Caroline and Greg's wedding weekend-July 16th

So this past weekend was Cole's longest car ride, 4 1/2 hours. I have to say he did pretty good. Everyone at the wedding kept saying what a good baby he was, which he is, but let's put it this way...he was good when he needed to be good. Which we are glad for that too! but the poor little guy was so exhausted. His schedule was completely rocked and there was so much going on that he did not sleep well. His little eyes were so red and he just fought it so hard. On Saturday about 3 hour before the wedding he just wailed. I looked at Casey and said this can't be good. We just felt so sorry for him :( his pitiful little face, blood red and screaming at the top of his lungs. It took me about 10 long minutes to calm him down. I layed down in the bed with him and he slept for an hour and a half. When he woke up you could tell he was tired still, but at least he wasn't crying. You can tell from the pictures that we couldn't get him to smile. He was kind of in a daze, but he looked really cute! Cole also went swimming with daddy and his cousins on Saturday. This was his first time swimming with daddy. The wedding went off smoothly, it was an outdoors wedding, and started pouring about 10 mins after the wedding was over, but we were indoors for the reception. Saturday was also my parents 44th wedding anniversary! July 16th must be a good day to get married :)

swimming with Seth and Zane

Mommy and me

A little love from daddy

Daddy and I at the wedding

The Coggin men

Cole and his cousins

Uncle Lincoln and Aunt Pam

Aunt Tisha

Paw Paw Wilb

3 generations

Paw Paw Wilb

Uncle Ben

3 months already...

Cole talking to his new mobile :)

Can you believe it? Wow, this month has gone fast. Everyone always says that though, "they grow up way to fast". I think at first you are so sleep deprived everyday seems like ground hog day and you think it is never going to change, they are never going to sleep. Then you blink your eyes and they are 3 months old, smiling, cooing, and really becoming a little person :) This has been a HUGE month for Cole. He went from never sleeping to sleeping about 9 to 11 hour stretches at night!!!! He loves to watch things very intently. He is always taking everything around him in. I got him a mobile for his bed. He will just lay there and talk to it every night before he goes to sleep. It is the cutest thing. Every month is a new adventure, an adventure that we love :)

I am 3 months old!

Did I hear you right? 3 months?

What? Seriously? Is that right?

Oh guys, you are so funny.

Just hanging with my friends

4th of July on the river

Happy 4th of July!

We went to Alabama for the 4th of July. Cole's first time on the river.  He LOVED the boat, when it was moving. It was so hot when we would stop and the life jacket was so hot as well. The vibration of the boat and wind in his face was a hit for sure. Looking forward to more boat rides of the Elk River.

My first boat ride

On Sunday we went out on Jeff and Whitney's boat. We had all the babies with us too! It was so hot, but so much fun. Cole loved it. I think we wore him out. He slept for almost 12 hours that night :) Cole always loves hanging out with his girls :)

Carley is ready now

Jessi and Julia's first boat ride

Riding with daddy

We all loved the boat!

Jessi and Julia

Uncle Brad keeping me cool

This past week I took him swimming for the first time. He wasn't to sure of the pool water but it was a little cold. Once we got in he didn't seem to mind it to much. We went to my friend, Sandy's house. I use to work with Sandy. She is so sweet to have a day every week where she has an open invitation to swim at her house.

At the pool for the first time.

First Trip

Well, it was just to Alabama, but Cole did so good. We went June 17th-19th. It was so nice to have everyone all together. It had been way to long. Julie and Bert hosted there annual BBQ (Saturday, June 18th) and everyone showed up. It was Jeff and Whitney, Carrie, Zac and Aubrey (left early because poor Aubrey got sick), Adam and Shelley, Emily and Tyler, Shea and Todd, Elizabeth and Kevin, Shaviny and Stan, Regan and Dave, Amber and Morgan and then us of course! Cole was the guest of honor :) Everyone was so excited to see him. It was so good to see everyone as well. It is so funny to see everyone together with kids now!!
I guess we are growing up! hahahaha Here are the kiddos minus poor Aubrey.

We also transitioned Cole to his room/crib when we got back from Alabama. I had really been hoping to do it sooner, but his room is upstairs and our attic was messed up and leaking hot air so Casey had to fix it (which he is never in a hurry to fix anything :) so it took about a month for him to do. Oh well, it is done and Cole has moved in! Apparently he LOVES his bed too! The first night he slept in his bed he slept for 8 hours straight!!! I was not holding my breath that it would last, but it did, well it actually got better. The next night he slept for 10 hours! and that is what he has been doing now for the last week. He goes down around 8:15/30 pm and sleeps until 6:30 am. We cannot ask for better than that. Now we just hope he stays to this schedule.

He loves to smile these days. He is smiling all the time. He has the chunkiest little cheeks too. You can just eat him up with his cute little laugh and smile. We are having the best time with him.

2 Months

Can you believe it? Cole was 2 months old on Monday. We went to the doctor for his "well visit". Dr. Mishu said he looked "perfect", that is what she always says. She is really funny. Cole was 14lbs 10oz. and 24 1/2 inches long. His weight put him in the 95% and his height put him in the 90%. He is a funny little boy. He has started smiling and cooing now. It is so fun to see him "talking" and smiling at you. His sleep has definitely improved. He has not stuck with the 7 hours. He is a more consistent 5 hour sleeper, which I will take over what he was doing for sure (barely 3 hours). This has been a busy week. I went back to work for a few days this week while my mom watched Cole, Casey is in a training all week in Bell Buckle, TN (about an hour a way), and Casey and I had our 8 year anniversary on June 14th. It has been good though. Going back to work the first day was good. It was really good to see my co-workers. It seemed like forever since I had seen everyone. I am just working 6 days this month doing professional development. I can make a little extra money, plus it is good practice for being gone all day and seeing how that is going to work in August. We are going to Alabama this weekend to see "the gang". Julie is having her annual summer BBQ to get everyone together. We are really looking forward to it. This will be our first time back to Alabama since having Cole, well since the beginning of March at the shower. It will be good to see everyone. I am curious to see how it goes...the car ride, spending the night away from home, and just having a different schedule. I will have to post and let you know. Here are a few pictures from the last month.

Bath Time

Cole and Mommy

Watching the NBA championship with daddy

My Hog gear

Playing with daddy after work

Smiling! Look at those cheeks!

Add Dr.'s  office for 2 month well visit

Hanging out with Bella

I am 2 months!

Sleep!?!?!

Cole slept for 7 straight hours last night. Whoo Hoo! I was not sure that was going to happen. I thought I had him on some what of a schedule, but apparently it was not strict enough for him. Then I figured he just liked to eat more than sleep. I questioned everything! Apparently that is what you do as a parent, right? Question everything you do and wonder if it is the right thing? When we first came home I was feeding every 3 hours, then she (Dr.) told me he could and should go longer. So I was letting him tell me throughout the day when he was hungry, which would be from 2 1/2 to 4 hours usually. He did not nap hardly, just cat naps. He never napped longer than 30 mins. I wondered how do people get anything accomplished? or have any type of life with a newborn? I was reading books and they said that newborns will sleep around 16-20 hours a day. I thought "who's? not mine". So I started keeping up with his sleep and he was only sleeping about 8 hrs total ALL day (broken up). I thought what happened to newborns sleeping 16-20 hours a day? I kept saying well at least he isn't screaming his head off all night. Well, then that started! I write all this to say I think I was depriving my child of sleep! He needed consistency and a schedule. He needed that reassuring that his needs were going to be met I guess. I had a friend remind me about baby wise. I have heard pros and cons and I wasn't sure about the whole letting him cry forever, especially since he is so young. The first day I did it I was scared he was going to cry and scream and I didn't know how long I could let him to that, but he didn't. He went right down and fell asleep. I also was not sure how long he should or would nap? What was realistic for my cat napper? So I just followed his cues. The first day of the schedule he woke up, I fed him and he had only been awake for about 25-30 mins after I fed him and he started yawning. I thought "already?" Do I need to lay him down for his first nap? was that enough "waketime"? So I did. I told myself I was going to be consistent; nap in his bed with a fan on and wrapping him in the same blanket. It worked!! His first nap he fell right asleep and slept for 2 1/2 hrs. The rest of the day went as smooth. Then I was worried he was not going to sleep at all that night, but he did! The first night he slept 4 hrs straight, night two was 5 hrs and night three was 7 hours!! Crossing my fingers he continues :)
The schedule is the whole theory of making sure he knows days and nights and knows that he is going to get fed. You as the mom decide his schedule (somewhat I say-I mean I was following his cues). 
So far his naps get a little shorter throughout the day. His waketime is usually at least 30 mins and like I said I watch him. If he starts yawning I go ahead and put him down. That is how I figured out how long of a nap he needed. This has been his schedule and nap lengths...I have even had to wake him up to feed him during the day. I thought "how mean to wake a sleeping baby?" but apparently Cole needs to get full during the day in order to sleep at night. He needs to know that his momma is going to feed him and not let her baby go hungry! hehehehe...Well, it is working for us so we will continue to do it. The book worked great for us. I would recommend anyone to try it. So far as a mom I have realized that you (being a mom), need to do what you need to do to be the best mommy to your child and that is going to look different for different people/babies. So whatever works for you and your baby-good for you! This is what is working for Cole and I...
7 am-ish:First nap is usually 2 hrs
10 am-ish:Second nap is 1 1/2 hrs
1 pm-ish:Third nap is 1 1/2 hrs
4 pm-ish:Fourth nap is 45 mins
7 pm-ish:Fifth nap is 30 mins
10 pm: Feed and Lay straight down for bed
Here is a picture of his scratched face-sad. I do cut his nails, but I swear they grow over-night.  Made me feel like a bad mommy already.

1 month old!

Hard to believe! Cole has been with us for a month. We have all survived! hehehe... He is just great! We are loving every minute of him. He is so funny with his noises and facial expressions. This was a big month. Cole met Paw Paw Wilb from Arkansas, we had Easter, and Mother's day. He is getting so big and loves to eat!! more than sleep for sure :) At his last appointment, 2 week 5 day, he was 9lbs 12 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. I have not measured him but I weight myself, then held Cole. It was 12 lbs exactly. Not sure how accurate that is, but I know he is getting bigger. Dr. Mishu said he would be about 5 lbs heavier or more at next appointment (his 2 month on June 13). Looks like he is on track. Right now I am still trying to figure out how to do much of anything. We are just taking it day by day right now. I cannot imagine if I had to go back to work at 6 weeks. I am so lucky that I have 4 months to figure it out before going back to work in August. Hopefully things will get a little easier or at least I will feel better with it and we can make more trips out to see people and maybe even try church! New adventures to come for sure.