Self Portrait

He got a hold of the camera...

Baker Park Play Date

Last week we went to the park with our good friends Johanna, Camden and Grayden. Johanna took some great photos (she usually does...and we love her for this) and I wanted to share.

(Most of the captions courtesy of Johanna as well)

4 Bakers, 2 Swings

Monkey in a Swing

Here comes trouble...

Romeo, Romeo, where for out thou, Romeo?

Four Bakers

A Moment I've Been Waiting for for 2 Years and 3 Months

Colin told me, "Love You" all on his own last night. I laid him down and tucked him in and just as I was leaning in for a kiss he said it. It was kinda funny because at first I thought he said "yellow." So I asked him "yellow?" and he said nuh huh. I said "love you?" and he did his little giggle that means "yes."

I left the room with a tear in my eye.

1-2-3 Imagine!

On Saturday we took Colin to see Elmo live in concert. The name of the show was 1-2-3 Imagine, and taught the kids how to use their imagination to take them different places throughout the world. Colin had a good time, but didn't seem into any of the parts that didn't involve Elmo. Here are a few pictures from our very first Elmo concert.

His souvenir T-Shirt

Big Things for a Little Kid...

Colin has had quite a few new exciting things happen lately.

On Saturday we bought him his first Bible, I'm excited to share that with him, which we will do tomorrow.

We are starting a homeschooling program tomorrow, which includes a daily Bible lesson. Starting with Jonah and the whale.

Also on Saturday we switched his bed to a toddler bed and bought him all new Elmo sheets and a big kid pillow. We did this while he was with Gramma and Grandpa, whom he still stays with every Saturday night. So when he got home on Sunday, just in time for nap, he got a bit of a surprise! We also placed his Elmo doll in the bed and he wrapped his arms around him and snuggled up.


That first time, he got out of bed about 3 or 4 times, banged on his door, and cried some, but eventually went to sleep. That night he only got out of bed once or twice and slept the whole night through. Tonight, his second night in the bed, he didn't get up at all. We are so unbelievably proud of our little man!

He's getting one more BIG surprise on Wednesday, stay tuned for details on that! hehe

Myriad of Photos

Christmas cookies...more fun to eat than decorate!

Playing with Nolan's safety gear.

The new game: put Elmo Easter basket on his head, as his "hat"

Colin got a trampoline from Santa...he LOVES it!

Brrr.

2 smiles! 2 smiles!! Bad lighting :(

Cute Kid

Colin was petting LuLu and pointing to her body parts, and I was naming each of them. He got to the paws on her feet and I said, "paws." So he points to another one and says "ma." I just giggled.

Colin's New Ride

As a "sorry you have to share the spotlight with a little brother now" gift for Colin we decided to get him a cool new car that he can drive on his own. The battery powered "TotRod." We even customized it by putting a Wiggles bumper sticker on it. He got it the day after we got home from the hospital with Lucas. Here are the pictures from the fun first ride:

Ice Cream and Good Friends!

A few weeks ago one of our Mommy friends, Johanna, introduced us to a new ice cream place in Arlington that serves free "baby cones" to little ones, and has some really yummy ice cream too!

Here are some pictures of Johanna and her sweet girls, twins Camden and Grayden, and Colin chowing down on some ice cream. Of course, my little guy prefers just the cone, so he took his cone, took one lick of the ice cream and turned it upside down until the ice cream fell off, then procceded to eat the cone iteslf.

Colin has known these two most of his life, and Grayden can even say Colin's name, which she does everytime she sees him. They are the best toy sharers, so my sensitive little guy really likes to play with both of them too. It's nice that he (and I) have such good friends, we are really blessed to have such a great group of mommies and babies to play with.

A special thank you to Johanna for these pictures.

Play Time!

Yesterday we met a few of our friends at the play area inside the mall. Colin is finally the age that he can run around and play and climb. He had a pretty good time, and it's good to get him out of the house at least once a day to burn some energy. It makes for great naps in the afternoon! hehe

Pudding Painting Artists

Yesterday we had some of our friends over to try a fun activity: painting with pudding. I took vanilla snack packs and added different colors of food coloring. We stripped 10 babies down to their diapers and headed out to the shaded driveway to let them loose. This is what ensued:

Trying to pick his "paint" color / Let's try red / Ooh, yummy

Black "paint" as good as red! / Pudding mustache / Clean up time! As fun as the painting!

Spaghetti + Pudding=Fun Dinner

For dinner last night I made my chicken and veggie pasta and surprised Brad with a mint chocolate chip pudding for dessert. We've been letting Colin feed himself to work on his fork and spoon skills. I think he had fun, what do you think?

Colin Update!

So sorry for the long wait time between posts, but I've been a little preoccupied recently. I thought I'd take this opportunity to post just a few pictures.

Some of you may have seemed to notice that I haven't posted a monthly newsletter in 2 months either. I've decided to start making them "Quarterly Newsletters," so I'll be posting one every 3 months, starting this month, which will include months 17-19.

So, for now, a bunch of cute photos will have to suffice :)

Playing Outside

Mother's Day

Aren't I Cute?!?

Big Green Pillow

I'm ready to swim, let's go!

Watching Wiggles with Dadda.

You're silly!

Can we watch Wiggles, Momma?

Mmmm, chocolate chip cookie!

Vacation, Part Deux!

These are photos from Gramma and Grandpa's camera:

Day 1:

Early morning with the ladies.

Watchin' Elmo with Grandpa.

First formal night.

Colin chowing down at formal night.

Day 2:

Good morning Dadda!

Yay! Swimming!

So much fun!

He loved jumping in and out!

Line dancing with Gramma and CJ.

Day 3:

Tuckered out in Jamaica.

Great group photo in Jamaica!

This kid LOVES the water, can you tell?!

Day 4:

Welcome to Grand Cayman!

Yum, ice cream cone!

Second formal night with Gramma.

Day 5:

Ready to swim in Cozumel.

Swimmin' in Cozumel with Momma and Dadda.

Sand baby.

Hi, Momma!

Day 6:

Spent the night with Gramma, Grandpa and CJ.

Chillin' with Dadda.

You're so funny, Grandpa!

Day 7:

Last morning on board.