Da, Da, Da, Da!

Yay Brendan you finally starting babbling! We are so proud of you, you have the sweetest little voice...music to our ears!!!

My Boys

...are getting so big...This month has been a busy and eventful one. So many exciting things have happened with the boys. Colin decided last week that he was ready to use the potty. I think it was earning the Marvel Comic Superhero card packs that included a figuring that helped, but anyhow he did it! He has even used the "big" potty at a restaurant and today in Border's...I wasn't there today, but Ryan described it as "Daddy, Daddy I need to pee on the potty" really loud. Ryan was checking out the CD's about 50 feet from Colin...so cute! He has even pooped twice! I am so proud of him! In addition to potty training, we couldn't find his "mama" one night last week. Really we couldn't find it...he slept fine that night, so he has been without his pacifier too...I can't believe it, I thought this would be so hard to do, let alone both things at once! He is so big, something has changed, his imagination is expanding, and he just seems like a little boy, not so much even a toddler anymore...It's so hard to believe that Brendan is now 8 months...holy cow, can't even believe he's 4 months away from 1!!! He is doing so well too, we started Early Intervention, he is finally rolling and enjoying playing on his belly. He is now able to sit up and play with a toy if it's big and spreads his legs...and last night was the first night we felt comfortable having him sit up in the baby tub...He is sleeping in his crib finally and doing better at night...now only if he would stop teething...He has 8 teeth now and I swear it looks like he is cutting molars...so my boys are roommates now, Colin has done so well with the change too...I have to download recent pictures, but wanted to get my thoughts down because time just feels like it is zipping by...love to all!

Winter Time Fun!

Colin and I started the New Year with some winter time fun - sledding with the new sled Santa brought! I don't know who was more excited - me or Colin. We went to the Common, where I grew up sledding. It was a beautiful day, we packed up, dressed warmly and were off. When we got there he seemed pretty excited, I was a bit nervous looking at the hill. It is amazing how fearless you can be as a kid...So off we went, the conditions were perfect, Colin in the front, Mommy in the back...but Mommy was a little nervous and let her heels trail in the snow which equaled snow sprayed right in Colin's face...when we got the bottom of the hill, he seemed OK, was laughing, but when I asked him if he wanted to do it again, he said "no Mommy, let's go take a little break"...Because we were in NR, my mom stopped by to visit...Colin found a little hill and I pulled him down...now I was determined to get him down again..."no Mommy, I want the little hill"...that is until big cousin Maddy walked over with her sled...she had the magic and we moved to the other side of the big hill and went down several more times...it was sooooo fun! Uncle Michael and their dog Manning even walked over and the dog loved running with me down the hill...Colin lasted about an hour and then we had some hot chocolate at Auntie Kimmie's and Uncle Michael's and played the Wii...Can't wait to do it again!
At the top of the Common, taking a 'little break"!

I was shocked he even walked once back up the hill, let alone lasting a whole hour!

Maddy and Manning

Manning loved chasing me down the hill, he was flying!

I love this picture, Maddy took it at the bottom of the hill, the look on our faces is priceless!

2008

Happy New Year! Wow it's hard to believe I wrote that already...this year just went by so fast and so much happened...I am most thankful for the birth of Brendan and watching our family grow not only in number, but in love...it was also a difficult time losing our Uncle Rob...the holidays have been bittersweet...we know he is looking down on us, celebrating with us, laughing with us when the kids do something funny, and always, always loving us. Here's hoping 2009 brings love, peace, good health, and happiness to all my family and friends...Happy New Year to all!

Merry Christmas!

A bit of a late post, but better late than never! We had a great holiday. Christmas Eve was spent at Grammy and Grampy's house with all the cousins...except Casey this year :(:(...she was very sick with the stomach flu and wasn't able to make it :(...definitely wasn't the same...we went to church first and the kids did OK...had dinner, changed into the new Christmas PJ's and then opened presents...Brendan missed most of the excitement, he was sleeping, but big brother Colin did a great job helping to open his presents! We went to bed very late, woke up the next morning and Santa had arrived! Colin loved every minute...it was so fun this year! Brendan loved the excitement too, but conked out and opened his presents later in the morning...we played, relaxed, took naps, and then my mom and dad came for dinner...can't believe it's come and gone, but it was a very special Christmas!

Colin helping Brendan open his presents...Brendan eating wrapping paper!

New Christmas PJ's!

We missed you Casey!

Tis' the Season!

WOW! What a whirlwind month this has been...we can't believe Christmas is just a day away...we are pretty much all set and patiently awaiting the arrival of the man in the red suit...we have had a great time this month and here are just a few of the highlights!

Santa visited Mommy's work and brought all the kids presents!

We made Christmas trees with Grammy and cousin Sydney using sugar cones, green frosting, gum drops, and m&m's...YUM!

We visited the Zoo Lights and Colin got a glimpse of his very favorite Christmas character - the Grinch!

We even saw one of Santa's real reindeers!

We drank hot chocolate and decorated the tree...

And we had breakfast with Santa too...Brendan did NOT like Santa this year!

Speaking of our little guy Brendan, we can't believe he's already 7 months old...he now has 6 teeth (four on the bottom and the two top) and loves to eat! He's slowly gaining more weight and will soon begin Early Intervention to get stronger and before we know it he'll be chasing his big brother! His smiles are contagious and he loves his big brother to death!

We are so, so lucky to have such amazing family and friends who have been so supportive the past couple of months...the holidays are sort of bittersweet, but we know our Uncle Rob is smiling down upon us and in a better place, pain free!

We love you Colin and Brendan and can't wait to see your faces on Christmas morning!!!!!!!

Exciting Firsts!

The past 24 hours have been very exciting for Colin...yesterday at his request he pooped in the potty for the first time!!! And from that point on he has been going pee fairly regularly! Saturday I forgot to put a pull up on him before putting his pants on and he accidentally peed in his pants...he hated the feeling, so I think that's what maybe started the toilet trend! And....today he had his first visit to the dentist...of course I forgot my camera....he did so well, sort of gagged when the lady put the mirror in his mouth, but in the end he let her get some tartar off and polish them...only a few tears...he looked so scared and was trying so hard to keep his nerves in check...the look on his face was priceless...Mommy was so proud!