Brrr

As the weather gets cooler here, we are finally able to start dressing Colin in some of the cute cold weather clothes I've been buying up lately. See how cute he is? The last one is his sign for "Up!"

The Pumpkin Patch...and an Update!

Last Saturday we took Colin to his first pumpkin patch, and we had a great time! I'll have to post those details and photos another day, but today I wanted to post some great pictures from a pumpkin patch we visited yesterday with our Mommies group. We got some terrific photos I just had to share! Those are a bunch of Colin's friends. Please note in the last photo all the others are sitting nice and still for the group photo and my little man is off and running!

I also wanted to update you all on something else very exciting. Most of you know we've been teaching Colin "baby signs." It is basically sign language for babies, so they can communicate better with us dumb adults. There is a sign for "all done" where you shake both of your hands in the air. I do this several times a day to signify that we are done doing a particular task. On Monday when I was putting Colin to bed, we finished reading our book and I said "All done," and made the sign...and Colin did too! He shook his little hands right along with me. And he didn't stop there. The next day I feed him breakfast and when he finished, I said "All done?" and made the sign, he just looked at me. I said "More?" and made the sign for that, again, he just stared at me. So I said, "All done?" and made the sign again, this time he made the sign too, and then made his sign to be picked up (reaching both arms in the air and open and closing his fists). Needless to say, we are very excited, it is going to help tremendously knowing what our little guy is trying to tell us!

Stay tuned for more pictures from the other pumpkin patch, the state fair, and our vacation last month!

Colin Waves Hi

Monthly Newsletter: Month Ten

Dear Colin,

You turned ten-months-old a little over a week ago. Why didn't I write this on time? You're not supposed to ask questions like that yet.

One thing that needs to be discussed right now, up front, before anything else:

Your OPINION. YOU HAVE MADE IT KNOWN.

Somewhere in the last month I crossed that line from caretaker of a baby to caretaker and disciplinarian, and I'm not so sure I'm ready for that. I definitely didn't think it would happen this soon. I read somewhere that discipline with a ten month old is all about tone of voice. So, I tested that theory out.

You were eating lunch, something you don't particularly want to do, it's more something that I have to force you to do at this point, you'd much rather be down in the floor crawling around trying to pull outlet protectors from their sockets. After much screaming, crying and arm flailing, with broccoli and chicken all over you, me, the floor and the highchair, I said in a very stern, adult voice: "Colin, that is not necessary." NOT NECESSARY? Who says that to a ten-month-old? Like you would understand perfectly that the situation called for a more appropriate response. Other mommies use words like NO and STOP to signal that someone should not do what they are doing, but not me. No, I use words like NOT NECESSARY.

But, IT WORKED. You stopped, stared at me, your arms came down...and you began your mad-at-the-world cry. You. Had. Just. Gotten. In. Trouble. How had cute, little Colin, in trouble? You must have realized how serious the situation was, because after just a few seconds of crying, you opened your mouth. And ate.

Then there is the car keys. You want those keys like nothing else. You can hear the little "tinkle tinkle" of them and come crawling and whining to them as fast as your little body can carry you. But I have to take them from you, I MUST have them to drive the car, and that makes you mad. So I give them to you as soon as we get to our destination. We went to Target a couple of weeks ago, and I gave them to you while I was getting you in the cart. Once you were settled, I took them from you. That was the first dumb thing I did, I realize now, because you just don't take away something from a baby without replacing it with something else. I guess this is what they refer to as distraction, or the phenomenon called Babies Don't Know Any Different. You threw your first ever temper tantrum, and you had to do it RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TARGET. Thank you, Colin. So, I tried to give you your favorite rattle, and you pushed it aside. NO. I tried Lamby. NO. You wanted those freaggin' keys. But I don't want you putting them in your mouth, but after 2 minutes of temper tantrum I crumbled, and gave them to you. Then I spent the next 30 minutes telling you "Not in your mouth" and pushing them down. But, at least you were happy.

You're probably wondering at this point if I have anything good to say, and I do, I'll get to that in a minute. But there's all this other stuff that you keep throwing at me AND I NEED A MOMENT TO CATCH MY BREATH, PLEASE:

1) You've learned how to undo the velcro straps on your diapers while you're lying on the changing table.

2) You pee in the bathtub quite frequently.

3) You've learned to sit up in your crib, so now when we lay you down we have to check on you after awhile to make sure that you are 1. actually sleeping and not sitting there playing with the bumper or 2. fallen asleep in a half-sitting position because you wake up 30 minutes later, sore and mad.

4) You must be entertained at all times, or you whine.

Are we there yet? To the good parts? There have to be good parts right? And there are, Little Man. There are, like how you snuggle me and give kisses. Like the way you smile when your Daddy comes home from work. Like the way you crawl around just saying "Momma" all day. Like the sound of your laugh and how it heals my heart. Like your chunky little thighs and how you laugh the hardest when I nibble on them. Like how you love to push your balls around the floor and chase after them, hours on end. Like how you and Henry stare out the windows together. Like when I do give you my keys you don't whine for at least ten whole minutes. Like your pudgy little feet and how ticklish they are. Like how you love your books and pounding their pages. Like when you are crawling around ninety to nothing and you just stop all of a sudden, sit down, and look around, like you need a break before you start right back up again. Like how I can pick you up when you're crying and you'll put your head on my shoulder and the world is all right again.

There are so many good things, and I think we're both learning our roles as momma and son, caretaker and torturer.

Love,
Momma

Peek a Boo, I See You!

This video was also taken on Monday. I was playing Peek a boo with his feet, and he loved it! I just love his laugh...don't you?

Crawly Bear

Thats the new nickname given Colin by his Grandpa Frank because, well, Colin is officially crawling everywhere. He took his first tentative moves on his knees on Sunday and on Monday he was crawling as much as his little body could. I got a short video and wanted to share.

Monthly Newsletter: Month Nine

Dear Colin,

I apologize for the delay in this letter, we've had quite a busy time the past 10 days. You, Little Man, turned 9 months 11 days ago.

Every day your Daddy and I marvel at what a little boy you are becoming, no longer a "baby." You even no longer need those "baby" things. Like, pureed baby food. You are now eating table food, or chunks of things. Still the same foods you loved before, just now in a non-pureed form. I still prepare the all natural organic stuff for you, you just eat them whole. And, now not only are you eating fruits and veggies, but you started cheese just a couple of days after turning 9 months. You also started blueberries and strawberries, both of which you are a big fan.

We call this your poo face, yes, you are pooing in the picture.

Another "baby" thing you don't need anymore...sleep. Never a fan, you have really gotten worse lately. You just don't want to sleep, there was even one day you only took a 20 minute nap the WHOLE DAY. That was just a ton of fun. We even bought you a new onesie which says, "I'll sleep when I'm good and ready." The most appropriate clothing purchase we've ever gotten for you.

Daddy and I have gone into baby proofing mode, since you are on the move with your little "army" crawl. You are quite the scooter, actually. Henry doesn't stand a chance once you figure out how to get up on your knees, let me tell you.

In other news, you are pulling up to a standing position all on your own, and you LOVE to do it. A soon as you are up, you get the biggest smile on your little face, you are just so proud. We still have a blast in the tub every night. Though your favorite thing to do in there is to practice said standing, over and over.

For now, that is all that is new in your little world, one that is getting bigger and bigger with each passing day. Days which are filled with dirty diapers, spit up, 45 minute long feedings, bottles and naps filled with gut wrenching cries of protest. But they are also filled with beaming smiles, giggles, sloppy wet kisses, firsts and cuddles. Days that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

I love you soooo much,
Momma