The boy is 2 1/4 now. Hahaha. I know that's silly, but the difference between 3 months can really be a lot! Coen is a fun little boy. So incredibly curious, and eager to ask questions and figure things out. He can border on rambunctious, but he loves to read and snuggle. Each month brings better verbal clarification, more adventures and a million more laughs. It also brings a little bit more stubbornness, emotion and toddler opinions. "Coen! It's time for dinner let's get in your chair." Response said extremely clearly, "No Mama, I don't want too! I'm gonna play right now!" I remember longing for that day that we could communicate, so I'd know what was wrong. Hahahaha...hahaha..haha...ha.
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| Reading to his buddies. |
We have all been so eager to get out and be outside. None of us like to be cooped up during the
winter. We've gone to McCall twice already this year, and hope to go back again soon. Coen absolutely loves being in the mountains, cold or warm. As long as he gets to run around outside and get wet/dirty he is good. Actually...same could be said about Jackson too. Those two are definitely peas in a pod. I know their friendship is going to get even better when Coen is a bit older.
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| Sledding Stenquist Hill. |
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| Coen and Sofia at Camel's Back. |
Another thing we have restarted this year is going on hikes in the foothills. We were so bummed to stop back in October when it began to get butt cold in Boise. Finally a few weeks ago, we dusted off Coen's hiking backpack and took off. It was still wet and sorta snowy in some spots, but we were outside and loving it. We've gone quite a few times since. Coen and I even signed up for a toddler led hike with some new friends. This one was quite a bit slower, but waaaaay dirtier. The boy was in paradise!
As usual, this time of year is difficult for Brodie with no football to watch/read about. Hehe. While I don't mind and don't notice it much, Brodie is anxious to watch some sports. What fills the spot? BSU basketball! The past few years the Bronco's weren't very fun to watch/follow. This year has been something new and fun to attend. Coen has the Bronco fever that his dad and grandpa have infected him with. A few weeks after Coen turned two, he started saying the fight song all the way through. Yes this is cute...AT GAMES! Not an hour after I put him to bed. Or at 4 in the morning. Grumble grumble grumble.
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We were so blessed this Christmas and birthday for Coen. He is such a loved boy, and I am grateful for our families that spoil and shower him with affection. In our abundance this year, we received two of the same awesome present. Once we returned one we ordered a balance bike for the boy. This was something we were on the fence about getting him, but since it was a present we could pick out...Brodie was sold. So far Coen just walks slowly on it, asking for a hand to steady the back for him.
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| Sweeeeeeet |
Since the boy has been up and down with this semi-constant ear infection/cold thing, his eating has become labored and frustrating at the same time. We have a month of totally normal, stuffing his face with everything in sight, kind of appetite. Then we have about a week-10 days of being under the weather, barely eating and shoving everything I try away, kind of appetite. He has also grown nearly 3/4" since his birthday as well. All this together has caused some slimming down for him. His 3T pants that were barely fitting in the waist in January, have been cinched back in a few buttons now! Most don't need to be rolled up on the bottom either. He hasn't quite lost his popeye arms thankfully :)
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| Loves to eat "rittos" (black bean/spinach burrito). |
So the boy loves to read. I have probably a million pictures of him reading by himself. I'll be doing something in another room and he'll get quiet. I sneak in to finding him sitting in his comfy chair/rocking chair/on the toybox/under the rocking chair/under the living room table... reading a book. He has his favorite ones that he wants us to read every night before bedtime. We have read them so often, that he has begun to "read" them to us. He turns to a page and recalls the line for that particular picture. Dr Seuss is amazing like that, hahaha. Coen's memory is astounding, and really it is so cute to hear in his little voice. There is one book about baby animals asking their mothers if they love them, and hearing the mother's explanation of how she loves her baby. Each page starts with "deep in the woods" and ends with the mama saying "I love you forever and ever and always." Oh my gosh, hearing him "read" those lines is so adorable!! Total tear jerker, I know, but its these little intimate moments that are golden :)
In anticipation for daylight savings, I've been tweaking his nap/bedtimes a little bit at a time. Hopefully by DDay, we won't have a retaliation month of 5am starts to the day. Fingers crossed! No new official stats to report, just a healthy growing boy. I will now flood this with random pics. Hahaha.
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| Apple Fiend |
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| Piano! (Evelyn, Coen, Ben) |
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| At Dave and Buster's. Boys... |
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| Watching the fish at the MK Nature Center. |
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| from the Winter Carnival Parade (cousin Erick in the back!) |