Goodbye to 2010

Thank you 2010 for our child's first full and healthy year, for Rob passing his final two actuarial exams, for the start of my small business, for Erica's engagement, Kylle's wedding and many wonderful times with friends and family.

While 2010 was a great year, I'm ready and excited for the new one. It's been a theme in my life that odd-numbered years are usually the important ones. Born: 1977. End high school and begin college: 1995. College grad: 1999. Stranded in Newfoundland: 2001. Meet Rob: 2003. Engaged and start grad school: 2005. End grad school, marry and buy first home: 2007. Have first child, buy second home and move to Atlanta: 2009. Pretty crazy, huh?

I can already tell that 2011 is going to be a year of changes for many reasons.

One, Aunt Jess and Uncle David are getting **MARRIED**! Congratulations and mazel tov to two of our favorite people.

Two, Stella nursed for the last time on 12/31/10. It wasn't intentional; it just happened. While I'm sad that this chapter in our relationship is over, I'm grateful for the new freedom and also for the easy transition. One day the milk was there and one day it wasn't, and Stella doesn't seem too miss it.

Three, this will be the first year of our relationship when Rob doesn't have to study for at least one exam, if not two. Talk about FREEDOM!! And as icing on the cake, he will likely begin working from home one/day days week, saving two hours in commuting time each day.

I'm very excited to see what else this year might bring! Happy New Year, all.

New Year's Eve drag racing

Watch toddlers Stella and Max fight it out for Racing Champ of 2010!

Tickle Me Elmo

We're sorry for this reaction, Patrick + Laura, but since you know the story now I might as well share the video!

Photos: Christmas in Tennessee

It was another great Christmas at Nana and Grandpa's! We still haven't figured out where to put all of Stella's new toys and 1 million stuffed animals, but there are far worse problems one could have. Below are some photos from our time in TN. Most of it was spent in the hot tub watching the snow fall. Ahhhh~

In other news, Stella started her new daycare arrangement today with our friend Deb and her kids Emerson (almost 2) and baby Elias. There were a few tears at dropoff but I could tell she was eager to get over it and get back to playing with Emerson's XMas presents! Can't wait to hear how it went today.

Merry Christmas!

We love this age!

Stella has been so awesome the last few weeks. I think 15 months is my favorite age yet! She's playing all kinds of games with us, goes to sleep without protest - even for a non-family member babysitter - and, as you can see below, is becoming quite the finger painter! We're really excited to see the other Coles this week and share the fun.

This little piggy

Photo albums

I've been slacking off on the blogging lately. Sorry about that! Here are some photos from the fall that have been on Facebook, etc, instead:

This is from a Labor Day photo shoot in nearby Candler Park:


And here are some from our NE Wedding Blitz:


I promise to add more soon!

First day of school - starting Parents' Morning Out

I was able to secure a spot at a nearby Methodist church's Parents' Morning Out program two days/week for our little goose. And...she loves it!

Yesterday was her first day and I was a ball of nerves. Luckily, everything was perfect for setup; an early nap (up at 9:30), morning BMs, and a good mood added greatly to the day's potential for success. Sure enough, she made friends, had a ball, and didn't even cry except for one time when she was accidentally shoved down by a bigger kid. What a big girl, right?! It's great to go pick her up and see her happily playing with other kids.

Today was not quite as perfect - no nap, no poops, and a bad last night meant that she was a little more sensitive today. But her teachers said she was still really, really good - and is doing so much better than most kids in their first program away from home. I'm very proud of her, just like I'm proud of the trunkful of consignment goods and new haircut I was able to get this morning while she was at "playtime".

Oh, and they sat her at a kiddie-sized table in a chair for lunch and she did not topple out of it. Guess I'll need to make an IKEA run sometime soon!

Mom's photos

Mom took these on Friday at Jess's. Some really good ones of Stella's many 'personas'. :) Click on the below photo to see the whole 30-image album.

Looks like I'll be reorganizing the tuperware cabinet this morning. And installing a lock. Maybe this is a form of early activism against plastic food containers...

This week

We had a great time in Boston last weekend. Went to a gorgeous wedding in an old jailhouse that's now a swank hotel, saw lots of friends and family and enjoyed some cooler temps (until I got cold and was ready for ATL again). Stella was *awesome* on the trip, despite the fact that she seems to be teething again. She slept great and was easy on her babysitters. Here are some pics I took of her this week. For the most part, she's walking unassisted now, even on mulch.

NMC Birthday Party

Whew! We survived 60-something toddlers and parents in our home Saturday morning for a mom's group August babies birthday party- and amazingly enough nothing major was broken! It was a great party. Here are some photos from the event.

Photos: 1st birthday party

Happy Birthday, Baby!

The best of your first year in photos.

Just seconds before....

her first steps! Here are the pics I was taking of her for Mimi right after I put on the magic shoes. You can see her getting ready to walk on over to me. (Mimi: click to enlarge and you'll see how tiny her feet are!)

More walking

Walking!

Goodbye, babyhood. Hello, toddler!

I have to share the story behind her first steps yesterday, caught on film by Daddy later that night (below). My nice UPS guy had just dropped off a package from Shoes.com, which I knew by the size of the box were Mimi's birthday present for Stella. Just to check for size, I put the shoes on her and started taking a few photos for Mimi, since she just happened to be in an outfit she bought her as well. Stella has had these shoes on for all of 1 minute when she decides she wants to check out the camera and she WALKS over to me! I could have handled it better, I think. I screamed and grabbed her and started laughing hysterically over the magic shoes. Was worried for a second there I'd scare her away from ever walking again but she thankfully she kept on trying it out all day yesterday and this morning - with and without the magic shoes.

In the first walking video she's making a fish face, which app. Rob taught her how to do yesterday afternoon. Also uploading a video of her eating a sandwich on Tuesday, just b/c it's cute.

Walker

Walkin' and talkin'