If there is one thing that I have learned about Cole this summer it is that he loves to swim!!! I know he has loved it the past few summers too but this summer it is the only thing that he wants to do. Whenever I ask him what we should do that day he immediately says "Swim!" He has gotten a lot more confident in the water as well. He insists on wearing his life jacket so that he can swim "alone." Last week when we were swimming at my friend, Kellie's, he even hopped off of the diving board into my friend, Marla's, arms. He can blow bubbles in the water and does not mind putting his face in the water. Cole laughs and laughs the whole time we are swimming and hates to leave. It is so much fun to see him enjoy this so much...especially when it is over 90 degrees and I am pregnant. Swimming is the only thing I feel like doing too. It will be fun to spend so much time in the water this year and luckily we have a few friends who are nice enough to share their pools with us. Maybe one day we will have one of our own....one day!
There is nothing better on a hot summer day than a sandbox, a baby pool and a Popsicle!
As you know Cole loves trains! I mean, loves them! One thing we have been wanting to get for Cole for a long time is a train set but we did not have the room for one in our old house. When we decided to move we also decided that we would have Santa bring a train set to Cole this year. Well, we were all shocked when my parents asked us if they could get Cole a train set to help celebrate the new home (and give him a great play space all his own when Lily Kate gets here). The night we moved in my parents took Cole to the mall for dinner (he loves the Japanese restaurant there) and Rhonald and I stayed behind to set up the train set. We were on pins and needles waiting for him to get home. We went ahead and gave him a bath and got him ready for bed and then told him to go look in his play room. His reaction did not disappoint! He screamed when he saw the table and train set and then asked over and over "Is this mine? Is this for me?" He went right to work playing and reorganizing his new things. It was torture to get him to bed that night but we made it. I think he has played with the train every second of every day that we have been in the house. The only time we can get him away from it is when we go outside to play. We are so thankful for such a generous gift. I think we have all enjoyed playing with it and watching Cole enjoy it so much!
Pardon me for not being around....things have been crazy around here to say the least! Last Monday we said good bye to our first house...the house we spent 5 years in and brought Cole home to, the house we made so many memories in....and said a big "hello" to our new home! Although leaving our old home was hard we are so excited to be here. I have not had my camera with me very much lately so I don't have any new pictures of our new home but I will share them soon. Rhonald was not able to take any time off for the move so my parents were nice enough to come here for a week to help us get settled. After a week of unpacking, painting, picture hanging and a million odd jobs we are almost settled. We are thrilled to call this place home and to make new memories here. I promise to share pictures very soon!
When Rhonald's parents came to see us this weekend they brought with them a castle! It has been a big hit with Cole. Last night he made Rhonald crawl in it with him and build things with his blocks and play hide and seek. He pretends to go camping in his "tent" (which is really funny since we have never really talked to him about camping). He likes to have snacks and read books in his castle. It is so cute to watch him go into his own little world. This castle came at the perfect time as he is really developing his imagination and enjoys pretend play so much. I think, if we let him, he would stay in his castle for hours!
