While I have no idea where they get their energy, little ones sure do require you to have some too! I know Colt plays hard and I’m sure all others do too. If he could talk, he would probably be able to tell me the secret to his energy and great physique 🙂

“Ok Mommy. . . you ready to get jabbercising (baby exercise)?!”“Ok Mommy get in ready position…this is always how we start.”

“Let’s warm up with some pushups. I’m really good at these. Let’s do 50 hundred.”

“You can use one knee Mommy if it’s too hard for you to do it the real man’s way.”

“4998…4999…50 hundred!”

“Now let’s work our inner thighs. . . stick with me Mommy and your thighs will look like mine one day:-)”

“Now let’s finish up with our core, lift that backside off the floor!”
“That was pretty good for your first day Mommy. Let’s cool down with some good stretches. . .” “I can stretch into a “C” for COLT!”

“We did it! Any questions?” If not, meet me here same time tomorrow.”

“Wipe the sweat and take a nap! You earned it!”

7 months. . . hmmm. . . where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that I was watching my tummy grow into a basketball on the verge of exploding! Then, 8 days past the ole due date, Colt David arrived – – right on time 🙂 On a side note, I don’t think they should give little pregnant mommies due “dates.” They should just tell you the month you are due or something so you don’t have that false hope that you are going to be 2 weeks early, and then end up going 2 weeks over – which is a month later than you had anticipated . . . all the while you’re still growing!! I must say, I was sure glad (if you can be) when those labor pains started coming!

And there he was. 6 hours later, such a beautiful baby boy! Now, I see precious little ones and don’t even remember he was ever that size! It’s kind of sad isn’t it? I’m just glad I’m a picture/video/scrapbooking fanatic 🙂

I must say that we have loved every stage, but it gets more fun as he’s becoming more independent. Of course he’s sitting, crawling, jabbering, teething, and eating solids now . . . reaching, playing with new things, noticing new things I suppose. He does have a “favorite” 3 toys – one of which is this ball. I try to get him to roll it back to me, but it’s just big enough to be hard for him to handle. He has a hard time getting it into his mouth 🙂

All tuckered out and ready for a nap. It’s hard to wear this fella out, but I sure do my best in between naptimes!

David and I took Colt outside to play yesterday (which we try to do everyday – weather permitting) on the playground across the parking lot here. He gets so excited when we go outside . . . he starts squealing and squirming all over (he’s kind of hard to hold on to at times). David took some pictures of this “watering hole” while we were “exploring” the outdoors. Our great expectations of playing in it when it gets warmer were dashed when Daniel delivered the devastating news that he thinks it’s the same body of water that the sewer travels. Bummer. Hold on for dear life!

Hmmm . . . looks like something that Colt could put in his mouth! He’s getting another tooth right beside the first one. So, now it’s the 2 bottom teeth showing.

“Um, Dad. . . I’m not so sure about this. . . “

David just has to look at Colt and he’ll start laughing. When Daddy gets home from school in the evenings, Colt is usually eating dinner in his highchair – which is in perfect view of the front door. So, he’s the first one to spot Daddy and he does a good job of letting me know he’s home! Colt will squeal and laugh . . . it’s precious.

New concept. . . shoes.

Some new things going on around here:

Colt has somehow figured out how to click with his tongue. He does it probably as much as he talks now. He thinks it’s really funny when you click with him. . . like “how do you know how to do that too?” We usually take turns and click back and forth.

Another thing. . . Colt has really taken off bouncing in his jumperoo this week. I tried to get it on camera because he jumps so hard and high that he comes halfway out of the seat. He seems to like that the best though! The higher and more dangerous, wild and free . . . the better! (looked reckless to me – – but I think I better get used to it).

Lastly, (which we did get on camera, but have chosen not to post on the blog due to disturbing images). . . Colt has been using the potty!! haha. We are reading a good set of books by Michael and Debi Pearl “To Train A Child” (I know I’ve referred to them on here before). Anyways, they trained their kids young. . . so why not!! We just recognize the “big nasty” coming on and rush to the bathroom. It’s worked the past 3 days. I’m sure we are A LOOONG way from our goal 🙂 It’s been quite hilarious though – and I must say the clean up is NOTHING compared to before!

Of course, we (David mostly) are still working with Colt to crawl. He has advanced from the “push-up position” to getting up on all fours. The only problem is he goes every direction but forwards 🙂 haha.

I was scrapbooking in his room the other day while he was on his tummy, and I almost lost him! I look up and all I could see was his head sticking out from under his crib. He had backed himself under there as far as he could go and got stuck!! I’m thinking, “My goodness . . . he’s not even really going anywhere yet and look what happens!” I’m going to have to keep an eye on this little guy for sure.

These pics are where he was “crawling” on the bed, but backed himself right into the pillows. He was playing Peek-A-Boo with me 🙂

Well, our little half-pint is showing off his first tooth! You know, I feel kind of sorry for the little guy because I know that must be painful . . . he’s been fussy and clingy the past 3 days to show it. We are reading an excellent parenting book called To Train A Child, and the author says people blame their children’s rotten behavior on cutting teeth that whole first year. . . haha. But, Colt really is a sweet boy with a sweet personality – and he really doesn’t feel well with this tooth!

Anyways, I’ve tried to get a pic of it for the grandparents who have been asking to see it, but he tends to cover it with his tongue if I even get close! It’s a sharp little booger too!! (I’m just thankful he’s not biting me when he eats – though that may still come!) Maybe you can see it in the pics – obviously not the first one though so don’t strain your eyes on that one 😉 The second picture is your best bet Mama T!

I am just now getting around to posting pics from the “Love Weekend” (couples retreat almost a week ago now). It was a great time. Daddy D and Mama T organized and hosted the whole thing. They did a WONDERFUL job, and you could tell that everyone was enjoying themselves. We had lots of fun (and funny) games, and the speaker was great! He gave us tips on how to get from 0-50 years of marriage which David and I are currently putting to practice 😉

It was good to see family too. Both sets of great grandparents were there, as well as both sets of grandparents, Uncle Melvin and Aunt Sheila, and so was DJ, his wife Julie, and their newest little boy – Connor. He was just 6-7 weeks old. He’s is such a handsome fella!

Great Grandma and Grandpa Miles with their hands full . . . MORE BOYS! (The Miles seem to be good at producing boys) Great Grandpa Haas and Colt. Grandpa is really good with the babies. He can make lots of fun noises and faces (like a choo choo train. . . he really sounds like a train!)

Kisses and hugs on Valentine’s Day – xoxoxo

Colt’s pulling Connor’s hair! His parents really ought to teach him better!!

Handsome huh? I think he looks an awful lot like his mommy . . . but he’s got some of DJ in him too (I mean, he is a boy right?)

Brother’s and babies. . . It doesn’t get much better than this (until a few years down the road when we are ALL together and we have kids running all over the place).

Poor little Connor has been trying so hard to sleep this whole time!

Colt is still pulling Connor’s hair!

But he got caught red handed!

The proud grandparents 🙂

(Colt had to be restrained)

This picture says a lot more than it portrays. You see, last time Colt met Great Grandma Miles he screamed and cried everytime she tried to hold him (like 4 or 5 times!!) – much to my embarrassment. He obviously did much better this time!

Well, I went in to take my nursing boards Monday morning. We had been in South Carolina the previous few days so I hadn’t be able to study hardly any of those days immediately prior to the exam. Nevertheless, I decided not to dwell on it and to try to go to bed early Sunday night, but I found that I couldn’t sleep! So, even though I laid down close to 9 pm, I don’t remember the last time I looked at the clock. It was late though. I just kept asking the Lord to calm my heart and let me rest.

PASS?!! What?? I couldn’t believe it. We were jumping and screaming for joy. . . Colt was quite startled and started to cry, but he’s happy now too – – though it means some changes for him in the near future. I’m thankful for these nearly 7 months of being home with him. It’s been wonderful and he’s ready now I think. We are hoping to work our schedules out so David can keep him on the days I work since he only has class Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

We were able to enjoy a wonderful couples retreat this past weekend at Myrtle Beach. We were there with my parents, David’s parents, grandparents, and DJ’s family too. I’ll post more pics of that tomorrow Lord willing 🙂

Friday was supposedly in the 70’s . . . it was a cool 70! We couldn’t let that discourage us from getting some sand in between our toes though! My parents were able to enjoy the weekend with us as well. They were a huge help with Colt. I honestly don’t think we could have enjoyed the retreat without them. They kept him during seminars, and he did great (even cried after them – I think both sets of grandparents would have a tendency to spoil this little man if we left him with them too long!). For example – they (meaning both sets of grandparents) would give him sweet tea, keep him up past his bedtime, buy him things . . . You really have to keep an eye on them 😉

Anyways, enjoy the pics . . . we enjoyed the beach!

This past Sunday, February 15, we were in Florence at Daddy D and Mama T’s chrch (that would be the ever so affectionate names for my in laws in case you didn’t know them by those names). We chose this past Sunday to dedicate Colt since we were with BOTH sets of grandparents . . . so that was really neat! Daddy D did a great job, and we were thankful that he could have this special role. He actually wrote Colt a letter to be opened on his 18th birthday. That will be a great keepsake for Colt as well as neat to read to remember this day (in 18 years).
This is a DVD that was played during the baby dedication. As believers, we dedicate our children to the Father as a sign of our commitment to train them in the ways of the Lord. When we dedicated Colt, we were publicly recognizing that we know the Father gave him to us as a gift. We are mere stewards, not owners, with a part in this child’s life. Hopefully you can listen to the words of the song and hear the meaning in it as well. We love our little boy and he is a blessing ~

The first bite of peas. . . “I’m gonna have to think about this. Mommy says they’re good for me, and that I’ll learn to love ’em” “I DEFINITLY DON’T LOVE THEM! UGH!! GET THEM AWAY FROM ME!”
“I think I’m going to throw up! I can’t believe people really eat these! (cough, choke, gag)”
“I got them down, but I don’t know if they will stay there! Why do you like peas again Mommy? That was the most horrible experience of my WHOLE life (besides the birth canal).”

“I gotta wash that down for sure. I hope there is no bad aftertaste.”

“Sure glad that’s over! How ’bout we never do that again Mommy?”

Little does Colt know, we are going to have some peas tomorrow for lunch AND dinner 🙂 He swallowed about 5 bites. . . but they were obviously painful!