Christmas Morning

I'd like to think the reason I have one picture from Christmas morning was all the joy and merry-ment I was experiencing. Not the sheer exhaustion, and oh my goodness is it over? feeling that I am pretty sure was going on... Here are Luke and Cole in their awesome Christmas P.J's from Queenie and Boompa, and in their awesome car from Grandma and Grandpa.

Luke is obsessed with super heros, and as you can tell, Spiderman, so this is how Christmas evening was spent. Lining them all up and playing with them. Pretty darn cute. 

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Halloween 2012

Not the best pictures, but it's what I got to work with. My little love with his first face painting! Batman rules!

Here is Luke with one of his best friends from school, Miles, or, um, Ninja Turtle. 

My sweet skeleton and Red Power Ranger. 

May you be filled with candy! Happy Halloween everyone! 

Fourteen Months

happy fourteen months my sweet guy! 

My Sweet Boys

I love these guys! 

Luke's 1st Baseball Game

Troy had every intention of having the perfect day with Luke and his dad at the baseball game. Unfortunately, after luke ate all his popcorn and candy {which took about an inning and a half} he was ready to hit the road. Oh well. Better luck next time, and go Rangers!

Happy 1st Birthday!

happy

1st

birthday

Cole Hudson Matthews! 

We love you to the moon and back! 

1st Birthday Cake

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Cole Hudson Matthews,
Happy {very first} Birthday toooo youuuuuuu! 

Eleven Months

happy

{eleven}

months

Organized Chaos

Life has been a little crazy lately. This is actually my idea of dinner... a protein shake. I tell Luke he can help me make "mama's ice cream" which he finds disgusting. I am going to try and be a better blogger... Really try. And why am I the only one in this picture with pants on? That's a whole different story...

First Date

I think this classifies as a date... we go to a birthday party, and Luke finds the "kids" area. He rolls up on this cutie pie, sits down, and says, "Hi, I'm Lukie, what's your name?"

She responds by leaning over and feeding him a potatoe chip.

Pretty much love at first bite. 

Peeeas

This is Luke's, I-can-get-away-with-murder-if I-say-please-face... Ridiculous. 

A Perfect 10

happy

{ten}
months

This guy is a mover and a shaker. He cannot sit still, which means my life has gone from crazy, to complete madness. With a three year old with more energy than most race horses, and this guy chasing him around... it doesn't leave a whole lot of time for much else. Cole, you are amazing! You are the speediest little guy, you can crawl from one end of the house to the other in right at a minute, which is pretty impressive, and if we support you under your arms you practically take off running. I am actually hoping to lose some weight chasing you around. I love it! You love to sing, and dance, and eat. If you are awake you are probably munching on something... if we are eating something, we had better be willing to share, because you crawl right over and snatch it up! You are also a pretty amazing climber. I have found you in your hippo chair biting Mr. Hippo's ears, and also, you crawl on the ledge of your walker, which is about 5 inches off the ground and work your way around it playing from the other side... I can tell you have a rebel in you. You smile all the time, your laugh is infectious, and I love the way you wave and give us high-fives, it's the cutest thing. You are definitely a momma's boy, but I would expect nothing less. We love you Cole Hudson, it just keeps getting better and better.

We love you to the moon and back Mr. Cole Hudson Matthews!

{Nine} Months

Guess who's {Nine} Months Old?

This Guy!

So much has happened this month! You became fully mobile, and can not only crawl, but pull up on things and walk around them {with webble wabble legs}. You love it when mom and dad hold your hands and support your arms so you can walk with assistance. You think that is pretty fun stuff! You are teething, getting three at the same time on top, ouch! You are being a real trooper about it though! You are fussy, but not to bad. You are {and I am sure I am jinxing this right here...} sleeping really well at night. You are very observant, everyone seems to notice how you just take it all in, and you absolutely love music. Every time you hear some, you start bouncing up and down and babbling. Right now you are a great eater, keep up the good work young man! You are currently wearing size 12 - 18 month clothing, a size 4 diaper, and are a whopping 22 1/4 lbs! Sheesh! You certainly are not missing any meals. Feel free to slow down anytime... I love this age, you are sweet, happy, joyful and just a little chunky chunky bug-a-boo, and with that said,

happy

{nine months}

Cole Hudson

Mothers Day 2012

What a great Mother's Day weekend! Last night we celebrated with my mom and dad at the very delicious Eddie V's. It was so tasty I am still stuffed today! Then this morning I got to sleep until 8:30, which was a real treat. Even more unbelievable, Luke was still asleep! He got to play with his best friend Darius last night while mom and dad went to Eddie V's, so he was pretty tired. Note... he needs to play with a friend every Friday and Saturday night... After sleeping in, and playing with the boys, Troy was taking them to see Grandma and Grandpa, and I ask him to snap a couple of picks. Luke was way more excited about going to see Grandma and Grandpa, and not interested at all at taking a picture with me, but because it is, in fact, my day, I made him do it anyway :) {And now I am off to clean the kitchen and then get a pedicure! And possibly organize a closet or two... I have been a bit obsessive about organizing and cleaning lately, so that really is a treat!}

This guy on the other hand, still loves his mama! 

I am so blessed for all the women in my life, my mom, who I am so grateful for, who shaped me into the woman I am today, for Carol Ann, because without her, there would be no Troy, and no Luke and Cole, for Thavone, who is a second mother to me and the boys, I am not sure what any of us would do without her, and to my dear girlfriends, who act as my sisters and give me lots of parenting and other advice, I am so thankful for you all!

Happy Mothers Day!

Mum Mummmm Good

It has definitely been established that this little monster guy loves to eat. He stares at the rest of us when we are eating as if we are submitting him to torture every time someone takes a bite. He only has two little teeth though, so it's a little hard for him to chew, and I am deathly afraid of him choking, but I have relented and gave him a Mum Mum. He loved it. He almost choked three times {don't worry, I was right there, and these Mum Mums really do just melt in his mouth} but he just loves them. And they make him so happy...  Here he is enjoying his very first one. 

mmm mmm good. 

1st Swim of the Season

It has been in the 80's and 90's lately, and although the water is still too chilly for any adult to {voluntairly} get in the water, the kids absolutely could not wait. Luke ask at least three times a week if we can go to Haley's...

he was totally cracking us up!

but, as usual, still refused to be in the group picture...  

but he was there... we are looking forward to a great swimming season at the Naegele pool! Thanks For the pictures Erin!

{Wyatt Claire, Clare, Addie, Mollie Kate, McKenzie, Kane, Austin, Asher & Margaret}

{Eight} Years

For our Eight year anniversary {did I really just write that?!}, Troy and I got to get away to the Hyatt Lost Pines. We really enjoyed it. It was so pretty and serene... and every day we were there we went on a really long hike. Here is a picture of the path we took. It reminded Troy and I that we have really just started on our road together, eight married, almost twelve together, and many more to go, I can't think of a better person to be on this journey with, I love you T-roy,

happy

{eight year}

anniversary

Comparisons

I think it's funny when people comment that Luke and Cole look nothing alike... I on the otherhand, beg to differ. Here are the boys, Luke on the left at 10 months, and Cole, at eight months.


You can definitely tell they are brothers!



Triceratops Bath Time

Luke has made a new habit of giving his buddy a bath everyday. Sometimes twice a day.

There we go, all clean. Time to dry him off and feed him some carrots, which are apparently Triceratops's favorites. Yum-my! 

{Eight} Months

Whoa Buddy, slow down will you?! It seems like time is flying, and I cannot believe in four short months you are going to be a year old. How on earth is that possible?! I know I say it all the time, but you are the happiest baby! Everyone comments on what an easy going and happy baby you are, and they are right. This month, I could not get a picture without that cute little hand in your mouth...

let's see... you sit up, roll over, you get up on all fours and go backwards, but no official crawling yet. You still just have your two bottom teeth, but it feels like you have some more coming in on the bottom, no top teeth yet! You are wearing anywhere from 9 to 12 month clothes, and a size 4 diaper. You babble all the time, and when you wake up {this past month you have moved to your crib and your own room, yay, happy dance for mom and dad here}, ahem, but when you wake up you are so happy, and you just talk and play with a few toys that we have in your crib. I love the way your little head "pops" up when we walk in the room. You absolutely love music. We leave it on when you sleep, and you bounce your little legs every time you hear it. You are such a blessing, and we love you so much!

Easter 2012

Here are the boys checking out their Easter goodies. We had a great morning of treats and egg hunting, and then it was off to church. Luke really enjoys holidays now. In fact, I have a feeling we will be egg hunting quite often now. I love these boys!

 Happy Easter 2012

Easter Loot

I just couldn't wait to see what the Easter Bunny brought the boys, so I stayed up extra late. I actually got to meet the real Easter Bunny {who said to call him EB!}, he is not as big in person as you might think. Guess it's all the hopping around he does... and his carrot diet. I wonder if he'll even like the bunny bait... Maybe I should just keep it for ourselves. Don't want to insult him or anything...

As usual, the boys scored.

Mr. E. Bunny... Are your ears burning?

Because we have been talking about you at our house! We made bunny bait just for your arrival. We also tasted it to make sure it is not poisonous. Then we tasted it again. And again. After verifying that no part of the bait is poisonous we set it out for you. We really saved your life Mr. E. Bunny if you think about it. You're welcome.

We also decided to dye some Easter eggs for you to hide.

Luke had so much fun!

Here is our finished product.

We wish you a safe journey tonight Mr. E. Bunny. We will be eagerly awaiting for you to hop on by.

Night Night Monkey

Luke is really thoughtful. And, Luke really loves his monkey. Most nights monkey goes to bed before Luke, because really, who else has the energy of a 3 year old?

Luke tucks monkey in every night, gives him milk and reads him a bedtime story.

The Hunt

Luke was not messing around this year when it came to hunting eggs. His mission was clear: Get as many eggs as possible before they all disappear to other hunter gatherers. Well done son. Mission Accomplished.

This next picture is nothing short of a true Easter miracle.

Yep. That's right. My children. On fuzzy animal creatures. Not crying.

Happy St. Patrick's Day {& 7 months}

Happy

{seven months}

Cole Hudson

...and happy Saint Patrick's Day too

I cannot believe you are already 7 months old! Time seems to be flying, and we are having so much fun. You are a really laid back baby who loves to sit up, laugh, and just be in the presence of his big brother. He just cannot get enough of Luke, and often just throw's his head back laughing at the smallest thing Luke does. It's really cute, and Troy and I grin from ear to ear every time it happens.

the thing you really don't like? Being left alone. If you get wrapped up in bouncing or playing with your toys we can slip out of the room, but the second you notice we are missing, all heck breaks loose, and you demand our attention. And you have already mastered the, "I am so over the pictures face." Yup. That's it.

We love you Cole Hudson!