Salty and sweet

I'm not sure what we did today and it's hard to tell what progress was made.  There are still boxes and suitcases all over the house.  It seems that we accumulated much more than our little Cole in the last 6 months.  We obviously got comfortable knowing there was a possibility we would be staying in one place longer than usual.  Our move wasn't as lean and mean as we like it.   In addition, the kids have stayed in 4 houses in the last week and are more than a little confused about where "home" is.  So Max is pushing buttons and I'm low on patience.  I'm not quite sure why my expectations were so high this time, considering we have more possessions, an extra tike, and David wasn't even present for the first 6 hours after we arrived.  So yesterday wasn't our best day, but at least today started out sweet. 

 Max is enjoying a cinnamon bun with breakfast.

I'm thinking a kid-sized mop and broom might be in order for Christmas!


'Twas the 6th Night Before Christmas and we are STILL unpacking...

It's Moving Day!

We got back from Steamboat on Tuesday afternoon and stayed the night at my friend Lindsey's place so that we could break up our drive.  Today is Wednesday and it's Moving Day!  Max is having a picnic on Lindsey's dining room floor because I don't trust him with yogurt on any of her beautiful furniture.  He was happy as a clam to have an excuse to picnic on the floor.

'Twas the 7th Night Before Christmas and we've moved into the new house!  Here are the boys at the front door of our new home for the next several months. 

So far, it seems this place will be perfect for our family.  I love the layout of this ranch-style patio home, especially the lack of stairs.  Max might disagree and think it's a flaw, but I think he's quickly forgotten now that he can run the length of the house over and over again. 
David and I are just about to turn in.  We've got everything out of the cars and garage - now it's just a matter of finding it's new landing place.  Looking forward to putting everything away tomorrow and then getting organized for Christmas.  We have to go tree hunting pronto! One week to go! 

Triple Threat

'Twas the 8th Night Before Christmas:
Max is such a proud big brother!  Thankfully, we have moved past his short-lived aggression and at this point we are more at risk for sibling abuse by smothering than anything else.  Tino, pictured left, is also very much a fan of Cole's.  The two older boys were helping me by rocking Cole while I prepped breakfast.  These boys are going to be trouble in a few short years! 

Steamboat Snow Day

'Twas the 9th Night Before Christmas and David and I got to snowboard for our first time in 3 years!

It's just like riding a bike. 

David and I went out on Monday afternoon for a few hours.  It was super nice to jump in the car and be at the lift within minutes, giving us the most bang for our buck, with respect to our 1/2 day lift ticket and our kid-sitting time allotment.   
The views were spectacular!  I guess I forgot how beautiful the Yampa Valley is.  I think I enjoyed the scenery just as much as I enjoyed the adrenaline pumping through my veins.  

Chug-a-chug-a

'Twas the 10th Night Before Christmas
It was only my 2nd run since Cole was born 3 months ago.  And it was just about as cold as my first, but this one was way more fun!  Look at how gorgeous the day was!  Blue skies with the ski area in the background.  I got out to run about 3 miles (1 mile for each month Cole is old) on the Core Trail in Steamboat Springs today, thanks in part to my friend Cristin, who loaned me her YakTrax (and her running jacket, running gloves, and headband - apparently I came ill-prepared).  I've never actually owned a pair of these amazing things, but it sure made my run a lot easier.  I am adding YakTrax to my Christmas wish list.
Anyway, the adrenaline was pumping and I'm officially hooked again.  Yahoo!

Oh Happy Day!

'Twas the 11th Night Before Christmas
This is what I get to wake up to every morning:  the bright, sunshiny face of my little Cole, no matter what it looks like outside.  Since it's a bit cloudy and cold, his round happy face is just what I needed.
Love you, bug!

"'Twas the ..." Photo-a-Day Challenge

I've decided to challenge myself with another picture-a-day series.  So today, I'm introducing the 'Twas the ____ Night Before Christmas series, to be followed by the 12 Days of Christmas series.   Being the type A person that I am, I was having a hard time starting a photo-a-day challenge in the middle of the month.  However, because I can do almost a full month this way, I was able to rationalize my former tardiness. 

We are enjoying a week in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado with our friends the Sarmientos.  We are staying in a gorgeous home in the Tree Haus neighborhood, which is situated just across the highway from the ski area, giving us awesome views of the mountain.  The boys, Max and Tino, are having a blast chasing each other around the house, toddling through the snow in all their gear, and watching the train pass through town.  Today, we enjoyed story time and crafts at the local library.

David and I took a stroll thru Steamboat Springs yesterday, thanks to Cristin and Leo who stayed back with all the boys so we could get out kid-less.
'Twas the 12th Night Before Christmas, when we were in downtown Steamboat with the ski area in the background.  

David's last Denver seminar went tremendously well.  It was the first time I was able to attend in about 3 years.  I was so proud of David.  Not only did he get 500+ people in the room, he did an awesome job giving his sales presentation.

Last week we also moved out of our Wash Park home.  I'm so happy we had the opportunity to live where we did for the last 6 months.  The Park has such a draw.  We took many walks while waiting for Cole and Max loved the playgrounds there.  It hasn't quite sunk in that we won't be there any longer.  After we leave Steamboat, we'll be taking the final load to our new abode in Colorado Springs.  I will certainly miss our great neighborhood in Denver, but we will have an excellent view of Pikes Peak from our new place.  We will also be directly across the street from Garden of the Gods and I look forward to many hikes through the park with the boys.

Before then, though, we have a few more days of vacay to enjoy here in Steamboat.  More pictures to come... 

Cole's Baptism

Cole Rogers Behr - Baptized November 4, 2013

We planned Cole's baptism to coincide with David's family's visit in November.  Since I had my annual Girls Weekend in late October, my Mom also came out to help David with the kids while I was away.  We are blessed that so many could be part of Cole's special day.

We asked our dear friends, Leo and Cristin Sarmiento, to be Cole's godparents.  We asked Deacon Patrick, who helped prepare us for our marriage, to preside over the ceremony.  It was a very intimate gathering of our family and closest friends at Church of the Good Shepherd in Denver. 

Cole wailed for a solid 10 minutes, up until the water was poured over his head and the blessing read.   

I wish I had gotten a close up of Cole.  He was wearing his godfather's shirt, handmade in Columbia, by Leo's aunt, when Leo was just a tiny baby.  The shirt was embroidered with flowers and the word Domingo, signifying it as his Sunday shirt.  He had one for each day of the week.  We thought it was extra special for Cole to be invited to wear such a beautifully decorated and lovingly made article of clothing that was worn by his godfather as a baby.  Thank you, Leo and Cristin, for sharing it with Cole.

Valentino and Max

Nana, Aunt Diane, me with Cole, Opa, Aunt Laura, Grammy, David and Max

Happy Baptism, dear Cole.  We look forward to sharing a faith relationship with you and forming a solid foundation from which to grow in your faith with God.  We pray that your ears be tuned to the small voice of the Holy Spirit so that you might be a voice to your generation.  We pray that you will know God and come to know many God ideas.  We love you, Cole Rogers.

The Leaf Jumper

We were so excited to share one of our favorite childhood fall activities with Max this year - Leaf Jumping!  (Last year, he was still into sticking leaves in his mouth.)  So, as soon as the leaves turned, we talked to him about the leaves falling off the trees and how we would rake them into piles and play.  With all the rain in September and two snowfalls in October, we finally saw the results. 

Since our yard is treeless, we had to snag most of the leaves from under the neighbor's tree, but I'm guessing they didn't mind much.   Right now for Max, in terms of size, something is either a "baby" or a "whopper."  Therefore, we have two piles in our front yard labeled accordingly, and these are pointed out on a regular basis.

David's family came for a visit in early November.  While here, we celebrated Opa's birthday.  Max enjoyed helping him blow out the candles on his New York cheesecake. 

Opa and Aunt Laurie helped Max rake more leaves onto his "whopper" pile.  It got so big, it seemed he would disappear into it.  Grammy is keeping an eye on him from the front porch. 

I think they were outside for hours!

Here he goes again!

And again...

And again.

This week we will go from 60s and sunshine to snow and temps in the single digits.  Max's leaf piles are packed down and crumpled, and we've moved from talk of leaf jumping to stories of snowflakes and sledding.  Winter is on the horizon! 

From Cole to now, a very random update.

So in reviewing our blog, I realize I've only posted one update for the last two months.  Hmmm, what happened two months ago?!  Actually, I've been feeling a little guilty for not putting more of our newest little addition on here.  Every time I think of it, I get a little overwhelmed at how much time has passed already.  I think when you've already watched one kiddo grow up so fast, you realize just how precious each and every moment is.  And then I feel guilty for not documenting it all.  Grrr. 

So here are a few pictures, in no particular order:

Welcome Baby Cole!

Cole - 2013

 Had to add this one from 20 months prior.  Sometimes it feels like just yesterday.  

Max - 2012

After Cole was born, our wonderful friends offered to take Max for a night so that we could focus on the baby.  Max was super excited to spend time with Valentino and Gemma, the family cat.  Here is a picture of the boys on their way to their sleepover.

Valentino and Max

While Nana was here, she would help me take Max to his swim lessons.  Towards the very end of my pregnancy and after Cole was born, she got into the water with Max.  She was here long enough to see him blossom into a confident swimmer.   Here is Max at his last swim lesson. 

 Cole's announcement photo.  Love this picture.  He still has all of his newborn hair. 

One of Cole's first social smiles.  What a ham!

Cole is such a happy baby.  He is now cooing and laughing, tracking toys and his big brother, and very much enjoys tummy time on his activity mat.  He has already mastered rolling from front to back, ahead of schedule, mind you. 

Current challenge: getting Cole to stop socializing in order to nap.  Our littlest one has never been a very good napper.  He is doing well at night, sleeping 4-5 hours at a stretch, and sometimes as much as 7 hours (yahoo!).  During the day, however, Cole should be getting about 4-5 hours of sleep or 4-5 naps.  It's more like 30 minutes at a time or a total of 2 hours.  Sometimes it takes me longer to get him to sleep than he actually spends with his eyes closed.  Admittedly, I rely on a car ride or a long walk with him in the Baby Bjorn to occasionally force him to sleep.  As a full time SAHM, I crave some daytime downtime.  And, since it's rare when I can get both boys napping at the same time, I have to be grateful that on weekends, David has allowed me to get out of the house on my own for an hour or two.  It's amazing how exciting a trip to Target by myself can be!  Thank goodness for David's understanding and the smiles the boys generously share with me.  Those little grins are the rainbow after the storm.  Take two and it's all better.