Happy Halloween!

As we were making our trick or treating plans for the weekend, it came up that I don't recall many instances of trick or treating. The few I do, was of me sitting inside watching Megan and dad go around the neighborhood cause I had been sick, or else we went to church for a fall festival type of thing. Not that Halloween is a big deal, but Jack enjoyed getting dressed up, and lets face it...candy is good! :) It has become our tradition to to the Tillers to trick or treat and visit mom(grandma) there. This year we met up with Megan and Tessa, Lindsey and Adam, Kelly and Micah. In previous years, Bob Saxon has dressed up as a gorilla. This has left a lasting impact on Jack as he was talking last week about the scary gorilla. Thankfully the gorilla was a chicken this year. Cole loved this so much. He was reaching out his had to anyone who would give him candy, and tried so hard to eat it through the wrapper. Such a change from last year, when he cried through the whole thing. So that was our Friday.

Cole really wanted to get Micah



Saturday was trick or treat around Newark. We got ready and headed out around 4. It was a beautiful evening. Megan and Tessa came down to join us. We just went to the neighbors in coy park, but that was enough for us. Then we headed down to Great grandma and grandpa's house so they could see the costumes. The kids has a great time playing down there. Jack immediately goes for the tractors, Tessa to any table that she can stand on, and Cole just crawled wherever he could. That was Saturday.


Then Sunday our small group planned to get together and go around the Koss' neighborhood. Again, a fun time to get the kids together. Jack didn't nap that day, so he fell asleep on the way up there, and then was quite grumpy for the next hour. Cole did well at the beginning of the night, but after trick or treating, he went crazy!!! Chris had to take him to the car and try to calm him down. All the while Jack and I enjoyed yummy chilie, corn bread, and treats for dinner!! Enjoy the pics!

Lots of Appointments

Poor Cole! He has been just out of sorts the lately. For the past many months he has been having lots or problems pooing, and now he has just seemed to be in constant pain or something. We have been to the doctor many many times. He takes miralax in his bottles (which he has seemed to completely up this week ) He's had xrays, exams...you name it. Still screams and tried to pull out his hair when he goes to the bathroom. Well, we went to his pediatrician last week and she just can't figure it out, so we have been referred to a pediatric g.i. specialist. Amazingly enough we got an appt less than a week later, today!! Last week I also took him to the chiropractor several times. And I have to say, Cole is like a different child. He has had several blowouts, is actually eating and drinking again, and is content to play. He hasn't just played on the floor for quite awhile. Yesterday was so sweet, Cole and Jack were chasing each other around the kitchen and living room and Jack looked at me and said "Mommy, I'm chasing him and he's laughing at me!". Broke my heart, cause all Cole usually does when Jack tried to play is scream! I hope that Cole continues to get better, and be my happy smiley boy that I know and love.

Today is going to be crazy. We have chiro appt, then off to Megan's to babysit for a bit until we have to go to the g.i. specialist. Thankfully Chris is getting off work early to meet me there. I am hoping Cole will take good naps in between all our running around so he isn't too cranky at the dr's office.

On another note...we ahve been enjoying this beautiful fall weather. Jack has been in love with all the harvesting going on. This weekend the field behind our house was combined. Everytime the tractor came around Jack would jump up and freak out! My family room floor is covered in blankets that Jack farms. He combines, and loads the wagons...you name it, he does it.

Here's a few new pics of the boys. I will try to get some more up soon.

Jack is all about picking out his own clothes. Stripes and plaids....NICE!

When I Grow Up...

Jack told his Grandparents this weekend that, when he grows up he wants to be a Grandpa and have white hair just like Grandpa Wayne. Not a bad profession I think. Even with all the new technology out there the poor kid probably won't have much hair when he gets to be a Grandpa. Maybe that's why he doesn't want to be a Daddy...future is a little brighter looking at Grandpa (The glare off the white hair helps).

Quick Notes to Remember

Things I have meaning to write down, but have put and don't want to FORGET!

Cole's first top tooth came in right at 11 months
The top tooth next to it (not in the center) on Aug. 1
Other top center tooth came in 1 week before 1st birthday.

Yesterday he said cracker "cra-cra" and Megan "Mega"

Got his first bee sting today! :( So sad. I felt so awful for my little buddy. He was so terrified and in pain. His little thumb swelled up so much and the bee even left his stinger in this thumb that I had to take out.

Jack is thrilled to be going to preschool soon! It starts on Sept. 14! Can't believe how big he is. He is starting to notice letters everywhere and points out when he sees and A or H right now. Rhyme Time is all the time at our house too. Everything Jack says he finds a ryhme for it. (even if it is inappropriate!) Funny story, but not appropriate for the blog. :)

More to come....but just wanted to get those things down for now!

Happy 1st Birthday Colton!

WOW! The only word to describe our past year. One year ago at exactly this time, we were checking into the labor and delivery floor hoping that our baby boy would be born today. I was a week and a half early, but Cole was measuring large and Dr. Jones wanted to induce. Fine by me!!! After about 12 hours of labor we welcomed Colton Johnson Lacy into this world. He was so sweet and precious and still is to this day. Jack was happy to be a big brother, and is having a little more fun now that Cole is playing with him and trying to interact more. We brought Cole home from the hospital to my parents house, where we are currently residing and didn't know at the time how much we would appreciate the help. After about 3 weeks of being home Cole started screaming. I mean SCREAMING for hours at a time! This lasted about 5 weeks when I finally took him in to Dr. Natalie when my patience has run out. He was diagnosed with reflux and put on Zantac. It did help, not completely, but some. It wasn't until then that Cole actually happy moments and was awake at the same time. We still had bouts of screaming, but it was on the mend. Once we started him on cereal, which was about 4 months, he was a different child. I should have listened to all those grannies and started cereal at 3 weeks, perhaps those few months would have been a bit more enjoyable. Cole has been good sleeper. That was my saving grace..at night at least he slept!!!

And now here we are at one year! Curls trim his neck, eyes are getting darker by the day, and his toothy grin melts your heart. He loves to swing outside under the tree in the backyard. He loves to ride the John Deere with Grandpa or anyone who will take him. He loves to ride in his stroller and go for walks. He is speedy fast up the stairs now. Is trying to climb on just about anything. Hates getting his diaper changed. And LOVES his ba ba! Jack didn't like the bottle after about 10 months and preferred water in a sippy cup, so it's a little different still taking bottles with wherever we go. But I don't mind. He knows comfort! Nuzzles his little face into any minky blankie he can find. I finally bought a minky sheet for his bed (do they make them in king size??) :) Cole has a sweet personality. A little on the touchy side, but sweet nevertheless. He always wants to be involved in the action, and doesn't like when he is not included in snack time or fun! I want to remember that any time you need to cheer him up or occupy him for a little bit, all you have to do is put him on the bed (supervised of course) and he will bounce to no end! He gets up on the pillows and just goes to town!

We had Cole's birthday party on Saturday Aug. 21st while Grandma Joyce was in town. It was such fun party. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas and good friends joined us in the celebration. He had a baby Mickey Mouse party. On the table was picture of John, Bekah, and myself at 2 years old with our Micky Cakes and ears! I made his cake. That is a tradition I started with Jack and hope I can continue for a long time. I always remember picking out what kind of cake we wanted to make for our birthdays with mom, and hope Jack and Cole enjoy it as well. Cole could have cared less about opening presents. He just wanted to crawl around the yard, and climb on Jack's John Deere. Smash cake time was awesome! Cole loved digging into his cake and literally smashed it to pieces. Jack at 1 year wouldn't hardly touch his cake! It was such a fun day of celebration!

We love you Cole and are so blessed with a happy healthy perfect little boy!

Breaking Point

Last weekend was fun filled and ended with a big trip to the Zoo. Little did we know that getting to the Zoo would be a Zoo. With all of the flooding in Chicago, the heaviest concentration was right at the Brookfield location. 2.5 hours or so to drive to the zoo and find parking (the bulk spent on finding parking) due to road closings and parking lot closings.

Well, we got there and found great parking, for free, near the Zoo. Several hours spent inside and walking aorund, etc. On the way home Alissa and I were exhausted. Jack on the other hand was catching a second wind and going 100 miles an hour with questions and talking. After 12 solid hours away from home Al and I were quickly becoming grumpy parents. Asking jack to "PLEASE be quiet!" and other requests that were met with "NO! I won't be quiet!"

We were at our breaking point and close to losing it to be quite honest. Well we decide to give Jack his toy we bought at the Zoo whcih was a Giraffe head attached to a long stick with a handle that would make the Giraffe's mouth move and talk. He saw me using this toy throughout the day talking to people and animals and having fun with the toy (For teaching purposes only...really). So the moment before Alissa and I start yelling and becoming demanding parents Jack takes the Giraffe head (attached to an 18 inch stick) and plops it to the right of Alissa's face while she is trying to relax in the car.

She looks to her right, sees a Girrafe head and Jack pulls the trigger moving the mouth and says loudly, "Heh-Wo" (hello). Instead of losing it in anger we laughed so hard we cried until we got home. Jack, seeing that this pleased the crowd, maintained form and let the Giraffe eat Alissa's hair, mouth catchy phrases and put on an act for the tired crew up front.

I guess our breaking point was near the funny end and not the angry end. Jack - You are a funny kid. Thanks for the great weekend and very talented entertainment!

ROI

Another weekend gone by and my co-workers give me a hard time because I look exhausted on Monday's with puffy eyes. It is true. The weekends are non-stop fun for Alissa and I with the boys. We don't watch the kids, we invest in their lives. We are constantly at their level, i.e., on the floor, on the knees, in the swing set, on the baseball field, etc. You see, watching is something you do while doing something else. On the weekends its all about Jack and Cole. Gardening, Tractor..ing, Mowing, Playing, Fort..ing (building forts), Eating, Reading and any other "ing" you can think of.

There is a lot of excitement and energy in young kids. Everything is new to them. The tractor ride to come is more exciting than the previous one. Listening to the John Deere song never gets old, it gets better. It is in the times where I am busy doing something else, pulling weeds or whatever, and Jack says; "Good job Daddy" or "Good eye Daddy" do I realize that all of the time spent with him and investing in him and building him up is paying off.

Some investors like to play conservative and invest a little here and a little there in hopes of modest returns over a long period of time. When it comes to my kids I like to take a high risk mentality; Invest everything I have in them now with no reserves. I'll get to see the payoff now...and later.