My first real vacation!

Hi everyone, Cole here.

As you may know, my parents took me on my first real vacation last week, to St. John in the US Virgin Islands. This wasn't my first time away from home (that was to visit my aunts in Sacramento) or my first time on a plane (that was to Mexico, where Dad had a work trip). But for taking a bunch of long plane flights, going to the beach, staying more than two nights in another location, and just hanging out with family, this was a big first!

I thought I'd take some time to let you know what vacation looked like for me.

First of all, we flew into St. Thomas, and then took a ferry to St. John. My first time on a boat! Luckily, Papa Steph kept me company on the bench while I napped.

Since it's so sunny down here, I stole Mom's shades and decided to wear them myself. Gotta protect those baby blues!

We went to the beach pretty much every day. I didn't want to burn my soft baby skin, so I kept myself wrapped up a lot.

These palm trees actually have coconuts on them! Hope none of them fall on my head....

I have to get my beauty sleep, you know!

Papa Steph and Bestemor got me a great hat to keep my scalp from burning since my hair's still kinda thin. Mostly I like to eat the strings that hang in front of my face. Thanks, guys!

We had a pool at our villa. The water there was warmer than the ocean....boy, did I enjoy swimming in there!!!

Thanks to all the salt and chlorine, I got a bath every night! Luckily Dad brought my inflatable ducky tub. Bath time is fun now!

Mom and Dad took me off-roading! They didn't mean to....this is actually "Route 108" if you can believe it.....but they turned around because they were afraid my brains were

scrambling.

I know I'm just a baby and my reading skills aren't so good yet - but these signs were posted at the bottom of someone's driveway. Now tell me, can goats and donkeys read?????

Whoa - there are goats in the road! Where are their parents? No one is with them, they're just roaming around free! Anyway, last time I checked, they were eating the grass on the football field we drove by.....

We actually drove to the end of the road. Mom tells me that this sign actually says "The islands beyond this road can best by reached by boat." That makes me giggle!

On the way back home, a donkey walked right in the road up to my window to say hi. It was big! I wasn't scared, though.

After such a long time in the car seat, I demanded that Mom and Dad take me back to the beach. Here I am, checking out some waves as they rush in and out at the shore.

After all my time swimming, I got so tired! Good thing Papa Steph had a chair in the shade and let me take a nap.

I love Mr. Frog so much! I'm glad Auntie JoJo and Aunt Sandy got him for me. I take him everywhere I go.

After the beach, Dad took me to the iguana feeding at the Westin hotel. These are all wild iguanas but the nice people at the Westin give them food every day at 3pm. It's cool to watch!

I'm no iguana, but I have to say I think milk is probably a lot yummier than some old lettuce and zucchini.....I tried guys, but mom says she's reserving her milk only for me. You're out of luck!

Speaking of yummy, Papa Steph gave me some beer on his knuckle and I really liked it. He also let me taste lime, apple, and sauerkraut. Mom and Dad said those are probably not ideal "first tastes" for me, but that's what grandparents are for, right?

Grandparents are also pretty good for cuddling, like Bestemor here, who bundled me up and held me for a nap at the beach after a good swim.

St. John was a pretty beautiful island. Dad took me to see the ruins of the Annaberg Sugar Mill. That was really neat to see. Plus I got to do a hike along the water, naked except for my diaper and hat. Whoo-hoo!

The last night, Bestemor and Papa Steph treated us to a really delicious meal at the Ocean Grill. Or so I'm told...I only got milk.

I got a bit fussy at dinner so Uncle Stef volunteered to help Mom and Dad out and swing me in my carseat for awhile. Forget those electronic swings! I am a high maintenance baby - don't you forget it.

Well, I guess that's about it. But luckily we got one last picture of me with the Connecticut Ambrosch-Hall family, so I can remember everyone even though they live far away. Here's me with Uncle Jeff, Uncle Ben, Uncle Stef, and of course, Bestemor and Papa Steph.

And last but not least, I can't forget to remind everyone of the hard work I did at baggage claim in the San Francisco airport...but hey, it's way past my bedtime!




Well, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the tales of my vacation! More to come later....

As Promised - nothing but pictures! 4months and so much change. Here it is - in no particular order.

Coles first walk in the grass

Is that a diaper on his head

No not yet, but he's dreaming

A young Jedi

A flirt face if I ever saw one

Helping mom at work!
Helping Dad pack the show for Mexico
Either thats a small foot or a big toe

A lot of first's

I apologize for the lack of new posts (thank god Cole wrote or it would have been longer), but life has been very busy with many firsts.

We had the first visits from both grandfathers, and his bonus grandmother, as well as repeat visits from both grandmothers.

We had Cole's first air travel experience as well as first international trip (which went amazingly well).

We had our (Shelley and mine's) first evening away from Cole - thanks to Shelley's parents - and what did we talk about for those three plus hours away? Yup-baby stuff.

Cole had his first California Repercussions experience (the band Shelley plays in) which also, sadly, was his first experience with loss and death.

Cole has had his first, second and third experience seeing me perform, and tonight he will have his first chance to see Shelley perform her french horn.

On the health front Cole is weighing in at 14lbs even and seems to be doing great.

Sorry no pictures this time around...I'm typing one handed, and Cole is starting to fuss, so i post again soon with lots of pics. Talk soon.

A word from Cole

Can we talk freely?

First … let’s get one thing straight … just in case anyone out there thinks differently … I’m in charge here. I have been quiet up until now but am finally compelled to tell my side of the story.

I know … I gave mom and pops quite a ride while on the inside … and also for a few weeks immediately following my escape from the joint. Hey relax … living this close to Alcatraz gives me a tough-guy persona … Live with it!

So … here’s the deal. My old man and old lady have done a pretty damn good job for the few short months I have been around. It’s hard to believe that it has only been about 100 days. Heck, I already have them pretty well trained. Mr Magic takes me everywhere around the neighborhood and Ms SFDPH feeds me like a prince … whenever I want it… on demand …even at Pops shows.

So … I cut them a little slack now and then. I even stroked Papa Steph the other night when he wanted to go to that burger joint, in The Mission … the one he saw on the Food Network … god … you would think he had better things to do.

I also let Bestamor (she’s my bonus grandmother) read me Green Eggs and Ham … even though she does not do the voices. Get this… Pops performs the story with voices … very amusing … I am rolling on the ground with laughter now that that I got him to do that. What’s next? Hmmm …. perhaps I can get him to dress up … it’s only a matter of time!

Seriously …. I want to thank each and every one of you who pitch in to help my mom and dad. I won’t let you down … you gotta see them … poor sleep-deprived retches. I even got them so worn down that the only thing they could think about was the next time I would poop. No kidding … look at back issues of this blog … they were fixated on poop. You can’t make this stuff up!

I think that I will start sleeping a little longer, each day … so that they think they are winning. Then … just for fun … I’ll feign teething … yeah that will work.

I am also pretty good at getting the grand parents to leave comfy Olde New England … gad … to think that we fought a war over that sad part of the country. I think that I will charm the socks off of them so that they think twice about retiring in that puritanical wasteland.

Well … that’s all for now … I am feeling a little pecked and all of a sudden in the mood for a dress-up bed time story.

Later,

Cole

3 months and growing.

As of Friday, Cole is three months old. He had his check up at the doc's today and he is weighing in at 13lbs 3oz and measures a little over 23 inches. The doctor seem to be happy with his progress which makes us very happy. For a reference of how he is doing here are some monthly pictures - as you can see he is slowly taking over the world, in fact he is a bit of a tyrant and pissed on Australia, guess he doesn't like the dingos.

one week

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Also a little back story on the last post. First of all, I am always amazed by youtube, I put that on before bed with the intention of posting here the next morning, by the time I woke up this kid had been seen around the world by 75 people with comments coming in from Brazil and Belgium, just goes to show you how small the world is nowadays. Anyways, this was a gift from a good friend Chipper Lowell, magician and comedian in LA (if you ever get a chance see his show - VERY funny guy) and I just couldn't resist playing with the video camera with it. Leave it to two magicians to torture a child in this manner.

Well that's it for now, Shelley is back to work, I am performing again, and we are trying to keep our heads above water all at the same time - but we couldn't be happier!

Until next time...Talk soon.

A face only a mother could love