In a move that thrilled Mommy and Daddy beyond belief, Alex used the potty for the very first time today. We’ve been encouraging the boys to sit on the potty before bathtime, and for the first time, Alex actually went potty in it. He sure was proud of himself, especially when he got high-fives from Mommy, Daddy, and Cole. This was after asking to go to the potty during his bath yesterday and sitting there for long time to “work on poop”; Zach has done this a couple times too so he might be getting close too.

We know we’ve got a long way to go through this process, but we’re thrilled that we’re getting started on it with them. I wanted to get a picture, but Joe wouldn’t let me embarrass him with that (he’s no fun).

Part of me really feels silly for getting so excited about poop and going potty (ah, the simple joys of parenthood), but in addition to being excited about a new milestone in the boys’ lives, it sure is nice to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel through the mounds and mounds of diapers!

Tags: Alex, milestones, potty training

In a move that freaked Joe out quite a bit, Cole turned 13 on February 17th. While Joe is still trying to figure out how his first son could possibly be that old, we celebrated the milestone birthday that day with Grandma Pat and Papa Bob.

The highlight of the day was a surprise for Cole that had him laughing so hard he cried. You see, a few weeks earlier while we celebrated Z & A’s birthday, we asked Cole what kind of cake he wanted. He didn’t have much of an opinion, so a Barbie cake was suggested. Cole said yes, never dreaming we’d actually get one. He now knows that he must be careful about what he wishes for – he just might get it!

Check out the great pics in the “Cole Turns 13″ photo album.

On separate note, new pics have also been added to the Jan – Feb 2008 album, including a couple craft projects, fun at a local pool, and making brownies with Daddy.

Tags: birthday, Cole, milestones

I still can’t believe it, but on Jan 29, Zach and Alex turned 2! They did really well at their two-year check-up. They’re still skinny, of course – Zach almost made it on the charts at 23 lb, but is still in the 0 percentile, while Alex at a “beefy” 23 lb 10 oz is actually in the 6th percentile for the first time. For height, Zach was measured at 34″ (44th percentile) and Alex was measured at 34.5″ (60th percentile). The great news is, they are very healthy and are developing quite well. They were so excited to see the doctor, having seen some in books and TV, and went running down the hall looking for her: “Doctor! Doctor!”

For their birthday, we had a little celebration on the actual day with some special treats and some fun, but we really celebrated that weekend with the help of Cole, Grandma Pat and Papa Bob, opening presents and enjoying a special cake. Check out the pictures in the Z & A Birthday album.

There are also lots of new pictures in the Jan-Feb 2008 family album, including a peak at Cole after his band concert, a day at the Children’s Museum, and a glimpse at Zach and Alex as they play and explore.

Tags: Alex, birthday, checkup, milestones, Zach