Big Sister

Sweet big sister.







- Posted from my iPhone

Boy's (and girls) best friend...

Our poor dog.
Calvin, or as we affectionately call him, Bucky or Buck.
He really is such a good dog. Especially with our kids.
Sure- he may lose 20 lbs every time we have a child...pee on our basement floor....eat things off the counters and jump on our guests with a driving force followed by stinky breath and a wet tongue.....

BUT.
He's GREAT with our kids. Did I mention that?
Dare I say...we entertained getting rid of him!  Gasp!
BUT, we can't and this is why....

If we got rid of him, our KIDS would miss him.....

I guess we would too.

Zumba!!

Me and my girl took a Zumba class together at SBTS with some of my girl friends.

Because Mady loves music and dancing so much I am surprised we haven't done this sooner.

She absolutely loved it. Lasted a whole 35 minutes before she got antsy. It was a 45 minute class and se only asked to go home at minute 40. I'm pretty impressed for a 3 year old to hold attention that long.

She was hysterical to watch. She couldn't do the moves but she certainly tried. She also danced from many different places in the gym. She tarted beside me in the back. Then quickly moved to be next to my friend, Chelsea. Then she decided she needed to be in the center of the class and later she settled on the very front row; in front of the instructor.

When the instructor would demonstrate the moves and and say "ok, ready!" Mady would, enthusiastically say "ready!" It was so darn cute.



Of course Bryan was just as excited for her to experience this; as we both are audience to Mady's hour long dance parties in our living room floor. He even got her dressed. She looked like she walked off flash dance.




Such a fun night. One I will always cherish.


- Posted from my iPhone

Collin {3 Months}

My little man is a-growin' and a-growin'! I can't believe he's been in our life for 3 months! A third of his first year is done! Crazy.

Well his second month to the 3rd has certainly gone by fast...especially when I look back at my pictures....not many. I have a lot more on my phone. I will have to post those another time.

So at 3 months here is what you've been up to, Little Man...



Collin,

You are such a GOOD baby! I just adore being your mom. Your personality is starting to come through. You are pretty serious, like your sister was as a baby. However, you just have the sweetest way of lighting up for me and your dad. You give us the biggest smiles. We love them...especially when I consider soon you will be socially smiling at strangers, instead of staring them down...like you do now. So we are savoring the smiles meant for just us. It means you know us and love us. We love you too!

You weigh (roughly) 15 lbs. You don't have a doctor's appointment until 4 months, so its hard to tell accurately. You sleep about 4 naps a day and will wake me about 2 times at night. You've started to establish your routine. Which makes me happy. You know your momma loves to keep a tight ship, knowing when you are going to do what helps me plan and stay organized with our time. However, you are very "go-with-the-flow" too. I often have to wake you from a good nap to go pick Mady up at school or take her somewhere. Its hard to do that, but you usually don't mind. Speaking of sleep...you love to sleep in your swing. I am in the process of beginning the weaning you from the swing to your bed. You sleep in your bed at night, but during your daily naps we got very used to letting you sleep in your swing, mainly because of the incline for your reflux. This makes traveling hard. I can't bring the swing ever where! Hah. Not to mention, you are getting TOO BIG for it! You cry when I put you in it initially because you are too long for it. Hah. You've done great so far with the weaning. You cry/fuss only for about 5 minutes before you drift off to sleep. You know I can't let you cry long. I'm in there shushing you and patting your belly. I love you dearly and want to make sure you feel secure. I am doing this with you WAY SOONER than we did with Mady. Probably because she liked to be swaddled and you aren't too crazy about that. You are doing great so far.

You're wearing size 2 diapers (you only wore size 1s for about a month!)....fast on your way to size 3s. In clothing you are in 3, 3-6 and 6 months.

Tummy time isn't your favorite...but you're slowly getting used to it.

Dukes up!

You've started to notice Mady more. You've even begun to follow her around the room with your eyes. Which is hard because she moves quick! You have even smiled for her when she stays still long enough. She is also getting more gentle with you. She will often tell random people "This is my brother, Collin. He's so CHUBBY!" Its hilarious! She is very proud of you, her "chubby-bubby", as she calls you...or "bubbers". I love all the names. She even prayed for you last night. Thanking God for your life. You are so loved, Little Man.

I'm OBSESSED with YOU! All of you. I could kiss you all.day.long! Love that dimple smile!

Handsome

Another dimple, half smile. I get this smile a lot. You are so funny with these little smirks. So cute!

Here you are with your "watch me grow bear"...
I decided to do them naked style! You didn't mind one bit. You like being naked!

oh....


my....


rolls!!!

Collin, you are precious. We love and adore you. So thankful for you and couldn't imagine our life without you. You're 3rd month is starting out great. You're refux has seemed to calm down quite a bit too. No more ounces and ounces of milk being "regurgitated". Thank goodness. You are doing just great.

You starting to look more like "you". Losing that infant/ newborn look and gaining the "baby look". Mady did the same thing during this time....and just for fun, here are some pictures of Mady at this month...

You and Mady look quite a bit a like...definitely siblings!
You've also done quite a bit of growing in just 3 short months...here's your newborn photo next to your 3 month photo.

I love you buddy! You make my days even brighter.

Love,
Momma

Gymnastics

Mady started Gymnastics this month and has loved it!

She's a little apprehensive with certain things like swinging from the trapeze bar, letting go and falling into the foam pit. But we're getting there. ;)

Right now she's stoked about the leotards she can wear! (Me too)












- Posted from my iPhone

Now and Then {Christmas}

Christmas 2012

Now

Christmas 2011

Then

Christmas 2010

Then

How does this happen in just a few years?
These little faces just keep growing and changing.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Hold those blessings closer, count the gifts in your life and praise the Hand who gives them.

On to 2013!

Movies and Cookies with Daddy

Lately, with our new addition Mady and Daddy have had some special Daddy Daughter dates.
Even more than normal.

So far they've seen 2 movies. Wreck it Ralph and Monsters Inc. 3-D
This is when they were going to Monsters Inc.

Then they came home and made some delicious Oatmeal Banana Chocolate chip cookies.
They were ah-mazing!

Don't mind me, just mixing it up with my hands!

I am the chef and Bryan is the baker. We always joke that when we have people over I will always plan the menu to a T and then completely forget about a dessert until about 20 minutes before they get here. Bryan will have to run out the the store and pick something up to make.

Bryan has the major sweet tooth (so does mady), so with the invention of pinterest and all I've decided to keep all ingredients for "scratch baking" on hand so that we have what we need in a pinch. Because, inevitably I will forget again and Bryan can save the day with something awesome, like these cookies!

Mady loves making things...especially things she gets to eat! 

She has also loved her Daddy Daughter Dates too! 

Snow Day

We had our first snow of the season and Mady really loved playing in it.
It was really her first experience playing in the snow. Last year we had NO snow. It was like a dream for me. I hate snow, but remember loving playing in it as a kid. So I was eager to play with Mady in it this year.

 

Snow Angel

She was mesmerized by it. Loved falling in it and touching it. She thought because it was covering our bushes she could literally sit on our bushes and not fall through. Hah! It is an illusion. I also remember thinking that as a kid too. Growing up in Maryland we had a lot of snowy winters. When we got snow we usually got several inches to feet. I remember one winter where our snow drifts were up to my waist. We lived in a cul-de-sac and when the snow plows would plow our streets they would pile up the snow in huge piles. Leaving 8 foot high piles to build tunnels in or climb to the top. Made great snow forts. Growing up in the snow was fun and today's snow play was great too. Watching Mady discover the snow was liking re-living it for the first time all over again.
  

Here is our snow man. The snow was perfect packing snow! Perfect for building a snowman. Of course as soon as I had one built (and Mady helped) she ran up to it to knock it over before I could get a picture. Hah! So this is one of our snowmen built. Notice the eyes are apart of my landscape lighting. Haha. We have an entire snowman building kit (with eyes, scarf, carrot and hat) but of course I couldn't find it, so we had to improvise. I think we did just fine. One of my sweet neighbors saw us outside and ran us out a carrot for his nose. That really makes the snowman a snowman!

She just wanted to roll around in it!

Overall, it was a very fun afternoon. Mady loved it. I loved watching her love it!

Even some 3 weeks later our snowman was still "standing". Leaning a little, but I think that's just his "swagger". Hah.