Countdown to Christmas

I mentioned before that we have lights on the outside of our house and a tree on the inside.  I thought that the decorating would end at that, but I was wrong.  There are things hanging near the fireplace, candles being lit, and lights are now hanging in Matthew's room.  I am suspect of this because it makes me curious why he gets that and not me?  Hmm...

This tall tree growing in our house has some low hanging fruit that I am determined to get my hands on.  I can't quite get there when I am allowed out and about.  Someone picks me up and reroutes me away from all the shiny dangling objects.  It will be best to try and sneak a peak when a back is turned and Matthew is going to play a part in that!  If I can get a distraction I think I will be able to get a closer look at the lights and hanging toys!

So I am OFFENDED when I overhear my parents calling me stubborn!  The nerve!  Especially when I consider it determination!  I am determined to say my only word of "Dada".  No matter how many times I hear "Mama", I refuse it... I mean I am determined to continue with a response of "Dada!".  My mom is exhausting herself and I think that she has said it over and over many 200 times?  Ha!  I will give in soon, but for I am enjoying the reactions and looks I get.  (I am also determined to talk for 20 - 30 before falling asleep during naps, put toys in my mouth, and crawl over to the hallway electric socket no matter how many times I am pull away or told know!)

Speaking of crawling, I am using my knees most of the time now.  The army crawl is not only slow but I am have noticed it is exhausting!  Using my knees to wander around gets me places much faster.  And as you probably have read, I can't quite get to where I want to go all the time.  But with some more practice and a bit more speed I will. 

I had a doctor's appointment the other day and again all is good.  I am 24 pounds and 10 ounces, 30" and my head is still bigger than most other kids.  I got a booster flu shot but no other shots this time.  The doctor said I am healthy and can start eating my foods!  Since then I have had scrambled eggs, bread, and pasta!  Real food is great and I am really looking forward to what is coming up next.

Christmas and New Year's is quickly approaching and I can't believe how fast 9 months has flown by.  I don't think my mom's prediction of me walking by December 31 is going to come true, but I think very soon after!  Pulling myself up to see the world around is a favorite, but I love moving along things too!  I really like side stepping with the couch, coffee table, and the outside sliding door.  Everyone thinks I like looking outside, but really I just like looking at my reflection!

Well, that is about it for now!  Have a wonderful holiday!

With Love,
Colin

Back from Texas!

We are back from Texas and a really great visit to see our family there!  Going to Texas meant getting on a few airplanes for a few hours.  I am pleased to say that I was well behaved on all flights and slept most of one of the legs to Dallas!  Matthew had his movies to watch, but I mostly got to hang out with Mom and Dad as they bounced me and held me all day. 

Once we got there the fun began immediately!  I met a great uncle, a super sweet aunt and some very cool cousins.  Everyone was excited to meet me, hold me, and see me strut my stuff, but most of the attention was on Matthew and his counterpart cousin.  She and Matthew are the same age and apparently have the same personality!  It was loud and fun! You should have seen the messes that were made and games that were played.  Up the stairs then down the stairs.  Those two were fast!

Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful!  I got to eat some really delicious Gerber's Turkey Dinner.  I am sure everyone eating turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry, and broccoli casserole was jealous of my pureed Gerber meal (I hope you are catching my sarcasm!)  Everyone there had a great meal and we all had a blast catching up with one another.

So my cousins are amazing!  The older two are so sweet and hug and hold me all the time.  They were so sweet that one changed a poopy diaper!  Can you even imagine?  If I ever have younger cousins, you can rest assure that I will be handing the baby back to its owner!  So gross.  The youngest cousin kept wanting to hold me and hug me and said a hundred times "he's so cute!".  I think that might be my absolute favorite part of Texas, the fact that it was confirmed that I am cute.

It was a great trip and I can't wait to see them again!


So while in Texas I mastered pulling myself up and doing a bit of cruising.  Since being home I am getting way better at moving side to side, but I will admit that I am terrible at getting down.  The only thing I can think of is to have a complete melt down when it is time for me to stop standing.  Getting up is no problem, but sitting is the issue.  I cry, wail, or scream until someone helps me.  I am getting the feeling that this is going to be stopping soon.  I overheard my mother saying something about letting me cry it out next time.  Uh oh!

Since it is December and Thanksgiving has come and gone, Christmas is coming next.  This means that we have a tree in our house, lights on the outside of our house, and a new resident living with us during the day.  There is an elf watching Matthew and I everyday.  His name is "Joe Blue".  Don't ask me about the name, that is all Matthew.  So the story about the elf is he watches during the day and reports back to Santa at night when we are sleeping.  If all goes well he comes back the next day to hide in a different place.  Matthew loves this guy.  I could care less right now, but maybe next year I will be more into him!

Not too much else to report.  My dad is still on leave, my 8th tooth finally came through, and in a few short weeks my other grandparents are coming back out to visit.  Seems to me that the last few months have been busy!

Hope everyone is well.

With Love,
Colin


Click for Pictures!

Thanksgiving

What does the word "No!" mean?  I hear my father saying this very odd word quite loudly sometimes.  For example, I was crawling around the house yesterday and when I was under a table I reached up for some fun looking wires.  They looked fun to play with but when I went to grab onto them this "No!" kept repeating.

Matthew was absolutely no help with helping me find out what it meant.  All he did was laugh and repeat "Colin is in trouble!".  So does that mean "No!" is bad?  All I know is the repeating stop when I let go of the wires and crawled away to something else.  Who knows and who cares right?  I probably won't hear that again anyway!

So Thanksgiving is going to be amazing this year!  I am heading off to my Uncle/Aunt and cousin's house in Texas!  The whole family is off for a visit and my mom, dad, and Matthew get to see them again, but I get to meet all of them for the first time.  Matthew has been counting the days until we leave for the last few weeks, so I think he is excited.  He has been there before and knows how much fun it is!


We also had a Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving!  On Monday the Bears were on TV and we decided to have a family Thanksgiving early since my grandparents won't be in Texas with us.  Everyone watched the game (Pop left in the 1st quarter because they were losing) and ate a delicious meal, oh wait... I had Gerber's "Turkey Dinner"!  I am going to assume that my dinner wasn't as good.  Judging by how everyone was enjoying their meal and how I didn't.  You would think that a person with 7 1/2 teeth would be offered something!  Pumpkin Pie?  No.  Mashed Potatoes?  No!  Something!!!  Nope!  Maybe next year!

So I think I like this Thanksgiving holiday, but Christmas is coming and I am told I will like that even more!  Matthew keeps asking about a tree in our house and lights going up outside?  Can't wait to find out what that is all about!


With Love,
Colin

1st Blog in a while!

So it has been a long time since I have written and there has been so much going on and to talk about!

I am officially 8 months old.  I am crawling (with arms only) around the house and getting into absolutely everything. Some of my favorite places to go are under tables, under my highchair and next to any heat register.  Those little openings are so much fun to stick my fingers into, but for some reason my parents aren't too keen on that idea??  Matthew and I play quite a bit since I have been mobile.  He and I like to play with my toys and different balls that roll.  My favorite is a squishy apple that I can roll.  It seems to always roll away from me and I have to chase it down.  But that is the fun part!

So my grandparents left a few weeks ago and my dad is around the house during the day.  He is currently on paternity leave from work is playing "Mr. Mom".  It is cool and all to have the old man around, but I do miss my "Yaya"!  I saw her the other day and truly loved having her around.

When my grandparents were here we did so much!  They took Matthew and I places and we spent every waking moment together.  I was held too much, kissed too much, and given way too much attention :)  It was great!  Matthew was totally right about being spoiled rotten.  When they left "reality" hit.  And it hit hard!  No more gentle diaper changes, extra cream, and even warm bottles!  What I gotta go through now with the parentals!  It is back to business, but I am told that only a few weeks and they will be back for something called Christmas.  I am hoping for even more attention and extra care... especially that first feeding of the day when one of them feeds my bottle to me while the other every so gently changes my diaper!  Now that is service!!!!!

So sleeping is back on schedule.  Ever since my 6th tooth came in I have been sleeping 10 hours a night.  I get up once in a while only if someone doesn't do a good job with the diaper and it leaks, or if I take the occasional break from sleeping to talk for a bit.  Outside of that sleeping isn't an issue and thank goodness because I have seen an improvement in moods in everyone since I got back on track!

As I mentioned above I am starting to "talk".  I pretty much have "Dada" down, and I am ever so close to saying "Mama".  I love to light up with the biggest smile when my mom walks into the room and make any and all sounds when she does.  Maybe in a week or two I can get Mama out.  Matthew wants to talk to me so very badly and thinks that if he speaks slower and much much louder (and if you know Matthew or my parents, volume is NOT the issue) that I will be able to speak back to him... poor guy needs to wait a while longer!

Well that is about it for now.  Sorry I have not written in some time.  I should be on a regular schedule from here on out!  I hope to show you pictures of the fun things in store, because there are many more planned.  I am headed to Texas later this month and like I said my grandparents are coming back!

With Love,
Colin


Click Here for Pictures!

On the move!

The grandparents are coming the grandparents are coming!!!  By the end of this week my grandparents from Georgia will be hear and will be staying for two weeks!  This will be the third time I have seen them in my almost 7 months.  I am very excited to see them and do a ton of things with them.  Matthew will have kindergarten so I will have them both to myself.  I believe people call that "spoiled".  YUP!!!!

So my top teeth are in fully in which means I am WAY more comfortable with everything and chewing is fun!  I love to bit on and into everything that I can get my hands on.  One of my favorite things to do when eating (besides blowing bubbles and the food I am eating everywhere!) is to bit into the spoon.  My dad doesn't think our little game of tug of war is all that funny, but my mom is smitten by anything I do so that is my green light to continue!  With my teeth fully in I am getting back to sleeping 9 - 10 hours at night.  I also think it has to do with my parents letting me play for those 1 - 2 minute breaks I take in the night.  Since they don't come in anymore, I figure it is back to bed.  Oh well.

So did I ever mention that YAYA is awesome!  My Yaya, not Matthew's, mine.  She takes the absolute best care of me during the day.  We play in the mornings, take walks in the afternoon, and she knows just the right time for me to nap.  This week I only have 2 days of Yaya... which I am sad about, but then again my grandparents are coming!  Only 2 days of Yaya in October and 2 in November.  What a bummer.  Why you ask?  The old man is taking time off of work to stay home with me in October, November and December.  Let me ask you who you would rather have change and feed you... a sweet and gentle Yaya or the rough and unpolished Steve Daniels.  Exactly!

I am officially on the move!  My parents call it scooting, but I call it crawling.  I am mobile so you better watch your stuff.  This guy absolutely has no idea about consequences or falling objects or pulling things off shelves or even what NOT to put in my mouth, but either way I am going to learn!  My parents were obviously caught off guard and weren't ready for me to be so quick to move around or they would have prepped the rooms for me.  I am finding all sorts of things!  Did you know that DVD's can fall down?  Or that a tiny gum wrapper under the couch is the perfect choking hazard?  Or that my fingers are just the right size to fit into the heat register?  Yup, in just one week I have learned about all the trouble I can and WILL get into!  This is going to be great!

So my other grandmother, Butter, has been hanging out with us a lot lately!  I love it when she is over.  We always seem to have more fun when she is around.  When she is around we do things like visit Oktoberfest festivals or go hiking to see waterfalls or just sit in seats on the driveway and watch people go by.  She takes really good care of me and has a knack for knowing when to take me out of my mother's hands just when I need that break!  She is special!!! 

Well that is about it.  Matthew had his big birthday party last week.  A bowling party.  Did I get to join in?  No!  Did I get any presents?  No.  But I did get attention from everyone at the party, so I will take that anytime!  On Friday I will be 7 months!  7 whole months!  This is just going by too fast... and if I am thinking that just imagine what the parentals are thinking?

With Love,
Colin

3rd Tooth to a 4th!

Everyone here in the house was really getting used to calm nights and sleepy mornings from yours truly, but NOT THIS WEEK.  Nope.  My two front teeth are coming in and it is painful.  Not the type of pain that you keep in so no one else knows, but rather the type of pain that everyone has to know about at all hours of the night and experience with you.  Whether it is 3AM or 3PM I am not sleeping and crabby!  Super crabby.

One of my front teeth has already broken through so that makes three total teeth and the fourth is swelling and just about there.  Everyone is hoping these teeth hurry up including me.  Sucking on frozen teethers, taking medicine, and having the others constantly feel my already sore gums isn't my idea of fun.  It isn't like I like this either!

Outside of that drama some pretty cool things are happening.  I am starting to scoot and crawl.  I can lay on my stomach and push myself backwards pretty well, and today I noticed that if I hold onto the blanket and get up on my knees I can move forward!  I am starting to become mobile and go get that toy in front of me.  Very exciting!!  This new found (very much not mastered) freedom does come with a cost... my mom is in freak out mode over small toys and things being left around.  I am pretty sure Matthew and my dad have heard enough about it, but who am I to say anything?

My six month appointment was last week and everything has come back great!  I am now in the 130% for head circumference.  The 'ol noggin is just a shade over Matthew's when he was six months, which is of course confirmed proof that a bigger head means I have a bigger brain... and a bigger brain means I am smarter!  YES!!!!

The rest of the appointment was just fine and turned out ok as well.  I received 4 shots and learned that I am 21 pounds and 2 feet and 4 1/2 inches.  The doctor said I am a healthy growing boy!  Phew, I was nervous about that.

So there was a bit of sad but exciting news this last week.  A good friend of ours has taken a job that will move him all the way to Michigan.  Pete will be missed terribly by all of us, especially me.  Everyone has gotten to know the guy and I was just getting used to having him around.  But I figure that is ok, because he is a good friend he will be in touch, his new position allows him to send nice presents to me, and I have never been to Michigan and now have a great reason!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and here is to getting some rest!

With Love,
Colin


CLICK FOR PICTURES

Oops, a bit late!!!

So sorry I haven't been updating everyone, but things around here have been busy!  But I have lots to say and lots to update you about!

Basically: I am six months old (1/2 year!!!), I have two teeth now and one more on the way, I am turning over back to front and front to back without any problems, and I am eating everything in site!

As you can see from the pictures my teeth are arriving and they serve me more than just chewing food.  I can bite fingers!  My parents think it is cute to stick their grubby fingers in my mouth and they pay a price for that!  But primarily my teeth do chew food and oh boy do I love food!  Bananas, applesauce, peas, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and PEARS!  Pears are my absolute favorite!

I am starting to become more mobile these days and am now considered a "flight" risk.  By flight I am not talking so much about running away or moving into the next room, but rather falling off of high places and "flying" onto the ground.  I am not allowed to be by myself anymore when I am in the highchair, changing table, or even the couch.  Rolling over is quite easy and I am not afraid to do it anywhere I happen to be...

Matthew and I are becoming closer these days and we both are quite big fans of each other!  He loves to help me and take care of me any chance he gets.  His big thing right now is to feed me either breakfast or dinner.  Effective yes, not so efficient!  There is no shortage of mess and a high demand for bibs when he is around!  My face is fully covered in whatever the meal happens to be, but it is not because he is clumsy or I am refusing the food... but rather we both just laugh at each other.  I don't know what that kid is laughing at, but when he starts that just gets me going, which gets him going even more.  Before you know it I haven't eaten anything, I am wearing it all, and we have been laughing through the whole meal!

So with all this eating I must be sleeping right?  Yes and No!  I am a great sleeper from 8:30 - 2:30ish but I am a wildcard after that!  So nights I can sleep all the way to 7 or 8, and others I might be awake a 4 looking for a playing buddy!  My father seems to think that I am giving my mom preferential treatment in this department and thinks I sleep when she is on duty.  Maybe it is true, but maybe I just get excited to see my dad in the morning!

Summer is coming to a close here in Oregon, but before it left there were a few 100 degree days in August.  Sleeping in just my diaper wasn't exactly comfortable nor was playing in the heat.  What made it worse was going to the spray park just to watch Matthew run the cool misty water or for two weeks straight watch Matthew learn to swim in a perfectly refreshing pool.  Even though I didn't get to do these relaxing and refreshing things, we did head out to the beach where the temperature dropped 50 degrees!  Seriously, we left 100 degree weather and were greeted with a chilly windy 55 degree evening at the beach.  Even though we were all cold, we made the best of it and enjoyed each other!  Plus we were with Butter who always makes nights like that fun!

With August ending and September beginning, Ingrid is watching me full time!  She comes over to my house and takes great care of me.  She feeds me, changes me, and helps me get comfy for my naps.  In the afternoons she and I go on walks and enjoy some wonderful time together.  I am getting quite use to the kind care she gives, but what is shocking is when my dad gets home and the tornado that follows him in the door!  The house for almost 8 hours is calm and essentially mine, but come 4pm... Matthew is on the loose and my dad (although he means well) doesn't have quite the touch Yaya has!!  I am definitely looking forward to more time with her!  

Well again I am sorry for not writing sooner and I plan to get back on track!

With Love,
Colin  


Click for Pictures

5 months, 3 new foods, and 1 tooth!

5 months old today!  It has been a fast paced and eventful 5 months!  I am happy and healthy with very little to complain about (I will get to that one later).  Thank you to everyone for reading this blog and to the friends and family that love me!  :)

So something pretty cool happened on my 5 month birthday, I now can join the tooth bearing group!  That's right I have a tooth!  A bottom front to be exact.  My dad was feeding me today and found it.  What is so funny is once he found it he kept feeling it.  Then of course my mom had to feel it, and as you guessed Matthew did too.  My mom was obsessed with the tooth and made the occasion a very big deal!  Matthew and my dad kept joking that I was biting them and I just smiled because someday soon I WILL!!!

I mentioned foods before and I am stepping up from formula to cereal and now applesauce and peas.  I love all of them!  Applesauce in the morning and peas at dinner.  I tend to be an impatient eater and can be prone to thinking I might starve if I am not fed at lightning speed.  Since no one can feed me fast enough, breakfast and dinners are usually loud!  I heard rumors of pears, peaches, sweet potatoes, and green beans!  How exciting.

This last weekend the entire family went up to Spokane for a few days.  My mom had to work so we all went for a trip and got to do a bunch of things.  I recorded Washington and Idaho as my 4th and 5th states!  Spokane is a wonderful city that has parks and many other things for kids and families to do!  Let me reword that, Spokane has wonderful things for kids that can walk around to do.  Matthew got to climb and go down the largest Radio Flyer wagon ever built, go on a ferris wheel, swim in two pools and a million other things all the while I slept in my stroller.  Seriously this weekend of Spokane was a nicknamed the stroller weekend!  We did so many things that I was constantly in my stroller! 

It was a great week!  5 months down and many more to go!  1 tooth out and many more to go!

With Love,
Colin


Click For Pictures

July's End

I just love summer time and all of the things we get to do.  Whether it is taking walks around the neighborhood, drives to places near and far, or just having people come over to visit summer just is so nice around here.  I imagine I won't be able to lay out on a blanket, walk to the ice cream shop after dinner, or enjoy blue skies as Matthew plays once the Oregon rain returns!  But trust me we are enjoying it while we can.  We are doing so many different things each day!

Similac is amazing, don't get me wrong. I can pound an 8 ounce bottle and love life for quite a while... but it just isn't filling me up anymore like it used to.  So this week my parents have started me on cereal!  Rice cereal!  Talk about bland and runny.  My very first try I couldn't get enough.  I tried my best to pull at my mom's arm to feed me faster, but that didn't work.  She is quite pokey with the service and won't be receiving a tip until the service is better!  Basically, I was absolutely ready for solids and so far loving each bite!  


Rolling over is a cinch if I am going from my front to my back, but back to front is giving me just a bit of trouble.  I can get all the way around but my arm gets caught and I just can't get over it.  My dad says it counts and I am now rolling over.  My mom is more of an Olympic judge and keeps disqualifying me because I have to roll back on my back afterwards.  During this learning process I have figured out two things:  1) my dad is a softy  2) my mom can make some silly faces when trying to motivate me.


I mentioned this before, but I just have to do it again, but laughing is so much fun.  I will giggle softly with my mom and dad, but Matthew just makes me crack up.  Sometimes he will start laughing with me and then I just start to laugh and then we both can't stop!  This picture shows you how hard we were laughing and I think my dad saw into the future and the trouble we might be!  Oh boy!  Just Hysterical!

The next few days are going to be exciting and so is the rest of the summer!  Our family is going along with my mom for a business trip to Washington and Idaho.  These states will be #4 and #5 for me.  When we get back there might be a visit to the zoo and beach planned out.  August should be really fun because it is the last month of my dad's summer vacation and then he goes back to work.  I have a feeling we are in for some fun!


With Love,
Colin



CLICK FOR PICTURES

Fun in the Sun

It has been a few weeks since my last post and a lot has happened, I am four months old so a lot happens everyday!

I had a four month check up a few weeks back and along with a shot or two.  Everything is going well according to the doctor.  I am in the 101% in height, 80% weight, and... 125% head circumference.  My mom also compared my stats to Matthew's at this time and I am taller, heavier, and the noggin' is bigger.  So I have that going for me. 

With everything that is going on I am much more aware of things and people these days.  I am showing major preferences towards toys, situations, and even time of day.  Giving huge smiles when things make me happy is a must which lightens any mood but puckering up when something displeases me can happen as well.  I love being held and just being around people.  Bouncing on someone's lap, laying in someone's arms or even just playing in my pen in the same room as everyone else is just fun to do.  Speaking of pen I have my own play yard/cage/hexagon!  I have my own toys and space.  Extra benefit of having my own little area:  Matthew wants it but can't have it.  Awesome!

Continuing with preferences, I absolutely love mornings because I sleep through most of them.  If I am not napping during the AM I am in my Johnnie Jump Up or in my saucer playing.  My dad is home with me this summer and we play, eat and sleep in the mornings.  He is swaddling me up and I am napping in my crib full time.  My mom would hold me all the time so I could sleep, but the old man isn't as soft.  Swaddles me and puts me down.  "harsh".  But when I am up I love to coo and repeating noises is becoming a favorite.  My dad sticks his tongue out at me and makes noises like a motor, but when I repeat it back... I get all wet from the drool.  Mornings just seem to be the best time of day for me all around.

Afternoons are just NOT a good time for naps.  I want to play and see what is going on!  We go for walks or follow Matthew around in whatever he is doing, but catching some shut eye just isn't in the plans.  I think the lack of naps has an effect on me though.

You know what is in the plans for afternoons?  Eating.  Man do I love to drink from bottles, especially after all those naps!  I love to drink formula so much so that I am mostly holding my own bottles now.  I thoroughly enjoy taking the bottles out of my parent's hands and feeding myself.  Now if I miss or drop the bottle I do not accept the blame and demand an immediate fix to the situation, but I will accept credit for holding it though.  

Last week Matthew and I got to go to an aquarium.  This was my very first time to a place where wild animals are kept.  We saw all sorts of interesting things, but Matthew was obviously more interested than me.  I would have taken one of my rare PM snoozes, but someone was constantly talking to me and telling me (loudly I might add) how cool it was.  This person also reminded me that this was his 4th visit to an aquarium and this was only my first.  Is this type of "I have more than you!" going to continue much longer???

I am not sure what has gotten into me lately, but screaming in the car is a must these days.  Not hungry, not tired, not uncomfortable, but I still feel that a good scream is in order.  Twice I have topped the hour mark!  You should see my face, but even better is the faces of my audience! Matthew tunes me out and could careless, but my dad fumes!  Sucker!  He thinks that pulling over to console me will help, but putting back in drive is just a green light (pun totally intended) for a continuation of my lung exercises.

That is about it for the last 2 weeks.  These upcoming weeks should see a visit to the zoo and beach.  It is sunny out here on the West Coast and we plan on taking full advantage of it!

With Love,
Colin

CLICK FOR PICTURES!!

Back from Vay Cay!

We are back from our worldwide tour of the Chicago and Atlanta areas!  We all had a wonderful trip seeing so many people and getting to know even more.  I really had a great time and got to do so many things.

As I said before I rolled over from front to back and it is now really easy for me, but I am not quite there with back to front.  I can get my body sideways and if I tried really hard I could do it, but I am still taking my time.  Soon though, soon.

Some of my favorite things to do these days (besides rolling over) is to notice and take in everything around me.  I am following people and things as the pass in front of me, I am reaching out and holding onto things with my grip that would rival a tug-of-war, and I am finding humor and laughing a ton.  Since I have one of the loudest human beings living with me (Matthew) it is easy to know when he is coming past me so following him is super easy.  But I am also following smaller things around me and I am starting to prefer certain toys over others as I recognize them.  My green turtle that makes noise is absolutely my favorite thing to notice and follow!

Once I have noticed and tracked onto something AND I can reach it, then it is mine!  Letting go is really not something I ever want to do once I have it, especially if the toy is in my mouth.  My favorite favorite favorite thing to hold onto is my mom's necklace when she is holding me.  It has my name on it, it is shiny, and she let's me grab it whenever possible!  Again, letting go is always an issue especially at bedtime!

Georgia is such a nice place!  It was ridiculously hot and we didn't get outside too too much, but still a great place to visit because of WHO I was able to see.  My grandparents.  They are awesome!  Pick me up all the time, spoil me, nap with me (looking at you Poopa), change me, play with me, and did I mention spoil me?

My grandparents have wonderful friends that I was able to meet while in Georgia!  My "Georgia Grandma" had us over to her pool to cool off.  Even though my mom didn't want it, my grandpa got my feet wet in the pool and I really liked it.  It was great to be a part of the fun that everyone was having!

So lately I have been developing a habit when in the carseat, stroller, swing, bouncing seat, or just laying around.  It is a bit odd I know and you can't judge... but I like to put blankets and burp clothes on my face.  I just prefer to cover up.  You would think a 4 month old would hate to be covered up and would be panicked, but not me.  I love it.  Everyone thinks it is weird, but I don't care!


So that is about it for now.  I am going to continue following my older brother around, waiting and watching his every move, and continuing to get better at using my hands and smiles!  I am turning 4 months this Thursday and starting my summer with my dad.  It is an exciting time!!





With Love,
Colin


VACATION PICTURES! 

So another two weeks have gone by and so much has happened.  If fact so much right now is happening, but I will get to that later. 

My mom is winding down her maternity break, my dad is done with another year of school, Matthew "graduated" (yes I put that in quotes!) and right now I am in Chicago on a tour of friends and relatives.

Since I was born my mom has been at my side at all times.  But that is coming to an end quickly.  She is headed back to work (as you can see I have been helping her work at home!!) and my dad will be taking over the full time job of hanging out with me.  These next two weeks will be the end of our almost 4 months together.  Without a doubt it has been the best almost 4 months of my life, quite literally!  Thanks Mom!

Matthew has been busy with his play dates with friends and graduation from preschool.  So the older one is headed off to Kindergarten in the fall now that preschool is over.  He is always so busy running around and making an incredible amount of noise.  But I love watching him with whatever he is doing.  We go outside a lot where I sit in my saucer and watch him swing and play baseball with my dad.  When he runs past me he is nice enough to stop and make me smile.  The little man can make me smile at anytime no matter the mood I am in. 

As I mentioned before I am in Chicago right now and Wednesday I am flying to Georgia.  We have visited with my three cousins, aunts, uncles, and my great-grandmother.  Everyone here is so nice and kind.  But I am pretty sure my Nana is the best to visit.  She held me tight and gave me great kisses.  Plus she thinks I am cute! 

Everyone got together today for Father's Day, even though mine is still back in Oregon.  We were at my Nana's house today when my mom put me on my tummy.  I didn't exactly like that so I decided to roll over onto my back.  Everyone was surprised and cheered, which of course meant I had to do it over and over again.  In fact I am pretty quick at it now!  Either way I am not sure what the cheering was about, because as you can see from the video I just didn't like to be on my stomach! 

So a few more days in Chicago and then off to Georgia to see my grandparents and meet up with my dad.  But before leaving Illinois we are going to be visiting and meeting more people, and rumor has it we might be riding a train into the city!  There even my be a boat tour!  Talk about trains, planes and automobiles!  It is going to be a very fun few weeks.

With Love,
Colin



 CLICK FOR MORE PICTURES