Cole is 8 months...TODAY!

Hello...I'm 8 months and I'm a big boy!

Sweet boy!
What?
In the hospitalSweet face!
Hello...

Happy baby!

All cleaned up!

My favorite center piece!

Brothers!

Sunriver Trip 8/08
Notice the pea's all over his face!Sippy cup funHmm..Pea's?
Cole Baby

Max enjoying feeding Cole his fruit puffs!

Pea's anyone...

His 2 teeth

I think his face is funny here

Buh-Bye

Wow! I can't believe that 8 months has gone by so fast! Time flys!

I wanted to post some pictures from the last 8 months! I can't believe how baby's can change there looks so much in their first year...I don't think he looks like he did when he came home from the hospital. He is constantly changing! All the milestones and growth makes you feel like time is passing by way too quickly. Who knew that life could be as full with 2 little boys to liven it up. Though 2 kids is harder, life is fuller, way fuller for the better. I wouldn't change a moment! I honestly had no idea our family was missing anything until Cole came into our lives 8 months ago. I have always heard people say that and I now I get it. Cole is such a sweet boy! He is for sure a mama's boy...if he sees or hears me...he wants me. It's sweet but can be difficult sometimes. I know I will miss all of these sweet moments when they are older. There is nothing like a sweet little baby that can brighten up a room. I love his smiles, his sounds, his laugh...oh I love his laugh, the way he smiles at his big brother...love it. He loves his daddy and smiles at him too. He enjoys watching Gracie and Cookie (dog & cat) when they are around. He started sitting up very well a month ago and turning over too. Oh and he has 2 teeth...as you saw in the pictures and I think more are coming...well I know they are just not sure when they will appear. I just bought him some fruit puffs and a sippy cup to start working on. He likes the fruit puffs...finally something that he will eat. He still hasn't taken to eating baby food and I am starting to wonder if he is just going to skip it and go right for the adult food. Time will tell. I don't know his stats up to date...he was around 17 pounds at his 6 month so he is doing well. We go in March for his 9 month check-up...can't wait to see how big he has gotten. We have moved him to a convertible car seat...I was tired of carrying the infant seat around...those get so heavy. I think he is way happier in his new seat.

I love our 2 boys so much and am so grateful to God for these little blessings. I find myself wanting to be home with them a lot more. Loren and I are so excited to watch these sweet boys grow up. Life is good! I'm so thankful for all God has provided us with.

102...Nice & the FIRESTATION

Fire Engines and Stations...what fun!

Max driving the Fire Engine Firefighter Ann!Max and Jacqueline

Checking out the fire engine

Waiting

Firefighter Ann and the boys

Picture of Max's class with our Class Auction item.

Max's class in January

Oh how sad that I missed marking my 100 post, but 102 isn't bad! Finally I made over 100 post. Nothing compared to some of my loyal blogging friends. Melanie you got to 100 in your first month...ok well not that fast but pretty close!

Here are some pictures from our class trip to the fire station. These are from our friends camera and I haven't downloaded ours yet. The kids loved it. I had no idea that the kids would be scared of the fire fighters when they were dressed up in all their gear. I was thinking what a fun trip this is going to be for the kids but it's actually something they will do each year so kids get used to seeing firefighters so they won't be scared if they saw one in a fire. Good thinking! Max of course had a blast and loved it. The highlight was Loren got to go with us since it was his week off and this is the station Loren used to volunteer at until about a month ago so we knew the people and the station. It was fun to see the kids have a fun time.

Nonnie & Olive are coming today!

Nonnie, Railene and I at mom's birthday dinner 1.2.09Olive in December 09

Max, Cole and I are so excited that nonnie (my mom) and Olive (her dog) are headed up to spend a few days with us. We haven't seen them since the beginning of the year and are anxious to spend some time with them. We have Cole's new teeth to show her and Max's new songs that he has learned. I have a a funeral I am going to on Wednesday so she is going watch the boys and take Max to school. Oh I wish she lived closer! My mom cracks me up and we always have a great time.

What I love about having a 3 year old named Max...

1. He has started helping me with things around the house and loves it.


2. Today I was putting laundry away and he LOVED putting his own laundry away and kept asking for more...LOVE IT!


3. He sing "Jesus Loves Me" all by himself...doesn't that melt your heart?


4. He makes Cole laugh like no one else! Melts my heart again...so sweet.


5. He will want to go play with a girl and he says " I want to go see him" I think it's funny...he refers to girls as him, his...he doesn't see the difference.


6. He pees standing up and is getting good at keeping the pee in the potty! LOVE IT!


7. He helps me with Cole!


8. He can crawl in and out of his own car seat and the car.


9. He loves to dress himself.


10. He is such a cutie pie!


11. He makes me smile and laugh like no other person can.


12. I don't have to change his diapers anymore! SCORE!


13. He loves everything boy!


14. He looks cute in anything he wears!!!


15. He loves playing with his friends and going to people's houses


16. He says thank you for the sweetest, funniest things...example...I washed his blankets and he says "Oh thank you mommy" I buy apples and he says" You bought an apple for me, oh thank you mommy" I make his bed...same thing...I love it and it makes me laugh because it isn't for the fun things I buy him, but for simple everyday things! Who knew??


17. He loves gumballs!


18. He loves his family and get so excited to see them.


19. Everything was last night even when it was months ago.


20. Says things like "When I get older I am going to go on the treadmill" When I get older I am going to drive that big truck"

Things I don't love so much about having a 3 year old:

1. He has to do everything himself which takes WAY more time!


2. He has a hard time sitting down at dinner and eating.


3. I have to take him to the bathroom a lot...love that he is potty trained but makes it tough to stop when we are in the car. Pros and Cons


4. He repeats a lot...dangerous!


5. NO...I hear that word ALL the time.


6. Very OCD with Cole and Cole's toys...who knew!


7. He loves to help around the house which is good but can be frustrating too! Putting dirty dishes back in the cupboard and putting dirty clothes in his drawers!!! Thanks but let mommy help you with that!


8. He asks for specific food, but then doesn't eat it? What is up with this?


9. I buy him a meal when we are out and then doesn't touch it...so hard! I hate wasting money.

Max is such a great kid for so many reasons! I could go on and on about all the good things he does. I was thinking to today when we were doing laundry how nice it is at this age when he wants to help and does such a good job at it. I know he won't always like helping mom, but I love it now. He says the funniest thing and is so cute. This age they are picking up so much stuff as far as words and site's...I can't believe the things he understands and remembers. I love hearing him sing songs that he has learned at school and church. Its such a joy to see him smile and be happy and excited about things.

5-5-5 Tagged by Melanie

I was tagged by my friend Melanie to post the 5th picture from the 5th folder in my pictures, then tag 5 of my Blogging friends. I think this is fun and interesting and have wanted to do this before! Very random and funny to see people's pictures and hear the story behind them.

This picture (April 11, 2006) Max was almost 5 months and my Grandpa Gordon (dad's dad). We were visiting my Gramma and Grandpa down in Olympia before they had moved up to my dad's house. I love how my Grandpa is looking at Max and Max is looking at the camera.

And now I tag:

1. Amanda
2. Tim
3. Beccy
4. Kristen
5. Angela

I am still here...just busy with my New Years Resolutions...

A few Christmas Pictures!!! A little late yes...I know!

New Years Resolution is to be a better mom and wife! Might sound kind of silly, but I felt like I need to do a few things differently. Be more about Max and Cole then me. Due to that blogging has gone on the back burner. I love catching up with everyone, but blogging does take some time. I hope they can figure out how to make uploading pictures a little quicker. I have so much to share but don't have the time right now! Some highlights...Christmas was wonderful! My dear brother Jason gave me a camera because he was upgrading so I have been taking pictures like crazy. It's a Cannon Rebel! I am an love and really would like to take some photography classes.

We spent New Years and my brother Jason's house like we have been doing for the last 3 or so years. It's so nice having some where to go. We had to bring Cole because he had been throwing up. I think it is the formula that he had. I am nursing, but give him formula when he is at a sitters. The Similac wasn't sitting well so we are trying another kind. Hope that works because pumping doesn't work that well at this point. Any advice or feedback would be great!

I have joined a MOPS group at our new church in Tacoma and I am really enjoying it. My sister-in-law is going as well. Speaking of churches we have been so happy to settle in at First Presbyterian in Tacoma in the Stadium District. I love it...the people, the old building, the pastor and Wednesday night dinners. God is Good! We had been looking for a year and are so happy to have found a home. What else!!! I have started meeting one of my goals...we have been visiting the gym a lot more and trying to eat more healthy! I have got to lose this baby weight.

I will try and post more pictures later...Cole is 7 months and I got some great pictures of him at 6 months...I will try and post soon. I still can't believe

Feels like Vacation & Cookies!

Everything looks so pretty in the snow!

We have been making cookies, watching movies and enjoying each other's company. I love having Loren home (one of the reason's I have had time to blog so much). Not only does he help out with the kids a ton, but he cracks me up. I love him and am grateful for all he does for our family! Loren, Max and Gracie have been having a lot of fun playing in the snow and sledding. Having kids makes you feel like a kid in the snow.

Being home and not able to go a ton of places kind of makes me feel like we are on vacation. Why, I'm not sure, but feeling like our daily routine of errands and other things can't happen makes it feel like that. We are enjoying being home in our warm house. Every time I go outside in the cold and come back in I am reminded how lucky and blessed we are to have a warm, cozy home. It makes me think of all the people who don't have that and it reminds me how much I need to be thankful for what God has given us.
Making a gingerbread house with Auntie and Uncle

That is Max & Cole in front and Gracie is on the side of the house!

Our new center piece, but it's getting smaller by the day! Yummy!
Sugar cookies in the making

Sugar cookies! How fun.

Construction was done on the house! Lots of work and candy!

I love making traditions with our own family. After we were done with the gingerbread house Loren started on the sugar cookies. Fun times at the Ellingson house. I made my first gingerbread house last year with friends so this year it was fun to see Max so excited to make his first. We were supposed to have a Christmas party at school and make them but school was canceled due to weather, bummer.

I am trying to make our camera work since so many things are happening right now. It's liking taking pictures blindly since I can't see what I am taking, well I can see a corner, but that is it. It is so funny to try and take pictures and have no idea how it is turning out. Luckily I am not wasting film.

Snow = Fun

Getting ready to go out to play! Waiting nicely

Saying Cheese and looking away

Sweet picture...Max loves Gracie

See what I mean about his cute snow gear...so cute.
Gracie looks so beautiful in the snow...I love it.

Gracie waiting for Max

I love Max's face here...so cute.

Fun in the snow! Max and Gracie got to enjoy some fun in the yard and down at the park by our house. Max was cracking me up in his snow gear. He didn't use it last year at all so this was a first. I don't think he liked how it felt...either do I when I get in snow gear, but I told him if you want to go play outside you have to put it on. He did and he had ton of fun. I love his little red cheeks.

*The pictures quality isn't great because I had to use our video camera and Lorens cell phone due to our camera breaking. Went to use it on Sunday for Max's Christmas program at church and the screen is broken...not good and such a bummer for moments like this. Thanks to new technologies we had a couple options.