Quarterly Newsletter: Months 19-21

Dear Colin,

I'm so sorry that this is so late, but you have a new little brother who came just as this letter was due to you. So, I'm sure you understand how busy I've been with you both. But, alas, I have some quiet time to sit down and write this letter to you.

July: Month 19

July saw your first "real" July 4th. Last year, you were too young to really appreciate everything. This year, you LOVED the fireworks, laughing, and shouting "more." It made our holiday more fun.

This month you had a few new words and a few new foods. You ate a cherry for the first time, and really enjoyed them, you also had your first snow cone, a cherry one, and loved it too! You have forced us to learn your language, Colin speak. For instance: "nice" means "snack"; "budda" means "blanky"; "ba" means "banana"; and "ice" means "outside."

We took you to an outdoor water park for the first (and second) time and you had a blast running through the fountains. The water park had a great kiddie pool, only a foot and a half deep, so you were able to frolick as you pleased. After a while, you were more interested in stealing cheetos from a woman sitting just outside the pool feeding her kids. You went over and took one from her, twice.

You handed me my most embarassing moment as a parent thus far one morning at story time at the library. We were all sitting in a circle and you ran into the middle of the circle. You stood there for a minute to listen to the teacher and then all of a sudden just pulled your pants down. All the moms just laughed, but I turned bright red, and pulled you over to me and pulled them back up immediately. Oh, Colin.

Eating cake at Nolan's 2 year birthday party.

We also took you for your first professional haircut. You weren't too thrilled, but were a good boy for the most part. You got lollipops and had four adults singing Elmo songs to you the whole time. As a special treat after wards we took you out for ice cream!

August: Month 20

You attended your first "prom" this month. You even had a date...two in fact...twins. You are such a little stud, lol. It was a toddler prom with our mommies group, and all of our friends were there. We danced, had snacks and played in bubbles. You got a souvenir photo with the girls too.

Your prom dates, Camden and Grayden.

Of course the biggest news in August was the sooner-than-expected birth of your baby brother. So you spent a few days with Gramma and Grandpa, being spoiled as always.

Giving Momma kisses, and meeting Bubba for the first time.

We wanted to get you something special to help ease the fact that you had to share the spotlight with Lucas, so we got you a new toy car that you could drive yourself. Dada even put a bumper sticker on it for you. It's a Wiggles one we got at the concert last month and you love it.

Your Wiggles bumper sticker.

September: Month 21

Giving Bubba goodnight kisses, which you do most nights now.

We enrolled you into the Little Gym program Saturday mornings. We had taken you to a few free classes over the past few months and you always had a great time. We decided this would be a good way for us to have at least an hour a week where you got all the attention, special Dada or Momma and you time.

You love to help carry Bubba in his car seat.

You also got into the football season with Dada this month. He's been looking forward to it and the day of the first game, you said "football." And just like your Dada, the game gets all your attention when it's on the TV.

Love,
Momma

Quarterly Newsletter: Months 16-18

Dear Colin,

So you actually turned 19 months 2 weeks ago, but I hope you understand, your Momma has been busy, and well, you probably already know what a procrastinator I am as well. Something I hope you don't inherit ;)

Over the past three months of life, you have truly grown into your own. Everyone who knows you will agree that you are 100% little boy now. There is no baby left in you, other than maybe when you get hurt or are tired and just want to snuggle with Momma. That trait I hope doesn't disappear for a long long time.

April: Month 16


I've already posted about it, but back in April we took our first big family vacation. We took a cruise and traveled through four different countries in one week. You made the trip more fun and charmed every person you came in contact with.

April also marked your first big boo-boo. You were practicing your walking and tripped from the grass to the sidewalk, skinning your cheek. This was three months ago and you still have a little bit of redness on that cheek. So, if it does end up scarring, at least you'll know where it came from.

You also learned how to "stretch" back in April, courtesy of your "Grandma" CJ. She'd tell you, "Big stretch" and you'd throw both arms over your head and laugh.

As you know, your Momma loves her flowers and loves to garden. So we started our yearly planting back in April and you came along for the ride. I'm proud and happy to announce, you love to garden too! You have your very own shovel and everything. You help dig the dirt and love to pick the flowers, hehe.

May: Month 17


May saw a visit from your Uncle Kenny. He came to wish Momma a happy Mother's day and spent the weekend with us. You two get along pretty well!

Perhaps the most exciting thing for you this month was your very first sandbox. It took some time for Momma to finally get Dada to set it up for us, but once we did, you were in heaven. Two months later and I'm still trying to convince you not to eat the sand though. The same day we set up your sandbox, Dada also fixed a nice little stage area for you to play on underneath your jungle gym. He was pretty proud of himself for that one, and you love your new play area.

We were also finally able to use the pool for the first time this season. You love the water, my little man! We had the pool remodeled in April, so it now has a special little platform where you can stand and play, right underneath the trickling waterfall.

We did have to do some more sleep training with you this month. We were having the hardest time getting you to go to sleep without crying. Once you were down, you slept through the night just fine, but we'd have to rock you for up to an hour sometimes until you were asleep in our arms and lay you down. We knew we couldn't continue this way. So for three nights we did our typical bath-book-bottle routine, then rocked you for just 10 minutes, laying you down awake. You cried your heart out in protest for nearly an hour those three nights, tearing our hearts to shreds, but finally you lay down and went to sleep. Now we are proud to announce you have adjusted to this routine and go to sleep just fine on your own in your bed.

June: Month 18


The first week of June we started swim lessons. Like last year, we did the ISR (Infant Swim Rescource) version of them so that you would actually know how to swim and what to do in case of a water emergency. You didn't much care for the swim lessons, crying and screaming the entire 10 minutes, 4 times a week, but all that mattered was you were learning, and you loved to swim and play in the pool at home. You are the only kid your age I know who can not only swim underwater, but turn himself over and float if he falls into the water. You were taught to swim-float-swim until you reach a step or edge. Once there, you can pull yourself up and breathe. Now you even have four little dive sticks that you love to dive underwater and pick up, one or two at a time. What other 19 month old can say that?

You have become quite a fan of the TV show "The Wiggles." You now pick up the remote, point to the TV and say "wa-wa" for them. You laugh and dance to the songs, especially the itsy-bitsy spider (your favorite song of all) and another one called "Two Fine Gentleman." I'll try to get a video of the second song to post another day. This isn't to say you aren't still a huge fan of Elmo, because he too is still a favorite.

Your Dada also remembered just recently that he had some toys in the attic that he used to play with when he was a little boy. He climed up and got them out and now the little green and yellow grocery cart is one of your favorite toys to play with. You push, pull and drag that thing all around.

Physically and mentally you grow stronger each day. I'm so very proud of the little boy you are turning into and am continously surprised at how much my love grows each and every day.

By the time I write your next newsletter you will have a new little brother, Lucas. I know that you will be a fantastic big brother and teach him all that you know. Please remember even though you'll have to learn to share Momma, that I have enough love for the both of you and always always will.

Love,
Momma