He keeps himself entertained at least

I told my dad about this "activity" the other day and he requested a video, so here it is, figured maybe everyone else would enjoy seeing how Cole spends his days. As you can see he is easily entertained - thank god for small favors. Enjoy.

Until next time.

Merry Christmas!!

Hi everyone! Cole here again.

I'm just here to share with all of you that Christmas is a lot more fun when you're 1 year + 11 days old, instead of just 11 days old like I was last year. Look at all the fun we had!

Christmas Eve, Mom and Dad let me open up the presents I got from my grandparents. There was so much stuff! Grandma got me lots and lots of trains and more track, for my Thomas the Tank Engine train set. I like to push around the trains! Plus, Dad keeps setting up the track, and I keep destroying it! It's really fun.

She also got me a pizza delivery truck that I love. It's especially fun because Uncle Stefan owns a pizza restaurant named Apizzo. I'm too far away for pizza delivery because he's in Connecticut...but I got to go there for Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to another trip soon when Mom will let me actually eat the pizza!

Papa Steph and Bestamor got me a cool card with stickers in it. Plus there was a savings bond in there. I'll appreciate that one when I'm older - thanks, guys!

Okay, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this opening presents thing....

Grammy and Poppy got me an awesome dino book. I don't understand the math problems quite yet, but I definitely understand how to push the dinos along the track!

Sweet! Poppy sent me my own remote control! Maybe now I'll play with this one instead of chewing on the ones Mom and Dad use at our house....?? (not likely)

Guys....they spelled it wrong on the box!!

I always love getting money. I can buy so many things with this one little piece of paper! Who invented this stuff? Life is good.

Better call the grandparents and say thank you! But Dad, isn't it really late in Connecticut? What if the phone rings when Santa's there and he gets scared and leaves?

Okay, I don't even want to know what Mom and Dad do when I go to bed.

Guess what? While I was sleeping, Santa came to our house! Even though we don't have a chimney! I was concerned, but Mom and Dad assured me that he'd come anyway. These presents for Harry, though, weren't from him. I helped Dad pick these out all by myself.

I got a really cool thing that allows me to draw pictures, without writing all over things (like my hands, or the furniture....those things will come later!)

Santa got me this really fun puzzle - it's a whole bunch of musical instruments made out of wood. When I take the pieces out, I can see what they're called...and when I put them back in the right place, the puzzle plays music in the sound of that instrument. Wow.

My parents must be the stupidest parents in the whole world. But I sure do love them! They bought me this electronic drum set for me, just because I really like music and really like people playing the drums! I bet they're going to regret this one, though.

Mom and Dad also got me this Wheelie Bug so I can cruise all around our house. I don't quite have the hang of sitting on it yet - but I love pushing it around from behind. And playing with the antennae.

After all the presents, Mom made a special treat - peppermint pancakes! And this time, instead of Mom and Dad eating their pancakes in front of me while I get fruit and yogurt or something, she made me my own baby-sized pancakes! My first time eating wheat - and oh, it was yummy.

I'm telling you, guys, this Christmas thing is A.O.K.!
When's the next one scheduled?

Tis the season

The year is winding down and the decorations are up - crooked tree and all - and I am amazed that just a little over a year ago, so much changed with the birth of one little Cole Ambrocente.

Most of you have been reading these posts the entire time and it has been such a great way to keep everyone informed. Interestingly enough, I have no clue who actually reads this blog, or how often. So as we finish up the year, I thought it would be fun to have a check in - a roll call if you will. If you read this blog, leave a comment saying who you are, how long you have been reading for, and how often you read. It should be fun and interesting for myself and everyone else who is a part of Cole's life to see just how many people are keeping up with the day to day of what is going on in Ambrocente land.

On an unrelated related note, I have actually started another blog - this one is not about Cole and family, although I am sure Cole and family will pop up there often. The blog is http://www.theresalwaysastory.blogspot.com/. For more on what this is and what it is about I invite you to visit it - and if you enjoy it, share it with your friends and let me know what you think by leaving comments.

2008 is almost over, and I have a feeling 2009 is going to be a wild ride with Cole in the drivers seat. We can't wait to share it all with you here on http://www.ambrocente.blogspot.com/.

The Picture Post

...and here are the pictures I promised in the earlier post

Oh - we'll remember the person who gave the loud gifts ;)

I think Cole is concerned that it wont fit yet

Cole looks marvelous

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM - CAKE!

The Amazing cake Shelley and uncle Dale made

Ahhhhh - tell the pelican that it's not a fish!

I am not amused guys

Believe it or not - he knew exactly how to put his hands on the keys.

One year Old and North America and Greenland are over thrown by Cole

The day is over and Cole doesn't want the day to end.

Happy Birthday!

Believe it or not yesterday was Cole's 1st birthday! A year has gone by so fast. Just in the last few weeks so many changes have been taking place - it seems everyday the little guy has learned a brand new, favorite game, action, task, or trick; from taking dads hat off and proceeding to put it on his own head, over and over again, to patiently taking every stuffed animal out of his basket, one by one, until it is empty, to "reading" his book collection for hours on end (do you sense the self entertaining theme here? SWEET!).

He is spending more time upright these days and shuffles along anything that will give him support.

Music seems to be a current passion of his, from listening to it, dancing to it (which sometimes he gets a little to into and forgets that his face can and will hit the stereo if he gets to close) and creating it - mostly percussion, but he enjoys the piano as well. In reality music is the one thing that seems to have been a love since day one, and it keeps growing - now the trick is to allow that growth without being an overbearing, pushy parent.

Cole and his favorite pal Harry seem to be getting along better these days and Harry spends more time around him, allowing him to pet her, and play with her for much longer times before raising her paw to him - we still don't let her sleep in his room, but I am sure when that day comes, it will be the day they become inseparable.

We do have pictures of Cole's big day, but Shelley has them at work right now, so we will do either a picture only post tonight or edit this post today to include pictures. In it you will see Cole's amazing cake that Uncle Dale and Shelley made - a very tasty Carrot cake that the little guy seemed to love.

Until next time...

Food update

Well, as we near the big One Year milestone, we're getting ready to introduce things we've previously considered off-limits....eggs, wheat, nuts, citrus, strawberries, and honey.


In the meantime, we've delved into quite a few new and yummy fruits, veggies, dairy, meats, and fish (including some Mom and Dad had never even eaten!). Here's an update of Cole's food likes and dislikes, for those of you who are interested:


THE ONES HE LOVES
Carrots
Peas
Mangos
Any fruit with plain yogurt
Cantalope
Corn
Butternut Squash (upgraded from "Eat Happily", previously)
Cheese (any kind, apparently)
Brown rice pasta
Tomatoes
Pomegranate
Figs
Pumpkin
Artichoke
Cauliflower


THE ONES HE'LL EAT HAPPILY
Pears
Apples
Acorn Squash
Plums
Sweet Potatoes
Apricots
Peaches
Summer Squash
Kasha Cereal (not the brand Kashi...it's roasted buckwheat)
Beets
Black Beans + Yogurt
Chicken
Halibut
Kidney Beans + Brown Rice
Parsnips
Banana
Blueberries
Spinach
Potatoes
Cherries
Salmon
Turkey
Oatmeal
Grapes
Lentils
Pork
Eggplant (although we think it may have given him a rash)
Lima beans
Mushrooms
Cranberries
Rutabaga
Spices: Dill, Mint, Cinnamon, Curry, Cumin, Garlic, Basil


THE ONES HE HATES HATES HATES
Zucchini
Broccoli
Avocado (although he likes it with banana...thanks, Bestemor!)
Kiwi
Raspberries
Hummus (only 'cause the baby version is dry and bland)
Turnips
Bell Peppers (roasted ones, at least)


STILL PENDING....??
There are only a few fruits and veggies left we can think of that he hasn't had. Please leave a comment if you think of any we've missed!
Brussels Sprouts (he's going to try these tomorrow)
Swiss chard
Asparagus
Celery
Green beans
Pineapple
Watermelon
Citrus: Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime