weekend pics

here's some more pics from the weekend- and Riley's first experience on the slide!

Family Time

Steve and Neika



Andy and Candice



Some of the men in the "fam"



Andy with Cole



Chance...

Andy and Candice flew in for a visit with the "fam" over the weekend and are leaving tomorrow to go back home to Maryland. Although we don't see them often enough, we have enjoyed the time with them while they are here. Nothing big was planned- i have more pics but I haven't yet figured out how to add more than 5 at a time...

Like sister, like brother

Cole Matthew- 2 days



Riley Grace- 2 days


well, it just so happens that I have two almost identical pics of the kiddos- it is eerie how similar these two look alike and seem to sleep alike also. Of course, they both look like their daddy- I think the only thing they got from me was my mouth. What is even scarier is how similar they look to Brian's infant photos ( I'll try to get some posted). Usually it goes something like this: girls look like their daddies, boys look like their mommies. Not in our case. These 2 kids definitely got the Peterson genes- good thing daddy is such a handsome guy!

We have a running joke in this house that the kids just used me for my uterus. Brian's brother, Andy, said at one point, " If we never saw you pregnant, we would wonder who their mother is!" They are living proof that he is right. However, on a sidenote, I am proud to say that they did get something(s) from me, which are my mannerisms- stubborness excluded. That is a Peterson trait all the way. ( I am stubborn, but Brian has me beat).

Everyone here is doing well- Cole is sleeping 4 hours at night, which is AWESOME, because I get up once with him around 2 or 2:30 and then go back to bed. Brian feeds him again before he leaves for work so I can sleeo in until Riley wakes up around 8-8:30.

We went to the dr. today...he is already 7 lbs, 1 oz- all because, I'm sure, he is a very good eater. He has gained 1/2 a lb. since we came home just 9 days ago. Riley is the "mother hen" of sorts- always trying to help out and love on her little brother. No jealousy issues yet...she doesn't always listen to me, but I can deal with that.

A sweet moment

Have you ever unsuspectingly observed a moment where your husband was having a moment with your kid? What I mean is that I have to brag on Brian...last night was his bath night...we trade nights with Riley. I stayed downstairs with Cole and when I thought he was getting close to the end, Cole and I made our way upstairs. As I get half way up the stairs, I hear Brian having one of these so-called "moments." I can hear Riley splashing in the tub and Brian is trying to teach her how to "roar" into the cup that we keep in the tub. You know the sound, when you make a noise into the cup, it sounds like a roar and tends to make an echo-like sound.

I'm standing on the staircase, baby in arms, trying to be so quiet so I can observe this moment, while not laughing because this is so sweet. I couldn't see this happening, but this is what I heard:

Brian: " Roo, you have to take the cup and put it up to your mouth and do this..( he continues to make the "roar" by demonstrating for her." I hear his voice in the cup make a lion like sound.

( her nickname is Roo Roo- our friend Maranda called her that once, and it stuck. So now we call her Roo, Roo Bug, Stinker Roo...)

She laughs at his attempt and I'm sure he's trying to get her to copy him. I can just picture this happening as I'm trying not to laugh and disturb the "moment." It was so sweet.

He really takes the time to try and teach her new things like how to roar into a cup. He is teaching her how to dress herself, has taught her her left anf right arms so that when she puts her pj's on, when he says, " ok, now your left arm" she gets it right. I know she's almost 2 and this is the age they really start learning a lot, but he is REALLY good with her and I just had to brag! What a good daddy.

A true comparison

If you have ever wondered how small a 6 lb, 7 oz. baby is ( that was his weight when we left the hospital), well...see above. When friends came to visit in the hospital, most said, " oh! he's just like holding a football!" or " I could do the Heisman hold on him!." Cole is pretty small- even though he is a great eater and wears preemie clothes, even though he's not one.

some more baby pics

Cole Matthew Peterson!!

Riley and daddy waiting on his arrival...
Proud daddy!

Cole was born on Friday, July 11th, at 1:22 PM!! He weighed 6 lbs, 11 oz. and was 19 inches long! We are absolutely thrilled and in love with this little man...these are just a few of the MANY pics from the weekend. We just got home today and everyone is doing great! More pics to follow...

baby update...

well, I am obviously still here! Went to see the doc and I was still at 3 cm (now you can really imagine my frustration). In a nutshell, I think she knew I was disappointed and so I asked her if stripping membranes worked- she says, " yes, usually within 24 hours." Not a guarantee, but hopefully. I said, " DO IT!" So now I am "membrane free" or whatever you call it. Any of ya'll have experience with this and it worked? Let me hear from you!

She called the hospital to see about setting an appt to be induced- only to find out that they are so crowded over there that she delivered a baby in triage this morning and the earliest available appt to be induced is next Thursday, my due date! AGHH!

So we plan to walk around the block AGAIN tonight and see what happens...

In just a few words....

Thank you Ashley for the challenge of doing this in one word....although to answer fully, I cheated just a little. Great idea though!

1.Where is your cell phone? couch
2. Your significant other? amazing
3. Your hair? brown
4. Your mother? Delicia
5. Your father? Frank
6. Your favorite thing? travel
7. Your dream last night? water breaking...
8. Your favorite drink? DP
9. Your dream/goal? seeing the world
10. The room you're in? kitchen
11. Your hobby? blogging
12. Your fear? dying too soon (as in not being here for my kids)
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? still in Texas
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? skinny (right now)
16. Muffins? Cinnamon
17. One of your wish list items? silk drapes
18. Where you grew up? Katy
19. What are you wearing? wife beater
20. Your pets? Sadie
21. Your computer? FAST
22. Your life? blessed
23. Your mood? anxious
24. Missing someone? nope
25. Your car? Envoy
26. Something you're not wearing? makeup
27. Favorite store? Pottery Barn
28. Your summer? eventful
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? thinking about Cole's arrival!

Too cute not to share...

This was the first look I got....

warming up to the camera....

FINALLY! She smiles and decides to ham it up!

Then after she had enough of the ribbon tied around her head, she made a complete mess of herself eating dinner. What is it with kids and spaghetti? I even gave her a "big girl" fork a.k.a. one of ours, and she still opted for the fingers. Oh well, at least she's washable ( and she kept a bib on- which she NEVER does).

baby news

well, there is NONE. Cole is still hanging on...no progress since 36 weeks- exactly the same, to my frustration. But! I guess he figures he has to deal with us the rest of his life, so he's going to wait a bit longer. If only he knew how cool his parents and big sister were... :>)

I did get an ultrasound at 38 weeks ( last Thursday) and the stinker was estimated to be 7 lbs, 1 oz. already, which is a full half pound bigger than Riley who was 6 lbs. 9 oz. at 39 weeks, when she was born on Labor Day. Couldn't hardle see anything cause he is so scrunched, but the one thing that did show was the boy parts. Dad would have been proud. I am praying that he's not an 8 pounder...Brian REALLY wanted a July 4th baby, but obviously that didn't happen. So as the days pass by, we try to wait patiently. Going to the doc again Thursday...

Until then,
Anxiously awaiting...

The Cozy Coupe

Well...not a whole lot has been going on the last week and a half...Riley discovered a new favorite toy- the Cozy Coupe! Did you happen to know that this is the best selling car in America? I say that in all seriousness too. This one isn't ours- we actually were "test driving" it from a couple friends who went on vacation. I wanted to see if it was worth it before I went and got one for her of her own. Everytime we are outside, this is all she plays with. In and out, in and out- waving and saying "hi", then "bye" I guess there is a reason that this is soo popular among the littlest drivers. Needless to say, she enjoyed it so much that we bought her her very own- with a small upgrade. Toys R Us didn't have the regular Cozy Coupe seen here- they only had the fire truck Cozy Coupe, complete with sirens and a walkie talkie. We know we hit the jackpot on this toy- so if you don't have one, get one!!