Cole::13 months

{and a few days...}

Our baby is getting closer and closer to becoming a full blown toddler any day now. He's losing so much of that baby-ness to him. He's so funny and cracks us up every day with the things he does. Of course he knows he's funny & cute and tries to get away with everything :) He's fully walking/running and is pretty fast now. He thinks it's hysterical to run away if he has something you want or if you are trying to get his coat on to go out. He's mastered cozying up to Ava, grabbing what she's playing with and running away down the hall. She starts screaming and chasing him and he's just laughing---it is too funny to watch.

He's babbling like crazy & I can't wait to hear what he has to say. He says "mama" and "dada" and something that sounds like "Ava". He's getting better at signing and using it more. He can sign all done, more, milk and we're working on eat and please. He loves waving and blowing kisses and playing peek-a-boo now. He's started saying "shhhh" when we say it and trying to mimic things we say.

Cole's a big "help" with the dishwasher---emptying it, licking clean spoons and putting them back and throwing random things in there. He still likes to climb onto the door to help. He's loves cleaning and grabs the swiffer as soon as we open the closet door. He's started putting things back into baskets and cleaning up---still makes more of a mess but at least it's a start :) He also has started bringing things to us like books to read or random toys. Unless it's something he isn't supposed to have---then he runs away and laughs.

He loves going into my purse and into any cabinets that are open. He now looks to see if you are looking before he sneaks over to steal something. He's also thrown some things in the trash so now we have to really be careful. The other day Steven called me in the bathroom and in the toilet was one of Ava's puzzles. Usually we're pretty good about closing the door but someone got in. Cole also threw Ava's sweatshirt into the toilet after our walk one day. We really need to watch him and close every door. He's such trouble but oh so sweet.

Cole still sleeps sucking his thumb and is a sucker for anything soft. He still snuggles for short amounts of time which I definitely cherish! He's always on the go and loves playing with the kitchen, trucks and little people. He's so funny and always has us laughing. He still adores Ava and loves playing with her although I do think he enjoys his alone time when she is at school. He is just such a sweetie and we couldn't be move in love with him.

Happy 13 months {and a few days} Cole! Love you bunches :)

new trick. because mama needs some gray hair right?

helping unload the dishwasher

don't play peek-a-boo while eating manicottis

mr clean

{I also made it a point to take videos this month for him---but I'm way too lazy to upload them right now. :) Soon though!}

4 ears, 3 infections

Ugh we've all been fighting this "junk" for a few weeks now. The poor kids have been feeling super yucky so we made back-to-back doctor trips for them. Cole has a horrible junky cough that he's been choking on. Surprisingly his lungs sounds great but he has two nasty ear infections + molars coming in---poor kid. I was shocked when the doctor said his ears were filled with pus. He's shown no indication of an ear infection at all. I took Ava in because she was just dripping green and blood from her nose {lovely right?}. Another shocker was that she had an ear infection too! The doctor even asked if her ear hurt but she said she felt fine. She has a tiny cut in her nose that is making her bleed.

So our house is now known as Florest Pharmacy. We have 2 types of antibiotics for the kids, 2 humidifiers running, tissues everywhere, saline nose spray and vapor tubbies and Vicks rub every night. We also discovered Boogie Wipes which have been amazing for cleaning the kids' noses without fighting. It's been a fun time. Of course I was just saying how I couldn't believe we've made it through most of the winter without spending it at the doctor's office :)

ladder & p

Ava was pretty excited to show off the letter P...


...and the ladder she made. Nice job, Ava Lou!

almost spring

We finally had some Spring-like weather! Days in the 60s {even when it snows the next day} are always welcome after a long winter. We got outside and went for some much needed nice long walks. The kids loved being out and we stayed out as long as possible. A lot of snow melted and it was nice to finally see the grass again. We couldn't play on the grass but we had fun with chalk on the driveway.

snuggles on our walk

chalking on the driveway

Cole liked eating the chalk and watching it roll down the driveway

grass!

Cole decided my stick people needed something extra

love

So in the midst of losing Beepa, we had Valentine's Day & my birthday. I was 100% not in the mood to celebrate either one but we did have a little celebration. Ava is all about birthdays and I knew my dad would want us to do something. We had a small pizza & cake party which was really nice. Ava made signs to decorate the door & I was given a new Vera wallet & case for my Kindle, 2 beautiful necklaces, gift cards and the new iphone. I was definitely spoiled but it was obviously hard celebrating this year. I'm very thankful for everyone making my day special though.

Ava made my birthday cake this year at preschool :)

beautiful flowers from hubby

For Valentine's Day we started the day off with heart waffles and just had a nice relaxing day together. Ava made Valentine cookies with sprinkles and we had a heart shaped lunch. The kids were really great and Ava was all about cleaning up without being asked which was the best present :)

services

It's been a long, tough week. We've been busy getting everything together for the services, getting flowers etc. On Wednesday we had the wake, service and burial for my dad. Since he was buried in a military cemetery everything really centered around when they were available. We had the wake for an hour, service and then the trip & burial in Bourne. Everything was really perfect. I felt so sick when the limo picked us up and wasn't sure how we'd even make it through the day but we did. I think my dad would have approved about everything.

We were so blown away by the people who came. We knew family & friends would be there but we truly were shocked at how many people came to honor my dad. It was amazing and really was an indication on how great of a man he was. Everyone was so sweet---we had a lot of tears and some laughter. We met people we never knew before who had known my dad. People even traveled for hours just to come. It was incredible. They even needed to add more chairs to have the service. We were so grateful for all the support from everyone who came.

We had a service at the funeral home for him. It was simple and perfect for him. The priest was really great. Steven wrote a beautiful remembrance speech about him. It was so great and everyone has even asked for copies of it. It was just beautiful and I'm so thankful he did that. Everyone paid their final respects and went to their cars. We paid ours and let them get him ready to go to Bourne. It was incredibly hard leaving and knowing that was the last time I'd see him.

We loaded into the limo and followed the hearse down to Bourne. They had decorated it with the Air Force emblem and covered his casket with the flag. A lot of people made the 1 hour trip down the cemetery which was so nice. They just do the burial at a committal site and it's only about 15 minutes long. We got a map of where he will be and some info about the cemetery. The service was really beautiful. There is just something about military funerals that gets me. A chaplain from the Staties spoke and we had 2 members of the Air Force Honor Guard {which my dad used to do}. I cried during Taps and lost it when they presented the flag to me. As soon as she started speaking I just couldn't hold it in any longer. We left after that and headed back to the Rome for dinner with family and friends.

It was an incredibly difficult day but we got through it. We are so blessed to have such a great support system. Everyone we had to work with from the funeral home to the florist to the people in Bourne were amazing. I'm so grateful that they were there to make this difficult time a little easier. It's still really hard & still feels surreal at times. I know he's gone but I still expect him to pick up the phone or be there when I go over. The days are a little easier because the kids keep us busy but the nights are still tough. I'm not sure it'll ever not hurt.

our great loss

Our heart is broken with the loss of my dad on Friday night. It's been an incredibly hard 2 weeks and my mind knows he's finally at peace but my heart just isn't there yet. I miss him. A lot. I hated, hated, seeing him in the hospital hooked up to tubes but at least I could see him. I have a running blog post about this whole ordeal that maybe I'll post some day. My heart hurts reading it when we had so much hope that he was going to get better. It's a horrible feeling watching your loved one die and having to make the decision to go to comfort care because there is just nothing else we can do. I pray that no one else ever has to go through that because it is just hell. Steven & I were with him holding his hands, telling him we loved him and it was ok to go---it was so peaceful and I'm thankful for that.

So far we are ok. The days keep us busy on the phone, making arrangements, being with the kids but the nights are hard. We have an absolutely incredible support system who are just beyond amazing in all of this and I know we will get through it. Ava knew he was in the hospital and we even made him cookies so he'd feel better. The night he passed, she asked my mom if Beepa liked his cookie. We told her he loved it. We have told her he is in Heaven watching over her always and he's not sick any more. She's afraid he's going to fall but we assured her he was safe on the clouds. Last night she told me she was going to go find him herself to bring him back to us. Oh the innocence of a 3 year old---I wish it was that easy. She's usually the one comforting me when I cry now and telling me we "can just go outside and wave up in the sky to Beepa and he'll see you." She also told me "I know why you miss Beepa---it's because you can't see him and hug him every day now." She's 100% right & so wise beyond her years.

Thank you for all your calls/emails/messages etc---they truly mean the world to us during this tough time.

Obituary

“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”

love & miss you always, daddy

MORE snow pictures

Shocker right? I'm sure since I last updated the blog we've had more snow. In fact, Tuesday we had early dismissal and Wednesday was a snow day. We've literally had a snow day every single week since we've been back from Winter Break. It's slightly insane. We honestly have no place to put it and can't even through it over the hills on either side of the driveway because they are too tall. The kids are enjoying it although the snow is way too deep in the backyard to play out there. It reaches the top landing in the swing set and completely covers the cozy coup and doors to the playhouses. We mostly just stay on our front walkway and play in the snow out there. I seriously cannot wait until Spring.

Ava loves to shovel :)

Cole trying to crawl through the snow

time to sled {Steven is about 3 feet up from the ground just to give an idea as to how big these snow hills are}

at least our sand toys aren't neglected during the winter!

blocks

I love when these two really play together. It's so sweet and so much fun to watch. Despite the few fights & tears they really do have a blast playing with each other.

Until Cole knocks down the tower.

Or Ava takes the trucks away.

Or Cole grabs the archway and runs away.

Other than that, they have a great time together---ah sibling love! :)

using the trucks to bring the blocks in

Cole's truck doesn't get very far :)