The Happiest 18 Months Ever!

So Colin officially turned 18 months old Wednesday...it's hard to imagine our lives without him. It's also so hard to believe that 18 months ago at this time he was either pooping, latched to my breast, or he was snuggled in between Mommy and Daddy in bed. He still poops, still has a bottle (I know, pretty soon we'll give them up!), and only will stay in bed with us if his beloved Barney is on TV...Each stage of his life has been fascinating and it gets better everyday. Lately he seems so much more independent, not needing Mommy and Daddy as much, taking more risks...That's a good sign I guess. So Happy 18 Months Colin, someday when you can read this I want you to know that we love you more than you'll ever know and we hope your life is always filled with happiness!

Feels Like Summer!

"Hmmm...Mommy likes soccer and Daddy likes baseball, looks like I can do both!"

"BOO YANKEES!"

"My new favorite dessert - vanilla ice cream!"

"I love this song - Five Little Monkeys Jumpin' on the Bed" (Nathan's birthday party with a children's musician, she was great!)

"Finally NO RAIN!"

Wow 86 degrees today! Finally a nice weekend filled with dry, sunny weather...especially good news and much needed for our friends Michael and Shelby who had a terrible flood (hope things are going OK!). The weekend was spent enjoying the nice weather - a trip to the water on Friday, a birthday party on Saturday, Mommy's soccer game on Sunday, and a trip to the park on Monday. I realized that over the past couple of weeks Colin has really turned into a "toddler" that doesn't stop! He loves being outdoors and playing ball outside. In fact his latest obsession is "dee-dall" (translation baseball, any ball is a "dee-dall"). He finally realized that these days in our house it's usually on TV, he loves to throw in the house, and the many gloves he got as gifts are part of the whole thing too...he runs around the house throwing the extra baseball wedding favors from our wedding with his extra large glove on his hand yelling "dee-dall, dee-dall!" Believe it or not he now knows the Red Sox emblem - on shirts, hats, and even cars (those magnet, sticker things)!...he is so funny. We got him a beginner t-ball set and the bat is bigger than him, so he uses a small one he has from another toy and whips his whole body around hitting the ball! Big Papi watch out! Needless to say it was a nice end to the weekend when our Red Sox swept the Yankees!

Unimaginable...

I just logged off reading the profiles and looking at the pictures of all the people, mostly students, who were tragically killed this week at Virginia Tech...I haven't been reading a whole lot about it, but it certainly has been in the back of my mind. I cannot imagine what those parents and family members are feeling right now. Having a child puts everything into perspective and I gave Colin and extra big hug and an extra kiss tonight as I put him to bed safe and sound in his crib...I will probably go check on him again, I am so thankful he is safe and sound...

Sunny and 70 Degrees!

So my trip to North Carolina was awesome...It started bright and early with a 6:45 a.m. flight out of Logan. I am not a frequent traveler so with little time to spare I found where I was supposed to be to catch my flight. I was a bit anxious, but I had enough cheesy magazines to keep me occupied...I arrived in Raliegh with no trouble and quickly found my friend. Friday was beautiful, sunny and in the 70's. We had a great day, hung out, went for a run to ease some nerves that were building for our 5K, went shopping, and had some yummy pizza. We got up bright and early Saturday and successfully ran a 5k together! Becca beat her previous race time and I came in just under 30 minutes! It was a wonderful accomplishment and an even better experience to be running with one of my oldest and dearest friends! We spent Saturday afternoon shopping in Chapel Hill near UNC, had some coffee, and just chatted! Saturday night we went out with her husband to a big ball bowling birthday party. My first time with the big balls and I didn't do so bad...Sunday I woke up missing home more than I did the whole weekend. We had some delicious BBQ and off to the airport. Luckily I went out on time since many flights were cancelled, I wasn't even delayed. I had myself a beer and boarded the plane. Unfortunately the ride home was horrible. I was about 2 seconds from puking from the turbulence (sweating and swallowing like crazy) and we were belted in pretty much the entire flight. When we landed Ryan was there in the car with my little guy sleeping in the back seat. It was so awesome seeing him...I missed him a ton! I had a wonderful weekend and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful friend...I miss you already Becca - thanks for everything Becca, Chris, Chloe, and Mia (and "Tees" too -and Taco:):):))! Pictures to be posted later!

The Verdict Is In

We saw the ear specialist today...tubes it is...general anesthesia...my baby going to sleep and being given to strangers who will operate on him...I have such mixed emotions...I cried all the way home and feel like my stomach is in a big knot...the doctor said, it's easy for the kid, but quite traumatic for the parents...I know it's for the best, but it's really hard to think that way right now...I will check back in after my trip to North Carolina...can't wait to see my friend, but I am quite sad about leaving my little guy for 2 days (Amy how did you do it?) ...Hopefully they can give me a mimosa on my 6:45 a.m. flight!

Happy Belated Easter!

"hmmm...today it's an egg hunt, but someday I know they'll be putting lipstick on me"

"it looks like a ball, maybe it bounces like one too" (and it did, several times across the table, Colin was hysterical)

"one for me, one for you, oops I mean me"

"Ha! I got some eggs!"

"Ok mommy and daddy, church was fun, I really liked the quiet room with Daddy, it was like playtime!"

The Snyder household had a fantastic weekend...Saturday was actually quite funny...we headed up to the Castle in our town where they do events for kids, hold weddings, etc...this year it was for the 2nd annual Easter Egg Hunt. My sister who lives in the next town headed up there with her kids too. Now it's quite a drive up this long, narrow, dirt road and when we got there, there was a line of cars and quite a line of people. Now it's quite chilly too. So we get in line and Colin was pretty good despite the cold. We find my sister who just about to make it inside to pay. The egg hunt was all set for outside (yes in the snow), they had areas roped off all around the Castle grounds. Now we wait a little longer and eventually I make it inside, pay and go back outside to meet Colin and Ryan. While doing this I run into my sister who was holding her tantruming 3 year old. Now why was she tantruming? The eggs in the 2-4 year old hunt were gone! A mere 15 minutes into the thing starting the eggs are gone. Now there are still about 100 people in line...So there are just people wandering around looking for eggs...Colin and Daddy managed to find a couple...and then the announcement came "Attention, attention, there are no more eggs, there are no more eggs" it was hysterical...still 100 people in line...there was no one manning the roped off areas so people just started grabbing eggs from every area they could...until the eggs were gone! It was a complete fiasco! Easter day was nice, Colin loved the egg hunt in the morning that the Easter bunny left him, he loved the empty eggs! And another hunt with his cousins at Grammy and Grampy's house Easter afternoon...We had a great day and we hope everyone else a wonderful holiday with their families!

Relay For Life

Hi Everyone!
This June 1-2 I am participating in an amazing event called Relay for Life and I co-captaining a team -"Amy's Army". It is an event sponsored by the American Cancer Society and it's truly amazing. It begans at 6 p.m. on Friday evening and runs through the night until Saturday a.m. It is called a "relay' because one member of the team is suppposed to be on the track all night. There are more teams already registered this year than in previous years which is awesome! There are many things that go on that night including a survivors lap, music, events for kids, food, raffles, but the most amazing thing is the luminaria ceremony. You can donate money for a bag that you can decorate in memory or in honor of someone affected by cancer. They are placed around the entire track and then at 9:00 they are all lit and a lap around the track ensues. It is so moving, I can't even put it into words. Bags are also lit on the bleachers into the word HOPE. Unfortunately I have had many people in my life affected by this disease and I am hoping that the negative energy I have inside can be channeled into something so positive like this relay. If you are interested in joinging our team or donating to this cause you can go to: www.acsevents.org/relay/manoreading and everything can be done online, just go to Relay for Life, North Reading (location) and click on teams - Amy's Army and then my personal relay page. I have luminaria bags at home if anyone is interested in those as well. I appreciate your time in reading this and helping in any way you can. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Love Lisa

What? No Ah-ney?

So that was what caused Colin to go into hysterics tonight...he asked for Barney at 6:45 p.m. and we said no, go figure. He actually just stood there facing me and Ryan and just cried, so pitiful...This was after another trip to the pediatrician's office today. He definitely wasn't himself yesterday (and it wasn't because the Red Sox lost), but he was OK to go to daycare today - no fever and he was in better spirits this morning, except I got a call around 12:45 saying he just wasn't himself, clingy, didn't eat a whole lot...so it was off to the pediatricians. Things checked out OK, his ears are still infected and we will give him until Friday to see if things improve. It is so frustrating! He has felt lousy and can't tell us so it's a guessing game. Basically we gave him Motrin tonight at bedtime thinking something must hurt. I am demanding answers at the ENT appt. I feel like I have not been assertive and aggressive enough with the doctors and I know it's only his ears, but come on 14 ear infections in 17 months is crazy. So anyways, hopefully he will feel better soon, poor little guy and we'll get some answers!