Dear Cole,
Yesterday you turned FIVE months old! Holy @$%*! This month has been very FULL of new things. Your dad was away for the last week in April, as he had to go and be with your Grandpa and Great Grandma. It was a sad time for all of us, as she was really not well. He was there for 10 days and things didn't improve with Great Grandma. It was the last time he was able to see her as she passed on on May 1st. It was a shame you did not get to meet her, but she is in a better place now. Your dad was home for three days before we left again. You were so excited to spend some time with him.

We spent
the first 2 weeks of May in Calgary so you could finally meet your Uncle Brent,
as well as Nana Barb, Auntie Sonya, Uncle Morgan and all of your
cousins. There is quite a pack of them in the west. We headed out early
in the morning on May 1st, your dad took us to the airport. You were
great and sound asleep until security informed us that we would in fact
have to take you out of the car seat! Well of course that woke you up,
but it didn't seem to bother you that we were in a new place, you were
happy as could be and sat quietly in your car seat until we boarded the
plane. Everyone warned me about the take off and landing, and if we
could to make sure I nursed you on the way up and down. Probably if the
plane left on time you could have waited, but we were on a slight delay
and I had to feed you before we even started to leave. You were a champ
and went right back to sleep and slept for most of the plane ride. I
should have listened to your Nana though and changed you before we got
on the plane because you were soaking by the time I did get to change
you and you didn't like it. Again, you slept on the decent of the plane
and were such a good little traveler. When we arrived in Calgary we let
Nana go ahead of us and meet up with your Uncle Brent and Auntie Sonya.
That Sonya she didn't miss a beat when we didn't show up with Nana and
Uncle Brent (even though he had figured we were coming, but wasn't sure)
thought we must not have come too. So we snuck up on them and surprised
him! He was more happy to see you then he was to see me but that was
the plan!

Our first days in Calgary were spent eating lots of yummy
food and spending time with all of our family. Ayla and Hayden LOVED
you! They were fascinated with how big your eyes were and how to make
you smile. Ayla didn't take long to learn that if she spit at you the
way your Grampy does that you would be quick to give a grin. Hayden just
liked to touch your little hands and stare at you, it was the cutest
thing. I can't believe how much children love little babies. Especially
when they are as cute as you.

The first thing we purchased for you
when we arrived was a stroller, that was thanks to Nana Barb and Auntie
Sonya. We searched high and low for something that was made for small
babies as you still can't sit up by yourself. Nana and I had talked
about an umbrella stroller and we weren't sure if we could find one that
had a soft back and maybe reclined?!? Well we were in luck, we found
just what we were looking for a Zellars, and dropped you in and that's
where you spent many hours on our trip. It wasperfect for you, you fit
in like you were made for it (the straps were rather large for you
though) and when reclined you mostly slept.

You defiantly got your
mall time on our trip, as we went to 4 or 5 different ones and you
reacted slightly different to each. There were stores you didn't mind
being in, there were stores you hated. There were stores you slept
through and ones you cried through. Regardless, we've decided you are a
pretty good shopper, as long as you are fed and have a clean bum you
will put up with almost anything. ALMOST!

We took you to the Calgary
tower (we had a lunch reservation) and you went right to sleep on the
way there, and up the elevator, you slept the whole time we were on the
Observation Deck, but as soon as we got settled and menus for lunch you
started SCREAMING. You SCREAMED and SCREAMED and SCREAMED! Nana took you
upstairs to change you, she hushed you, she hugged you, she loved you
and sang to you. She missed our lunch arriving. I went up to give her a
break and see if I could settle you. She passed you off to me and you
started SCREAMING again. I tried to feed you, I hushed you, I cuddled
you and you just did not want to settle. Once you were somewhat calm I
came back down to finish my lunch. You fought sleep like it was your job
to STAY AWAKE! You'd drift off and wake up and drift off and wake up.
You were NOT happy.

We came home from the Calgary tower, I fed you and
you settled a bit, but you were still pretty unhappy. Then IT happened.
You had the poo of all poos! (Yes I'm talking about poo on my blog... welcome to the world of motherhood) It came from
nowhere and it went EVERYWHERE. You were leaking from your diaper up the
back, out the sides, it was nasty. I don't know how nasty though
because your SAINT of a Nana changed you. THANK YOU NANA! And after that
you were happier then you had been since we arrived. We were all so
sure you were mad because your ears hurt up there in that tower and the
problem was how backed up you were!
Your mom has also learned that
you are pretty good to take out for lunch, we took you to an Indian
restaurant where we had buffet (your mom wanted to stay there and eat
there forever!) and we took you to a noodle house (where I had the best
Vietnamese spring rolls ever!) not to mention you putting up with all
the noise of family, many nights for dinner. You have become very interested in food and love to watch everyone eating around you. Only one more month and you will be able to finally join us in this endeavor of FOOD!

We had one great day with Uncle Brenty, where it was just Nana, Momma, you and your uncle. We spent the day at the Calgary Zoo. This was the only thing on my list of things to do while we were in Calgary. So it was special that we got to spend it with your uncle. You were a pretty good boy most of the day, hanging out in your stroller and in the Baby Bjorn. Lunch time was a bit of an episode when we tried to find a nice "quiet" place and all we found were hundreds and hundreds of screaming children, not to mention the SCREAMING PEACOCK that seemed to keep following us around. Everytime I found a little place to feed and calm you, that PEACOCK thought it would be a great time to start SCREAMING at us. It was a nightmare! We grabbed some lunch for ourselves and ate, trading you back and forth, trying to calm you down. And as we left the lunch area and headed for the butterfly sanctuary we found some peace and quiet. By the time we left the butterflies you were back to sleep.

Tucked back in your stroller we enjoyed some more of the zoo. You however decided you were not a fan of the lady giving a very interesting talk on the elephants at the zoo, so we finally found a nice quiet corner for me to feed you and get you changed and relaxed again. The changing part came as a bit of trouble when we went into the family washroom and found the change table was almost as high as I am tall, we enlisted Nana to help change you! The rest of the zoo was uneventful and we all enjoyed the beautiful weather. By the time we were on the train home you were ready for some peace and quiet. You cried most of the way home, but it was ok with us. We knew you just needed the PEACE of home!

The last day in Calgary was spent with some time at the Calgary market and then relaxing at Nana Barbs with a quiet family dinner. Now we only had to look forward to the plane ride home. Because you hadn't had a poop since Thursday and we were leaving early Saturday morning, Nana and I were a little worried (as we thought we might have to re-live the Calgary Tower escapade on the plane). However, you handled that plane ride like a pro. You woke up at 5:30am (after having your first full nights sleep in Calgary) and had some breakfast. We got ready to go and you stayed awake and hung out until we got on the plane. We weren't sure when you would want to eat again, and thought you might cause a scene as you hadn't been back to sleep yet. You were asleep before the plane took off and stayed asleep until 10:30 or so. I fed you and you went back to sleep until we landed in Toronto. You woke up had some time to stretch and get your bum changed, and kindly waited to be fed when the plane took off again! You were awake for half of that leg of the flight and by the time we were almost home you were back to sleep. What a champ you were flying!

Once home, it was so great to see your dad and get to spend some quality time with him. He couldn't put you down, he was so happy to have us both home, but mostly you! It had seemed like a month had gone by that we were away from him, so it was so great to be home with him and to settle back into a routine. You have really started to amaze us with the things you are doing. You are so good at picking things up and moving them into your mouth, we are going to have to start watching what we leave lying around. You love to chew on your hands, your Sophie, your new little Monkey and your wooden teething ring but mostly our fingers, hands and anything human flesh tasting! The drool that accumulates throughout the day is outstanding. I cannot believe how you've come out of your shell over the last few weeks. You have far less fussy time and far more happy time. Thank you for choosing us to go along on this ride, what fun we are having!
Love Momma
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