Well Christmas is over, the goose (or turkey) is dead, and 2013 will soon be upon us. Q, Max and I had a wonderful, but exhausting, holiday with family and friends. I always feel like I need a vacation to recover from my vacation...and that is especially true when you have a baby. I don't think Max and I slept more than 2 hours Christmas Eve night. He is only 5 months old and I have already experienced a sleepless Christmas night.

But it's okay. I read an article that said babies often wake during the night because they want to spend time with their mother---so, I consider it a really sweet and loving gesture on his part. And while I dread getting out of bed in the tinsey hours of the morning, I love spending time with him too--just as long as I get a nap the next day :)

Enough about sleep (can you tell it's on my mind!)---with the New Year approaching I plan on joining the bandwagon of resolution-setters with my eyes a glimmer with goals and dreams I hope to accomplish in 2013. Typically I review my resolutions a grand total of twice--New Years eve and the following New Years eve...aaaaand, also typically I become depressed because I have yet again failed to reach any goal, unless of course I did by complete accident--but then, somehow, in my ignorance, I go ahead and set the same goals for next year.

Hopefully I have learned better. This year I am determined to diligently meet each goal. I am setting only 4, and I hope by blogging about them I will cement them further into the deepest recesses of the innermost network of my cranium..and I will succeed. So enough wordy blabbering--here are my 2013 resolutions:
(drum roll)
...........................


Physical: I will run a marathon (26.2 wonderful miles) this summer (I have wanted to do this since I was 12...and this is the year! My fabulous sister, Katrina, who will be in Ukraine this year, will join me when she returns. I am hoping to do a trail marathon in Oregon on July 27th, Max's 1st birthday)

Social/Emotional: I will deactivate my Facebook Account at least until after my graduation in April (I already did this...I've been FB free since the 15th!)

Spiritual: I will not watch or listen to anything with swearing, profanity, exaggerated violence, or immorality (I know what your thinking...and yes, pretty much I'll just be watching G rated movies, some PG, and lots of oldies! This is something I really feel I need to do, and I am excited!)

Mental: I will graduate with my BA in April
(ONE more semester! Lets just say it will be tough to say the least, but I am so pumped! I need to make this an official goal so I make sure to give my all.)

What resolutions do you have? Lets break the trend of 2 weeks at the grind then forgetting our goals until next December! We can do anything we set our mind to--and on a spiritual note, I know we can do anything through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of the hope He gives, we can all reach our goals and become a little better. Change is always possible!

Here's to an awesome, life changing year with great memories and wonderful success! Bring on 2013!
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(and just for fun, here are some pictures of Max :) )

These are from Thanksgiving, the cute little princess is my niece, born 10 days after Max Man

These were taken by my awesom photographer cousin last week. Sorry for the nakey pictures, Max;)

Little St. Nick!

We got this little Santa Suit from a friend. Too bad he doesn't have a beard!

Little Boy Scout uniform from his Grandma Cole

Pork Chops?

Max is such a cutie! And so is my adorable husband. Can you tell he grew a mustache?

My Facebook Decision

I have made the decision to deactivate my Facebook account until after I graduate in April. There are several reasons for this. For one, I am getting ready to start my last semester, and want/need to use every second possible to make art, or spend time with my husband and son. Second, I want to discipline myself. Do I think I am addicted to FB? Probably not, but I do get on much more than I would like. I hate feeling bound or tethered to something so inconsequential and fleeting. I love the people I associate with on Facebook, and I love being able to keep in touch with them in a matter of seconds, but I really dislike the urges to check and recheck my timeline to see who has commented on my post or who likes my pictures. I dislike some of the negativity that can permeate the home page, and I don't love every image that is posted, true, but the main reason for my decision is completely personal.  I feel that this life is so valuable, so important, I don't want to avoid spending time worrying about how I am perceived, or scanning thousands of status updates. I will not have very much time at all this semester, so I want to use every second to live my dreams. I want to be a successful professional illustrator. This is my last semester, so I want to give my art everything I have. I want to be an author/illustrator as well...so I'd love to work on my poems if I can as well. I am a devout Christian and I believe faith needs to be nourished daily. I want to spend more time in the scriptures and pondering the teachings of my Savior and their applications to my life. I want to have more time to reach out to others, I want to be able to cook dinner for my family. I want to develop new talents and skills. I have set a goal to run a marathon in 8 months, so obviously, that will take time and dedication. Most importantly I want to cherish every second with my wonderful husband and son (who, by the way, seems to grow 2 inches everyday. I can't afford to miss a single moment.)


I  want to live in reality, not in a world of status updates and "likes".

I think there are wonderful things about Facebook, and I have been blessed to keep in touch with so many people that I otherwise would not be able to--wonderful individuals I met and taught while serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, old roommates and high school friends, but I think there are other ways to keep in touch. We did it for 2000 + years, right?

 I do not believe Facebook is evil, nor do I judge others for their FB use...this is just a decision I am making for me. Believe me, I better hurry and deactivate before I change my mind! :)

I just wanted to let everyone know. I'll still update my blog every so often, so don't worry about missing out on pictures of Max (yeah right, I take about a bagillion a day).

Facebook, it's been real. See you in April. Maybe.

Hilarious...or is it just a mom thing?

Tis the SEASON!

There is something about the holidays that make me want to pull out my paints and get extra creative. Here is the family newsletter poem I wrote that we mailed out to family and friends. Okay, it's pretty cheesy, but I had fun :)
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Merry Christmas Dear Family and Friends!

What a wonderful year has come to an end!

For us this has been the greatest year yet

No, we didn’t get a new job, or a promotion or pet,

Or a pedicure or a broken leg,

Nor did we discover a dinosaur egg.

Or swim to Hawaii or buy blue suede,

Nor hire a juggling Bulgarian maid.

Or hug a baboon,

Or enter the circus,

Or spell slophapologaloopus.

Nor eat Gorgonzola, feta or Brie,

Or blow bubbles in chamomile tea.

Or pet a fox,

Or cuddle a bear,

Nor do something quite drastic to our hair.

Or build a skyscraper out of wax---

BUT we did welcome the baby MAX!

That’s right! I indeed typed that correctly

He his the cutest baby, and I mean that directly

He loves to giggle and smile, snuggle and poo,

Oh what in the world are enamored parents to do?

I really apologize if I seem apt to brag

But as new parents we are gladdest of glad

We are overjoyed and are living in bliss

Max’s cheeks are the most fun to kiss

Diapers galore but it’s never a bore

He is the world’s most adorable chore!

So there you have it! Our greatest Christmas gift!

It came in July, but you catch my drift..

We are so happy, all of us three

To wish you a Christmas of joy, wonder and glee!

Remember the babe born long ago

Into the Savior of the World, He did grow

Build your life like His on selfless acts,

And your life, we promise, will be right on track!

And just as St. Nicolas said as he rode out of sight,

Merry Christmas to all,

And to all a goodnight!

 Love,

                                              Quinton, Ariel and Max Cole

I love Max!!

Halloween!

Just Talking to My Boy

Okay, this is kind of embarrassing, but here is a little video of me an Max chattin' it up. So, it probably doesn't seem like much to you, but I get so happy when he talks back..I mean "talks" back. He is pretty camera shy....usually he is a lot more talkative, and his "I love yous" actually sound more like "I love you". Ha ha, this is probably just proof of an over-excited first time mom, but I hope you enjoy it anyway..at least you can have a good laugh about his silly moml!

Trying To Catch A SMILE

Max has gotten very smiley. He loves throwing his big cheesy grin at us and probably gets a kick out of our reaction--everything in the house stops, and we sit there and admire his toothless smirk for how ever long he decides to entertain us.
We enjoy his smiles SO much we have a very hard time catching them on camera...SO these pictures represent a major achievement on my part...being quick enough with the shutter to capture his smiles.

This is my FAVORITE part of being a mom (so far...I mean, I only have 82 days to speak for), knowing I make my little guy happy, and seeing him express that joy. I especially appreciate these little toothless wonders at 2am when I am exerting all my physical strength to keep from falling asleep....perfect little eternal optimist...that's Max for ya. He is a great example.

Tummy Time!

"Mom, seriously? Why do you always take pictures of me?"

"How's this for a smile?"

This is how most of our smile pictures look...ha ha! It's hard to keep the little bug still!

"Hey Dad, I love you"

:)

A smile!

almost....

Ta DAAAA!!!

Max loves his pop!

I promise there is more going on in our lives besides Max...but not much more:) Q is busy with full-time work and school (which is why Max is so happy with his Daddy in the pictures, because he is stuck with grumpy, sleep deprived Mom all day! :)  ), and I spend my days loving my little boy, reading stories to him, going on walks, running with Max or going to the gym. My goal is a marathon sometime next year, but first I am going to build up---5K this month, 10K in December, Half Marathon in Feb. or March. I start school again in January, then Q and I will both graduate in April (but Q still has student teaching).

YUP. Life is great. We are so, so happy! 

This is for you, Barbara and Mamie!

I really have a hard time blogging. I never know what to say, and then I hesitate saying anything at all because if no one reads my blog, there go 20 precious minutes of my day. But, alas, I know that I do indeed have at least two readers: my mother-in-law, Barbara, and my sister-in-law, Mamie. So with all that said, I am not "blogging," because that term makes me squeamish...I am writing to two wonderful women, and updating them on my life. If anyone else happens to read this, maybe I'll start writing to you as well:)

I have developed several new hobbies: 1) taking pictures of Max, and 2) dressing Max in little outfits, and 3) Trying to get Max to "talk" and smile and burp, and laughing with my dear husband over how adorable our son is!

So, that is why there are so many pictures of Max Man...

I LOVE this picture!

Last weekend Max Man and I had our first solo excursion to Utah (meaning without Quinton), for my niece's baby blessing. Max was a dream. He slept almost the entire drive, and was really happy and mellow the entire trip! (as you can see in this picture :) ) 

Max and his cousin Mariah, they are just 10 days apart, but Max Man towers over her. He is a good 4 inches longer!

I decided to throw in one "unMax-related" picture...it was so good to see my little brother Nate!

Max Man and Grandpa Mullins!

I think he is looking more and more like my husband every day!

I love this picture! It's like Max is trying to protect Mariah!

It was so cute, they linked arms on their own! I think they were besties before they were born

Max's curly post-bath hair. Q says he looks like Bill Murray

"Mom, will you please stop taking pictures of me and put some clothes on me?! I'm freezin'!"

Happy dreams!

For some reason this is Q's favorite thing to do to our son, make him a unicorn. Poor Max!

I realized I am not in any pictures...so here is a quick one I just took..don't mind my lovely hair, I just went on an in-between-conference-sessions-run :), but this helps you see how big Max Man is getting!

Life is pretty great! It's been extremely crazy, but oh-so-wonderful. I never thought I'd be so happy. Everyday I wake up and I thank my Heavenly Father for such a beautiful, wonderful little boy, and such a loving and supportive husband. I am truly blessed! 

We just moved into a new apartment (2 bedrooms...SO nice!), and we are loving the fall (but we are already freezing our tails off) Everyday Max and I go on a long walk or run, or I take him to the gym with me as I work out. It is so fun having a little buddy with me where ever I go. My favorite thing in the entire world is when he looks in my eyes and just stares. I feel like he is saying "I love you Mom, you are doing just great! Just keep loving me and oh yeah, thanks for changing all my poopy diapers and for feeding me at all hours of the night! I love you!" Sometimes he'll even say "I love you" to me...well it sounds more like "Gah Guuuuv Gooo", but I know what he means :)

Motherhood rocks!