Que Chulo Bebito!

I was going through my pictures on my phone again and realized that I had pictures from the hospital of Cole! He was such a little tyke. This was on our way home. And yes, we took the hospital blanket - but we got permission. It was so cold outside - whereas it was warm when we went into the hospital.

Grandma Solotes got him this cute, cute coat. We haven't had a lot of opportunities to wear it but this was in December when we had more cold days. He barely fits in it now. :-( We keep telling him to stop growing, that we're totally fine with him being this little forever, but he just doesn't listen to us.


And here he is chatting it up with Grandpa Rees.

Cole is really starting to grow up. He has always been a strong baby and could stand with a little help on the balancing part. Even though he hates being on his stomach, (Who could blame him since he throws up every time?) he has always had a strong neck and controlled his head very well. He does better laying on the boppy pillow for tummy time but he VERY quickly falls off since he loves to kick those legs. He is starting to sit up for a few seconds on his own. We're totally ready to get him a bumpo seat so he can sit up all the time since he loves it so much.

Everyone is always commenting on how alert he is and aware of everything around him. Yes, yes. We have the numero uno curioso bebe! In church he will watch people walk up to the pulpit, look at everyone in the pews, etc. Grandma and Grandpa Rees let him watch television last night because he was GLUED to it. They said when they would get him to turn away he would cry. Oh great!

He loves to be sung to and is SO close to belting out a laugh. For now he just kind of squeaks and opens his mouth really wide. He does it especially when you pull his arms up and then he'll push up into a stand. He thinks it's hillarious. He also loves it when we have him clap. Also, he still loves to reach for mom's face and touch it. He just thinks it's great! Music really has quite an effect on him. He falls asleep much faster if we have Pachabel's Canon or other soft music playing. His favorite songs right now are "Rocking in the TreeTops", "Wheels on the Bus" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" - in that order too!

He is doing pretty well at night though the past few nights he's been up every 3 hours instead of making it 5 or 6. However, the only way he will nap during the day is if Mom lays down with him. Sometimes I'm able to sneak away (like now) but usually he will wake up about 10-20 minutes after I leave. He absolutely WILL NOT sleep in the crib during the day. I try every day and every day I get a screaming baby. He still doesn't really know how to fall asleep without nursing or being rocked, but at least he likes the soft rocking now instead of all the shenanigans we used to have to do. He is even starting to fall asleep in the car! Of course, I'm loving these leaps forward for him.
I mostly love how is little personality is really starting to show. Even though he has had "extreme fussiness" as the books call it, he really has always been a happy baby. I know that sounds like an oximoron but it's true. When he wakes up from a good rest and after he smacks his lips and stretches and stretches and STRETCHES, he looks at you and gives the biggest GRIN ever. It totally melts my heart. He's starting to stop while he's nursing, turn his head, look at me - smile and then go back to eating. It's SO cute. How can you not love that?!