It's been awhile... I hope you didn't forget about me!

We hope everyone is having a great summer, I’m not sure about anywhere else but it’s so dang hot here. The most enjoyable things to do right now in this weather is swim and eat Popsicles!! I can’t believe how fast the time is going by and school is right around the corner. I only have a few pictures to share, but they’re super cute so hopefully that makes up for it. I really need a new camera, I keep saying that and I haven't seen one magically appear on my doorstep!! :) It doesn’t have to be fancy, but one that isn’t so fuzzy if you have any movement. And we all know Cole won’t stay still for more than a second so it’s hard to catch a cute picture. Here are just a few highlights on Cole since I’m terrible at updating his blog. He started speech therapy this summer and is doing great. He goes twice a week and we love his therapist, she is so patient and clicked with Cole right away. B.T. or I sit with him during the session and that has worked out really well, it’s given us some neat ideas on things to work with at home. She keeps all the activities interesting and exciting which is great if you want to keep Cole’s attention. The list of two word combinations he can say is growing and we even have a few three word combinations in the mix. Yeah!!! He has mastered his colors, shapes, most of his letters, and counting 1-10. He can point out and say different fruits, animals, and objects inside and out. He is doing so much better at communicating what he wants or needs and definitely what he doesn't want. We are in the middle Potty training boot camp, and this has been a battle. He is definitely doing better and has more interest. I pray by the time he turns 4 and school starts back up he will be out of pull-ups!!! We go back to Texas Children’s in August for our follow-up appt with Genetics. We’ll go over the test results and see what our next step is. Please please please continue to pray for him, it means so much to us. One thing I have to keep telling myself is this condition does not define who Cole is as a person. He is a happy, funny, loving, sociable, and stubborn little boy who just wants to live everyday to the fullest. He is so independent and wants to do EVERYTHING himself. Some of his favorite things to do right now is swimming, going to the water pads, bowling, reading books, puzzles, playing with play-doh, and pushing his tractors, motorcycles, and trucks around. Speaking of swimming he is doing really great, he wears his floaties about half the time and then he’s on his on the rest of the time. He goes under water and can hold his breath, and he LOVES to jump off the side of the pool into the water.. I’ve never seen a kid who actually smiles under water, he loves it that much. One of his other BIG loves right now is motorcycles, he is absolutely crazy about them. Whether he sees them out on the road, on TV, or playing with his toy ones. He would honestly wear his motorcycle t-shirt everyday if i let him. I hope this is not a sign of what the future brings me, because I'm not that crazy about them and he is dare devil with no fear.
Okay so this maybe random but…. One of my friends at work is pregnant with her first child and it just reminds me of all the joys of becoming a Mommy. I remember it like it was yesterday, when I found out I was pregnant with Cole the overwhelming feeling of happiness and excitement … And I’m not gonna lie, I had a little bit or a lot of fear thinking I can’t believe I’m going to have this big responsibility and then I began to look at it as a HUGE blessing. I was doodling one day, something I tend to do every now and then just to escape the craziness at work. I started the list below of some of the reasons why I love being a Mommy to Cole…. The list continued to grow and I still don’t think I’ve covered everything. Personally my whole outlook on life and priorities changed after I had him…I used to really take the time to get ready each day and have my outfit together down to the matching accessories. Now I’m lucky if I get out the door and I don’t have wrinkles in my pants, dog or cat hair on my shirt, and snot or toothpaste on my sleeves from my favorite little guy. I’m just grateful we woke up to this beautiful day God has blessed us with. The dishes can sit in the sink and the laundry will eventually get done, but sitting down and hanging out with Cole takes the top notch spot.

**A Few Top Reasons why I Love being Cole’s Mommy**

• He can laugh at himself, a lesson everyone can learn


• He gives the biggest hugs and sweetest kisses for no particular reason. Unless he knows he’s in trouble and then he puckers up those lips for quick forgiveness.


• How proud he is of himself when he learns something new.


• He gives me an excuse to go down the toy aisle at the store.


• How much he loves life and how happy he is, even with the medical issues he’s faced with.


• The confidence he displays everyday


• He allows me to be big a kid and act silly whenever I want


• The unconditional love he gives me everyday.


• Cuddling together and reading a good book.


• When he needs me to make his boo boo’s all better.


• Hearing him say Mama


• I love his dirty little fingers after playing hard all day


• I love his soft belly


• How easily I can make him laugh


• When I pick him up from daycare and he has the biggest smile on his face.


• Knowing he is a blessing from God and to never take that for granted.