And Then There Was Cole - 16 months (for real this time)

Dear Cole,

Time is moving quickly, and it's hard to keep up.  You're moving out of the baby stage and making your way into the toddler stage.  You are running now, and it's a cute one because you swing your arm like you just don't care. 

So, the other day you gave me a high five.  I was all "Omigod!!  RJ!  He just gave me a high five!!"  RJ was all "Yup."  (like, hey, lady, he's been doing that for a long time).  Then, the other day you waved a proper hello.  I was all "Omigod!  RJ!  He just waved hello!!".  RJ was all "Yup.  Errr, I mean, errrrrr, OH YEAH, COOL"  (trying to recover from the hey-lady-he's-been-doing-that-for-a-long-time thing).

Your sleeping is finally acceptable.  You sleep from 6.30 at night until 6.30 in the morning.  You have at least a two hour nap each day.  OK.  That took long enough.  Yup, just in time to flip you out and switch it up on our trip to Hawaii.  At least this time I'm taking sleeping pills with me.  FOR BOTH OF US. 

You hate the ocean.  When your toes touch the surf you scream as though you've been dipped in acid.  Then you get the shakes.  OH THE DRAMA. 

You have a happy dance.  It kind of resembles the "running man".  You're so retro, boy.

Love you more than all the drool and snot in the world,
Mommy
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Servant Boy and the Cleaning Lady

So, we wait on Old King Cole hand and foot. We feed him. Chauffeur him around. Sing and dance around like morons for his entertainment value.

We wipe his ass.

But, now, he's making us HOLD HIS DRINK bottle for him when he drinks. I mean, COME ON.  (action: dramatic head roll)



Good thing he's a merry old soul -- I mean, if we're going to be servant boy and the cleaning lady, we want it to be for someone who's jovial.



Don't you turn ugly on us boy, or you could find yourself on the first ship to the Americas……… first class of course.

The Zoe Chronicles - 30something

Dear Zoe,

You love reminding us that you're a big girl. You go to the potty like a big girl. You need a REAL bowl (our ceramic dishes, not those plastic baby ones!) because you're a big girl. Frankly, I'm surprised you haven't asked for your morning coffee and newspaper yet. Everything is big girl.

You wrote your name in sidewalk chalk. This impressed us.

This did not impress me:

Zoe to Andrea:         I have a bum.

Andrea to Zoe:         Yes, you do.

Zoe to Andrea:         You have a big bum.

Andrea to Zoe:         Well, you're short.

Andrea to RJ:           You better say something REALLY NICE to me RIGHT NOW.

You always tell us that when you get bigger, you will work at Fevvyron (trying to say Chevron) with me.  And, apparently, Cole will work at Fevvyron as well.  This is good news, since I maintain that EVERYONE should go into Oil and Gas.  And take a touch typing class.  But, you will only have avocado sandwiches for lunch, not avocado and cheese like Mommy does.

 

One time we were driving home from Fevvyron and you took your shoe off to use it as a phone.  You were talking to Grandma.

 

"Hi Grandma, how was your day?"
"You bought a new house?"

"FIVE BATHROOMS???"

 

We nearly crashed the car because we were laughing so hard.  Oh our poor Zoe, living in the dump that we do, only having the one bathroom.  She was obviously meant for grandeur.

Last month, you dressed up as a princess (Isaac's birthday party), a cat (Xavier's birthday party) and a little Indian girl (our Halloween party)... and of course, you were convincing as all three...

Love you all the time,

Mommy bear

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And Then There Was Cole - still 16 months

Dear Cole,

Since this is the only record I have of you younglings growing up (I don't journal, and I don't have a memory) I thought I should add a couple things to your 16th month...

You blow kisses and say moooooiiiiiiaaaaa
You kiss every single mirror you see (and say mooooiiiiiaaaaa)
After you take a big drink, you'll say ahhhhhhhhhhhh (like it's sooooo refreshing)

You have a few words
Beru (your favourite bear)
blue (hmmmm, I seem to recall this with Zoe)
baby (ok, a theme is starting? b words?)
bye bye
hi
ma
da



Bye bye! Moooooiiiaaaaaa!
Mommy
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Still singing our ABCs

Zoe will break out in her ABC song, and when I try to join in she'll say
"Mommy! This isn't next time!"

And Then There Was Cole - 16 months

Dear Cole Bear,

15 months and we used to think you were such an easy going baby. You'd smile at anything and anyone. You'd just take it easy. But, now, we're changing our minds. We now believe you are high maintenance and you have discovered a mini-temper. If you don't get what you want the MILLISECOND you spot it, you'll arch your back and screeeeeeam. We can't feed you fast enough. Can't get you your water fast enough. Can't get you dressed fast enough. Can't peel your grapes and fan you with banana leaves fast enough.

We also think you might be part dog. You love to chew on shoes and furniture.

We've had a month of changes… I weaned you completely last week and boy, it's not going well. I don't know who it's harder on, you, me, or Daddy. You, because you have a meltdown at bedtime and won't replace the feed with milk. Or, me, because you're my last baby and I'll never breastfeed again… and that makes me sad. (and the fact that I'll have to mourn the loss of my pregnancy/breastfeeding boobs, I've enjoyed them for the past 4 years). Or, Daddy, because now in addition to minding you all day long, he is solely responsible for the bedtime routine since if you see me you go berserk. We don't know how long this will go on for… we're starting to get wooooooorried.

Then, you were really sick a couple weeks ago with a nasty cold/fever. You were quite lethargic and this is so unlike you! I think you actually have about 6 sets of molars coming in at once, which is about as fun as filing your nails with a belt sander. Probably a little more painful too.

But, you got to dress up 3 times, 2 birthday parties and our Halloween party. You were a biker (Cole Shovelhead Beargut), a caveman (You Cole, Me Mommy), and a plush giraffe.

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Man, you're adorable. You're cute even when you cry.

Love you baby.
Mommy Bear

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