Ouch!

So last night Colin and I were spending some quality time alone while Daddy was doing a home visit. So while I was going to the bathroom Colin was cruising the house (he is walking everywhere these days) when all of sudden I heard and partially saw a "boom". It was just him landing on the floor or so I thought. He began to cry and came right over to me, I picked him up, he rested his head on my shoulder, and he started to point at the pictures of family on the wall. So I thought no big deal, he didn't cry his typical hurt cry. After a minute I put him on the ground and he began to walk away. Colin then turned around and began to walk towards me when all of a sudden I saw it - the biggest egg on a forehead I have ever seen. When he fell he must have fell right into the spot where the two walls meet because the egg had a straight purple line through it. It took all I had not to dial 911 and completely freak out thinking he has a massive head injury, but of course he was still babbling away and acting fine. I picked him up and thankfully he let me put a cold face cloth and then some ice before his bath and bedtime. Of course I called my mother and she reassured me he would be OK, just to keep an eye on him. I know this is the first of many bumps and bruises, but it must never get any easier to see your child hurt. No matter how small the bruise or bump it still broke my heart and I wanted to make it disappear. I had to take pictures so Daddy could see...today on the car ride to Patty's he called it his doo-doo (still can't get that "b" sound!)!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's hard to believe that we are already through with the "first" holidays with Colin...no more "My First" bibs! Thanksgiving was great. We celebrated at Grammy and Grampy's with the Matthews, Uncle Rob, and Uncle Ray, Nana, and then the McAuliffe's joined us for dessert. Earlier in the day Colin "helped" make the mashed potatoes with Daddy, very cute. He pretended to stir as best he could with the big wooden spoon and the bowl. Now one of his favorite things to do is walk around the house holding the spoon like he is a conductor of an orchestra. Mommy gave him a new bowl to use Sunday afternoon that he found makes a better hat than bowl! He is just too much. All of sudden he wants to walk everywhere which made for a crazy food shopping trip Saturday. He walked up and down the aisles of Stop and Shop and got very concerned when there was a can of tomato paste on the flooor instead of on the shelf where it belonged! During mass at my parents house on Thanksgiving Day my Uncle Rob asked us to reflect about what we are thankful for. I tried as best I could to think of everything in that one short moment which was very tough to do. We are just thankful for the life that we have, although sometimes things get tough, we really do have a wonderful life with many so many people that love us, but most of all we are so very thankful for our beautiful boy Colin! Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family - we love you all!

Christmas is Coming!

So today we met up with Auntie Beth, Uncle Rob, Syd, and Sam and Grammy and Grampy and headed to the annual Haverhill Santa Parade. We have gone now since my sister moved to Groveland and it actually is a really good parade. Lots of marching bands, fire engines, bagpipes (mommy's favorite), and floats, but the best of all is Santa and Mrs. Claus. Last year we took Colin (see picture) and he was so tiny, this year he just wanted to get out of his stroller and march with the bands...we missed Auntie Kimmy, Uncle Michael, Maddy and Casey who were not able to come. Maddy has been very busy with her weekend rehearsals for the Nutcracker and Casey and Kim went to NYC!...So anyway there are a couple of pictures and boy how things change in a year!

Y.M.C.A....love to swim at the Y.M.C.A

Forgot to mention that Colin began swimming lessons on Friday at the local Y. It was great, kind of a short class for all the changing that is involved, but he loved it. We sang lots of songs and splashed around...he flirted with Kate (cute little girl) of course, but didn't really want to play catch with her, he wanted the ball all to himself! We have to keep working on that one!

We Love the Weekends!

This weekend was great. Friday night Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 2 year anniversary. Auntie Beth and cousins Sam and Sydney came over to babysit Colin so Mommy and Daddy could go to their favorite restaurant for dinner. Colin loved seeing his cousins and aunt and had a ton of fun! Mommy and Daddy had lots to eat, including 2 chocolate moulten lava cakes, and then they went for a martini at the martini bar downtown. It was great spending time together and having a dinner where we didn't have to pick something off of the floor every other minute -thanks Beth, Syd, and Sam! Saturday we did some errands and walked at the Loop, it was a beautiful day, and then we headed up to NH for Brodie's first birthday party. It was great getting together with everyone again! Colin loves Kelly's house (it's like a toy store!)...thanks Kelly and Dave! Sunday we literally stayed in pajamas all day. As my niece Maddy calls it and has since she was about 2, we had "jammy day"...we did some laundry, watched the Patriots lose, played all day, and cooked a big dinner. It was great...quality family time together...!

Hmmm...this is kind of funny

So there are so many different names for pacifiers - "ni-ni" (Cousin Sam and Sydney), "binky"(cousin Casey), "nuk", "ga-ga"(friend Hunter P.) - well Colin has decided over the past two days that he would like to call his "mama"! Isn't that hysterical and kind of ironic since I breastfed for 7 months! (hope that didn't offend anyone)...hoping it will pass, we are drilling the word "binky" into his head at least four times an hour and he will soon call me Mama and his pacifier his binky!

Mommy Guilt!

So Colin has decided that it's not OK for Mommy to leave the house if he is not coming too, and it's not OK for mommy to go upstairs or in the kitchen without him...Yesterday when I was leaving for work, he just cried and cried, pointing at me, saying "na-na-na" (that's Mama right now). Ryan booted me out the door after I gave him a kiss, telling me I would make it worse by prolonging the departure. Well needless to say I got into my car with tears coming down my face. And then last night I had a 5:30 staff meeting for my clinic job and he decided to do the same thing. Oh the guilt! I know every mother has experienced it and people tell you how awful it is, but until you experience it first hand you never really know how bad it can be! He obviously was OK two minutes after I left the house, but I kept thinking about it all day wondering if I had scarred him for life! I feel as though I am abandoning him...which I know I am not, but that's definitely how it feels. I am so grateful to be able to be home with him 2 days a week and I certainly have treasured every moment so far today...hopefully it will get better, I guess it's just a stage of development - normal right?????