Christmas 2008

It was truly a wonderful Christmas. It was our first year as a family of four, and I feel blessed beyond measure when I think back now. It didn't get off to a flawless start, however, when Coley got an ear infection the Sunday before. Three days of scary high fevers, sleepless nights, and needy cries made things a little tough. But I know that it is just part of the parenthood journey. My children manage to find inconvenient times to fall ill. Last year, when Chris went to Orlando and the ice storm hit, Mia got really sick with a bad virus. With no power at our house or the doctor's office, we just toughed it out. Oh yeah, and I was 8 months pregnant with Coley too. So, when Cole got sick and we had to take him in on Christmas Eve Eve, I was not surprised to find the after-hours clinic closed for the Holiday a day early, and we ended up in the ER. The doctor reassured us that he did not have pneumonia (which was a fear of our pediatrician's, and why we took him in that night), and we went home. But, I digress. This was my post about Christmas!

This year, our church had a Christmas Eve experience, and we were so happy to get to attend. That was after a frenzied morning of cooking for dinner and wrapping presents, and it was a much needed time of re-focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas Eve is traditionally spent at Momo's house.

Kenny, Alyssa, Ana, Helen, and my Dad all joined the four of us and Momo. We ate a delicious dinner of smoked turkey (Chris had to go to her house at 3 am to get it started - and it was worth it!) and ham...plus a bunch of other great items. Then, after the dishes were cleaned, we started into the presents!


The highlights for us:
Chris - his helicopter from Brookstone - he and Kenny flew it all over the place, even hitting Ana in the eye

Mia - her Princess tent from my dad
Cole - his ride on/push train from Momo
Me - my new purse from Momo
After all of that plus dessert, we headed home...for Santa had a busy night ahead of him! We left Santa cookies and chocolate milk (according to Ruby from "Max and Ruby," chocolate milk is his favorite) and we left the reindeer food on the front lawn. We put the kids to bed, and Cole stayed in his long enough to let us fix the breakfast for the morning, assemble his train table and train, and wrap all the presents for the kids and each other. Of course, we got into bed at 1:15, and he was awake at 1:30 - still with a fever, and still really fussy. We brought him down with us and slept off and on until about 8:00.

Christmas morning was so wonderful! Mia was SO EXCITED to see if Santa had come. All she wanted was a singing Sleeping Beauty doll, and her little face was so thrilled to see it sitting there on the fire place. We opened all our presents and ate breakfast pizza. My parents came by for a brief time, and we spent the day playing and playing and playing.
The highlights for us:
Chris - I think it was his thin wallet
Mia - the singing Sleeping Beauty, of course - with the princess dress-up shoes a close second place
Coley - his dump truck - he will have to grow into the train table
Me - my earrings from New York - Chris had Megan pick them up for me when she was there :)
That evening, we went to Faye's house to see Tim, Jenn, and Sarah. It was a great day and a great evening. Even better, Cole slept all night in his bed (although not without an hour and a half of crying first - me going up every 15 minutes or so). Since he was finally fever-free, we knew he just had to tough it out.

The next day brought our third Christmas celebration. The Poseys all came over and we opened presents with them.

Cole slept through the opening ceremony, and awakened just in time for lunch of smoked pork tenderloin. Then, he had his own present-opening time.


The highlights for us:
Chris - I am guessing his gift cards
Mia - her Sleeping Beauty barbie
Coley - his much-needed clothes
Me - my gift cards, of course

After all of that was over, all four of us rested for quite awhile. It was an exhausting three days, and we needed some down-time.

All in all, this Christmas has been the best one I have ever had. Mia is at the age where everything is so exciting, and just having Coley here makes it feel complete. I know that this post is lengthy, but it is more for me and my memory. Sorry if I bored anyone! :) I just know that Christmas is supposed to be a time of togetherness and worship for our wonderful God. This year, it was exactly that for the Posey family. I hope that yours was just as remarkable.

Freedom...and Boredom

So, we have officially had our first day out of school due to snow/ice. And I was really excited about it this morning. Until I realized that I still was up at the same time (11 month olds do not exactly go back to bed just because it is a possibility)...and that Chris still had to go to work...and that I would probably be home-bound all day. Don't get me wrong, I have been rather productive (laundry, dishes, more laundry, etc.), but I get a little crazy just being at home. It reminds me of the first month or so of both kids' lives. We stuck to the house, since it was the middle of winter and RSV season, and I just felt cooped up and anxious. Today, I have so much I need to do, like Christmas shopping, and it is like my body knows that I need to be doing things so it leaves me feeling uncomfortable. Anyhow, I think I would be much less moody if Chris were here. But he, like most other people, still had to work today. Boo.

On a positive note, however, the weekend trip went well for Daddy and the kiddos. I got home on Saturday night, and both kids were in bed fast asleep. And it was wonderful to spend some time with friends and away from the house.

Right now, Cole is asleep in his bed for his second nap today. Mia, on the other hand, is throwing a fit in her room. She is still required to "rest" most days for at least an hour. It lasted about 5 minutes before she started yelling for me. Thankfully, Coley sleeps through her yelling. She will remain up there for the entire time regardless, so I may just go into the bedroom, shut the door, and fold laundry.

Oh, and a few more random things. Recently, I asked Mia what she wanted to be when she grew up. I knew that she might not even have a concept of the idea, but I wanted to see what she'd say. Her reply? A gingerbread man! :) HAHAHA! And for the record, I love the Oxford comma. You know, the one that is used in lists before the and. Reading sentences without it makes me feel weird, and even though it is grammatically acceptable, I don't like it.

That's all from the Posey household for now. On to fold some of that glorious laundry.

A Momma's Boy He Is

Well, here I am! I know that you have missed me, and I have missed you too! I have been reading, but not writing lately. I have been formulating blog posts in my head, but not taking the time to put them down. Anyhow, I am now.

Coley is a Momma's boy. I have always heard about the special relationship between mothers and sons. And I believe it now! I am sure that my working at the preschool has much to do with it. The fact that I am in there with him all the time (when he cries or eats, or when he won't sleep, or when I want to see him) probably also contributes to it. I often carry him on my hip, making copies or delivering things to classrooms. Most of the kids know him (although some can't get his name quite right..."Cool" is what one little girl call him), and he is happy to be my helper. He is truly a joy, and seeing his little not-so-toothless smile (4 teeth now) makes me happy in ways I never knew.

But having a Momma's boy comes with some strings. I can't miss bedtime. He will not go to sleep with a bottle. He also will not (usually) calm down in the middle of the night for anyone but me. Dinners out (I have only had two, I think, since he was born) are often ended abruptly, with my having to return home to feed him and put him to bed. And I don't mind it all in the grand scheme of things - it was my choice to be a nursing mom. But there are times when a glass of wine and an adult dinner with my husband would be awfully nice.

And all of this makes my over-night trip to Oklahoma City this weekend a little more than nerve-wracking. I may come home to a sleep-deprived husband and a son who has not slept or eaten in 24 hours. It should be really fun!

My Little Dancer

So, I have officially watched my daughter in her first performance. The studio performed at my great aunt's assisted living home this weekend, and it was pretty darn precious. As you will see, Mia was a little disoriented at the beginning, and the cuteness of it brought tears to my eyes! I know that I watched the entire song with a goofy-looking grin on my face. She loves to watch it on video and sing along with herself. Ahh...it's only just begun...and I love it!

Both Sides of the Coin

So, I feel like I have had the unusual blessing of experiencing three different work/kid scenarios. First off, for two school years, I was a teacher and dance team director. So, that was a full-time (plus some) job. Mia was in preschool every school day. It was really hard. I missed her in a way that I didn't know I would. While I enjoyed teaching, I felt like a piece of me was sitting about 4.5 miles away and I did not know what that piece was doing. Sure, I called every day on my lunchbreak that first year (while simultaneously pumping and watching Days of our Lives...I know you are impressed). But it never felt good when I would leave her in the mornings. Since I was teaching, I had summers off, so I did not have to take her to preschool and I was able to wear the stay-at-home-mom hat. I could pretend, for about two and a half months, that play-dates and afternoon swims were possible. And while I loved every minute of the past two summers, I knew that we could not afford for me to not work. So, I now have a job where I take my kids with me. They spend time in their respective classes (Mia more-so than Cole...he ends up on my hip about half the day) and I spend time in the office or helping teachers or doing other administrative duties. I know what a gift this job has been. Because while it is frustrating in many ways, I have my babies with me. I can see what they are doing at any moment. Two pieces of me are not 4.5 miles away, they are about 25-50 feet away.

But I think that I have the perspective to understand both sides of motherhood. For working moms, it is hard. Really, really hard. Not being with them all day and leaving them in someone else's care is uncomfortable and disconcerting. What if one chokes? What if one gets so upset that he can't sleep, and only mommy can comfort him? The good side of working is how thrilled you are to see them afterwards. And, even if it is not always pleasant (remember, I taught 9th graders), work gives moms a break. All moms need a break. Sure, the house cleanliness may suffer, but the time you do have with your children is quality...in order to make up for the lack of quantity.

Staying home is also tough. There were days this summer, with a 2 year old and a newborn, that we didn't even make it out of the house. And Chris would come home, and all I would want to do was go anywhere...go get gas in the car in 105 degree heat...just to escape for 5 minutes. There are times that you become resentful of the fact that you can't get a shower or a nap or a meal. Kids are needy, and your one, sole job is to fulfill their needs. So, I get that staying at home is a job. It is not not working. And many of the parents at our preschool are stay-at-home moms who bring their kids a few days a week in order to get a much needed break.

And then there is the third option - working with the kids. It is, like I said, a complete gift. And I would not trade it for anything right now. But, I also realize that it does not allow me the chance to miss them. It is just a part of adjusting to a new lifestyle and a new normal. And we are getting there...but I sure could use a trip to the mall (with money to spend, of course) solo! :)

Thirty-five Things (You Never Cared to Know)

1. I have a paralyzing fear of arachnids. I can't even type the specific name.

2. I wanted DeAnna to choose Jason.

3. I can still kick my face. Did it recently, and was very sore the next day.

4. I don't like steak.

5. Although I had fun in high school and college, it was nothing compared to the joy in my life right now.

6. I procrastinate.

7. I like sugar and cream with a little bit of coffee in the mornings.

8. Aside from my family (and not all of my family), there are only 2 people with whom I can completely be myself.

9. I do not cuss.

10. I get angry at smokers.

11. I tip well...usually.

12. I am insecure around new people.

13. I love to shop for my kids.

14. I can sing the entire intro song to Max and Ruby.

15. I wanted Will to win, and Katee to be runner-up. So, Joshua was a disappointment to me.

16. I am obsessive about having my nails painted. Since Coley has come along, that often doesn't happen as much as I want it to, and it drives me nuts!

17. I love to read.

18. I judge people. And I know that I shouldn't, but I do.

19. I do not think I am good with kids in general. I do OK with mine, however.

20. I know that I should want to exercise, but I don't want to.

21. I like to be in charge. I am a self-proclaimed "Bossy Pants."

22. I would go to Starbucks everyday if I could.

23. I am pretty darn excited for Thursday - the prospect of a new Office and a new Grey's makes me smile.

24. I prefer to write in a calendar as opposed to using my phone's calendar.

25. My favorite food is Italian.

26. I have never liked my legs.

27. I can hardly remember my life six years ago.

28. Medication works too well on me (unrelated to the fact that I can hardly remember my life six years ago - I am talking about small-time stuff like Tylenol PM or cold medicine).

29. I believe that a kidney stone is more painful than labor (with an epideral, mind you).

30. I hate buying/wearing jeans.

31. I cry at almost every episode of Grey's Anatomy and ER. And at almost every novel I read.

32. I tend to over-commit.

33. I want to read the bible, but I am overwhelmed. (I hope my devotion book will help with that feeling.)

34. I don't know how anyone could not believe in God after experiencing the miracle of children.

35. I am happy - genuinely happy.

Ahhhh....

Well, it has been an absolutely insane couple of weeks. I started my new job, and as with all new jobs, there are good and bad things. The good things are that I work with some really wonderful people, I am close to my kids (in a very literal sense), and I am growing to love all the other preschool kids. The bad things...well, they are just going to take some time to work out.

In the course of my first two weeks of school, I have hired three teachers and fired (sort of) one of those three. She didn't show, so I take it she was quitting anyway. It was a blessing, believe me! I have helped more children use the bathroom that I have ever thought I would help. And I mean really help. I have rubbed backs and patted heads, in an attempt to help sleepy babies take their naps. I have answered a million calls and emails - most of which amount to nothing. And I have conducted a fire and tornado drill - a difficult feat with 40ish children under the age of 5.

But I have also peeked in on Mia while she is in class, playing and oblivious to my watching. I have hugged and kissed her many times - in fact, every time I see her in the hall or outside. I have fed Coley everyday. I have rocked him to sleep and sat on the floor playing with him. And those things make it more than worth it.

Some other recent happenings...
1 - Mia started dance class. I will post pictures soon. But she is really enjoying it and I am too. She is taking from my dance teacher, which is pretty neat.
2 - Cole is sitting up alone. He loves for me to turn his tub of toys sideways so he can just dig in.
3 - Cole is almost crawling. He gets on all fours and rocks back and forth.
4 - Mia is singing all the time. Some of her favorite songs are "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid and "Mama Mia" from the movie. She also sings "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" with a twist...
Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily life is butter dream.
It makes me laugh every single time.

That's about all from us! I am so looking forward to the long weekend. Happy Labor Day!

My Boy

Coley is growing so fast that I can hardly stand it. He is so sweet and so happy...unless he is tired. But we are (finally) getting the hang of naptimes. Some of those naps are even in his bed! :) He is almost sitting up on his own and he desperately wants to crawl. He is getting pretty good at rolling wherever he wants to go.



Look at that belly! Seriously, he is a solid guy and getting so heavy. At six and a half months, he weighs almost as much as Mia weighed at one year.


And here's a classic paci face.

Napping in the swing with Cookie Monster. C00kie is dressed as a bunny - it was for Easter.

My two favorite guys, hanging out at Uncle Kenny's pool.

Nutty

So I am borrowing from zumthemum when I say that life is NUTTY these days! And in order to keep all my (3) readers happy, I want to let you know what's happening at the Posey home. :)

I am transitioning into my new job as a preschool Director. I think it will be wonderful once I get the hang of it all. Like any new job, it is overwhelming and stressful right now...especially since I need to hire three teachers by next week! But I am so excited about the year getting started and getting into our new normal.

With that, it is also so weird to not be going back to teaching. It was a little sad when I cleaned out my room. I will miss the kids and the other teachers. But this is a new opportunity, and I am completely embracing it!

This past weekend, our upstairs AC went out. Of course, it happened on Saturday afternoon. So, Saturday night was an adventure with Cole sleeping in the pack-n-play in the computer room, and Mia sleeping in bed with us. Coley did great, but Mia did not settle until almost midnight. Sunday night was worse. Cole woke up at 1 am, and would not go back to sleep. We had only been asleep for about an hour when he awakened, so 3 am brought all four Poseys in one bed. Yep - we slept like that until about 8 am. Thankfully, the AC was fixed on Monday and we resumed our regular sleeping locations. :)

And now, it is Wednesday night...a little bittersweet because it is the last Wednesday night of SYTYCD! And tomorrow is the finale! What am I going to do when it is over?!?!?! We do have tickets to the tour, but that is not until October. I am just so in love with that show!

So, I hope life settles a little bit. I am sure it will.

Happy Half Birthday, Baby Boy!

Coley,

You turned 6 months old on Saturday, and I can't believe it has been half a year already. You are such a joy. Here are some recent discoveries:

1. You have started blowing raspberries, and you think you are pretty funny. You especially like to blow them when you have a mouthful of peas or carrots.
2. You have eaten a variety of veggies (green beans, peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes) and desperately want to drink from a cup! If you see one, you start wriggling around and reaching our for it.
3. You laugh and smile all the time, and your favorite person is still your big sister.
4. You spend time in your saucer and your jumper. Those chunky legs will slim down in no time at the rate you jump!
5. You weigh 17 pounds, 3 ounces. Mia, at her 1 year check-up, weighed 18 pounds. :)
6. You roll quickly and are trying to crawl. Oftentimes, I find you under Mia's play-room table or under your jumper.
7. You are sensitive. When Mia's upset and crying, you start to cry. When you hear a loud noise, you pout that lower lip and the tears start to fall.
8. You are still a cuddle bug and I love it!

I love you more than I could ever explain. You are my precious son, and I thank God for you every single day.

Over the Hump

There are a few events in my life that, after the fact, I can't imagine going through them again. And all of them are happenings that I would not trade for anything, but I am just glad to be through them...you know? Some of those events include (but are not limited to):
1 - My freshman year at Kilgore
2 - Moving - each and every time I do it
3 - The first few weeks at home with a new baby
4 - The latest home rennovations at the Posey household
We are FINISHED! Well, we have been finished with our part for awhile, but the floors are not completed and all is back to normal. Well, except for the fact that I have to call Lowe's on Monday due to the carpet in our closet that is coming up. If I can just ignore that fact, then I can pretend that we are finished.

And a recent Mia-ism...
Mommy: Mia, please do not take off your shoes in the middle of the store.
Mia: Mommy, don't get fustrated!
Yep, she knows the context of frustrated.

The Happy Dance

So, we entered Mia in the So You Think You Can Dance Happy Dance contest. However, she is not 18, which is one of the stipulations. But she is pretty darn cute, so maybe they'll ignore the rules. Ha!

Miss Chatty

Some funny, recent conversations with the 2 year old...

Mia: Mommy, you have a bar?
Mommy: Yes, do you want a bite of my (granola) bar?
Mia: No, I'm good with my muffins.

Mommy: What's Mommy's name?
Mia: Kristi.
Mommy: What's Daddy's name?
Mia: Father.

Mia (on the 4th of July - much later than she is usually up): The fireworks are making me so HAPPY!

Mommy: Mia, do you want to talk to Momo (on the phone)?
Mia: No, I'm busy.

Happy Days!

Well, we had a wonderful July 4th. We traveled to see Chris's brother, his wife, and his daughter. Mimi went with us, which pleased Mia immensely. We had a great time and Mia LOVED the fireworks!!! Here are some highlights...

* She played with some "poppers" during the day. Cole enjoyed watching her. :)

* We all watched Daddy and Uncle Tim set off big fireworks that night.

* She was up later than she had ever been before...and bouncing off the walls!

* Cole slept through all the fireworks like a champ.

* Mia shared a bed with me and Chris for the first time. She, having never slept in anything other than her crib, does not know bed-etiquette. She ended up pushing her feet into Daddy's back on the first night and kicking him out of the bed completely on the second night. Her feet ended the night where her head began. It was actually pretty funny!

* We did some outlet mall shopping, and everyone behaved. :)

We came home, hoping to have our new flooring installed this week. Chris hurried to get the kids' bathroom ready to tile...

but of course, the installation has been delayed until next week. I am beginning to think we will have to live forever with this nasty, now-painted carpet.

Yesterday, the kids, Momo, and I went swimming at Uncle Kenny's house. It was Cole's first time to get in the water. Look at this picture of Mia (left) compared to him at about the same age. Although I think Coley looks so much like Chris, he also looks like a boy Mia. Oh, and yes, I know he is wearing a girly hat. I just wanted something to cover his little bald head in the sun!

The girls all had fun swimming and eating.
And here's a view from the other side. :)

Home Invasion, I mean Rennovation 2008

Well, we have been mighty busy here at the house. Recently, we decided a few things about our home.

1 - I dislike the color of the walls in every room except our bedroom, our bathroom, the kids' bedrooms, and their bathroom.

2 - I really dislike the fact that there is carpet in the breakfast nook, the entryway from the backdoor (dogs?!?! wet paws?!?! carpet?!?!), and the kids' bathroom (really? potty-training with carpet?).

3 - I did NOT want Cole learning to crawl on the disgusting, old, stained carpet.

4 - Ultimately, before we move out (not that there are plans for that, but some day), we will have to change the flooring. Why wait and then let new people enjoy it? Why not change it for us to enjoy now?


So...the rennovations began. We planned ahead of time. We ordered the flooring, and Chris took last Friday and Monday off from work. We bought the paint (in total, we used 4 gallons of ceiling paint, almost 5 gallons of primer, and 10 gallons of colored paint) and prepared things. When Friday rolled around, Chris's first job was to paint the poorly-painted ceiling in the living room and kitchen. He did that in about 5 or 6 hours while I tried to entertain the kids while taping off the area to be painted throughout the rest of the weekend. On Friday night, we spent from 9 pm - 3 am Saturday morning priming and painting one coat in the living area, breakfast nook, and kitchen. I will save you the play-by-play of the rest of the weekend. It went pretty much like that.


Here are some things that I really don't love about any house project:

1 - The MESS! My husband knows this and really tries to minimize it, but it is inevitable.
2 - The stinking blue tape! It takes hours to put on and then I realize that I have not really started doing anything.

3 - Working into the late night hours - I like to go to bed at 10, thank you.

4 - Have I mentioned how the mess stresses me to the point of near insanity?

5 - Feeling like I am putting my life at risk - standing on the ladder in the tiny half bath trying to reach over and above the toilet cabinet is not fun.

6 - Trying to entertain a 2 year old and a 5 month old, while being productive at the same time. Honestly, it was often better for me to take them out of the house and just let Daddy work.

But I do love:

1 - Good friends and family members who help (thanks Momo and Mike) in some way, either painting or babysitting.

2 - Working into the late night hours, having hushed conversations with Chris (we didn't want to wake the kids), and watching Scrubs/The Office episodes.
3 - Putting it all back together at the end, and admiring the finished product.

So, now that the painting is done, we just have to wait until next Tuesday when the flooring is installed. Yea! :) Officially, every room except the laundry room has been painted in the one year we have lived here. And now, we have an organized playroom for the kids separate from our living room. With toddler and baby toys everywhere, it is nice to have it more contained. I will post after pics once we have the flooring.

After the long weekend of working, I felt like we needed to get out of the house! Yesterday, I took the kids swimming with some girls from our Life Group. They had a great time and Mia actually swam. I wanted Coley to swim, or at least let me hold him in the water, but he did not want it to touch him at all. He started huffing and sticking out his lip anytime his piggies touched. So, we sat on the edge of the baby pool and watched the girl "swim." Then, we met Zum the Mum, Karson, and Campbell at Pump it Up this morning. The big girls played, and Mia really enjoyed herself after getting used to it. She told Daddy on the phone "I was a little scared of the big slide, but I did jump!" After a wonderful lunch at Pei Wei, we are now home and both kids are napping - which is why I am finally blogging!!!

Some other recent highlights:

Cole and Campbell had another "date."
We attended Chris's 20 year Reunion and had a great time!!!

We celebrated Momo's birthday. As you can see, Mia loved the cake and Cole loved watching her!

Cole is now eating veggies. However, the green beans seem to make him a little constipated, so we are going to try a different veggie tonight.

Mia finished swimming lessons successfully. She was rewarded with a doll that actually pees. She picked it out.

Mia is peeing AND POOPING (the first time was today, after Pei Wei) in the potty much of the time. And wearing big girl panties.

We are heading to visit Chris's brother and his family tomorrow. Happy July 4th everyone!!!

P.S. I have a second interview for a Pre-School Director position on Tuesday, July 8. It will probably be about 6 pm. Please say prayers - it would allow me to be with the kids MUCH more!

Happy 5 months!

It is strange how I didn't even know that I was missing something in my life. And that may not be the right way to put it, but I certainly did not know how having my son would complete me in a way that I didn't know I needed completing. He is exactly what our family needed. God knew. And, to steal from some of my other friends who have done the same, I want to let him know how precious he is.

Coley,

Your Daddy says that you will hate that nickname, but it was so sweetly given to you by your sister that I think you will grow to love it. Baby boy, you are 5 months old today. You are so sweet, and such a cuddle bug. You can be exhausted and hungry, but if Daddy or I pick you up, you give us that infectious ear-to-ear grin that makes me want to burst into tears. I can't explain why. Maybe it is because you look so much like your sister, and I know how fast these days fly by. Maybe it is because your mouth is the perfect miniture replica of your Daddy's. Maybe it is just because I never knew that I could love three other human beings as much as I love you, Mia, and your Daddy. I was worried, that since you were not the first child, you would suffer from a lack of one-on-one attention. I was wrong. :) You will not let us let you suffer from that. You love love LOVE to be held. Here are some other discoveries we have made in the past 5 months...

1. You love to be outside. If you are really upset about something, a trip to the front yard makes you forget all your worries.

2. You adore your big sister. In the mornings, when I have both of you laying on the blanket in the floor of Mia's room, you always roll to her and grab her arm. It is more precious than words.

3. Your little monkey toes are always grabbing each other. And your feet totally give away your mood.

4. You are happiest when you have your Daddy or me within your line of vision.

5. You are a snuggly boy, and you like to be face-to-face with me to fall asleep.

6. You can roll over from back to front and front to back now. Yesterday, you rolled completely off your blanket in the living room floor! I think you were trying to get to the kitchen and be with me and Mia.

7. You tolerate your pacificer, but you are not a paci baby like your sister was. In fact, you much prefer holding it, mesmerized, and sometimes attempting to put it in your mouth.

8. You prefer to awaken in the 4 am hour. But, sometimes, you can make it until the 6 am hour. When I do go in your room in the mornings, you squirm and kick and smile the instant that you see me - even if it is in the 4 o'clock hour. It makes it difficult to be upset that you are awake.

9. You laugh when Daddy or I do silly things...like sing songs, give kisses, or zerbert your tummy. And I love your laugh. It also brings tears to my eyes; it is so innocent and pure.

10. You are a CHUNK! Mia was such a little baby, and you have quite the rolly-polly body. It is perfectly round, just like your sweet face.

11. You want to grab everything! You definitely appear to be right-handed, and you reach for any and everything within your grasp.

12. You talk to yourself, especially when you are in your carseat. Mia did the same thing, but I had forgotten about it until you started it. It is like this little groaning moaning sound, and then you fall asleep.

13. You snort before you start to cry. It makes people laugh when they hear it for the first time.

14. You, just like your sister, have those precious ocean-blue (recessive trait) eyes.

15. Your meals are very scheduled - a person could know it was 6:30 am, 10 am, 1:30 pm, 5 pm, or 8:30 pm by your hunger cries.

16. You love to sit up, and can almost do it without help.

17. You love to stand up, and can't almost do that without help. But you do have very strong legs.

18. You have given me the chance to see how different daughters and sons are...and how similar too.

19. You have filled my life with more happiness than I knew was possible. Because I was already happy.

20. You have evened us out - 2 boys and 2 girls - and we would not be the same without you.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with my amazing son. Cole, happy 5 months. Thank you for making us complete.

Love, Mommy

Happy Father's Day!

Although it is a few days late, I want to honor my husband for his incredible job as a father of two! Since his father passed away and mine is not around, we spent the day just focused on him. We opened presents in the morning, went out to breakfast (sure, we were not able to go to our first or second choice, but we did get in at our third), spent a good amount of time and money at Lowe's (one of his favorite places), enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at home, and attended Life Group in the evening. It was a good day. Watching him as a daddy to our kids makes me love him even more as a husband. Whether he is making faces at Cole to get him to laugh or putting Mia's dress-up clothes on his head (only to have her say, in a frustrated manner, "No Daddy, it doesn't fit you"), he is an amazing father. One of my favorite times of each day is 8 pm when we all go upstairs. Each night, we alternate which kid we bathe. Once they are clean and Mia's teeth are brushed, we lay them both on a blanket in Cole's room. We lotion them up and put on their pajamas. After we read two books, we say our prayers and put Mia to bed. Then, I feed Cole and we put him to bed. It is always a team effort, and I love that time of the day with all four of us together, having fun. Mia gets extremely silly when she is tired, and she makes us laugh frequently. So, happy Father's Day to Daddy Pose! We couldn't be more blessed!!!

Summer in Full Swing

Mia started swimming lessons this week. She took them last summer, and did quite well. We thought we were off to a good start this year...

but don't let her smile fool you. It quickly turned a corner when she realized her ears would have to go in the water. When she came out of the pool on the first day, I asked her how it was. She answered, "tough." Chris had said to her something along the lines of "I know it's tough, but..." and she retained the tough part. Thursday's class did not go well. I have no pictures, but you can just imagine her crying and crying and clinging onto her Daddy.

We also went "swimming" with some friends - which meant that Mia threw the rings into the pool for the big girls to get them. The water was pretty cold, so Cole did not get to use his new whale float. When I stuck his toes in the water, he made his super-sad face.

The weekend excitement began on Friday morning at about midnight. We were up watching the weather because there was a tornado warning around us. However, it looked as if it was going to be south of us, so we had no cause for concern. Then, George told us (meaning those who live precisely where we live) that we should wake the kids and take cover. Apparently, another storm began to show signs of rotation. So, we went upstairs and got both kids. I sat in the pantry holding both of them while Chris watched the news/weather outside. We were down there for about 20 minutes or so, and then returned the kids to bed. The funny thing is that Cole did not wake up at all, and Mia claimed not to remember it the next morning - although she was a little awake, talking to me and such. Needless to say, we were not hit by a tornado.

The next morning came too quickly, as a result of the pantry-time. Mia spent some time dressing up in her princess outfits...Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Ariel, respectively.

And Cole enjoyed watching the fashion show.

I posed them together and took some pics.

Then, we went to lunch with Momo. Both kids were great. Once home, I put Mia down for a nap and Cole and I crashed while she was sleeping - for an hour and a half! It was refreshing.

That evening, Chris and I went out to eat to (finally) celebrate our anniversary.

It was wonderful! Friday night was another great night of sleep for the kids, and a momentous one for Mia. She officially gave up all her pacis. She "gave" them to Cole and fell asleep without one, just like a big girl. We were worried that she would not sleep well as a result, but both kids slept fabulously!

Saturday was fairly uneventful. Some errands, another nap for both children at the same time (which is definitely the exception and not the rule), dinner at Hideaway. Cole reverted back to his norm, however; waking up in the 4 o'clock hour. He is fairly easily put back to sleep, but it still makes for an early morning.

We went to church on Sunday. The current series is One Prayer, and it is pretty awesome. This afternoon has brought some napping struggles with both kids (currently Cole is asleep on our bed and Mia is going on an hour and a half in her bed, not sleeping). This evening, we have Life Group and that's about it for the weekend!

First Monday of Summer!

Let me start by saying that I am not complaining at all because I feel elated that it is summertime and I am home. But, this has been a slightly tiring day so far! The ninth graders have nothing on my two kids!!!

4:30 am - Cole wakes up. Now, he is sleeping upstairs in his own bed. And this was the first awakening of the night/morning. We are trying to break the habit of bringing him to our bed in the early morning hours, so I go upstairs and try to give him his paci without picking him up. It works, but I know it is temporary. I lay down on his floor to rest my eyes until he cries again. Believe me, laying on the floor is much better than trudging up and down the stairs four times. I re-paci him three times (I think - it becomes a little blurry in those wee hours of the morning), and finally head back downstairs to bed at 5:40 am.

5:50 am - Cole wakes up, and he is hungry. Since I always feed him between 6 and 6:30, I change him and bring him down to eat. Now, after the 6 am feeding, he does stay downstairs and hopefully sleep a little longer.

6:15-7:40 am - Cole, with a full tummy, is cooing and squirming and smiling and spitting up...and I am laying next to him trying to go back to sleep.

7:40 am - He gives in and falls back asleep.

7:50 am - Mia starts calling "Mommy! My tummy is sick!" Now, we think this simply means that she is hungry and her tummy is growling. Because she usually says it at meal times and she has yet to actually get sick.

7:50-8:30 am - Mia eats Cheerios and drinks her milk. She tells me that the milk makes her tummy better. :)

8:30 am - Cole is awake. Mia has her first meltdown because I will not let her eat fruit snacks so early in the morning. I offer her actual fruit, but she wants fruit snacks.

9:00 am - Talk to my dear zumthemum friend for the first time in a long time. I enjoy, again, the feeling of NO SCHOOL!

9:20 am - I shower, while Mia and Cole watch Max and Ruby on our bedroom TV. Cole intermittently cries, and Mia shoves his paci in his mouth. It is pretty funny, and Cole laughs at her when she does it.

9:45 am - Cole decides he does not want to wait until 10 am to eat. But he has to, so he is getting angrier by the minute. Mia has meltdown #2 because I will not let her use my actual makeup. I offer her a brush or two, but she wants to use the eyeshadow.

10:00 am - While feeding Cole, I get up three times to assist Mia with various things. First, she wants to color. Then, she wants to color with her colorwonder markers. Finally, she decides that she wants to eat the oranges that I offered her with breakfast. When I tell her she must sit at her table to eat the oranges, she has meltdown #3. She is really being two today!

10:50 am - We all go upstairs because I am determined to get Cole on a regular nap schedule in his bed.

11:10 am - Cole is asleep, so Mia and I come back downstairs. I feel very accomplished.

11:20 am - Momo calls and I ask her to come sit with sleeping Cole while Mia and I run to Target.

11:30 am - I feed Mia lunch - peanut butter and crackers and cheese. I know it is not much, which is why we desperately needed to go shopping.

11:50 am - Momo arrives and Cole wakes up. The two are not related, just coincidental. I, feeling sure that this is just a minor intrusion on his sleep, go upstairs to comfort him back to slumber. Wailing, screeching, and fit throwing ensues.

12:00 pm - While I am trying to calm a crazy Coley, Mia has meltdown #4 because I won't/can't "ring around the rosy" with her.

12:30 pm - Still throwing a fit, Cole finds a little comfort in sitting outside. At this point, I have missed my window of opportunity for the store, since 1:30 brings naptime for Mia and another meal for Cole. So, we stay outside for a bit while Mia golfs and draws on the sidewalk. She can almost draw an "M" and can draw an "I."

1:00 pm - We all come back inside and Momo leaves.

1:20 pm - The three of us go upstairs to read a book before Mia's nap. Since Cole is pretty hungry and unforgiving at this point, I am practically yelling the book so she can hear me. Mia (remarkably) goes immediately down for her nap.

1:30 pm - I feed the baby boy and both of us crash.

2:15 pm - He wakes up, but I am able to coax him back to sleep. I know that he is overly tired at this point. I watch "Bringing Home Baby" on TLC and say a prayer of thanks that we are not at that stage right now.

2:45 pm - Cole wakes up and is smiling and being super-sweet.

3:00 pm - I put him in his swing so he can watch Baby Einstein. He loves it! It will occupy his little brain for 30 tear-free minutes! I empty the dishwasher and start the dryer.

3:15 pm - I sit down to do this blog. Now, I know it is not terribly interesting, but it feels good to write it all down! :)

3:30 pm - Mia will be up any minute, and I think we are going to go look for a swim-float thing for Cole since we are going to the pool with some friends on Wednesday.

The rest of the evening's plans are to go find new cell phones (YEA!) and eat dinner at Momo's while Chris mows her lawn.

Tomorrow brings school and swimming lessons for Mia! She is really excited. Chris is taking her and Cole and I will observe. I am hoping to actually make it to the store with Cole while Mia is a school. We will see...

Milestones

Wow - at the Posey household, we have reached major milestones lately! First of all, Daddy and Mia had a wonderful time watching Elmo's World - Sesame Street Live.



Cole has just been getting bigger...

and bigger...

and angrier...

and bigger...

and happier...

all the time! He has had a few nights of sleeping the entire night...and more than a few nights of not.

We took our first family trip to the zoo, and Mia absolutely loved it!


Cole seemed to enjoy himself too.


We have been spending many hours outside, where Mia enjoys drawing and blowing bubbles. :)


Mia has also learned all about dressing up (thanks to her cousins).

And she enjoys dancing around the house in interesting attire.

Chris and I celebrated our 4th anniversary with a fabulous Couples' Massage. We went to a Memorial Day picnic with our Life Group and had a great time. And I only have 2.5 more days of school until I am home with the kids!!! I can't wait!