Presents!

We let Cole open 2 big presents on the 28th.  He is really into presents now.  He is still figuring out the mechanics of opening them, but he thinks they are fun and knows the word 'present'.

Checking out his splash table.  This is so funny because he and the boy in the picture are almost reflecting each other:).

With Daddy.  I believe this may have been after a time-out for throwing something at one of us or hitting.  He's 2 now, I guess that can be expected.

Checking out the splash table with Mommy.

Learning the basics of tee ball.

Excited about his Shake N Go Car.

This was yesterday (the 30th...my birthday).  I made his shirt for his party next weekend.

It looks much better in pictures.  Doing the 'C' and 'O' with all of their curves was near impossible.

Cole is 2!

Cole, there are not words in human language to describe the incredible love we have for you and the incredible miracle God blessed us with 2 years ago today.  You are passing from babyhood into childhood swiftly and we are savoring each moment.  You are a special joy to us...truly our sunshine.  You have even shown us how much God loves us.  It seems impossible that God can love us more than we love you and that He loves you more than we do, but it is true.  We are looking forward to seeing who you grow into and helping you along the way.  Your smile lights up a room and your constant babble is music to our ears.  Oh the joy we have felt recently that you have begun calling us "Momma" and "Dadda".  We will cherish that in our hearts forever.

Even though you are very sick today, we hope you have as happy a birthday as possible!  We hope you feel better by Saturday so we can go see a big choo choo!
Love you so much,

Daddy and Mommy

More on Cole's development after his 2 year checkup on Monday!  I have the same cold as him, so hopefully by Monday I will have more energy!

Summer Time!

No shirts allowed!  Cole and I were practicing saying "cheese".  I cut his hair short a few weeks ago, but it is growing back swiftly!  I can see a difference in these two pictures and the top one was taken late last week!

Cutiepotamus!  I LOVE him in hats!

The Weird Look and the Great Locomotive Chase

Last picture from Hinckley.  Smiling in the swing with Grandma pushing him.

I asked him if he wanted to do something he wanted to do.  This is the look he gives "yes, of course I want to do that" is my only interpretation.  It kind of looks like an "are you nuts?" type of look:).

This face just cracks me up!

Reading a train book with Daddy and drinking a "milkshake".

Jonathan asked me to put in "The Great Locomotive Chase" with Fess Parker and both guys were glued on it.

In fact, all three of us were glued on it.  Cole went to bed 20 minutes later than we were going to put him down because we were too into the movie to shut it off!

More from Hinckley

Uncle Chris instilling into his nephew the fine art of watching television in the evening.  They were watching Dora.

Grandma and Cole in the park swinging.  I got another good shot of Cole looking at the camera, too!  Looking forward to seeing it, Mom!:)

Hinckley, Day 3 and 4: Sunday and Monday

Knocking down blocks with Grandma.

"Riding" in the sports car with Grandma.

Dancing to the musical clock with Grandma.

Playing with carousel animals with Grandma.

Chilling out with Grandma.  Those are all things Cole likes to do at the Salerno house.  He also likes the 4-wheeler, swimming, and laying and watching tv with Uncle Chris (those pics to come).

My very best friend (and oldest friend), Mary, brought her daughter, Ava, over to visit on Monday.  We have a very special friendship.  I honestly am so thankful for it...not everyone gets a friend who they met when they were 7 years old and keeps them forever.  We weren't even always attached at the hip in school, and we became closer once we got to college, but it is amazing how our lives have followed some similar tracks and now we get to share the joys and struggles of Motherhood together.

Cole.  The best picture I got of him in Hinckley.

Ava is so full of sweetness and joy.  I got a TON of great shots of her.  I will share them once I have them all edited.  I have a little "photography" blog to put my very favorite shots http://www.candicefortephotography.blogspot.com/.  This is probably where the photos will end up in  a couple days.  And, I will put the best ones on facebook as well.

Cole and Ava got in several hugs.  Some kids he kind of ignores, but he really liked her.  He remembers her, too, which is really neat.

Cole got ahold of my mother's lawn ornaments around her pool deck.  He loved the turtles.  He broke at least two of them, too.  Sorry, Mom.  But, he lined them up on the pinic table bench.  He categorized them some, too.

Mary and Ava brought Cole a little Lego Duplo set.  He loves it! 

We ate spaghetti.  Ava is a VERY good eater!  She got her spaghetti hands all over poor Mary's blouse (my fault...I went to wipe her face and didn't even think about a child not liking their face wiped...whoops).  I am glad I got a few pictures before we ate!

The kids loved sitting on the steps.  How fun!

Hugs.

Cole brought out the laundry baskets and after a short scuffle they each had one.  Here are the results.

My Mom took this.

And this.

I took this.

And this:).

Cole with the one remaining turtle of that type.  They were perfect size to carry around by their heads.

Hinckley, Day 1 and 2: More from the Birthday Celebration and Day 2 Family Party

Me before Cole's Birthday Celebration.  I liked this picture.

Cole opening gifts.

Hat, bandana, and whistle!  I am ready to go!

Let's eat some cake and get some matchbox cars!

Yummy cake.

Tell Grandma to stop taking my picture!

Choo-choo.

Driving down the driveway with Mommy in Grandpa's car.  He cried when we took him out.

Cole got a lot of vehicle experience at Grandpa and Grandma's.  Here he is on the 4-wheeler with Grandpa.  He loved it!

This is fun!

Our first guests arrived after a short nap by Cole.  Cooper and he played for a bit.

The teeter-totter my Dad built for us when we were little (like I had to be about 5) still stands and the kids loved playing on it.

Cole actually liked being bumped.

Cole really took to Cooper's older brother, Kyler, too.

My cousin Angie (Cooper's Mom).  Our boys are only 3 weeks apart.  It was really nice to see one another!   We both are from out of town.

Cole grabbing at the fruit for lunch.

Hugs for Cooper.

Cute little faces after the hugs.

Hug for my cousin Garry's son, Dylan.

Cole just loved Garry's daughter, Amanda.  Loved her!