Snow Storm 2017

It's been a while since Norfolk, VA saw the kind of snow we saw this past weekend. Blizzard warnings came true when we saw about 8 inches of snow from Friday night to Saturday night! It was so much fun to see Harrison experience the sight of snow and what it does.  Saturday we braved the roads and drove the long drive (.2 miles) to my parents house for the day.  We enjoyed a JMU FCS National Championship win and even bundled HC up in the blizzard-like conditions to experience snow falling!

Sunday we went to the biggest hill around these parts with my cousins and pretended to be 10 years old again.  Our hearts may be kids, but our bodies aren't! We were both so sore and tired after climbing all those hills!

Yes...that's D.J....

When we got back, HC had just woke up from his nap. We bundled him up to snap some photos, play in the snow and "sled" around the court at my parents house. Bobby came over for the day to watch some football and have some family time!

Despite the cold temps, Harrison really enjoyed the snow! He was in awe at all the white stuff and the kids running around him! I can't wait to experience this again when he's another year older.

And this was the best family picture we could get with Stryker!

9 months || Harrison Cole

Harrison,
December was your best month yet, big boy.  You got to experience so many wonderful memories and we feel so lucky to be by your side as you continue to grow into a sweet little boy.  As we start the new year, we can only pray that you continue to be such an easy going, happy and low key baby.  You make our lives so much better and bring joy to everyone you are around.  We love you so very much!

Weight and length: You go for your 9 month check up on Wednesday, but I self weighed you and you were holding steading at 20 pounds.  I'll be interested to see what the doctor says about you leveling out and holding steady.  You love to eat and drink milk still, so I don't know where your weight is going?!

Diapers: Still wearing 3's during the day, but we bumped you up to 4's at night.

Teeth: Bumped up to 7 teeth!!! I cannot believe that in a matter of three months you went from having no teeth to having seven.  For a baby that is "teething" you have been nothing but amazing.  Yes, your sleep wasn't the best, but you had no fever, no diaper rash, no other signs other than chewing on your fingers! Your poor little gums were hurting but you just kept on smiling! Speaking of hurting gums, you are still teething.  Not sure which ones are coming in next, but you are drooling and chewing on everything.

Clothes: Over the holidays, I finally organized all your clothes.  I packed up the 6 month clothes and put them in bins and started to pack up all the 9 month pants.  They are just way to short on you.  It's unfortunate because the 12 month ones are too big in your waist! I'm pretty sure that's going to be the story of your life.

Sleep: Teething is making things a little unpredictable, but most nights we can count on you waking up once or twice.  Some times you sleep through the night (8 p.m. to 8 a.m. give or take) and other times you are up three times a night.  You also learned how to crawl this month, so that really kept you up.  We would find you in the room rocking back and forth and just trying to crawl so bad. But toward the end of the month, you really started to self soothe again and put yourself to sleep in the crib once you nurse.

You are still taking two naps a day that usually last around 2 hours, give or take. You love the pacifier and it really helps you with teething and self soothing when you are finished nursing.

Food: Still getting three meals a day, but we bumped you up to Gerbers #3's.  When mommy is home, we nurse on demand, but you have really leveled out with nursing.  When I'm at work, you still get two 5 oz bottles while I'm gone. When we eat, we try to give you some of our table food.  You love everything - mashed potatoes, applesauce, avocado, and especially our favorite distraction of all, PUFFS!

Pacifier: Still using it as a good distraction, but you really let us know when you don't want it!

Other 9 Month Memories: 

No more teeth grinding, THANK GOD! That was the worst sound in the world!

You can crawl and clap when when we say "yay"! It's the most adorable thing ever.  You also can lean in and give "kisses" aka open mouth drools.

Your first Christmas was nothing but amazing.  To see the joy through your eyes was so cool.

During the holiday season, you were introduced to your friend Elfie and got to meet Santa for the first time!

We got our first Christmas tree as a family and decorated it with a fire going! 

Christmas also brought lots of amazing outfits, but nothing beats the elf outfit that Nana got you.  Can you find the real elf in the picture?!

Mommy, Gigi and Ryan ran the Christmastown 8k this year - my first race and 8k since having you!

You are such a little sponge.  You just look around and soak everything in.  You are really good at entertaining yourself and you know EXACTLY what happens when you sit in the high chair.

On December 17th, you were baptized into the Catholic church.  We were so blessed to have Deacon Derek baptize you and Wyatt and Maria both there to serve as your Godparents.

We met another bestie on our way back from visiting your grandparents in Fredericksburg - Barrett! He's exactly 7 month younger than you and we love having so many friends!

We love you so much little boy and as usual, I can't wait to see what next month has in store! 

Our 2016 Christmas

Christmas with a child did not disappoint. From the moment we got out the decorations to Christmas morning and then again at my in-laws, seeing the joy from Harrison's eyes is so awesome.  Well, these eyes are a little tired here...

I knew once we had kids, Christmas would look a little different than it has in the past.  We continued the tradition of Christmas Eve Mass at Blessed Sacrament followed by dinner at my aunt and uncles house with the entire family plus a few family friends.  

On Christmas morning we woke up at our own house, D.J. and I exchanged gifts and Harrison saw all the presents that Santa brought him.  Santa left all the presents unwrapped and there were no presents from mom and dad.  That's the way we had it growing up, so I continued the tradition.  We will see if that holds true in a few years, because D.J. grew up getting presents from mom and dad!

Around 8 a.m. my family came over to see Harrison's presents and then we went to their house around 9 a.m. to open presents and have breakfast.  We spent the morning there, played with Harrison's new car from my godfather and uncle (huge car fanatics) and then in the afternoon we went out to Virginia Beach for dinner at my cousins house with the entire family.  We don't do much as just an "immediate family" with my parents and sibilings...most of the time it's the whole gang!

And of course, the obligatory Christmas morning photo in our matching jammies!

Nothing better than having these kids around to watch them grow up!

On Dec. 26 we drove up to my in-laws and had Christmas with them! The annual Brown Holiday Party was that day as well, so we got a late start on opening presents, but one thing we know for sure is that we are all loved by so many family members, especially HC!

It seemed like the holidays came and went very fast this year, but as every day passes, we get to see our son learn new things every day.  On Christmas Eve he learned how to clap when we say "yay" and on Christmas morning, he woke up with his 7th tooth. Time is flying fast...I hate it, but I love it.