January 27, 2008 - Dish washing fun!

Colin loves to help Mama around the house; this morning he helped wash the dishes after we made whole wheat pancakes together for breakfast, yummy!

January 26, 2008 - Cole's birthday party

The b-day crowd rushes around the gym to try out all of the cool equiptment and Colin shoots some hoops!

Colin crawing around in the foam block pit and the kids playing on the trampolines

Colin was invited to his friend Cole's 3rd birthday party this afternoon at a kids gymnasium. The kids (of all ages) had a blast jumping around on all of the gymnastic equiptment and Colin especially loved the big pit of foam blocks!

Here's Cole smiling with his birthday cake, taking the first bite of cake and then Colin trying to imitate Cole (although Colin hasn't actually shown much interest in eating cake or ice cream as you can tell from his empty fork in this picture, much to the shock of everyone who gets the opportunity to offer it to him!)

January 21, 2008 - Bundling Up!

Colin really dislikes this extreme cold weather (or any level of cold for that matter...) and asked if he could wear one of Mama's scarves while we were bundling him up in his coat, hat and mittens this morning (just so happened to be a pink cashmere scarf, still very warm and soft :). Guess Mama will have to buy Colin his own scarf!

Okay, and the below pics are from the following morning -- this time with Colin wearing Mama's snow snoveling gloves!

January 20, 2008 - Space monkey!

We ventured out into the cold to go to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum for a while this afternoon (right before naptime as you can tell from the sleepy look on this boy!) and they have a special Curious George exhibit, part of which where you can take a picture and email it from the museum. Tres cool!

January 19, 2008 - Colin's birthday bash!

Colin has some friends over to help him celebrate his 2nd birthday!

He got this way cool construction cake, which was a party highlight for Colin!

We had a blast, check out some of the pictures from his fun birthday party afternoon!

Colin blew out all two of the birthday candles after everyone sang to him (with a little help from Mama :)Here's the party madness and the kids playing with some balloons

Colin and Mama pose after putting on their party hats!

Here's Jordan, Bella and Colin jumping around in the bouncy house!

After the party dies down (late night by toddler standards by 7 pm :), Melissa and Nick stick around for some Colin spoiling time and one last chance to wear the party hats!

Thanks to all of our friends for such a fun and memorable 2nd birthday party! xoxo, Colin and Mama

January 18, 2008 - "Go Pack!"

..says Colin.... wearing his "Packers" colors green polo to school on Friday for green/gold day (and yes, Mama even wore a Packers t-shirt to work today too... I don't know quite what the world is coming to really! As long as it's not against the great college blue and orange, I guess I don't have any loyalties!

January 17, 2008 - 2 year old stats

Colin eats some yummy and healthy yogurt from a tube, how unconventional and fun!













Colin was deemed healthy by his pediatrician this afternoon at his 2 year old "well baby" check-up! Dr. Miller was pleased with his growth curve, Colin is 3 feet tall and weighted almost 28 lbs with his clothes on/shoes off today! This puts him about 90th percentile for height and average weight. He was happy to hear Colin putting some words together in almost sentence form and told us that he hopes he doesn't have to see us until next year (for his 3 year old "well" check up!)

Colin didn't have to get any immunizations but we did have to go down to the lab for him to get his blood drawn for a lead test since we've been in the house for 6 months. Colin did FABULOUS and didn't even flinch when they put in the needle or cry the entire time he was getting his blood drawn. Mama on the other hand felt a little lightheaded (go figure!) and Colin shared his sticker with me that he got from the nurse to make me feel better :)

January 17, 2008 - Welcome new baby Katherine!

We want to welcome new baby Katherine Elizabeth into the world and into a wonderful family! Her big brother Brennie will help show her the ropes and she has very proud parents, Lauren and Kevin! We can't wait to meet you, Katherine!

January 14, 2007 - Colin's favorite video...

Colin loves this video... it's Elmo featuring Chris Brown.

Props to the cute furry red monster and hip hop master duo.

January 14, 2008 - 2 Years Ago...

Can't believe it has already been 2 years... it's Colin's 2nd birthday today!!!!!

and he still likes to snuggle in his blanky like the first day he was born 2 years ago (the first picture is Colin in his jammers wrapped in his favorite blanket while he ate his bedtime birthday snack tonight around 8 pm and the second is Colin wrapped in his first receiving blanket the night he was born January 14, 2006 at 7:29 pm)

More birthday celebration pictures to come after his birthday party this Saturday!

January 13, 2008 - bronchiolitis (yuck!)

Colin's slight cold on Thursday turned into a 103.5 degree fever and bronchiolitis on Friday (toddler version of bronchitis) and led him to a trip to the doctor (thanks to Daddy who stayed home Friday to take care of him!), a nebulizer breathing treatment and 5 day dose of steroids and antibiotics to combat the infection. Needless to say, by Sunday Colin was starting to feel a little better but he still deserved some spoiling... hence the half-dressed picture of him eating french toast on the living room couch while watch a video. (If he tries to figure out how to be sick more often b/c Mama actually lets him watch the tv then we'll be in trouble!!)

January 13, 2008 - Colin's big boy room!

Papa helped set up Colin's big boy bed that he made for Colin after the first of the year. Colin loves his new big boy bed and Mama's trying to get his big boy "world theme" room decorated!

January 12, 2008 - Practicing with scissors

Since Colin is turning into such a big boy, we are practicing using scissors to cut (hopefully just) paper! The first picture is him concentrating very hard and the second is him excitedly exclaiming "scissors!!!" and showing Mama his new pair :)

January 6, 2008 - Pickle Boy!

like mama, like son....

Colin eating a pickle at Jimmy John's after sharing a beach club sandwich with Mama :)

January 5, 2008 - Playing at home w/ Mama

Colin and Mama have a relaxing Saturday and do a lot of playing around the house and outside in the snow (since it's finally above freezing!)

Colin tries out his new snowball maker which is so cool!

Trying out his snowball aim at Mama!

Colin's baby snowman

I'm a pirate... ARRRRR, MATE! says Colin with his best pirate face on!

He's playing dress up in some of the fun things he got from Grammy Mary!

Mama and Colin play with playdough before dinner- this is our mouse and cheese that we made and I think the mouse is moving in for a bite!

January 1, 2008 - Happy New Year!

Colin was exhausted on New Year's Day after staying up all night partying! (okay, so he maybe really only stayed up until 8:30 instead of 8:00 on New Year's Eve but celebrating a whole new year when you aren't even 2 yet is exhausting! :)

December 30, 2007 - REAL LIVE DIGGER!

We stop on the way home from church for Aunt Lissa to take Colin up to touch a real digger - he's mezmerized and more in love with construction trucks than ever before (if this is even possible!)

December 29, 2007 - Christmas at Nana's

Nana cooked a wonderful dinner on Saturday and we had our family Christmas together. It was a full day affair and Colin bypassed his nap because he was having so much fun (as we all were)!

Uncle Dan gives Colin a piggyback ride all over the house!

Colin and Mama help distribute the Christmas gifts

Colin's "surprised" face that Uncle Dan taught him before we got to Nana's b/c Colin "helped" Santa Nana pick out some trucks from her at Target the day prior so he showed him how to look surprised when he unwrapped the trucks :)

Colin excitedly helps Aunt Lissa and Uncle Dan open a present

Colin gets a ride on his Great Grandma's lap

December 26 - 30, 2007 - Christmas break visiting with friends/family

Colin and Mama drive down to Papa's house late Christmas night to spend the rest of the week with friends and family. Colin pretty much got spoiled with a 2 week long Christmas with presents every day (thank goodness that he isn't still asking for presents from Santa now!)

Mama's cousin Allison visiting from N.C. with daughters Madison and Maiya. Colin trying out his cool new tool set and train that Papa got/made him!

Colin and his friend Mary Elizabeth composing some new tunes on Papa's piano. Papa reading Colin THE BEST book ever that he got from Denise (love and thanks!)

Mama and Colin visited at her friend Amy's house with her boys Drew and Benny- the boys had much fun playing and the mamas had time to catch up!

The holidays were so much fun and so wonderful to be able to share this time with so many people who are so important to Colin and I!