Monthly Newsletter: Month 8

Dear Colin,

Yesterday you turned 8 months old. We're still debating on how much rent to start charging you. There are many things to discuss about this month, but the first is how much energy you have!



I've begun calling you my little monkey, because you are constantly reaching for things. You love grabbing the remote or telephone out of my hands. You inspect objects like a scientist, end over end, and then you try to put things into your mouth from every angle. First the top of the thing goes into your mouth, then the bottom, and then the sides.

You're daddy jokes that your favorite toy is jungle gym Momma. You love to crawl over me, be hung upside down and twist around. Secretly, I love it too, you laugh and smile right at me and it melts my heart.

Speaking of laughing and smiling, you are such a happy little guy. I get comments on it all the time, how content and, well, happy you are. Sometimes, you laugh for no apparent reason, and sometimes, momma gives you plenty of reason. Your laugh has gone from an infant giggle to a baby chuckle, still the sweetest sound.



In addition to the five bottles you get daily, you are also eating three solid meals a day. You love oatmeal, pears, sweet potatoes, apples, green beans, peas, carrots and last week we fed you the Gerber puffs, the little cereal pieces that melt in your mouth. You do not like avocado at all, little man. Up next is peaches, beets and broccoli, oh my! Your system is handling the new food well as you poop about 10 times a day.

We've also started giving you baths as part of your bed time routine, that way Daddy gets to enjoy them too. Not only that, but you've been taking those baths in your own bath tub, like a big boy. You love, love, love to splash and chew on your little toys.

You're absolute new favorite thing to do is twist your head to the side, trying to figure things out, or trying to see behind you, or just because you know it gets a smile because it is so cute. You aren't crawling just yet, but man are you getting close! You are however waving hi and bye to people. The past couple of days you've even started waving when we get close to the front door, such a smarty!

You've become the best, sweetest, cutest, brightest spot in our lives and I just can not believe how much my love for you continues to grow each and every day. Just when I think I'm going to burst with love and joy, I wake up to another day and another adorable Coly Bear smile and there it is, the ever-growing heart.

Love,
Momma

Colin's Swim Instructor in the News

The Dallas Morning News did a piece on their neighbors Web site about the swim instructor who taught Colin. Click on the link below to take a look at the video. And watch carefully because there is about a 3 second shot of Colin swimming!

http://www.neighborsgo.com/video/1041

Thanks to GG Birdelle for finding the video and sharing it with us!

Jumping Monkey

For all those who haven't seen him in awhile, Colin has become quite the mover and shaker. He is so full of energy he never sits still! I've started calling him my little monkey because he is always trying to climb somewhere or reach something with those little arms. So, yesterday, Colin's super Daddy went and bought him a new toy...a jumper. And boy, does this kid love it.

It's nice because now I can keep this upstairs and his activity center downstairs, so now he has a toy to play in no matter where we are.

Boy oh Boys!

This is very much past due, but I have been meaning to post some pictures and a short video from the Chicago Baker clan's visit at Father's Day. We got some great photos of the boys together. It was so fun to see them together again too, they are both so different, but so alike too. Shane is bigger and much more vocal, while Colin is the quiet observant type. Shane liked to sit still in someone's lap whereas Colin is all over the place reaching and grabbing for anything he can and a constant wiggle worm. So enjoy the video and (quite) a few pictures of the two Baker Boys.

Colin's New Trick

So just before we left on our trip last week Colin started doing something that is just irresistibly cute and annoying at the same time. Only because he does it while you are trying to feed him...


Here you see my point of view, calling him and holding out the spoon full of peas.


Here you see him watching Henry, laying on the floor behind him.

Instead of turning his body to look to the side or behind him, he tilts his head and turns to look behind or to the side. It's too cute, right? Yeah, because you aren't the one trying to get him to eat peas.

Swim Test

Colin finished his swim lessons yesterday and as his final test we created a real world situation in which he fell in to the pool fully dressed and diapered. He did great! He did exactly what he was supposed to, even though he wasn't too happy about it. The kid's diaper weighed about 10 pounds when we took it off!

Colin the Model

Last week we had Colin's pictures done for the first time by a professional. She runs a blog where she posts "sneak peeks" at your photos, so I wanted to share them with you all. There are only 3 posted, but what a cutie!

Colin's Pictures

Just click on the link above.

Monthly Newsletter: Month Seven

Dear Two Teef,

This is what your Daddy calls you because, well, you have two teeth. Your two bottom teeth came in a while back. I felt the need to use this nick name while I can. You are currently in the process of cutting FOUR more teeth. Your top four front teeth to be exact. For the most part, you don't seem to be bothered by that.

You had a big step this month in your march towards adult hood. You started solid foods. Any grown up will tell you, eating solids is a must for all who want to be independent, which you are already demanding. For instance, you won't drink from any of the three sippy cups Momma got for you. No, you want the big boy cup, the one Momma or Daddy or even Gramma is drinking from. We let you have a few sips of water from our cups and you do pretty good with it.

Because you have such severe eczema the doctor suggested we only introduce one new food per week. So every Saturday morning you get a new treat. We started with rice cereal, which you hate. Then we tried bananas, which we THINK you might be allergic to. See, you broke out in hives all over on the third day of bananas, but you had a lot of other firsts that day too, so I'm still not convinced it was the bananas. Though, we tried them two other days and you got a couple of hives then too.

So, the next week Momma tried her hand at making your baby food herself. You had pureed sweet potatoes and though not a fan at first, you now love them. But, your favorite food of all is Momma's homemade applesauce. Kid, you can't get enough!



In the beginning you would barely take a few bites and I had to play a game with you to get you to open your mouth, but now...you have your mouth open as soon as I have you strapped in that high chair. You know what is coming, and you are ready for it! Gramma calls you a little bird. And you look downright jealous when you watch the adults eating.

We started you out just eating once in the mornings and then milk the rest of the day, but now that you have two foods you like, we've been giving you applesauce in the mornings and sweet potatoes at night. Tomorrow you get green beans...we'll see what you think of those.

It is very important to me that you get as many natural, chemical-free nutrients as possible so I have chosen to make all your baby food at home with all organic fruits and vegetables. It's actually not hard, a little fun in fact and it makes me feel good to know that you are getting such good food.



You've also been in swim lessons for three weeks now. You've come so far in less than three weeks, even the instructor (Miss Bev) is very proud and impressed. She's taken numerous videos of you to share with the other instructors.

I've included a video showing exactly what you've learned.

Another huge milestone that MUST be addressed this month is that hair, kid! You've gotten a ton of it and it seems to get longer and more dense everyday. Everyone comments on it these days. It's coming in strawberry blond. With that reddish blond hair and piercing blue eyes, you are going to be a lady killer one day...I hope the girls are prepared!

Love,
Momma

Water Baby

So the key word last time was "time," of which has been short lately. Sorry for that, but I'll try to do better this month.

For those who don't know I've been driving 60 miles round trip 4 days a week for the past 3 weeks in order for Colin to get the best swim lessons he can. He is learning live saving techniques. Because we have a pool and hot tub I feel these lessons are paramount and therefore worth the time, effort and cost to do so.

He can now hold his breath, swim underwater, roll over and float on his back. He is doing remarkably well and I wanted to show off his new skills, so today I took my camera to the lessons and shot some video to share with everyone. She has started flipping him all over to make sure no matter how he gets in the water, he knows how to get to his back.



Also, I know I'm late on the monthly newsletter, but I plan to have that up today or tomorrow.