Christmas 2010

What a fantastic Christmas we had this year. We celebrated Christmas a week early with my family which meant that we were able to be home for the actual holiday. It was really nice not to spend the holiday travelling and to still get to celebrate the season with relatives. My mom joined us as our house for Christmas morning. I don't think the kids ever got out of their pajamas. We were able to get Carter a Wii this year, which was his big wish. It was much fun watching Carter, Jeff, and my mom bowl, play tennis, and steer in Mario Cart. I even got in on the action. Cooper enjoyed his first Christmas. His eyes lit up with each new box and tissue paper sheet he recieved. Aubrey got a new tug which meant that she was even in the Christmas spirit for the weekend. We have had an exciting 2010 with the birth of Cooper and Carter starting 4K. We hope 2011 brings just as much joy to everyone!

Spagetti Night

Wisconsin Dells Vacation 2010

Every year for our anniversary, Jeff and I try to treat ourselves by taking a mini vacation. This year we took the family to the Wisconsin Dells for a couple of nights and really had a great time. It wasn't a super fast paced trip. I had a few fun activities planned along with some relaxing at the Resort Water Park. First, we went to to the mining company and let Carter pan for gemstones. It was very interactive, educational, and most of all fun, fun, fun. Carter had a blast and didn't want to leave. He found several different kinds of gems consisting of a ruby, garnets, emeralds, and many more. He was thrilled that he got to take the stones home. Next, we had our old time picture taken at Old Abe's photography in downtown dells. Both Jeff and my parents had their old time photos taken, so we thought we ought to have our own. Even Cooper was dressed in Cival war time formal attire and looked super cute in a cowboy hat and holding a little gun. Carter got the biggest kick out of seeing his parents play dress up. Then, we headed off to explore at the Tommy Bartlett Exploratory. This was a really cool place filled with lots of cool science interactive displays however, we really didn't get to stay long. As you enter the exploratory, they make you pass through tunnels of darkness and Carter really had a hard time with this. He was shivering with fear and tearing up, so we practically ran through the entire building. Good thing tickets came free with our Resort stay otherwise we would have been out a good chunk of change for nothing. In order to perk Carter back up, we headed out to Knuckleheads amusement park where we enjoyed a free game of bowling, Carter rode a race car alone for the first time, and Jeff and Carter rode a train roller coaster. Lots of fun. Our day ended with a trip down to the water park.

Saturday, we took our first Wisconsin Duck tour. Can't say enough about the tour. We all really enjoyed it. However, I will say people told us that it was very tame and I am not sure if it was just our driver or what, but he drove like a maniac. Fun, but a little scary. The scenery was gorgeous with 80 degree weather.

The next day we did all water park. Cooper even got some time in the water and loved to splash his mom. Hopefully, we will get the opportunity to do this trip again and again. What fun!

Carter's 4th Birthday

Oh the Joys of Two Boys

Carter is now playing T-ball and is having a blast. He relishes in the opportunity to kick dirt and is really trying hard to learn to throw the ball with the opposite arm that he steps with. His team is the Blue Jay team and he just loves being part of a team. My little social butterfly :) Recently, he was able to go with the team and Jeff to watch a Brewers game. After the game, they were given the opportunity to run the bases at Miller Park. Carter was beside himself.

Cooper is doing well, growing like a weed. He is close to being able to sit by himself now and thinks his brother is histarical. If he is upset, Carter is able to calm him like no other. I struggle with balancing both boys one who is still napping and the other who won't slow down for a second. Oh the joys of two boys!

Spring Fever

I know it has been a while since my last post so I will do my best here to summarize the new happenings
* Carter started playing soccer this Spring and will begin T-ball next month.
* Cooper is almost 4 months old and weighs 14lbs now.
* Cooper has started physical therapy to stretch his neck and back muscles. The Dr. thinks the tightness is most likely from the way he was lying in utero.
* Carter will graduate from 3K in June. He knows his alphabet, can count to 30, his colors, and can write his name.
* We put up a new wooden play set for the boys and Carter is loving the tire swing the most.
* Things are starting to look up for Jeff's company...they announced there may actually be raises this year.
* Jeff has been experimenting with smoking meats...and surprise, surprise, loves it.. I am encouraging him to work on other hobbies we already have money invested in first before buying a new smoker grill :)
* As for me, sad to say but I really have no news to report...just a mom trying to make sure the household runs as smooth as possible. So I won't bore ya.

Cooper's Coos

Cooper 5 Weeks Old

Cooper is growing so fast. In fact, he has officially grown out of his newborn clothes. I was cramming him into them for the past week I think mainly because I didn't want it to be true. Fighting back the tears, I decided it was time to move onto the next size. On a similar note, while Cooper is growing with leaps and bounds, Carter continues to look more grown up every day. I swear when I get him up some mornings I think he has grown over the night. Not too surprised though as it seems as if he is constantly hungry and eating all day long. Never seems to gain any weight though. He's got until the end of the year to gain another 8 pounds so that he can move into a booster seat and pass on his car seat to Cooper. Since he tends to eat and never gain, I am pretty doubtful. But hey, a mom can wish can't she?

After our visit to the Children's hospital with Carter last week, we have learned that he suffers from Migraine headaches and posibly has Cyclic Vommitting Syndrome. We are thinking this last migraine that sent us to the hospital, while painful for Carter, is a blessing because we are finally on track to getting his health under control after seeing the Dr. at Children's. Now we will likely be able to skip all of the allergy testing the pediatrician was thinking we would have to do. I feel better knowing what to do when he experiences symptoms now and how to prevent them. So we are definitely on the right track there. Below are a few new pictures of the boys.

Home with the Boys

Carter and Cooper

Carter is loving having a baby brother. He really enjoys helping change his diapers and giving him a bath. We have been pleasantly surprised that Carter doesn't seem to wake to Cooper fussing at night. Cooper is a pleasant baby. He couldn't be more different then his brother was as a baby but he is a joy. Where Carter on a whole was a pretty quiet baby and loved his pacifier, Cooper on the other hand lets you know if he doesn't like something. He doesn't much care for the pacifier and really doesn't enjoy being swaddled tightly. We love that we never have to guess if he is happy or not because he is certainly an open book. In terms of looks, both boys look much like their daddy. Cooper, at least right now, has dark hair and grey/blue eyes while Carter has blond hair brown eyes. Cooper is already benefitting from Carter paving his way so to speak. This time around, Jeff and I find ourselves much more at ease and relaxed with having a new baby in the house. We are finding ourselves enjoying even the not always so fun moments of parenthood. I think we realize just how fast they grow and know that in the blink of an eye a new stage will begin. I still can't believe I have two boys.....oh my!

It's a Boy!

Cooper Alexander Lator was born January 8th at 9:03AM. He was 6lbs 3oz at birth and 19in. long.