Caleb Changes Ariel's Diaper!

Horse Racing at Connection Group

We have our Connection Group on Sunday nights and we try to keep the kids upstairs with a babysitter while the parents stay down stairs. This last Sunday our babysitter was unable to be there so I went up there to watch the kids. There was only three of them...Caleb, Ariel and Olivia so it was pretty easy.

To keep the kids entertained, they rode on the rocking horses for what seemed like forever. They had such a good time! Then Olivia discovered that the saddle on the brown horse was "broken" (it was actually just unsnapped) so Caleb went over to his tool bench and said "We need to fix it!" He got the hammer and the screwdriver and the Olivia got the nails (which she called batteries) and then together they fixed the horse and then started riding together again!

Snuggling on the couch

Here are a few pictures of Ariel and the things that she has been doing the past few days. She has been real intrigued by playing with her feet. I think she has finally figured out that they are hers, she will sit and look at them for a few minutes and try to play with her toes.

I found her asleep in her jumper again today. She never looks comfortable when she is asleep in it but I guess if she is not complaining then it isn't bothering her.

On another note, I mentioned a few weeks ago about giving Ariel the pacifier, she still doesn't like it. I think it is a blessing that she doesn't have to have it all the time!

Sledding

Last Saturday Caleb was finally able to play in the snow. Dan and I went outside and taught him how to sled. He did a great job, except he wouldn't sit on his bottom and insisted on sitting on his knees. This is what worked for him and he had a great time!

4 Month Smiles

Ariel is 4 months old! Here she is smiling! Our happy little girl!

Sickness, Snow, Shaved Head and Mini Van

Sorry that it has been a while since I have posted anything. We have been a little under the weather the past few days and there hasn't been many picture moments. Dan, Ariel and I came down with what we think was the flu on Tuesday and since then we have been trying to rest as much as possible. I am still not feeling great but I think it is because I am nursing Ariel and she is taking everything from me and I have been up several times in the middle of the night to make sure Ariel is ok and to calm her coughing so I haven't had a great night's sleep in a few nights. Caleb on the other hand has been feeling great...the same ol little boy that is full of energy (which makes it harder on me when all I want to do is rest!). We got about 3-4 inches of snow on Wednesday and I haven't even taken Caleb out to play in it. I just don't want to risk him getting cold and wet and getting what Dan, Ariel and I had earlier this week.

On Tuesday morning I got the urge to shave Caleb's head. Why I don't know, I guess I was just wanting a new look for him. I got the shears out and was just going to shave up the sides and then leave the top a little longer for spiking but he ended up moving his head and I had to shave it all off. I was a little mad at myself after I did it but now that it has been a few days the change and the shock has worn off. I keep telling myself that it is only hair and it will grow back!

Last week Dan and I made the big purchase of getting a mini van!! Yes a mini van!!! Never thought that I would own one but with having two kids, two car seats, a double stroller and all the other stuff that goes along with our outings, we needed some extra room. We sold our Jeep to some dear friends of ours and took that money and bought an older used van with low mileage. It is a White Chrysler Town and Country Limited. It is really nice and loaded with everything but the kitchen sink...well that and a DVD player which we didn't need anyway! I honestly haven't driven it that much since I haven't been feeling that great and then when we got the snow on Wednesday I knew that I didn't need to get it out. So since it has been parked in the garage I haven't taken any pictures of it yet but I will do that soon!

These pictures were taken this morning. They are so cute when they cuddle in bed together!

This is Ariel and I before we got sick.

This is Caleb before and after his head shaving!

Johnny Jumper, Arm Holes and Work Glasses

We introduced the Johnny Jumper to Ariel the other day. She did exactly what Caleb used to do...she fell asleep in it!! It was so cute because she tried SO hard to keep herself awake but she did finally give in and took about a 15 minute nap in it. I think I may have started something new with Ariel. Since the day she was born she never did take a pacifier. She always gagged on it and then spit it out. Yesterday she wanted to nurse nearly every hour and then she would fall asleep and never get a full feeding in. I decided to try the pacifier and man has it helped. Today she has fed every 3 hours and I got her to take a nap in her crib. It is nearly 3:30 now and she has been sleeping since 1:30. I wasn't sure if I liked the idea of her having a pacifier but I don't think she is going to become dependent on it like Caleb was with his. We will see!
This morning I was trying to get the house clean and Caleb kept on playing in the closet and was trying to help me "clean up". He kept taking all the clothes off the hangers that were clean and then taking them into the utility room and putting them in the washer. I was getting so frustrated but then I caught him sticking his head in the arm hole of Dan's fleece vest...totally took the frustation away....well maybe for a moment anyway!

Caleb loves to help his Daddy work in the garage every Saturday. Today he had to have his "work glasses" as he called them and his Razorback hat. Too cute!

Recent Pics and Stuff!

Well we have been keeping it pretty low key the past week or so. Last weekend we had a huge ice storm that hit and there were several towns throughout Northwest Arkansas that lost power and some that still do not have power on even today! We were very blessed and only lost power for about 45 minutes one evening. Needless to say we have been inside A LOT due to the VERY cold temperatures. I have taken several pictures of the kids and the things that they have been doing over the past few days.

I have been working really hard to do "tummy time" with Ariel. I guess it is so much harder with the second one because I can't just lay her on the floor all the time without the fear that Caleb might step on her or throw something at her. He is always careful but he is a 2 and a half year old boy!





Caleb has been playing with his toys a lot. This is him upstairs in the play room...as you can see toys are everywhere!


I also got a picture of Caleb on the stairs...it looks as though he is behind jail bars!

My mom got Ariel a little lamb before she was born and its name is "Baabsy". Caleb has a lamb as well that he has to sleep with every night and his name is "Lamby". I also had a lamb when I was little named "Russ". As you can see there is a lamb theme here. I introduced "Baabsy" to Ariel the other day and this is the picture I got of her. Oh and I included a picture of when I introduced Caleb to "Lamby" the first time. Caleb was two months old and he is in the smaller picture.


I think she likes it...as far as Baabsy being her favorite, only time will tell!

Last Friday I put Ariel in the swing and this is the way that she fell asleep...she was like this for about 45 minutes just swinging away!

On Tuesday I watched my dear friend Allison's two little girls Avery and Eva for a few hours. Avery is 3 years old and Eva will be one in March. This is a picture of Caleb and Avery playing with his favorite Sesame Street puzzle and also a picture of Ariel and Eva.

Well I think that will do it for now. I will keep posting so keep looking!

A few moments with the Cole kids!

This is just about three moments of my life in any given day. Enjoy! (Sorry it's so big, this is the first time I have posted a video!)

Ariel is 3 months!!

Ariel is growing up so fast! It's amazing how time is different when you have two. With Caleb things seemed to creap by and with her it's like time can't slow down enough for me to take it all in! I am just trying my best to take every moment that I can to be with her and enjoy each phase unlike I did with Caleb...I think I wanted him to grow up too quick...and he is now 2 and a half!

I thought I would share some pictures that we have taken the past few days.

Here is Caleb, Dan and Ariel.

This was her with her big pink bow...she is so happy!

These were taken yesterday before church.
And here is Caleb with his sunglasses.

Here is one when Caleb was 3 months old...August of 2004.

It has been a while since I have posted anything. I can't tell you how nice it is to not be busy for once! I have had a head cold since last Friday so I haven't done much this week besides the normal house cleaning and laundry bit. Dan and I are in the process of transfering all of our home videos to the computer. It has been great to finally see all of our videos on something bigger than a 2 inch by 3 inch screen! Not sure why it has taken us this long to get this done but I guess it just wasn't on our priority list.

We got the ol' exersaucer down from upstairs a couple nights ago. I still think Ariel is just a little too wobbly for it but I have been trying her in it for a few minutes everyday. She really enjoys it while she is in there. I went through my files and found some pictures of Caleb at her age in the exersaucer and they do have a few similarities! She is on the left and he is on the right.




Well my time has run short and I need to nurse Ariel and hit the sack. I will check in tomorrow with more pictures!