Midway through February

My mom took off for a 6 day tour of the midwest to visit friends and family.  She left the boys behind in Oregon and we all did very very well. Matthew got the flu 2 days before she left and that got everyone all worked up.  My dad stayed home with Matthew and I the next day and kept up away from each other.  Taking a break from Matthew wasn't something either of us liked, but we each did ok and Matthew felt better quickly and we were back together and playing just as before!

My mom flew to Michigan and toured Wisconsin and Illinois on her first few days, but on Sunday back here my dad got the flu like Matthew did.  Without my mom here our grandmother Butter swooped in and rescued us!  As my dad nursed his sickness alone (he kept saying "nurseless") Butter came over to keep the house going!  She did an amazing job watching Matthew and I as we played all Sunday long.  She even spent the night on our couch to make sure we were ok through the night and into the morning!  We are very lucky to have such a caring and loving person so close by!

My dad has been feeling better lately and (knock on wood) I haven't gotten the flu yet!  With that we have been getting some fresh air and getting out of the house these last few days.  With the weather TRYING to clear up we have walked to a local bakery and around to see the start of spring.  I really love being outside, even if I have to be bundled up!

Last Saturday my dad, Matthew and I went over to our grandparents house for a pizza party!  I had a ton of fun walking and crawling around their place.  The best part about their apartment is the stairs!  Matthew flies up and down them.  Seeing him do it gives me some confidence to try, but I am still very leery about all those 16 steps.  I made it up 2 and I was done.  Everyone was thankful someone was watching me because I had to be caught... apparently "tumbling" is bad around stairs.  Whatever that means.  I loved being over there and I hope we have more visits soon! 

Everyday Yaya and I walk around the house.  With this practice I am getting up to 15 - 20 steps!  There is still a very noticeable wobble to my walking and there is a very probable chance I will hit my head on the fall down to my hands and knees.  The shaky walking has caused me to hit the floor, a door hinge, sides of couches, and walls with my head.  Some people around the house say "it is all part of learning to walk", but I LOVE to see their reaction to it!  Hopefully I can master the "balance" in the next few weeks!

Do you know what is so yummy to eat?  Hot dogs, chicken nuggets and pizza!  Those are just some of the new foods I have been trying.  Chicken nuggets are addicting and I can't get enough of them.  Matthew eats them with some red sauce, but I like them straight up and sometimes a handful at a time!  Other foods are just ok to try, but I would have to say hot dogs and nuggets are by far my favorite lately!




So the countdown to my birthday is on!  As of today there are 16 days until I am 1 years old.  1 YEAR!!!  My grandparents from Georgia are coming and I overheard that there might be 2 parties for me.  The other day while we were at a bakery I heard my mom order a cake just for me.  My own chocolate cake!  No one to share with and no one to feed it to me.  I seriously can't wait for it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

With Love,
Colin



PICTURES!!!

Teeth and then a Poop

Another 2 teeth are coming in!  These big bad boys are bottom and towards the back and are called molars.  They are moving in slowly and painfully.  It is a good thing I have some medicine and my parents believe in "pumping formula" as a coping method!  I will sometimes chew on a frozen toy and they froze parts of a towel, but nothing really works for me too long.  So I just drool and complain and get lots and lots of sympathy!  If only I could score some of that ice cream Matthew gets!

I am starting to discover that my mouth is not just for housing my teeth, but also for making noises too.  I have been saying "Dada" a lot, screeching, but now I am really liking this babbling I can do.  It will come and go in waves, but if something catches my attention then I have to SAY something!  What I have noticed with this is if I "talk" then Matthew, my mom and dad talk too.  The sillies think I can understand them when they explain things like lights and shiny objects!  But I have decided that I am a talker, a real shocker if you know the rest of my family huh?

Just a few days ago I took my first step.  It was a quick shuffle and down I went to the floor, but over the last few nights we have been practicing and I am up to six steps at a time!  I am really proud of myself when I sit up after going to the floor and try to do it all over again.  My parents are super excited about it and they think it is a "bid deal".  I really hate how the clapping and yelling is so loud and I let them know it by crying and refusing to walk for a bit.  The celebration is just a bit too much for me and freaks me out.  I am sure I will get into it later, but for now low key celebrations are in order!

So it has taken 11 months, but for the very first time Matthew got a little jealous of me.  My parents have been taking pictures of me (teeth, babbling, and walking) and Matthew does not like to share the limelight!  He was upset at me (the nerve!!!) and my parents for taking so many pictures of just me.  I am pretty sure it was the "Matthew get out of the picture" that put him over the top.  Either way you look at it Matthew finally got a taste of what I have been feeling!  He really is a great older brother though!  He shares his toys, picks up my mess, is patient, and makes sure I am happy.  He really is a good guy!

Something happened the other day.  I am not proud that it happened and since we are being honest here, I will tell you.  I pooped on a museum floor.  It wasn't my fault nor will I accept any blame for the incident.  My mother, grandmother and Stacy were all minding our own business when Stacy picked me up and bounced me on her knee.  It should not have been a big deal, but the timing was bad along with the fact my diaper bunched and the next thing you know... there was a pile of poop on the floor.  Stacy was cute by asking around:  "what is that?", but the rest of all knew!  After a lengthy session with the clean up crew I was back out and ready to go.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

With Love,


Colin



PICTURES!!!