Cole is 3! Happy Birthday, Cole!

 Yesterday was FAR too busy trying to have fun with Cole and prep for his party so I did not even look at the computer the whole day.  That is quite a feat.  At the beginning of this week we had a lot of busy times with potty training and playdates...splash pad with friends on Tuesday above.  So, now that I have a moment since the party is over and the little boy is sleeping (or he was a minute ago...haha)...

 Three years ago we didn't really know what unconditional love was.  We didn't know how selfish we were.  We didn't know what vuh-vuhs were.  We had never read Goodnight Moon. (picture yesterday at another splash pad for his birthday)

 We had never really waited and watched another person go through their "firsts".  We had never truly known overwhelming joy.  A giggle had never softened our hearts or sounded so good to our ears. (last night with Daddy)

 We may have seen the joy of a child, but it never meant the same now that we have you.

We had never known so many things.  We are so glad we now know these things and we keep learning from you every day.  We love you more than anything, Cole!  We look forward to seeing you grow and develop this next year!

Ohio Trip: Circleville

 Bird watching with Pop Pop and Grandma.

 Walking at the park by their house.

 Playground time!

 I had to get him warmed up in the splash pad to get him to really enjoy it...and he did!

 He liked playing a game where I was stuck in the ring of water.

 Pop Pop showed him to cover the water up with the bucket and then watch it get blown off when the water turns on.

 Found Cole some deck shoes at an outlet mall by my parents house.  They are Sperry's, just like Daddy and Grandpa and Pop Pop have.

 Cole looking over at Nana - Pop Pop's mother.  He hasn't seen her since he was 3 months old so she was new to him (she's on the right).

 He warmed up pretty quickly and was playing "where's Cole" peek-a-boo behind the couch before long.

 Loving on Granny.

 Wow, he REALLY did love Aunt Krista this trip and even said he loved her and she was his friend.  In the past he has been a little standoffish with she and Uncle Matthew so this was a big change!

Bedtime snack.

Cole says

I just need to jot these down, lest I forget...and that would be a travesty.

Cole has a LOT of words, sentences, and phrases now.  Here are a few:

"I want two ones" or "just two ones" (if he wants more than one).

"Moddy" (This is what he calls Daddy, usually after work, when he realizes he isn't talking to Mommy).

"Don't say 'yep', say 'yes'."  He has corrected me, Daddy, and several friends in doing this...he may be getting a little bossy:).

Cole also has his first running joke with Daddy.  Every day when Jonathan gets home from work:
J: "Cole, guess what I saw today."
C: "Choo Choo Trains."
J: "Which colors?"
C: "Blue, Orange, Green, Lellow, and Pink."
J: "No, not pink."
C: "Yes, pink."

Cole also says "I Can't" a lot.  Only he sounds British - "I Con't."

He calls people he likes to be around his "friends".
"Where my friends go?"


The other day he asked me to play "Violin".  He meant Guitar.  It was too cute.
I need to write these down more and I will make every effort to!  We keep a word document record of this blog so at least these things will be written down somewhere!

More Hinckley!

 I was going to attempt to take some portraits of Cole closer to his third birthday at my parents friends house.

 He wasn't really very cooperative so we didn't get any, but we had fun trying.

 I do really like these.

 He played cars and was a complete pleasure to be around.

 His favorite buddy, Bear.

 Uncle Chris came over for a tackle.

 I love throwing action shots where the ball is also in the screen.  I got one of him throwing at the camera, but it was fuzzy due to the fact that I moved in order to not get hit:).

Washing off dog slobber.  He had a bunch of fun at the Salerno's house!  More of our Ohio visit to Circleville next.

Hinckley, Ohio - More!

 We went to some outlet malls.  They have a train going through them that is new.  Honestly, I hope they recover from the bad economic things and start booming there because this is an awesome idea.

 Grandpa and Grandma got us tickets to ride.  Cole was very very serious the entire time just taking it all in.

 Uncle Chris got him a train whistle.  Pretty neat!

 Thank you, Uncle Chris!  This is one of my only pictures of Cole and I from the trip...and a pretty good one of me...I wish Cole was looking!

 We had a bonfire and Cole got to enjoy his first s'more.

 Actually he didn't enjoy it because it was too sticky.

 Uncle Chris showed us how to do it.

 Cole loves my parents dog, Bear.  Why?  I do not know.  I think because her fur is pretty soft and she is a very calm (if not sloth like) dog.  She traditionally has not liked children but I think she made an exception for Cole.  She needs to be watched with him, but overall does well.

 We went to Hinckley Lake and checked out fish and other wildlife.  I had to get a portrait-like picture.

 Cole's new watch.  He loves it!  It is Mickey Mouse.

 These are a few of Cole's birthday gifts.  We have not given him some from Grandpa and Grandma as they were sent back to Oklahoma with us a while ago.  He got a sleeping bag and head lamp to play with.

 He just loved my cousin's daughter, Amanda.  He followed her around everywhere.  "Manda".

 Eating one of my Aunt's ice cream sandwiches.  We always ask her to make these.  She says they are easy and time consuming.  I think I gained 5 lbs on these babies...those butter pecan ones were awesome (and I am not a butter pecan fan!

Cole got some deck shoes at the outlet malls (8 dollars for Sperrys!).  He was wearing those with his new watch and his pjs...awesome!  Note that Manda was not far from him.  Poor gal couldn't go to the bathroom without him calling for her!