Happy Birthday Colter Boy

OCTOBER 5th 2012

This has been the most fulfilling, life changing {in a good way} exhausting, best year of our lives. Colter has been the sweetest baby boy since the day he was born. His curiosity, excitement, and love of life makes me smile and my heart skip a beat. We could sit and watch him all day long..... and sometimes we do. He brings pure joy into everyone. He truly is the light of our lives. His bright blue eyes and big cheesy smile melts my heart. We are so blessed to have him and I feel so fortunate to be his mom. We love him to the moon and back.

+     At the first of October he was taking a few steps {we would get so excited with each one} he didn't seem that into walking, he would always want a hand to hold but he got better and more confident each day and by the end of the month he was full on walking.... everywhere.

+     He is a stair master. He goes up and slides down on his tummy.... super fast. over and over.

+     kisses kisses kisses. Colter is the sweetest little boy and he gives the best kisses. He also blows kisses and makes the sound. He likes to blow kisses and then put his hand on your lips and he will wait for you to kiss his hand back.

+     He is finally sleeping through the night HALLELUJAH!! Around 8-8. He is still taking at least two naps every once in awhile we sneak in a third nap. He goes right down, all he needs is his little bunny and sometimes a bink. 

+     Colter has 6 teeth. 4 on top and 2 on the bottom. I keep thinking he is going to break a few more. Every time he is a little fussy or if he has a little runny nose, I blame teething.

+     His Favorite foods as of right now: cottage cheese, string cheese, grapes, turkey or chicken. He will pretty much eat anything that we are eating. He HATES milk. we have been trying to switch him over but no luck. He spits it out and wipes his tongue. So yes I still nurse and we are trying to get down to just morning and nights.

+     He loves music and loves to dance

+     He loves toothbrushes, remotes and phones  

+     He wears some 6-12 tops but changing over to 12-18. {I didn't want to buy winter clothes in the smaller size so hopefully he grows into 12-18} and still 3-6 bottoms. I did get him some 6-12 pants, they fall down so we have to tie them up, and by the end of the night its hard to keep them up.

+    still in size three diapers

+    Colter plays and entertains himself quite well he loves cars of any kind, and balls, and lint rollers {its like a sword and he makes shoo shoo sounds} he walks around until he runs into someone and then he wants "UP"

+     He lets you know when he wants something...he stretches his arms out straight, stiffens and shakes them and says eeeeeeee.

 Birthday Breakfast at Snooze 

{they even put one candle in the pancakes}

He LOVED his ice cream cake. 

He got right in there, and even shared some.

The Start of Colters First Birthday.... Week

We started Birthday WEEK on September 29th with a Birthday Brunch in Salt Lake with family and friends. It was so fun to see everyone and we are very grateful for all of them and their amazing friendships.
Colter wanted nothing to do with the cupcake, or the waffles with strawberries and cream and divine buttermilk syrup..... all he wanted was BACON.
 what Birthday Boy wants Birthday Boy gets!! 

These two cousins are so dang cute together....love that they are so close in age

Woodburys 

Terrys

Buies

Schappers

Colter wasn't too sure about opening the presents.

 Good thing for Soph and Ollie they showed him how it's done.

Colter LOVES cars and trucks in all shapes and sizes

First Birthday Brunch was a success. (we saved half of his toys for christmas) This little guy doesn't need much to make him happy. Cars, Food, Friends and Family...especially his dad. 

Happy Birthday little Colter Boy.... now off to DENVER. 

SEPTEMBER

Onto another month of fun, traveling, and craziness.

End of August we flew into Salt Lake to spend a little time with Family {L only got 1 1/2 days} before Landon drove 12+ hours to San Francisco to start another month long rotation at

  Kaiser San Francisco.

Colter and I were lucky enough to stay in Salt Lake for a few more days{sept 1-7} before we headed down to St. George. 

We were there for a week, went to Lake Powell for a few days {sept 13-16} we had to get in one last trip of the season then back to St. George for a week. 

Colter and I flew to San Francisco {sept 21-27} to spend the last week with Landon. Mike and Kinney-and their 5 kids- so kindly let us stay with them {L stayed with them all month} they are an amazing family. It was a month full of F'real milkshakes and pool.

Then once again the 4 hour drive to Reno {late sept 27} to stay/see my Aunt Bobby and Uncle Blair then the 8 hour drive to Salt Lake {sept 28} that is one long car ride and I think Colter did better than I did. best baby ever!!

We had an early Birthday Brunch on Saturday the 29th with family and friends for Colters First Birthday then on sunday the 30th we drove 8+ hours to Denver for another month long rotation.

Colter has grown, and explored, and discovered, and mastered new tricks. its crazy how much development and progression happens in a month. He still loves to eat and loves cars. He is an amazingly good sport. He is so much fun to be with all day long. EVERYONE loves him!!

Everyone asks "how do you do all that traveling and bouncing around with a baby and a lot of times by yourself?" .... you do what you got to do. when you don't have another choice you just do it... with a smile (most of the time) I am so grateful for our families and all their help and support, they have made this possible...thank you all.

This is when the fascination with cars started.... and different sound effect with each one. I love how boys are born with the ability to make amazing sounds.

Lake Powell

Colter love cottage cheese

.... and the water

Colter has discovered "independent eating" he wants to do it himself. He loves Bananas, Pears, Corn on the Cob, String Cheese, Grapes, ..... really anything he can stick in his mouth. 

 Walnut Creek, CA

 Colter LOVES toothbrushes he carries them around everywhere. He prefers one in each hand. 

{mike and kinney}

Hours and Hours spent in this car seat and in the Car..... Colter did so well and has made all this traveling..... kind of a fun experience (did i really just say that) He is a Rock Star Baby.

Early Birthday Brunch