My precious baby boy is a true joy--worth every single minute of the wait! Cole has been an incredibly "easy" baby. Of course he has his needy moments, but compared to Sam's first weeks, having him around is a breeze. He eats well and sleeps well. Cole has a gentle disposition. He's so quiet, it's easy to forget he's in the room. I am being spoiled with all the snuggling I get to do. I better get it all in now before he starts squirming around like Sam. Funny how much bigger Sam seems to me now that I have a newborn to compare him with. Crazy how much children grow in a short amount of time.
It's hard to believe that Cole is already a month old. It's been a busy month for him...and for us. Here is a glimpse:
As a result of the H1N1 Flu, hospital regulations kept Sam from coming to visit us when Cole was born. The first time Sam met him was the day we came home. At first, he was dumb-founded. He didn't know what to think. After a couple of days, Sam just ignored Cole throughout the day. He eventually warmed up to the idea of having a little brother and now wants to know where he is when he wakes up and kiss him goodnight when he goes to bed. Jealousy definitely still raises its head from time to time.
Papa K and Khaki proud of their 6th grandchild.
Gigi was able to stay for another week after Cole arrived. We appreciated the help, and Sam especially enjoyed having her around to give him some much needed attention.
After my mom left, Pops stayed with us for a week.
Pops is already introducing Cole to sports, hunting, and fishing.
As you can tell, Sam loves his "Bops"!
When Cole was 2 1/2 weeks old, our family of four traveled back up to Wake Forest, NC for Scott's seminary graduation. We were able to stay with our friends Paul and Amy (Kai and Melia). It was a full house--full of kids, laughter, and fun! The weekend was refreshing, full of celebration and sweet fellowship with dear friends. I am so proud of Scott's diligence and discipline to finish strong, for i know that he has had to balance a full plate at the same time. I tried to plan a surprise birthday party while we were there too. My hubby is now THIRTY! It was so wonderful to see old friends--made me miss NC a bit. Thank you to all who helped make the party a success.
A little surprise Paul left in the bathroom for Scott...
If you look close enough, you'll get a good laugh!
Sam trying on Daddy's hat.
Cole wearing Daddy's hat too.
The proud parents and wife of the graduate.
This is Scott with our friend Steve and their mentor, Dr. Bob Jones.
"Surprise!"
Amy and Melia... two gracious hostesses!
Mr. Paul teaching Sam how to play with play-dough.
Best Buds. Sam misses seeing Kai more often.
I miss seeing Kai's mommy more often too.
Scott's parents traveled to NC to see Scott graduate, then followed us back to MB to celebrate an early Christmas with us.
Khaki and Sam baked some gingerbread men together. Sam tried to eat all the dough and was covered with flour when it was all said and done--that's part of the fun, though. Right?
We did not anticipate greeting the new year from Conway Medical Center. Cole was struggling to breathe New Year's Eve, so Scott and I took him to the ER. After lots of tests (blood test, urine analysis, x-ray, and spinal tap), we were admitted in the hospital. It was a scary experience seeing Cole so weak and watching his little body be poked and punctured all over the place. It was a sight no mommy ever wants to see. Cole was diagnosed as having RSV (a respiratory virus) and was given antibiotics, breathing treatments, and kept on oxygen for a couple of days. He was taken off oxygen early Saturday morning, and we were released to go home Sunday. We will be going back for a follow up appt. tomorrow to make sure we are 
