1st Haircut

Still trying to catch up...

(Colden actually got his first haircut about a month ago)

~ ~ ~ ~

We were postponing his first haircut because we had waited such a long for him to actually get his hair - we didn't want to see it disappear!

As you can see, he still didn't have much hair at his first birthday party:

At my birthday party (3 months later), we realized that his hair had gotten a little out of control:

It only took us an additional month to finally make his haircut appointment.  We knew just where to take him.  Believe it or not, BC (before Colden), Mike and I went country line-dancing every week (please don't judge us, we had a blast!).  One of our friends from line-dancing owns his own barbershop....

(Wow - even from this distance you can see the hair over Colden's ears!!)

The barbershop was nothing fancy.  It had one chair.  One sink.  One mirror.  And one really nice (and patient) friend.

BEFORE:

Wild man.

Yikes.

DURING:

(this was an experience)

Trying to take the cape off

Sitting on daddy's lap (for comfort) and eating goldfish (as a distraction)

Neither really worked and Colden decided that he would much rather stand than sit quietly

I think he was done by this point anyways.  So...slither away, Little Man.  Slither away.

All in all, Colden was a good boy for his first haircut.  Luckily, our friend has lightening-fast scissor-hands and a lot of patience.  :-)

Colden loved his new haircut and kindly said thank you with hugs and kisses:
 

AFTER:

So handsome

What?  Still long, you say?  Well, like I said...we were so proud of him for actually being able to grow hair, that we left all of the length on the top and just tidied up around his ears, in the back and in the front.  :-)

Arizona

Admittedly, this post is a month overdue (sorry).  

 Last month, Colden and I flew out to Arizona with my mom to visit:

Aunt Merri and Uncle Gil (visiting from Massachusetts)

Cousins Lauren, Craig and Julian

and Great Uncle Bobby and Great Aunt Michelle

(Mike couldn't go because he had to work - we missed you Mike!!!)

It was great to have a family gathering and I'm glad that Colden was able to finally meet his Great Uncle and Aunt:

And even though we were out in Arizona during the hottest time of the year, no one seemed to mind.  Everyone was thoroughly entertained watching Colden and his cousin Julian.  The boys were practically inseparable...

They ate snacks together:

They played the piano together:

They played in the water together (they even had the same bathing suits!):

 

They climbed ladders together (supervised, of course!):

They played "cops and robbers" together:

They even chased each other:

 

(Click here for video: "Colden & Julian_Chase")

I'm not sure who had more fun...the boys playing with each other...or everyone else watching them!

~~~~~~

Here are some random cute family pictures from the trip:

My mom, Colden and I took the red-eye flight out to Arizona hoping that Colden would sleep.  He slept the whole way!  (so did my mom)  :-)

Doesn't Colden have the cutest little Buddha belly? 

Fun in the sun 

(left to right: me, Julian, Aunt Merri, Colden, Craig and Lauren)

Pensive moment

Cousin Lauren and Colden

Uncle Gil getting Colden ready for our family photo-shoot

 

Me and my boy

 

This may be the only time you see Colden wearing a hat

 Colden after a long, hard day at play

Part-Time

I recently reduced my hours at work.
Less time at work has meant more time with my little man  :-)

One of our favorite activities is story time at the local bookstore.  Colden has fun listening to stories, playing with other kids, dancing to music and coloring...

...He also has fun running around the bookstore.  I guess I don't mind retrieving him.  Over.  And over.  And over again.  

(Funny how it looks like all of the other kids are nicely sitting down with their parents.  Colden.)

We tried a "Mommy and Me Yoga" class:

  "Cat Flow"

 "Child Pose" (so aptly named)

  

"Downward Dog".  I'm not sure which pose Colden is demonstrating here.

What's even better than me going part-time?  Mike being able to adjust his schedule at work so that he has half days on Fridays.  Not only do I get an extra 2 days a week with Colden, but we as a family get an extra half day together!

Which means...

More time for family walks

 

And more time for enjoying the simple things, like puddles after a rain...

Part-time allows me more time with both of my boys.  And I am loving every second of it!

"Vacuum Salesman"

Colden has turned into quite the talker.  

He walks around the house talking... 

He stands on step stools and preaches...

He tells stories to anyone who will listen!

The problem is, no one knows what he is saying.

Until  now.  :-)

Mike has taken it upon himself to be Colden's translator.  

All day, everyday - this is what you hear at the Karl household:

 

(Click here for video: "Vacuum Salesman") 

Aquarium

Yesterday, my dad and I took Colden on his first outing to the Aquarium.

He loved looking at all of the fish...

He loved touching the sharks and starfish...

He loved blowing kisses to the scuba divers...

(In this picture, the scuba diver is blowing a kiss back to Colden.
This was my favorite memory of the day)

Colden even wanted to climb in a tank and try scuba diving himself...

And what's a trip to see the fish without eating the fish?

...Or being eaten by the fish?

We had such a great time at the aquarium.  We will definitely be going back!

Swimming...Or Not

Colden is NOT a fan of going swimming.

Bath time?  Loves it!

Splashing in the dog's water dish?  Tons of fun!

But actually getting into a cold pool?  He can think of better things to do.

Please don't make me stand in the water!!

After what you just did to me...there is no way I am going to smile!

OK.  I'll just put my feet in.

Nope.  Still don't like it.

In fact - I'm done.

If you want to, YOU go in the water.

OK.  I'm in.  Happy?  Can we go now?

If you don't mind, I'll just play with the water while on dry land.