Tinkle Bells, Tinkle Bells, Tinkle All the Way...

Colin did pee-pee in the potty! It's the first! He was so proud of himself as were Mommy and Daddy! (we'll see if it happens again!)

Hmmm...did he bring me Dunkin Donuts and Lollipops???

He sure did!!!! The look on Colin's face was priceless when he saw the bag of DD's and lollipops on the table next to the empty cookie plate and milk cup ( I had to recreate the scene for the picture since Ryan and I got a new camcorder for Christmas I was too wrapped up in that and didn't take pictures when we got up)...Let's just say about 5 munchkins and three lollipops were eaten before 9:00 a.m. Luckily Colin slept until about 7:30! We had a great day. This is actually the third year we have spent the day at home, just the three of us (soon to be four!) We had a great, relaxing, and fun day spent playing with toys and eating yummy food! We hope all of our friends and family had a very special day with their loved ones...we sure did!

Christmas Eve

We began Christmas Eve actually Sunday afternoon. We spent the afternoon with my Uncle Rob at his house and had a pre-Christmas mass. It was very special to have everyone there...Then Monday night we went Grammy and Grampy's. There are many traditions and it's hard to believe that Colin is the 5th grandchild to share in these traditions. The grandkids all get new pajamas and we all sit in the living room opening presents - youngest to oldest - which meant Colin got to go first! They all had a blast. The best was the search for Santa on the computer...the screams when they found the website and the even louder screams when they saw a glowing red light in the sky! Colin was up way too late, so were Mommy and Daddy, and the hope was that we would get some extra sleep time in the morning since it probably won't be that was on a Christmas morning for a long time!

Your a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!

Our Christmas festivities began Saturday night with a trip to Candia, New Hampshire to Charmingfare Farm to go on a Lighted Winter Wonderland sleigh ride. We got there just in time (or so we thought) and walked to the area where the sleigh would pick us up. Along the way there was hot chocolate, an indoor petting zoo, and a huge bonfire. Once we arrived to the sleigh area we realized we had to wait. The information posted on the website and the confirmation email was quite vague about the timing of the whole thing. Needless to say it was worth the wait! We learned what to do and what not to do for next year! We got on the sleigh and rode through the farm on trails and saw all sorts of lights. They had lighted houses, trees, characters and once the ride was done they dropped us off at Santa's baby reindeer barn, where we were greeted by Frosty and Santa and his real live baby reindeer. Now I must tell you that we have watched the Grinch movie (not the Jim Carrey version, but the original) every night for at least a month. Colin is slightly obsessed, so when I read online that one of the characters we might see on the sleigh ride was the Grinch I figured we have to go! Well after waiting a while, almost losing Colin to fatigue, we were lucky enough to see the Grinch. Let's just say he won Colin over way more than Santa and even jumped onto our sleigh...then jumped off and fell into the snow which Colin thought was hysterical! It was a great start to Christmas and really put us in the spirit!

Naughty or Nice?

Colin and I wrote his letter to Santa this afternoon...we are off on a "Lighted Winter Wonderland" sleigh ride and we hear Santa will be there with his two newest reindeer collecting letters...Not sure if you can see in the picture, but Colin would like Santa to bring him"Dunkin Donuts and Lollipops"!!!!! We'll have to see what Santa can do.....:):):)

Let It Snow!

Colin and I had a great time today playing in the snow! He loved it, which I was surprised by, I thought he would be whining after 5 minutes, but he lasted about 45! We even built a snowman (check out the baby carrot nose and the quarters for eyes!). Good Ol' New England...it took my brother in law 6 hours to get home from Brighton last night! And more to come this weekend!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Today we had breakfast with Santa...Colin was just fine sitting on Mommy's lap and not Santa's! He did eventually give the man in the red suit a high five, but that was about it!

Look Out Emeril!

So most kids can't wait to go outside and play in the snow - right? Well Colin was pretty content watching it fall from the window this past Monday...instead we baked cookies! Yum! His favorite part was "rollin" and shaking the sprinkles!

No Baby!

Here's a couple of funny stories that happened today...Ryan, Colin, and I were sitting on the couch tonight reading a story before bed. All of a sudden Colin says "see Mommy's belly" as he pulls up my t-shirt. For a while now we have been telling him that there is a baby growing in my belly, but when asked what's in there he says "Daddy" (weird, huh!)., and he has never asked to see my expanding waistline! So tonight we corrected him and said "it's the baby growing in there Colin". Immediately the response was, quite clearly I might add, "No Baby" as he quickly pulled my shirt back down (like he was closing a door)! It was hysterical! Earlier we were sitting in the living room and his 2 piggy banks were on the coffee table. One is small and says "Baby's First Piggy Bank" and had been quiteld full, so Colin transferred his "monies" into a larger piggy bank the other day. So I said to him while holding the empty smaller bank, "Colin should we give this one to the new baby?" He looked right at me and said firmly "No, Colin's"...Hmmm, I wonder what we are in store for?????

Tis' the Season

The weekend was spent doing holiday "stuff"...decorating and getting the tree up. It was nice since we weren't worrying about the surgery (now scheduled for January 23). Colin's reaction to the tree was cute "wow, Chrismas twee"...even this morning at 5:45 when he woke up - "wow, Chrismas twee"...today I went to a performance of the Albany Berkshire Ballet Theater's Nutcracker that my two nieces were in...Maddy was a party girl and Casey was one of the little children that come out of Mother Ginger's huge skirt! It's funny, Ryan and I took Maddy to her first Nutcracker in Boston when she was three and now she is dancing in her own performance! We're hoping she'll be Clara next year! I think next year Colin might be able to handle it. They have been rehearsing since the beginning of October and you could tell, it was a fantastic show. When I got home we decorated the tree. Colin was in a bit of a mood, but he did manage to put up his new Sesame Street ornaments. I love putting up the ornaments, we have one that I made in kindergarten that Ryan always makes fun of and we have one of Ryan's when he was little too. They seem to all have meaning of one event or place we have visited. It's great! Now Colin's in bed, Daddy's watching football and I am off to have ice cream!!!!

The Latest

SURGERY POSTPONED!
Since Colin has had an upper respiratory infection and is still coughing somewhat the anesthesiologists are postponing he surgery for at least 2 weeks! We'll see what happens...

Yummy!

Not only is Mommy enjoying her ice cream this time around, but Colin is too! A special treat! It was so funny to watch him eat it. First, concentration, then pure joy! I feel that way too when I have my nightly bowl! Colin's been fighting this upper respiratory infection for like 2 1/2 weeks now...we had already been to the pediatrician and they gave him an antibiotic after a couple of more days of a horrendous cough that was keeping him up at night...finished that on Sunday and guess what the runny nose was back Monday and then last night he spiked a 102 degree temperature...no Motrin because he is supposed to have surgery Monday, but the tylenol helped and it was about 101 this morning, so off to the pediatrician again this afternoon - red throat, did a strep test (-), just viral and we are to treat the symptoms...let's just pray that his little body can fight it off before Monday...I don't want to have surgery any closer to the holidays!

6:30 a.m.!

That's what time my sister and I hit the stores today to begin our Christmas shopping. Now I have never done the whole "Black Friday" thing, but it was quite thrilling! I definitely got a high and we both decided to make it an annual tradition! It felt good to get a start since December weekends always book up fast and with Colin's surgery and all...so let the season begin!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our family and friends! Today I really tried to reflect on how much we have to be thankful for and again realized how very lucky we are...we spent the day at my parents and thankfully my Uncle Rob could be there after having chemo on Tuesday. He sure was a trooper! It was somewhat bittersweet as this could be the last Thanksgiving we spend with him, but it was a very happy day too because he was with us and actually ate some turkey! All in all a great day and a very special time for our family! Love to all!

Colin, Daddy, and Uncle Ray

My cousins are the best!

Uncle Rob and the McAuliffe's

Weddings and Babies...

Today is our third anniversary - Ryan if you read this, Happy Anniversary and thank you for making me so happy! Feels like yesterday we were in Portland celebrating...now almost 2 kids later - whoah! We did get to go out for a nice Italian dinner Saturday night to celebrate - Ryan with his dirty vodka martini and me with my ginger ale! Also we went for a check up today - all is well, except for the continued naseau and vomiting and horrible headaches :(:(:(...hopefully that will change soon! I'm thinking a girl!!!!!!

Verdict Is In

We traveled to a Children's Hospital clinic this morning and met with the surgeon who we liked very much and so did Colin! She explained that yes he does have a hernia on one side, yes it needs to be repaired surgically, and yes that means general anesthesia again...she is only repairing one side, it's day surgery, and it's a fairly quick procedure (1-1/2 hours)...After seeing parents with their kids today carrying files upon files of medical records, I kept telling myself it's a routine procedure, it's just a hernia, and we are very lucky it's nothing more serious or chronic!

Here we go...

So we are off to the surgeon this morning to figure out if Colin has a hernia, which seems to be true at this point, and then what the treatment will be...maybe surgery...so I will post later and let everyone know what the outcome was...ughhh!

Chocolate Ice Cream Cones, Italian Subs, and Juice Boxes

Hmmm...what does all that mean??? Well, you may have guessed - Colin is going to be a big brother! Right now the due date is May 16th...all is well and hopefully will continue to go well! This pregnancy has been different from Colin's right from the start. The morning sickness was different, the cravings have been different (all I want are salty cold cuts, which I have to limit myself with), and I have a little bulge quite earlier than I did with Colin (2nd pregnancy I guess!)...maybe all that means a little girl is growing inside there???????

Happy Halloween!

Yes, you are probably wondering - where are the pictures??? Well, you guessed it, Colin wanted nothing to do with a costume or trick or treating. He loved playing with the flashlight outside in the dark, calling it the moon, but there was no go on Halloween this year. Oh well, maybe next year!

Wonderful Weekend!

The Birthday Boy!


COUSINS!

FRIENDS!

The Ace of Cakes - ha!

The final product!

After a trip to the doctor's for his 2 year check up on Friday (where they discovered he may have a possible hernia and we have to see a pediatric surgeon on November 9!), we celebrated Colin's birthday on Saturday and had a party for him at our house...all of his cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends were able to make it...he had a blast and has been on this birthday kick since Wednesday when we sent in cupcakes to daycare. He has been singing "Happy Birthday" at least twice a day since then and even today (and as I write) he has been singing it. So cute! He was quite overtired and had a sugar high and thankfully took an almost 4 hour nap today which brought the Colin we know and love back! Today was spent indoors watching football and playing with the many toys that everyone so generously gave him - we love you all - thank you! And once again I feel so blessed to have such loving and caring friends and family in my life, it makes the joy of celebrating a special event that much more special! Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Birthday Colin!

Can't believe it - 2 years old! What an amazing 2 years it has been...we are soooooooo lucky (can't emphasize the so enough). He had a very busy, but fun day with Grammy and Grampy, and then more fun when Mommy came home from work...the more I think about it, the title of this blog fits...time does fly and it's true - treasure each and every day with your loved ones...we love you Sweetie Pie! (we'll post pics from the party Saturday!)




Colin's very into garbage trucks - this one actually plays a song "to the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump, dump" he got the biggest kick out of it!

Making cupcakes for friends at day care...he had fun stirring!

It's a Girl Thing

Yes ladies, a brand new Target has just opened exactly 1.2 miles from our house! Scary, huh?

Terrible Two's

"I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY PJ'S ON!!!" ...oh, the terrible two's have begun!