Cole

We took Cole to get his 6 month pictures taken today at JcPenny's. It's way cheap and they turn out cute! But how could they not with those blue eyes and great smile. Here are some of my favorites!

This is my new trick! We have several with the tongue out! So cute!

6 months

I cannot believe our little baby is 6 months old. He just seems so little! I remember with Eli I couldn't wait for him to do all of the "milestones." I just want Cole to stay little! But, he's not. He's growing and doing so much! It's so fun to watch.I love your bright blue eyes! They light up everytime you smile or look at your Mommy, Daddy and big brother, Eli.

So big! You are sitting so well...don't even really need the boppy pillow, but it makes Mommy feel better for you to have it! You still topple over some!

You love to sit and play with your toys. Your brother even brings you some of his tractors to play with. Your favorite thing to do is jump in your jumper! Your legs are always on the go! I can't imagine what that means for us in the near future!

You are sleeping through the night and take great naps! (Very different from your brother!)

You laugh, really belly laugh, at your brother. Your eyes light up and you get the biggest smile when Eli walks or runs into the room. Sometimes you even squeel! I love it!

Cole...we are so blessed to have you in our lives. You and your brother mean the world to us and we love you so much.

Happy 6 months "buster"!!!

I needed this...

Have you ever gotten "snail mail" or an email that made your day? Today I did...an email from a friend that did just that! She always seems to know when I'm needing an encouraging word! Thanks Kendall! You are an amazing person and God is using you to do amazing things! Thank you for your friendship!

Here is part of the email:
I was thinking about teaching. How God calls us to love the 'broken, hurt, lonely, orphans, children'...Wondering how to do that, I realized that as teachers--that's what we do!!!

I know that working full-time and teaching such broken kids can be so draining and frustrating and overwhelming. But I am praying for you this week. God cares SO MUCH about those little ones you are loving. And you are investing yourself in little ones who can't give anything back to you--but 'great is your reward in heaven'! You're serving the very people God is calling us to love!!! So I hope that this lightens your load a bit--and I'm praying, too, that you have energy and joy in your job. And that you'd continue to find time to love your little guys, too!

Love, Kendall

brotherly love

Eli is the only one that can make Cole really belly laugh!

The kind that makes you laugh along...and the kind that gives him the hiccups b/c he's laughing so hard! I love it!

Here are a couple of videos...of course as soon as I get the video camera out it slows down. But you can get the idea!

happy little boy

I am so glad this happy little boy is back!!

He is taking 2 hour naps in the morning AND afternoon!

He is sleeping through the night, peacefully!

He is so pleasant to be around!

God has answered our prayers!

play doh

Since Cole is feeling better these days and napping around 2 hours each time, this little guy and I have a LOT more time to spend together!

So today we got out the play-doh and made a "play-doh family!" It's interested how he thinks. Our family consists of 3 boys and 1 girl. However, to make his family, he wanted 2 boys and 2 girls!

I only got a picture of the 3 family memebers before my camera died! Look at the pink girl's hair. Eli said, "Her hair is like a rockstar!" Not sure where he picks up on these things, but he sure makes me laugh!

I'm so glad things have settled down so I can give this little guy more attention. I love him so much and can't believe he's going to be 3 in a couple of months!

long

We've had long, long nights at our house.
Or...short nights if you think about how much sleep we are NOT getting.
Poor Cole.
We can't figure it out.
Monday after tube surgery...no sleep.
Up every hour.
ALL week long.
He was back on antibiotics again as of last week b/c Dr. Harris felt that the infection was probably not gone from when he got tubes.
So you would think things should get better, right?
Nope.
Still up...all night long.
Aaron's taking him in to the doctor again right now.
This was the suggestion of the on-call doctor that I was talking to last night at 12:30am...well, not talking to, crying to!
Seriously...something is NOT right.
I know it in my heart.
My baby is hurting, but we can't figure out why.
I'm hoping, praying and waiting for some answers.
I'm stuck at school waiting while Aaron is with Cole.
My mind is not with me today.

***UPDATE: He's fine! Really??? I guess my heart was wrong. His ears are cleared. Doctor thinks he's picked up on bad habits with all of his bad sleeping patterns this past month. So...his suggestion: LET HIM CRY. (He says even if it's for 2 hours.) Oh man...it could be some even longer nights in our house these next days.