama's girl

Looking at little Stella it's hard for me to remember when Cole was a baby and all of the little things. I came across this video I made for his first birthday, what a fun reminder of that special first year.

Birthday boy

Space theme. Rocket cake. Lots of kiddos with flushed cheeks after wearing themselves out at JJ Jump!

I am 4 today



After my 4th birthday party, I decided I want to turn 5, then 6, then 20
I love to draw and practice writing my name
I say the word "actually" all the time
I run really fast, my muscles are getting big
I like to collect things and hide them all over the house
I love my baby sister
I like cars with spoilers
I am all about Dad these days

Happy Birthday to our big boy. We love you and have had a wonderful year watching you grow up!

I am 3 months old today

About 12lbs and 23 inches
Grabbing at toys
Always sucking on fingers and hands
Smiling and giggling all day long
Sticks out tongue
Long fingers and toes
Still rockin' a mohawk
Sleep is getting a little better
Lights up when big brother is near

Beach weekend

Our weekend away at the beach was priceless. Sunny, 60 degrees and a very excited little boy.