If you would have told me four years ago, on the day Cole was born- in that first moment I looked into his eyes- that I would love him more every single day that passed I probably would have told you you were crazy. I thought there could be no greater love than the day I met my son who I had dreamed about for so long. I would have bet anything that it had to be the best day of my whole life. Don't get me wrong, I will never forget how it changed me inside, or how much finally seeing his sweet face made everything in the world seem okay. But I can't honestly say it was the best day of my life because that would mean that all the time in between then and now has failed in comparison. Sure that first time we stared into each others eyes, mine full of tears and his overwhelmingly calm, was life-altering. I will never forget the way his little nose was smooshed and how he was sucking his fingers, or how the bruises on his face from delivery gave me a pain in my heart that I had never before experienced. He looked at me like he had known me forever. It was awesome. But then what about the first time he looked right at me and he smiled for the first time, or the first time I heard "MaMa"? Or what about that first chuckle, or the pride in his face when he took his first steps and then only weeks later beamed with that same pride when he laid eyes on his baby brother. Maybe THAT was the best day of my life... All I know is that Cole has, in so many ways, made me happy. He has always known just what to say to make me smile, or the exact moment to give me a hug when I'm feeling down. His simple acts of kindness blow me away. An example that I want to always remember is regarding a little girl that just moved here from Mexico and joined his preschool class. The teachers sent out an email prior to her first day, letting us know that a new little girl would be joining the class and that she did not speak English so it would be a big transition for her and for the class. Cole came home one day and told me all about Ericka and that she would be in his class soon. The teachers did an amazing job explaining to the kids that she didn't speak english and would probably be really shy. In true Cole fashion, he told me he was going to be her friend because he didn't want her to be sad and miss her mommy too much while she was at school. Since Ericka joined his class, Cole gives me an unprompted update on how she is adjusting. My heart overflows to hear him tell me that he really likes her and that she isn't as shy anymore because he and the other kids are really nice to her. He told me one day that even though she can't talk to him, he thinks she's really nice. It makes me cry just thinking about it again! I am so thankful for this life lesson he is learning about children who are different than he is and accepting them and being kind. Although I guess one could argue that it's grown ups that need these life lessons because children are much more accepting of people. He told me the other day that he was so happy because Ericka can now "say some things that aren't in Spanish." It made me as happy to hear that as when he says to me: "Mommy you look like a princess" or "Mommy I love you so much I could kiss you all the way to the moon".... ok, well maybe not
as much, but definitely
almost as much :) Cole loves to snuggle, and I sure love it too! He makes friends easily and gets really excited to hang out with them every chance he gets. Maybe I can't pinpoint the best day of my life, but I
can with absolute certainty say that every single day that even comes close to qualifying, Cole has been right there with me.
A snapshot of Cole right now..
-tall, all of a sudden, but TALL (can't wait to see how much he's grown in the last year when we go for his check up. I think his days of being 50th percentile for height are long gone)
- dirty blonde hair with big brown eyes
-favorite foods: fruit (especially watermelon and grapes), cereal (cheerios and raisin bran are top faves), pizza, tomato, cucumber, yogurt-- he's not a picky eater, thankfully!
-really starting to enjoy sports- he is in his second season of T-ball
-still in to puzzles and starting to really like board games and cards
-cars, trucks, work machines, trains, dinos-- all still super cool :)
-Favorite TV show right now is Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and favorite movies are: The Incredibles, Fox and the Hound, Lion King, and Cars
For his 4th birthday, he had school in the morning and was made to feel like a king! He asked me to make him baseball cupcakes to take and share with his friends, so of course baseball cupcakes he got (even if I was up until after midnight finishing them!) Gram, Suzi, Kellen, Cole and I went to see The Lion King 3D that afternoon and then had a couple neighbor friends over for pizza and cupcakes, which Justin made it home in time for. He is such a lucky little boy to be loved by so many people, and to have such great kids so close by to grow up with. He had many birthday phone calls on his big day, and felt super important I must say for the phone to be for him and him only :) Before bed, our new routine (thanks to one of my good friends, Michele) is to share with each other our favorite and least favorite parts of the day. The night of his birthday Cole said his favorite part of the day was "hanging out with you guys." I couldn't have agreed with him more :) I love you little buddy, and thank you so much for making me so proud of the little boy you are growing up to be.
The morning of his birthday, rocking his super hero jammies :) I think Superman is going to be cool forever.
Getting ready to blow out his candle on his baseball cupcake
Haley Kay and Kellen
Coy and Carter somewhere behind that mess of a table!
YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE MOMMY KISSES ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!
Where have the last 4 years gone?
